When the Austin City Council approved Austin Energy’s plan to buy new natural gas “peaker” units last week, council members voted behind closed doors, an unusual move that sparked backlash from environmental advocates and government watchdogs who accused city leaders of shielding a controversial public decision from scrutiny. Because the city operates Austin Energy, state […]
Austin City Council
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Growth & Development
Austin takes another stab at density bonus program promoting affordable housing construction
Austin approved another density bonus program aimed at boosting affordable housing, while critics warn of neighborhood impacts.
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Government
Austin council eyes smaller, park-centric proposal despite calls to delay bond election
City staff are recommending delaying Austin’s next bond election until 2028, but several council members are backing a smaller, parks-focused proposal this fall.
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Government
Austin changed its rules on ICE interactions. City leaders don’t agree on what it means.
It’s been about a month since Austin revised its rules on how city police can interact with federal immigration agents — and city leaders are divided on what the change actually means. The rules used to say that Austin police “must” contact a supervisor if they encounter someone who they believe to be undocumented and they plan to call […]
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Growth & Development
Austin eyes crackdown on large data centers as water, power fears grow
As water and power hungry data centers swarm to Central Texas, Austin City Council members ask whether data centers should be allowed in Austin and, if so, under what circumstances.
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Community
Austin’s Latino community is divided when it comes to renaming Cesar Chavez Street
As Austin leaders continue working toward renaming Cesar Chavez Street after the labor leader was accused of sexual assault, some residents are trying to preserve the legacy of a man they revered for decades. In a matter of weeks after the allegations were published by the New York Times, Chavez’s name and face were erased from public spaces […]
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Government
Austin weighs controversial $1 billion natural gas-powered peaker proposal amid climate backlash Â
Austin leaders are set to vote on a controversial $1 billion natural gas peaker plan Austin Energy says is needed to prevent outages and price spikes.
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Growth & Development
Del Valle co-op pushes to open long-awaited grocery store this fall
After years without a supermarket, Del Valle residents launch a co-op grocery store to improve access and cut costs.
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Government
Austin to explore alternative to IT consolidation after employee, council pushback
The city is exploring a less-sweeping approach to a controversial technology services overhaul, following vehement pushback from city employees and City Council concerns.
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Growth & Development
$32 million office lease proposal for Austin light-rail project was wrong move, council member says
A proposed multimillion-dollar office lease for the agency building Austin’s light-rail system was “not how we should be spending these dollars,” a prominent Project Connect supporter said Saturday, arguing the controversy shows why elected officials need a role in overseeing the voter-approved transit plant. Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis, who also sits on CapMetro’s board, made […]
