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 It’s budget season for the City of Austin! In August City Council will approve next year’s multi-billion budget. Action Box Have thoughts on the city’s budget? Click the badge above to email your Council member and let them know! Where do your property taxes
Summary On May 13th, the city’s policing partnership with DPS was abruptly put on pause. Action Box Keep an eye on our Instagram page for updates on the DPS-APD partnership & opportunities to share your thoughts with local elected officials. Been seeing a lot of
Summary On Election Day, voters overwhelmingly approved Prop A & rejected Prop B, expressing support for stronger civilian oversight of our city’s police department. Action Box Keep an eye on our Instagram page for updates on how the new police contract negotiations are progressing. Election
Summary Prop A & Prop B are both on the ballot because of citizen signature drives and both are related to police oversight and accountability… but they’re actually very different from each other. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Election Day is May 6th and
Summary Last month, Austin City Council voted to fire City Manager Spencer Cronk in a 10-1 vote. Action Box Keep an eye out for upcoming public engagement opportunities on the selection of Austin’s next city manager. Today, we’ve got a little civics lessons for ya!
There’s been a lot of news lately over Austin’s police contract. In this episode, we break it all down for you & explain what police contracts even are, the ways they impact accountability and staffing, and how an upcoming election could impact the future of
Summary TxDOT has plans to expand I-35 through downtown Austin. Action Box Click the badge above to participate in the virtual public hearing. Been seeing a lot of headlines about I-35? Not sure what exactly is going on? We go over all the basics with
By now, you’ve probably heard there are plans to expand I-35 through downtown Austin… but what does that mean exactly? And what will the impact be for our community? And the climate? We cover it all in this episode of The Austin Common Radio
Summary City Council held a special-called meeting this week to vote on what comes next for our city’s police contract. Action Box Don’t forget to vote! Props A & B will be on the ballot in May. Update – This story was originally published on
Summary City Council held a work session this week to learn more about the power outages … and how the city can better respond to future emergencies. Action Box Need help with storm recovery? Click the badge above to access the city’s virtual resource center.
Summary On January 6th, Austin’s new City Council was sworn into office. Action Box Click the badge above to look up your Council district and figure out who your new Council member is. We officially have a new Austin City Council! Keep scrolling to learn
Summary In November, the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department released a draft of the Zilker Metropolitan Park Vision Plan. Action Box Share your thoughts on the plan with city leadership! Click the badge above to fill out the city’s comment form through January