Early analysis shows the city will lose $1 million per month in mixed beverage taxes while the local bar and restaurant industry is shut down, with a forthcoming economic model expected to give a picture of the loss in sales taxes. Because sales taxes make up the largest portion of the city’s General Fund, that […]
COVID-19
Posted inDevelopment
County to pause construction on some inessential public works projects
Travis County plans to pause construction on some of its public works projects to slow the spread of the coronavirus over the coming weeks. As a general rule, residential and commercial construction has been put on hold since the county’s Stay Home, Work Safe order took effect March 25, allowing exceptions for affordable housing, construction […]
Posted inCity Hall
City takes precautions for critical employees
Electricity. Water. Trash pickup. The city of Austin provides all these services and we take it as a given that they will be there when we need them. Even as most Austinites have been ordered to stay home, the employees who make sure we still have lights, water and trash removal are still working during […]
Posted inCity Hall
Historic zoning, demolitions on hold for the time being
When it comes to zoning cases, the city has carved many different timelines into the code to keep cases moving forward. Those timelines are currently on hold. For historic zoning cases, non-administratively approved applications have been stopped in their tracks until the Historic Landmark Commission can reconvene. Jerry Rusthoven, the assistant director of the Planning […]
Posted inAustin
Abbott orders statewide limits on nonessential activity, but won’t call it a ‘stay-at-home’ order
Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order Tuesday requiring Texans to limit personal interactions that could lead to the spread of Covid-19. The order states schools will remain closed until at least May 4. People may still leave their homes to access essential services like providers of groceries or medicine and to go outside for exercise. […]
Posted inAustin
Expanded hotel use among city’s strategies for combating Covid-19 among homeless population
Increased availability of public hygiene facilities, emergency food access, coordination with health care organizations and expanded use of local hotels for shelter are some of the steps the city has taken to assist the homeless community in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a recent memo, assistant city managers Rodney Gonzales and Christopher Shorter […]
Posted inPublic Health
Austin Public Health is setting up two facilities to house nursing home residents with Covid-19
Austin Public Health announced Monday that its new nursing home task force is setting up sites to house nursing home residents who test positive for Covid-19. The city says these isolation facilities will give Covid-19 patients who don’t need hospitalization a safe place to recover while staying away from other nursing home residents and staff. […]
Posted inDevelopment
City clarifies new construction rules
As promised, the city has clarified its new rules for the construction industry under orders asking Austinites to stay home unless necessary. Since Mayor Steve Adler issued shelter-in-place guidelines March 25, the question of which construction is considered essential has been a topic of debate and some confusion. As of Monday, the city has implemented […]
Posted inAustin
Local groups call for $10 million to help struggling families
Last Thursday, a coalition of community groups called on City Council to allocate $10 million in emergency spending to be distributed to families struggling financially due to the Covid-19 crisis. “By allowing impacted families experiencing financial hardship brought by Covid-19 to help supplement lost wages,” the letter reads, “we are inviting others to respect people’s […]
Posted inAustin
Advocacy groups push for fast, centralized aid for musicians impacted by Covid-19 spread
More than a dozen local music nonprofits have signed on in support of City Council’s recent move to create aid programs to address the business impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, with a letter sent last week calling for quick relief through a centralized and streamlined allocation process. The letter asks Council members to focus on […]
Posted inTransit
Cap Metro to eliminate fares
Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority has announced that it will implement free fares throughout the month of April to prioritize public health amid the coronavirus pandemic. Eliminating fares allows passengers to board through the rear bus door without stopping to pay fares or scan tickets, which reduces crowding and queuing near the driver. Those using wheelchairs […]
Posted inPublic Health
Here’s what Central Texans need to do to not overwhelm our hospitals
We know there will be an outbreak of COVID-19 in Austin, but the severity of the outbreak is up to us. A new report from UT finds that if everyone in Austin reduces their human interaction by 90 percent, the city’s hospitals would be able to treat everyone who gets sick. If people reduce their […]