Jack Craver

How badly does a cop have to screw up? Deadly incompetence clearly isn't enough.

In March, an Austin police officer killed one person and injured several others while driving 51 mph over the speed limit. APD determined he did not violate department policy. Read more:
www.austinpolitics.net/how-badly-do...

Is this officer supposed to be on the streets? I thought he was put on restricted duty.

Last month it seemed that Mayor Kirk Watson called for an officer seen punching a man on 6th St to be disciplined. It also appeared APD had removed him from patrol. But I saw him the other day.
www.austinpolitics.net/is-this-offi...

No cuts for the cops But Fire & EMS brace for cuts.

In the wake of Prop Q's failure, expect to see lots of performative frugality on small expenses. What you probably won't see is any meaningful effort to rein in the city's biggest cost drivers:
www.austinpolitics.net/no-cuts-for-...

FU-Q: Tax hike goes down in flames No way to sugarcoat it.

My take on Austin voters' rejection of Prop Q:

"Austin voters delivered a giant middle finger to City Council last night. There's no nicer way to put it."

www.austinpolitics.net/fu-q-tax-hik...

Vibes at the polls Mixed vibes in South Austin.

I talked to 30 voters at the polls in South Austin today about Prop Q, the proposed tax hike. It was a very mixed bag in an otherwise very liberal area.

www.austinpolitics.net/vibes-at-the...

Abbott's uncooperative encampment strategy The state won't talk to the city.

Greg Abbott is making things harder for the city of Austin as it tries to clean up homeless encampments:

www.austinpolitics.net/abbotts-unco...

Why the City of Austin Wants Voters to Hike Their Property Taxes And what Prop Q could mean for the future of local governments in Texas

New from @jackcraver.bsky.social: "It’s a tough time to be an Austin property taxpayer. Nothing seems to make sense."

Why the City of Austin Wants Voters to Hike Their Property Taxes And what Prop Q could mean for the future of local governments in Texas

Check out my article in the Texas Observer about Prop Q, the Austin tax rate election.

www.texasobserver.org/austin-prope...

Are Austin property taxes actually high? How does Austin compare to other Central Texas cities?

Do you think property taxes in Austin are high? That's a matter of opinion, but they're not much higher than surrounding suburbs. Check out the data I compiled here:

www.austinpolitics.net/are-austin-p...

Your move, Chief Davis Police brutality on 6th Street.

At least one police brutality incident caught on camera may be too much for the APD chief to brush under the rug.
www.austinpolitics.net/your-move-ch...

Politics in the crosswalk Watson gives Abbott the disdain he deserves.

Greg Abbott takes a brave stand against rainbow crosswalks in Austin, Houston and San Antonio:
www.austinpolitics.net/politics-in-...

Who's against Prop Q? Business groups come out against.

Here's a look at who is supporting & funding both the pro & anti sides of Austin's tax rate election.

www.austinpolitics.net/whos-against...

The mayor's lactating exception But the shelter is doing abortions again.

Well, cat and dog abortions are mostly legal again at the Austin Animal Center. But Mayor Kirk Watson still managed to slip in an exception for "lactating" animals at the behest of the anti-pet abortion wackos at Austin Pets Alive:
www.austinpolitics.net/the-mayors-l...

The clippys come to City Hall A big YouTube personality gets his fans involved.

Had a lot of fun meeting & learning about the Clippys at last week's City Council. They get their name from the friendly Microsoft Office assistant who kind of sucked but at least didn't steal your data. They came to City Hall to oppose AI cameras in parks:
www.austinpolitics.net/the-clippys-...

What Glen Coleman told me: "$2,500 for the tap plan, impact fee is up to 10K, inspection is 2K, installing is 12K (if just water) or 20K if it is water and sewer."

Does a new law undermine Austin's density bonuses? Is this a good thing?

Does a new state law undermine Austin's affordable housing density bonuses? Probably, but that doesn't mean it will ultimately hurt overall housing affordability. Read more:

www.austinpolitics.net/does-a-new-l...

The credit fix for congested cities (5min read) Introducing credit-based decongestion pricing.

NYC's congestion toll isn't realistic in most U.S. cities, where even the poor rely on cars to get to work.

I enjoyed talking to the UT's Kara Kockelman about a less painful way to discourage rush-hour driving: Credit-Based Decongestion Pricing:

comotion.substack.com/p/the-credit...

It's the police spending Back the Blue ≠ low taxes

I break down how the city of Austin actually spends its money. Austin spends 40% more on police than Fort Worth (same pop & crime rate). The cost of APD + AFD exceeds all of the property tax the city collects.

www.austinpolitics.net/its-the-poli...

Dog & cat abortion is back! Good riddance.

Did you know that Austin has had an anti-abortion policy on the books for the past 6 years –– for dogs and cats. City Council finally freed itself from the wacky grip of Austin Pets Alive! and voted to repeal it.
www.austinpolitics.net/dog-cat-abor...

Right. To be clear, there are def places city govt can cut. But a many efficiencies will be in our public safety depts. There's also the problem that much of our budget is now being funded by raiding the Austin Energy budget, which puts pressure on electric rates (regressive tax)!

CC @alonlevy.bsky.social

Abundance: Can America ever re-learn how to go big on transit? (6min read) American transit is sorely in need of an "abundance" approach.

I wrote about why America is so bad at building public transit. I talked to Eric Goldwyn of the Transit Costs Project about why it costs so much more and takes so much longer to build basic transit systems in the US than in Europe or Asia.

comotion.substack.com/p/abundance-...

Watson's counteroffer And Duchen wants to hike electric rates.

But there are almost certainly Council members who will fight for significant changes. To get the full deets on the budget & understand what is shaping this historic tax rate election, check out my newsletter:

www.austinpolitics.net/watsons-coun...

Where he didn’t budge:
• No $$ for many social service contracts set to expire — including $8.2M for homeless services
• No “climate revolving fund” (Ryan Alter priority)
• No immigration legal services (Vanessa Fuentes priority) 3/

What’s new in Watson’s 5¢ plan:
• +$2.7M/yr for homelessness prevention & diversion
• +$1M/yr for permanent supportive housing
• +$3M for housing vouchers
• + $6M for housing trust fund
• +$6M/yr firefighter overtime (win for union)
• +$1.6M for the Sobering Center 2/

THREAD: Last night Mayor Watson dropped new TRE proposal: 5¢ tax hike — same as Zo Qadri, Paige Ellis, Mike Siegel & Krista Laine’s plan.

Mayor says he still prefers his 3.5¢ plan, but he’s “willing to try to achieve consensus” by focusing on core services. 1/

Here is the link to sign up for the limited-time 33% off subscription: www.austinpolitics.net?ref=austin-p...

Council bending to Watson's will The Council moves towards a lower tax hike.

The haggling over Austin's homelessness spending continues. But it looks like Council is converging on something the mayor can support.

Also: 3 days to sign up for the Austin Politics Newsletter 33% tax hike discount –– $80 for one year. (Link in comment)

www.austinpolitics.net/council-bend...

In honor of the city's budget crisis, the Austin Politics Newsletter is offering a "budget-friendly" subscription for only $80/yr. That's 33% off for the $33 million deficit.

Sign up now!
www.austinpolitics.net/budget-seaso...

What will a tax hike get Austin? How high will voters go?

Austin voters will have to approve a tax hike to avoid big cuts to basic services. It's up to City Council to put a tax hike on the ballot that they think voters will approve. How big will they go? Here are some different scenarios.

www.austinpolitics.net/what-will-a-...