Covid-19 has increased food insecurity across Travis County while creating further operational complications for local food banks, soup kitchens and other charitable feeding organizations. To help meet the rising demand, the city is looking to remove some of its structural barriers that may limit the flexibility and reach of local food pantries. Allen Schroeder, founder […]
City Council
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Council OKs short contract to clean up homeless camps
Ten people signed up to tell Council on Wednesday they were opposed to awarding a three-year contract to Relief Enterprise of Texas Inc. for “removal of debris and cleanup services under bridge overpasses, under bridges, and in the transportation right of way.” Austinites addressing Council said they had witnessed employees of the contractor acting in […]
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Austin lifts ban on public drinking in East Austin
Lee esta historia en español. No matter what side of the street you’re on, you will soon be on the right side of the law when you walk around East Austin with a beer. Austin City Council approved a resolution on Wednesday to lift a prohibition on public drinking that exists in some parts of […]
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Austin will start renaming parks, streets, creeks and anything else that honors white supremacy
Austin will reexamine – and could ultimately change – the names of its streets, buildings, parks and creeks that venerate historical racism and the Confederacy. The decision Wednesday from the Austin City Council follows up on a 2018 report from the city’s Equity Office, which suggested changing the name of the city itself, as Stephen F. […]
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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 […]
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City prepares ordinances to tap brakes on reopening and slow virus spread
City Council approved two ordinances Thursday intended to bring local businesses into compliance with regulations near to Phase 1 of Gov. Greg Abbott’s reopening plan. “We can’t take the foot off the gas – we are not clear of this yet,” Mayor Steve Adler said at a special called meeting Thursday. “We are still in […]
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Council seeks to add teeth to virus regulations
Mayor Steve Adler is proposing two ordinances: one would authorize the city health authority – in this case Dr. Mark Escott – to adopt rules protecting people from Covid 19 and create a class C misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 for anyone convicted of violating those rules. The second ordinance would allow […]
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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 Home Depot and car dealership?’” Casar recalled. “When I told folks that the city had […]
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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 about 62 percent of the vote for both elections. He resigned from his seat in […]
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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 Adrienne Sturrup, Latinos represent 34 percent of Travis County’s overall population. As of May 31, […]
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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 decision comes after Council heard more than eight hours of public testimony over two days on police […]
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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 the protected lanes will be a benefit to all downtown visitors, including business owners along […]