Stories by Cate Malek
Parks and Rec budget bogged down by golf
The Parks and Recreation Board is concerned that expenses from Austin’s city golf courses will overshadow the other needs in its already tight budget. At their meeting on June 29, board members looked over a budget forecast that predicts an…
Parks • By Cate Malek • Jul 1, 2016
City of Austin reaches out to unengaged citizens
Austin residents who have tried to get their voices heard by City Council know well the frustrating experience of sitting in a meeting for sometimes as long as 10 hours waiting for the chance to speak for their allotted three…
City Hall • By Cate Malek • Jul 1, 2016
Human Rights Commission pushes Council to address gentrification
Although gentrification is a well-recognized problem in Austin, the Human Rights Commission believes it has reached crisis level and is pushing City Council to take concrete action. The commission passed a recommendation that Council recognize gentrification as a human rights…
City Hall • By Cate Malek • Jun 29, 2016
Council reaches compromise on charter school land use debate
Last week, City Council voted to apply the same development standards to charter schools that were already required of local public schools, ending months of emotionally charged debate on the issue. In a 7-1-2 vote, with Council Member Ellen Troxclair…
Land Development Code • By Cate Malek • Jun 27, 2016
Ethics complaints over free SXSW tickets dismissed
Complaints against two city officials alleging that they used their positions to acquire free tickets to the South by Southwest Interactive Festival were dismissed quickly by the City Council Ethics Review Commission on June 22. The commission determined that although the…
City Hall • By Cate Malek • Jun 27, 2016
Council approves $17M contract for police body cameras
Despite lingering questions about the technology involved, City Council passed two contracts adding up to over $17.2 million to purchase body cameras and iPhones for the Austin Police Department at its meeting on Thursday. The purchase of the cameras has…
Public Safety • By Cate Malek • Jun 24, 2016
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Charter school agreement held up by environmental dispute
A debate over development standards for charter schools is close to being resolved, but reaching a final agreement hinges on finding a solution to a dispute over environmental regulations. The city has been working to close a loophole that effectively…
Land Development Code • By Cate Malek • Jun 20, 2016
Ethics Review Commission overhauls complaint requirements
The process for bringing a complaint before the Ethics Review Commission will become more complicated, but hopefully more transparent, if City Council passes a recommendation to overhaul the commission’s ethics complaint requirements. Commissioners want to address common and long-running problems…
City Hall • By Cate Malek • Jun 13, 2016
Council delays purchase of police body cameras
Expressing concern that they were moving too fast, City Council members voted 7-1 to delay the purchase of body cameras for the Austin Police Department for two weeks. At their meeting on June 9, Council members cited concerns with transparency…
