Environmentalists looking forward to changes in city regulations requiring new developments to include more green infrastructure may be disappointed to hear that the final piece in that project may be delayed until mid-2024. City Council adopted some of the rules needed to make developments more environmentally friendly on Oct. 27, but the final phase may […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Early voting starts Thursday
OK, so it’s not the much hyped Georgia Senate race, but the Dec. 13 runoff is important to our city’s future. Will Celia Israel or Kirk Watson be our next mayor? If you live in City Council district 3, 5 or 9 you will get to vote on who will represent you for the next […]
Posted inElections
Only Silva and Guerrero to get Fair Campaign money
The city’s Law Department has decided that only two runoff candidates – Daniela Silva in District 3 and Linda Guerrero in District 9 – are eligible to receive money from the city’s Fair Campaign Finance Fund. That means each of them will receive half of the $66,126.54 in the fund, or $33,063.27. Guerrero and Silva […]
Posted inWhispers
Groups ask for better bird protections on Statesman PUD
The Travis Audubon Society is urging Austinites to contact their City Council member and ask them to include extra protections for birds in the Statesman planned unit development on Lady Bird Lake. A hearing on the development is scheduled for Dec. 1 after many months of discussion. While the PUD remains controversial, particularly because of how much […]
Posted inPlanning
New PUD proposed for S. Congress has full roster of environmentally friendly features
City Council members got their first look at a proposed planned unit development to be built at 311-315 S. Congress Ave., next to the Statesman PUD. Developers of the project, called the Firestone PUD after its current major occupant, are proposing a 400-foot tower to provide for approximately 450 multifamily residential units. The owners, Wesley H. […]
Posted inElections
Which candidates will receive the city’s Fair Campaign money?
Runoff candidates who followed the rules for receiving disbursements from Austin’s Fair Campaign Finance Fund are expecting to receive thousands of dollars to help them in the Dec. 13 runoff election. Those candidates include Daniela Silva and Linda Guerrero and possibly José Velásquez, Zohaib Qadri and Ryan Alter. Silva and Velásquez will be competing in […]
Posted inWhispers
Friends remember Jack Goodman
Former Council Member Jackie Goodman is inviting friends to stop by a park near their home this Saturday from 2:30 to 5 p.m. to share memories of her late husband Jack Goodman, who died in August at the age of 76. Jackie wrote: “Jack and I decided long ago we wanted no funeral-burial-testimonials, no folks […]
Posted inElections
Bazan, Alter set for runoff in District 5
Six candidates lined up this year to take the seat held by retiring City Council Member Ann Kitchen, who has served District 5 since 2015. When the votes were counted on Tuesday, the two candidates whose campaigns emphasize streamlining development regulations, including compatibility standards to speed up building new housing, remained in the ring. Stephanie […]
Posted inWhispers
Early voting numbers show west side voting more heavily
In Travis County, 329,848 voters cast their ballots early; that’s 37.19 percent of the county’s registered voters, according to the Travis County clerk’s office, 10 percent lower than turnout in the record-breaking 2018 midterms. Austin pollster Mark Littlefield says that, within the Travis County portion of the city of Austin, turnout was 35 percent compared […]
Posted inElections
Reports show wide disparities in fundraising among candidates
Last week, candidates running for City Council submitted their final campaign finance reports before Tuesday’s election, revealing a wide array of funds across campaigns and districts. DISTRICT 9 With Council Member Kathie Tovo stepping down, numerous people are vying to take the downtown seat. The major contenders seem to be Linda Guerrero, Tom Wald and […]
Posted inWhispers
Council pushes historic recognition for Broken Spoke
City Council has started the process for designating the Broken Spoke an official city historic landmark. The Spoke, perhaps Austin’s most famous honky-tonk, has already received a state historical marker in recognition of its 58 years hosting music legends such as Bob Wills, Jerry Jeff Walker, Marcia Ball, and many more. The resolution sponsored by […]
Posted inElections
Reports show Watson spending far ahead of the pack
Mayoral candidate Kirk Watson, who wishes to claim the center seat again, has raised and spent far more money than any other candidate in his race – or any of the others up for election next week. Watson, a former mayor and former senator, reported that he had spent more than $830,000 while receiving more […]