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County invests in nonprofits and cash assistance to prevent evictions
On Tuesday, the Travis County Commissioners Court approved a series of investment strategies to prevent evictions and smooth the potentially rocky transition away from the federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance program to other forms of rental assistance. “The key questions…
Housing • By Seth Smalley • Jan 27, 2022
TipSheet: City Council, 1.27.22
Today marks the first regular Council meeting of 2022, after an extended holiday break. Despite that, today’s agenda seems pretty manageable, though that may be the recharge of optimism from the extended break talking. As usual, this is just a…
TipSheets • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jan 27, 2022
Vela easily wins District 4 race
A look at the election results Tuesday night showed that José “Chito” Vela would handily defeat his six opponents in the special election to replace outgoing Council Member Greg Casar. Vela won 2,137 votes for 59.23 percent. His closest rival,…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 26, 2022
Library Commission pushes for fine-free books
Austin librarygoers may be in luck: The Library Commission unanimously voted Monday to do away with late fees for overdue library books. While City Council still has to approve the resolution in order for fine-free libraries to become the new norm,…
Austin • By Willow Higgins • Jan 26, 2022
Experiment in car-free housing pays off for East Austin project
Can car-free housing work in Austin? If a proposed project in East Austin is any indication, the answer is yes. Those willing to ditch their cars have lined up to buy a unit in the Ivory, a mostly income-restricted project…
Planning • By Jonathan Lee • Jan 26, 2022
Transit partnership moves on $17 million contract for consultant
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors met Monday to discuss several important updates to the Austin Transit Partnership (whose board convened last Wednesday), including a multimillion-dollar service contract with the consultancy Ernst and Young. Board Member Eric Stratton…
Transit • By Seth Smalley • Jan 26, 2022
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MACC expansion plans headed for review
City leaders are getting an up-close look this week at the project details for the long-planned expansion of the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center. The Design and the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Resource Advisory commissions are slated to…
Planning • By Chad Swiatecki • Jan 25, 2022
Negotiations begin anew as public safety contracts expire this year
With contracts between the city and Austin’s three public safety associations set to expire in September, the Public Safety Commission heard presentations and perspectives from each of the groups and the Austin Justice Coalition on Monday. The Austin EMS Association,…
Public Safety • By Amy Smith • Jan 25, 2022
Cap Metro tries to keep Leander in transit system by offering infrastructure funding
In an attempt to keep Leander from holding an election on whether to cut ties with Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the regional transit agency’s board of directors voted unanimously Monday to sweeten its deal with the suburban community. Under the new…
Transit • By Nathan Bernier, KUT • Jan 25, 2022
Austin Water outlines actions for dealing with the next crisis
Since last February’s winter storm, Austin Water has taken numerous steps, both big and small, to prepare for the impact of another such emergency. Director Greg Meszaros told City Council’s Austin Water Oversight Committee last week that, with the help…
Water • By Jo Clifton • Jan 24, 2022
Capital Metro updates city on federally funded transit study
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority shared how it plans to spend the first $900,000 in federal money granted to Project Connect this past Thursday in a briefing with the city’s Environmental Commission. The grant, awarded through the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital…
Transit • By Kali Bramble • Jan 24, 2022
Six months in, Safer Sixth Street initiative continues
At this week’s meeting, the Downtown Commission established a working group to help think through and execute the Safer Sixth Street initiative, which has been in the works for about six months. The project, which came about after a mass shooter…
