Dear Neighbors,
Austin is no place for hate. As we grapple with the violence in Israel, the Palestinian Territories, and the wider region, we may experience increases in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in our community. I am writing to share an update on the City’s response to hate and some resources for you and your loved ones. While the topic of this letter was planned several months ago, it feels even more important to share this now.
I am proud of how our community has stood together in the face of increased acts and incidences of hate in recent years. However, we must continue to improve our response to hate of all kinds. With this in mind, I authored several budget amendments initiating and funding WE ALL BELONG, an anti-hate outreach and education campaign that launched earlier this year. Additionally, the Council supported my resolutions directing the City Manager to work with local organizations to prevent anti-Semitism in 2021 and anti-Asian hate in 2020, and in 2016 the Council supported a similar resolution in response to a rise in Islamophobia. I also have championed the implementation of hate-crime-related training in our police academy, and worked behind the scenes to improve our hate tracking and reporting systems with Austin 311 and the Austin Police Department. As a member of the Hate Crimes Task Force, I am active regionally and with partners across law enforcement, governments, and key institutions.
As a next step in these efforts, and in commemoration of the 2021 arson at my synagogue, I would like to invite all members of our community to an event hosted by Congregation Beth Israel, my office, and WE ALL BELONG powered by Austin Against Hate.
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Join us at Congregation Beth Israel on Wednesday, November 1, at 6 p.m. for a commemoration and reflection on the path forward. We will share gratitude and blessings for our first responders and other members of our community who took action immediately after the arson and discuss next steps. Please RSVP here. |
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Photo from Oct. 19 WE ALL BELONG event: "Altit to Austin" |
I also want to share some resources to help you respond to hate, no matter the group being targeted. The WE ALL BELONG program has two primary goals:
You can learn more about the WE ALL BELONG campaign in this video and find guidance on how to report hate crimes and incidents at AustinTexas.gov/AgainstHate. The website is also updated regularly with information on upcoming community events, like the one above. If you're hosting an event that embodies the spirit of WE ALL BELONG, I encourage you to fill out this form to request sponsorship consideration, financial and other resources, and guidance. You can also access a digital toolkit of educational and social media resources here. I hope you will choose to be an ambassador against hate right here in Austin.
In closing, I want to express my appreciation for the City staff and community partners, including ATXKind and the Austin Anti-Defamation League, who have worked with my office to improve our city’s response to hate. While we have more work ahead of us, I am heartened by our collective resilience and our shared determination to make Austin a place where everyone feels welcome.
In the remainder of this letter, you will find opportunities to serve on several government advisory bodies, information on several fall festivals happening around ATX, and more.
In Peace,
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Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 |
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Council Recap
Council Member Alter in the Community Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Picnic Visiting Austin’s Trauma Recovery Center Firearm Surrender Protocol Meeting Domestic Violence Awareness Month Austin EMS Pop-Up Resource Clinic (How to Donate or Volunteer) Safety Award from Lock Arms for Life Storytime at Howson Library Proclamation at Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit
Announcements City Open House on Land Development Code Roots and Wings Festival Celebrate Legacy Business Month in ATX! Día de los Muertos Events in Austin
City Services Updates
Service and Public Input Opportunities Volunteer at an It’s My Park Day Event! Joint Inclusion Budget Town Hall Call for Municipal Civil Service Commission Applications Project Connect Community Advisory Committee Seeking New Members
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Vote Early! Early voting is underway for the November 7 election. There are fourteen state propositions and two county bond propositions on your ballot. Learn more at lwvaustin.org/votersguide. Find polling locations, hours, and wait times and view a sample ballot here. |
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Here are the highlights from the October 19 City Council meeting and the special called meeting today:
Childcare Zoning and Permitting Updates: Council adopted several code amendments to make it easier to develop and permit childcare facilities. I’ve long supported efforts to make it easier to provide childcare in our city, and it’s my hope that these changes will help strengthen our childcare ecosystem.
Whole Blood Program and Simulation Training for Austin EMS: In 2022, Council Member Kelly and I offered a budget amendment to provide life-saving, in-the-field whole blood administration for traumatic injuries. Last week, Council approved a contract to continue this critical investment with a District 10 based non-profit, We Are Blood. This month, EMS and Austin’s Office of the Chief Medical Officer reached a milestone when they administered the 200th unit of whole blood from the whole blood program. Check out this video to learn more about the program. Our previous budget amendment also funded EMS simulation training equipment to help expedite medic hiring, training, and promotion, and Council formally approved a contract for the simulation setup on Oct. 19 as well.
Joint Hearing on Proposed Changes to Land Development Code: Today, Council is conducting a joint-hearing with the Planning Commission to consider several changes to our land development code. I’ve written several messages to you outlining my thoughts on this proposal, including an abbreviated newsletter last week. The documents and presentation from today's joint-hearing can be found here and you can watch the hearing live (starting at 2 p.m.) or taped on ATXN. In the blurbs below, you will find additional information about the City of Austin Planning Staff’s educational Open House for these amendments on Nov. 6.
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Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Picnic I enjoyed connecting with constituents and neighbors at the annual Pemberton Heights Neighborhood Picnic! |
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Visiting Austin’s Trauma Recovery Center Texas’ first Trauma Recovery Center, funded in a joint effort with the city and county, opens on Nov. 1. Council Members Fuentes, Vela, and I toured the Harvest TRC and met with staff from the African American Youth Harvest Foundation who will serve survivors of recent violent experiences using a research-based national model. I’m proud that Austin will be able to offer mental health treatment, relocation assistance, and help navigating the legal system to survivors.
