Austin Water on Tuesday released a report showing that the Environmental Protection Agency had found “little to no detectable traces” of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – in the city’s drinking water. Known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS have been linked to birth defects and cancer. According to a news release, Austin Water’s tests […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inBicycles
Ellis pushes resolution to increase safety, prevent bike lane parking
City Council Member Paige Ellis, who chairs Council’s Mobility Committee, is sponsoring a resolution on this Thursday’s agenda intended to make cyclists and pedestrians safer and raise awareness of the risks of parking in bike lanes. Joining Ellis as sponsors of the resolution are Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool and Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Ryan […]
Posted inCourts
Arguments to continue in lawsuit over deed restrictions
Although Travis County District Judge Madeleine Connor ruled in favor of homeowners fighting to keep a developer from building more than two houses per lot in their subdivision last week, that victory may be marred by further decisions in the near future. Attorney Bill Aleshire represents four homeowners in the Elmwood Estates subdivision in South […]
Posted inWhispers
Former officer wins suit against city over retaliation
A Travis County jury has awarded $1.5 million to former Austin Police Lt. Johnny McMiller for retaliation during the tenure of former Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo. McMiller’s attorneys, Gary Bledsoe and Nadia Stewart, announced the decision in a news release this week. McMiller was forced to retire in 2015 after trying to “prevent discrimination […]
Posted inCity Hall
Fleet department works to electrify city’s many vehicles
Austin’s Fleet Mobility Services Department wants to lead the way in the use of battery electric vehicles, following the Austin Climate Equity Plan to cut communitywide greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2040. According to a report from the fleet department, the transportation sector accounts for more than one-quarter of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions […]
Posted inCity Hall
Animal Services working to fix problems revealed by audit
Last September, the city’s Office of the City Auditor released an audit highly critical of the city’s animal shelter operations, saying there was a conflict between its priorities of providing humane care, operating as an open intake shelter and maintaining its live-release goals. On Wednesday, Assistant City Manager Stephanie Hayden-Howard and Animal Services Officer Don […]
Posted inEnergy
Some vulnerable residents can’t use Austin Energy’s program
Some Austin Energy customers who are categorized as medically vulnerable and need electricity to operate life-saving equipment have not been able to sign up for the utility’s program to assist them in emergency situations, according to an audit report from the Austin Office of the City Auditor. Members of City Council’s Audit and Finance Committee […]
Posted inCity Hall
Study finds city employees distrustful of city’s ethics conduct
City employees who responded to a survey on the city’s behavior with regard to ethics gave the city lower marks for trust and accountability as compared to how city management rated the city. Employees surveyed also showed a greater fear of retaliation for reporting ethics violations than management respondents did. These are two major conclusions […]
Posted inPlanning
Council calls for more trees and green infrastructure
On Thursday, City Council approved a step forward for increasing the number of trees in the city as well as promoting pedestrian and bicycle access throughout Austin. The vote was unanimous on the resolution sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool. After passage of the item on the consent agenda, Pool said, “In the face […]
Posted inCity Council
Council members seek changes to food truck permitting
City Council Member José Velásquez knows what it’s like to work with food for a living. According to his website, “José went to work at age 11 in a local panaderia to help his mother with bills. That same year he wrote his first petition to help a classmate out of an unsafe environment. José […]
Posted inWhispers
Aleshire questions source of funds, price for Tokyo Electron property
Attorney Bill Aleshire, former Travis County judge and tax assessor-collector, never shy about voicing his opinion on city government, has a multitude of questions about the city’s proposed purchase of the Tokyo Electron property on today’s agenda. As Aleshire points out, records from the Travis Central Appraisal District show the appraised value of the two […]
Posted inDevelopment
Council hears plan for another South Congress PUD
A proposed 6.0102-acre planned unit development would mean big changes for the southwest corner of South Congress Avenue and Riverside Drive, including the possibility of a tower more than 500 feet tall. City Council heard details about the plans at its work session Tuesday. Zoning Officer Joi Harden offered a development assessment, describing the PUD […]