Stories by Jo Clifton
City faces tough choices in managing homeless shelter
City officials were not satisfied with the way the nonprofit organization Front Steps was running the homeless men’s shelter at 500 E. Seventh Street commonly known as the ARCH. Officials notified the organization that all contracts with Front Steps would…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jul 28, 2022
Budget season begins with arguments over 'riders'
It’s budget time again. Mayor Steve Adler got the ball rolling at Tuesday’s City Council work session by noting that staff had expressed concerns about the number of budget riders Council members might be bringing forward. He also said staff…
Budget • By Jo Clifton • Jul 27, 2022
Watson had help from bundlers, but not that much
In his campaign to become Austin’s next mayor, Kirk Watson has already gained the title of the city’s most prodigious fundraiser for a political race. He raised more than $997,000 in time for the July 15 report. Although he had…
Elections • By Jo Clifton • Jul 20, 2022
Divided Board of Adjustment rejects site plan appeal
A divided Board of Adjustment on Wednesday rejected a site plan appeal organized by the Windsor Park Neighborhood Association related to the redevelopment of the Windsor Village shopping center at 5900 Westminster Drive. What was once a small shopping center…
The Code • By Jo Clifton • Jul 15, 2022
While the heat blazes on, city cooling centers close for the day
City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison warned last month that the city did not seem prepared for a summer heat wave that might leave any number of residents looking for air-conditioned shelter. As it turned out, the Council member herself became…
Austin • By Jo Clifton • Jul 12, 2022
Harper-Madison looking for improved help during heat emergencies
Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison expressed concern on the City Council Message Board this week about “how the city is addressing the stability of our electrical grid, local outages,” and the impact that has on “marginalized communities at the greatest risk…
Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Jun 30, 2022
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Abortion access resolution gathering steam
City Council Member Chito Vela, the lead sponsor of a resolution discouraging Austin police from investigating allegations concerning abortion, said Monday he expects City Council to consider the resolution at a special meeting held the week of July 18. In…
Public Health • By Jo Clifton • Jun 28, 2022
City to study Fleet Services site for housing
In the continuing effort to find ways to create more affordable housing, City Council directed City Manager Spencer Cronk last week to assess the site that currently houses Fleet Mobility Services as a possible location for housing. The department at…
Planning • By Jo Clifton • Jun 22, 2022
Council OKs first use of Project Connect money for housing
With little fanfare Thursday, City Council, acting as the board of the Austin Housing Finance Corporation, approved using Project Connect anti-displacement dollars for the first time to purchase apartment complexes for low-income residents. The two complexes AHFC will acquire are…
Housing • By Jo Clifton • Jun 21, 2022
Council approves legal action to close South Terminal
City Council on Thursday authorized city’s legal staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings against the owner of the South Terminal at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. No Council member commented on the item, but the vote was unanimous. Before the…
Transportation • By Jo Clifton • Jun 17, 2022
As employees return, complaints of fraud increase
Allegations of fraud, waste and abuse by city employees declined during 2020 and 2021 as a large number of employees worked from home. Brian Molloy, chief of the integrity unit at the Office of the City Auditor, told City Council’s…
City Hall • By Jo Clifton • Jun 16, 2022
Four hundred apartments planned for South Lamar PUD
The property owners of 517 S. Lamar, currently home to Trek Bicycle Lamar and CareNow emergency medical services, are proposing a planned unit development with about 400 multifamily residential units, about 10,000 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space, and…
