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 There are seven candidates running to represent District 10 (west Austin) on City Council. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! And don’t forget to vote in these important local races as well. Live in west Austin? Interested in police reform? Our city’s response to homelessness?
Summary Early voting for the November 3rd election starts on October 13th. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! And don’t forget to vote in these important local races as well. Elections are going to look a little different this year. In the midst of a global
In this episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, Diana Gómez (of La Politica) joins Amy Stansbury to cohost our conversation with the candidates running for Austin City Council in District 2 (southeast Austin). Topics of discussion include gentrification/ displacement, police reform, and advancing racial equity
Summary Even though it gets the bulk of media attention, the presidential election won’t be the only race on your ballot this year. There will also be several important races here in Travis County. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! And don’t forget to vote in
Summary There are four candidates running to represent District 2 (southeast Austin) on City Council. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! And don’t forget to vote in these important local races as well. Live in southeast Austin? Concerned about gentrification and displacement? Passionate about social justice?
In this episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, host Amy Stansbury goes over the basics of Prop A, which, if approved by voters in November, could bring a $7.1 billion transit system to Austin. We also take a deep dive into Austin’s transportation history
In the first-ever episode of The Austin Common Radio Hour, host Amy Stansbury talks about why voting in local elections is so important, kicking off a series of election-themed episodes to get you prepped for November! Guests include : Austin City Council Member Greg
Summary There are several important races on the local ballot this year, including 5 City Council seats and 2 propositions that could impact the future of transportation in Austin. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! And don’t forget to vote in these important local races as
Summary With a global pandemic still raging and a long list of problems at the US Postal Service, concerns over voting by mail in the November election are high. Action Box Vote! Vote! Vote! Make a plan now and decide if you’re going to vote
Summary The City of Austin Office of Sustainability has just released a draft of the Austin Climate Equity Plan, which lays out a roadmap for Austin to reduce its emissions by 52% by 2030. Action Box Look through the new plan and then share your
Summary Every 10 years, the US government conducts a census to get an accurate count of everyone living within our borders. But with only a month to go before the deadline, Austin’s census response rate is still pretty low. Action Box Take the census… and
Summary Every 10 years, Austin’s City Council districts are redrawn by an Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission. Applications for new members are being accepted until Sept. 30th. Action Box Learn more about the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and consider applying! Want to impact Austin politics for