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Whispers
Friday, March 29, 2019 by Tai Moses
Heads up! Lane closures on SH 45SW
Road crews are placing the final layer of pavement and striping on the brand-new State Highway 45SW toll road and adjacent roadways. While the work is underway, crews will be closing lanes on Loop 1 (MoPac Expressway)/SH 45 between Escarpment Boulevard and South Bay Lane each weekday (and possibly Saturdays) for approximately the next three weeks, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drivers should also expect some nighttime lane closures for striping work, which is tentatively scheduled to start Wednesday, April 10, 7 p.m.-7 a.m. Lane closures on FM 1626, between Bliss Spillar Road and Lewis Lane, will take place each weekday tentatively from Thursday, April 18, to Friday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. During April, crews will be putting down the final layer of permeable friction course pavement, a special asphalt that reduces pollutants from stormwater runoff, on the new SH 45SW toll road in preparation for its grand opening in May. As always, lane closures are subject to change based on the weather, which is unpredictable.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 by Jo Clifton
City initiating pay-for-success project
Council is moving forward on a new program designed to provide housing and supportive services for 250 chronically homeless citizens who frequently end up in jail, the emergency room, or both. What is unique about this program, called the pay-for-success model, is that investors put money in and the city, among others, will repay the investors only if positive outcomes are achieved as measured by an independent evaluator. Besides the city, the other entities that will repay investors include Travis County, Central Health, Community Care Collaborative, the Episcopal Health Foundation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Department of Justice. The city will put $1.2 million into the PFS reserve fund for the current year. Austin Public Health Director Stephanie Hayden reported in a memo to the mayor and Council that an additional $1.2 million would be available for the program each year through 2024. “The project requires $16.3 million in private funds, including $4.8 million in grants from the St. David’s Foundation and $11.5 million from national and/or local impact investors,” according to Hayden. In order to have a positive outcome, the previously homeless individuals would have to have a minimum of six months of housing stability before the city would owe any payments. The city’s first potential payment to an investor will be due in May 2021, assuming the program is launched in June. The state of Oklahoma is also trying a variant of the program.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 by Tai Moses
Teens’ mural honors Latinas
A group of teens in the Caminos arts internship program have completed a large-scale mosaic mural titled “La Mujer” that honors the contributions of Latinas in our society. With the help of lead artist J Muzacz, the mural took 12 Caminos students and their mentors six months to complete. “La Mujer” will be unveiled at the annual La Mujer Festival on April 13, 3-8 p.m., at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, 600 River St. The mural will become part of ESB-MACC’s permanent outdoor public arts collection. For details, visit the La Mujer Festival event page.
Thursday, March 28, 2019 by Tai Moses
Help AISD hire an equity officer
The Austin school district is searching for an equity officer to ensure that all students receive equitable opportunities during their school careers. The district wants the public’s help in finding the perfect person for the job. AISD families, staff and interested community members are invited to attend one of two public meetings to help the district brainstorm the ideal characteristics and qualities for the new hire. The information will be used to create a candidate profile to screen candidates for the position. AISD hopes to make the hire by the end of June. The first meeting is on Tuesday, April 2, 6-7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at Barbara Jordan Elementary School, 6711 Johnny Morris Road. The second meeting is Tuesday, April 9, 6-7:30 p.m. at Travis Early College High School, 1211 E. Oltorf St. If you can’t make it to a meeting, you may offer your feedback online.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
AISD votes to change Lanier name to Navarro
Austin Independent School District trustees voted to change Lanier High School’s name to Juan Navarro High School Monday night. Trustees approved the name change in a vote of 5-2, with Amber Elenz and Jayme Mathias voting against and Kristin Ashy abstaining from the vote. Cindy Anderson was absent. Mathias explained that his vote of opposition was due to the last-minute nature of the new name choice, which he worried was not properly vetted by the community. Juan Navarro was a former Lanier student and a U.S. Army officer who was killed in Afghanistan in 2012. His name on the school will replace that of Confederate soldier Sidney Lanier, pending a review of district policies and a background check on Navarro.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 by Jessi Devenyns
Tax relief granted en masse at Historic Landmark Commission
