Members of the City Council Housing and Planning Committee heard about the dire straits that many renters face, not just in Austin but across the country. Community displacement prevention officer Nefertitti Jackmon told the committee on Tuesday that the program she administers, which provides rental assistance to people facing eviction, will run out of money […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inAustin
MACC funds not cut, Council member reports
A report to City Council that funding was cut for the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center turned out to be a misunderstanding. Larry Amaro, a member of the MACC board, told Council at Thursday’s meeting that a number of planned events this spring would have to be canceled because of a reduction in […]
Posted inWhispers
Fight over Waterfront TIRZ goes to court today
Attorneys for the city of Austin and groups suing the city over creation of the South Central Waterfront Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, or TIRZ, will meet in court today. Taxpayers Against Giveaways, the Save Our Springs Alliance and three taxpayers – former City Council Member Ora Houston, former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos and Austin homeowner […]
Posted inParks
Waller Creek improvements, art projects marching forward
In November 2012, Austin voters approved $13 million in bonds for the redevelopment of Waller Creek. Over the years, the project – now called the Waterloo Greenway project – has grown to encompass a long series of parks, construction of the Waller Creek Tunnel project, planning for preservation of the Palm School and park area, […]
Posted inPublic Health
Questions abound over pilot program for mental health diversion
As City Council is set to consider authorizing negotiations on a contract that would include allocating $2 million for a mental health diversion pilot program, a lot of questions remain unanswered. On Tuesday, Mayor Kirk Watson started the work session discussion by asking Robert Kingham, administrator of the Downtown Austin Community Court, about how much […]
Posted inWhispers
EMS mourns the loss of Associate Medical Director Dr. Mark Ackrell
Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services on Monday announced, “with profound sadness and extremely heavy hearts,” the passing of Dr. Mark Ackrell, who died unexpectedly over the weekend at his home. Ackrell served in the department for nearly 17 years and worked in the community for several years before that, including emergency medical work at St. […]
Posted inWater
Water reuse plan coming back to Council next month
In March, City Council is scheduled to consider making on-site water reuse mandatory for a majority of large future projects as part of the city’s Water Forward plan. Council postponed consideration of the reclaimed water reuse rule last November after Austin Water recommended a delay to look at how they might lower the price and […]
Posted inPlanning
Lost Creek, five other areas to vote on leaving the city
Texas Republicans and Democrats will be going to the polls on March 5 to select their candidates for the November election. But another election is coming in May, and the only people who get a chance to vote in it are those who live in the Lost Creek Municipal Utility District or one of five […]
Posted inPlanning
Council takes next step toward new density bonus plan along rail line
City Council last week approved a resolution designed to increase Austin’s chances of winning federal money to assist in building the first phase of Project Connect with an emphasis on development of housing for low- and middle-income residents along the rail line. In addition, the resolution directs staff to modify downtown parking regulations and amend […]
Posted inElections
Interfaith organizer, LGBTQ advocate Doug Greco running for mayor
A third official candidate jumped in to the race for mayor of Austin on Monday. Doug Greco, who announced last week that he was stepping down from his post as executive director and lead organizer of Central Texas Interfaith, announced his candidacy, declaring that he wants to address “inequality, unaffordability, (and) the increasingly difficult path […]
Posted inPolice
Council OKs ordinance on police pay, benefits
City Council on Thursday approved an ordinance extending pay and benefits for Austin police officers in line with the ordinance passed last year, including extra pay for longevity, for field training officers, bilingual officers, officers with mental health certification and other stipends. Council members Natasha Harper-Madison and Zo Qadri abstained, with the rest of Council […]
Posted inBicycles
Cap Metro looks forward to new electric era for city’s bike-share system
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched an ambitious program to expand its bike-share program with the city of Austin. The transit company has announced a partnership with PBSC Urban Solutions Inc. aimed at replacing and expanding 80 MetroBike stations, 1,000 docks and 800 bicycles focused in downtown Austin, tripling the size of the bike-share system. […]