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October 17, 2025

✅ Today's BG Reads include:

🟪 Here's what would be funded by Prop Q, the proposed tax rate increase on Austin's ballot (KUT)

🟪 Gov. Abbott activates Texas National Guard to assist state troopers at planned Austin protest (Texas Tribune)

🟪 Height limits on new towers in downtown Austin under consideration (Austin Business Journal)

🟪 CapMetro appoints new transit police chief (Community Impact)

🟪 Austin ISD families are demanding a stronger voice in a proposed consolidation plan (CBS Austin)

🟪 Judge pauses shutdown layoffs at more than 30 federal agencies (NPR)

🟪 Trump considers overhaul of refugee system that would favor white people (New York Times)

READ ON!

[CITY OF AUSTIN]

🏛️ Actions taken by the Austin Council Thursday, 10.9.2025 // Archived Video 

🏛️ City Manager Executives and Advisors Staff Visual Chart

🏛️ City of Austin Org Chart (as of July 2025)

💰 2026 City of Austin Bond - Public Input

ℹ️ 2025 Essential Resources for Navigating the City of Austin

[AUSTIN METRO NEWS]

✅ Here's what would be funded by Prop Q, the proposed tax rate increase on Austin's ballot (KUT)

Austinites will soon be voting on a tax rate increase that city officials say will help address some of the city’s thorniest issues.

In August, the Austin City Council approved a $6.3 billion budget but called on voters to approve a higher tax rate. On the November ballot as Proposition Q, the rate of 57.4 cents per $100 of taxable value would generate nearly $110 million for the 2025-26 fiscal year. That money would be used to help reduce homelessness, improve parks and enhance public safety.

Austin was already facing a $33 million budget shortfall that city officials have attributed to sales tax and property tax revenues not bouncing back following the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has also been a cut to some federal funding that the city depended on to help pay for critical services like emergency shelter for people who are unhoused and rental assistance programs. The council has said the city would need to foot the bill itself to keep these programs going.

But the ask is coming at a time when residents are already facing a rise in cost of living due to inflation and higher property tax rates across the Austin area… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Gov. Abbott activates Texas National Guard to assist state troopers at planned Austin protest (Texas Tribune)

Gov. Greg Abbott activated the state’s National Guard in Austin ahead of planned Saturday protests condemning aggressive immigration enforcement.

The “No Kings” protests will be taking place across the country to speak out against the Trump administration’s mass deportation push, and the president “threatening to overtake elections; gutting health care, environmental protections, and education” according to the organizers’ website.

Abbott, in a press release, said he’s directing the Texas Department of Public Safety to activate the Texas National Guard because of a “planned antifa-linked demonstration.”

“Today, I directed the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas National Guard to deploy all necessary law enforcement officials and resources to ensure the safety of Austin residents,” Abbott said. “Texas will deter criminal mischief and work with local law enforcement to arrest anyone engaging in acts of violence or damaging property.”

Antifacism, also called antifa, is a leftist movement opposing far-right, racist and fascist groups. Abbott’s statement didn’t specify the connection between the planned protests and antifa. He also didn’t say whether he planned to deploy the National Guard to other Texas cities where protests are planned, including Houston, Lubbock and McAllen.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson clarified in a statement later on Thursday that the National Guard would not be on the streets of Austin unless there was “emergency need.” Watson’s and Abbott’s office did not respond to immediate questions on whether the National Guard would still be stationed near the protest before an emergency occurred. 

Watson also condemned violent protests and expressed support for peaceful gatherings… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Height limits on new towers in downtown Austin under consideration (Austin Business Journal)

A new state law is spurring the city of Austin to consider updating how it regulates the size of buildings downtown, with height limits on new skyscrapers a possibility.

The Austin Planning Commission recently heard a proposal from city staff to put limits on the heights of new projects in the wake of Senate Bill 840, which took effect in September and prohibits cities from enforcing certain zoning regulations, including restrictions on floor-to-area ratios, or FARs, of residential projects.

Prior to SB 840, Austin regulated projects with Central Business District zoning through FAR restrictions, and if projects wanted bigger FARs, they were required to participate in the city’s Downtown Density Bonus Program, or DDBP.

