City Council still has at least two more work sessions and a public hearing in which to understand and hash out differences of opinion about the new Land Development Code before Dec. 9, the first of three readings to adopt it. Mayor Steve Adler noted during Monday’s work session that second reading of the ordinance […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Alter announces for reelection
It should come as no surprise to City Council watchers that District 10 Council Member Alison Alter announced this weekend that she would be seeking a second term. Alter, who is not a frequent tweeter, confirmed her announcement via Twitter and sent emails to supporters seeking contributions and directing anyone interested to read all about her […]
Posted inWhispers
Firefighters go on offense, DA responds
Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks says this is the first time he can ever recall his union starting a negative campaign on a public official. Firefighters launched a campaign Thursday called #NoDAMoore. “And to get involved in an issue like this, not a bread-and-butter issue, is very unusual,” he said. But 78 percent of […]
Posted inCity Council
New worries arise over tax increment financing
Council members approved a resolution Thursday directing the city manager to bring them a plan for financing two Capital Metro Red Line rail stations in north Austin, one at McKalla Place and one at the new Broadmoor development. However, several Council members expressed unease about using tax increment financing, a vehicle the city has used […]
Posted inWhispers
Council considers directive for Red Line Parkway
Council seems likely to approve an item on today’s agenda directing City Manager Spencer Cronk to explore what types of agreements the city might enter into to spur development of the long-sought Red Line Parkway Initiative. Council Member Leslie Pool is the lead sponsor of the item. The Red Line trail is envisioned as a […]
Posted inElections
Garza not running for reelection, others eye seat
Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza, who represents District 2 on City Council, announced Tuesday that she would not be seeking reelection in 2020. The announcement is Garza’s next step in her likely run for Travis County Attorney. As the deadline for filing for office on the March primary ballot is Dec. 9, that is Garza’s […]
Posted inElections
Campaign contribution limits going up
While candidates for state and federal offices have been gearing up to run in the March 2020 primary, likely City Council candidates have also been considering whether to run in next November’s election. In fact, candidates for Council have been able to start collecting campaign donations since Nov. 4. Austin voters approved new campaign finance […]
Posted inWater
Fighting zebra mussels to be costly
Zebra mussels, the tiny mollusks that have infested lakes from the Great Lakes to Lake Travis, have now proliferated in Lake Austin. “They’re on the docks and on the piers in the millions, maybe the billions,” according to Greg Meszaros, director of Austin Water. The invasive species, a native of the former Soviet Union, was […]
Posted inWhispers
City to honor Mary Gay Maxwell
The city of Austin will honor the late Mary Gay Maxwell by naming a unit of Austin Water Quality Protection Lands after her. As noted in a press release about the dedication ceremony planned for Thursday morning, Maxwell devoted “much of her life to protecting Austin’s unique environmental features and sensitive natural resources. She was […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Voters overwhelmingly reject Proposition A
Updated: 10:21 p.m: Austin voters on Tuesday resoundingly rejected city Proposition A. With the final tally complete, more than 64 percent of those voting cast ballots against the proposition, which began as a reaction to the city’s decision to lease McKalla Place for a 20,000-seat Major League Soccer stadium. Mayor Steve Adler, who worked against […]
Posted inHousing
Council OKs tax credits for affordable housing
Council gave its blessing Thursday to an application for low-income housing tax credits issued through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, for the redevelopment of a 62-unit affordable housing project to be known as the Oaks on North Plaza. Such approvals are generally routine and members of the public rarely show up for […]
Posted inWhispers
Assistant Chief Newsom retires suddenly
Assistant Police Chief Justin Newsom abruptly retired Wednesday after 23 years with the Austin Police Department. KXAN reported the news and also reported that an unnamed person had filed a complaint against Newsom with the Office of Police Oversight on Tuesday. Newsom joined the Austin police force in 1997 and has supervised the downtown command, […]