Travis County has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of a man who died by suicide in the county jail in early 2022. Dallas attorney Dean Malone filed suit on behalf of the man’s family. According to a news release announcing the settlement, Jared “J.J.” Bell was arrested […]
Jo Clifton
Jo Clifton is the Politics Editor for the Austin Monitor.
Posted inWhispers
Nick Barbaro retires as publisher of ‘The Austin Chronicle’
Nick Barbaro, co-founder of The Austin Chronicle, and publisher for the past 43 years, has retired and named longtime staffer Cassidy Frazier as the new publisher. Barbaro will continue as president of the Austin Chronicle Corporation, “and will resume his role of canine chauffeur whenever the new Chronicle dog is identified,” according to the publication’s […]
Posted inWhispers
Legislation would make zoning protests more difficult
Bills pending in both the Texas House and Senate would make it more difficult for neighbors to successfully fight against zoning changes. Community Not Commodity has notified its members that the House Land and Resource Management Committee will hear testimony related to House Bill 24 by Rep. Angelia Orr, R-Hill County, beginning at 8 a.m. […]
Posted inCity Hall
City moves toward starting downtown strategy office
In response to a resolution from City Council, as well as the many projects and disruptions foreseen for downtown in the next few years, the city plans to create a new downtown strategy office by the end of September. The Council resolution, approved on Feb. 13, urged the city manager to develop a comprehensive strategy […]
Posted inWhispers
Perry House gains historic designation
At its most recent meeting on March 6, City Council voted unanimously to designate the Perry House at 610 Baylor St. as historic. There was no discussion, but backup material indicates the home was built by Elton and Lucy Ann Perry in 1903. They also built the house next door at 608 Baylor St. The […]
Posted inWater
Austin’s water reuse program is moving forward, but slowly
Austin adopted what were called “historic” water reuse regulations a year ago, so the program is still in its infancy, especially compared with Los Angeles and San Francisco, which adopted regulations requiring builders to put in the necessary plumbing to reuse water at least a decade ago. “San Francisco started its program in 2012 and […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin Public Health staff to seek more bond money
Austin Public Health facilities are funded through bonds approved by Austin voters – and only through those bonds. If the city health department needs a new facility, it must convince members of a bond advisory committee to put the proposition on a ballot. Then enough voters must be convinced of the need for such a […]
Posted inWhispers
Showers to reopen at Austin Recreation Center
People who frequent the Austin Recreation Center on Shoal Creek close to downtown often attend classes like Jazzercise, Zumba, tai chi and karate. Or they may play basketball or volleyball or lift weights. Point being, visitors often get sweaty and want to take a shower before returning to work or going out for another activity, […]
Posted inPreservation
Council decides against historic zoning for Running Rope Ranch
Despite strong statements of support for historic zoning from two of the newest members of City Council at last week’s meeting, fewer than half of the Council members voted in favor of designating a portion of the property known as Running Rope Ranch at 7304 Knox Lane in Northwest Austin as historic. As the Austin […]
Posted inResources
Council is likely to briefly stop rate hikes for natural gas
Texas Gas Service Company and CenterPoint Energy Resources, which serve gas customers in Austin and surrounding areas as well as other parts of the state, have filed notices of their plan to raise rates for the service regions that include Austin. The increase for the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program is intended to repay the company […]
Posted inEnergy
Austin Energy seeks to dampen fears of cooling department employees
Despite assurances that Austin Energy is not currently contemplating a sale of its District Energy and Cooling Department, called the DEC, some employees remain concerned that the utility might decide to sell the cooling system, which provides chilled water cooling for producing electricity. According to the utility, “overall, Austin Energy’s district cooling facilities serve more […]
Posted inZoning
Riverside PUD gains second-round approval
Although a neighboring property owner tried to prevent Thursday’s vote by seeking a postponement of the second and third readings on rezoning of a property at 200 E. Riverside Drive, attorney Richard Suttle convinced City Council to move forward with second reading. The new Planned Unit Development zoning would allow for a 500-foot-tall office and […]