| | Dear Neighbors,
I am outraged and broken hearted about the suffering of so many people here in Austin, Minneapolis, and other cities. I join the many peaceful protesters demanding an end to racism and violence against communities of color. Like you, I am processing the disturbing images and searching for answers among varying reports.
This is not the first time our community has gathered in pain to protest police violence, nor the first time we have resolved to do better. This is also not the first time our city has experienced violent acts from extremists. We must hold everyone in our community to higher standards, and I anticipate Council will meet to discuss the protests and public safety on Thursday.
We can only move forward as a community if we create an open and civil dialogue, recognizing our failures and exploring necessary reforms.
I want to invite you to join me this Wednesday, June 3rd, for a community discussion on racial justice and equity. I will be participating in a virtual panel along with Professor Peniel Joseph, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and Professor Jeremi Suri. I hope Wednesday's discussion will be one of many public conversations with community leaders. You can register for this event by following this link or seeing the event details below.
We must come together, listen to one another, commit to doing the work, and dedicate ourselves to reform. A number of you have asked for ways to get informed on Austin issues, and I have compiled a list with several resources, including Austin’s most recent racial profiling report, the Tatum report on racism and homophobia within the Austin Police Department, the resolution I authored initiating a comprehensive evaluation into sexual assault cases in Austin, and more. I will continue to update this document with relevant resources, and I encourage you to share this with your friends and neighbors.
I also would like to remind you about the District 10 Virtual Budget Town Hall taking place Wednesday evening. Engaging in the city budget process is critical, as this is how Council determines funding for public safety, public health, and more. Currently, public safety (APD, AFD, EMS) accounts for about two-thirds of Austin’s budget. You can share your feedback at Wednesday’s town hall or by completing the City’s official budget survey.
Below you will find details on Wednesday’s events and how to register for each one. Please do reach out to my office with your thoughts or if you need assistance.
Take care,
Alison Alter
Council Member, District 10 |
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| | Table of Contents - Community Conversation on Justice and Equity in a Time of National Racial Crisis – June 3
- District 10 Virtual Budget Town Hall – June 3
- Budget Office Hours – Save the Date
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| | | Community Conversation on Justice and Equity in a Time of National Racial Crisis – June 3
Please join me, Professor Peniel Joseph, Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and Professor Jeremi Suri for a conversation on Justice and Equity in a Time of National Racial Crisis.
Wednesday, June 3 1 p.m. Event will be streamed on Zoom
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| | | District 10 Virtual Budget Town Hall – June 3
Join Deputy Chief Financial Officer Ed Van Eenoo and me to discuss the FY21 Budget process and the City’s COVID-19 spending framework. The presentation will be followed by a moderated Q&A session where attendees will be able to submit questions via the chat function in real time. Attendees may submit questions ahead of time to Nina.Guidice@austintexas.gov.
Wednesday, June 3 6 p.m.
We also will offer information on ways to engage in the City’s budget process. Prior to the town hall, I encourage you to familiarize yourself with Speak Up Austin, the City’s online community engagement resource. The City's budget survey is available on the SpeakUp Austin page.
Please free to invite your neighbors or share this event via this Facebook event page. The event will also stream live on Facebook. I hope to see you there.
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| | | Budget Office Hours – Save the Date
District 10 Budget Office hours will be held virtually on Friday, June 12th from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Participants will sign up for 15-minute one-on-one sessions with a D10 staff member.
More information on how to sign up will be available later this week.
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