Austin Monitor freelancer Caleb Pritchard chats with Austin Transportation Department Director Rob Spillar and Transportation Systems Development Division Manager Annick Beaudet. The show is embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/314537164″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
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Posted inCity Council, Uncategorized
Austin Monitor Radio: Reporters Roundtable
Austin Monitor publisher Mike Kanin is joined by Monitor editor Liz Pagano, Monitor freelancer Nina Hernandez, and the Austin Chronicle’s Michael King for a discussion about the latest in Austin politics. Post is embedded below: [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/306227273″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /]
Posted inThe Code, Uncategorized
BoA postpones interpretation case, disappoints developer
During a special called meeting on Nov. 21, the Board of Adjustment voted to postpone an interpretation case to its next meeting on Dec. 12. Leah Bojo, a senior manager at Drenner Group representing PSW Real Estate, cried “No!” from the audience as Chair William Burkhardt announced that there was time left only to make […]
Posted inCity Hall, Uncategorized
Audit critical of city, neighborhood contact teams
The city’s neighborhood planning processes “are inequitable, lack transparency, and may constitute a risk to fair housing choice,” according to an audit conducted by the Office of the City Auditor. Auditors presented their findings to the City Council Audit and Finance Committee on Monday. The audit also concluded that the planning process does not have […]
Posted inCity Council, Elections, Uncategorized
Pool wins District 7
Tuesday night, incumbent Leslie Pool easily won her District 7 seat for City Council against challenger and political newcomer Natalie Gauldin. Early voting results Tuesday evening solidly placed her in the lead by 40 percent, giving rise to dinnertime cheers from her supporters. “Leslie has been a huge champion of workers,” said Jeremy Hendricks, business […]
Posted inPolice, Public Safety, Uncategorized
The sad state of DNA testing in sexual assault cases
It might take a while for Austin to clear its backlog of more than 600 batches of DNA evidence related to sexual assaults. Austin Police Department Chief of Staff Brian Manley told members of the Public Safety Commission on Tuesday that he could not say how long it will take for the DNA evidence to […]
Posted inUncategorized
State law forces environmental groups to change strategy
The effects of Senate Bill 709, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last year, are starting to be felt. The bill changed Texas’ contested hearing process for environmental permits. One of its main effects was to shift the burden of proof to the person or organization protesting, rather than applying for, a permit. The […]
Posted inCity Hall, Uncategorized
City of Austin reaches out to unengaged citizens
Austin residents who have tried to get their voices heard by City Council know well the frustrating experience of sitting in a meeting for sometimes as long as 10 hours waiting for the chance to speak for their allotted three minutes. While the process is daunting for most residents, for some it has made the […]
Posted inLand Development Code, Uncategorized
Council moves to change demolition rules
Last week, City Council approved a resolution that could change how civic buildings are demolished in Austin. The resolution, which was sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, could require all demolition permits for civic buildings that are 50 years or older to have a public hearing. Council voted to approve the resolution in a […]
Posted inEnergy, Uncategorized
Little support for reducing utility transfers
At the end of Wednesday’s City Council budget work session about transfers from Austin Energy and Austin Water to the city’s General Fund, Chief Financial Officer Elaine Hart asked Council members to weigh in on whether they support continuing the transfers as they are or if they want to see a reduction. There seemed to […]
Posted inFire, Uncategorized
City considers providing fire service to Travis County ESD4
After years of city annexations, Travis County Emergency Services District 4 (ESD4) should no longer have its own fire department, ESD4 Fire Chief David Bailey told the City Council Public Safety Committee on Monday. When it was founded as Travis County Rural Fire Protection District #4 in 1985, the taxing district covered a large swath of […]
Posted inElections, Uncategorized
Casar campaign kicks off election season
District 4 City Council Member Greg Casar launched his campaign for re-election early Monday morning on the steps of City Hall. In doing so, Casar also unofficially kicked off the campaign season for the upcoming November election, where five Council seats will be up for grabs. As the freshman class of single-member district representatives, the […]