| Dear Neighbors,
On November 5, our community took a historic step by approving Travis County’s Proposition A, an initiative to provide access to high-quality child care and after-school programs. THANK YOU Austin and Travis County voters!
Together with other community advocates, I’m proud to have crafted this investment in our children, families and economy. For nearly two years, we worked with representatives from the City of Austin, the City of Austin Early Childhood Council, Travis County, and United Way to study the child care industry in Travis County and make recommendations for improving access to high-quality child care, getting parents back in the workforce, and strengthening the child care industry. Under the guidance of a national nonprofit, the Children’s Funding Project, we explored national best practices and strategies for creating a dedicated funding stream to best meet our community’s needs.
We formed a coalition of diverse stakeholders guided by five goals:
1. Increase child care access for families with infants and toddlers as well as families in need of care during early morning and late night hours, such as medical personnel and hospitality workers.
2. Improve affordability and invest in high quality care.
3. Invest in the training and retention of qualified care professionals and home-based providers.
4. Expand child care options so that parents can go back to work and keep their jobs.
5. Strengthen the child care system in Travis County by making strategic investments that will create lasting, sustainable change.
Together we developed strategies that were grounded in data, furthered racial and economic equity, leveraged existing assets, and ensured accountability and transparency.
During the course of our community outreach, Travis County Commissioners and Health & Human Services Department staff asked that the coalition’s proposal expand to cover care for school-aged children and youth. The Andy Roddick Foundation, the YMCA, and other local experts shaped these strategies, building on research that demonstrates after-school and summer programming with academics and enrichment activities increases a child’s success in school, positively contributes to their development, and increases access to healthy foods and meals.
Proposition A will strengthen our economy, diversify our workforce, support our small businesses, contribute to school readiness, increase graduation rates, decrease interactions with the legal system, and position families for success for generations to come. The future indeed looks bright in Travis County!
A large and diverse coalition joined together to pass Proposition A. THANK YOU to all involved! I would like to offer a special shout out to Ashley B. Richardson on my staff, and the rest of our initial core team (Cathy McHorse, Tom Smith, Margo Kinnenberg, Brooke Freeland, Libby Doggett, and David Smith). I also want to thank all the elected officials and staff at Travis County and the City of Austin, the many civic and nonprofit leaders, and especially, the many child care providers who leaned in to advance this ambitious and much-needed initiative.
I would like to conclude by congratulating my colleagues Vanessa Fuentes (D2) and Chito Vela (D4) on their reelection and by offering my best wishes to incoming Council Members Krista Lane (D6) and Marc Duchen, who will serve as your District 10 Council Member starting in January. I look forward to a smooth transition and leaving the district in capable hands. At the time of writing, the mayor’s race has not been decided.
In gratitude,
| | Alison Alter Council Member, District 10
P.S. Austin Resource Recovery has partnered with Texas Disposal Systems and Balcones Resources to recycle campaign signs and stakes. Find locations and requirements here. Campaign signs cannot be recycled through the City’s curbside recycling program. | | Table of Contents
Council Recap
Council Member Alter in the Community 2024 Phyllis Richards Icon for Youth Award Dyslexia Awareness Month Proclamation Harvest Trauma Recovery Center Anniversary Central Texas Women Elected Lunch Austin Fire Department Graduation Pease Park Luminarium Halloween At City Hall
Announcements
City Service Updates
Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park Survey Austin Poet Laureate Applications Open Asian American Resource Center Open Call For Artists and Curators
| | | | I would like to highlight the following items from our October 24th and November 7th Council Meetings.
Police Contract: In October, after many months of negotiations, the Austin City Council voted to ratify a labor agreement with the Austin Police Association. I voted in support of this contract because I believe we need to pay our officers well and create a culture and system of accountability, transparency, and service. In addition to this contract, I believe we also need to invest in violence prevention and enhance the wellbeing of our community across Austin.
