Music Commission shows support for STR agreement but delays recommendation to Council
The Music Commission voiced support Monday for the city to enter into an agreement with short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb, but opted to gather more information from staff and held off on making a recommendation to City Council over…
Music & Entertainment • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 6, 2022
Landmark commissioners stall Travis Heights demolition
Faced with the proposition of losing another historic home in Travis Heights, Historic Landmark commissioners have pushed their decision to another day. On the table is the total demolition of the 1937 house at 1803 Kenwood Ave. in order to…
Preservation • By Elizabeth Pagano • Apr 6, 2022
Staffers provide update on new equity-focused historic preservation plan
As Austin faces rapid change, the city is drafting a new equity-based preservation plan – replacing the existing plan from 1981 – in hopes of better preserving Austin’s cultural heritage. “Much has changed in Austin over the past 40 years…
Preservation • By Jonathan Lee • Apr 5, 2022
Why the long TSA lines at Austin's airport? Local and federal officials trade blame.
The early morning lines at Austin’s airport are gaining notoriety even among NPR game show hosts. “I fly a lot, and I often take early flights. I have never anywhere been in an airport that crowded that early in the…
Austin • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 5, 2022
Chacon pledges more diverse police force
Austin Police Chief Joseph Chacon told members of the Public Safety Commission Monday that his department has signed the 30 by 30 pledge, a national initiative that agrees to diversify the police force by 2030. APD is one of 40…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Apr 5, 2022
Travis County explores impact of legal representation during intake process
Travis County and Texas A&M are teaming up to administer a pilot study that will examine the effects of providing arrestees with legal counsel at first appearance. On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court received an update on the upcoming…
Public Safety • By Seth Smalley • Apr 5, 2022
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Monitor’s new community-building tool helps foster accountability and trust
Earlier this month, the Austin Monitor proudly participated in Amplify Austin Day. I previously laid out why this day is so special. Today, in addition to thanking our scores of supporters, I want to go deeper on why the follow-through…
Mission Note • By Joel Gross • Apr 4, 2022
Public education advocates sound alarm on 'broken' school financing system
Fighting the compounding pressures of the Covid pandemic and decreasing enrollment numbers, public education advocates have been working hard to address the impact of Texas’ financing system on the chronically underfunded Austin Independent School District. Texas School Coalition Executive Director…
AISD • By Kali Bramble • Apr 4, 2022
Ethics commission dismisses complaint over Adler's real estate disclosures
The city’s Ethics Review Commission has voted to dismiss a complaint against Mayor Steve Adler related to information disclosed on personal financial forms about his real estate holdings in recent years. The complaint, brought by former real estate broker Loree…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Apr 4, 2022
Don't expect traffic problems around Circuit of the Americas to be fixed anytime soon
For the last 10 years, Circuit of the Americas has drawn thousands of people to major events, from races like the U.S. Grand Prix and MotoGP to concerts by megastars like Elton John and Kendrick Lamar, helping to pump millions…
Transportation • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Apr 1, 2022
St. Edward's students lead effort to tackle food accessibility in Austin
Students at St. Edward’s University’s Civics Lab are seeking to bring a class project to fruition this year, even if the work extends far beyond the classroom. Following a year of policy development and advocacy led by political science professor…
Austin • By Kali Bramble • Apr 1, 2022
Improvements, hiring at Austin Water likely remedies for boil-water notice
The city appears likely to approve a special budget item that will pay for more than a dozen new hires and operational software improvements at Austin Water. City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee voted unanimously Thursday to support the recommendations of…
