Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo came prepared with folders of articles for her look back on 2017. Immediately, she notes that this year’s progress looks a lot like last year’s, but there is a reason for that. Her focus has remained on the issues that are closest to her heart: housing and homelessness. “I’ve made […]
City Council
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After one year on Council, Flannigan having the time of his life
Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said his first year on the dais has been defined by “many, many, many little victories.” And that’s how city government is supposed to work, he insists. “Municipal issues are by and large about filling potholes and picking up the trash,” he said during an interview at his City Hall office […]
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Pool proud of 2017 budget actions
Some of District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool’s biggest accomplishments for 2017 show up on a list of budget riders. That’s not the stuff of big headlines, but the kind of nitty-gritty details that make up the life of a government advocate. For example, Pool worked to make sure that the city budget included $175,000 […]
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Renteria concentrates on affordable housing
For District 3 City Council Member Pio Renteria, 2017 saw the culmination of projects large and small, many of which he has been working on for years. Most of those projects are related to helping low-income people who continue to maintain their homes in his district. Renteria saw the groundbreaking this year for one of […]
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Casar reflects on a ‘hellish year’
2017 was a big year for Council Member Greg Casar. Nevertheless, in an interview for the Austin Monitor, he described it as “hellish.” On Nov. 9, 2016, the day after he was easily re-elected to Council, Casar was in no mood to celebrate. In an email missive to supporters and media, Casar called for a […]
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In 2017, Kitchen worked on the big issues
For Council Member Ann Kitchen, 2017 was a year of progress. In an interview with the Austin Monitor, she highlighted some of the ongoing work her office has done over the past year that deals with some of the city’s weightiest issues. Like others on City Council, Kitchen is particularly proud of the progress she […]
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Houston stays true to her district
Council Member Ora Houston sums up this past year as “very interesting.” Speaking to the Austin Monitor, Houston started her review of 2017 by stressing her continued commitment to outreach in her district, which informs the work she does downtown at City Hall. “When I ran, I said I was going to represent all of […]
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Child care, CodeNEXT, grocery stores: Garza focuses on economic justice
Before walking into an executive session where City Council members decided unanimously to select Spencer Cronk as Austin’s next city manager, Council Member Delia Garza spoke to the Austin Monitor about her thoughts on her third year on Council. Although she didn’t disclose who she planned to support for the position, she volunteered that all […]
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Council commissions study of convention center expansion
Researchers at the University of Texas are going to ask the question that seems to be on every Austinite’s mind these days: “Can new, programmatic spatial configurations and economic models for urban convention centers be applied to downtown Austin in a meaningful and community-based manner?” That’s the prime mystery a study commissioned by City Council […]
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Memo outlines ‘downtown puzzle’ progress headed into 2018
Work on Mayor Steve Adler’s “downtown puzzle” policies package will be almost certainly put on hold until the spring when newly hired city manager Spencer Cronk will be able to study and work on how to execute the proposal. That was the word from Adler on Wednesday, following a Friday memo from Assistant City Manager […]
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Council plans to take up sick leave ordinance in February
Over the past month, the city of Austin has tried to gather community input on the issue of paid sick leave and whether the city should require employers to provide it. Unsurprisingly, many employers aren’t happy about the idea. In the three public town hall meetings facilitated by city staff that drew a combined 125 […]
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Resolutions could change how demolitions are done in Austin
On Thursday, City Council approved two resolutions that direct the city to take a look at the literal and figurative cost of demolitions in Austin. Each could lead to increased fees for the growing number of building demolitions in Austin. Demolitions in the city have increased by about 13 percent per year since 2010. Mayor […]