In Minal and Rajeeta Shah’s backyard, there once stood a cedar tree. The tall, broad canopy provided shade for the sisters’ garden below, a garden with sunflowers and tulsi and lemongrass. It’s a garden their mother, Manjula, pruned and nurtured for nearly two decades. It still flourishes, despite the best efforts of the Texas sun. […]
2022
Posted inPublic Health
Young people working to build a world without gun violence
“We need to fight like hell to fix this problem,” a 13-year-old girl yelled from the Capitol steps. The crowd of hundreds cheered and hollered its approval. The girl was one of a few young people who spoke at the March for Our Lives rally at the Texas Capitol building on June 11. The organization […]
Posted inParks
Harper-Madison argues against increasing parkland fees
Austin’s residential parkland dedication fees, which the city uses to buy parkland, more than doubled last year as the price of land increased. Now city budget writers are proposing to double those fees again for 2023. Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison posted a message to her colleagues on the City Council Message Board Tuesday, notifying them […]
Posted inCity Council
City eyes September start for guaranteed income program
The city’s taxpayer-funded guaranteed income program is expected to begin sending payments to its enrollees in September, marking a major step in the first-of-its-kind initiative by a Texas city. A city memo released Monday detailed the progress made since May, when City Council OK’d the creation of the program and directed the city manager to […]
Posted inWhispers
City to host homelessness strategy meeting today
The city is holding a virtual meeting to update the community on the state of homelessness in Austin, and everyone is invited. According to the description of the event, presenters will touch on a number of issues such as housing production, implementation of the camping ban, American Rescue Plan Act investment strategies, the HEAL initiative, […]
Posted inCity Hall
Parks board passes guidelines for the sale of alcohol in parks
After much discussion, Austin’s Parks and Recreation Board has posted a set of guidelines that will help them decide when to approve conditional use permits that would allow for the sale of alcohol in city parks. With the recommended guidelines in mind, the board subsequently voted to approve a CUP allowing the sale of alcohol […]
Posted inWhispers
State of the City coming up
Mayor Steve Adler will hold his State of the City address at the end of this month. The speech is an opportunity to talk about Austin a lot, and look back at the past year, and usually, forward to the next. Throughout the years, the event has been private, virtual and open to the public. […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin ISD wants teacher housing in the 2022 bond, but some educators are skeptical of the plan
Lee esta historia en español The Austin Independent School District is gathering feedback on a proposal to include funding for teacher housing in the potential 2022 bond package. While bond dollars cannot be used for salaries, the money can be used for construction and renovation projects. The Austin ISD Board of Trustees is considering two […]
Posted inWhispers
Catch a free flick this Friday
Summer Friday Flicks concludes this Friday, Aug. 5, with a free 25th anniversary screening of Selena at the Moody Amphitheater. Bidi Bidi Banda warms up the crowd with a live performance, followed by activities for the whole family courtesy of the Austin Parks Foundation and others. Bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs; lots of free cold water […]
Posted inBudget
Speakers urge Council to increase community services budget
City Council heard from about two dozen speakers Tuesday, the majority of whom urged Council members to put more money into the upcoming budget for community services such as helping the homeless, helping people pay their rent and building more affordable housing. A number of speakers urged them to increase wages for city employees, particularly […]
Posted inWhispers
Library celebrates grand reopening
The Eustasio Cepeda Branch Library is throwing a grand reopening party and you’re invited. Library Director Roosevelt Weeks announced in a press release, “We are thrilled to welcome the Govalle and East Austin community back into this important center for learning, culture and recreation. The improvements that have been made at this location will allow […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission discusses APD’s protest response
The Public Safety Commission heard from the Austin Police Department Monday about how it responds to protests, including how it uses the LRAD, a powerful speaker that some fear could damage protesters’ and police officers’ hearing. APD Commander Corey Wroblewski described the basics of APD’s protest response in his presentation. How the police department responds to protests – or […]