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Dear Neighbors,
Last week marked a long-awaited milestone: two years after Council approved a settlement for sexual assault survivors whose cases were mishandled by the Austin Police Department (APD), Austin’s public safety leaders delivered a public apology. For many reasons, the event was emotional, offering a space to remember our failures, to recommit to real systemic change, and to celebrate the bravery of the women who told their stories in pursuit of justice. I encourage you to bear witness yourself and view the apology here.
On Tuesday, what moved me the most were the survivors’ expressions of real hope that the apology marked the end of a chapter and their belief that as a city we were finally poised to transform our failures into positive change.
Since 2018, I have had the honor and privilege to work alongside these women to improve Austin’s sexual assault response system. Each year we have used every tool available to better deliver healing and justice to survivors. I am proud that together we have made significant progress in the way our City invests in and discusses our response to sexual assault. Building on the settlement requirements and the 100+ recommendations identified in an evaluation of Austin’s sexual assault investigation process that I commissioned in 2019, we are developing a national model for best practices, known as the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model (CSCRM) project. This innovative and collaborative process is led by survivors, advocates, and APD leadership together, ensuring that everyone who needs to be at the table participates fully. Since taking over her role, Interim Police Chief Robin Henderson has demonstrated a commitment to transparency, accountability, and action which I appreciate. I invite you to read more about these changes in this op-ed I co-authored in the Austin American-Statesman.
Recent events have underscored that we have more work ahead to make our systems more survivor-focused. We at the City of Austin must acknowledge that the trust we are rebuilding is fragile and we must remember our mistakes. Thus, I am pleased that the re-appointment of a police leader who oversaw many of the challenges that led to the lawsuits did not proceed as originally planned. I strongly believe that even as we celebrate our forward movement, we must redouble our commitment to improving our sexual assault response.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, please know that you are not alone and help is available. The SAFE Alliance offers free exams, mental health services, and legal guidance, whether or not you wish to make a report.
In the remainder of this letter, you will find updates on a joint Fire/EMS Station coming to the Canyon Creek area, summer camp and lifeguard hiring opportunities, and more.
Regards, |
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Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 |
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Table of Contents
Council Recap
Council Member Alter in the Community Follow me on Instagram! Groundbreaking: Canyon Creek Fire/EMS Station Public Art Piece Honoring Survivors and Press Conference with County Leaders Presenting at National Association of EMS Physicians Conference Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up and D10 Office Hours Speaking with ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute Participants 100 Years of Lions Municipal Golf Course with the NAACP Celebrating with Austin Woman’s “Changemakers”
City Services Updates
Service and Public Input Opportunities National Blood Donor Month: Donate in D10 Annual Age Friendly Austin Community Feedback Survey Austin Energy Customer Assistance Programs: Apply or Donate
Safety Tips and Updates
Announcements Adulting 101: Free Program for Austin Students Flood Safety Video Contest for Students School Board Recognition Month
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2024 Committee Assignments As your representative, I’m proud to share the committees and intergovernmental organizations I’m serving on this year:
Audit and Finance Committee (Chair) Austin Water Oversight Committee Austin Energy Oversight Committee Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) City of Austin/AISD/Travis County Joint Committee Hate Crimes Task Force
I look forward to a productive 2024!
I would like to highlight two other items from the January 18 Council meeting which will be of interest to District 10:
Approval of 100% Property Tax Exemption for Eligible Child Care Providers- Following direction offered in my November resolution, Council formalized a 100% tax exemption for eligible child care providers for the 2024 tax year and beyond. Austin became the first Texas city to implement Proposition 2 and bring critical relief to providers and working families. This is just one of many steps I am working on to expand access to childcare in our community. Learn more about this item here.
Federal Grant for Austin Energy- Council approved utilizing a U.S. Department of Energy grant of $855,340 to help expedite energy efficiency projects for the Austin Public Library, Austin Public Health, and Parks and Recreation departments which will be implemented over the next two years.
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Follow me on Instagram! I am excited to have a new way to engage and connect with you. Follow me: @Alison.Alter. |
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Groundbreaking: Canyon Creek Fire/EMS Station In 2018, I set an ambitious goal to build and renovate five new Fire/EMS stations. This week, we delivered on our promise to further improve emergency response times and wildfire preparedness in my district and across the City. We broke ground on a joint Fire/EMS Station in the Canyon Creek area, which is anticipated to open early next year! I am grateful to my colleagues and to City staff for supporting this important public safety infrastructure. Stay tuned for construction updates. |
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Public Art Piece Honoring Survivors and Press Conference with County Leaders I joined District Attorney José Garza, Judge Andy Brown, other County leaders, and sexual assault survivors and advocates to celebrate the creation of a remembrance space for survivors. Special thanks to artist Dianne Sonnenberg for designing this collaborative piece, which will be installed at the District Attorney’s office later this year. After the art project, we held a press conference to discuss the progress we’ve made in improving our sexual assault response systems. |
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Presenting at National Association of EMS Physicians Conference Earlier this month I was honored to present to the National Association of EMS Physicians Conference on my work to improve access to healthcare in Austin and the innovative approach we are taking with our mobile integrated healthcare programs. Thank you to the EMS medics, leaders, physicians, and staff who make this work possible.
