Rewriting The Land Development Code
As we write a new land development code we are not merely choosing which buildings we’re allowed to build and where we’re allowed to build them. We are making a choice about what kind of city we want Austin to…
AURA
AURA Board Elections
AURA will be holding board elections at the end of February to fill five of our eleven board seats. Board members are elected by a membership vote, and any member of AURA may run for the board. To be considered for…
Austin Strategic Mobility Plan Response
AURA sent the letter below to the Austin Transportation Department and members of Austin City Council on January 13, 2019. AURA, a grassroots organization that believes in an Austin for Everyone, began its existence as a transit advocacy organization. Since…
Project Connect Vision Plan Response
AURA, a grassroots organization that believes in an Austin for Everyone, got our start doing transit advocacy. In 2014, we worked to improve the previous Project Connect plan. Unfortunately, our data-driven input wasn’t accepted, which led us to oppose the…
Dockless Vehicles
AURA has joined with Bike Austin, CNU Central Texas, Environment Texas, Vision Zero ATX, Walk Austin, and TexPIRG to send the following letter to the Austin City Council urging the city to increase protected bike/scooter lanes to meet the high demand, and decrease conflicts between street users:…
2018 Elections Results Statement
AURA is a grassroots, all-volunteer organization that advocates for an Austin that is inclusive, open to change, and welcoming to everyone. Our members worked hard for candidates and ballot propositions in the City of Austin that share this vision. We…
Against Ken Paxton’s Lawsuit Against Austin Planning Commissioners
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 5, 2018 Austin, Texas — AURA released the following statement today about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recently-filed lawsuit against eight individual volunteer members of Austin’s Planning Commission: AURA is appalled that Fred Lewis and Austin’s anti-housing…
The Case For CodeNEXT’s Elimination of Conditional Overlays
We strongly support CodeNEXT’s proposed elimination of “conditional overlays,” commonly called COs, as a tool for future rezones. As explained below, COs greatly complicate the City of Austin’s zoning process, significantly increase costs, and require extensive lot-by-lot rezonings that detract…
Advocacy For a Strong Affordable Housing Bond 2018
Yesterday, AURA member Kaz Wojtewicz testified before the Housing and Neighborhoods committee in favor of a $300 million bond for affordable housing with an emphasis on public housing. To address our housing crisis, we need CodeNEXT to deliver a housing market that…
IndyAustin’s anti-CodeNEXT petition is invalid and bad for Austin
Fifty years ago, Austinites against integrating neighborhoods worked to put up a petition on the ballot to fight housing integration. They called Austin’s Fair Housing Initiative “Forced Housing.” IndyAustin and its allies are fighting the same fight—they want to freeze Austin’s…