The Week’s Biggest News in Brief

Abbott Against H-1B Visas: On Tuesday, Jan. 27, Gov. Greg Abbott launched an investigation into H-1B visas – a program that allows employers to “hire nonimmigrant aliens to work in specialty occupations,” requiring the individuals to hold at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent certification. Abbott has since directed all state agencies and public universities to no longer accept H-1B visa applications. Institutions and agencies now must be granted permission from the Texas Workforce Commission to hire individuals through the program, in effect until May 31, 2027, when the next legislative session ends.

Another ICE Shooting Sparks National Outrage, Local Concerns: This past weekend, another U.S. citizen, Alex Pretti, was shot and killed in Minneapolis by two ICE agents. Video evidence shows that Pretti, an ICU nurse, was recording ICE agents in the city before he was tackled to the ground by numerous agents. Pretti was pepper-sprayed and repeatedly beaten by the agents before one of them disarmed him and two agents shot and killed him. Since the incident, the Department of Homeland Security, Trump, and other GOP members have repeatedly justified the actions of the officers. This comes just over two weeks after Renee Good was shot and killed by ICE. Rumors began spreading around the city that ICE agents were preparing for larger operations in Austin, targeting cold weather shelters, and checking into local hotels, yet the city released a statement denying these claims, stating that ICE is conducting its regular operations. Following the poor weather conditions over the weekend, Austinites gathered at the Capitol to demonstrate their opposition and call for ICE to end operations within the city and beyond. 

Close to Historic Drought Conditions: On Wednesday, Jan. 28, the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, which oversees groundwater resources from South Austin to San Marcos, warned that the Edwards Aquifer is dropping to historically low levels. If current drought conditions persist, the district will announce a Stage 4 Emergency Response Period declaration for the first time in its 39 years of operation, requiring significant further restrictions for water providers, businesses, and agricultural users pumping from the aquifer. As of this month, the district has remained in drought conditions for 43 consecutive months and counting. “The sooner strict conservation measures begin, the longer our communities’ limited water supplies will last,” Charlie Flatten, general manager for the district, said in a statement.

Credit: Jana Birchum

City Deals With Freezing Temps: Throughout the last week, city-run facilities, school districts, and businesses around the metro prepped for freezing temperatures, which began on Saturday, Jan. 24. City facilities began to shut down throughout the weekend as the storm rolled through, and have now gotten back to normal operations following a Tuesday morning delay for most services. CapMetro began serving Austinites under standard procedures on Wednesday. From the storm’s inception on Saturday to Sunday morning, CBS reports that APD responded to 1,000 calls regarding the weather. Cold weather shelters in the city activated on Friday, Jan. 23, open through Sunday, Feb. 1. APD reported that one unhoused individual died, most likely due to hypothermia. Individuals who took to the Eighth Street Women’s Shelter for support during the storm have stated that the shelter failed to provide adequate heat and food, according to Statesman reporting.

I-35 Expansion Threatens Food Forest: According to a press release from Austin’s Festival Beach Food Forest, a 3-acre permaculture food forest maintained by volunteers, received a notice on Jan. 6 that the Texas Department of Transportation will relocate and install a wastewater pipeline through the food forest in “less than a month,” killing trees and shrubs planted by the organization, FBFF wrote in a Jan. 26 press release. The wastewater pipeline relocation is due to construction of TxDOT’s I-35 Capital Express Central Project, which was never mentioned to FBFF during their quarterly meetings with TxDOT representatives about the construction, the organization alleges. “[FBFF] is not seeking to stop necessary infrastructure, but rather wants to ensure the cultural and ecological landscape of community-led stewardship at Festival Beach is respected,” the organization continued, calling for an immediate pause to the installation of the wastewater pipeline.

Mayor Kirk Watson Credit: John Anderson

Council Tightens Rules on Office Budget Spending: City Council just approved a new policy to limit the use of taxpayer money by the mayor and Council members in their office budgets. The new policy seeks to rein in spending on food and drinks for personal consumption, upgraded flights when traveling on city business, and membership fees to organizations that have nothing to do with a councilperson’s work. Though the rules were tightened, Mayor Kirk Watson, who sponsored the proposal, expressed disappointment with amendments that weakened its effect, particularly one which eliminated a cap on the amount of money that can be rolled over in Council members’ office budgets from one year to the next. The amendment eliminating the cap, sponsored by José Velásquez, was approved on a 6-4 vote.

