Austin was named a leader in the area of digital inclusion in 2023, in part because of its efforts to address the digital divide that many residents face. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance awarded the city one of its Digital Inclusion Trailblazer awards, which recognized access to affordable high-speed internet, devices and digital skills training […]
2024
Posted inHousing
City seeing mixed results halfway through Strategic Housing Blueprint
The city is seeing mixed results halfway through the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint adopted by City Council in 2017. After five years, the city is on track to meet goals aimed at preserving affordable housing and building new housing in some areas of town. However, the city continues to be far behind on its district-based […]
Posted inWhispers
Moving? Austin stayed among top relocation spots in 2023
Austin remains one of the most popular relocation destinations in the country, according to one of the biggest players in the home moving industry. U-Haul, which provides moving vehicles to those looking to relocate, reported recently that Austin was the No. 5 most popular destination for its customers in 2023. The company also found Texas […]
Posted inPublic Health
Requests for abortion pills surged amid threats to reproductive rights, UT-based study shows
Advance requests for abortion medication surged when the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked, a new study has found. The study in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at requests for the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol from the telemedicine service Aid Access between September 2021 and April 2023. Specifically, it tracked what are called “advance […]
Posted inCity Hall
In first year, Qadri touts progress on housing, collaboration and I-35 caps and stitches
Zo Qadri knew he’d have plenty to learn and adapt to as a new member of City Council after being sworn in last January. But the learning curve became an almost vertical climb as he and the staff in his newly assembled office worked to help residents dealing with power outages and other hardships caused […]
Posted inCity Hall
Alison Alter diversifies her investments in public safety
District 10 City Council Member Alison Alter takes an expansive view of public safety and prioritizes related investments to ensure the city is prepared when threats arise. “My focus this year has been on safety … resilience and effective delivery of core services,” she told the Austin Monitor. Alter’s 2023 goals included entering into new […]
Posted inCity Hall
Leslie Pool launches into the final year of a busy decade
Leslie Pool’s ninth year on City Council has been a productive and busy one. She recalls that she started out 2023 with the intention of helping her newly elected colleagues learn the ropes and accomplish their goals. For Ryan Alter, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez, affordable housing was an important goal. Each emphasized housing in […]
Posted inCity Hall
In 2024, Paige Ellis will focus on her two main loves: mobility improvements and parks
The past year has been a busy one for City Council Member Paige Ellis, who served as mayor pro tem throughout 2023. She described the extra duties of the position as “a great experience.” Noting that Mayor Kirk Watson is very detail-oriented, Ellis said she never had any question about what needed to be done. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Ryan Alter reflects on ‘tangible results’ of his first year in office
When Council Member Ryan Alter was running for office in 2022, he stressed the need for housing affordability, specifically rejecting the slow approach favored by his predecessor. When he came into office in January, he began to work on that issue along with his colleagues. Alter told the Austin Monitor, “I came into office, I […]
Posted inCity Hall
Mackenzie Kelly seeks common ground while pursuing public safety, housing goals in 2024
The photo above the light switch in City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly’s office captures her slim 4 percent win in the 2020 election for the District 6 seat. It serves as a reminder that she works for the 48 percent of the voters who didn’t select her, as well as the 52 percent who did. […]
Posted inTravis County
County Judge Brown to focus on diversion center, passenger rail in 2024
In January, Travis County Judge Andy Brown told the Austin Monitor that he intended to double down on overdose prevention efforts and the county’s work to build a mental health diversion center to help more people in crisis avoid jail time. In December, Brown sat down with the Monitor again and confirmed not just his […]
Posted inCity Hall
Watson expects City Hall ‘shakeup’ to continue in 2024, with police contract a priority
Mayor Kirk Watson says he didn’t see the widespread shutdown of city services during the February ice storm as an opening to drastically restructure how the city government is organized. But he did take it as confirmation that it was time for the city to change – in a hurry. Within weeks of the storm, […]