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 We’ve partnered with the team at A Functional Democracy to share some helpful tips for testifying and to help distribute their “A Beginner’s Guide To Local Government” book. Action Box Sign up to speak at the next Council meeting and get yourself a copy
Summary The City of Austin is beginning the process of redrawing our City Council districts, which happens every 10 years. Action Box Help shape Austin for the next 10 years! Apply to serve on the Independent Citizens Redistricting Committee. Right now, the city government is
We’ve talked about it here before, but in case you need a little refresher… Every 10 years the US government conducts a census to get an accurate count of everyone living within our borders, regardless of citizenship status. Numbers compiled during the census
Summary In this edition of our “Austin Orgs You Should Know” series, we highlight the League of Women Voters Austin Area, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “Empowering voters. Defending democracy. Action Box If you’re passionate about democracy and voter education, then become a member
Summary Each year, the City of Austin develops its budget – how much money it will take in (property taxes) and how much money it will spend (and on what). Right now, the city in collecting public input for its 2021 budget. Action Box Influence
Summary Representative Lloyd Doggett’s office answers our readers questions about federal COVID-19 relief and the CARES Act. About the Author Amy Stansbury is the Editor-In-Chief of The Austin Common. You’ve seen the headlines. Trillions of dollars in federal aid are supposed to be coming our
Now, more than ever, it seems pretty important to know what the heck your government is up to. Big decisions are being made every day, right here in Austin, that will affect our lives and livelihood. But how do you attend a Council meeting
Did you know there’s an election going on right now? Yes, really. It’s not getting a lot of media attention, but there are several important issues for you to vote on come November 5th. In Austin, there are two ballot propositions: Prop A
What is your #1 concern, worry, or fear about Austin and its future? Wish we were doing more to address climate change? Or to protect families against displacement and gentrification?Think our parks could use a bit more love and support? It’s August, which
Austin has a big goal. Net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050… at the latest. This means that we have less than 30 years to virtually eliminate the climate-change causing emissions from the electricity we use, the cars we drive, and the trash we throw away. So
Let me tell you a little story. Once upon a time, there was a group of Austinites who were really concerned about the lack of access to healthy food in their community. Thirteen zip codes in Travis County don’t even have a grocery store
How to spend your money. It’s one of the most important decisions that City Council makes. Each year, Austin’s City Council is responsible for setting a new city budget. This budget impacts everything from the quality of our local parks and libraries, to how much money you