logo
Inside Austin's Agenda: City Council Member Marc Duchen

Inside Austin's Agenda: City Council Member Marc Duchen

Yahooa day ago

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Wednesday's episode of Inside Austin's Agenda, host Grace Reader will sit down with Austin City Council Member Marc Duchen to talk about upcoming budget conversations now that the council has wrapped up for its summer break.
Austin is projecting a budget deficit heading into the next fiscal year. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has also stated that the city will need to address 'budget asteroids' — including the state tax cap and the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, dollars. KXAN has covered ARPA funding running out extensively.
The Austin City Council will have to work with city staff to address those budget concerns and approve the final budget before the fiscal year begins on Oct. 1.
Inside Austin's Agenda: Mayor looks to beef up budget process amid financial uncertainty
Inside Austin's Agenda is live every other Wednesday at 3 p.m. Watch every episode at the top of this article, on Facebook, and on our KXAN+ streaming app. You can find previous episodes here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Public satisfaction grows for NOPD, but drops for Cantrell
Public satisfaction grows for NOPD, but drops for Cantrell

Axios

time35 minutes ago

  • Axios

Public satisfaction grows for NOPD, but drops for Cantrell

The New Orleans Police Department continues to improve its public satisfaction rating, while Mayor LaToya Cantrell 's keeps dropping, according to a new community poll. The big picture: NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has the highest approval rating for an elected officials in the city, according to the survey from the New Orleans Crime Coalition. The police department's satisfaction rate (31%) was the lowest it had been in more than a decade when Kirkpatrick started in 2023, according to the group's surveys. It's now up to 47%, with a majority of surveyed residents (54%) saying they feel the city is safe. Zoom in: 65% of respondents said they think the city is on the wrong track. Approval ratings for Cantrell (27%, down from 31%) and Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson (18%, down from 32%) dropped this year. City Council's stayed pretty much the same (47% this year and 48% last year). The poll was taken after 10 inmates escaped from the Orleans Justice Center, which Hutson manages. This is how public officials and agencies fared in the job approval survey: Winners Kirkpatrick (53% approval) DA Jason Williams (51%) NOPD (47%) City Council (47%) Losers Sewerage & Water Board (79% disapproval) Cantrell (62%) Hutson (62%) Meanwhile, New Orleans voters will elect a new mayor and sheriff this fall. This poll has Michelle Woodfork in the lead for the sheriff's job and Helena Moreno leading in the mayor's race. See our running list of mayoral candidates. Zoom in: This is the 16th annual NOPD Citizen Satisfaction Survey from the New Orleans Crime Coalition. The group says it started it in 2009 to highlight areas needing improvement and to encourage reforms within the department. The Greater New Orleans Foundation, GNO Inc. and the Business Council of New Orleans and the River Region paid for this year's survey. How it works: Faucheux Strategies conducted the phone survey from May 27 to June 4 to track key metrics related to residents' perceptions. The poll surveyed a representative sample of 800 New Orleans adults and has a margin of error of 3.46%.

Mailbag: It's time to speak up and use your voice
Mailbag: It's time to speak up and use your voice

