People experiencing homelessness can now work for the city of Austin. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department, along with Austin Public Health, The Other Ones Foundation and City Council Member Ellen Troxclair, highlighted the pilot program Monday in South Austin. Joe Pacheco, 51, who’s been living on the streets, is currently working for the program. […]
Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin urbanists see support for denser housing in defeat of Prop J and Laura Morrison
Most mornings, Dave Sullivan bikes from his house in Clarksville to the University of Texas. He then hops on an express bus to his job as a researcher at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus. During the election season, his daily commute served as a sort of poll of voters – albeit with a minuscule sample […]
Posted inElections
Adler cruises to second term as Austin mayor
In a landslide victory, Steve Adler won his re-election as mayor of Austin on Tuesday and will serve another four years in office. With voters coming out in record numbers in Travis County, Adler earned 61 percent of the vote, overpowering his biggest challenger, former Council Member Laura Morrison, along with five other candidates. Voters […]
Posted inAustin
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport plans expansion as air traffic soars
Take all the people who live in New York City. Multiply that by two, and you’ll get the number of passengers who are expected to travel through Austin’s airport this year: 16 million. That’s a lot. By 2040, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport staff estimate, that number will nearly double, and ABIA will begin processing more than […]
Posted inLocal Politics
PAC takes heat after using racist symbol Pepe the Frog in anti-Adler ad
One of Austin’s more prolific political action committees has apologized after releasing a video ad featuring Pepe the Frog, a cartoon frog used by anti-Semitic and alt-right groups. IndyAustin has collected thousands of dollars for several political goals, including opposing Mayor Steve Adler’s re-election and getting Proposition J on the ballot. An ad it released […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Who funded the PACs that got two propositions on Austin’s ballot this November?
A Californian who attempted a 2016 presidential run. A reported real estate investor in Arizona. These are some of the people who have given to political action committees behind two local ballot initiatives – propositions J and K. Political action committees are not subject to the same campaign finance requirements as candidates. There are fewer restrictions […]
Posted inElections
Here are the candidates running to be Austin’s next mayor
If you’re tired of hearing about the face-off between Sen. Ted Cruz and Congressman Beto O’Rourke, maybe it’s time to turn your attention to local elections, like the mayor’s race. Mayor Steve Adler is fighting to retain his seat against six challengers, most of whom are political newcomers with some wild ideas – including building […]
Posted inAustin
Swimming in Austin just became more expensive. Here are some other new city fees.
Every Oct. 1, the city of Austin welcomes a new budget – and with it, new city fees. These can be anything from public library fines to what it costs to adopt a dog from the city shelter. Here’s a list of some of the more notable changes this year: Swimming is now more expensive. […]
Posted inCourts
Austin to appeal state court’s hold on paid sick leave ordinance
The city of Austin is appealing a state court’s decision to put on hold the city’s paid sick leave ordinance, which was set to go into effect Oct. 1. A state appeals court ruled last month that the law couldn’t be enforced until the merits of the case were heard. City Council members approved the […]
Posted inPolice
APD to soon use drones to map fatal car crashes
Drones are multipurpose: They can deliver pizzas and tally seals. Drones can fight wildfires and make aerial videos that garner pretty impressive watch counts on YouTube. Drones can also map fatal car crashes, which is why the Austin Police Department recently doled out $10,468 to buy two of them. “A fatal crash scene is unique […]
Posted inCourts
Texas Supreme Court denies challenges to two ballot items for Austin voters this fall
The Texas Supreme Court has denied petitions from two Austin residents asking that the city rewrite a pair of November ballot measures. Attorney Bill Aleshire filed challenges earlier this month with the court over the wording of a citizen-initiated petition that asked whether the city should hire a third-party auditor to scrutinize the efficiency of […]
Posted inElections
The Austin city clerk is no longer challenging Lewis Conway Jr.’s City Council bid
The Austin city clerk has reversed her decision to challenge Lewis Conway Jr.’s candidacy for Austin City Council. Conway, a candidate for District 1, has a felony record, and City Clerk Jannette Goodall requested clarification on his eligibility to run for public office late last week. Conway has maintained that he is legally allowed to […]