Support for a potential $300 million affordable housing bond is growing. On Thursday, housing advocates and politicians launched a campaign to support the bond, which they say is needed to address Austin’s housing crisis. “If we’re going to protect what is special and magical about this city, we have to protect and preserve the people […]
Elections
Posted inBonds & Propositions
AISD debuts two draft bond proposals
Austin Independent School District hosted a series of four meetings last week to talk to community members about the bond planning process for the upcoming year. Over 200 stakeholders tuned in to the first meeting alone to better understand the process and provide their two cents on the first draft of the proposals. At the […]
Posted inElections
Watson had help from bundlers, but not that much
In his campaign to become Austin’s next mayor, Kirk Watson has already gained the title of the city’s most prodigious fundraiser for a political race. He raised more than $997,000 in time for the July 15 report. Although he had some help from a dozen “bundlers,” people who collect funds on behalf of a candidate, […]
Posted inElections
Phil Brual, the UT Austin student running for mayor
On Nov. 8, Austin will elect a new mayor, and already a number of high-profile candidates have entered the race. And among those candidates is Phil Brual, a 21-year-old University of Texas student born and raised in Austin. In many ways, Brual’s campaign mirrors that of his competitors – focusing on issues like affordability, public […]
Posted inElections
First financial reports offer a glimpse into City Council campaigns
It’s that time of year again. Candidates for city elections late last week shared how much money they’ve raised so far in accordance with the city’s campaign finance reporting deadline on July 15. Here, we’ll break down the results from every race. While a strong financial report doesn’t mean a candidate is bound to win […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Potential Austin ISD bond proposal could include funding to help teachers with housing
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees will decide later this summer whether to include a bond package on the ballot in November. A bond allows the school district to borrow money to cover the cost of capital expenditures, such as updating facilities, improving technology and buying new buses. The 2022 bond program may also address […]
Posted inElections
Former Capital Idea head running for ACC board
Three spots on the Austin Community College District Board of Trustees – places 4, 5 and 6 – will be up for election this November. Steve Jackobs, the founder and longtime executive director of Capital Idea, stepped down from the nonprofit this spring to run for the Place 6 seat. The incumbent, Nora de Hoyos […]
Posted inElections
Two candidates sign on for City Council races
District 1 Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison is hosting her reelection kickoff party at Mr. Catfish, 1144 Airport Blvd., at 5:30 p.m. tonight. Harper-Madison was first elected to the northeast Austin seat in 2018. So far, her only announced opponent is Clinton Rarey, a political unknown. His wife, Christina, is listed as his campaign treasurer. Christina Rarey, […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Austin votes to ban no-knock warrants and decriminalize small amounts of weed, initial results show
By a sweeping margin, voters in Austin appear to have approved a proposition to sanction small amounts of marijuana and ban the use of no-knock warrants by police. Nearly 85% of voters were in favor of Proposition A, according to initial voting results from Travis, Williamson and Hays counties. (The city spans portions of all three […]
Posted inBonds & Propositions
Voters could decriminalize marijuana possession, ban no-knock search warrants
Voters will have a chance this month to determine whether the city of Austin will adopt two new ordinances that would eliminate low-level marijuana charges and ban no-knock search warrants. The special election, which began in-person early voting on Monday and will conclude on May 7, follows a campaign by the nonprofit Ground Game Texas […]
Posted inElections
Travis County Judge speaks out against Texas voting law
Last Thursday, Travis County Judge Andy Brown joined a U.S. House subcommittee, Committee on House Administration, to speak against Senate Bill 1, the new Republican voting legislation aimed at limiting the effectiveness of alternative voting methods like voting by mail. The hearing, called Voting in America: Ensuring Free and Fair Access to the Ballot, offered […]
Posted inElections
It’s official: Texas’ new voting law led to higher rejection rates for mail-in ballots in Central Texas
County election officials in the Austin area are reporting a higher than usual rejection rate for mail-in ballots during the March 1 primary election. This was the first election since Texas’ new voting law went into effect. The law, known as Senate Bill 1, created new ID rules for ballots by mail. Advocates and county election […]