Runoff elections to decide two Austin City Council seats – District 6, representing Northwest Austin, and District 10, representing West Austin – will be held Tuesday, Dec. 15. Two slots on the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees are also up for grabs: District 5, covering sections of Southwest/Central Austin, and Position 8, an at-large seat covering the entire school district. Only voters who live within AISD District 5 and City Council districts 6 and 10 may vote for those respective seats. Anyone who lives inside AISD boundaries may vote on the at-large AISD position. Early voting is now underway and ends this Friday, Dec. 11. Polls are open from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. Ballots can be cast at any of Travis County’s 15 early voting centers: find a list of addresses here. Not sure what City Council district you live in? Check here.

Research from Princeton University’s Eviction Lab shows that cities that have protections for renters, such as Austin, have seen far fewer evictions during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the news release, “Of America’s larger cities, Austin and Minneapolis saw some of the lowest levels of eviction filings.” Tenants who cannot pay their rent due to economic losses caused by the pandemic are protected from eviction in Austin and Travis County, although evictions from other circumstances, such as violence or property damage, are allowed to proceed. City Council Member Greg Casar said, “As we continue to find ways to get Austin families the support they need, I hope other cities and counties adopt similar protections. Eviction is not just a condition of poverty, but a cause of it. No one should lose their home because of the pandemic, and we have to do right by Austin families.” Princeton’s eviction tracker shows seven eviction filings in Austin last week, compared to 69 in Boston and 159 in Fort Worth, Texas.

As has been widely reported, the first shipment of Pfizer vaccines will arrive in Austin mid-month, if the vaccine is granted an emergency use authorization by the FDA on Dec. 10. Austin Public Health reported Friday that the Austin area will receive 13,650 initial doses according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. “We are still gathering information about the first vaccine shipment to our area,” said interim Austin-Travis County Health Authority Dr. Mark Escott. “We are excited for our hospital systems partners to begin vaccinating our front-line hospital workers against this virus. By protecting our health care system personnel we can ensure that we are able to meet the needs of Covid and non-Covid patients in our community. We are looking forward to vaccine shipments continuing in the weeks and months to come so that, in future phases, we can offer vaccines to those at high risk for severe disease as we progress down the path of community-wide vaccination.” The press release goes on to explain that Austin Public Health and community partners have formed a coalition to plan the distribution in a way that will get Austinites vaccinated in a phased approach. The coalition is focusing on identifying priority populations to be vaccinated, distribution channels, vaccine management and community education. More information can be found at a virtual town hall held last week as part of a series from the Travis County Medical Society and Dell Medical School.

Along with the massive project of “reimagining public safety” comes a massive amount of information, a lot of which the city has continued to post on its website dedicated to the issue. Of particular note is the page laying out the scheduled public conversations on the topic, along with ways to communicate with the city. In addition, the city introduced a new blog last week that aims to “provide insight on the latest developments in the City of Austin’s RPS initiative. The blog is also designed to help you navigate this website and the wealth of information it offers.”

It’s almost the season of eggnog, latkes and candy canes, but the Austin Code Department is thinking ahead to summertime and implementing new inspection procedures for residential air-conditioning systems. While there’s no code requirement that says dwellings must be air-conditioned, if there is air conditioning in a residence, the International Property Maintenance Code says the system “needs to be properly installed and maintained in safe working condition and capable of performing the intended function”– to keep the inhabitants from melting in the broiling Texas heat. Malfunctioning A/C is also a public health issue, as interim Assistant Director Daniel Word explained in an announcement about the new inspection program: “Hot, humid summers and poor ventilation can lead to dangerous conditions. Those conditions can also lead to mold growth which is harmful for residents with underlying respiratory conditions.” Tenants who are experiencing problems with their A/C should tell their property managers or landlords. Potential code violations may be reported by calling Austin 311. The inspection program covers central air only, not window units or mini-splits.

The deadline is fast approaching for Austin renters who have experienced a loss of income related to Covid-19 to apply for assistance through the city’s Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants (RENT) program. The city urges applicants to apply before the last random selection of applications on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 11:59 a.m. Housing Authority President and CEO Michael Gerber said in a news release from the city, “The RENT program has helped thousands of local families to avoid eviction for non-payment of rent, allowing them to stay in their homes where they can be safe during the pandemic. We strongly encourage any low-income Austin renters who need rental assistance or are at risk of eviction to apply for this program by Tuesday, December 8th at noon.” To learn more and to submit an application, visit the city’s RENT application portal.

