A third official candidate jumped in to the race for mayor of Austin on Monday. Doug Greco, who announced last week that he was stepping down from his post as executive director and lead organizer of Central Texas Interfaith, announced his candidacy, declaring that he wants to address “inequality, unaffordability, (and) the increasingly difficult path […]
Austin Interfaith
Austin Interfaith is a coalition of congregations, schools and unions who work together to address community issues. The group is non-partisan, and focuses on issues that affect families, working people and neighborhoods in the city. AI is part of the Industrial Areas Foundation, which is a national organization.
Posted inAustin
Church leaders praise city, county for committing fed funds toward homelessness
Leaders from 50 religious organizations around Travis County have praised the work of city and county leaders who have dedicated more than $200 million toward ending homelessness in Central Texas. In an online forum on Tuesday, leaders of congregations from Central Texas Interfaith gathered with their constituents to discuss the significance of Austin City Council […]
Posted inCity Council
Austin Interfaith calls for $40 million in rental assistance
At a Wednesday morning press conference, Austin Interfaith called on City Council to increase its rental assistance program by $40 million. The city recently approved a $1.2 million Relief of Emergency Needs for Tenants, or RENT program, that’s due to disburse on Friday, but Austin Interfaith points to larger sums spent by other major Texas […]
Posted inCity Council
Facing pressure, flagship Torchy’s drops alcohol waiver request
Anyone who has been to the South Congress Torchy’s Tacos since it opened in January might be surprised to learn that alcohol sales aren’t soon on the way. Since its opening, the restaurant has featured two large bars — one indoor, one outdoor — with several empty taps and margarita machines in plain view. However, […]
Posted inCity Council
Mobile home rezoning wins praise from all sides
Last week’s City Council meeting ended on a high note when a once-contentious rezoning for an East Side mobile home park found agreement and praise from all sides. Council Member Greg Casar summed it up, saying, “This is how you negotiate a zoning case.” The case found a happy resolution that extended beyond the District […]
Posted inDevelopment
Mobile home development stokes hope and fear
The Zoning and Platting Commission narrowly approved a recommendation Tuesday for an 855-home expansion of the Oak Ranch mobile home park on the east side after three hours of contentious testimony from neighbors on both sides of the issue. The commission voted to recommend rezoning the property from small lot single-family (SF-4A) and medium density […]
Posted inDevelopment
Torchy’s Tacos liquor plan raises eyebrows
A plan to sell hard liquor at the new South Congress Torchy’s Tacos has caught the attention of Austin Interfaith. For its 1822 South Congress Ave. location, Torchy’s Tacos is seeking a waiver from the portion of the city code that requires liquor sales be located more than 300 feet from schools. That location was […]
Posted inElections, Local Politics, Public Safety
Austin Interfaith grills mayoral candidates on affordability
Only three of the eight candidates in the running for mayor participated in a question-and-answer session hosted by Austin Interfaith on Tuesday. And rather than give candidates a forum to lay out their individual platforms, Austin Interfaith directed four specific questions to them about the group’s priorities, touching on education, immigration, affordable homes and employment. […]
Posted inDevelopment
Measure to set residential occupancy limits headed for City Council
An effort to curb stealth dorms that would radically limit how many unrelated people can live in Austin’s residences is heading quickly back to City Council. This past November Council started the process of limiting occupancy to four unrelated adults in single-family zoned property. Currently, the city puts that limit at six unrelated adults. […]
Posted inLocal Government, Uncategorized
Commissioners still pondering prevailing wage questions
Travis County Commissioners found themselves in the middle of tug-of-war Tuesday over proposed policy changes to the county’s Economic Development and Construction Procurement Practices. The issue of the county requiring a prevailing wage of $11 per hour for all construction done with county money sparked an extended debate. The Travis County Economic Development Task […]
Posted inDevelopment, Local Politics
Council denies zoning change for Bluff Springs convenience store
With negotiations in shambles, there will be no zoning change for construction of the Bluff Springs Food Mart in the near future. The owner of the proposed convenience store was seeking the zoning change in order to remove a restriction that prohibits food sales and restaurant fast food drive-throughs on the property. That change […]
Posted inDevelopment
Dove Springs group wants fresh food, limited alcohol at new store
Representatives from the Dove Springs community and Austin Interfaith are hoping that a zoning change can be a positive one, as they continue to work with the property owner to help create a small oasis in one of the city’s food deserts. Neighborhood residents are also concerned about creation of yet another place to purchase […]