Some Travis County homeowners have learned zoning regulations the hard way as they oppose rezoning of property across the street from their homes. Last week, City Council voted 9-1 on first reading to approve mostly warehouse zoning, with some multifamily, on about 13 acres at the intersection of Sansom Road and Ferguson Lane in District […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Two more candidates file for District 3
District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria now has two challengers who would like to unseat him in the November election. Real estate broker James Valadez, who describes himself as a native Austinite, filed his appointment of campaign treasurer on Friday and released a press statement attacking Renteria without naming him. The statement says in part, […]
Posted inElections
Updated: Sheryl Cole wins House District 46 runoff
UPDATE: 10:30 p.m. In the race to represent House District 46 at the Texas Legislature, former Austin City Council Member Sheryl Cole emerged as winner – but with a very thin margin – over José “Chito” Vela. Unofficial results showed Cole won 4,967 votes, or 50.89 percent. Vela won 4,794 votes, or 49.11 percent. The […]
Posted inAustin
Austin sings the cemetery fund blues
The Parks and Recreation Department, which is in charge of operations and management of the city’s five historic cemeteries, has suspended collection of money for the cemeteries’ perpetual care fund until the department can resolve some of the issues related to taking care of the cemeteries. The purpose of the perpetual care fund is to […]
Posted inWhispers
Get out there and vote!
Even though there is considerable animosity between Democrats and Republicans in Texas, Travis County voters have given the May 22 runoff election a collective yawn. In a news release, Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir noted that “In the first day of early voting, an underwhelming 1.31% of registered voters cast ballots. With over 740,000 registered […]
Posted inDevelopment
‘Snoopy PUD’ a model for future development
After many months of work, hearings, arguments and tweaks to its design, the “Snoopy PUD,” also known as the 425 W. Riverside Drive Planned Unit Development, and also known as the “Hooters PUD,” has finally made it through the City Council approval process. The new zoning will allow a building of up to 195 feet […]
Posted inCity Hall
City still looking for Municipal Court building funds
Last week, during discussion of whether City Council should approve a 10-year lease for Austin’s Municipal Court at the Met Center in Southeast Austin, Council Member Ora Houston opposed the $31 million contract with Zydeco Development. Her reasoning was partially based on a map on the company’s website that was insulting to Latinos, but also […]
Posted inWhispers
Environmentalists to protest at Whole Foods
Environment Texas will join the national environmental group Mighty Earth at Whole Foods Market’s corporate headquarters at Sixth Street and Lamar this morning to demand that the company take a stand against water pollution generated by corporate meat suppliers. According to a press release from the protesting organizations, the event will culminate in the delivery […]
Posted inThe Code
Council adopts new rules for subpoenas
On Thursday, City Council adopted regulations that make it clear that the Ethics Review Commission may not seek information identifying whistleblowers or other witnesses in complaints about city officials or employees. In addition, Council designated the Council Audit and Finance Committee as the body that would hear any appeal from a person requesting a subpoena […]
Posted inCity Council
Municipal Court move to Met Center OK’d
Although Council Member Ora Houston made numerous arguments against a 120-month lease for Austin’s Municipal Court at the Met Center in Southeast Austin, only Council Member Pio Renteria joined her during Thursday’s Council meeting in voting against authorizing city staff to negotiate and execute a $31 million contract with Zydeco Development. Council Member Leslie Pool […]
Posted inCourts
Met Center apology insufficient for Houston
Council Member Ora Houston raised objections during Tuesday’s work session to an item on Thursday’s Council agenda authorizing staff to enter into a 120-month lease agreement for 96,000 square feet of office space at the Met Center on Montopolis Drive in Southeast Austin. The building is intended to house courthouse employees from the downtown location […]
Posted inWhispers
Remembering the Armadillo
Eddie Wilson, owner of Threadgill’s restaurant and co-founder of the Armadillo World Headquarters, says he thought he would never go to Nashville. But he’s had to change his mind because the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum will be honoring the Armadillo with what the museum describes as a first of its kind, major […]