The Economic Development Department is inviting local artists to participate in Art in Public Places TEMPO 2021, the city’s annual temporary public art exhibition. TEMPO’s mission, according to the announcement, is “to promote tourism, cultivate curiosity, spark imagination, engage the community in a meaningful dialogue about public art, foster work by local artists, and cultivate exploration of Austin.” Sylnovia Holt Rabb, acting director of the EDD, said, “We are continuing our commitment to support the next generation of public artists. The TEMPO exhibition provides the community with a deeper appreciation of public art through thought-provoking installations that enhance city-owned sites across Austin.” At least 10 artists will be selected and their work will be exhibited at library branches throughout the city. Submit a proposal by Thursday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m. via PublicArtist.org/AustinAIPP. Interested artists may register on Eventbrite to attend a virtual information meeting on Dec. 15, noon-1 p.m.

Austin’s Economic Development Department has partnered with Health Alliance for Austin Musicians “to provide access to affordable health care for Austin’s low-income, underinsured working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness through the Healthcare Access Program,” according to a press release from the city. HAAM’s Healthcare Access Program is enrolling musicians in insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act until Dec. 15. The nonprofit offers support in paying monthly premiums, navigating the system and connecting musicians with community resources. “The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic continue to limit the earning potential of Austin musicians, resulting in chronic stress that impacts musicians’ mental wellness,” notes Veronica Briseño, the city’s chief economic recovery officer. “Partnering with HAAM to expand the Healthcare Access Program supports musicians by offering year-long comprehensive coverage that includes access to mental health care.”

We don’t think about this much, but many dogs and cats, while they may be much loved by their owners, aren’t getting the proper care they need, such as regular walks and vet visits, because their guardians may be elderly, disabled or unable to leave their homes. Fortunately, Meals on Wheels Central Texas has a program called PALS (People Assisting the Lives of Seniors) that helps care for the pets of senior clients. PALS’ mission is to keep pets and their people together, whatever it takes. There are several ways we can help PALS with its mission. One of the greatest areas of need is transport; PALS volunteers may drive pets to their vet appointments or to the groomer. Volunteers also open their own homes for pets whose owners must go to the hospital for a short stay. And during the holiday season, PALS solicits donations of pet toys, beds and treats to make holiday gift bags for clients. Find out more about joining PALS’ volunteer team here. Watch this short video to learn more about PALS.

Dick ‘Lefty’ O’Neal, Lawrence ‘Fireball’ Tucker, Willie ‘Big Ray’ Hale, Lawrence ‘Ditney’ Johnson, and Allen ‘Bam Bam’ Hicks, who have played at Downs Field. (Photo by Cindy Elizabeth)

Twenty oral histories about Downs Field are headed to the Austin History Center’s African American Community Archives and the Huston-Tillotson University Archives. The oral histories were collected during Forklift Danceworks’ Take Me Out to Downs Field, a yearlong residency that delved into the history of the century-old site, a Texas Historic Landmark that was once home to Negro Baseball League teams like the Austin Black Senators and the Austin Palominos. Willie Ray Hale, a former bat boy for the Austin Greyhounds and the Austin Indians, whose story is among the oral histories donated to the archives, said, “It’s a part of history that a lot of people don’t know anything about, and it’s right there in their neighborhood. I lived it and wasn’t thinking about history when I was a kid. I was just out having a good time. It brought people together, and people need that now.”

The Office of the City Auditor has launched a new podcast focused on revealing the inner workings of local government and following the latest investigations and audits. Audit ATX, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, features interviews with city auditor staff in the interest of providing more “transparency and accessibility” to the work being done at the city office. Each 15-minute episode will provide a summary of an auditor’s report. Software licenses and fraud and waste at the Austin Public Library are the topics of the first two episodes. Audit ATX co-host Kelsey Thompson said in a news release, “We’ve heard from listeners that this podcast has opened their eyes to how the city really works.”

Drivers are getting a break from the state – a nine-month break to be exact. Gov. Greg Abbott has issued an order giving owners of motor vehicles up to nine months past their expiration date to renew their vehicle registration online. Those driving with expired tags will not be ticketed by law enforcement. Bruce Elfant, the Travis County tax assessor-collector, clarified in a news release, “Being able to drive your vehicle past the sticker expiration date does not save you money. If you are driving with an overdue sticker, please get your inspection and renew your vehicle registration at Texas.gov.” Those who renew online will receive a receipt, good for one month, to carry in the vehicle until the new registration sticker arrives. More than 300,000 vehicles currently have expired registration stickers in Travis County, and Elfant acknowledges “it’s unlikely we would be able to process the large backlog of registration renewals within the 60-day renewal period at the tax office.” Vehicle registration may also be renewed at HEB or Fiesta Mart grocery stores, Travis County AAA stores, Oak Hill Title Company, and Fry’s Title Service. If your registration is more than nine months overdue, you must make a tax office appointment at TravisCountyTax.org – but it can take up to two months to get an appointment. That’s why renewing online is “the safest and easiest way to update your vehicle registration,” Elfant said.