As voters ponder the eight ballot proposals they will see at the ballot box in May, City Council’s move to split the question of installing a strong mayor from the addition of a Council seat appears to have opened up a big can of “What if?” The biggest question is what Council meetings will look […]
Bonds & Propositions
Posted inBonds & Propositions
‘Democracy dollars’ proposal looks to spread influence, participation in elections
Opinions are mixed about the potential impact of a ballot proposal that would provide city dollars to residents to fund local political campaigns, but proponents agree the intention is clear: to bring more people from throughout Austin into the political process. Proposition H on the May ballot would create a so-called “democracy dollars” program; residents living […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Proposition C explained
Last month, City Council approved the language for seven ballot propositions Austin residents will cast votes for or against on May 1. Among them was Proposition C, an initiative that would transfer oversight power of the Office of Police Oversight from the city manager to City Council. The ballot language reads as follows: Shall the city […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Most of City Council opposes ‘strong mayor’ plan
Nine City Council members so far have come out against Proposition F, the “strong mayor” proposal on the May 1 ballot. At a press conference Wednesday hosted by Austin for All People, a group opposed to the proposition, several Council members explained the reasoning behind their stance. “There’s no evidence that there is some problem […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Firefighters push for passage of arbitration amendment with Proposition A
Most politically involved Austinites are thinking about Proposition B, the camping ban, or Proposition F, which would eliminate the current city manager form of government and create a “strong-mayor” system. But Austin firefighters are hoping voters will pay attention to and support Proposition A, their request for a binding arbitration amendment to the city charter. […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
No on B aims to fight with Republicans
A new political action committee called Homes Not Handcuffs has announced its presence in Austin with an email declaring that “every part of Travis County’s big tent Democratic Party” is joining together to oppose Proposition B in the No on B campaign. Proposition B would prohibit camping in most areas of the city and allow […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council changes camping ban ballot language
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that City Council must change the language it used to describe Save Austin Now’s ballot proposition reinstating the ban on homeless camping and the prohibition on panhandling after dark. Council, which was meeting in work session when the ruling came down, complied with the court’s order by making a […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Council to consider proposition fix at Friday night meeting
City Council is scheduled to meet once again this Friday night to consider one more possible ordinance to place on the May 1 ballot. On Tuesday night, after a long day of making decisions about how to word eight proposed charter amendments and ordinances, Council called it a day and Mayor Steve Adler canceled meetings […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Prop B walks, rolls, rides to victory
In addition to passing a historic mass public transit system under Proposition A, Austin voters also approved Prop B, a $460 million active mobility bond that will allow the city to make significant progress toward completing the bike lane network, filling missing sidewalk gaps and improving traffic safety. In total, 260,706 votes were cast in […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
What’s Project Connect’s first stop after Austin voters handily pass Prop A?
Before any shiny new train and bus lines hit the streets of Austin, the less glamorous work of planning and administration must begin. City Council and the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors will meet next month to discuss appointments to a new local government corporation that will oversee the transit expansion, known as […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Project Connect: Council to consider equity metrics
Included in the $7.1 billion Project Connect proposal for Nov. 3 is $300 million for affordable housing and neighborhood-level displacement prevention strategies along transit corridors. On Thursday, City Council will vote on a resolution further clarifying that impacted neighborhoods are to help establish the metrics to measure the success of those displacement prevention efforts. “We’re […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin says group doesn’t have signatures to put homelessness ordinances on the ballot in November
Austin’s city clerk says a group seeking to reinstate the city’s bans on sitting, camping or lying down in public doesn’t have the requisite 20,000 signatures to force a referendum on Election Day. Save Austin Now, led by Travis County GOP Chair Matt Mackowiak, submitted its petition with 24,201 signatures late last month. After a […]