Transparency

By Ella McCarthy Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 29, 2024 The Austin City Council violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when it placed 13 city charter amendments on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, state District Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled on Thursday. Guerra Gamble temporarily blocked the placement of those charter amendments on Austin ballots, but it remains to be seen whether voters will still see those propositions when they go to the polls this fall. The city could agree with the judge's temporary injunction, leaving the amendments off the ballot until a trial on the Open Meetings Act violations [...]

By Tara Brolley CBS Austin Originally published Aug. 19, 2024 AUSTIN, Texas — A lawsuit filed Monday in Travis County District Court challenges Austin's decision to place 13 proposed city charter amendments on the November 5 ballot. The Save Our Springs Alliance, its executive director Bill Bunch, and former Texas Attorney General's Office staff attorney Joe Riddell sued Mayor Kirk Watson and the City Council, alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA). The plaintiffs claim the council failed to provide adequate public notice and opportunity for comment when voting to include Propositions C through O on the ballot during [...]

By Tony Plohetski Austin American-Statesman Originally published Aug. 12, 2024 Travis County District Attorney José Garza met with county commissioners behind closed doors with an urgent request earlier this year. Worried about his safety after someone posted his residential address online, Garza asked for help to make himself and his home more secure, Commissioner Margaret Gómez told the American-Statesman. “He wanted something to be done to keep him safe,” Gómez recalled. At their March 19 meeting, commissioners met again in closed session to discuss a nondescript and, according to government transparency experts, potentially legally insufficient agenda item about county security. The item [...]