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Quote of the Day
“My strongest memory and feeling when I think of Bill will always be how he taught us. He was a teacher to his core. Not just at the LBJ School, although his reputation as a prof was great. On any issue that we faced on the dais, he taught. He wasn’t confrontational. He didn’t get hot. Instead, he always educated to make his point. He was smart, smart. And we all benefited from that intellect. I learned a great deal from him. He made a big difference. Austin and I thank him for all the good he did,”
— Mayor Kirk Watson, from Former Council Member Bill Spelman has passed away.
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Former Council Member Bill Spelman has passed away
From Jo Clifton:
Former Council Member Bill Spelman died last Thursday at the age of 68 after a series of illnesses including Covid, according to his wife, Niyanta.
Spelman, who served on the Austin City Council from 1997 to 2000 and then served again from 2009 to the end of 2014, was well known as the teacher on the dais, a man who did his research and shared it. Spelman also taught courses in applied math and statistics, urban policy and public management at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He is still listed online as a professor emeritus.
Spelman is survived by his wife, sons Jasiel and Ronan, and sister Janice. Niyanta Spelman told the Austin Monitor that in a conversation with his doctor, the doctor asked Bill how long he wanted to live and what he wanted to do. Bill said he wanted to keep living “because I want to make the world a better place.” She added, “He was constantly thinking about how to make the world a better place.”
To slash costs, Austin will decide whether to cut firefighter staffing below national standards
From Luz Moreno-Lozano, KUT News
When a fire team responds to a fire there are a minimum of four firefighters on each truck. That is the recommended standard by the National Fire Protection Association. A 2018 city ordinance requires at least four people on each truck.
Under a new plan, fire trucks would be staffed with a minimum of three people. The shift is part of the $6.3 billion budget proposal.
Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax said making the change would save the city about $8.3 million.
But Bob Nicks, president for Austin Firefighters Association, the union representing firefighters, said cutting back on the minimum staffing requirement would have dire consequences, including increased risk for injuries, deaths, and property loss.
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Gómez to retire
After 52 years of county service and 10 years at the State of Texas, Margaret Gómez has announced her retirement as the Travis County Commissioner for Precinct 4. Gómez was the county’s first elected female in 1980, serving until she retired from the position to run for county commissioner in 1993. Winning that election made her the first Mexican-American female county commissioner, and she served until now, making her the longest-tenured Texas county commissioners currently in office.
“I consider myself very lucky to have found my niche in public service and have learned so much about Travis County Precinct 4, its residents, and their needs… I will remain interested in the needs of Precinct 4 being met by a future Commissioner who knows County government, County issues, and the community,” Gómez said in a statement to the press. “I look forward to spending more time with my family who has supported me all these years… I will always cherish the friends I made and the experiences I gained, which made me a better person.” Gómez will retire at the end of her current term.
Creative Reset meets economic opportunity
The newly-formed Department of Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment has begun rolling out a suite of enhanced funding programs as part of the first phase of its yearlong Creative Reset initiative. The reforms for the grants available to musicians and artists include simplified applications, a universal appeals process, microgrants for individual artists, and expanded award tiers for key programs like Nexus, Elevate and Thrive.
ACME director Angela Means told the Economic Opportunity Committee that the department has added mentorship and operational support components to make city cultural funding more accessible, equitable and responsive to the needs of both long-established and emerging creative organizations. Grant distribution under the updated guidelines is expected to begin within the next three to four months.
The broader reset effort will span four phases over the next 12 to 18 months. Phase Two will begin in September with an evaluation of Austin’s existing cultural programs and facilities. Means discussed a possible shift toward a citywide strategy for managing cultural facilities to recognize and address past neglect in certain communities.
Phases Three and Four will focus on securing additional funding sources and implementing a long-term vision for the department. In addition to public funds from Hotel Occupancy Tax revenues and the general fund, ACME plans to pursue new revenue through sponsorships and partnerships. A strategic plan with measurable outcomes and performance benchmarks is in development, with a full progress report expected in 2026.
— Chad Swiatecki
A call for more non-English business resources
City economic advisers are asking the city to reinstate and expand programs that support immigrant entrepreneurs with limited English proficiency, calling them an overlooked engine of small business growth. Recommendations made to the Economic Opportunity Committee include reviving the Community Navigator program that was discontinued in late 2024. That program helped business owners access city resources in their preferred language, developing multilingual guides for key industries, conducting audits of untranslated materials, and partnering with trusted local organizations to deliver support. Speakers, including members from the Economic Prosperity Commission, also pushed for more localized data collection and the creation of an Immigrant Entrepreneurship Week to raise awareness of available resources.
The proposals stem from data showing that 24 percent of new businesses in Austin are founded by foreign-born residents, with language and cultural barriers often limiting their access to capital, regulatory guidance and city programs. While the city has a general language access policy and conducts Spanish-language outreach through the Economic Development Department, speakers noted that current efforts are not tailored to entrepreneurs or non-Spanish speakers. Peer cities highlighted for possible study included Louisville, Philadelphia and Chicago, where local governments partner with community groups to deliver hands-on business support.
— Chad Swiatecki
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Elsewhere in the News
The Austin Bulldog reports that Lost Creek property owners have won a lawsuit against the city which will save them millions in Austin property taxes.
Our local NPR stations — KUT and KUTX will lose $1.2 million next year due to federal funding cuts.
KXAN reports that federal cuts could also cost 100 AISD jobs and “deeply valued” school programs.
And health officials are warning Austinites to make sure their vaccines are up-to-date after measles is found in our wastewater.
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