On Thursday City Council directed staff to execute a contract with Blue Chem Inc. for waste removal services at a city-owned portable toilet downtown. The initial two-year contract is for $330,000, but if the contract is extended to five years the total will be $775,000. Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, who represents District 9, including […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inAustin
Veterans center ‘needs assessment’ coming
In response to a resolution from the city’s Commission on Veterans Affairs and City Council, the Human Resources Department is moving forward with an assessment of how to proceed with setting up a Veterans Resource Center. HR has already allocated 4,800 square feet at the city’s building at 5202 E. Ben White Blvd. for the […]
Posted inWhispers
Manchaca or Menchaca?
Some Council members, notably Council members Pio Renteria and Delia Garza, are absolutely positive that the name of the road that runs from South Lamar to Manchaca should be changed to honor a captain in the army that fought in the Texas Revolution at the battle of San Jacinto. His name was José Antonio Menchaca. […]
Posted inElections
Candidates in Districts 1 and 8 working hard
In City Council District 8 and District 1, incumbents Ellen Troxclair and Ora Houston are retiring. In each case, the current council member has announced her endorsement of a candidate to take her seat in January. However, that has not made the endorsement process much easier for those candidates. Houston endorsed Vincent Harding for District […]
Posted inWhispers
Add another job for Hart
Elaine Hart, who served as interim city manager between the departure of Marc Ott in 2016 and the arrival of Spencer Cronk in February, on Monday assumed another title – deputy city manager. She told the Austin Monitor that she would also retain the job of chief financial officer until the city hires a new […]
Posted inElections
Adler, Tovo top list of endorsed candidates
Since the race began, it has looked like Mayor Steve Adler would have an easier path to victory than his major opponent, former Council Member Laura Morrison. His incumbency and better name ID are factors, and another is his personal wealth. But if Morrison could ignite anger among Democrats and take more club endorsements, that […]
Posted inElections
ANC releases Council scorecard
Last week, the Austin Neighborhoods Council voted to endorse the group’s former president, Laura Morrison, for mayor. They also endorsed another former ANC activist, Kathie Tovo, the incumbent in District 9 who serves as mayor pro tem. In addition, ANC endorsed Bobby Levinski for the open District 8 seat. He is a former aide to […]
Posted inWhispers
Study shows demographics of complaints
In a special report to the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Wednesday, City Auditor Corrie Stokes said the racial and ethnic composition of city employees investigated by her office is comparable to the city’s overall employee population. According to data from the Human Resources Department, 49 percent of city employees are white, 28 […]
Posted inPolice
APD to make changes in mental health cases
As a result of Austin Police Department policies, “people experiencing a mental health crisis in Austin may be at higher risk of having a negative police interaction than people in a city that more closely aligns with best practices,” according to an audit report from the Office of the City Auditor, which was discussed at […]
Posted inWhispers
Cultural arts contract monitoring lauded
The Office of the City Auditor found little to criticize when it audited the administration of cultural arts contracts by the Economic Development Department’s Cultural Arts Division. The division monitors contracts between the city and cultural arts contractors. The City Council Audit and Finance Committee was pleased to accept the audit report on Wednesday indicating […]
Posted inCourts
AG tells Cedar Park no deal on tax exemption
Attorney General Ken Paxton has ruled that the city of Cedar Park is not allowed to set its minimum property tax exemption at $10,000 but must use the $5,000 minimum set by state law. Last spring, the Cedar Park City Council approved an ordinance granting residential property owners a $10,000 exemption on their homesteads. However, […]
Posted inCity Hall
Health department audit shows flaws in system
Austin Public Health’s contracts with the African American Youth Harvest Foundation do not require sufficient documentation to allow the department to adequately monitor the contracts, according to a draft audit report released Monday. In criticizing the health department’s monitoring of the contracts, auditors noted that the contracts do not require the foundation to provide documentation, […]