Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · 20h

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...

Who's against Prop Q?

Business groups come out against.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · 7d

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 mayor's lactating exception

But the shelter is doing abortions again.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · 9d

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-...

The clippys come to City Hall

A big YouTube personality gets his fans involved.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · 29d

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."

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Sep 4

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...

Does a new law undermine Austin's density bonuses?

Is this a good thing?

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Sep 3

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...

The credit fix for congested cities

(5min read) Introducing credit-based decongestion pricing.

comotion.substack.com

Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 26

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...

It's the police spending

Back the Blue ≠ low taxes

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 19

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...

Dog & cat abortion is back!

Good riddance.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 14

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)!

Tony Cardone @tonycardone.com · Aug 14

Every time one of the usual suspects asks why the City has to raise taxes, they blame spending.

Concurrently, they say the city is unsafe and cite anecdotal evidence to support public safety increases.

Problem: 89%(!) of Austin’s tax revenue goes to public safety per @jackcraver.bsky.social.

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 14

CC @alonlevy.bsky.social

Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 14

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-...

Abundance: Can America ever re-learn how to go big on transit?

(6min read) American transit is sorely in need of an "abundance" approach.

comotion.substack.com

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 13

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...

Watson's counteroffer

And Duchen wants to hike electric rates.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 13

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/

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 13

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/

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 13

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/

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 12

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

The Austin Politics Newsletter

Politics & policy in America's fastest growing city.

www.austinpolitics.net

Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 12

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...

Council bending to Watson's will

The Council moves towards a lower tax hike.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Aug 1

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...

The Austin Politics Newsletter

Politics & policy in America's fastest growing city.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 29

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-...

What will a tax hike get Austin?

How high will voters go?

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 25

It's more important now than ever that Austin's city leaders make tough decisions about spending. That means turning down some nice things in order to save more important things.
www.austinpolitics.net/liberalism-d...

Liberalism depends on cost controls

There is such thing as bad spending.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Reposted by Jack Craver

Dan Keshet @dankeshet.bsky.social · Jul 24

This change in which medical emergency 911 calls firefighters get sent out to is a huge deal. With the legislature imposing a cap on how much money the city can raise, we need to use resources smartly.

Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 24

Austin EMS will significantly reduce the # of calls where it turns on its sirens & lights –– the 42 secs of increased speed provide little benefit.

More importantly –– EMS will cut in half # of calls where they ask for help from fire dept.

www.austinpolitics.net/austin-ems-t...

Austin EMS turns off the sirens

Few 911 calls merit sirens –– let alone fire trucks.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 24

Austin EMS will significantly reduce the # of calls where it turns on its sirens & lights –– the 42 secs of increased speed provide little benefit.

More importantly –– EMS will cut in half # of calls where they ask for help from fire dept.

www.austinpolitics.net/austin-ems-t...

Austin EMS turns off the sirens

Few 911 calls merit sirens –– let alone fire trucks.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 18

The huge pay raises City Council approved for Austin cops last year is hardly doing wonders for recruiting. More than half of the cadets of the first post-contract academy class have already dropped out. www.austinpolitics.net/what-did-hik...

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jul 16

At the risk of sounding like an arrogant prick, if you want to understand what's going on in the Austin city budget, you should sign up for my newsletter. Nobody else in media is getting into the weeds of the fiscal crisis engineered by Greg Abbott.

www.austinpolitics.net/rate-hikes-t...

Rate hikes, tax hikes

The city takes $ from Austin Energy to balance the budget.

www.austinpolitics.net

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Jack Craver @jackcraver.bsky.social · Jun 26

Yesterday I wrote about why the "lessons" of Mamdani's victory in NYC are so hard to apply to other places, including other liberal cities like Austin. Many of his promises were linked to NY's unique system of transportation & housing.

www.austinpolitics.net/lessons-from...

Lessons from New York?

Why Austin politics is so different.

www.austinpolitics.net

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