With two years left on her term of office, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison is looking forward to helping move the Northeast Planning District toward the bright future she envisions for it. That’s “really at the top of my list” of what she wants to work on in 2025, she told the Austin Monitor. Work on […]
District 1
District 1 is one of the largest districts by area created by the commission, being bounded by Interstate 35, bumps up against Pflugerville on the north, SH 130 on the east and reaches down into the eastern parts of downtown and the University of Texas campus. It includes a variety of neighborhoods, such as Copperfield, Harris Branch, University Hills, Colony Park and Rosewood. It also contains Decker Lake Park and some of the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
Posted inTravis County
Travis County approves ambitious ‘Marshall Plan’ for northeast planning district
According to Travis County commissioners and staff, eastern Travis County has long been blighted. Lack of investment and economic opportunities along with displacement and systemic racism have left the area systemically impoverished. In 2024, after years of dilapidation in the area, Travis County and the city of Austin have set their sights on changing – […]
Posted inCity Council
Harper-Madison looks to spark D1 civic involvement in 2023
After completing her fourth year in office, City Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison wishes she’d known from her first day roughly as much as she knows now about the workings of city government. Her thinking: There should be an apparatus that teaches basic process and procedures to residents who want to know more about their city, […]
Posted inElections
Ellis and Harper-Madison easily win reelection to Council
In some of the least-surprising news Tuesday night had to offer, City Council incumbents Natasha Harper-Madison and Paige Ellis both held on to their seats in decisive victories over their opponents. In District 1, Harper-Madison, who has served on Council since 2019 and was mayor pro tem in 2021, ended the night with almost 54 […]
Posted inElections
Reports show wide disparities in fundraising among candidates
Last week, candidates running for City Council submitted their final campaign finance reports before Tuesday’s election, revealing a wide array of funds across campaigns and districts. DISTRICT 9 With Council Member Kathie Tovo stepping down, numerous people are vying to take the downtown seat. The major contenders seem to be Linda Guerrero, Tom Wald and […]
Posted inElections
Watch our District 1 City Council forum
On Monday, three of the four candidates vying for the District 1 City Council seat participated in a forum hosted by KUT and the Austin Monitor. You can watch the forum, which was hosted by KUT’s Haya Panjwani, below. Joining Panjwani were candidates Misael D. Ramos, Clinton Rarey and incumbent Natasha Harper-Madison. Melonie House-Dixon did […]
Posted inElections
Candidates for District 1 City Council seat chat with the ‘Monitor’
Four years ago, Natasha Harper-Madison won a runoff election to become the second-ever representative of City Council District 1. That year, the entrepreneur and mother of four bucked conventional wisdom by winning at the expense of better financed candidates. This cycle, the dynamic is completely different. Incumbent Harper-Madison has raised $113,973, while only one of […]
Posted inAustin
Demand for skilled workers drives District 1 jobs training program
With job growth in Austin stronger than ever, and most analysts naming the region as one of the best job markets in the nation, Workforce Solutions Capital Area is trying to make traditionally underserved communities aware of the job training and employment opportunities available to those looking for a career change. The organization will spread […]
Posted inCity Council
Natasha Harper-Madison’s focus in 2022? ‘Housing, housing, housing’
Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison’s tenure on City Council has been marked by crisis. Elected in November 2018 as the District 1 representative, Harper-Madison barely had a year in office before Covid-19 struck. “What a time to have your first term in public office!” she noted. Though the pandemic has persisted into the last year […]
Posted inZoning
Springdale and 12th Street upzoning OK’d
At the urging of Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison, City Council approved a zoning request for 1200, 1202 and 1208 Springdale Road Thursday night, with all members voting in favor except Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, who was off the dais. The undeveloped property has been zoned Community Commercial-Mixed Use (GR-MU-NP), and the new zoning simply […]
Posted inCity Council
Natasha Harper-Madison: Creating a more equitable city
“Greetings!” Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison’s phone voice message said, “I look forward to connecting with you.” Harper-Madison represents District 1, which includes Northeast, East Central and far East Austin. The Council member has been hard at work, sometimes even on weekends, to keep her connection with her constituents going in an unprecedented year. This year […]
Posted inCity Council
Harper-Madison looks back on lessons and growth in first year on Council
Looking back on her first year representing Austin’s District 1 seat on City Council, Natasha Harper-Madison said her early motivations for running for office were largely personal. She wanted to address issues specific to her district and its people rather than grasping macro issues such as transportation, and abstract issues like “giving voice to the […]