City Council is considering directing city staff to revise some of the city’s environmental regulations this week, with an eye to protecting the city from the growing threat of industrial discharges, flooding and the heat island effect so common in large cities. Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said via Twitter he is looking […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inElections
Former Capital Idea head running for ACC board
Three spots on the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees – places 4, 5 and 6 – will be up for election this November. Steve Jackobs, the founder and longtime executive director of Capital Idea, stepped down from the nonprofit this spring to run for the Place 6 seat. The incumbent, Nora de Hoyos […]
Posted inCourts
Judge hears arguments on Council election lawsuit
After a hearing Thursday, Travis County District Judge Lora Livingston told attorneys for the city and for plaintiffs seeking to force the city to hold City Council elections in all districts this fall that she would make a decision on the case by early next week. Attorney Bill Aleshire is representing the plaintiffs. Assistant city […]
Posted inCity Hall
City collisions cost more than $8 million over three years
City Council approved a payment last week of $82,500 to settle a lawsuit filed by Sherri Davis against the city and Austin Energy employee Stephen Tucker. Tucker is identified in the lawsuit as the driver of a city vehicle that struck Davis as she was walking in the crosswalk at the intersection of Friedrich Lane and […]
Posted inTransit
Council looks at changes to transit partnership board
City Council has tentatively agreed to consider changes to the membership of the board of the Austin Transit Partnership, with just a small change now, and the possibility of a larger and more controversial change in the future. Council approved a resolution on Thursday adding two ex officio members to the ATP Board of Directors, […]
Posted inWhispers
Austin Energy cut power to some on Saturday
Austin Energy is building a new substation to accommodate the growth in energy use in Austin, particularly in South Austin. In the meantime, a utility spokesperson told the Austin Monitor, “Due to Saturday’s heat-related demand surge and ongoing construction on a new substation, Austin Energy took emergency action to cut power to about 3,600 customers […]
Posted inElections
Two candidates sign on for City Council races
District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison is hosting her reelection kickoff party at Mr. Catfish, 1144 Airport Blvd., at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Harper-Madison was first elected to the northeast Austin seat in 2018. So far, her only announced opponent is Clinton Rarey, a political unknown. His wife, Christina, is listed as his campaign treasurer. Christina Rarey, […]
Posted inCity Council
Council moves forward with income pilot program
City Council members attending Thursday’s meeting approved a $1.1 million pilot program to study the impact of providing $1,000 a month to 85 families for a year, with an emphasis on families facing eviction. Mayor Pro Tem Alison Alter voted no. Council members Mackenzie Kelly and Leslie Pool, who had indicated misgivings about the program, […]
Posted inWhispers
City Council election case moving forward
Attorney Bill Aleshire, who represents a dozen Austin voters who feel aggrieved by City Council redistricting, said Wednesday that the 3rd Court of Appeals had turned down his request to hear the case. That’s good news, Aleshire said, because it means the case, Cheatham v. Adler, can move directly to the Supreme Court after a […]
Posted inCity Council
Guaranteed income pilot program likely moving forward today
Despite the misgivings of at least two City Council members, some members of the public and criticism from the Austin American-Statesman editorial board, Council seems poised to move forward today with a contract to set up a guaranteed basic income pilot program. Mayor Steve Adler and Council Member Vanessa Fuentes are the primary sponsors of […]
Posted inWhispers
Voting light for marijuana referendum
A total of 58,293 Travis County voters cast ballots early for the May 7 election. The Travis County Clerk’s website showed fewer than 7 percent of registered voters had cast ballots as of the end of the day Tuesday. Austin residents are deciding whether to instruct police not to arrest people with small amounts of marijuana […]
Posted inCity Council
Lobby ordinance needs revision to cover virtual meetings
City auditors have found that, while the city’s registered lobbyists are largely complying with city regulations, there is one significant gap in the reporting requirements. Although lobbyists are required to report their in-person meetings, no such requirement exists for virtual meetings, according to a report discussed at last week’s City Council Audit & Finance Committee […]