Stories by Audrey McGlinchy, KUT
After two dockless scooter companies launch in Austin, city speeds up rule process
Jumping the gun works, it seems. While city staff was devising a pilot program to govern dockless bikes and scooters, expecting to bring a proposal to Council members in June, two companies dropped their electric scooters throughout the city. Now…
Transportation • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Apr 17, 2018
Petition to potentially put CodeNEXT on the ballot filed with city clerk
Activists filed a petition with the city clerk on Thursday in an effort to put all Land Development Code rewrites, including CodeNEXT, to a public vote. “We believe (residents) should have the right to decide whether this is the new…
Land Development Code • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 30, 2018
Austin law requires job seekers with criminal pasts get a fair shot. But it's not being enforced.
When Lauren Johnson started job hunting in the early 1990s, she walked from business to business, filling out applications by hand. “It’ll be so much easier someday when this is all computerized,” she remembers thinking. Two decades later, job applications…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Mar 8, 2018
In 2018 State of the City, Adler calls for political unity at local level
Has a foreign government infiltrated the CodeNEXT process? Well, no one’s saying that. But in his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, Mayor Steve Adler said the “alleged Russian infiltration” on our nation’s politics has inflamed divisions across…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 21, 2018
City Council considers prescribing paid sick leave for private employers
Mornings at Hoover’s Cooking are spent hammering beef to make it thin enough for the restaurant’s best-selling dish: chicken-fried steak. “Other things that are good sellers are our fried catfish … and pork chops,” said Hoover Alexander, who has owned…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 13, 2018
Austin is full of anti-gentrification ideas, but most wouldn't have a direct impact
Since 2000, the city of Austin has had a lot of ideas about how to slow down gentrification. A task force recommended in 2002, for example, that the city educate residents about available property tax exemptions. In 2008, City Council…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Feb 6, 2018
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Equity Office tries to make good on year-old institutional racism report
Austin’s Equity Office is considering how to make good on a report published last April that laid out more than 200 recommendations for how the city can combat institutional racism. “We sent out the report to all of our city departments…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 31, 2018
Here's what the new city manager's salary and benefits could look like
When incoming City Manager Spencer Cronk moves to Austin next month, he’ll have some help. City Council members are scheduled to vote next week on a compensation package for Cronk, who comes to Austin from Minneapolis and starts on Feb.…
City Hall • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 24, 2018
APD makes final push to get body cameras on all patrol officers
By March, all Austin patrol officers will be wearing body cameras, according to estimates by the Austin Police Department. Currently, 658 body cameras are in use; another 200 will be added. “After that, we’ll be looking to (give them to…
Police • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 18, 2018
This nonprofit will train you to run for City Council. And also make you compete to do so.
At 5 p.m. on a Friday at Native, a new bar and hostel in East Austin, half a dozen people occupied the blue velvet booths and dance-punk music blares overhead. Leigh Salinas, 31, walked in carrying a duffel bag. She…
Austin • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 17, 2018
Former Council Member Laura Morrison to run against Adler for mayor
Austin Mayor Steve Adler has his first official challenger in the race for mayor in November. Former City Council Member Laura Morrison announced in an email Monday that she will run against Adler for the city’s top elected position. “I’m…
Elections • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jan 9, 2018
In unanimous vote, Council rejects police contract, sends back to negotiations
City Council members voted unanimously to send a five-year contract between the city and the local police union back to the negotiating table late Wednesday. The contract, which dictates pay, discipline and oversight of Austin Police Department officers, is negotiated…