The Historic Landmark Commission took a sweeping vote Monday night approving or denying a partial tax exemption for 500 properties in need of tax relief in order to encourage their preservation. The properties were awarded the tax relief in accordance with the result of the annual inspection that evaluates the upkeep of the property. The tax incentives for historic properties are significant. For landmarks designated between 2004 and 2011, the city places a cap on the property tax of either $2,000 or 50 percent, whichever is greater, of the ad valorem tax the city would otherwise levy on the property. Properties designated historic after 2011 have a tax cap of $2,500. There was a collective sigh of relief as the commission passed the results and people filed out of City Hall, relieved to have another year of historical zoning to look forward to.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019 by Tai Moses
AISD celebrates first annual César Chávez-Dolores Huerta Day
On Friday, March 29, the school district will honor the lives and legacies of two Latino icons: César Chávez and Dolores Huerta. The two civil rights activists and labor leaders co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in the 1960s, which later became the United Farm Workers Union, to champion the rights of laborers. Staff and students are invited to join in the celebration, which features lessons on Chávez and Huerta, a free movie screening of César Chávez at 11:15 a.m. in the CAC Board Auditorium, 1111 W. Sixth St., followed by a musical performance by Vibrass Ska Ensemble, a marching band from El Salvador.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Homeless count results on the way
Though the Austin Monitor reported last month that this year’s homeless count found about 100 more people than last year, the official results of the annual count will be unveiled today. Mayor Steve Adler, Council members Kathie Tovo, Greg Casar and Paige Ellis, and ECHO Executive Director (and Travis County commissioner candidate) Ann Howard will join stakeholders working to end homelessness to answer questions about the 2019 count this morning at City Hall. According to a press release, since the January 26 count, “ECHO has tabulated the results including the number of individuals and families sleeping outside and in shelter. This year, specific attention will be given to the number of youth and young adults identified, as Austin was one of 10 communities chosen by HUD in 2017 to implement a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Grant.”
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 by Tai Moses
Open houses for Shoal Creek project
If you live, work or travel on Shoal Creek Boulevard, you may be interested in this: The Austin Transportation Department will be holding three open houses in March to encourage the community to weigh in on the Shoal Creek Boulevard Project. Attendees will be invited to, according to ATD’s announcement, “review draft alternatives for potential changes to enhance the safety and mobility of everyone who uses Shoal Creek Boulevard between 38th Street and US 183.” All open house materials can be viewed on the project website. Attend the open house that is most convenient for you (the same information will be presented at each one):
- Tuesday, March 26, 5:30-7 p.m., Burnet Middle School Cafeteria, 8401 Hathaway Drive
- Thursday, March 28, 5:30-7 p.m., Lamar Middle School Cafeteria, 6201 Wynona Ave.
- Saturday, March 30, 1-2 p.m., Northwest Recreation Center Gym, 2913 Northland Drive
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 by Elizabeth Pagano
Govalle Pool lot closed
The parking lot at Govalle Park off of Bolm Road will be closed April 1-22 in order to construct a new pool facility. (Specifically, to install a wastewater line needed to operate the pool.) In the meantime, those hoping to visit the park and the Southern Walnut Trail can, according to a helpful bit of advice from the city, “enter at the ball field parking lot just east of the closed paved parking lot along Bolm Road. Park visitors can then use the pedestrian bridge to cross Boggy Creek to go to the playground or bike trail.” In addition, signs will help lead the way through the detour.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019 by Chad Swiatecki
Kopser joins CleanTX
Joseph Kopser, the Austin technology entrepreneur and Army veteran who lost the race for the TX-21 congressional seat in November, has joined the advisory board of the clean technology advocacy group CleanTX. Kopser brings a background in transportation, smart cities technology, urban mobility, energy and national security issues to the group, which looks to foster the growth of clean technology industries in Central Texas. In a prepared statement, Kopser said, “I look forward to expanding CleanTX’s reach across the State of Texas and beyond to further its mission of creating new clean-tech jobs, innovation and solutions to facilitate a new energy economy.”
Monday, March 25, 2019 by Tai Moses
A week of public health with APH
Not many people may know that the first week in April is National Public Health Week. While public health is generally something we think about only during a natural disaster or disease outbreak, Austin Public Health is constantly on the job promoting a healthy lifestyle and making sure that everyone in the community has equal access to health. APH’s many services include food safety programs, vaccinations, mother and baby health resources, nutrition education, HIV testing, health screenings for low-income residents, and much more. Learn all about what APH does for our community at a health fair on Thursday, March 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at City Hall, 301 W. Second St. And in the meantime, stay healthy!