Less than 24 hours after being sworn in to office as the new District 6 representative, City Council Member Don Zimmerman had his lawsuit against the Austin Bulldog dismissed and was ordered to pay court costs and attorney’s fees. Zimmerman filed the lawsuit in October, alleging libel in an article published by the Bulldog written by […]
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Posted inAustin, Bonds & Propositions, Courts, Development, Elections, Environment, Local Politics, Public Safety, Resources
2014: An Austin Monitor review
This past year was a dynamic one in Austin, and though the future promises to be just as interesting, at the close of 2014 we invite you to take a trip back over the past 12 months. Though a lot went on in the city and this list is far from comprehensive, from our ever-particular […]
Posted inCity Hall, Courts, Local Politics
Zimmerman drops lawsuit, but case goes forward
On Thursday, after hearing from attorneys for District 6 City Council Member-elect Don Zimmerman and the Austin Bulldog about Zimmerman’s lawsuit against the website and its publisher, Ken Martin, Judge Amy Clark Meachum ruled in favor of the Bulldog on the question of whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the journalist’s motion for award […]
Posted inAustin, City Council, Courts, Local Politics
Zimmerman v. Bulldog case going to court today
Attorneys for District 6 Council Member-elect Don Zimmerman and Austin Bulldog publisher Ken Martin will face off in a Travis County district court this morning over a lawsuit Zimmerman filed related to a Bulldog story that outlined court proceedings in which Zimmerman relinquished managing conservatorship of his daughter. Zimmerman claims in the lawsuit that Martin […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing
Source of income rule OK’d, lawsuit threatened
Starting in mid-January, Austin property owners will be barred from discriminating against potential renters based on their source of income. The Austin Apartment Association plans to file a lawsuit to block the new policy. City Council unanimously passed the ordinance Thursday after hearing arguments from public speakers for and against it. Proponents believe it will […]
Posted inAustin, Courts, Development, Housing, Local Politics
Council may amend source-of-income ordinance
Austin City Council members, set to finalize an ordinance that would ban housing discrimination based on one’s source of income, will consider a language change that would bring their version of the rule in line with state and federal codes. Council Member Laura Morrison raised the issue at Tuesday’s work session. “There is a state […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions, Courts, Development, Local Politics, Travis County
Commissioners get $294 million courthouse budget
Travis County Commissioners heard a report Tuesday that the budget to construct the proposed new Civil and Family Courthouse comes in at $294 million. After asking their consultants some pointed questions about how they arrived at that amount, they passed the whole thing along to the new Commissioners Court, which will take office in January. […]
Posted inCourts, Housing, Local Politics, Uncategorized
City Council advances source of income ordinance
City Council members took another step toward prohibiting housing discrimination based on source of income Thursday, passing an ordinance on second reading that amends the city code. The ordinance includes language that offers an exemption to property owners who do not directly or indirectly own more than four dwelling units and do not use a […]