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.
Want to make a difference in 2017? One way to have a positive impact right here in your community is by getting involved in local government. The mayor and City Council will be dealing with a lot of really important issues in the coming year.
The results are in. Austin officially has a new City Council. Alison Alter beat out incumbent City Council Member Sheri Gallo in a runoff election last week to fill the final seat in City Hall. For those who aren’t familiar, Austin’s City Council has 10 seats
You might not know it, but Austin is in the middle of an election. Voter turnout during early voting was only 2.2 percent! Wait, didn’t we just have an election? What election is this? Yes, we did just have an election. On November 8th (when
Last year, Austin Mayor Steve Adler traveled to France to pledge Austin’s support for the historic Paris Agreement, the world’s first global accord on climate change. Last week, Mayor Adler went to Mexico to try and make good on that promise. With the Paris Agreement,
Nobody needs to be told that this was a significant election season in America. At the national level, the campaigns were contentious, personal, and emotional. The results of that election and what they will mean for Austin and for the world, will surely be discussed
Choosing your City Council member is a big deal. This is the person who will represent you in City Hall for the next four years. They’ll make policies that will influence the city’s transportation infrastructure, affordability, environment, and your own neighborhood. That’s why it’s important
Choosing your City Council member is a big deal. This is the person who will represent you in City Hall for the next four years. They’ll make policies that will influence the city’s transportation infrastructure, affordability, environment, and your own neighborhood. That’s why it’s important
Choosing your City Council member is a big deal. This is the person who will represent you in City Hall for the next four years. They’ll make policies that will influence the city’s transportation infrastructure, affordability, environment, and your own neighborhood. That’s why it’s important
What are the biggest issues facing Austin today? The most common answers to that question are transportation and affordability. Well, Prop 1 affects both of them. Which means that this is the big one. This is the issue of this local election season. So now’s
Choosing your City Council member is a big deal. This is the person who will represent you in City Hall for the next four years. They’ll make policies that will influence the city’s transportation infrastructure, affordability, environment, and your own neighborhood. That’s why it’s important
Austin’s innovative SXSW spirit went all the way to the White House last week for SXSLawn, an event inspired by our very own famous festival. Earlier this year, President Obama spoke at SXSW here in Austin and was so inspired by what he saw that he
One of the EcoNetwork’s main goals this fall is to educate the public about the importance of local elections. The past few weeks, we’ve shared with you information about how to determine which City Council district you live in, how to register to vote, and