City to Begin Holding Consultations With Workers: Austin’s City Council directed the city manager last week to create a policy to begin holding regular consultations between the city and its employees. The employees will be represented in the consultations by members of AFSCME Local 1624 and the talks will focus on “issues that substantially impact the City’s civilian workforce.” The main issue, in the near term anyway, is the city workers’ fear of impending layoffs, after recent reports that the city is restructuring the provision of services in several departments and City Manager T.C. Broadnax opined that Austin employs 1,500-2,000 more workers than other cities of similar population. The consultation proposal was spearheaded by Council Member Mike Siegel, who said in a social media post after the proposal’s approval that workers deserve “a seat at the table for decisions affecting them.” Brydan Summers of AFSCME told Council that the consultations would benefit the city at large, saying, “The union can help contextualize and spread information from the city manager’s office to help make sure employees are informed.” 

Credit: Getty

We Are Blood Calls for Urgent Donations: On Tuesday, Jan. 27, We Are Blood issued an urgent call for donations after winter storm closures forced them to cancel six blood drives scheduled earlier this week. The organization is urging Central Texas donors, especially for O-type blood and platelets, to book appointments on its website and help rebuild the community’s blood supply following the disruption. “The days ahead will be critical for ending our local blood shortage,” said Nick Canedo, vice president of community engagement at We Are Blood, in a press release. The press release states that these donations are essential to accommodate for the reduction of hospital donations over the past week.

Council Weights Possible Tax Increase: According to reporting from KUT, City Council is considering proposing a bond package that would increase Austinites’ taxes, though they are unsure if now is the right time. Following voters’ rejection of Prop Q, which would have raised property tax by 5 cents for every $100 of property value, Council is working to find the right time to ask residents for funding again. The funding would help pay for city projects such as improving public parks and strengthening public safety. As recommended by city staff, the bond package will not total more than $750 million. Austin Financial Services Director Kim Olivares said that taxpayers would pay an additional $14.34 per year for every $100 million that the city proposes.

Waymo Now Under Investigation: Following numerous requests from AISD to halt operations due to continuous traffic violations involving Waymo vehicles driving past parked school buses, the National Transportation Safety Board has now launched an investigation into the company, according to Statesman reporting. The investigation is specifically looking into 24 counts of Waymo vehicles illegally passing AISD buses in the process of picking up and dropping off students. The issues have persisted following the company’s voluntary recall to update software and AISD requests for the company to cease operations during school pickup and dropoff hours.

Texas House Democrats Demand DHS Release Leqaa Kordia: Texas House Democrats will hold a press conference Friday morning to demand the release of Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian Muslim woman who has been held in detention in Alvarado, Texas, by the Department of Homeland Security since March. The conference comes three days after 34 lawmakers sent a joint letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Jan. 27 condemning Kordia’s confinement, which they say is a retaliatory move for her participation in a pro-Palestinian protest at Columbia University in April 2024. According to the letter, Kordia was arrested at the protest and released with her charges dismissed the following day. Eleven months later, she was detained in New Jersey after attending a immigration interview with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for allegedly overstaying her student visa, and was sent to the Prairieland Detention Center, where she has remained since. Friday’s conference will take place outside the facility at 10am and will be led by state legislators, family members, and legal representatives. 

Family Homicide Prevention Task Force: On Jan. 27, the Texas Council on Family Violence launched the Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force to analyze domestic violence risk factors and prevent homicides. Policymakers proposed the task force during the 89th legislative session after learning that, in the past decade, almost 2,000 Texans have died from domestic violence. The data-driven task force is housed under the governor’s office and will use findings to create policy priorities for the next legislative session. “Texas does not tolerate acts of violence, especially in one’s own home,” said Gov. Greg Abbott. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-799-SAFE (7233).

Carmen Mejia Did Not Commit Murder: Carmen Mejia has been exonerated. In an exceedingly rare decision, the conservative Texas Court of Criminal Appeals decided last week that Mejia, who has spent over 20 years in prison, was incorrectly convicted of murder after an infant in her care died in 2003. Mejia’s exoneration came at the urging of Travis County Judge David Wahlberg and with the strong support of the conviction integrity unit in the Travis County District Attorney’s Office, after members of the unit learned in 2022 that Mejia’s daughter, now 24, had taken responsibility for the infant’s death. The TCCA will soon send the case back to Travis County; DA José Garza is expected to dismiss it. Mejia is currently being held at the county jail.

Muslim Heritage Month: At last week’s City Council meeting on Jan. 22, Council passed a resolution that now recognizes January as Muslim Heritage Month. Brought forward by Muslim Council Member Zo Qadri, the item passed with all of the Council members and Mayor Kirk Watson sponsoring the proclamation. “Our diversity is our strength, and this is an opportunity to celebrate the truth while fostering greater understanding, connection, and belonging. We stand with our Muslim community and with all communities, and we remain committed to building an Austin where everyone feels seen, valued, and respected,” Qadri said in a press release regarding the proclamation.

Credit: John Anderson QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Time and time again, Abbott has made it clear that he will put his donors and his puppeteers in Washington first. It is past time for us to return to decency in this country.”

State Rep. and Texas Gov. candidate Gina Hinojosa calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to cease ICE operations

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