In an effort to protect Austinites during the coronavirus pandemic, the City of Austin has temporarily postponed all hearings, votes, and other actions related to its rezoning plan.

We applaud the city’s decision. The revision of our community’s Land Development Code (LDC) is important, but it is not an emergency. All of our civic resources must remain focused on minimizing the virus’s impact and protecting public health.

Austinites may continue to file official rezoning protests at FileYourProtest.com until the city council’s final vote on the plan, which has not yet been rescheduled.

In the meantime, we urge the following:

 

Listen to healthcare professionals.

Please heed the guidance issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other healthcare professionals. Wash your hands frequently, be sure you have over-the-counter medication and other supplies necessary to treat the symptoms of disease, and avoid crowds, social gatherings, and unnecessary travel.

 

Check up on your neighbors.

The coronavirus poses a higher risk for the elderly and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. If you have neighbors like these and are at lower risk yourself, consider reaching out to them by phone or email to see if you can pick up medication, groceries, or help in other ways.

 

Make a donation to our area’s food bank.

The coronavirus pandemic could make it difficult for some Austinites to keep their families fed. Please consider donating to the Central Texas Food Bank, which is working around the clock to serve its clients during the outbreak.

 

These are difficult times, but we’ll get through them. Together we can build an Austin for everyone!