Republican Rebecca Bray, an engineer and transportation planner, has announced plans to run for Travis County commissioner of Precinct 3. If she succeeds, she will replace retiring Commissioner Gerald Daugherty, who announced last week that he did not intend to run again. Daugherty immediately endorsed Bray, the only Republican to announce her candidacy for that […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inFire
Council OKs amended emergency mutual aid pact
Council gave final approval Thursday to a mutual automatic aid agreement designed to ensure that 19 fire and rescue departments throughout Travis and Williamson counties will assist each other in far-flung parts of Austin and the included counties. The city has had such an agreement with Travis County emergency services districts for many years, but […]
Posted inCity Hall
Trying to get apartment, employee committed fraud
An Austin Public Health employee misused her city computer, fax machines and the department’s patient records in an attempt to rent an apartment, according to an investigative report from the Office of the City Auditor. The report states that Johnetta Lindsay, who worked as a patient representative with Austin Public Health, created fake job offer […]
Posted inFire
AFD, union still at odds over interlocal agreement
Bob Nicks, president of the Austin Firefighters Association, and Austin Fire Chief Joel Baker are locked in a battle over whether the city should sign on to a new mutual aid agreement with emergency services districts in both Travis and Williamson counties and several small cities. While Baker appears to have the winning hand, he […]
Posted inWhispers
Do you know this goat?
This pygmy goat was found near Barton Springs Pool around Dec. 1, according to a spokesperson for 311. Because no one has claimed her or him, the Department of Animal Services has created this little poster to spread the word about the foundling. If you own this goat or you know who does, please call […]
Posted inWhispers
Poll shows Garza’s support
According to poll results released by the political action committee supporting Delia Garza for Travis County attorney, the mayor pro tem has a significant lead over her three opponents in the Democratic primary. Even though Garza has not announced her candidacy, her supporters at the Progressive Justice Now PAC have been hard at work. The […]
Posted inZoning
South Austin zoning could be a game-changer
“This is going to be a game-changer for South Austin,” Council Member Pio Renteria told his colleagues, as they voted to allow a developer to turn an industrial site near the intersection of Interstate 35 and Ben White Boulevard into a mixed-use residential development with 400 apartments and more than 12,000 square feet of retail. […]
Posted inCity Council
Neighbors win Open Meetings suit again
Once again, the city of Austin finds itself on the losing end of a legal battle over public information. Last week, the 14th Court of Appeals sided with the Lake Austin Collective, which sued the city for failing to give adequate notice of an agenda item changing the terms of development regulations for the Champion […]
Posted inWhispers
Reporters sue state over hidden records
The Texas Inaugural Committee, a state agency subject to the Texas Public Information Act, took in $5.3 million to throw parties for Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, according to information reported by The Texas Tribune. The publication also reported that the committee collected so much money, considerably more than Rick Perry or […]
Posted inWhispers
Ethics investigators see rise in complaints
It’s been a busy year for the city auditor’s Integrity Unit. Brian Molloy, chief of investigations for the auditor’s office, told members of the Council Audit & Finance Committee Wednesday that the unit received 333 complaints during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, a 21 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2018 and the highest […]
Posted inEnergy
Texas Gas Service proposes billing changes
Texas Gas Service, which serves 260,000 customers in Central Texas, including 220,000 within Austin’s city limits, is proposing a new rate design that will give customers new options for how their bills will be calculated. Larry Graham, manager of community relations, and Stacey McTaggart, regulatory director for the company, told Council’s Audit and Finance Committee […]
Posted inWhispers
Hays County, Nature Conservancy buying part of iconic ranch
On Friday, Hays County, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, is scheduled to purchase 530 acres of the former Boy Scout ranch known as El Rancho Cima. The $13 million acquisition will be partially funded through use of Hays County bond money designated to protect the land and habitat of an area 18 miles west […]