Austin Sanders
@austinsanders.bsky.social
Journalist in Austin, TX covering City Hall, cops, housing, and local politics more generally. Currently writing for The Austin Chronicle.
City Council is set to approve the settlement with Arellano on May 8, per a filing submitted by her attorneys last week. If that happens, she will withdraw from the trial.
However, the Gonzales plaintiffs can continue with a trial, which could be set within the next week or so.
However, the Gonzales plaintiffs can continue with a trial, which could be set within the next week or so.
April 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
City Council is set to approve the settlement with Arellano on May 8, per a filing submitted by her attorneys last week. If that happens, she will withdraw from the trial.
However, the Gonzales plaintiffs can continue with a trial, which could be set within the next week or so.
However, the Gonzales plaintiffs can continue with a trial, which could be set within the next week or so.
Two sets of plaintiffs (Arellano and Gonzales' mother)sued the officers and the city.
3 weeks ago, a judge ruled that plaintiffs could take the city to trial over allegations that the Austin Police Department was to blame for the shooting for creating a "culture of impunity" among officers.
3 weeks ago, a judge ruled that plaintiffs could take the city to trial over allegations that the Austin Police Department was to blame for the shooting for creating a "culture of impunity" among officers.
April 16, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Two sets of plaintiffs (Arellano and Gonzales' mother)sued the officers and the city.
3 weeks ago, a judge ruled that plaintiffs could take the city to trial over allegations that the Austin Police Department was to blame for the shooting for creating a "culture of impunity" among officers.
3 weeks ago, a judge ruled that plaintiffs could take the city to trial over allegations that the Austin Police Department was to blame for the shooting for creating a "culture of impunity" among officers.
Taking all of that evidence together, Pitman concluded that the city "had a practice of permitting excessive force by under-investigating and under-disciplining the majority of officers who engaged in excessive force" that a jury could conclude led to the fatal shooting.
April 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Taking all of that evidence together, Pitman concluded that the city "had a practice of permitting excessive force by under-investigating and under-disciplining the majority of officers who engaged in excessive force" that a jury could conclude led to the fatal shooting.
The plaintiffs produced key pieces of evidence that allowed them to overcome the steep legal hill that protects cities in these lawsuits.
- 19 high profile police violence cases
- independent investigations into APD's IA division
- Testimony from three former APD chiefs
- 19 high profile police violence cases
- independent investigations into APD's IA division
- Testimony from three former APD chiefs
April 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The plaintiffs produced key pieces of evidence that allowed them to overcome the steep legal hill that protects cities in these lawsuits.
- 19 high profile police violence cases
- independent investigations into APD's IA division
- Testimony from three former APD chiefs
- 19 high profile police violence cases
- independent investigations into APD's IA division
- Testimony from three former APD chiefs
My HEB has taken a stand against dog culture run amok.
April 8, 2025 at 1:22 PM
My HEB has taken a stand against dog culture run amok.
It is remarkable that even a single police chief was asked about disciplinary investigations while under oath, but even more so that three police chiefs were asked about them.
April 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It is remarkable that even a single police chief was asked about disciplinary investigations while under oath, but even more so that three police chiefs were asked about them.
For Austin, specifically, these bills would create an avenue for the Austin Police Department to regain the G file, which voters dismantled through a 2023 ballot initiative.
A leader for the statewide police union in Texas accidentally let that one slip in a hearing on one of the bills.
A leader for the statewide police union in Texas accidentally let that one slip in a hearing on one of the bills.
April 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
For Austin, specifically, these bills would create an avenue for the Austin Police Department to regain the G file, which voters dismantled through a 2023 ballot initiative.
A leader for the statewide police union in Texas accidentally let that one slip in a hearing on one of the bills.
A leader for the statewide police union in Texas accidentally let that one slip in a hearing on one of the bills.
Here's what the two-chiefs-ago chief said when grand juries indicted Austin Police officers for shooting protesters with lead-pellet rounds in 2020.
December 4, 2024 at 4:53 PM
Here's what the two-chiefs-ago chief said when grand juries indicted Austin Police officers for shooting protesters with lead-pellet rounds in 2020.
The statement from Lisa Davis, Austin's new police chief, is much more restrained. I was kind of surprised, given that prior chiefs have not hesitated to publicly express their own disappointment at the criminal prosecution of police officers.
December 4, 2024 at 4:50 PM
The statement from Lisa Davis, Austin's new police chief, is much more restrained. I was kind of surprised, given that prior chiefs have not hesitated to publicly express their own disappointment at the criminal prosecution of police officers.
On the left is a statement from a pro-police group that is perceived in Austin politics to generally act in good faith. On the right is the statement from the statewide police union. And, well, it's what you'd expect a police union to say.
December 4, 2024 at 4:48 PM
On the left is a statement from a pro-police group that is perceived in Austin politics to generally act in good faith. On the right is the statement from the statewide police union. And, well, it's what you'd expect a police union to say.
Journalists at Austin's daily have won a new labor contract following a bitter three year fight with Gannett that included two strikes and arbitration.
Here's some of the benefits the Austin NewsGuild was able to secure in the contract.
