Dear Neighbors,
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. As a community, we have a shared responsibility to interrupt and prevent violence, and I am writing to share resources and information that can help us protect victims and prevent domestic disputes from escalating. Over the last 19 months, the ongoing pandemic has exacerbated stressors that can lead to violence and has contributed to higher rates of family violence. In fact, 2021 statistics tell us that one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, and last year Texas recorded its highest level of domestic violence-related deaths.
Several local and national organizations – such as SAFE, The Hotline, APD Victim Services – are dedicated to helping communities increase their understanding of intimate partner violence, show support and care for those affected by abusive relationships, and empower more people to act in support of safe relationships. I encourage you to visit these organizations’ websites to learn more about domestic violence, how to spot signs of violence, how to support healthy relationships, and how to find help when abuse takes place or is imminent.
To help raise awareness and elevate the work of local partners on this front, I joined Council Member Leslie Pool – as well as Council Members Ellis, Fuentes, and Kitchen, Judge Dimple Malhotra, Judge Aurora Martinez Jones, and representatives from APD's Victim Services, our new Office of Violence Prevention, and SAFE – for a proclamation recognizing Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I am proud of the work we are doing with our partners and within the city to support and protect victims and stop violence before it happens. | | We must also recognize the fact that the majority of domestic violence homicides are perpetrated using a firearm. The latest report from the Texas Council on Family Violence found that guns were used in 67% of domestic violence-related deaths and that in the past ten years, the number of women killed by a partner or former partner with a firearm has nearly doubled. Earlier this year, Council approved a contract with the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform to help our Office of Violence Prevention to reduce gun violence by enhancing safe storage education, domestic violence intervention, and gun surrender programs.
We still must do more as a community to keep abusers from illegally possessing firearms, and we must enforce the transfer of firearms from convicted abusers in accordance with the law. We need state and federal leaders to take action on this front, and we must continue to press them to do so.
We can stop domestic violence, and we can save lives. Please share the resources and information in this letter with friends and neighbors, and know that you can ask for help if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
In the balance of this newsletter, you also will find the latest updates on Council action, a reminder to get out and vote, two opportunities to serve on a city commission, information on how to get your home’s wildfire risk assessed, and more. Before we move onto those items, please take a moment to read the section below regarding recent acts of anti-Semitism in our city and learn more about what we can do as a community to stop hate.
Regards,
Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 | | ADL Resources for Acts of Hate
Sadly, our city was the target of multiple acts of hate this week. These incidents have shaken me and many Austinites, especially those of us of Jewish faith. Austin should be a safe place for all residents, and we will not accept hateful and threatening behavior in our community. I would like to thank the Austinites who quickly reported these incidents to 311 and 911, and the officers for their rapid response. Quick response to hate crimes and hate speech allows us to deprive the perpetrators of the attention they seek. I am reviewing all available video footage from Saturday’s incident at Far West and Mopac and have begun conversations with City leadership about how to continuously improve the City’s response to hate moving forward.
To that end, I am sponsoring a resolution at next week’s Council meeting condemning anti-Semitic, racist, and homophobic vandalism, violence and hate speech, and directing the City Manager to collaborate with local community groups to identify and implement improvements to the City’s response to hate.
I also have been in contact with Shalom Austin, the Anti-Defamation League, and the school district to offer assistance and support. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has several resources to respond to and report hate. If you experience or witness an incident of antisemitism, extremism, bias, bigotry or hate, please report it to the Anti-Defamation League at adl.org/reportincident and call 311 or 911 as appropriate. ADL also offers educational resources, research and tools, ways to take action, and how to donate to the ADL.
| | Council Recap Go Vote! Call for Applicants: District 10 Boards and Commissions It’s My Park Day – Nov. 6 Cisco's Bringing Tacos, Margaritas to Lions Municipal Golf Course Get a COVID Vaccine! AISD Flu Shot Clinics Cyber Security Month Wildfire Home Assessment Reminders SAFE Holiday Donations COVID Vaccines, Boosters, Third Doses and Mobile Clinic
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Council recently met on 10/14 and 10/21. On the 21st, we moved forward with trail maintenance, protecting parkland dedication, and deploying additional Community Health Workers. On the 14th, we took steps to build three more high priority Fire/EMS stations, protect Austinites from flooding events, and more. See the highlights from our back to back meetings below.