My vote also reflected the critical need for the contract’s provisions governing promotions processes, leadership choices, and recruiting. We recently entrusted Lisa Davis with the important role of police chief. For her to succeed, she needs to be able to build her team to align with her vision and values for how officers should comport themselves at work and off duty. Absent this contract, her hands will be tied.
Over the years, I have seen how much our police leadership matters - both for our officers and our community. Cultural change simply will not work without a chief who prioritizes it. Focused leadership is the only way to create the police force that our community has asked for and where our officers will thrive. It is my ardent hope that our new leadership will use the tools and investment we are making to lead us to an Austin where everyone feels safe, our officers’ contributions are valued, and we hold those who commit misconduct to account.
Sexual Assault Response: On November 7, we extended project management services for the Collective Sex Crimes Response Model, known as CSCRM. CSCRM involves a multidisciplinary team including the Austin Police Department, partner agencies, survivors, and subject matter experts. It is striving to improve policy, training, data/metrics, and outreach efforts associated with sex crimes cases reported to APD. I am proud of the impact that CSCRM has made so far and glad to see more resources going to support this work.
Advancing Economic Opportunity: Council authorized new contracts with the LGBTQ, Black, Asian, and Hispanic Chambers, which collectively form the Diversity & Ethnic Chamber Alliance’s (DECA). DECA will develop and implement the new Regional Economic Equity Development (REED) Plan, which is being drafted with input from community stakeholders and will set a new national standard for how communities can work together to expand and strengthen diverse businesses. I am a proud member of the REED advisory board.
Austin Energy Receives EPA Grant: I want to congratulate Austin Energy for receiving an EPA grant that will fund the expansion of our local residential rooftop solar and onsite battery storage programs for those who might not otherwise have affordable access to these programs. I look forward to seeing the financial savings and energy resiliency this expansion will provide our residents.
Mobility Grants: The City accepted significant funds from the EPA’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to support the promotion of alternate transportation options in Austin. The City also received funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets & Roads program to continue our efforts to improve ADA accessibility. | | | | | 2024 Phyllis Richards Icon for Youth Award
I was honored to receive the 2024 Phyllis Richards Icon for Youth Award from the Austin Child Guidance Center for my work advocating for young children, families, and the childcare sector. During my time at City Hall, I am proud to have:
* Spearheaded the Affordable Childcare Now Coalition to create a dedicated funding stream for childcare (Proposition A)
* Secured over $12 million in COVID relief funding to stabilize child care programs during the pandemic
* Led the local effort to exempt child care providers from local property taxes - making Austin the first jurisdiction in Texas to do so and the first to provide similar relief to our family based providers through a city grant process
* Co-sponsored code and fee changes to make it easier for childcare centers to be built as well as to utilize facilities to develop centers and invest city funds too renovate classrooms to serve pre-K students
Congratulations also to my fellow nominees Ricardo Zavala, Founder and President of Dove Springs Proud, and Adrienne Kennedy of NAMI Central Texas. A big shout-out to Brooke Freeland for the nomination and the Affordable Childcare Now crew for joining in the celebration – Brooke Freeland, David Smith, Cathy McHorse, Libby Doggett, and Margo Kinneberg – and my husband Jeremi Suri. | | | Dyslexia Awareness Month Proclamation
This month, I was delighted to present a Dyslexia Awareness Month proclamation to Girl Scouts and Brownies from Rawson Saunders School. Girl Scout Troop 1997 created a patch for themselves for Dyslexia Awareness, and I was honored to be presented with it after the proclamation.
Helping young people become familiar and comfortable interacting with city government is one of the best and most important parts of my job. My office hosted the children and their parents for a tour of City Hall, and tried to answer their questions and make them feel comfortable in the People’s House. | | | Harvest Trauma Recovery Center Anniversary
We recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Harvest Trauma Recovery Center (HTRC), the first and only Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) in Texas. It was a wonderful event that highlighted the outsized impact that the HTRC has made in our community. In its first year, HTRC has provided trauma-informed mental health services to over 600 people, far exceeding the original goal.
