The Austin City Council heard from hundreds of people during an emergency meeting Thursday that addressed police violence at weekend protests against the killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Mike Ramos in Austin. Council has been holding its meetings remotely, via video chat, so speakers called in. Some demanded the city slash the police […]
Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Posted inPublic Safety
Texas governor warns of out-of-state agitators, but protesters arrested in Austin were from here
Gov. Greg Abbott warned during a press conference Tuesday that people are coming to Texas from outside of the state to protest violently. “Some of the violence that we’re seeing is not being done by people who reside in Dallas or even in Texas,” he said at Dallas City Hall. “Instead, the violence is coming […]
Posted inHousing
Residents of North Austin mobile home park now own the land they live on
A parade of cars, horns honking, rolled slowly through a mobile home park in North Austin Saturday evening. The drivers, the majority of whom live in the neighborhood, had written words and phrases in Spanish on their windows: “Felicidades, “Sí se pudo” and “Es tu comunidad.” Congratulations. Yes, we could. It’s your community. Residents of […]
Posted inPolice
Austin police confirm what activists believed: Man killed in officer shooting was unarmed
Austin police did not find a gun in or near the car of Michael Ramos, the Austin man who died after being shot at by police last month, Chief Brian Manley said Monday. “We did not locate a firearm inside the vehicle, nor did we locate a firearm in the area around the vehicle,” Manley […]
Posted inAustin
City ‘continues to work through’ governor’s order to slowly reopen Texas
Texas’ statewide stay-at-home order expires Friday, but the city of Austin has yet to clarify how this might affect local residents, how it will enforce the governor’s new order and what, if any, additional requirements the city will enact. “The city of Austin continues to work through the implications of the governor’s Executive Order,” a […]
Posted inPolice
Following racism investigation and a fatal shooting, advocates ask Austin to fire police chief
The Austin Justice Coalition, Grassroots Leadership and other advocacy groups are asking city leaders to fire Austin Police Chief Brian Manley, Chief of Staff Troy Gay and Assistant City Manager Rey Arellano. The call to fire the city’s highest-ranking police officer comes after Michael Ramos, 42, was killed when police shot at his vehicle as he […]
Posted inPolice
Investigator largely unable to corroborate claims of bigotry against high-ranking Austin police
An outside investigator hired by the city of Austin to look into allegations of racism and homophobia against two assistant police chiefs has largely been unable to corroborate the accusations. “At this investigation’s conclusion, we can say we have a gathered a great deal of information and have a significantly increased knowledge about the culture […]
Posted inCity Council
‘A big deal’: Austin approves $15 million relief fund that includes cash assistance for residents
Austin City Council members have approved a $15 million relief fund to aid residents affected financially by the Covid-19 pandemic. “I think this is a big deal and I’m really proud of this council,” Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza said before the vote Thursday. The money will be funneled through nonprofits, some of which have […]
Posted inHousing
Rent deferred. Full amount due. What landlords are telling tenants during the COVID-19 crisis.
It’s a hell of a time to try to open a restaurant. That’s what Steven Kresena was thinking last week as he watched Austin Mayor Steve Adler order all restaurants and bars closed to diners in an attempt to stall the spread of the coronavirus. Kresena had just inspected the tile in his new restaurant, […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Judge throws out City Council votes on new Austin land code, putting rewrite in jeopardy
In a ruling that could derail Austin’s rewrite of its Land Development Code, a Travis County district judge voided two votes City Council has taken so far on the changes. The city has spent nearly eight years and more than $10 million trying to rewrite its land code – the rules that determine what can […]
Posted inAustin
Travis County evictions put on hold, Austin Energy won’t shut off utilities amid COVID-19 outbreak
Eviction hearings in the Austin area will be put on pause until at least April 1, after Travis County justices of the peace issued an order Friday. “It’s not in the public’s interest to have people out in public trying to look for housing or if they become homeless have no way to social-distance themselves,” […]
Posted inCourts
The city’s rewrite of its land use code heads to court (again)
Lawyers representing a group of Austin homeowners will argue in court this week that landowners have the right to formally protest the rezoning of their property under a citywide land code rewrite. If the court sides with them, it could mean that a portion of the city’s land would be exempt from a broad rewrite […]