Labor negotiators for the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association and the city of Austin have reached a tentative agreement. Council is scheduled to discuss the proposal today in executive session. Union President Tony Marquardt said union members have been voting on the contract and the polls will close this morning. If all goes […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inCourts
City facing two suits over ballot wording
On Friday afternoon, attorney Bill Aleshire filed suit on behalf of a voter against the city of Austin over language City Council adopted to describe the proposition on the November ballot related to CodeNEXT or any other rewrite of the city’s Land Development Code. The suit was filed with the Texas Supreme Court for Allan […]
Posted inWhispers
The last word
Deena Mersky, community activist, social worker and professor, died Friday, Aug. 10, at the age of 87. In her obituary, her three daughters note that Mersky had “a lifelong commitment to progressive politics and social equality.” She worked at Planned Parenthood as a social worker, later becoming chair of the group’s board of directors. In […]
Posted inAustin
‘Godfather of progressive politics in Austin’ dies
Ken Wendler Jr., who has been described as the “godfather of progressive politics in Austin,” passed away on Aug. 13 at the age of 88. Wendler served as chairman of the Travis County Democratic Party from 1972 to 1980. Two of his friends, former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos and Peck Young, director of the Center […]
Posted inCity Hall
Should Board of Adjustment have outside counsel?
Two members of the city’s Board of Adjustment argued strenuously in favor of providing outside legal counsel for the board when it is interpreting city code, but the assistant city attorney who has been advising the board for several years took the opposite stance at Tuesday’s City Council Audit and Finance Committee meeting. Board Chair […]
Posted inPolice
Traffic law enforcement still a hot topic
Even though traffic law enforcement and street safety is a top priority for the Austin Police Department, the majority of officers have little time to devote to such enforcement, given their other priorities, such as responding to citizens’ calls and engaging in community policing efforts. That is the major conclusion of an audit report produced […]
Posted inLand Development Code
Reagan going to court over sign rule secrecy
Billy Reagan, the owner of Reagan Signs, the best-known billboard company in the city of Austin, is looking forward to going to court later this month to try to find out why the city won’t let him see communications between CodeNEXT consultants and members of the city’s Law Department. And more importantly, what’s in those […]
Posted inWhispers
Auditor: Rodriguez broke city ethics rules
Frank Rodriguez, a former top aide to Mayor Steve Adler, violated city ethics regulations both before he went to work for Adler and during the time he was a city employee, according to a complaint filed by a top official in the Office of the City Auditor. Deputy City Auditor Jason Hadavi filed the complaint […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council seeks review of insurance appeals
Last month, Chuck Lesniak retired from the city of Austin after 28 years, most recently as the city’s environmental officer. However, his involvement with the city is continuing as he urges City Council to establish a third-party appeals process that might help city employees whose health insurance claims have been denied. This week’s Council agenda […]
Posted inWhispers
Nathan White ready to challenge Kitchen
Nathan White, a newcomer to Austin politics, is preparing to run for the District 5 seat against incumbent Council Member Ann Kitchen. White, 26, works as an administrative assistant at Girling Health Care and also drives for Uber and Lyft. He told the Austin Monitor, “I’m definitely a working-class guy.” White said after the 2016 […]
Posted inBudget
Lower public safety bill cuts tax growth
Austin taxpayers will catch a break from the typical sharp escalation of city taxes, utility bills and other fees, so that the owner of a median priced home of $332,366 will pay only about $78 more in 2019 than they paid this year. That’s if City Council sticks to the budget numbers proposed by City […]
Posted inCity Hall
Cronk wants to change assistant city managers
City Manager Spencer Cronk announced via memo to department directors on Friday that he plans to make major changes in the city manager’s office. Cronk said he was appointing Chief Financial Officer Elaine Hart, who served as interim city manager for 16 months prior to Cronk’s appointment, as his deputy. Hart will serve in that […]