Council is moving forward on a new program designed to provide housing and supportive services for 250 chronically homeless citizens who frequently end up in jail, the emergency room, or both. What is unique about this program, called the pay-for-success model, is that investors put money in and the city, among others, will repay the […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inCity Hall
Honor Flight duties raise concerns
City employees working in the Veterans Services Office have spent a considerable amount of city time working for Honor Flight Austin, the nonprofit organization that provides trips to Washington, D.C., for World War II veterans, even though the city does not have a written agreement with the organization. Veterans Services Office staff “were spending anywhere […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Resource Recovery: Changes at the top
While we were enjoying SXSW and spring break, Assistant City Manager Chris Shorter announced a shake-up in the leadership of Austin Resource Recovery. Sam Angoori, who has been interim director of the department since early 2017 when Bob Gedert moved to Cincinnati to get married, is now deputy director. Richard McHale, who has more than […]
Posted inCourts
Casar to pay Pressley’s court fees, but they’re not much
When Council Member Greg Casar filed the report on his special officeholder account on Jan. 15, it showed just $321.91 in the account. The purpose of that account has been to help Casar pay the legal fees in the lawsuit filed against him by Laura Pressley, his opponent in the 2014 Council election. The Texas […]
Posted inAustin
Austin taking over underpass cleanup from TxDOT
The Texas Department of Transportation, which has been cleaning under the city’s highway overpasses for many years and cleaning up homeless camps for about three years, has notified the city of Austin that it can no longer provide those services. TxDOT told the city it could no longer be financially responsible for the underpass cleanups […]
Posted inWhispers
Hensley a finalist for Flagstaff post
Austin Parks and Recreation Director Sara Hensley is in Arizona this week as one of four candidates vying to become city manager of Flagstaff. Hensley said that Flagstaff has a population of about 80,000, and like Austin, is a city that practices inclusivity. Before coming to Austin in 2008, Hensley was the director of parks […]
Posted inWhispers
More work for you, internet nags!
For all of you who nag your local media to get the story right, or yell at your computer when you find a false story (and spread the word), for all of you primed to fight for democracy, know that you are valued. Your acknowledgement came at a South by Southwest event called “Bad Guys […]
Posted inWhispers
Rainforest Partnership clearinghouse for films
Films for the Forest, a production of the nonprofit Rainforest Partnership led by Austinite Niyanta Spelman, presented its latest series of films on Sunday. Spelman told the Austin Monitor, “This is the 10th screening of Films for the Forest. We’ve become conveners of content, of stories and films for other NGOs – people standing up […]
Posted inCourts
Council rules unlikely to change despite opinion
Despite a ruling by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals dismantling a provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act that prevents local government officials from meeting in small groups in what is known as a “walking quorum,” it seems unlikely that Austin City Council will change its behavior. The ruling came as a result of […]
Posted inWhispers
Council OKs funds for Redbud Trail bridge
Last week, Council approved amending a contract with URS Corporation to take the next steps in designing a replacement for the Redbud Trail/Emmett Shelton Bridge over Lady Bird Lake. The circa-1948 bridge has suffered degradation and steel fatigue and has insufficient bicycle and pedestrian paths and roadway shoulders, according to backup material. If it seems […]
Posted inWhispers
Casar defends our right to party at parks
Council approved changes to city code related to park administration, fees, offenses, penalties, food and beverages at Thursday’s meeting. But some of the wording in the proposed code had Council Member Greg Casar worried that someone could be charged with an offense simply for having a birthday party in the park and not notifying parks […]
Posted inCity Council
Flood plain variance a conundrum for Council
After hearing from the city’s flood plain expert, Council voted 6-5 Thursday to grant a variance to allow a property owner to replace an older, smaller home in the flood plain of Waller Creek at 4515 Avenue D with a larger home that would sit above the flood plain. Kevin Shunk, Austin’s flood plain administrator, […]