Urban planning, pod transportation and green energy peppered Tuesday’s debate among City Council candidates vying to represent District 6 in Northwest Austin. All six candidates attended the forum, hosted by the Austin Monitor KUT News, KXAN and Univision at the Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline, off U.S. 183. Jimmy Flannigan, 36, owns Site Street, an online marketing […]
Kara Nuzback
Posted inElections
County Judge candidates differ on issues at Interfaith event
Mayoral candidates weren’t the only ones answering Austin Interfaith’s questions at Tuesday night’s accountability session. Sarah Eckhardt and Mike McNamara, who are both candidates for Travis County Judge, also attended the accountability session, where they weighed in on Austin Interfaith’s priorities. Eckhardt said, if elected, she would work to double funding for workforce training and […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Public Safety
Austin Interfaith grills mayoral candidates on affordability
Only three of the eight candidates in the running for mayor participated in a question-and-answer session hosted by Austin Interfaith on Tuesday. And rather than give candidates a forum to lay out their individual platforms, Austin Interfaith directed four specific questions to them about the group’s priorities, touching on education, immigration, affordable homes and employment. […]
Posted inDevelopment, Elections, Environment, Local Politics, Transportation
East Austin candidates pack stage at North Door
Candidates went head-to-head in the race to represent East Austin voters in District 3 at the latest in a series of community forums hosted by the Austin Monitor and KUT News. All of the district’s 12 candidates attended Monday’s question and answer session at the North Door on Brushy Street to talk about affordability and […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Transportation
District 2 candidates battle to champion Southeast
Three candidates vying to represent Southeast Austin agree — the district has long been ignored and needs a voice on City Council. District 2 covers much of Southeast Austin, including the Dove Springs and Onion Creek neighborhoods and the area surrounding Austin Bergstrom International Airport. The district is unique in that more than 60 percent […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Police claim no disparities in marijuana arrests
Austin police say African-Americans are not unfairly targeted by police for marijuana offenses, despite community claims to the contrary. The Austin Human Rights Commission met last week to hear a presentation from Assistant Police Chief Brian Manley about statistics related to citations for marijuana, as opposed to arrests. Manley said of all the Austin Police […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Transportation
Candidates talk transportation at mayoral forum
Though Austin residents can only vote for one Council member to represent their geographic district this Election Day, everyone in the city gets a say in who becomes the next mayor. Five of those in the running showed up for the Civic Summit Mayoral Candidate Forum, Wednesday, presented by KLRU, Austin’s PBS station and the Urban […]
Posted inResources
Electric Utility Commission approves AE budget
Austin residents can expect higher electric rates in the coming year, but low-income utility customers may get a few more breaks. The Austin Electric Utility Commission met Monday to approve the utility’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2015 and discuss ways to help customers who have defaulted on their payments get out of debt. The city […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics
West Lake Council orders investigation, goes silent on ethics case
est Lake Hills City Council took no action on ethics charges against former City Planner Davin Fillpot at its Thursday meeting. Instead, Mayor Dave Claunch said, the Council would have no more public discussion about the case. Attorney and West Lake Hills resident Chris Gunter filed an official complaint with the city in June, accusing […]
Posted inDevelopment, Environment
Board of Adjustment rules on several Lake Austin cases
Austin’s Board of Adjustment made several decisions last week related to residential changes in the Lake Austin area. A request to tear down a boathouse behind a home on Tortuga Trail was blocked by Board Member Michael Von Ohlen, who said he noticed a trend along the lake of property owners building brand new […]
Posted inResources
Committee: AWU should cut contributions to general fund during drought
Austin Water Utility should cut back on its contributions to the city’s general fund during drought conditions, according to recommendations by a committee formed to find ways to keep the utility financially healthy. The Joint Committee on Austin Water Utility’s Financial Plan met Wednesday to finalize recommendations it will send to City Council on […]
Posted inDevelopment
Residents say population surge is pricing Austinites out of their homes
A number of Austin homeowners aired their frustrations with rising residential tax appraisals at a community forum Tuesday. The forum was hosted by the Brentwood Neighborhood Association, the First Universalist Social Action Committee and Brigid Shea, the Democratic nominee for Travis County Precinct 2 Commissioner. About 300 people attended the forum, and homeowners lined up […]