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Community Corner

🌱 City Council Tackling Housing Affordability + Best Local Tamales 🍽

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Austin.

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Jessica Collins, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Welcome back, neighbors! I hope you're settling into the post-holiday week comfortably. I'm here in your inbox this morning with the most important local news and community updates — hot off the press!

Settle in while we cover:

  • City Council is discussing a critical housing affordability item this week.
  • Stumped on which nonprofit to support during Giving Tuesday? We've got you covered.
  • It's holiday tamale season and we've got the scoop on where to find the best!
  • Check out a free weaving workshop this evening.

But first, today's weather:

A morning shower or two. High: 80 Low: 43.

Here are the top stories today in Austin:

1) Feel-good news: today is the 10th anniversary of Giving Tuesday. It's an opportunity to give back to your community in any way you can. A local nonprofit, I Live Here I Give Here, has an online database where Austinites can search for local nonprofits that match their interests (education, homelessness, animal care, etc..) and they can then research and donate to. Check it out!

2) Austin City Council is holding a discussion on December 1 to possibly make triplexes and fourplexes exempt from the site plan process. This would let permitting of triplexes and fourplexes take 90 days instead of the current 360 days. This could be a massive win for housing affordability in town. Community Impact has more here.

3) In spite of a wetter-than-normal November, Austin is still in a drought. KUT reports: "November is not known for heavy rainfall in Austin. The month averages a respectable 2.7 inches of precipitation in a normal year. This year was different, with around 4.1 inches recorded at Austin's Camp Mabry weather station by Nov. 28." That said, Austin is still in a rainfall deficit for the year. Head over to KUT to learn more.

4) Neighbors, cedar fever season is right around the corner. Are you ready to face a scratchy throat, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion? I'm certainly not! The Statesman has a breakdown of how to prep for cedar season here.

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Today in Austin:

  • 2022 Blue Genie Art Bazaar at Blue Genie Art Bazaar. (10 a.m.)
  • LEGO Lab at Austin Public Library, Ruiz Branch. (4 p.m.)
  • Ice Rodeo at The Four Seasons Austin. (4 p.m.)
  • Teen Creative AI Lab at Austin Public Library, Central Branch. (5:30 p.m.)
  • (Kid-Friendly & Free) Weaving Workshop at Women & Their Work. (6 p.m.)
  • Love Actually at The Paramount Theatre. (6:30 p.m.)
  • Sly Curtis (Sly Stone & Curtis Mayfield Tribute) Plus Goldie Pipes at Antone's. (7 p.m.)

Community Chatter:

  • 📦 Electric delivery vans are coming to town! "Austin is one of 100 cities where Amazon is deploying electric vans." (CultureMap Austin)
  • 🍽️ On the hunt for tamales for the holidays? Eater Austin compiled a list of where to find the best tamales in town. (Eater Austin)
  • 🎄 Christmas movies galore: "The holiday season in Austin brings a slate of special holiday film screenings." The Statesman compiled a list of them all! (The Statesman)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

Events:

Gigs & services:

You're all caught up for today. I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update!

— Jessica Collins

About me: Jessica is happy to call Austin her home for the past 10+ years. She loves the outdoors, arts & cinema, dining, and all of the natural beauty that Central Texas has to offer.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Austin Daily? Contact me at DowntownAustin@patch.com

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