Local government reporter at Austin Current
Austin, TX
Joined July 2021
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New program aimed at breaking cycle of homelessness and jail faces pushback over police involvement austincurrent.org/2026/10/06…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Happening now: @MikeSiegelD7 talks with @_AustinCurrent’s government report @SamCStark about the ICE shooting of a Venezuelan immigrant earlier this week.
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Texas law enforcement is facing a new wave of challenges in an already unprecedented time.
Join us as we discuss the limits of the city of Austin’s jurisdiction in investigating the ICE shooting, flock cameras and data center development with City Council Member Mike Siegel.
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Austin is taking steps to move 911 out of APD. Now, a city-ordered report recommends keeping it there.
The consultants say restructuring won’t improve operations. Council members aren’t convinced.
More from @SamCStark:
austincurrent.org/2026/09/16…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
🏡 @TravisCountyTX homeowners could pay more to expand mental health care, @SamCStark reports.
Central Health wants a 6% tax increase to help fund $54M in investments. For a median priced home, that’s about $36 more a year.
Commissioners vote Tuesday.
austincurrent.org/2026/09/14…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
About two years after @TravisCountyTX raised taxes for better childcare, its initiative has allocated more than $51 million to expand access to early childhood education. But providers say there’s still a long way to go to fix a broken system.
austincurrent.org/2026/08/31…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Council Member Paige Ellis needed 3,044 signatures to qualify. City officials said her petition was short, leading to its rejection.
@KUT has the update.
kut.org/austin/2026-08-25/au…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
City Council Member Paige Ellis has submitted a petition to seek a 3rd term for her District 8 seat.
Council members are usually limited to two 4-year terms, but city rules say she can run again, if she has the support from her constituents.... via @KUT.
kut.org/austin/2026-08-20/au…
Should Austin regulate data centers? @_AustinCurrent @KirkPWatson @RyanAlter @VanessaForATX
austincurrent.org/2026/08/20…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
📈 Austin’s property tax rate is now roughly 31% higher since 2017, reaching the highest point in at least a decade. From @SamCStark. austincurrent.org/2026/08/17…
Austin’s historic $6.6 billion budget will cost the average homeowner about $365 more in annual property taxes and fees next fiscal year.
austincurrent.org/2026/08/12…
Travis County’s highest “utilizers,” residents whose repeated arrests, emergency room visits and criminal trespasses cost an estimated $137 million in public resources each year while often leaving the problems untreated. @_AustinCurrent @Austin_Police
austincurrent.org/2026/08/12…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Some tech companies use a lot of water. @austintexasgov City Council is exploring ways to balance conservation with growth as high-water-use industries, such as data centers and semiconductor manufacturers, come to the city. austincurrent.org/2026/07/23…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
The Austin Library Commission wants to designate the city as a "Book Safe Harbor," a move that could help contested books remain in @austinpubliclibrary. The request comes amid discussions to ban books that contain sexually explicit content. #atx #txlege
austincurrent.org/2026/07/02…
Austin could become a ‘Book Safe Harbor’ as censorship fights escalate
austincurrent.org/2026/07/02…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
@KenPaxtonTX says part of Austin’s “electric-ready” building code violates state law, challenging the city’s requirements for future electrification in new buildings.
City officials say it preserves consumer choice.
Read the latest from @SamCStark: austincurrent.org/2026/06/26…
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion finding Austin code requiring new buildings to be “electric-ready” discriminates against natural gas.
austincurrent.org/2026/06/26…
Austin has successfully built more affordable housing — just not for everyone
austincurrent.org/2026/06/26…
States closing borders to Texas animals due to screwworm could cause a local backlog and lead to thousands of animal deaths in under-resourced parts of the state. @austinpetsalive
austincurrent.org/2026/06/25…
Sam C. Stark retweeted
Big Sandy Creek residents say lagging road repairs and flood preparedness efforts leave them vulnerable as flood risks return. The community was among the hardest hit outside the Kerrville area during the 2025 Independence Day floods. austincurrent.org/2026/06/18…
