Local government is important. It’s the branch of government that affects your life the most, and yet, many of us can barely remember the name of our mayor or City Council member. That’s why we break it all down for you in a way that’s clear, easy-to-understand, and even a little fun. No PhD in poli sci needed!
New to The Austin Common? Here’s two ways we suggest learning more about local government:
#1 – Get yourself a copy of “A Beginner’s Guide To Local Government: Austin Edition.”
#2 – Start reading our Civics 101 news stories, conveniently laid out for you below.
Summary On May 1st, 8 different propositions will be on the ballot, including Prop B, which has to do with Austin’s rules around homelessness. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Early voting begins April 19th & lasts through April 27th. Election Day is on May
Summary On May 1st, 8 different propositions will be on the ballot, including Prop A, which has to do with the Austin Firefighters Association & contract negotiations. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Early voting begins April 19th & lasts through April 27th. Election Day
Summary In August, Austin City Council voted to make some major changes to the Austin Police Department’s budget. But those changes didn’t come from nowhere. They were the result of years of advocacy and activism by several local organizations. Action Box Click on this box
Summary February’s winter storm left thousands of Austinites without electricity & water. In response, major volunteer operations were set up to help neighbors in need. Action Box Even though the winter storm is over, many Austinites are still struggling with storm damage and a lack
Last month’s winter storm left millions of Texans without electricity. So what is the Legislature doing about it? In the latest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, we sit down with state Representative Vikki Goodwin to find out. Vikki Goodwin represents Texas House
Summary There have been a lot of news stories flying around about high electric bills in the wake of the winter storm. Fortunately, Austinites are unlikely to see such crazy bills. Action Box Even though Austin Energy customers are not going to see crazy spikes
Been reading a lot of headlines about what happened to our electric grid during winter storm Uri? Still confused? In the latest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, we answer all your questions. Featuring special guest John Hoffner, who has spent nearly all his
Summary With so many Austinites without food, water, and electricity, we’ve put together a list of ways for you to get and give help locally. Action Box If you are able to, choose one of the organizations below and make a donation to help our
Summary More than 4 million Texans lost power during one of the worst winter storms in recent memory. How did that happen? We cover the basics in our latest guide. Action Box Donate to the Community Resilience Trust’s Emergency Relief Fund to support Austin’s unhoused
Is Austin really the most dangerous city in Texas? Did our murder rate actually increase in 2020? And what does any of that have to do with public safety? In the newest episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, we continue our series on
In this episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, host Amy Stansbury continues our series on policing with a look back at the history of policing and police reforms in Austin, Texas. Guests include Chris Harris of Texas Appleseed, former Austin City Council Member Bill
In this episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, host Amy Stansbury kicks off a series about policing in Austin, explaining exactly what changes were made to APD’s budget this past summer and sharing an update on what work has been done since. Guests include