[Excerpt from CBS reporting below]

“Richard Halpin with Austin Interfaith chimed in, ‘Everybody gets a decrease. And in this day and time for our utility to give everyone a decrease is a major step forward.’ Affordability advocates applaud the action as a step in the right direction. Halpin says, ‘We at Austin Interfaith are pleased that everyone worked so hard to create a decrease for all Austin ratepayers and particularly for those neighbors who are most at risk.’”

Austin Energy Residential Customers to See Reduced Rates, CBS [pdf]

Leaders of Austin Interfaith joined a press conference hosted by Councilmember Delia Garza to demand more priorities like Capital IDEA job training, parks and after-school programming like Victory Tutorial and Primetime for children.

Said Tom Mendez, "We do not want to hear that the budget is tight -- if it's so tight you should not have given a tax break to the few."

[Photo Credit: Deborah Cannon / Austin American Statesman]

Budget Strives to Address Council Directives, Austin Monitor [pdf]

Typical Austin Homeowner Could Pay $150 More in Taxes, Fees Next Year, Austin American Statesman [pdf]

At last month's assembly, resident leaders of the Heights On Congress apartments told stories about their concerns with relocation now that the property owner is seeking permission to rezone.  The children of those residents belong to Travis Heights Elementary School, whose PTA reached out to Austin Interfaith for help in developing a plan with the owner and developer that will serve the interests of the residents and their children.  At the assembly, they secured the support of the Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo and AISD trustees.  In photo are local leaders Angie Gonzalez of the Oak Creek Village Tenants' Association and Rev. Brian Ferguson of Wildflower Church.

[Photo Credit: Jana Birchum, Austin Chronicle]

Heights on Congress Start Organizing: City, Developer Discussing Relocation Plan, Austin Chronicle

Austin Affordable Housing Crisis, Fox News