With the rail bond defeat in the rearview mirror, this week the City Council Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee took a look at a long-planned but almost forgotten rail line that could connect Austin will communities to the east. The proposed Green Line would connect Elgin, Manor, Decker Lake and downtown Austin. The route, which […]
2014
Posted inWhispers
Texas files lawsuit on immigration policy
Texas led a group of 17 states Wednesday in suing the Obama administration over its recent executive actions on immigration. Texas Attorney General and Governor-elect Greg Abbott said the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to act on immigration policy. Abbott filed the lawsuit in federal court in the Southern District of […]
Posted inWhispers
Early voting numbers remain anemic
The numbers were down on the second day of early voting for the Dec. 16 runoff election. While on the first day 0.94 percent of registered Travis County voters cast ballots, on Tuesday only 0.75 percent — or 4,167 people — did. That means a total of 9,351 people have voted so far in the […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Elections, Local Politics, Transportation
Candidates debate development in District 7
Two North Austin City Council candidates, who will face off in a Dec. 16 runoff election, say the city is growing rapidly and that the District 7 Council member must make sure the area stays affordable. District 7 candidate Leslie Pool, 59, is an executive assistant for Travis County Constable Carlos Lopez. She sailed ahead […]
Posted inDevelopment, Resources, Transportation, Travis County
County OKs Land Water and Transportation Plan
Despite the fact that Texas counties have very little real control over how unincorporated land is developed, Travis County is giving it its best effort, as Commissioners approved a comprehensive Land Water and Transportation Plan on Tuesday. The plan, the result of 10 years of work and planning by the county’s Transportation and Natural Resources […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Energy, activists negotiate on plan
Austin Energy is currently negotiating with renewable energy activists to reach agreement on a generation plan for the utility that will satisfy those who are seeking to reduce Austin’s carbon emissions as well as utility customers who worry about future price increases. Utility spokesman Robert Cullick told the Monitor on Tuesday, “I can confirm that we […]
Posted inWhispers
Panel named for Central Health picks
It looks like Travis County Judge-elect Sarah Eckhardt will be coming out of her brief retirement a few weeks early in order to help the current County Commission narrow the slate of candidates for the Central Health board of managers. Eckhardt quit her job as Pct. 2 Commissioner in the spring in order to run […]
Posted inAustin, Development, Housing, Resources
Consultant outlines affordable housing study data
Affordable housing advocates and residents gathered at City Hall on Monday to weigh in on the findings and recommendations of a July report that outlines Austin’s affordable housing needs and fair choice impediments. According to the 2014 Comprehensive Housing Market Study, the city has lost a significant amount of affordable housing since 2000, though it […]
Posted inAustin, Roads, Transportation
City switches downtown streets to slow traffic
Plans to convert downtown’s Seventh, Eighth, Brazos and Colorado streets from one-way to two-way streets are underway. On Monday, City Council’s Comprehensive Planning and Transportation Committee heard a presentation on a timeline for the change from acting Transportation Department Assistant Director Jim Dale. “A lot of cities have gone through this process, of being two-way […]
Posted inWhispers
BOA holds line on CrossFit use
On Monday, the Board of Adjustment turned down the chance to reconsider its ruling on BVM CrossFit, with only Board Members Will Schnier and Vincent Harding voting in favor of hearing the case again. In October, the board ruled against the Planning and Development Review Department determination and found that General Commercial Services was a […]
Posted inWhispers
Turnout light for early voting
Turnout on the first day of early voting in the mayoral and Council runoff elections was light, with less than 1 percent of registered voters casting a ballot. Some 5,184 votes were cast Monday; 3,570 ballots were cast in person, while 1,614 ballots were mailed. The voting location with the largest number of first-day votes […]
Posted inAustin, Elections, Local Politics, Transportation
Under scrutiny, District 4 candidates debate
On first day of early voting, the two remaining candidates in District 4 sat down to debate. Even though both focused on their plans for keeping North Austin affordable, their differences were apparent. Greg Casar, 25, a community organizer, led the election on Nov. 4 with 39 percent of the vote. His opponent, Laura Pressley, […]