The Austin City Council Thursday took the first big step toward outlawing discrimination against people using housing vouchers to pay their rent. Austin is the first city in Texas to do so, and opponents said that the ordinance would face both legal and legislative challenges. Council unanimously adopted the ordinance on first reading. However, on […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inResources
Water bills to get increased scrutiny after audit
The City Auditor’s Office has found that the customer billing system that generates the City of Austin’s combined utility bills does not routinely scrutinize the readings on the majority of water bills, leading to the possibility of overcharges. for nine out of 10 customers. Austin Energy manages the customer billing system, which generates a single […]
Posted inWhispers
Smith recovering from heart surgery
Craig Smith, who sits on the board of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, is home from the hospital after undergoing a quadruple heart bypass last week. Smith, a Travis County assistant attorney, has served on the aquifer board since 1998. Because no one filed to run against him, the district has canceled the […]
Posted inWhispers
Firefighters take step toward appeal
Austin firefighters have asked U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel to reconsider his ruling to not allow the union, IAFF Local 975, to intervene in a lawsuit between the U.S. Department of Justice and the City of Austin. The city has agreed to a settlement of claims over discrimination against minorities, but firefighters have opposed it […]
Posted inElections
City Council Democratic endorsements continue to roll in
In a Wednesday busy with political activity, both the Austin Environmental Democrats and the Central Austin Democrats weighed in with endorsements for this year’s City Council race. In their final round of endorsements for the Austin City Council, Austin Environmental Democrats endorsed Ann Kitchen for the District 5 seat and Ed Scruggs in the District […]
Posted inElections, Public Safety
Firefighters form new PAC to support candidates
The Austin Firefighters Local 975 has formed a special political action committee to support eight candidates running for City Council on the November ballot. Firefighters president Bob Nicks told the Monitor that the group had raised $200,000 through membership dues and expects to get another $25,000 from the international firefighters union. Nicks said the new […]
Posted inWhispers
Some candidate financial statements tardy
City Council candidates are required to file detailed and notarized financial statements with the Austin City Clerk’s Office. While the majority of the 78 candidates vying for a position on Council have turned in their documents, there are several who have failed to do so, according to a spokesman in the City Clerk’s Office. The […]
Posted inWhispers
NAAO PAC endorses Council candidates
The political action committee for the Network of Asian-American Organizations has announced endorsements for several more City Council district races. These include Jimmy Flannigan for District 6 and Jeb Boyt for District 7. This group’s endorsement is probably more important in those two districts because of the growing Asian-American population in that area. For example, […]
Posted inWhispers
Complaint filed against Robert Thomas
A complaint has been lodged against District 10 City Council candidate Robert Thomas. According to a campaign finance report filed with the Austin City Clerk on July 15, Thomas loaned his campaign $100,000 in June. The rules require that any expenditures from personal funds of $25,000 or more must be reported within seven business days. […]
Posted inWhispers
Board to take comments on conservation plan
The board of the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will hold a hearing tonight on adoption of a habitat conservation plan designed to ensure a minimum flow of water to Barton Springs for the endangered salamanders that live there, even during a record drought. According to General Manager John Dupnik, the plan has been […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Martinez tries to paint Adler as rich, out of touch
Mayoral candidate Mike Martinez’s campaign continued its attacks on opponent Steve Adler on Wednesday, alleging that he “owns a villa at Esperanza in Cabo San Lucas, one of the most exclusive resorts in Mexico.” That proved to be an exaggeration. Bo Delp, Martinez’s deputy campaign manager, said they got the information from Adler’s recently filed […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council takes first step to buy Bull Creek land
With only Mayor Lee Leffingwell dissenting, the Austin City Council took a small step Tuesday toward the purchase of the prized piece of real estate at the intersection of Bull Creek Road and 45th Street from the Texas Department of Transportation. The state has given the city a deadline of Friday to make a deal. […]