On Thursday, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez responded to Gov. Greg Abbott’s threat to remove her from office over her recently announced policy to no longer cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants. In a statement to media, she said the following: “I respect the job of our state leaders, but […]
Jack Craver
Posted inCity Council
Council approves extended hours for five Red River music venues
Over the objections of a number of neighbors and nearby hotels, City Council approved a six-month pilot program Thursday that will allow a handful of bars on Red River Street to play outdoor live music one hour later into the night on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The measure, which was approved 9-1-1, with Council Member […]
Posted inWhispers
Council has second thoughts on clothes recycling program
Some members of City Council are concerned that a program aimed at encouraging recycling of old clothes may be putting local businesses and nonprofits in a tough spot. On Thursday, Council will discuss concerns voiced by local thrift stores about a program started last month that allows residents to leave old clothes on the curb […]
Posted inWhispers
Council to consider extended music hours on Red River
City Council will consider approving a pilot program Thursday that will allow music venues on Red River Street to play live music at up to 85 decibels until midnight on Thursdays and until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The pilot is in response to a recommendation from the Music Commission aimed at promoting and […]
Posted inHousing
How do demolitions affect Austin’s affordable housing stock?
As Austin grapples with its affordability crisis, much of the focus has been on how city leaders can incentivize developers to build new housing that includes units reserved for residents at certain income levels. Some city leaders, however, suggest that the city may be neglecting, or even encouraging the destruction of, the largest existing source […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
What will the Lege do to Austin this year?
The debate over local control that will likely play out in the coming months at the Texas Capitol was on display at a panel Tuesday morning hosted by Leadership Austin. In a discussion that often veered into debate, three experts on the intersection of city and state policy gave their thoughts on how the current […]
Posted inPlanning
Arguments continue over neighborhood plan contact teams
What’s the difference between a neighborhood association and a neighborhood plan contact team? According to the city of Austin, there’s a big difference. Neighborhood associations, which can be started by anyone, have no formal relationship with city government, whereas neighborhood plan contact teams are groups designated by the city to collaborate with city staff on […]
Posted inEnvironment
Junior League contends with concerns over heritage trees
After a great deal of hand-wringing over the future of three heritage trees, the city’s Environmental Commission recommended that the Junior League of Austin be granted the several variances it needs to build a new facility in Northwest Austin at 5330 Bluffstone Lane. The 2,500-member women’s service group has outgrown its current facilities, explained Sarah […]
Posted inTexas State Legislature
Candidates react to Dukes’ indictment
Two weeks after reneging on her promise to resign from her seat, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes, who represents much of eastern Travis County, was indicted by a grand jury for 15 offenses related to her alleged misuse of public funds. “Of course I am disappointed, but I expected that if I was sworn into office […]
Posted inCity Council
Council agrees on six ‘outcomes’ to work toward in 2017
City Council wants to make 2017 all about outcomes. During a two-day “retreat” led by a group of government management consultants at the AT&T Conference Center last week, Mayor Steve Adler and his 10 Council colleagues came up with six desired outcomes for Austinites that Council’s every move should aim to produce. Council’s work should […]
Posted inCity Council
Council hopes to reform committees – again
City Council still does not know what to do about its committees. Despite reforms enacted last March aimed at making them operate more smoothly, Council members mostly agree that the four-member panels that they voted to put in place as part of the new 10-1 Council system are not working as intended. Council members were […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Candidates commit to challenging Dukes
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes was sworn in to her 12th term of office to represent much of Eastern Travis County on Tuesday, despite an announcement from Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore that her office plans to present evidence to a grand jury that the veteran Democrat abused her office. Dukes has been dogged by […]