Here's some of the benefits the Austin NewsGuild was able to secure in the contract.
November 22, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Journalists at Austin's daily have won a new labor contract following a bitter three year fight with Gannett that included two strikes and arbitration.
Here's some of the benefits the Austin NewsGuild was able to secure in the contract.
Here's some of the benefits the Austin NewsGuild was able to secure in the contract.
Mayor Kirk Watson is out with a statement on the Clerk’s decision. He makes the case that has kinda been in the air since Llanes Pulido started talking about election regularities: doesn’t this kind of sound Trumpy?
November 21, 2024 at 11:31 PM
Mayor Kirk Watson is out with a statement on the Clerk’s decision. He makes the case that has kinda been in the air since Llanes Pulido started talking about election regularities: doesn’t this kind of sound Trumpy?
Here are the 11 individuals who won the chance to serve on Austin's Community Police Review Commission. They'll start meeting next year and will review critical incidents like police shootings and write disciplinary recommendations to the Chief of Police.
November 19, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Here are the 11 individuals who won the chance to serve on Austin's Community Police Review Commission. They'll start meeting next year and will review critical incidents like police shootings and write disciplinary recommendations to the Chief of Police.
I’m at Austin City Hall where staff with the city’s Office of Police Oversight are holding a lottery to select 11 volunteers to serve on the soon-to-be-resurrected Community Police Review Commission.
November 18, 2024 at 8:09 PM
I’m at Austin City Hall where staff with the city’s Office of Police Oversight are holding a lottery to select 11 volunteers to serve on the soon-to-be-resurrected Community Police Review Commission.
It's intersting how Community Not Commodity, Austin's premiere NIMBY group, has co-opted "reimagine" in their campaigns against land use reform. The word featured prominently in 2020-era police reforms (e.g. "reimagining public safety") and is now a dog whistle to local conservatives.
November 18, 2024 at 4:45 PM
It's intersting how Community Not Commodity, Austin's premiere NIMBY group, has co-opted "reimagine" in their campaigns against land use reform. The word featured prominently in 2020-era police reforms (e.g. "reimagining public safety") and is now a dog whistle to local conservatives.
The MLK nonviolence bench on the fifth floor of the Austin Police Department’s headquarters.
November 16, 2024 at 4:51 PM
The MLK nonviolence bench on the fifth floor of the Austin Police Department’s headquarters.
“I am not someone who will bend on civil rights,” she told me. “I will make sure trans people in Austin are defended.”
Though, she did acknowledge a strategic shift in how to make sure trans people feel safe in Austin may be needed. She doesn't know what that looks like yet.
Though, she did acknowledge a strategic shift in how to make sure trans people feel safe in Austin may be needed. She doesn't know what that looks like yet.
November 14, 2024 at 5:04 PM
“I am not someone who will bend on civil rights,” she told me. “I will make sure trans people in Austin are defended.”
Though, she did acknowledge a strategic shift in how to make sure trans people feel safe in Austin may be needed. She doesn't know what that looks like yet.
Though, she did acknowledge a strategic shift in how to make sure trans people feel safe in Austin may be needed. She doesn't know what that looks like yet.
Everyone I talked to is afraid of burnout among local left wing people and groups. Among elected officials, care groups, activists, everyday people. There was so much energy behind resisting Trump's first term, even at this early stage, that just doesn't seem to be there for the second term.
November 14, 2024 at 4:58 PM
Everyone I talked to is afraid of burnout among local left wing people and groups. Among elected officials, care groups, activists, everyday people. There was so much energy behind resisting Trump's first term, even at this early stage, that just doesn't seem to be there for the second term.
Here's a link to the original story from September 2023. But you also gotta check out the print version. The design team really killed it with this one. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-09...
November 14, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Here's a link to the original story from September 2023. But you also gotta check out the print version. The design team really killed it with this one. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-09...
I've also covered Austin's Office of Police Oversight, the city civilian agency tasked with investigating community complaints against police officers.
Recently, I found that the OPO is staffed mostly with former cops and military people. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-08...
Recently, I found that the OPO is staffed mostly with former cops and military people. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-08...
November 12, 2024 at 8:33 PM
I've also covered Austin's Office of Police Oversight, the city civilian agency tasked with investigating community complaints against police officers.
Recently, I found that the OPO is staffed mostly with former cops and military people. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-08...
Recently, I found that the OPO is staffed mostly with former cops and military people. www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-08...
City Council just approved a rezoning application to turn the Genie Car Wash on burnet road into 300 apartments, 10% of which will be rented to people earning 60% of austin's median family income
November 30, 2023 at 8:55 PM
City Council just approved a rezoning application to turn the Genie Car Wash on burnet road into 300 apartments, 10% of which will be rented to people earning 60% of austin's median family income
Results of a national Pew survey published today found majority, bipartisan support for a number of housing reforms — some of which Austin's City Council will vote on at a special called-meeting next week. www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-...
November 30, 2023 at 5:17 PM
Results of a national Pew survey published today found majority, bipartisan support for a number of housing reforms — some of which Austin's City Council will vote on at a special called-meeting next week. www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-...