Shudde Fath and her daughter, Betsy Fath Hiller, have published an enlightening new book of color photographs by renowned photographer Russell Lee, called “Russell Lee in Color.” Most people who know Electric Utility Commissioner Shudde Fath recognize that at 101 she is the embodiment of public service, the only member of any city commission who […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inPlanning
Council OKs annexing commercial area only
Last year, at the urging of District 5 Council Member Ann Kitchen, City Council rejected annexation of a 34-acre tract of land in Southwest Travis County that is almost totally surrounded by the city of Austin. On Thursday, Kitchen again argued successfully against the annexation of the residential section of the area. However, this time […]
Posted inWhispers
And the news is … we can’t tell you yet
At last Thursday’s meeting, Steve Newton of Russell Reynolds Associates told City Council and the public that he recommended that the names of the finalists be released either Friday or Monday. But after 10 p.m. on Sunday, Mayor Steve Adler posted a message on the City Council Message Board from Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and […]
Posted inAustin
Public to meet manager candidates after all
After months of insisting on keeping the names of all city manager candidates secret, Steve Newton of Russell Reynolds Associates announced during Thursday’s City Council meeting that the names of the finalists would become public on either Friday or Monday. In addition, he said that the public would get to meet the last group of […]
Posted inCourts
Casar reports on SB 4 hearing in New Orleans
City Council Member Greg Casar attended Tuesday’s hearing on Senate Bill 4 at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. The city of Austin, along with Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, the small border city of El Cenizo, and Maverick and El Paso counties, filed suit to overturn the law that requires local […]
Posted inWhispers
EMS union chief returns to ambulance
City Council on Thursday will take up Council Member Ann Kitchen’s resolution directing that the city manager “immediately take all necessary steps to continue all provisions of the previous contract except where prohibited by state law” for its Emergency Medical Services personnel. The previous labor agreement between the city and the Austin-Travis County EMS Employee […]
Posted inEMS
City, EMS labor negotiations likely to continue
Even though its negotiating team declared an impasse with the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association last week, City Council appears prepared to direct staff to resume negotiations, but not immediately. Council members Ann Kitchen, Delia Garza, Leslie Pool and Mayor Steve Adler are sponsoring a resolution this week directing the city manager to […]
Posted inCity Hall
Council flees posted meeting place for interviews
City Council continued to try to hide the names of candidates for city manager on Thursday, taking the unusual and possibly illegal step of leaving the location advertised for its executive session with the candidates and meeting in a place forbidden to the general public and the media. Although the official notice from the meeting […]
Posted inEMS
As talks end, EMS union, city at stalemate
Unlike the unions for police officers and firefighters, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Employee Association could not reach an agreement with city of Austin management on Monday. Employees will continue to work under civil service rules, but there is no raise for them on the horizon. The union, led by its president, Tony Marquardt, […]
Posted inAustin
Nonprofits ready to assist with open enrollment
Today is the first day of open enrollment for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Two Austin nonprofits are ready to help anyone needing assistance with the sometimes confusing process of getting health insurance. This year participants will have just six weeks to complete the process, and experts are urging people to get started […]
Posted inZoning
Light at the end of the tunnel for landowner
It’s been many years in the making, but it seems likely that Abraham Birgani, who owns a tract at the corner of McNeil Drive and Blackfoot Trail, may finally get the zoning he needs to allow him to offer commercial services as he wishes to do. City Council voted 8-3 on first reading at its […]
Posted inWhispers
Ethics rules tweaks coming
The city’s Ethics Review Commission has just one item to address, but commissioners’ plates will be full at a special-called meeting Wednesday night to discuss proposed changes to the city’s ethics ordinance. A three-member subcommittee of the commission has been working with representatives of the solid waste industry to try to arrive at some fixes […]