Austin Environmental Democrats on Friday voted to oppose two propositions placed on the November ballot by citizen petitions. Like a number of other groups, the environmentalists voted to oppose Proposition K, which seeks to have a comprehensive audit of all city departments and functions and is backed by the right-wing Texas Public Policy Foundation. However, […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inZoning
Zoning OK’d for affordable housing
With the recently released University of Texas gentrification study on their minds, City Council members on Thursday gave final approval for a zoning change that will allow construction of 258 apartments – including a few three-bedroom units – in North Central Austin. The developer will partner with the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, […]
Posted inWhispers
City honors Capital City Men’s Chorus
Mayor Steve Adler welcomed the Capital City Men’s Chorus to City Hall Thursday, reading a proclamation in their honor and noting that City Council needs the music. Although Thursday’s meeting ended early, adjourning before 4:30 p.m., the mayor noted that most Council meetings go well past 5:30 p.m., and “we break it up with music. […]
Posted inCity Hall
Firefighter wins battle with city
Austin firefighters won their battle to get the city to drop its lawsuit against one of their own, Lt. Carrie Stewart, who filed a claim for workers’ compensation after she was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2015. After meeting with City Council in executive session on Tuesday, City Manager Spencer Cronk decided the […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council to put off hearing on tax credit property
At the request of Council Member Delia Garza, on Thursday City Council will likely postpone a scheduled hearing and consideration of whether to give the city’s blessing to 4 percent affordable housing tax credits to a proposed apartment complex for low-income seniors. At the Council work session on Tuesday, Garza said she has to leave […]
Posted inDevelopment
Many, but not all, development fees to climb
Last year, Rodney Gonzales, director of Austin’s Development Services Department, asked Council to fund an additional 50 employees to increase his department’s efficiency in dealing with a multitude of permits, reviews and inspections. Council killed the plan by postponing it. However, this year Gonzales proposed adding 50 new full-time positions as part of a $63.6 […]
Posted inWhispers
More fuss about Proposition K
The Travis County Democratic Party Executive Committee voted unanimously on Sunday to oppose Proposition K, the ballot item to require the city to conduct an audit of every department. The group voted after hearing speeches opposing the item from Council Member Greg Casar, Mayor Steve Adler, and Laura Morrison, the former council member seeking to […]
Posted inWhispers
Dell fuels Round Rock sales tax jump
Every time Dell sells something, Round Rock makes money, says Round Rock spokesperson Will Hampton. “We track sales tax revenue closely because it makes up more of our revenue than property tax,” he said Thursday as he happily talked about Dell’s continued revenue growth. As the Austin Monitor noted on Thursday, Comptroller Glenn Hegar reported on […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Plenty of PACs for November bond election
District 2 Council Member Delia Garza wants to make sure that when Austin voters go to the polls to vote on the city’s $925 million bond package on Nov. 6, they understand how important it is to support Proposition E, which would provide funding for a new neighborhood and health care facility in Dove Springs. […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin, Round Rock sales tax collections up
Local sales tax collections continued to climb last month, according to figures released by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Austin’s net payment this month was more than $18.7 million, compared to last year’s September payment of about $16.5 million. For the first eight months of the year, Austin sales tax collections have increased about $10 million, […]
Posted inAustin
Innovators, Austin lifestyle, UT brought Army here
Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski, who serves as director of combat systems for Austin’s brand-new Army Futures Command, said Tuesday that Austin was chosen as the site of the first new Army command since 1973 because Austin has the talent, the educated workforce, the entrepreneurial spirit and the lifestyle the Army was looking for in choosing […]
Posted inElections
Council endorsement dances have begun
Political season has truly begun, with groups large and small hosting candidate forums and making endorsements. Last Friday, enough supporters of both incumbent District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria and his sister, Susana Almanza, came out to vote at the Austin Environmental Democrats meeting to force a dual endorsement of the pair. The group also […]