Los Angeles Times

time40 minutes ago

  • Los Angeles Times

Mailbag: It's time to speak up and use your voice

In recent weeks, I've watched demonstrations rise across Southern California against those who support dictatorship and use power to silence dissent — from Russian propagandists to local officials who enable injustice. These protests matter. They remind us that democracy is fragile — and that we must use our voices to defend it. I moved to California with my son three weeks before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. I believed I had reached a place of safety. But soon, I encountered something disturbingly familiar: silence in the face of abuse. Like many immigrants, I came with hope, honesty, and vulnerability — only to see those qualities met with manipulation, disinformation and isolation. People who called me 'family' behind closed doors violated my dignity. Abuse here wasn't hidden — it was normalized. I have lived under the shadows of dictatorship. I lost my family at age 10 when the Soviet Union collapsed, and I later survived institutional and domestic abuse in the U.K. I know how dangerous silence is. That is why today, I am raising my voice. The normalization of harm, whether in personal relationships or public discourse, always serves those in power. And when communities turn a blind eye or excuse abusive behavior as 'just the way things are,' they protect the abusers — not the vulnerable. To my neighbors in coastal Orange County: I urge you to speak out. Don't dismiss the warning signs. Abuse of power thrives in places where people are taught to stay quiet, to 'keep the peace,' or to 'look the other way.' Don't. Vulnerability is not weakness. It's where courage begins. It's the first step in breaking cycles of harm. If you see injustice — whether in a home, school or public institution — don't protect the silence. Use your voice. Show up. Speak up. Because when we speak, we don't just protect ourselves — we protect each other. Nadiia HardyLaguna Beach On June 10, Huntington Beach residents demonstrated that, not only can you fight City Hall, you can fight City Hall and win. Back in 2023, the City Council rejected the pleas from hundreds of residents to reconsider their book ordinance. As a result, committed volunteers joined forces to gather signatures, write postcards, knock on doors and attend marches and rallies. Last year, when the council issued an request for proposal (RFP) to outsource library management, volunteers worked together to create another petition that would require voter approval before the council could take such action. It was a combined effort from the public that took long hours and dedication, but it was a battle worth fighting. This was something the City Council did not and does not understand. They were willing to take a million dollar gamble that residents would not show up and vote. They grossly underestimated how much the public appreciates our library and its staff. The support for our library was overwhelming, as is evident in the voting results. People rebel against book restrictions. They don't want a politically-appointed committee deciding what books their families can and cannot read. People don't want their libraries run by a private for-profit company. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson to other cities considering similar agendas; residents value their libraries and reject censorship. Learn from us. Instead of the MAGA library plaque the H.B. City Council wants to install, may I suggest a ' Don't Tread On Our Library' flag instead? Barbara RichardsonHuntington Beach

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin says he won't seek reelection: 'This chapter closes'
Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin says he won't seek reelection: 'This chapter closes'

Yahoo

timean hour ago

  • Yahoo

Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin says he won't seek reelection: 'This chapter closes'

The city of Fayetteville's mayor won't run for reelection this year, but he isn't ruling out returning to politics in the future. 'I believe life has seasons. I've been fortunate to be able to do some incredible things over the last eight years and serving a total of 12 years,' Mayor Mitch Colvin told The Fayetteville Observer on June 12. 'I just think that maybe this chapter closes, and I want to spend some additional time with my family and my business.' Colvin, who is in his fourth term as mayor, has served as Fayetteville's leader since 2017 and is the city's longest-serving Black mayor. Before his 2017 election, Colvin served two consecutive terms on the City Council. Colvin first represented District 3 and later was mayor pro tem. Even though he is leaving the office, Colvin gave the next mayor advice on their approach to the position. 'I think it's critical that the city continues to think forward and make decisions that are strategic and placing the city in a good position down the road,' he said. 'Where do we want to be as a community in 2050? I hope the new mayor will have had that vision and that mindset.' Those who have announced their intention to run in the mayoral election include Mayor Pro Tem Kathy Jensen; City Council member Mario Benavente, who represents District 3; and business owner and previous mayoral candidate Freddie de la Cruz. The filing period for Fayetteville's nonpartisan mayoral race is from noon July 7 to noon July 18. The primary election is set for Oct. 7 and the general election is Nov. 4. The mayor said after his term is over, he will look forward to assisting the Fayetteville community in a new way. 'Right now, my plan is just to spend time with my beautiful wife and family. To work on my business and to continue to make this community a better place in whatever capacity that is, whether it's civic or otherwise,' he said. 'I'm still in the fight, I just think that this particular chapter is closing, and I'm going to work hard through the end of this term.' Colvin said when it comes to future political aspirations, 'Never say never.' 'I don't have any immediate plans, but I'm not closing the door to any future opportunities.' As mayor, Colvin focused on economic development, jobs and infrastructure led to a number of important efforts to better the city, according to a news release. Some of Colvin's achievements while in office include: Bringing more than $1.4 billion in new investments and over 5,000 new jobs to the city. The completion of Segra Stadium and the introduction of the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. Introducing the $5 million 'Can Do Performance Finance Program' to help entrepreneurs scale and grow their businesses, with more than $400,000 already awarded. Initiating plans for Fayetteville's new innovation districts to help develop and build small and minority-owned businesses in the area. Securing a $97 million bond package to fund projects in public safety, public infrastructure and housing. Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at jpierre@ This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin says he won't run for reelection

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store