Government
BY ELISABETH JIMENEZ, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON
Post-arrest legal assistance program ramps up this year
Austin revising rules for short- term rentals Spurred by recent court decisions and chal- lenges with regulation, Austin is updating some policies for short-term rental, or STR, operators and platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. What’s happening While STRs must be licensed by the city, sta believe a vast majority of the thousands of rental spaces operating today are doing so o the books. Austin has about 2,220 licensed rental properties, but the STR database Inside Airbnb currently reports more than 15,000 total active rental listings on that platform. Unlicensed rentals have remained a city target due to concerns over nuisances in neighborhoods, lost city tourism revenue and housing a ordability. Changes up for adoption Feb. 27, after press time, include requiring platforms to display STR license numbers in online listings to ensure registration; delisting spaces without valid licenses at the city’s request; requiring 1,000-foot bu ers between STR operators’ units as a “density cap;” and banning business entities from operating STRs on properties with three units or less.
Legal support expands Counsel for arrestees who can’t pay for their own lawyer is being made available more often, with expanded hours on additional days.
2024
April: CAFA pilot program begins October/November: One shift, three days a week December: One shift, four days a week January: One shift, ve days a week February: One shift, seven days a week July: Two shifts, seven days a week
Expanded post-arrest legal services, a longtime priority for local civil rights advocates, received $8.2 million from Travis County and $7.19 million from Austin in January. The overview County o cials earmarked $15.5 million last year for Counsel at First Appearance, or CAFA, support during the post-arrest evaluation and bail-setting, regardless of a person’s ability to pay for a lawyer. Together with Austin, the county began con- ducting “test” shifts last April. The rst $5.8 million in county funding was then doled out in October, paying for 43 new positions that support CAFA, including defense attorneys, clerks, legal secretaries and translators. Since April, there have been a total of 1,132 arrested individuals that have received legal counsel under the CAFA program, according to county documents. Precinct 4 Commissioner Margaret Gomez noted local o cials have been discussing representation for those unable to a ord it for nearly 30 years, and that it’s taken an extreme amount of e ort and coordination to make the CAFA initiative a reality. The details The CAFA program was rolled out in a phased approach as departments hired and trained sta . The rst shift of CAFA was expected to be fully operational—2-11 p.m., seven days a week—this February. The funding approved by commissioners
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SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT
in January will support the implementation of the next shift of legal representation, which will operate from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. “With 86 [new hires], this is the largest commit- ment the county has ever made in the fastest time possible,” Travis County Budget Director Travis Gatlin said. What to watch As Austin gradually discontinues its magis- tration services and the county takes over, city o cials have expressed growing concerns about potential delays, particularly for arrestees who may fall under the jurisdiction of the Downtown Austin Community Court, or DACC. DACC serves as an alternative approach to the criminal justice system for individuals experienc- ing very low income, mental illness or addiction. Council members directed sta to work with the county to address the 24-hour waiting period for transporting and processing DACC arrestees, which could be even longer on weekend arrests.
The number of unregistered rental properties in Austin is estimated to be several times higher than city-licensed STRs.
2,133 licensed properties (all operators)
15,500 total listings (Airbnb only)
NOTE: AS OF FEB. 21
SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, INSIDE AIRBNB COMMUNITY IMPACT
Austin launches new on-demand pickup services
Austin residents can also schedule waste drop-o s with the city. The impact More than 3,000 appointments were completed and 22.5 tons of material diverted in just three weeks under the new service. City sta will con- tinue analyzing program data to track its success. District 2 council member Vanessa Fuentes said easy access to waste disposal responds to commu- nity safety and illegal dumping concerns.
Bulk, brush and household hazardous collection services are now on demand only in Austin. The overview Scheduled service replaces the former semi- annual bulk and brush pickup on predetermined days. Customers can now schedule up to three collections per service every year. Residents can schedule pickup appointments through the Austin Recycles App, by calling 3-1-1 or visiting www.austintexas.gov/myschedule. All
Austin o ers new on-demand residential brush, bulk and household hazardous waste collection services.
COURTESY CITY OF AUSTIN
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