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.
There’s an election going on right now in Austin and after 12 days of early voting, turnout in Travis County is still less than 6 percent! Here’s the deal – Elections are important. Most people seem to understand that, but we also tend to forget how important they are
Austin Mayor Steve Adler was back in Paris this week to talk all things climate with mayors from around the world. The event was a meeting of the C40 Cities, a network of the world’s largest cities committed to addressing climate change. Collectively, they represent over 90 cities (including
It’s been about three months since President Donald Trump announced he is withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement. So what’s happened since? As you might remember, hundreds of states, cities, universities, and businesses initially spoke out against Trump’s decision, saying that they would continue
We have a new budget folks. Austin City Council officially approved a $3.9 billion budget last week. It will go into effect on October 1st. So what does that mean for you? The average Austin homeowner (with a home valued at $305,000) will pay $151 more next year in taxes
Hurricane Harvey struck Texas nearly a week ago, but its effects will continue to be felt by the state and the entire country for the next weeks, months, and years to come. Houston is underwater. Rockport has suffered widespread destruction and Beaumont has lost access
“Our current land development code is accelerating gentrification and segregation. Our current land development code is choking our ability to have a successful public transit system. Our current code is unacceptable…” These were the words of Austin City Council Member (District 4) Greg Casar at a press conference on
It’s over. The special session of the Texas Legislature ended last week, without the passage of many of the its most high profile bills. When Governor Greg Abbott called this special session, he listed 20 pieces of legislation he wanted to see passed. In the end, only
Local government is important. It’s the level of government that impacts your daily life the most… and yet, many people know nothing about it. That’s why we’re hosting this happy hour. This is your city. Learn how to get involved and make a difference with our
City Council is back from their summer break and that means one thing – it’s time for budget season! Here’s how the budgeting process at the City of Austin works. First, staff at the city’s Budget Office gather information from city departments and the public
Affordability. Gentrification. Traffic. These are some of Austin’s most pressing problems… but how do we fix them? That’s what we’ll be discussing at our July Civics 101 Happy Hour, designed to teach millennials in Austin how to engage with and participate in local government. RSVP today for “Civics 101:
Your tax dollars have been put to work. The first project funded by the 2016 mobility bond was completed late last month. So what is it? The first project to come out of the bond is the Chesterfield Avenue sidewalk. It’s 1,800 feet long, cost $130,000, and
The mayors are stepping up. In the face of the United States’ rapidly changing federal environmental policies and President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, mayors from across the country have decided to take action. At a meeting of the US