Austin City Council

Austin Uses Money From Police Budget to Fund Substance Use Care

The city will use $1 million in funds diverted from its police budget to expand substance use treatments and harm reduction services for low-income people in Austin and Travis County.

Meg O'Connor Apr 07, 2021

Washington State’s Most Populous County Curbed Covid-19 Among The Homeless By Moving Them To Hotels. But One Local Government Fought Back.

Seattle suburb Renton is battling an emergency homeless shelter through its zoning code.

Rachel M. Cohen Feb 10, 2021

Austin To Buy Second Hotel That Will Become Permanent Supportive Housing

The city will use funds diverted from its police budget to set up wraparound services for the people who will live at the hotel.

Meg O'Connor Feb 04, 2021

Austin Will Use Money Cut From Police Budget To Establish Supportive Housing

The City Council voted to buy one hotel and use funds diverted from its police budget to set up wraparound services for the homeless people who will live there.

Meg O'Connor Jan 27, 2021

Austin May Use Money Cut From Police Budget To Establish Permanent Supportive Housing

The City Council will decide whether to buy two hotels and use funds diverted from its police budget to set up wraparound services for the homeless people who will live there.

Meg O'Connor Jan 26, 2021

Police Funding Is a Pivotal Issue in Two Austin City Council Runoffs

Incumbents Jimmy Flannigan and Alison Alter have been targeted by conservative challengers because of the council’s votes to cut police funding and repeal a ban on public camping.

Meg O'Connor Dec 01, 2020

Some Texas Elections Suggest Voters Aren’t Afraid of Defunding Police

None of the Austin City Council members who voted to cut police funding lost their elections, but a police union vice president who fearmongered about the defund movement did.

Meg O'Connor Nov 20, 2020

Austin Cuts Its Police Budget by About A Third

The City Council passed a budget that cut nearly $150 million from the Austin Police Department. Millions will be reinvested in services like violence prevention and supportive housing.

Meg O'Connor Aug 13, 2020

Austin May Cut Police Budget by Nearly $150 Million

The City Council will pass a budget this week that could cut nearly $150 million in funding from the Austin Police Department. The proposal appears to have majority support.

Meg O'Connor Aug 12, 2020

A City Council Resolution Could End Marijuana Arrests and Fines in Austin, Texas

The move is made possible by a Texas law that legalized the production of hemp last year.

Jay Willis Jan 10, 2020

Austin Braces As Texas Officials Plan Crackdown On Homeless Encampments

Last week, the City Council reinstated a “no camping” ordinance meant to discourage people experiencing homelessness from sleeping on sidewalks and outside a shelter. Advocates say the city is criminalizing poverty.

Aaron Morrison Oct 25, 2019

‘We thought it was important to knock down doors’

Lewis Conway Jr., a formerly incarcerated activist running for Austin City Council, sits down with The Appeal.

Sylvia A. Harvey Aug 30, 2018