Opportunities
Applications are open for the Arena Academy Online! This program is a best-in-class training program for aspiring political professionals, and involves an immersive five-day learning experience, on one of seven tracks: Campaign Management, Communications, Data, Digital, Fundraising, Organizing, or Organizing Director. This culminates in a campaign simulation and career support post-academy!
Apply by March 19th at 11:59pm ET! Registration cost is $300, but scholarships are available!
Apply to be a summer intern in Congressman Lloyd Doggett’s Austin District Office! This internship involves constituent services and community outreach with some opportunities to staff the Congressman while he is in the district. This internship opportunity is for 20 hr/wk with a deadline of March 15th!!
Check out all the details and APPLY NOW!
Public Citizen Texas is offering a Field Organizer position for 24 dollars/hr! These organizers will work on the campaigns of John Hoffner and Stephen Thomas for the Board of Directors of Pedernales Electric Cooperative. Transportation is required, but gas reimbursements are available!
Email your resume and cover letter to stephen@swgibson.com to apply now!
Upcoming Events
This spring break if you have access to a sxsw badge check out the civic engagement events track! This includes panels on the future of democracy and how leaders are thinking about tackling a host of new issues from content moderation to immigration.
Check out BIPOC Pop – a 3-day event with creatives and industry leaders! It will be hosted on campus from Thursday March 9th to Saturday March 11th in the Glickman Conference Center! This event is free and open to the public from 9-5pm!
Join a tour of inspirational and iconic murals and artworks in and around downtown Austin parks on the Art & Parks Tour hosted by the Downtown Austin Alliance, Pease Park Conservancy, and Ride Bikes Austin! This is free to join, so check out the details and RSVP here!
City Council
by Aaron Lurin
The past few months at Austin City Council have been so eventful, it can be hard to keep up. So let’s recap:
During an Austin City Council meeting on Thursday, February 9th, council approved an audit of Austin Energy’s vegetation management – i.e. the tree-cutting program that some say could have been key in preventing downed wires during the last winter freeze. Read more here.
During the same February 9th meeting, council planned to vote on CM Vela’s resolution to pursue an extension of the current police union contract by one-year, including an amendment from Mayor Watson to give a sizable raise to APD officers. This extension was proposed as an alternative to voting on the four-year contract negotiated by city staff under city manager Spencer Cronk, which would have blocked the implementation of results of the police oversight ballot initiatives up for a vote in the May 2023 election until the four-year contract was up. Fiscal and staff retention concerns postponed the vote to a special session, during which council voted 9-2 to pursue a one-year extension of the current contract. The Austin Police Association has now said they will not negotiate a one-year contract, despite the extension’s sizable raises and additional bonuses. Read more here.
On Wednesday, February 15th, Austin City Council voted 10-1 to fire Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk (Think of the city manager position like the CEO of the City of Austin). The firing comes after frustrations with Cronk’s closeness to police figures, city staffing issues, management issues at Austin Energy and Austin Water, and communication issues on the city staff side. Read more here.
With the firing of former city manager Cronk has come a wave of new staff (and staffing turnovers). Jesús Garza, city manager during Watson’s first term, has been selected as interim city manager. Other returning staff members (mostly from Watson era #1) include the Airport Director and Assistant City Manager over Public Safety. Read more here.
Election Information
First Day to Apply for Ballot by Mail: Sunday, January 1, 2023
Last Day to Register to Vote: Thursday, April 6, 2023
First Day of Early Voting in Person: Monday, April 24, 2023
Last day to Apply for Ballot by Mail (received, not postmarked): Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Last Day of Early Voting in Person: Tuesday, May 2, 2023
Election Day: Saturday, May 6, 2023
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