Austin Interfaith Leaders Celebrate Living Wage Proposal
Leaders celebrated the 3-1 passage of a living wage proposal by the City of Austin’s special committee on economic incentives. In partnership with member institutions Workers Defense Project and the Laborers International Union of North America, ”one-hundred construction workers and their allies were at city hall for the meeting, marching for something they’ve asked for time and again—a living wage….Austin Interfaith’s Jim O’Quinn says that’s why [Austin Interfaith] backs a push for standards companies must meet before they can get tax breaks from the city.” The measure, which will come before the city council in upcoming months, needs four votes to pass.
[Photo Credit: Jay Janner, Austin American Statesman]
Living Wage at Heart of Overhaul to City Incentive Program, YNN Austin
Travis County to Require $11 Hourly Wage for All Incentive Deals; Austin Weighs Similar Requirement, Austin American Statesman
Travis Heights In-District Charter Proposal Moves Forward
“Travis Heights is looking to partner with Education Austin and Austin Interfaith to start an in-district charter model allowing the school to have more autonomy. The school would focus on curriculum with its dual-language program, service learning model and a piloted blended learning program that incorporates digital media, Carstarphen said. “They’re not asking for more money; they’re asking for more flexibility….”
AISD Board Discusses Potential Academic, Facilities Recommendations, Community Impact Newspaper
New In-District Charter Would Need Teacher, Community OK, Austin American Statesman
AI Northeast Neighborhoods Block Liquor Sales Near Reagan High School
When the owner of a local liquor store petitioned to be allowed to sell alcohol 50 feet near Reagan High School, Our Lady of Guadalupe and Austin Interfaith leader Oralia Garza de Cortes responded quickly. Within days she contacted members of her congregation and Northeast Austin neighborhood associations to inform them of the proposed variance and mobilized local troops to fight the proposal. In coordination with eight neighborhood associations of Northeast Austin, grandmothers, teachers, pastors and other concerned citizens quickly rallied and succeeded in getting the proposal pulled before Thursday’s vote.
Follow the Props and the Money, Austin Chronicle
Protesters Stop Beer Sales Near Reagan High, YNN News
Group Protests Sales of Alcohol at Store Near Reagan High School, FOX News
Neighborhood Protests Sale of Alcohol Near Reagan High, KVUE News
South Cluster Leaders Block Liquor Sales by Travis High School
When leaders from Austin Interfaith’s Southside Cluster Wildflower Church, Kurt Cadena-Mitchell and Edie Clark, learned that Speedy Stop had applied for a variance to sell alcohol at the Exxon Station directly across the street from Travis High School, and next door to Wildflower, they quickly began organizing to oppose the variance, forming a coalition that included Wildflower Church, Travis Heights Elementary, Faith Presbyterian Church, Faith Child Development Center, South River City Citizens, and Texans Standing Tall.
Austin Interfaith Fights for Higher Wages in City Subsidy Deal
Leaders piled into City Hall to ask City council members to raise the minimum workers would be paid. Says Garcia,”When we’re using public funds we’ve got to bring in jobs where families can at least afford to eat.”