Photo from the African American Youth Harvest Foundation
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Firearm Surrender Protocol Meeting Austin’s Office of Violence Prevention, which I created in 2020 and 2021, hosted a stakeholder meeting to discuss the development of a firearm surrender protocol for criminal family and domestic violence and protective order cases in Travis County. |
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month My colleagues and I wore purple during the Council meeting last week in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Survivors, I see you. If you need help making a safety plan, navigating trauma and the legal system, or supporting a friend or loved one, safeaustin.org is a great place to start. |
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Austin EMS Pop-Up Resource Clinic I stopped by the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services monthly Pop-Up Resource Clinic. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this month’s clinic featured breast cancer screenings. Thank you to Austin EMS and the other participating organizations for expanding access to healthcare in our community! |
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Safety Award from Lock Arms for Life I was honored to receive a Safety Award from Lock Arms for Life for my support of safe practices and safe storage of firearms. To learn more about the important work that they do to prevent gun violence in ATX and to request a free gun lock, visit lockarmsforlife.org. |
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Storytime at Howson Library I visited District 10’s Howson Branch Library to read to some young constituents during story time! Looking ahead to Halloween and this being Austin, we focused on bats. The Howson Branch offers free weekly events for kids and adults, including yoga, assistance using digital library resources, and multi-cultural story times. Find a full schedule of events here. |
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Proclamation at Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit I was honored to celebrate 35 years of Juniper Communities at Juniper Village at Spicewood Summit. As a policymaker with a high proportion of seniors in my district, I’m particularly interested in how we can empower and support aging Austinites. Thank you, Juniper Village staff, for serving ATX seniors! |
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You may have received a notice about pending changes to the Land Development Code and upcoming public hearings. The City is hosting an open house on the proposed changes before the two remaining public hearings. City staff will be available on Monday, Nov. 6, at the Austin Central Library, 710 W. Cesar Chavez St., from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss proposed code amendments that would:
Allow up to three housing units, including tiny homes on a single-family zoned property. Revise regulations that apply to a property with two housing units; and Remove restrictions on the number of unrelated adults living in a housing unit.
See my newsletter from last week for more info on the proposed changes. The remaining public hearings for these initial proposed amendments will be held at City Hall on:
Tuesday, November 14 at 6 p.m. - Planning Commission Meeting Thursday, December 7 at 10 a.m. - City Council Meeting
As noted above, you can find more information on today's hearing here and updates on the proposed changes on the SpeakUp Austin webpage. |
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Roots and Wings Festival Austin’s Roots and Wings Festival runs through Nov. 5! Visit rootsandwingsfest.com to find free events supporting our pollinators and trees at outdoor spaces around ATX, including several in District 10. |
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Celebrate Legacy Business Month in ATX! October is Austin’s first-ever Legacy Business Month! Preservation Austin is showcasing 13 beloved local businesses that have each been in operation for over 20 years. It’s not too late to grab a passport at Book People or the Zilker Brewing Company, and visit the participating businesses to qualify for prizes at the culmination party–Monday, October 30 from 7-9 p.m. at the Historic Victory Grill. Be sure to stop by the Deep Eddy Cabaret, a beloved District 10 featured Legacy Business. |
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Día de los Muertos Events in Austin This Saturday, Oct. 28, the City of Austin and the Mexic-Arte Museum will host the 40th annual Viva la Vida festival and parade. The parade begins moving down Sixth Street from Red River at noon, and ends at Fourth Street and Congress Avenue, where the street festival will run until 6 p.m.
Additionally, the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center will host the 16th annual celebration of Día de los Muertos, Day of the Dead. The festival is next Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Pan American Recreation Center in East Austin, with free pop-up events before and after. Learn more at AustinTexas.gov/DayoftheDead.
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New Council Voting History Database The City Clerk's Office has launched an online Council Voting History Page. With this tool, anyone can quickly search for and view how each elected official has voted on every council item during council meetings from 2023 forward. Users can filter the voting history by council member, date of meeting, vote cast, agenda item and more. Records are updated after each meeting’s minutes have been approved. |
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Volunteer at an It’s My Park Day Event! Austin’s biannual It’s My Park Day is on Saturday, November 4! This is a great opportunity to get outside and give back to our neighborhood parks. Register to volunteer and find a list of parks improvement projects near you and in District 10 here. |
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Joint Inclusion Budget Town Hall The City of Austin’s Quality of Life Commissions have been holding town halls to prepare their budget recommendations for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. There is one remaining in-person meeting:
Saturday, Nov. 4 from 11-12:30, Wildflower Community Church, Community Room, 1314 E Oltorf St. 78704
Register here. Spanish, American Sign Language, Mandarin and Vietnamese interpretation are available.
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Call for Municipal Civil Service Commission Applications The City is seeking applications to serve on the five-member Municipal Civil Service Commission. This commission decides on disciplinary cases for municipal civil service employees, recommends the adoption of civil service rules, and reports to the City Council. The time commitment for Commission business is typically 20 hours a month. Hearings of the Commission typically last an entire business day and are scheduled twice per month with the option to add additional meetings as needed. Commissioners serve on a voluntary basis. Applications will remain open until positions have been filled. Learn more and apply here. |
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Project Connect Community Advisory Committee Seeking New Members The Austin Transit Partnership, City of Austin, and CapMetro are seeking applications for the Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC advises all three partners on anti-displacement and equity matters related to Project Connect. Applications are open through November 17. |
