Stories by Josh Rosenblatt
State considering generating its own power
As Austin Energy prepares to raise rates for the first time in 16 years, one of its biggest customers is considering the possibility of jumping ship and striking out on its own. According to Jorge Ramirez, deputy executive director…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jan 20, 2011
NRG lobbies city to buy more nuclear power
NRG Energy is in full lobbying mode, trying to convince Austin Energy to sign on to an agreement to receive more of its electricity from the South Texas Project nuclear power site. Though the public utility turned down an earlier…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jan 19, 2011
Council votes for controversial Barton Springs PUD on first reading
Despite opposition from residents of the Bouldin Creek Neighborhood, yesterday City Council voted 6-1 on first reading to rezone the Park property on Barton Springs Road as a Planned Unit Development (PUD), allowing the owners of the property to put…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jan 14, 2011
Animal shelter increases live-outcome rates to near “no kill” levels
Supporters of Austin’s plan to make its animal shelter a “no kill” facility received some encouraging news from the Animal Services Office late last week. In a memo sent Friday to the Council and the Animal Advisory Commission, Filip Gecic,…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jan 11, 2011
STNP owners’ poll indicates interest in Austin using more nuclear power
NRG Energy Inc. is once again asking the city to consider purchasing more of its energy from the South Texas Project nuclear power plant. Though City Council rejected two previous proposals to invest in the building of two additional units…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Jan 7, 2011
Debate provides insight into Council views on historic zoning
As staff continues to prepare recommendations that would alter the city’s historic zoning ordinance, public hearings on three houses up for landmark consideration last Thursday gave onlookers a glimpse of what individual Council members might be looking for when those…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 21, 2010
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Firm takes issue with Holly Street Power Plant bidding process
Ever since the Holly Street Power Plant went up in 1960, it has been a source of controversy for the city. Now even the process of bringing down most of the decommissioned facility is fraught with problems. As the…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 20, 2010
Council votes to create historic district status for Hyde Park
It is official: Hyde Park is a Local Historic District. Council put the exclamation point Thursday on a years-long effort by Hyde Park residents to get historic status for the neighborhood. Council denied a request for postponement from a…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 17, 2010
Public grills final animal services officer finalist
Animal rights activists, stakeholders, and curious onlookers finally got the chance to meet the fifth, and last, finalist for the city’s animal services officer position. Tuesday night, following daytime interviews with city staff, Abigail Smith answered questions from the public about…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 16, 2010
Controversial Marshall Apartments rehab approved despite opposition
Those expecting a heated debate when the Austin Housing Finance Corporation took up the issue of financing the purchase of the Marshall Apartments on East 12th were not disappointed yesterday. Though the corporation (the Austin City Council) voted unanimously in…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 10, 2010
Commercial Landscape Ordinance earning broad support
Last November, in response to one of the worst and most prolonged droughts the region had ever experienced, the City Council passed a resolution directing staff to develop an ordinance that would require commercial storm water runoff to be directed…
Uncategorized • By Josh Rosenblatt • Dec 9, 2010
Police monitor finalists share visions for a more transparent APD
Yesterday the four finalists for the city’s police monitor position met with the press to discuss their positions on police accountability, procedural transparency, and the often-contentious relationship between Austin’s citizens and its police force. Although all four spoke on a…
