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City Council
Council to review plan for St. Johns Home Depot project after July break
Six years ago, when City Council Member Greg Casar was knocking on thousands of District 4 doors campaigning for his current seat, one question came up time and time again. “People were asking, ‘What’s ever going to happen to the…
City Council • By Nina Hernandez • Jul 1, 2020
Former Council Member Berl Handcox, who broke the color barrier, dies at 88
Berl Handcox, Austin’s first elected African American City Council member since Reconstruction, has died at the age of 88. Handcox was elected as part of the seven-member Council on May 1, 1971, and reelected on April 7, 1973. He received…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 23, 2020
Austin Public Health works to address Covid-19 racial disparities
During last week’s City Council work session, staff reported that Covid-19 is disproportionately impacting the Latinx and African American communities and detailed ways to address and reverse that trend. According to an accompanying memo from Austin Public Health Acting Director…
City Council • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 15, 2020
Austin City Council votes to divest funds from APD, ban some potentially deadly police practices
Austin City Council members voted unanimously Thursday on four items related to the Austin Police Department’s policy and budget, including transferring some money from police to social services and banning police use of some potentially deadly weapons and practices. The…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 12, 2020
Temporary protected bike lanes coming to a section of Congress Avenue this month
In another effort to meet demand for social distancing and safe activity as local businesses reopen, City Council voted Thursday to set up temporary protected bicycle lanes on Congress Avenue north of Riverside Drive by June 30. Mobility advocates said…
City Council • By Ryan Thornton • Jun 12, 2020
Council unveils resolutions aimed at dismantling systemic racism
On Monday morning, City Council members Natasha Harper-Madison, Delia Garza, Greg Casar and Jimmy Flannigan, along with Mayor Steve Adler, held a press conference to discuss a group of resolutions aimed at reforming the Austin Police Department and dismantling systemic…
City Council • By Nina Hernandez • Jun 9, 2020
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City calls for help with redistricting
Just like Congress and the Texas Legislature, Austin City Council is required to draw new districts every 10 years to coincide with the U.S. Census. But unlike the Legislature and Congress, the city asks ordinary citizens to participate in the…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jun 9, 2020
Council's APD grant vote: What happened
After listening to nearly seven hours of heartbreaking testimony from Austinites traumatized by police violence during protests the last week of May, City Council took a vote approving more funds for the Austin Police Department. On its surface, the $430,685…
City Council • By Elizabeth Pagano • Jun 8, 2020
Austin Council members say they've lost faith in the police chief: Next week they vote on changes
A fractured skull. A severe chest wound. A broken jaw from where a lead-pellet bag lodged inside a person’s mouth. The injuries to protesters over the weekend could have been fatal, the Austin-Travis County EMS chief told City Council members…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 8, 2020
Austinites get chance to express pain, anger over police violence at emergency City Council hearing
More than 300 people have signed up to talk about what transpired during weekend protests against systemic racism and police killings, at an emergency Austin City Council session Thursday. Council members will reconvene the following morning to hear from Austin…
City Council • By Audrey McGlinchy, KUT • Jun 5, 2020
Council boosts direct economic aid in spending plan for federal Covid-19 money
The city will move more of its federal aid for Covid-19 relief toward direct assistance for residents, with a total of $70 million now dedicated to rental relief, food aid and direct payments to individuals. City Council approved a resolution…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Jun 5, 2020
Council opens public right-of-way for safe business with amended special events pilot
City Council approved a pilot program Thursday that will allow restaurants, bars and shops to use private and public parking spaces, sidewalks and streets to serve customers at a safe distance. The Shop the Block! pilot builds upon the city’s…