10/21 Meeting: Item 19: Council approved this phased programming and maintenance agreement with The Trail Foundation for the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Town Lake Metropolitan Park. This will allow the Trail Foundation to fund free park programming and infrastructure through private philanthropy, and reduce costs for taxpayers. The Trail Foundation has led fundraising and development in the park for over 18 years resulting in a total financial investment to date of over $17,500,000 and this agreement will allow them to build on that success for the benefit of all Austinites. The Trail Foundation will continue to follow all City codes and regulations, approval and permit processes and community engagement standards. Item 20: I was proud to work to defeat this item which was brought to Council by the City Manager. Item 20 would have gutted funding for parkland acquisition by reducing the fees private developers have to pay on certain sites. The fee reduction was also opposed by the City's Parks and Recreation Board, and you can read more about their concerns in this Austin Monitor article. Item 22: Council accepted an additional $3 million in federal grant funds to help build our COVID response capacity. This funding will pay for additional staff to administer vaccines, community education about COVID-19, community vaccine providers, and community-based public awareness and COVID-19 health promotion work. Item 23: Council allocated federal funding to provide support to the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School, CommUnityCare, People’s Community Clinic, Housing Authority of the City of Austin, and Foundation Communities to hire, train, and deploy Community Health Workers to assist with COVID-19 prevention and vaccine engagement efforts and to promote healthy lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk of chronic disease with vulnerable populations.
10/14 Meeting Item 19: We approved a contract for electronics recycling (e-recycling). This contract, along with our other recycling, composting, and waste-diversion programming, will help support the City’s Zero Waste goals to divert at least 90% of discarded materials from ending up in landfills. Item 25: The Council approved a contract amendment for the preconstruction, schematic design, and construction services for the three additional priority Fire/EMS stations. The Loop 360/Davenport Station is the next one to start construction in the coming weeks. Item 33: Council approved an additional $6 million to provide emergency rental assistance for Austinites across our community impacted by COVID. Item 46: I cosponsored a resolution with Mayor Adler directing the City Manager to identify the resources and staff needed to continue virtual testimony and hybrid participation at Council meetings and for Boards and Commissions. Item 48: I co-sponsored this resolution, authored by Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, to identify options to increase flood protection funding and deliver emergency preparedness training to Austinites. The resolution also amended our Federal Legislative agenda to seek additional funding to reduce flood damage risk and make flood insurance more affordable.
| | | | | | Call for Applicants: District 10 Boards and Commissions The District 10 office is seeking new representatives to serve on the Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals and the Commission on Immigrant Affairs. If you are interested in volunteering for these commissions, please send your resume and a short memo with the following information to my office at district10@austintexas.gov: What is your assessment of the top three policy questions your commission will be dealing with over the next four years? A statement of the expertise and experience that you bring to these issues. A statement of what issues you anticipate emphasizing in your work supporting your commission.
Please share this opportunity with your friends and neighbors. | | | It’s My Park Day – Nov. 6
It’s My Park Day is right around the corner! Join one of Austin’s largest volunteer events either in-person or virtually and help our local parks. Learn more and register for a project at http://austinparks.org/impd/. | | | Cisco's Bringing Tacos, Margaritas to Lions Municipal Golf Course
Cisco’s Muny Café is now open! Local favorite Cisco’s has joined forces with Muny, the beloved golf course in District 10, to offer cold drinks, good food, and great golf all in one place. Read more about what the restaurant will offer, and head over to Muny to enjoy! | | | Austin Public Health continues to offer free COVID vaccines! The Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are currently authorized for those aged 18 and up. The Pfizer vaccine is currently authorized for those aged 12 and up. You can schedule a vaccine appointment with Austin Public Health over the phone or online, or you can go to a walk-up clinic without an appointment.
The Mobile Vaccine Program is available to homebound residents in Travis County. To get an appointment, call 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000. Caretakers and other family members can be vaccinated in the same visit.
Please note there is a difference between a "booster" and a "third dose". Third doses are for immunocompromised people. Boosters are now available six months or more after receiving the initial series for people who received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. For people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, the booster is recommended two months after the initial, single dose. The criteria for receiving a booster are listed on the CDC website.
Learn more about vaccines and how to get vaccinated at http://www.austintexas.gov/covid19-vaccines. | | |
Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect yourself and others from the flu, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when hospital capacity is strained. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone six months of age and older get vaccinated for the flu every year.
Austin Independent School District is hosting flu shot clinics for students at each campus this fall. Visit this link to find dates at each school. Note that consent forms are required, and they will need to be turned in five days before your campus’ clinic. Please share this information with your school community. | | | Cybersecurity Awareness Month
October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As we continue to spend much of our time in online spaces, it is imperative for everyone to do their part to make our interconnected world safer and more resilient. Learn more and access resources on how to #BeCyberSmart at the National Cybersecurity Alliance website. | | | | | |
The Stop Abuse for Everyone (SAFE) Alliance is seeking sponsors to provide gifts and basic needs to SAFE clients during the holiday season.
Opportunities include:
Learn more about sponsor and volunteer opportunities at the SAFE Holiday Program website.
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