Cars, buses and trucks idle at the four-way intersection at Guadalupe Street and West Dean Keeton Street. A horde of prospective students takes to the crosswalk, the timer counting down. Traverse this intersection long enough and you might soon understand its varied pains: lights that are never green long enough and minimal crosswalks for a […]
Mayor Steve Adler
Mayor of the city of Austin, elected in November 2014
Posted inAustin
Austin loses Smart City bid to Columbus
It appears that United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx has decided that Austin is not a Smart City. On Tuesday, Ohio’s two members of the U.S. Senate announced that their state capital, Columbus, won the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Smart City Challenge and the $50 million purse that comes with the title. A spokesperson […]
Posted inAustin
In poll, residents reveal Adler is best of Austin, transportation worst
A poll commissioned by the Austin Monitor with the help of sponsors shows that more people approve of Mayor Steve Adler’s job performance than that of City Council as a whole — with 51 percent of respondents endorsing Adler’s leadership, compared to 40 percent approval for Council. The poll was conducted by phone from June […]
Posted inTransportation
Adler drops surprise $720M mobility bond proposal
Mayor Steve Adler has blasted into the middle of the ongoing conversation about a November mobility bond election by proposing an estimated $720 million package of projects along Austin’s most vital arterials. In a closed-door speech before the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, Adler called for the city to “focus on our major streets.” He […]
Posted inCity Hall
Adler comes out against Prop 1
Mayor Steve Adler for the first time on Monday urged voters to reject Proposition 1, the ballot question that would rewrite existing regulations on ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft. “Today, neither Prop 1 choice is best for Austin because neither delivers by itself what we need,” Adler said at a press conference in […]
Posted inThe Code
Nursery owner fears city will force closure
The website for the Dawson Neighborhood Group warns in bold letters, “Dawson Neighborhood Poised to Lose Another Beloved Business! Help the Great Outdoors!” The site urges readers to contact the offices of Mayor Steve Adler and City Council Member Pio Renteria. A similar plea appears on the Great Outdoors nursery’s website. Problems arose when Thomas […]
Posted inWater
Austin asks TCEQ to change wastewater rules
On Tuesday, the city of Austin formally asked the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for help in correcting an uptick in permits that allow direct discharge of effluent into the region’s lakes, creeks and streams. In Texas, treated wastewater can be discarded either through direct discharge into creeks or lakes, or through land application, as […]
Posted inCity Council
Is Austin still tech-friendly?
“Austin has spent decades building a reputation as an innovative city, but our new City Council’s confusion about (the) issue is destroying our reputation and driving away investment capital,” according to Capital Factory Executive Director Joshua Baer. In the Medium post, Baer is reacting to recent actions by Council placing occupancy limits on short-term rentals, […]
Posted inAustin
At SXSW, Adler discusses public engagement
Mayor Steve Adler took advantage of South by Southwest on Saturday to spotlight opportunities to enhance public engagement through partnerships with tech sector entrepreneurs. The mayor was one of three speakers on a panel called “Crowdsourcing Policy: Constituents to Changemakers” and hosted by KUT reporter and Austin Monitor contributor Audrey McGlinchy. Appearing with Adler were Francisco […]
Posted inAustin
Austin named a TechHire community
As Mayor Steve Adler observed Wednesday, one way to fight Austin’s economic segregation is to help those with less economic advantage make more money. And job training in the tech sector is one obvious way that Austin can help make the city more affordable for more people. Adler joined with representatives of Microsoft, Google, Google […]
Posted inAustin
Reporter’s Notebook: Weekend update edition
Don’t miss the omnibus… On Friday, Mayor Steve Adler unveiled what he is calling “the Austin Music & Creative Ecosystem Omnibus Resolution.” In short, the resolution directs the city manager to take a look at some options for aiding the city’s creative sector and to come back in three months with priorities and an action […]
Posted inReporters' Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook: STRs forever (and ever)
Airbnb talks SXSW… Once again, short-term rentals are coming back to City Council. With a phase-out of Type 2 short-term rentals still on the table, the industry’s biggest players are working to let Austinites know the value they bring to the city. And, with South by Southwest just around the corner, Airbnb has released some […]