Austin Monitor

Today’s newsletter is supported by the Austin Chamber and the Greater Austin Business Awards nominations ⚪️ Quote of the Day “The concern we had there was with some of the language that may have inadvertently suggested that we were asking them to maximize the development potential in this part of town… And we wanted to […]

Today’s newsletter is supported by the Austin Chamber and the Greater Austin Business Awards nominations ⚪️ ⚪️ Public Safety Commission hears about legislation impacting Austin From Jo Clifton: Last week, members of the Public Safety Commission heard from Intergovernmental Relations Deputy Officer Rick Ramirez about bills the city helped pass and those the city opposed […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “It is all one budget, and we need to start thinking in that way as we start the initial descent of this airplane.” — Mayor Kirk Watson, from Council mulls budget priorities ahead of vote  ⚪️ New concrete barricades coming to Austin’s Sixth Street as part of safety plan From Nathan […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We understand what this will do to the daily use, to the weekly use, to the visits. So we take that very seriously.” — Charlotte Tonsor, executive projects director with The Trail Conservancy, from Lady Bird Lake trail will detour during I-35 construction, but the details remain unclear ⚪️ Lady Bird […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We urge you to find the Goldilocks path, the path that is just right, the path that is most likely to succeed given our precarious situation… We would rather have something than nothing.” —  Caritas of Austin’s Joshua Houston, from As state considers further constriction, Council wrestles with how high […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We are going to do all of the things and incentivize and disincentivize people with every tool that we have.” — Austin Water Director Director Shay Ralls Roalson, from Austin Water reports progress and challenges as drought persists. ⚪️ Austin Water reports progress and challenges as drought persists From Mina Shekarchi: […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “’As we continue to get these complaints without any definition, it makes it very difficult as a commission, as well as for the public who want to bring complaints to know what even evidence is necessary.” — Commissioner Luis Figueroa, from Ethics Commission opts to end complaints against Harper-Madison. ⚪️ Ethics […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We’re in this situation because of a lack of realism by previous Councils on public safety cost. It’s why we need granular cent commitments in the ballot language.” — ulio Gonzalez Altamirano, from Council approves maximum tax rate increase in preparation for possible election ⚪️ Council approves maximum tax rate increase […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “I don’t want this to become a situation where only the folks with extra dollars to spend get to utilize our city park spaces… I would love for the parks department to have a bigger slice of the general fund, but when two-thirds of it is going to public safety […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We want to do our best to assist the Planning Commission so they don’t have four-hour meetings every time they meet.” — Commissioner Taylor Major, from Zoning and Platting Commission may want duties swap with Planning Commission ⚪️ Travis County proposes raising property taxes to pay for flood repairs From Katy […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “If they added shade, it’d be damn near perfect.” — Casey Hartsfield, from New MoKan Trailhead offers a rest stop along East Austin’s expanding trail network. ⚪️ Residents back tax hike for 2026 bond projects, survey shows From Chad Swiatecki: More than two-thirds of Austin residents say they’re willing to support […]

⚪️ Quote of the Day “We do bring this very storied program and grant opportunity to the table, but unlike in the past, it won’t be administered within the silo of just preservation.” —  Historic Landmark Commission Chair Ben Heimsath, from City’s Heritage Preservation Grant program to be retooled for upcoming fiscal year ⚪️ City’s […]