Despite recent federal setbacks to the climate justice movement, Austin has a pathway to reduce its carbon footprint, create hundreds of jobs and save nearly $3 million per year in energy costs, according to the Texas Climate Jobs Project (TCJP). The coalition launched its new report, “Powering Public Progress: Decarbonizing Austin’s Municipal Buildings for a […]
Mina Shekarchi
Posted inWater
Study reveals elevated levels of tire and road microplastics in Austin’s reservoirs
A study from the University of Texas indicates a higher concentration of microplastics at the mouths of Austin’s major urban tributaries, like Shoal and Waller creeks. The majority of particles found in samples had tire and road origins, compared to lower numbers of plastic fibers or fragments broken off of other plastic products. Last week, […]
Posted inWater
Austin Water reports progress and challenges as drought persists
Amid a second year of drought restrictions, city leaders are navigating community debates about whether water conservation goals are aggressive enough. In a presentation to the City Council’s Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks Committee, Austin Water shared its first quarterly progress report following updates to the city’s Water Forward, Drought Contingency, and Conservation plans last […]
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission clashes with Office of Police Oversight
“It deeply concerns me that we’ve put a retired police officer in charge of taking complaints from the community about police,” Commissioner Rebecca Bernhardt told staff from Austin’s Office of Police Oversight (OPO) during a heated Public Safety Commission meeting this month. The OPO was scheduled to present an overdue annual report for 2023 (which […]
Posted inResources
Austin braces for third round of gas‑rate increases in 12 months
Texas Gas Service (TGS) has filed for its third rate increase in approximately 12 months, affecting customers in Austin and surrounding areas. On Thursday the Austin City Council is expected to approve a 90-day delay of the proposal, though the city has limited authority to block it. The city does not own its gas utility […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Austin’s sexual assault response: Small steps forward despite federal challenges
Austin and Travis County are facing new federal roadblocks to their work to respond to sexual assault. However, local progress continues. On Monday, the Public Safety Commission convened their second discussion of local data related to sex crimes. The commission heard presentations from Austin Police Department (APD), the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, and The […]
Posted inWater
City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation
Paul Robbins said he had two main goals when he presented his water conservation ideas to the Resource Management Commission this month. “First is to convey a sense of urgency,” he said. “Austin is as little as 15 years and one bad drought away from dry lakes and a water crisis. This is not science […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin’s fight against gun violence: A public health-based strategy in uncertain times
Three years after the tragedy in Uvalde, Austin is doubling down on a different approach to gun violence: treating it like a public health crisis. With the third anniversary of the Robb Elementary School shooting on May 24 and an upcoming city and county summit to mark Gun Violence Awareness Month, the Austin Monitor took […]
Posted inPolice
External review finds data inconsistencies in APD reporting on use of force
During a special called meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, Dr. Robin Engel, a Senior Research Scientist at The Ohio State University, presented findings from a recent re-examination of the Austin Police Department’s use of force. Engel said she found the department’s data analyses to be “rudimentary, inconsistent, and inaccurate,” among other concerns. […]
Posted inWhispers
Amanda Marzullo announces candidacy for Travis County Commissioners Court
Amanda Marzullo announced her bid for the Travis County Precinct 2 seat this week in an email inviting supporters to her campaign launch party. Marzullo is a former executive director of the Texas Defender Service. She currently works as a Senior Staff Attorney at the Austin Community Law Center. “Travis County deserves forward-thinking leadership that […]
Posted inResources
Zero Waste Advisory Commission discusses rate changes and projects
Austin’s Zero Waste Advisory Commission (ZWAC) met on May 14 where appointees heard a five-year financial forecast for Austin Resource Recovery and a report on the utility’s current projects. May is typically when city staff present their departmental financial forecasts to boards and commissions to gear up for budget season, and these discussions can sometimes […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Public Safety Commission discusses firefighter cancer prevention, quarterly Fire Department update, and bylaws
On Monday, the Public Safety Commission (PSC) heard a quarterly report from the Austin Fire Department and discussed initiatives related to firefighter cancer prevention. The commission also conducted business related to their internal Austin Police Department (APD) Training Academy Working Group and Public Safety Wellness Center Working Group, and launched a new internal group to […]