Elections
Posted inElections, Local Politics
Martin, McLellan both drop out of campaign for Austin mayor
The field of candidates running for Mayor of Austin got considerably smaller Monday as community activist Patsy Woods Martin and former 3M Company executive Bill McLellan have both said they are dropping out of the race. That leaves Austin attorney Steve Adler as the only announced candidate. Less than a week after she formally […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council members discuss plan to put dog park in industrial area
The City Council discussed and postponed action Thursday on what could be a controversial new dog park located in an industrial complex in southeast Austin. The proposed park, located off Winnebago Lane in the Missouri-Pacific Industrial Complex, would be, as of now, void of any pedestrian access and only accessible by driving through the industrial […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council members approve $15 million in bond funds for housing
Austin City Council members Thursday signed off on $15 million in bond funds for the city’s Neighborhood Housing Department. Their approval marks the first use of the $65 million in affordable housing bonds approved by voters in November 2013 to the department that will administer its use. In so doing, Council members approved funds […]
Posted inLocal Politics
Council members skeptical over incentive deal for AthenaHealth
Austin City Council members Thursday expressed no small amount of skepticism about an economic development incentives deal that would bring a new AthenaHealth Research and Development facility to the former Seaholm Power Plant. Concerns – mostly from Council Members Laura Morrison, Chris Riley and Kathie Tovo – included whether incentivizing the facility’s move to Seaholm […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Patsy Woods Martin announces for Mayor; others are waiting
The founder of I Live Here, I Give Here, Patsy Woods Martin, announced late Thursday that she has officially thrown her hat in the ring to be the next Mayor of Austin. Trained as a chemist, Martin, 59, lists herself as a social entrepreneur, mother, wife and community leader. Martin has worked as a […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council plans to move on Rob Roy zoning, covenant change
Though a lawsuit is already pending, the City Council will move ahead with a Rob Roy zoning and a change in a restrictive covenant change next week. Before Council looked at the matter Thursday, Rob Roy homeowners Russ and Terri Harris filed suit against the City of Austin and Brandywine Acquisition Partners, LP. That […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Tinkering with city’s over 65 property tax exemption proves tricky
Increasing the City of Austin’s tax exemption for residents 65 and older and the disabled could cost the city a substantial amount in lost revenue. According to Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo, who wrote in a memo in response to requests from Council members during last year’s budget discussion, even a small change […]
Posted inLocal Government, Local Politics, Public Safety, Uncategorized
Sheriff’s office defends no in-person jail visitation policy
Officials with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department defended their policy Tuesday of limiting family visits with Travis County Jail inmates to a for-profit video visitation system, saying that the change in policy was for security reasons and that video visitation is a “best practice” in the criminal justice industry. The presentation was requested by […]
Posted inLocal Politics, Transportation
Council to consider upping fine for blocking new priority bus lanes
Austin City Council members will consider whether to implement significantly increased fines for vehicles parked illegally in designated transit priority lanes Thursday. The measure would allow traffic officials to impose up to a $500 fine on vehicles left in lanes set aside for Capital Metro’s soon-to-be-unveiled MetroRapid Transit system. The move is aimed squarely at […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Travis County approves economic development incentives rules
Finalizing an effort that has been months in the making, the Travis County Commissioners unanimously approved revised economic development incentives for the county Tuesday. “It’s been a struggle working on this and I think we’ve done a pretty good job by involving an array of collaborative efforts with many sources,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner […]
Posted inElections, Local Government, Local Politics, Uncategorized
Still a horse race for Brown, Eckhardt in quest for County Judge spot
The two Democrats battling to replace long-time Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe have raised a combined $464,000 in campaign cash through Dec. 31. Andy Brown and Sarah Eckhardt are waging the first real battle for the top job in Travis County in 16 years. Brown, an attorney, long-time political activist and former chair of […]