Ben Thompson

@BThompson_CI

Austin City Hall reporter for Community Impact | Subscribe to our daily e-newsletter https://communityimpact.com/newsletter/south-central-austin

Austin, TX

Joined January 2019

457Following

1KFollowers

Ben Thompson Retweeted

Hannah Norton@HannahDNorton · Jul 21

Texas’ special legislative session begins today — here’s what to know #txlege @impactnews communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 17

An expansion of Oracle's lakeside HQ and a residential high-rise next to a future Project Connect stop are planned for the Riverside area: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet card. A 180-foot residential tower is proposed at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Lakeshore Boulevard.

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 16

Here's where Austin's officeholder and candidate finances stood as of mid-2025, more than a year out from next fall's election featuring 5 City Council contests: communityimpact.com/austin/north-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet card. Four council incumbents likely seeking re-election in 2026 reported having nearly $370,000 available as of late June.

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 12

City Manager Broadnax releases Austin's draft $6.3B budget (10%+ tax rate increase) for the upcoming fiscal year, kicking off a month of review before approval in mid-August austintexas.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=… More to come at presentation to council Tuesday

BThompson_CI's tweet image. City Manager Broadnax releases Austin's draft $6.3B budget (10%+ tax rate increase) for the upcoming fiscal year, kicking off a month of review before approval in mid-August austintexas.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=…

More to come at presentation to council Tuesday

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 11

Austin firefighters passed a resolution of no confidence in Fire Chief Joel Baker over a policy denying AFD deployments due to budget concerns, which they said held up a local response to last week's Hill Country flooding. Vote was >90% for. Some of AFA president's statement:

BBen Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 8

Austin's firefighter union has advanced a no-confidence resolution in AFD Chief Baker over concerns that dept. policy about emergency deployments held back local response to last week's floods: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c… A vote by AFA members is set to wrap up late Friday afternoon

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 10

This spring, state lawmakers OK'd eliminating several longtime development restrictions designed to protect views of the Capitol dome around Austin. Clears the way for UT+MD Anderson medical towers on the old Erwin Center site, plus UT stadium upgrades communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet card. Planned medical towers won't have to build around state development restrictions meant to protect views of the Capitol dome.

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jul 10

Updates to various city codes approved back in the spring are effective as of today. Among the changes is a new requirement for property owners to ensure all residences in Austin have A/C, a policy first requested by City Council during 2023's hot summer: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet image. Updates to various city codes approved back in the spring are effective as of today.

Among the changes is a new requirement for property owners to ensure all residences in Austin have A/C, a policy first requested by City Council during 2023's hot summer: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jun 27

Central Texans can expect plenty of traffic impacts for years as an 'unprecedented' billions of dollars of transportation projects move ahead. To keep residents updated, agencies partnered for the first time on a regional coordination+public info program: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet card. Multiple transportation entities are working on a new infrastructure planning and public information program.

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Ben Thompson@BThompson_CI · Jun 25

To address Austin's parks system needs, City Council may consider adding a new utility fee for residents to help pay for more open space maintenance+improvements: communityimpact.com/austin/south-c…

BThompson_CI's tweet card. The concept was proposed this spring ahead of summer budget deliberations, where parks funding will likely be among City Council priorities.

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