Stories by Jo Clifton
Fleet Services moves forward with fuel efficiency, reducing emissions
Although mileage put on city vehicles has continued to grow over the last five years, Austin has been able to reduce the amount of fuel used during that same time period, according to a report Wednesday to the City Council…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 25, 2024
East side activist Llanes Pulido running for mayor
Longtime Austin activist Carmen Llanes Pulido announced Tuesday that she would be running for mayor. Llanes Pulido, 39, is the executive director of GAVA (Go Austin/Vamos Austin) and a former member of a variety of city organizations, including the Planning…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 24, 2024
Valid petitions fail to sway Council in two zoning cases
Last week, City Council approved historic zoning on first reading for a small Folk Victorian house in East Austin over the objection of the owner of the property at 1100 E. Second St. The Planning Commission approved recommending historic zoning…
Zoning • By Jo Clifton • Jan 23, 2024
Council OKs variance to build home in the floodplain
After hearing from the city’s floodplain administrator and the owner of an east side property, City Council unanimously approved two variances to the city’s floodplain regulations on Thursday. Their action will allow property owner Luc Pham to build a house…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jan 22, 2024
Tovo announces run for mayor
Former City Council Member Kathie Tovo announced Thursday that she is running for mayor this year, a move that will inject a little adrenaline into the race featuring incumbent Mayor Kirk Watson. Tovo served as an at-large council member from…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jan 19, 2024
Busy Council day includes a call for cease-fire in Gaza
City Council will hear once again from a coalition asking Council as a whole to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez last month issued a statement in support of…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 18, 2024
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Garza appoints new CEO at Austin airport
Interim City Manager Jesús Garza has announced the appointment of Ghizlane Badawi as the interim chief executive officer for Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Badawi has worked in a variety of leadership roles at ABIA over the past 15 years. She has…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 17, 2024
Updated: Travis County disputes APD statement about initial price tag of magistration agreement
City Council is expected to consider an interlocal agreement with Travis County next week to provide magistration services, including screening of those arrested for a variety of crimes. The reported price tag on that agreement is $9.9 million, although the…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Jan 12, 2024
Virtual magistration pilot now just a 'trial'
The Austin Public Safety Commission on Monday tabled a resolution aimed at stopping or postponing a proposed pilot program that would eliminate Travis County from the process of magistration for people arrested by Austin officers, including pretrial services. Commissioners learned…
Police • By Jo Clifton • Jan 10, 2024
Leslie Pool launches into the final year of a busy decade
Leslie Pool’s ninth year on City Council has been a productive and busy one. She recalls that she started out 2023 with the intention of helping her newly elected colleagues learn the ropes and accomplish their goals. For Ryan Alter,…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 4, 2024
In 2024, Paige Ellis will focus on her two main loves: mobility improvements and parks
The past year has been a busy one for City Council Member Paige Ellis, who served as mayor pro tem throughout 2023. She described the extra duties of the position as “a great experience.” Noting that Mayor Kirk Watson is…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jan 4, 2024
Ryan Alter reflects on 'tangible results' of his first year in office
When Council Member Ryan Alter was running for office in 2022, he stressed the need for housing affordability, specifically rejecting the slow approach favored by his predecessor. When he came into office in January, he began to work on that…