Now, however, FARs for residential projects can’t be regulated by the city. As a result, Austin is considering how to update its rules to encourage participation by CBD projects in the DDBP, which has enabled denser projects to be built in exchange for community benefits, such as the inclusion of residential units deemed affordable or financial contributions to affordable housing efforts.

That's where the possibility of new limits on building heights comes in. 

“We have to put in a height limit to make the (Downtown Density Bonus Program) continue to work,” said Alan Pani, a principal planner for the city, during an Oct. 14 meeting of the Austin Planning Commission… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Age-friendly services require more funding, Austin Public Health says (Austin Monitor)

Austin has fallen behind cities of a similar size when it comes to caring for its elders. It’s no longer in AARP’s top 10 cities to live in for older adults as of 2022. In fact, last year, it didn’t even make the top 25. That might not be top of mind, as the median age in Austin, TX is 34.5, and only about 10 percent of Austinites are over 65. But Austin’s status as Texas’ boomtown is slowing, and adults between the ages of 65 and 74 represented the fastest-growing age group between 2010 and 2020. By the time the tech bros reach middle age, it will be in their best interest to have quality senior services in place. 

In June, City Council directed the city manager to look into improving those services. According to a October 14 memo from Austin Public Health Director Adrienne Sturrup to Council on its progress, that will require more funding.

“While significant progress has been made, the effective and ongoing implementation of these initiatives is dependent on identifying and securing additional resources and budget across various departments,” wrote Sturrup… 🟪 (READ MORE) 

✅ CapMetro appoints new transit police chief (Community Impact)

On Oct. 10, Austin’s public transit agency, Capital Metro, announced the hiring of a new transit police chief. The position is slated to oversee a new transit police force tasked with increasing safety for both riders and transit operators.

With over 30 years in law enforcement, RenEarl Bowie has been selected to lead the 14-member transit police department.

“[Bowie] is highly respected in our community for his leadership and commitment to policing the right way—through service, accountability and strong community relationships,” CapMetro President and CEO Dottie Watkins said in a statement.

The appointment comes several months after the agency swore in its first candidate, Eric Robins, who accepted a different position overseeing a Houston-area school district soon after the CapMetro police force began initial patrols this summer… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Austin ISD families are demanding a stronger voice in a proposed consolidation plan (CBS Austin)

Austin ISD families are demanding a stronger voice in a proposed consolidation plan that could affect nearly every school in the district.

The district held the first of four community meetings Tuesday night, most of which will be virtual, prompting concerns from some parents who say the format makes it harder for them to be heard.

District leaders said the meeting was meant to listen, share information, and answer questions about the proposed consolidation plan. Families asked about everything from longer commutes to support for special education students, and what the transfer process might look like.

Laura Garcia, a parent at Becker Elementary, voiced frustration about the timing. “Why are they asking us now when everything's going to be decided in November? November is just a few weeks away,” she said.

Parents also raised logistical questions about the transition. Robert Vanisan, another AISD parent, asked, “I’m wondering what the plan is to get our students over to our new school.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

[TEXAS/US NEWS]

✅ Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson denies speculation he’ll resign to seek another political office (Dallas Morning News)

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson rejected mounting speculation about his political future late Tuesday, declaring on social media he is not resigning and will continue serving as mayor. “I am NOT running for anything, and I will continue serving our great city as its mayor!” Johnson posted on X. The statement comes amid weeks of growing speculation at Dallas City Hall that Johnson, who is in his second and final four-year term as mayor, might step down to seek another political office. Johnson did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

At least one candidate for mayor says he is ready to run if Johnson resigns. Former Dallas Independent School District Superintendent Michael Hinojosa is one of several people being discussed as a possible successor to Johnson, whose term expires in 2027.