The HTRC uses a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to meet the needs of individuals who have survived recent violent crimes, helping them transition from surviving to thriving. The HTRC partners with and co-locates alongside dozens of nonprofits to provide a one-stop shop where clients can access a variety of wraparound services and support, including food and housing assistance, educational programs, and healthcare. | | | Central Texas Women Elected Lunch
I attended a wonderful lunch-and-learn with other women elected in the 5 county metropolitan area. Thank you to Plugerville ISD for hosting! I always draw energy and inspiration from this amazing group of women and their passion for public service. | | | Photos courtesy of the Austin Fire Department | Austin Fire Department Graduation
Congratulations to the Austin Fire Department Cadet Class 138, who graduated at Austin City Hall on November 1. After their hard work in training, it’s always a special moment to see the presentation of badges. Best wishes for a safe and fulfilling career serving our community! | | | Pease Park Luminarium
We didn’t let a little bit of rain stop us from celebrating the important work of the Pease Park Conservancy. Thank you to all the staff and friends that make Pease Park an inviting hub for community and play in our beautiful city. | | | Halloween At City Hall
My District 10 office joined staffers and employees at City Hall in dressing up for Halloween. We hope everyone enjoyed the holiday as much as we did! | | | | | Veterans Day Celebration & Resource Fair
Join the City for a Veterans Day Celebration & Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Austin Central Public Library (710 W. César Chávez St., 78701). This event honors our veterans and connects them with valuable resources, including disability compensation, healthcare, educational services, and more. Lunch will be provided and parking will be validated with registration. | | | Parks Director Candidate Forum
Community members are invited to a Meet & Greet featuring the three finalists for the Austin Parks and Recreation Department Director position on Wednesday, November 13, at 6 p.m. at the Conley Guerrero Senior Center (808 Nile St, 78702). Doors will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. and parking will be free.
The Parks Director is responsible for overseeing department operations, programs, facilities and staff. This event is an opportunity to meet the candidates, submit questions that could be included in a moderated discussion, and provide feedback that will be considered by City Manager T.C. Broadnax as he makes his decision.
American Sign Language and Spanish interpretation services will be available at the event. If you need services in other languages, please request them by calling 3-1-1 or 512-974-2000 by Tuesday, November 12. | | | | | Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park Survey
Walter E. Long Metropolitan Park is Austin’s largest park, spanning over 3,695 acres. A vision plan for the park was completed in 2020 and Phase 1 improvements are moving forward with construction anticipated in Spring 2026. The project is taking community feedback with the Round 1 survey until November 15. Learn more about the project and stay tuned for further community engagement opportunities on the webpage. | | | Austin Poet Laureate Applications Open
The Austin Public Library’s new Austin Poet Laureate program is accepting applications until November 30. The inaugural Austin Poet Laureate will act as the official ambassador of the city’s literary arts, fostering community connections through the art of poetry. For more information about the program, learn more and see the official Austin Poet Laureate guidelines.
This program is near and dear to my heart, as my son Zachary was the 2022 Austin Youth Poet Laureate, and poetry is a big part of my life. Earlier this year, I was delighted to co-sponsor Council Member Vanessa Fuentes’ resolution creating this program. | | | Asian American Resource Center Open Call For Artists and Curators
The AARC’s Community Exhibits Program displays exhibits year-round that celebrate the diverse and dynamic cultural heritage, history, identity, and creativity of Austin’s Asian American Pacific Islanders. Selected artists and curators will be provided with support to showcase their work and research, access to AARC exhibiting spaces, facilities, funded community outreach/professional development opportunities, marketing, and other resources.
Artists, curators, and the public are invited to apply to the program by January 12, 2025. For more information about eligibility, the selection process and how to apply, please visit the AARC’s Exhibits webpage. | | | |
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