From 2016 to 2018, I reported on zoning, education, and the environmental issues for the Austin Monitor. I chronicled the ambitious decade-long overhaul of the land development code (which would end in failure), secured exclusive interviews like my sit-down with a school board trustee about his resignation, and I did not shy away from tough subjects like institutional racism and gentrification.
Below are some highlights from my 125 published articles for the Monitor. You can find my complete archives here.
Travis County sheriff responds to community outcry after ‘sanctuary’ policy reversal
At a town hall meeting on Monday organized by the Commission on Immigrant Affairs, Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez faced a crowd of immigrant rights advocates, service providers and undocumented community members, many of whom expressed disbelief at her Sept. 25 decision to back down from her tenacious policy to reduce compliance with federal immigration detainers.
Harvey revives flooding concerns about CodeNEXT
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the land use commissions questioned staff on how CodeNEXT would address local flooding at their Aug. 29 joint meeting. “Austin came real close to having another catastrophe this (past) weekend. Real close,” Zoning and Platting Commissioner Ana Aguirre said at the meeting.
Bond doubles down on segregation, trustee says
At last week’s Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting, only one trustee voted against the adoption of the list of projects to be included in this year’s bond election: District 1 representative Edmund Gordon. In a sit-down interview with the Austin Monitor, Gordon elaborated on his opposition to the bond package.
Holly Power Plant to be officially decommissioned in August, staff reports
Remnants of the Holly Street Power Plant still stand in East Austin, bitter reminders of a facility that spread pollution to nearby residents, but Austin Energy staff assured the Electric Utility Commission at its March 20 meeting that the decommissioning would end in August of this year.
JW Caterine 