CodeNEXT court hearing rescheduled

Fred Lewis, one of the attorneys who filed suit on behalf of citizens seeking to put CodeNEXT on the November ballot, notes that the mandamus action that had previously been set for a hearing on Wednesday has been rescheduled to Monday, July 2, at 9 a.m. But if you had your heart set on some CodeNEXT action on Wednesday, never fear, because City Council will have a special called meeting on the matter starting at 9 a.m. that day. Council members voted not to put the CodeNEXT question on the ballot after receiving advice from their attorneys that they were not authorized, and certainly not required, to put the matter on the ballot. According to the city’s outside legal counsel, “the significant weight of legal authority supports the conclusion that an election is not required.” Council will have until August 20 to place the matter on the ballot if ordered to do so by a judge. The judge in this case is District Judge Orlinda Naranjo. In other city lawsuit news, the suit to overturn Austin’s paid sick leave ordinance is scheduled for a hearing at 9 a.m. today. Austin became the first Texas city to pass a paid sick days ordinance in February. And in late April, opponents of the policy filed suit. The Workers Defense Project, Austin electrician Joe Hernandez and L’Oca d’Oro, an Italian restaurant, have filed a motion to intervene. They are represented by the Texas Civil Rights Project.