Others who are being talked about as potential candidates are developer Peter Brodsky, Dallas workforce czar Lynn McBee and Dallas City Council members Chad West, Gay Donnell Willis and Adam Bazaldua. “It was really quiet for a long time, but in the last 10 days, I’ve heard it from 10 different sources that he’s going to announce something at some point — that he’s not going to finish his term,” Hinojosa said in an interview. The domain name ericjohnsonfortexas.com was registered Oct. 6, according to the website godaddy.com, though it’s unclear who reserved it. The city also canceled a scheduled City Council briefing this week, fueling more speculation. Johnson has not responded to requests for comment, but he posted Tuesday night on social media, saying he is not running for another office.

“Trying to find out whether I am resigning, but the “story” is behind a paywall," Johnson posted. “Hate it when that happens. Anyway, here is the free version: I am NOT running for anything, and I will continue serving our great city as its mayor!” For more than a year, Dallas political insiders have questioned whether the mayor will finish his term or seek higher office. Recent events have intensified speculation, with some of it suggesting he may resign soon to run for state or federal office… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ City of San Antonio planning tabletop exercise for major potential federal cuts (Texas Public Radio)

The City of San Antonio will soon launch a regional tabletop exercise with regional partners to game out how they might respond to potential major federal funding cuts.

The White House has prioritized cuts to federal spending, and has singled out specific programs like Head Start, the Community Development Block Grant, and more for deep cuts or eliminations.

Approximately $153 million of the city’s current $4 billion budget, just shy of 4%, comes from federal grants. Some of that money is used to fund 663 city staff positions across the city government, from the San Antonio Police Department to the Neighborhood and Housing Services Department and the Metropolitan Health District.

Most federal grant-funded roles would be eliminated if funding was lost. However, SAPD officers funded through Department of Justice grants would be required to be retained even if those grants were cut.

The city’s budget director Justina Tate told the city council on Wednesday that they need to plan for what these unprecedented spending cuts could do… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Judge pauses shutdown layoffs at more than 30 federal agencies (NPR)

With the federal government shutdown now 2 weeks old and counting, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily halted the latest wave of layoffs by the Trump administration. In a hearing on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said she believed the plaintiffs in the case are likely to prove that what the administration has done — using the lapse in government spending to implement layoffs — is "both illegal and in excess of authority and is arbitrary and capricious."

The lawsuit was brought by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which together represent more than 800,000 federal workers. In a brief filed with the court Tuesday, the unions accuse the Trump administration of "using federal employees as pawns to impose political pressure on the Administration's perceived opponents in Congress."

"The harm is now," the plaintiffs' attorney Danielle Leonard told the court on Wednesday, describing the emotional trauma that federal employees are enduring. Illston granted the unions' request for a temporary restraining order to pause the implementation of layoffs already underway and to block any additional layoff notices from being sent out at more than 30 agencies where the unions represent employees. The Trump administration's attorney, Elizabeth Hedges, said she was not prepared to discuss the underlying merits of the government's actions. Instead, she argued that the court lacks jurisdiction to hear the case and that the plaintiffs had not shown that they would suffer "irreparable harm" without a temporary restraining order. Illston appeared frustrated and perplexed by the government's unwillingness to engage on the merits during the hearing.

"This hatchet is falling on the heads of employees all across the nation and you're not even prepared to address whether that's legal?" the judge asked the government's attorney. In a brief filed with the court earlier, government attorneys argued any pause would be inappropriate… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Trump considers overhaul of refugee system that would favor white people (New York Times)

The Trump administration is considering a radical overhaul of the U.S. refugee system that would slash the program to its bare bones while giving preference to English speakers, white South Africans and Europeans who oppose migration, according to documents obtained by The New York Times. The proposals, some of which already have gone into effect, would transform a decades-old program aimed at helping the world’s most desperate people into one that conforms to Mr. Trump’s vision of immigration — which is to help mostly white people who say they are being persecuted while keeping the vast majority of other people out.

The plans were presented to the White House in April and July by officials in the State and Homeland Security Departments after President Trump directed federal agencies to study whether refugee resettlement was in the interest of the United States.

Mr. Trump had suspended refugee admissions on his first day in office and solicited the proposals about how and whether the administration should continue the program. Trump administration officials have not ruled out any of the ideas, according to people familiar with the planning, although there is no set timetable for approving or rejecting the ideas. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential plans. The proposed changes would put new emphasis on whether applicants would be able to assimilate into the United States, directing them to take classes on “American history and values” and “respect for cultural norms.”

