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.
Always wondered how the City of Austin actually works? Want an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at your local government? Then the CityWorks Academy might be just the thing for you. Now in its ninth year, the CityWorks Academy is a city-sponsored program that teaches Austin residents all
Now for a bit of local government trivia. Who is the city manager? And what does a city manager even do? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the answer. Many people don’t, which is a problem because the city manager occupies a very important
It’s not over yet. Last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would be bringing back state lawmakers for a special session of the 85th Texas Legislature. (For those not as familiar with the inner workings of our state government… the Texas Legislature only meets
Well, it happened. You’ve probably heard the news by now, but in case you haven’t, President Donald Trump announced earlier today that he is pulling the US from the Paris Climate Agreement. In the coming weeks, the EcoNetwork will continue to report on what the
Just over a year after they left Austin, Uber and Lyft have returned to the city (as of Monday, May 29th). That’s the day when Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 100, a bill that essentially overturns Austin’s local ride-hailing app regulations and replaces them with a
Always wanted to get more involved in local government and attend a City Council meeting, but don’t know what to do with your kids? The City of Austin wants to hear from you. They’re currently doing research into the viability of providing supervised children’s activities
Have something to say to City Council, but can’t make it all the way to City Hall for their meetings? The city’s Remote/Virtual Citizen Communication program is now available at nine public libraries across the city. Here’s how it works: If you have a new idea, opinion,
It’s that time of year again. The City of Austin is starting its annual budget process and it needs your help. We know that budgets, numbers, and graphs can sound boring, but the city’s budget is definitely not something to ignore. It really does affect
Sponsored Post – from the City of Austin Office of Sustainability Austin was one of 195 cities worldwide that signed the Paris Agreement at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, agreeing to lower greenhouse gas emissions to alleviate the worst impacts of climate change.
It has been a difficult few weeks for climate change policy in the US. If you haven’t been following along, here’s what’s been going on: 1. Fuel Economy Standards – Earlier this month, President Donald Trump announced that the EPA would begin reviewing (and possibly weakening) federal
It’s finally here. After years of research, reports, and work the first draft of CodeNEXT has been released and was officially be revealed to the public on Wednesday. Since the draft itself is hundreds of pages long, there hasn’t been much of a response from the public yet,
Change. That was the theme of Austin Mayor Steve Adler’s “State of the City Address,” which he delivered to a packed crowd at City Hall last Saturday. “But change – even in the form of growth – is not our enemy,” Adler said, encouraging Austinites