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Sam Stark

@samstark

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🚓 A new program meant to end the cycle of homelessness in Austin has left some Austinites skeptical.

It’s not necessarily the intentions of the program, but who was left out — including a group of attorneys that last week questioned the central role APD is playing in 'No Wrong Door.'

While the Travis County Public Defenders Office was included in the program’s formation, a group of criminal defense attorneys were not included in the process, even as at times their clients are identified for participation in the program.

💬 How do you think the city should move forward?

✍️: Sam Stark @samstark
📷 : Sam Stark, Miguel Gutierrez Jr., Sergio Flores

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🏛️Protestors rallied at Austin’s City Hall on Wednesday against what they’re calling a new ballot measure that would “DOGE” Austin’s government.

The heat comes from Proposition I, a measure that would require an audit of Austin’s city operations every five years.

While some Austinites see this additional measure as a privatization of their local government, others already pushed to have the measure present on the ballot — with more than 20,000 signatures collected by former chair of the Travis County Republican party, Matt Mackowiak.

“Prop I would be Austin’s own version of Elon Musk’s DOGE.” One protestor said.

🔗 To learn more, explore the link in bio.

✍: Sam Stark @samstark
📷: Eli Hartman

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Eight years have passed since the last time east and northeast Austin neighborhoods saw new leadership, but Austin’s District 1 seat will soon see new representation on the Austin City Council.🗳️

As Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison departs, she leaves the door open for six candidates. Five of these candidates appeared at the District 3 forum we hosted with Austin PBS and KUT News on Sep. 15. 👀

Their conversation covered affordability💰, whether or not to support a proposition that would mandate outside audits of City Hall and the controversial plan to redevelop Dog’s Head — all were subjected to the candidates’ attention. 🗹🗵

For more info, check out the link in bio.

✍️: Sam Stark @samstark
📷: PBS Austin @austinpbs

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As the election season reaches full throttle, Austin’s District 3 could see new leadership starting in 2027. 🗳️

Incumbent Council Member José Velásquez faces four other candidates for the District 3 seat.

Housing costs🏠, affordability💸 and the contentious Dog’s Head development plan🌳 were issues raised during the candidate forum we hosted with Austin PBS and KUT News on Sep. 15.

Among the candidates, however, there were some differences.

For more info, check out the link in bio.

✍️: @samstark
📷: PBS photography @austinpbs

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We had an amazing time at TribFest 🎤✨ and can't wait to attend next year.

Thank you to our panelists, speakers and attendees. We had great conversations and discussions that pushed at some of Austin''s most pressing issues today.

Let us know in the comments if you attended TribFest, and if there is anything you would like to see from us next year!

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Councilman @mikesiegeld7 spoke to Austin Current reporter @samstark this week about a range of topics, including Dog’s Head.

Now, let’s remember. Siegel voted in May, along with the rest of the Council, to annex the property and give the developer wide latitude on how they could use the property. After that, the councilman became more critical about how the city handled the process and how it should go forward.

Definitely worth a listen.

@_austincurrent @samstark @mikesiegeltx @texas_tribune

#austin #austincurrent #dogshead #mikesiegel

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Austin Councilman @mikesiegeld7 speaks to @_austincurrent reporter @samstark about the recent ICE shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant earlier this week. #tribfest

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Endless Summer

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A little behind the scenes 🎥

We had a great time with our news partners @austinpbs co-hosting the District 1 and District 3 City Council candidate forums, moderated by our own @samstark.

From cameras rolling and asking questions, here’s a glimpse of what it takes to bring these conversations to Austin voters.

Thanks for having us in the studio, Austin PBS!

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🚨🚨🚨NEW NEWSLETTER🚨🚨🚨

Austin Current just launched its latest newsletter, The Undercurrent. Subscribe at the link in our bio for fresh, easy-to-understand updates on what’s happening in local government and what’s coming next.

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Austin rents are falling. Eviction filings are breaking records.

Yes, both can be true.

📉 Rents have dropped from their pandemic-era highs.

📈 But BASTA counted 10,732 eviction filings through late August — about 900 more than at the same point last year.

The disconnect? Lower rents have largely benefited people near the region’s median income. Many lower-income renters are still one illness, family emergency or car repair away from falling behind.

@austintexasgov Council now wants to examine whether the city is reaching tenants early enough — and whether its patchwork of eviction-prevention programs is actually working.

Have lower rents made Austin feel more affordable to you? Let us know in the comments or tag someone who’s been following Austin’s housing crunch. 👇

And head to the link in our bio to read the full story.

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Communities across the country have struggled to develop policies surrounding data centers at the same pace they have been proposed and built. The same is true for Austin, where the city lacks a specific land use classification for traditional and AI data centers, leaving city leaders with limited regulatory authority.

Now, some Austin City Council members are racing to get ahead of the issue before a hyper-scale facility is proposed within city limits and taps into the city’s strained water and energy resources.

Read more at the link in the bio.

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