March for Our Lives, a national grassroots organization committed to ending gun violence, will be marching once again. According to a news release, Central Texas teenagers are coordinating March for Our Lives Austin, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday on the south steps of the Texas Capitol building. The group is […]
2022
Posted inWhispers
Environmental groups sue FAA over fuel tanks
Two Austin environmental organizations have filed suit against the Federal Aviation Administration seeking to overturn its decision allowing new fuel tanks to be installed at the Austin airport. The groups are the new Southeast Austin Residents and Neighbors Organized for Environmental Justice, or SANAR, and the well-established People Organized in Defense of Earth and Her […]
Posted inLand Development Code
How tall should buildings be when they’re near single-family homes?
There’s a building on South Lamar that looks like a stepladder. Well, maybe a stepladder if you laid it on the ground. Or, maybe just a set of stairs – for a giant. “As you move across Lamar, you’re literally seeing the diagram of the zoning,” said Maija Kreishman, a principal with Michael Hsu Office […]
Posted inTipSheets
TipSheet: Austin City Council, 6.9.22
Today is City Council’s penultimate meeting before a summer break, which means the meeting is jam-packed with odds and ends that need to get in order before then. This TipSheet is an educated guess as to what might be important in the upcoming meeting. To make your own guess, head over to the city website […]
Posted inWhispers
Library series celebrates freedom to read
In collaboration with BookPeople, Austin Public Library is responding to the rash of book-banning across Texas with a summerlong series of events called Banned Camp. A press release explains that the calendar of author events, storytimes and book clubs is a way for community members to “engage with books that have been banned or challenged, and […]
Posted inBudget
City must raise wages to $22/hour, working group says
Members of the city’s living wage work group urged City Council Tuesday to raise the city’s living wage to $22 an hour for the upcoming fiscal year. They said the wage should apply to all regular and temporary city employees except employees of the summer youth program, regardless of position or number of hours worked. […]
Posted inBudget
Public safety departments present budget proposals to Public Safety Commission
Austin’s public safety departments – police, fire and EMS – are preparing for the annual budget process in July and August by forecasting budgets and drafting wish lists, all of which include additional funding to fill vacant positions. Meanwhile, a group of more than 30 community organizations has drafted a Community Investment Budget for Fiscal […]
Posted inPreservation
Developer to embark on dual high-rise and landmark restoration project at Old Depot Hotel
A plan to develop the parking lot adjacent to the historic Old Depot Hotel is getting a new lease on life, with real estate firm Stonelake Capital Partners behind the wheel. The project at 504 East Fifth St., which includes both a high-rise residential building and rehabilitation of the neighboring landmark, came before the Historic […]
Posted inWhispers
Talk equity with Central Health
Central Health is holding several community conversations this month to inform residents about its recently adopted Healthcare Equity Plan. Attendees will learn how Central Health is “already addressing gaps identified in this plan while working toward developing a comprehensive health care system for Travis County residents with low income.” Choose one of the following events […]
Posted inWhispers
Annual tree awards relaunches
Who doesn’t have a favorite tree – or several – around the city? Now you can nominate your best-loved trees for Austin’s retooled Tree of the Year Awards. The original Tree of the Year observance was launched in 2007 and ran until 2013. Nearly a decade later, the awards are back and better than ever, thanks […]
Posted inAustin
Bird pays its bill
Although the city of Austin apparently enjoys a good working relationship with the scooter company Bird, the same could not be said for Travis County. Bird Rides Inc. appeared at No. 7 on Travis County Tax Assessor-Collector Bruce Elfant’s list of top 10 delinquent property owners. According to Elfant, as of Monday, the company owed Travis […]
Posted inWhispers
Guerrero running for District 9 seat
Linda Guerrero, 67, who has served on numerous city commissions and boards, has announced her candidacy for the District 9 City Council seat, joining a growing list of candidates for the job. Council Member Kathie Tovo, who currently represents District 9 and has served on Council since 2011, announced earlier this year that she would […]