The city’s Environmental Commission voted last week to approve a resolution recommending the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan – albeit with a lengthy list of recommendations that include further public engagement and environmental monitoring. The resolution notes that the vision plan includes environmental site analysis of the general ecology of the park, review of environmental […]
Nina Hernandez
Posted inPolice
Public Safety Commission chair joins family’s calls for more information on Austin Police shooting death
The chair of the Public Safety Commission on Monday joined the family of a man fatally shot by Austin police in calling for more information from Chief Joseph Chacon. The comments from Chair Rebecca Bernhardt came during Monday’s meeting, after a public communication from the mother and brother of Rajan Moonesinghe. Moonesinghe, a 33-year-old tech […]
Posted inPolice
Austin Police revert to decentralized traffic enforcement approach
The Austin Police Department’s staffing shortages are leading it to take a decentralized approach to traffic enforcement, the city’s Public Safety Commission learned during a traffic enforcement and management update on April 3. Most of the crashes that happen on Austin roads every year occur on highways such as Interstate 35, U.S. Highway 183, and […]
Posted inFire
Austin continues to address wildfire risk through training, community outreach
The Austin Fire Department delivered an update on the city’s wildfire prevention efforts to the Public Safety Commission on Monday. The updates are mandated in the 2019 overhaul, which occurred after Austin was ranked among the top five most at-risk cities in the nation when it comes to wildfire damage. The city and Travis County […]
Posted inPublic Health
Central Health demographic report finds ‘no escape’ from regional cost-of-living crisis
Austin’s cost-of-living crisis has spread into a regional issue impacting Travis and surrounding counties, according to Central Health’s 2022 Demographic Report. The report, key findings of which Central Health staff discussed in a community conservation last week, found that Austin remains a key access point for health care, affordable housing, public transportation, and social services […]
Posted inWhispers
San Antonio Spurs launch basketball court renovation project in Austin
This week, the San Antonio Spurs and the Austin Parks Foundation will celebrate a newly renovated basketball court at Dove Springs District Park. The April 4 ribbon-cutting ceremony will also mark a $500,000 donation by Spurs Give and the Austin Parks Foundation to launch Play ATX, a multi-year program to renovate parks and basketball courts […]
Posted inHousing
Austin launches displacement prevention pilot program
Austin will soon have a network of displacement prevention organizers connecting vulnerable communities with the city programs and resources they need to stay in their homes and communities. The city announced the program’s launch on March 30, during a press conference featuring City Council members Vanessa Fuentes and Natasha Harper-Madison. The Displacement Prevention Navigator pilot […]
Posted inParks
A closer look at the park spaces included in Waterloo Greenway phase two
The city’s Parks and Recreation Board learned more this week about the park spaces included in the next construction phase of the Waterloo Greenway. Phase two, which kicks off this spring, will focus on the 14 acres along Waller Creek between Lady Bird Lake and Fourth Street known as the Confluence. The board was provided […]
Posted inCity Council
How realistic is the idea to bury Austin’s power lines? Council wants to know.
At its regular meeting Thursday, City Council approved a pair of items aimed at exploring the possibilities for burying existing utility power lines as well as ones to be constructed in new capital projects such as Project Connect. The idea surfaced after the devastating February winter ice storm that left thousands of Austinites without power […]
Posted inWhispers
Bijan Robinson helps city raise awareness of water safety
University of Texas football star Bijan Robinson taught a swim lesson at Bartholomew Pool in East Austin last week as part of a partnership between the Parks and Recreation Department’s Aquatic Division and Tankproof, a nonprofit that offers swim lessons to underserved communities. “By teaching children how to be safe and confident in the water, […]
Posted inAISD
AISD celebrates $4 million in federal educational funds to boost outdoor learning, college prep
The Austin Independent School District is celebrating $4 million in federal appropriations that will expand outdoor learning and college prep for students. The district commemorated the funding at a Tuesday press conference held at St. Elmo Elementary School in South Austin, alongside U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who helped secure the money as a senior member […]
Posted inTransportation
Are Austin airport’s safety protocols keeping up with increased traffic?
Is the city doing enough to ensure Austin-Bergstrom International Airport is staying safe amid record increases in traffic and historic personnel and infrastructure constraints? The outgoing chair of the Austin Airport Advisory Commission is asking that question. During a briefing to the commission at its March 8 meeting regarding the ongoing investigation into a February […]