Choose your location
Austin Monitor
D3’s Velásquez says: ‘We’re doing exactly what we set out to do’
For District 3 City Council Member José Velásquez, this past year’s theme was accessibility and constituent relations. “We’re doing exactly what we set out to do, which was make the office as accessible as possible and make the person sitting in the chair as accessible as possible,” Velásquez told the Austin Monitor. “That hasn’t always been the case. That hasn’t always been the case at City Hall, period. And so our main charge outside of the work that we got done was to ensure that the community knew: You can pick up the phone, you email, you can text and we’ll be there.”
Vela: Austin may have country’s most progressive housing policy
Chito Vela has had no sophomore slump in 2023. In his second year, the District 4 City Council member has ushered in a new regimen of land use policies tackling Austin’s housing crisis at breakneck speed. “We were in a real bind for decades, and I think there was...
Report: APD investigated 47 out of 689 complaints against its officers
Austinites voted overwhelmingly last year to expand the Office of Police Oversight’s authority. Implementing the Austin Police Oversight Act, however, has proven challenging. The office recently faced criticism from the Public Safety Commission over its lack of progress on this front. Equity Action, which spearheaded the act, sued the...
Cap Metro finalizes free fare program for riders experiencing homelessness
The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board of Directors voted unanimously on Monday to approve a free two-year smart transit pass for eligible unhoused or housing-insecure customers. “This is a win-win overall,” Board Member Eric Stratton said during a related public hearing, commending Capital Metro staff for their work on the...
Travillion finds connecting resources helps solve complex issues
When Travis County Precinct 1 Commissioner Jeff Travillion looks at the county’s accomplishments in the year past, he sees lessons learned in the pandemic – and in his childhood – put into practice. “It was really no one thing. We pulled together a large group of resources...
Experience, communication help Margaret Gómez tackle difficult issues
With more time logged in office than the other commissioners on the court, Travis County Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gómez is able to bring a long-term perspective to county government. Gómez took office in 1995, making her the longest-tenured commissioner currently in office. But her career with the county...
Austin police officer indicted for fatally shooting tech entrepreneur Raj Moonesinghe in 2022
A Travis County grand jury indicted an Austin police officer for fatally shooting a South Austin man while on duty last year. Daniel Sanchez was indicted on a count of deadly conduct for killing 33-year-old Raj Moonesinghe in November 2022. Moonesinghe was carrying a long gun when Sanchez shot him outside his home near the intersection of Oltorf and South First streets. Sanchez has been suspended since the incident.
New working group will analyze city process for euthanizing injured deer
The Animal Advisory Commission last week voted to form a working group dedicated to examining the city’s protocol on euthanizing injured deer. Former commissioner and North Austin resident Craig Nazor brought the issue before the commission at its meeting on Dec. 11. He told the commission that he lives near Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park and often sees the deer that visit the greenbelt near his home.
Howard proudly ruffling feathers her third year in office
For Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard, this year was all about employing the institutional knowledge she gained over her first two years in office. “You know, I found the bathrooms and the light switches, and I’m sort of recognizing the themes and the issues, knowing who to call and understanding where my colleagues are coming from and how the different departments operate,” Howard told the Austin Monitor. “So I was feeling more comfortable with trying to influence the court.”
Shea continues search for creative solutions to climate crisis
As an environmentalist, Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea spends a lot of time thinking about worst-case scenarios. Still, the commissioner’s approach to leadership is far from doom and gloom. In fact, as the climate crisis worsens across the globe, Shea is driven by her search for creative solutions within Travis County borders.
Political parties reach joint primary agreement to preserve countywide voting
After weeks of unusual delay, Democrats and Republicans in Travis County entered into a joint agreement on Tuesday that will preserve countywide voting and electronic ballots in the March 2024 primary election. These agreements set the rules by which the Travis County Clerk’s Office administers the primary elections. But the...
Council OKs Affordability Unlocked plan despite neighbors’ objections
City Council last week approved a zoning change and neighborhood plan amendment that will allow a developer to build a five-story apartment complex just west of the intersection of South First Street and Eberhart Lane. The vote was 9-0, with Council Member Alison Alter abstaining and Council Member Ryan Alter...
Life sciences talk brings major development news at Urban Land Institute panel
The life sciences industry in Austin is so active and bustling with deals and investments that, over the course of an hour’s discussion last week, leaders in the field dropped a pair of hints about forthcoming significant developments for the local economy. At Urban Land Institute Austin’s monthly panel...
Austin to offer free library cards to people outside the city
People who live outside the city will soon no longer have to pay $120 for an Austin public library card. City Council voted to remove the fees last week after the Library Commission recommended the change. In their recommendation, commissioners said Austin Public Library is committed to equity, which includes removing barriers that prevent access to the library’s resources and services.
Council seeks financial assistance for homeowners looking to add units to properties
City Council intends to help homeowners at risk of displacement with a program that will provide down payment assistance to those wishing to add more residential units to their properties. At last Thursday’s meeting, Council approved a resolution directing the city manager to research and gather options for the program, which would be targeted at low- or moderate-income residents who could add other units including accessory dwellings.
Energy officials warn of winter blackout risk in Texas and beyond
Outside of the Sand Hill natural gas power plant, near Austin, workers have installed a windbreak in case a big winter storm hits again. The sturdy plastic shrink wrap is stretched tight across scaffolding at the bottom of the plant, designed to stop cold wind from blowing through and freezing the pipes inside.
Three Council members call for Middle East cease-fire
Responding to calls from the community seeking a City Council resolution supporting a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, Council members Vanessa Fuentes, Zo Qadri and José Velásquez released a statement Thursday calling for peace. The statement reads:. “Whether it be Palestinians, Israelis or Austinites, innocent civilians deserve to...
Police union leadership says oversight lawsuit further stalls labor contract negotiations
After nearly a year without a police labor contract, city leadership has signaled its hope for – and taken steps toward – a new agreement in early 2024. But incoming Austin Police Association President Michael Bullock says recent developments, including a recently filed lawsuit, have raised questions that need answering before the union will return to the negotiation table.
Renewed cooperation eliminates backlog of sexual assault evidence kits
After years of discord, the team created to improve Travis County’s response to sexual assault is back to collaborating, team members told the Commissioners Court Tuesday, and a backlog of untested evidence kits has been processed. Spurred by state law enacted in 2021, the members of SARRT, or the Austin/Travis County Sexual Assault Response and Resource Team, are sitting at the table again.
Travis County Democrats say ‘election denialism’ within Republican Party imperils the 2024 primary election
In a Wednesday press conference, the Travis County Democratic Party and Travis County elected officials called out “election denialism” within the Travis County Republican Party that they say is keeping the two party organizations from agreeing on rules for primary elections. The Austin Monitor previously reported on concerns...
Austin Monitor
4K+
Posts
2M+
Views
Five days a week, we bring you the news from Austin City Hall, Travis County Commissioners Court, and multiple other civic entities that make key decisions for central Texas. We stick to the facts. We aim to be fair. When we err, we correct it fast.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.