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City Council
Troxclair looks forward to new adventures
After four years in office as the first Council member from Southwest Austin’s District 8, Ellen Troxclair is stepping down. But her departure from Council doesn’t mean we won’t see her at City Hall, she told the Austin Monitor during…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 2, 2019
Houston: Council should be nonpartisan
In her final speech from the Council dais, Ora Houston urged her colleagues to encourage diversity at every level and to put partisan issues aside. The city’s first representative of District 1 said it is important to look at and…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Jan 2, 2019
Tovo to keep focus on housing, homelessness issues in 2019
Questions of where and how people live in Austin – specifically in District 9 – remained a front-of-mind issue for Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo in 2018. Whether she was on the City Council dais or involved in campaign events…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 28, 2018
Alison Alter relishes academic approach to government
Two years into her tenure on City Council, District 10 Council Member Alison Alter said she remains focused on the reasons she ran for the seat against former Council Member Sheri Gallo. “I didn’t run as a political insider, nor…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 28, 2018
Ann Kitchen focused on 'fixing people's problems'
City Council Member Ann Kitchen is the first member of the 10-1 Council to win re-election unopposed. “I was surprised,” Kitchen said of her lack of opponent in this year’s election. “But I was certainly happy about that. I’m pleased…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 27, 2018
Flannigan reflects on 'crazy, crazy year'
Council Member Jimmy Flannigan believes City Council had a lot more to deal with in 2018 than it should have. Council welcomed a new city manager, found new chiefs for the police and fire departments, engaged in an extended dispute…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 27, 2018
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Pool proud of progress at all levels in 2018
Leslie Pool doesn’t restate Tip O’Neill’s legendary adage “All politics is local” when looking back at 2018 and ahead to 2019. Still, when reviewing the policy and on-the-ground actions that have mattered to her the most, the small neighborhood moves…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 27, 2018
For Garza, D2 growth brings services and focus on land use
There’s a blown-up map of Southeast Austin in the office of District 2 Council Member Delia Garza, with multicolored overlays providing a look at the total scope of residential and commercial development in progress in the area. There are dozens…
City Council • By Chad Swiatecki • Dec 26, 2018
Renteria looks at 2018 and beyond
As he starts his second four-year term at City Hall, District 3 Council Member Pio Renteria says he plans to concentrate on affordable housing in the coming year, just as he did in 2018 and the three previous years. Fresh…
City Council • By Jo Clifton • Dec 26, 2018
Greg Casar optimistic but ready to fight in 2019
Council Member Greg Casar has a lot of good things to say about 2018. “In January we laid out a set of goals,” he said, referring to his staff. “We accomplished all of the big priorities.” “Even though we’re under…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 26, 2018
Council ponders ways to make meetings shorter, less confusing
As part of its ongoing efforts to make government more efficient and productive, City Council is discussing potential changes to how meetings are run. The conversation was kicked off by the city’s CFO Elaine Hart, who highlighted a number of…
City Council • By Jack Craver • Dec 13, 2018
City's federal housing funds in jeopardy
The city of Austin could lose a significant amount of federal funding if President Trump follows through on his threat to shut down the federal government on Dec. 21. Various national publications reported Trump making the threat if Congress refuses…