Photo courtesy of Kelsey Munoz, ATCEMS |
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Emergency Preparedness Pop-Up and D10 Office Hours Thank you to the City departments, preparedness experts, and constituents who joined me at Old Quarry Library for D10’s annual emergency preparedness pop-up! It was wonderful to connect with you all and chat about specific risks in District 10. The best time to prepare is before an emergency happens! Find an emergency preparedness checklist at ReadyCentralTexas.org. |
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Speaking with ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute Participants I had an important conversation with young leaders from the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Leadership Institute at the Dell Jewish Community Center. We spoke about my work to improve Austin’s response to hate, and each of our roles in combating the hate we’re seeing directed at Jews and Palestinians around the country. For resources, visit AustinTexas.gov/AgainstHate. |
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100 Years of Lions Municipal Golf Course with the NAACP Lions Municipal Golf Course turns 100 this year, and it was exciting to begin the celebrations with NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson and many Austinites who cherish this space. Muny was the first integrated golf course in the south, and I’m proud to have this piece of history in D10. |
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Celebrating with Austin Woman’s “Changemakers” It was an honor to celebrate with other selected Changemakers from Austin Woman Magazine’s “Women to Watch” list in January! I am proud to be recognized alongside so many friends, colleagues, and constituents. Check out the full list here. |
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Winter Lifeguard Hiring/Training Austin Parks and Rec is hiring lifeguards for summer swim season! Positions start at $20.80 per hour. Lifeguard certification and recertification are offered year-round. Lifeguard training and hiring starts at age 15 and there is no age limit. Learn more about how to become a lifeguard at LifeguardAustin.com. |
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Deep Eddy Pool Temporarily Closed As a reminder, Deep Eddy Pool is temporarily closed for maintenance, with an anticipated reopening date of March 5. Improvements include replacement of a damaged bulkhead and upgraded deck lighting. As construction progresses, any changes to the pool's closure schedule will be posted at austintexas.gov/parkclosures. |
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National Blood Donor Month: Donate in D10 January is National Blood Donor Month! We Are Blood is a wonderful D10 nonprofit that is offering special freebies to blood donors! Schedule your donation at weareblood.org/donor. |
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Annual Age Friendly Austin Community Feedback Survey The City of Austin's Commission on Aging is preparing for fiscal year 2025 budget recommendations. The goal of the recommendations is to inform and educate City leadership on the programs and services needed to support older adults. Please share your concerns and/or opinions by completing this survey. The survey is also available in Spanish. |
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Austin Energy Customer Assistance Programs: Apply or Donate Austin Energy offers several assistance programs. Their Plus 1 Fund assists Austin residents unable to pay their utility bills due to unexpected emergencies such as job loss or medical situations. Their Gift of Comfort program allows individuals, businesses, and organizations in our community to make a payment towards a customer’s utility bill as a gift. Austin Energy also offers case management services for medically vulnerable customers, and utility bill discounts for residents on low or fixed incomes. Find an overview of assistance opportunities and application info here. |
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Reminders for Safe School Zones With the spring semester in full swing, Austin Transportation and Public Works is sharing the graphic above with tips on driver etiquette around schools. Please follow these reminders to keep our school zones safe! |
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Community Preparedness Classroom Training Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management is offering a free classroom training on basic emergency preparedness. The course will provide an introduction from the experts on how to practice the four steps of emergency preparedness: making a plan, building a kit, knowing your neighbors, and staying informed. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on how to prepare their home, family, and community for a variety of hazards. This is the second time the class has been offered. This installment will focus on winter weather. Reserve your spot here. |
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Adulting 101: Free Program for Austin Students Austin Community College is offering a free workshop for high school students and others who are about to transition into independence and self-sufficiency–especially individuals who are interested in attending a trade school or who haven’t figured out what they are going to do after high school. The program will be on Friday, March 1 from 10-3 at the ACC Riverside Campus (1020 Grove Blvd.). There will be lunch, giveaways, door prizes, a student/alumni panel, presentations from UFCU about financial management, workshops, and info on the programs that ACC has to offer. Learn more and register here. |
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Flood Safety Video Contest for Students Austin Watershed Protection Department holds an annual flood safety video contest for 6th-12th graders. Videos must be 30 seconds or less and should encourage drivers not to drive on flooded roads. Contest winners will receive a $100 gift card, and the top videos may be aired on local news stations. For more details about the contest, visit austintexas.gov/flood-safety-contest. |
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School Board Recognition Month January is School Board Recognition Month! My district includes schools located in Eanes ISD, Round Rock ISD, Leander ISD, and Austin ISD. I’m grateful to the hardworking school board trustees in each of these districts, who volunteer their time representing parents, teachers, and students. |
