Kirk Watson

Join me tomorrow at the H-E-B Banana Block Party at Metz Neighborhood Park for a morning of family fun, healthy snacks and activities that support Austin kids. H-E-B and Austin Parks and Recreation are bringing this great event to our community in partnership with Generation ATX, a citywide effort from my office to make Austin the best place in America to be a kid.

I'll also be judging the banana costume contest. 🍌🏆And yes, there will be prizes for the most a-peel-ing costumes.

📍 WHERE: Metz Neighborhood Park, 2407 Canterbury St., Austin, TX 78702
🗓️ WHEN: Saturday, June 13
⏰ 10 a.m. – Noon
🍌 Banana costume contest check-in begins at 10 a.m.
🏆 Winners announced at 11 a.m.
See you there!

I was honored to accept a special invitation to visit the Irish Parliament in Dublin. I met with members of the Irish diplomatic corps, including the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade US and Canada Director, Owen Feeney. We talked about strenghtening the economic and cultural ties between Austin and Ireland.

In 2014, the Government of Ireland chose Austin as the home for its 6th U.S. consulate general office. As Austin continues to grow its role on the world stage, engagements like this underscored our city's commitment to meaningful international partnerships.

Today, I met with Limerick, Ireland Mayor John Moran to strengthen our Sister City relationship and explore opportunities where our two cities can cooperate in the areas of housing and life sciences.

I also visited The University of Limerick. The University and its Digital Cancer Research Centre are harnessing AI and high-performance computing in the fight against cancer. Michael and Susan Dell recently committed major funding to launch an AI-Native medical center that will include M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Austin.

Austin, Texas and Greater Manchester, UK are officially Sister Cities. Today, I signed an historic agreement to formalize our partnership with government of Greater Manchester. This will unlock opportunities in economic development, innovation, science & technology, education, tourism, arts & music, and urban development.

Since the signing of our Friendship Cities Agreement last year, the University of Texas at Austin and University of Manchester entered into a new research seed fund initiative to support international research collaboration between the two institutions.

Connecting with international partners brings massive wins straight back home to Austinites. The high-wage jobs we’re creating don’t just boost our quality of life—they attract funding for medical breakthroughs and green tech, bring microchip manufacturing back to the U.S., and pay for the parks, roads, and city services we use every day. Plus, this global attention keeps our iconic live music and arts culture thriving. As we mature into our role on the world stage, we’re focused on growing these benefits for our entire community.

I also announced that in late July, the State of Texas, through the new Texas Economic Development Office will build in the work we started today with the signing of this agreement and the very good business roundtable that we held in Manchester. The Texas Economic Development office will reach out and visit Greater Manchester to specifically engage on business.

As mentioned, I was very excited with the business roundtable we held in the Manchester Innovation Center.

Finally, I had a great meeting with Mayor Andy Burnham.

Join Waterloo Greenway, the City of Austin and our community partners this Saturday, June 6 from 10am to 2pm for the grand opening celebration of Waterloo Greenway, Phase II: The Confluence.

This is a transformative addition to Austin’s urban landscape and is also the largest investment in our downtown tree canopy.

Last week, I got an opportunity to thank our philanthropic partners who made this project possible. The City of Austin is incredibly proud to be a part of this project and create spaces where folks can gather.

More information: https://waterloogreenway.org/waterloo-greenway-phase-ii-grand-opening-celebration/

It was an honor to help recognize and say thank you to our first responders, whose strength, courage, and action on the early morning of March 1st, protected our people and city. Their day-to-day service—and especially their actions that early morning—demonstrate the love and sacrifice our police, fire, and EMS professionals have for Austin.

The word “hero” is appropriate. But for me, it’s not enough. I see them—this city sees them—as our guardians. As our protectors.

Photo Credit:

We’re celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States with the Mayor’s USA 250 Community Read! From now to July 4th, I’m encouraging Austinites to spend 250 minutes reading books about American history.

You can track your reading through Beanstack, an online reading challenge platform and engage with library resources throughout the summer.

Austinites of all ages are welcome to participate in the challenge and youth participants who complete the challenge will be eligible to receive a commemorative completion certificate, available for pickup at Austin Public Library locations beginning in mid-June.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/Mayors250

I also hosted a Teen Town Hall on Friday to talk about my Community Read and hear from young people across our city about the issues that matter to them most. I shared with them that one of my favorite memories of growing up was reading. Reading created a sense of belonging and being a part of something bigger than myself. That’s why is so important.

If we focus our energy on a citywide movement to make Austin the best place to be a kid, we can create moments where our young people can feel like they belong and are heard.

Latest : Building History.

Austin’s most pressing issue has finally been addressed.

I apologize for the level of indecision and the lengthy, highly inefficient process. I expect, like many matters in Austin, some will disagree with the outcome.

The rescue boodawgs have names!

The English boodawg will heretofore and forever be known as the Bear (Sugar Bear, Honey Bear or just plain old Bear). The little Frenchie goes by le nom Coco (as in Coco Puff).
....

For some time now, Austin’s economic development efforts seemed to overly focus on recruiting businesses, investment, and talent to come here. Austin created one of the most dynamic economies in the country.

And I strongly support the success that innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, higher education, and the creative economy have brought to help make Austin what it is today.

But successful cities mature. They build on success by recognizing new phases, new needs, and new ways to manage and grow success.

Austin is entering a phase where we must think intentionally about who gets to participate in our success. Not just how many jobs or W-2s we create. But how many Austinites do we put into those jobs.

That’s a key to the thinking behind the Austin Infrastructure Academy, which celebrates its first anniversary this year. And it’s been a good year.

The Academy grew out of a reality: We have lots of infrastructure projects on the way and underway, but we need more trained workers to build, operate, and maintain all of it.

At the same time, many Austinites are struggling with affordability and wondering whether they can continue building a life in the city we love.

Those realities are connected.

A complete city doesn’t just create opportunity. It connects people to the opportunity.

That means treating infrastructure not as just concrete, steel, rail, pipes, and terminals. It also means building “human infrastructure.”

Human infrastructure means career pathways. From training to apprenticeships to jobs. It includes childcare, transportation access, partnerships with schools, unions, and employers.

It’s systems that help people move into stable, meaningful, family-supporting careers.

That’s why we created the Infrastructure Academy. It was neat to see our approach recognized when Workforce Solutions Capital Area received the National Association of Workforce Board’s “Trailblazer Award”.

Read more: https://bit.ly/builidingBoodawg