It’s been a wet November in Central Texas, with cold, rainy days through the week of the Thanksgiving holiday. That weather might have affected your plans, but was a welcome break from continuing drought. It was also another unusual twist in what has shaped up to be a weird year in local weather. November is […]
Austin
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Chamber economic forecast sees Austin strong despite inflation, recession worries
Looking at the Austin-area economy for the next 12 months, local experts see that a series of “once-in-a-lifetime” events both good and bad are about to run into the realities of rising interest rates and the increasing likelihood of at least a minor recession to cool off inflation worries. The good news, according to the […]
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Animal services programs missing from city strategic planning
The Animal Advisory Commission is asking the city manager’s office to include animal services programming in its upcoming strategic plan. At its regular meeting Nov. 14, the commission voted to approve a letter asking City Manager Spencer Cronk and Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo to include animal services and wildlife protection in the upcoming […]
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Memo offers first peek at recipients of guaranteed income program
Early data from the city’s guaranteed income pilot program show that the $1,000 monthly payments are reaching residents with acute financial needs and varying degrees of housing instability. A memo released last week by the Equity Office included some of the first findings from surveys taken in September as the 135 participating households were receiving […]
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City seeks applicants to help craft five-year food system plan
The city has opened its application process for members of the advisory committee that will help the Office of Sustainability draft a comprehensive food plan for the city, with the goal of addressing food insecurity for vulnerable Austin residents. The Community Development Commission, which focuses on issues related to marginalized communities, received an update on progress […]
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Is Austin still weird?
“Is Austin becoming less like itself?” As four local politicians – Travis County Judge Andy Brown, County Attorney Delia Garza, Mayor Steve Adler and state Rep. Sheryl Cole – attempted to answer Austin American-Statesman reporter Ryan Autullo’s question at the Texas Tribune Festival Saturday, they reflected on their introductions to Austin. During Delia Garza’s first visit to […]
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Esperanza’s hiatus underscores city’s lack of shelter options for homeless campers
The staff at the Camp Esperanza site in Southeast Austin that is currently under construction to provide permanent small homes to formerly homeless residents acknowledge they will likely continue to receive visits from people they are unable to help for another two to three months. Although the site is currently closed to new campers due […]
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Austin Animal Center is restricting intake because its kennels are full
Austin Animal Center is temporarily restricting intake starting Tuesday because the shelter is over capacity. The city-owned animal shelter is urging people to help by fostering or adopting pets from the shelter. The shelter currently has more than 700 animals, including 67 dogs that are staying in pop-up wire crates because all other kennels are […]
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Nearly half of homeless residents exit HEAL program without housing
Despite the city’s work to move those living in homeless encampments into permanent housing, nearly half of all temporary shelter inhabitants exit the system and return to homelessness. One hundred and two people – 48 percent of those moved into shelter – in the Housing-Focused Encampment Assistance Link, or HEAL program, have left the program with […]
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Black dispossession study starts to quantify cost of city’s 1928 master plan
The city’s 1928 master plan, which effectively legalized segregation in Austin and limited public services for Black residents to a newly created “Negro District” east of what is now Interstate 35, has cost Black homeowners in just five neighborhoods – Clarksville, Wheatville, Red River, East Campus and South Austin – more than $290 million. Acting […]
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Black Fund organizers unveil plans for grants with first $1M raised
A new fund aimed at helping Black-led organizations in Austin has raised its first $1 million, with plans to begin awarding the first block of grants totaling $350,000 early next year. The Black Fund is an effort organized by leaders of several Black-led groups. The Austin Community Foundation handled much of the administrative and support […]
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Austin loses advocate for the environment and people
Jack Goodman, who worked to convince the Texas Legislature to create a conservation district to help protect Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer and then served on that district’s board for 22 years, died Aug. 24 after a lengthy illness. He was 76. His wife, former Council Member and Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman, told […]