The proposals also advise Mr. Trump to prioritize Europeans who have been “targeted for peaceful expression of views online such as opposition to mass migration or support for ‘populist’ political parties.” That appeared to be a reference to the European far-right political party Alternative for Germany, whose leaders have trivialized the Holocaust, revived Nazi slogans and denigrated foreigners. Vice President JD Vance has criticized Germany for trying to suppress the views of the group, which is known as the AfD… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ Journalists turn in access badges, exit Pentagon rather than agree to new reporting rules (Associated Press)

Dozens of reporters turned in access badges and exited the Pentagon on Wednesday rather than agree to government-imposed restrictions on their work, pushing journalists who cover the American military further from the seat of its power. The nation’s leadership called the new rules “common sense” to help regulate a “very disruptive” press. News outlets were nearly unanimous in rejecting new rules imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that would leave journalists vulnerable to expulsion if they sought to report on information — classified or otherwise — that had not been approved by Hegseth for release. Many of the reporters waited to leave together at a 4 p.m. deadline set by the Defense Department to get out of the building.

As the hour approached, boxes of documents lined a Pentagon corridor and reporters carried chairs, a copying machine, books and old photos to the parking lot from suddenly abandoned workspaces. Shortly after 4, about 40 to 50 journalists left together after handing in badges.

“It’s sad, but I’m also really proud of the press corps that we stuck together,” said Nancy Youssef, a reporter for The Atlantic who has had a desk at the Pentagon since 2007. She took a map of the Middle East out to her car. It is unclear what practical impact the new rules will have, though news organizations vowed they’d continue robust coverage of the military no matter the vantage point. Images of reporters effectively demonstrating against barriers to their work are unlikely to move supporters of President Donald Trump, many of whom resent journalists and cheer his efforts to make their jobs harder.

Trump has been involved in court fights against The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, the Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press in the past year. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Trump backed his defense secretary’s new rules. “I think he finds the press to be very disruptive in terms of world peace,” Trump said. “The press is very dishonest.”… 🟪 (READ MORE)

✅ AI data centers, desperate for electricity, are building their own power plants (Wall Street Journal)

Tech companies in the AI race need power, and lots of it. They aren’t waiting around for the archaic U.S. power grid to catch up. In West Texas, natural-gas-fired power generation is under construction as part of the $500 billion Stargate project from OpenAI and Oracle ORCL 1.55%increase; green up pointing triangle. Gas turbines are in use at Colossus 1 and 2, the massive data centers Elon Musk’s xAI is building in Memphis, Tenn. More than a dozen Equinix data centers across the country are using fuel cells for power. With the push for AI dominance at warp speed, the “Bring Your Own Power” boom is a quick fix for the gridlock of trying to get on the grid. It’s driving an energy Wild West that is reshaping American power.

Most tech titans would be happy to trade their DIY sourcing for the ability to plug into the electric grid. But supply-chain snarls and permitting challenges are complicating everything, and the U.S. isn’t building transmission infrastructure or power plants fast enough to meet the sudden surge in demand for electricity. America should be adding about 80 gigawatts of new power generation capacity a year to keep pace with AI as well as cloud computing, crypto, industrial demand and electrification trends, according to consulting and technology firm ICF. It’s currently building less than 65 gigawatts. That gap alone is enough electricity to power two Manhattans during the hottest parts of summer. Data centers have long taken power for granted, said KR Sridhar, founder and chief executive of Bloom Energy, which provides fuel cells to companies that need on-site power, often in a hurry.

“You build the data center. Well, you just plug it in.” That isn’t possible anymore given the city-sized amounts of electricity needed to train AI models. One data center can devour as much electricity as 1,000 Walmart stores, and an AI search can use 10 times the amount of energy as a google search. The growth is intense, too. The U.S. had around 522 hyperscale data centers at the end of the second quarter, which account for around 55% of global capacity, according to Synergy Research Group. Another roughly 280 are expected to come online through 2028 in the U.S… 🟪 (READ MORE)

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