Austin effectively decriminalized marijuana last year. The city also effectively banned no-knock warrants, the controversial police tactic that led to the deaths of Breonna Taylor and Atatiana Jefferson. But those policies are more or less guidelines; they’re not formally enshrined in the city’s charter. A group of city leaders, criminal justice advocates and political operatives wants to change that, […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin won’t make arrests during first phase of reinstating rules related to homelessness
After voters passed Proposition B on May 1, Austin is reinstating rules that ban homeless encampments on public land, prohibit sitting or lying down in parts of the city, and place a nighttime curfew on panhandling. While those rules go into effect Tuesday, the city said enforcement would be phased in. In an announcement Monday, the city […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Strong-mayor proposition fails spectacularly
In the May 1 election, voters strongly rejected Proposition F, which proposed a radical change to Austin city governance from the Council-manager form of government to a strong mayor with veto powers over actions taken by City Council. Eighty-six percent of those casting ballots on the issue voted no. The proposition brought by Austinites for […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin voters approve reinstating bans on camping, resting and panhandling
Lee esta historia en español. Austin has voted to reinstate criminal penalties for behavior related to homelessness. With its passage, Proposition B will restore the city’s previous ban on public encampments, prohibition of resting in certain areas and limitations on panhandling. The citizen-led measure passed handily by a 15-point margin. The measure fueled an unusually […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop E approval OKs ranked-choice voting, with legal questions ahead
Austin voters came out in favor of a new system for conducting local contested elections beginning in 2022, though how or if that change will be made appears unclear. Proposition E was approved 87,516 to 63,510 on Saturday, with nearly 60 percent of voters showing support for a switch to ranked-choice voting for City Council […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
With Prop C passage, Council can decide how to oversee police oversight office
Austin voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition C Saturday, paving the way for City Council to change who the director of police oversight reports to – an independent body or Council itself. According to the unofficial results, 62.9 percent (96,888 people) voted for the measure and 37.1 percent (57,271) voted against it. The Office of Police Oversight […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Groups report endorsing, rejecting propositions
The Travis County Democratic Party has endorsed Proposition A on the May 1 ballot, which would give Austin firefighters the authority to require the city to participate in binding arbitration. The party has also urged its members to reject Prop B, the public camping ban. Two of the larger Democratic clubs in Travis County also […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop H gets support from community leaders pushing ‘democracy dollars’
Leaders from a variety of community and political advocacy groups voiced their support Tuesday for Proposition H, the ballot proposal popularly known as “democracy dollars” that is intended to bring public financing into local elections. Members of Austinites for Progressive Reform, which helped in the initial push to create the ballot proposal, Common Cause Texas […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Ranked-choice voting proposal faces legal, legislative questions after May election
There are two questions at play for Proposition E, which would seek to create ranked-choice voting in city elections. One of those questions will be decided by voters in May, while a larger one will likely play out between city administrators and lawmakers at the Capitol over whether the election format is legal in Texas. […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Mayors, environmental groups oppose strong-mayor plan
Three former Austin mayors and six local environmental organizations have announced their opposition to Proposition F, the charter amendment that would change Austin’s Council-manager form of government to a system that would eliminate the city manager and give the mayor the power to hire, fire and supervise department directors, including the city attorney. Former mayors Lee […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Should mayoral election be moved to presidential years?
When voters cast their votes on the May 1 ballot, they will have a chance to weigh in on the question of whether Austin’s mayor should be elected in November of presidential election years, instead of on a cycle that puts the mayor’s race on the ballot with the election of the governor. Proposition D […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop H critics want more inclusivity in ‘democracy dollars’ program
Advocates for local immigrant workers have come out against the “democracy dollars” ballot proposal set to go before voters in May, and are pushing City Council to pass an ordinance expanding its eligibility if the initiative succeeds. Proposition H would create a city-funded campaign finance program giving $25 vouchers per Council race to registered voters, which […]