Lewis Conway Jr., a candidate for Austin City Council who has a felony record, may not be able to run after all. Austin City Clerk Jannette Goodall sent Conway an email Friday challenging his eligibility and asking for documents showing that he had been pardoned or “otherwise released from the disabilities” resulting from his conviction. […]
Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
Posted inCity Hall
English sues Austin over wording of ballot question for city audit
Ed English is suing the city over the wording of a November ballot measure about a citywide audit. Activists collected more than 30,000 signatures asking the city to hire a third party to conduct an efficiency audit of all its departments. City Council members voted Thursday to put the question to voters. But supporters of […]
Posted inDevelopment
‘Opportunity’ knocks? Austin doesn’t quite know what to do with areas picked for federal tax breaks
Census tract 48453002411 has a lot to offer. There’s a brewery on the north edge of the tract. There’s a neighborhood park, and you’re not too far from McKinney Falls State Park. On a good day, you can drive from this part of Southeast Austin to downtown in 20 minutes. But census tract 48453002411 also […]
Posted inLand Development Code
‘Something has gone horribly wrong’: Adler calls for a reset on CodeNEXT process
Mayor Steve Adler wants the city to scrap CodeNEXT and start over. In a post to the City Council Message Board Wednesday, Adler asked that the city manager come up with a new process for updating the city’s 34-year-old Land Development Code. The mayor bemoaned “misinformation” surrounding the yearslong discussion. “When a long-time resident says […]
Posted inRoads
Another downtown Austin street goes two-way. Studies tell us that’s good.
For 68 years, drivers on Colorado Street in downtown Austin could go only one way: south. But as of today, that one-directional road officially goes two ways for cars. It’s the hip thing to do. “This is absolutely a trend,” said Billy Riggs, assistant professor of management at the University of San Francisco. Riggs said […]
Posted inCourts
Texas usually fights Austin at the Capitol. Lately, the fight is in the courtroom.
The city of Austin has endured several legal jabs from the state in the past couple of months. Recently, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stepped into a dispute over the makeup of the city’s Planning Commission. A week ago, the city of Austin announced it would no longer enforce its ban on single-use plastic bags […]
Posted inCity Hall
Austin may be getting a new department to oversee labor rights laws
City Council members voted Thursday to ask the city manager to look into creating a new department to oversee its labor rights laws – including rules that guarantee rest breaks for construction workers and mandate paid sick leave for private employees. These laws are currently overseen by at least two departments – the Code Department […]
Posted inCourts
Lawsuit accuses Austin, Travis County of gender bias in handling of sexual assaults
Three women have sued the city of Austin and Travis County, alleging their sexual assault cases were inadequately handled because of their gender. The class-action lawsuit claims that sexual assault survivors “have been denied equal access to justice and equal protection of the law.” The suit, filed Monday in federal court, was first reported by […]
Posted inPolice
Council confirms Manley as new police chief
City Council unanimously confirmed Brian Manley as the Austin Police Department’s new chief Thursday. Manley has served in an interim role since former Police Chief Art Acevedo left to head up Houston’s police department in 2016. Manley thanked those at City Hall for “putting faith” in him and said he appreciated having the opportunity to […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Council votes not to put CodeNEXT petition on ballot
City Council members have voted against putting a CodeNEXT petition to a public vote, instead allowing a threatened lawsuit to proceed and a judge to determine whether the city is required to do so. “Putting this on the ballot is not proper under law,” said Mayor Steve Adler, who voted with the six-member majority. “(But) […]
Posted inTransportation
When roads are built to prioritize cars, pedestrians are often faulted for getting hit
Part 3 of a three-part series A driver hit and killed Judy Romano’s son, Barry Friedman, while he was walking in Austin two years ago. According to the police report, Friedman tried to cross East Parmer Lane just before 6 a.m. on July 9, 2016. The driver said Friedman was in the crosswalk even though […]
Posted inTransportation
Housing Austin’s homeless will reduce road deaths, but that will require a big investment
Part 2 of a three-part series Mike Villegas learned his oldest child had died on Christmas Eve 2016. Villegas said he was doing work around the house with his 12-year-old son. When he went out to the front yard, he noticed a police car parked outside the house. “I knew immediately that this was not […]