⚪️ Quote of the Day “The firefighters hope we have your support… It’s going to get ugly.” — Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks, from Firefighters to seek firing of Chief Baker ⚪️ Firefighters to seek firing of Chief Baker From Jo Clifton: Austin Firefighters Association President Bob Nicks will hold a press conference today to […]
Newsletter
Austin, Monitored: How to assess a city’s (bond) needs?
⚪️ Quote of the Day “(The plan) hasn’t been updated in almost 25 years and, as we all know, Austin has changed a lot in the last 25 years, so it’s long past due for an update.” — Watershed Protection Planning Team Manager Erin Wood, from Environmental Commission briefed on creek protection plan ⚪️ With cap […]
Austin, Monitored: Office space sparks a new downtown puzzle
🎇 Save $30 on TribFest tickets during the Independence Day Sale! ⚪️ Quote of the Day “What we can say is that downtown most definitely needs an increase in residential population… If we are going to support a vibrant retail corridor, if we are going to have a diversity of shops and goods and services, […]
Austin, Monitored: Historic surveys and mending fences
🎇 Save $30 on TribFest tickets during the Independence Day Sale! ⚪️ Quote of the Day “I think it’s best to think of Historic Preservation as a planning tool that you have to weigh, along with many other things, whether it’s sustainability, or affordability. So it’s just one of the many tools that you have […]
Austin, Monitored: Water conservation and land trusts
⚪️ Quote of the Day “Austin is as little as 15 years and one bad drought away from dry lakes and a water crisis. This is not science fiction, and water efficiency is the best alternative we have.” — Commissioner Paul Robbins, from City leaders evaluate surprising ideas for water conservation ⚪️ City leaders evaluate surprising […]
Austin, Monitored: Art grant violations, park scores and police reviews
⚪️ Quote of the Day “I don’t want the fox to be telling the farmer what hours he should look at the coop… The expectation of the citizens of Austin is that we get to see every one and we get to pick any one.” — Commissioner Carlos Greaves, from Still-nascent police oversight commission pushes for […]
Austin, Monitored: Zilker Cafe and a potential new fee to help parks
⚪️ Quote of the Day “If we approve this vendor, which I’m more than happy to do, are we setting ourselves up for failure – to be having the same conversation and having to take this exact same vote one or two years down the line?” — Parks and Recreation Board Member Pedro Villalobos from Parks […]
Austin, Monitored: On that new mental health diversion center
⚪️ Quote of the Day “What is the perfect mental health diversion center for Travis County?” — County Judge Andy Brown, from Travis County’s Mental Health Diversion Center takes another step ⚪️ Travis County’s Mental Health Diversion Center takes another step From Lina Fisher: Brown has toured many different diversion facilities across the country, taking design […]
Austin, Monitored: Planning, planning, planning
⚪️ Quote of the Day “We’re not hearing how much money is needed from city staff. We’re hearing about projects, but not we haven’t really seen dollars yet.” — Bond Election Advisory Task Force member Dave Sullivan ⚪️ Zoning and Platting debates a plan for west of Loop 360 From Miles Wall: The Zoning and Platting […]
Austin, Monitored: Leaky pipes and ADU pilots
⚪️ Quote of the Day “Based on previous findings, peer city models and updated financial analysis, staff finds that while moderate-income homeowners may benefit from assistance, an ADU financing program is unlikely to effectively serve low-income households or deliver a significant number of deeply affordable units.” — from Housing staff suggest ADU pilot program aimed at […]
Austin, Monitored: An appeal to ICE and doggy daycare drama
Today’s newsletter is supported by Austin Energy and the Value of Public Power Quote of the Day “There’s a growing amount of fear and anxiety, not only in our immigrant community, but also in our Latino community in general, given the new waves of hate and ignorance in today’s political environment.. Too many are feeling […]
Austin, Monitored: Budget cuts, AI thoughts and one doomed tree
Today’s newsletter is supported by Austin Energy and the Value of Public Power Quote of the Day “I’m all for it if they want to do that project. Great, but let’s do it without cutting the tree down, because that’s what makes our city green… You know, it gives us the air we breathe and […]
