 Last Tuesday, District Judge Daniella Deseta Lyttle ruled in our favor and extended the Temporary Restraining Order against City Council (TRO) until July 1st, ensuring that each speaker at Austin City Council meetings will be granted three minutes per agenda item. This shared win is one for ALL of Austin and would not have been possible without the citizen testimonies and the efforts of our legal staff, Executive Director Bill Bunch and staff attorneys Bobby Levinski and Victoria Rose. During the Tuesday hearing, Bill Bunch referenced James Madison's words, stating that a democracy lacking information “is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or, perhaps, both.” Testimonies from Roy Waley (with his decades-long commitment to advocating for water issues), Monica Guzman (a firebrand advocate for environmental justice and Policy Director of GAVA), and Laura Morrison (former Austin City Council Member) presented compelling arguments about the importance of public input in our democratic processes and were instrumental in securing this extension. This ruling reaffirms the principle that no one, not even elected officials, is above the law. It sends a powerful message that community voices must be heard and respected in decision-making processes. As Roy Waley testified “Democracy can be messy and time-consuming.” However, there's a long road ahead to a lasting solution that secures citizen input in public meetings. The City Council may still attempt to amend the City Charter, requiring us to remain vigilant in both legal proceedings and spreading awareness that our collective citizen input and speaking time allotted is at stake. Again, we extend our gratitude to every individual who has attended City Council meetings and spoken out on issues that shape our community's present and future. This lawsuit, initiated by the SOS Alliance, is not just about us—it's about everyone who cares about Austin and believes in the importance of active public engagement. Read more in the Statesman article HERE. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing legal efforts on behalf of our water, wildlife, and the integrity of our local democracy. Your contribution will enable us to continue fighting for a fair and transparent governance that prioritizes the needs and voices of all Austinites.  Fact-Resistant Council Refuses to Act for Drought Resiliency Last weekend’s rain will help replenish the storage level of Lakes Buchanan and Travis—somewhat. But the region is still in one of the worst droughts we’ve ever experienced. Current lake levels remain less than 50%, and it would require record amounts of rain throughout this May to put our region back in a good position for water availability. Unfortunately, the Austin City Council mostly ignored pleas from SOS and other water conservation advocates to postpone the City’s water conservation and drought management plans. These new plans go in the wrong direction and diminish the City’s long-standing goals for daily water usage. Updates to the City’s Water Forward Plan are anticipated to return to the City Council by the end of this year. Until then, we will be pressuring the City Council to act swiftly and curtail its water usage. Stay tuned.  CAMPO Vote Set for Monday, May 13th on I-35 Funding On Monday, May 13th, the Transportation Policy Board of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) will be meeting at 2pm (5330 Bluffstone Lane) to approve a new 3-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The proposal rolls over funding for the proposed expansion of I-35 through Central Austin, despite requests that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) complete certain air quality studies before the project proceeds to construction. According to the new air-quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Austin area has dangerously high levels of air pollution. Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5), associated with highways, can cause serious and sometimes deadly illnesses. Under the new standards, Travis County is modeled to be in nonattainment. Both the Austin City Council and Travis County Commissioners court have requested that CAMPO hold off on construction of I-35 until these serious air quality consequences are properly understood through studies and accounted for in potential design modifications. Despite these known serious health risks, TxDOT is proceeding with the highway expansion. To send a message requesting that the CAMPO Policy Board reconsider the funding, click here. 
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