At its July 17 meeting, the Zero Waste Advisory Commission unanimously recommended approval of a multiterm Public Works contract agreement to clean debris and trash under bridges and overpasses. The contract is with Relief Enterprise of Texas Inc., a nonprofit that provides disabled and disadvantaged people with job opportunities, for a term of up to […]
Savana Dunning
Posted inCity Hall
Some Covid-19 economic recovery programs see progress while others stagnate
While six of the city’s 11 Covid-19 economic recovery programs have received or are about to receive applications for their grants and loans, the rest have yet to move on from the development stages. Austin’s economic recovery programs are designed to distribute CARES Act funds to specific groups in need of financial assistance during the […]
Posted inCity Council
Economic Development Department to update progress on CARES Act relief funding programs
As of June 29, five of the eight grant programs approved by City Council to provide economic relief to Austin’s economic sectors through the CARES Act had not yet passed the development stages in their funding allocation plans. The Economic Development Department is tasked with updating Council every 14 days on how the eight assistance […]
Posted inPublic Safety
Police department inaugural gun violence report shows slight increase in violent offenses
In its inaugural quarterly gun violence report, the Austin Police Department has recorded a slight increase in major violent offenses involving guns compared to the same time last year. In the summer of 2019, APD released its initial gun crime report – part of an Austin City Council resolution to address gun violence – that analyzed […]
Posted inBudget
What $100M from the APD budget looks like
In response to pressure from activists to defund the Austin Police Department, City Council unanimously approved a series of reforms to APD operations, including a resolution that asks for deep cuts to the public safety budget. The Austin Justice Coalition has asked Council to reallocate $100 million from APD’s budget in Fiscal Year 2021 to […]
Posted inPolice
College Student Commission recommends reallocating $30M from APD budget to fund minority scholarships
The College Student Commission passed a recommendation Monday asking City Council to reallocate at least $30 million from the Austin Police Department budget to college scholarships for low-income and racial minority students in Austin. The recommendation calls for APD Chief Brian Manley to resign from his position if he fails to fire and bring charges […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Arts Commission endorses letter requesting $5M in economic relief for art nonprofits
The Austin Arts Commission voted in support of a letter from various creative sector organizations asking City Council to budget $5 million in Covid-19 disaster relief for arts-based nonprofits. The city has allocated $6.35 million in disaster relief funds to support nonprofits of all types across the city, with $1 million specifically earmarked for arts […]
Posted inWhispers
Arts Commission approves new art installation in Montopolis
The Arts Commission approved the prospectus for a new art installation at the site of a new Austin Convention Center warehouse and marshaling yard in Montopolis as part of its Art in Public Places program. AIPP uses 2 percent from capital improvement project budgets to commission local artists to create public artworks. The Austin Convention […]
Posted inAustin
Austin Animal Center reopens on-site adoptions
Starting this month, the Austin Animal Center will again offer on-site adoptions as part of the city’s phased effort to reintegrate city employees back into their physical workplaces. City Manager Spencer Cronk released a memo May 29 on the reintegration plan for four city departments: Animal Services, Parks and Recreation, Austin Public Library and the […]