Category Archives: News Releases

The latest news releases from Mayor Adler’s office

DOT NAMES AUSTIN “MAYORS’ CHALLENGE LADDERS OF OPPORTUNITY” WINNER: Austin honored for pilot project in Rundberg area

PrintToday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx named Austin one of the winners of the Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets. Austin, which won for its Smart Trips Austin program in the Rundberg neighborhood, is the Mayors’ Challenge Ladders of Opportunity (Large City) Award Winner.

“This award is designed to support a community that creates opportunities through bike and pedestrian efforts. Let me say this, because I found the statistic alarming when I read it, that fewer than 50% of low-income neighborhoods have adequate sidewalks and crosswalks around the country,” said Sec. Anthony Foxx at the 2016 Safer People, Safer Street Summit in Washington, D.C., this morning. “I’m pleased to announce Austin as winner of the Ladders of Opportunity Award. The City of Austin has launched a new program in a low-income, predominantly minority community that highlights the health and safety benefits of walking and biking. They have also installed more than 30 new pedestrian signals and beacons to make crossing safer for those with disabilities.”

“We piloted our Smart Trips Austin program in the Rundberg neighborhood, because of our commitment to improving equity,” said Mayor Steve Adler. “By helping people learn to take trips by walking, biking, and transit, in a way that works for their lives, we gave them a leg up on getting to work or school safely and more affordably – with a health and fitness bonus too.” Continue reading →

Council passes balanced budget for 2016/17 fiscal year

Today the Austin City Council passed a $3.7-billion balanced budget for the 2016/17 Fiscal Year.

“This is a strong budget that balances affordability with our critical needs,” said Mayor Adler.

On affordability, this budget:

  • Increases the homestead exemption to 8% (from 6%)
  • Lowers the property tax rate by 1.78 cents per $100 of taxable value
  • Increases the senior and disabled exemption to $82,500 (from $80,000)

    • Continue reading →

LATEST TECH STARTUP IN AUSTIN? DOD: Austin 3rd city picked for Defense Innovation Unit Experimental

diux-logo

Austin, recently named by CNBC as “America’s best place to start a business” and by the Kaufmann Index as the top US city for startups, is now home to a new startup with an unusual pedigree: the Defense Department. Today Defense Sec. Ash Carter announced that Austin will be the third location of the Defense Department’s technology startup, the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental, DIUx. By establishing a tech foothold in Austin, the Defense Department hopes to leverage reservists and guard corps and help scout for tech that DIUx can co-invest in.

“I created DIUx last year because one of my core goals as secretary of defense has been to build, and in some cases rebuild, the bridges between our national security endeavor at the Pentagon and America’s wonderfully innovative and open technology community,” said Secretary Carter.  “Austin’s commitment to innovation, access to talent and academia, as well as the department’s longstanding ties to Texas make this an ideal next location for DIUx.”

“That Secretary Carter picked Austin is the third site for a defense startup speaks volumes about our role as a tech leader,” said Mayor Adler. “As proud as I am for what this says about Austin’s role as a hub for innovation, I’m even prouder that our city will play a role in protecting our country into the future.” Continue reading →

Statement on Council approval of Austin Energy rate relief

AE ratesToday was a good day.
We lowered electric rates for everyone in a way that supports conservation, cleaner air, better business practices, and local control of our utility. The Council voted to approve this agreement, but it would not have come together without so many people representing a broad array consumers and businesses, environmental groups and industries in the community achieving a nearly unanimous consensus to find common ground. A lot of people in Austin deserve credit today for something that will benefit everyone in Austin for a long time.
 
Today was a very good day.