| Dear Neighbors,
Over the last several years I have been working to create a strong and robust ecosystem to respond to and prevent gun violence in Austin-Travis County.
As a community, among nonprofits, and across different governmental units, we have challenged ourselves to go beyond simply a public safety lens and adopt a public health approach. A public health approach pushes us to look at violence as a “disease” and to deploy a myriad of tools and strategies to address the root causes of violence. Treating violence this way leads us to ask different questions and structure interventions differently. The focus shifts to prevention, reduction, and healing. We do so in collaboration with law enforcement and our public safety departments.
We know gun violence is not merely mass shootings; it impacts communities everyday whether accidental discharge of a firearm, suicide, deadly domestic violence, or homicide. Each of those types of violence requires tailored and targeted interventions; our work is to make those interventions preventative, not merely reactive.
June marks Gun Violence Awareness Month and I want to share with you some initiatives I’ve championed with the City, County, law enforcement, and our non-profit partners to interrupt and prevent violence in our community.
Office of Violence Prevention In August of 2019 following the mass shooting in El Paso, I commissioned a Gun Violence Task Force to advise the City Council on potential actions we could take to reduce gun violence at the local level. A critical recommendation of the task force was to create an Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), which I then funded and staffed during our fiscal year 2021 deliberations. Several of my colleagues have been key partners joining me in pushing forward OVP’s work – Council Members Vanessa Fuentes and Paige Ellis, then Council Members Greg Casar and Kathie Tovo, and more recently Council Member José Velásquez.
Operating under Austin Public Health, the Office of Violence Prevention provides a range of critical services aimed at increasing safety, enhancing peace, and supporting survivors of violent crime. OVP has conducted studies to map gun violence in our community that we now use to craft prevention strategies and identify Austin area hot spots. Some of the transformational, community-based programs the OVP has implemented in the 3 years since its inception include:
Community Violence Intervention Program (CVIP): ATX Peace has been instrumental in preventing violence and supporting high-risk individuals in communities experiencing high rates of violent crime. The program has provided case management to 225 high-risk participants, including counseling, relational interactions, and housing, employment, and driving license assistance. Through targeted interventions such as street outreach, case management, conflict mediation and community engagement, ATX Peace has prevented or de-escalated 52 potential shootings, and provided support (preventing further violence) after 15 shooting incidents.
Youth Programs: Through community partnerships, the OVP has had a profound impact on the lives of young Austinites at risk of violence. The Council on At-Risk Youth’s PeaceRox Program has served more than 3500 students, with more than 75% of these students demonstrating improved outcomes. Additionally, the Austin YWCA’s Gen YW program has served over 205 students in the last two years, with more than 80% showing improved life skills. Austin’s Mexic-Arte Museum also has partnered with the OVP to host community mural projects, events, and art workshops for young Austinites.
Safe Gun Storage Campaign: OVP partners with Lock Arms for Life to promote safe gun storage through education and gun lock distribution. Approximately 4,000 gun locks and 200 gun storage boxes have been distributed in our community, ensuring that firearms are stored securely and reducing the risk of accidental shootings. You can request a free gun lock at LockArmsForLife.org.
Mental Health Campaign: The “Address Your Stress” campaign has provided crucial education, resources, and support for individuals dealing with stress, particularly those most impacted by violence.
Givens Park Community Initiative: In response to a community call to action, the OVP partnered with the Austin Police Department, Austin Parks and Recreation, and Givens Park community leaders to improve safety and increase community cohesion at Givens Park.
Along with these programs which interrupt cycles of violence, I have worked to provide resources for survivors of gun violence and trauma in our community, and to implement policies that keep firearms out of the hands of bad actors. Trauma Recovery Center Last fall, in partnership with the OVP and with support from Travis County, the African American Youth Harvest Foundation, opened Austin’s Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) — the first in Texas! The Harvest TRC has become a cornerstone of support for survivors of violent crime, serving over 436 clients since it opened in November. The TRC provides housing and legal assistance, mental health and medical care, and food resources to survivors who are rebuilding their lives. Our Trauma Recovery Center follows a national model for mental health support that is evidence based and is strategically located together with other local service providers that can collaborate with our TRC to move clients from surviving to thriving. | | Photo: Office of Council Member Vanessa Fuentes | | Strengthening Firearm Surrender Protocols I also have worked systematically with other government offices to develop policies to remove guns from perpetrators of domestic violence. The Office of Violence Prevention is one of 12 sites that received the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) Firearm Transfer Assistance Project (FTAP) grant to develop and implement a firearm surrender protocol. The FTAP working group is comprised of stakeholders in the criminal/legal system, law enforcement, survivors of violence, social service agencies, and advocates who are currently creating an effective firearm surrender protocol for Austin-Travis County. Further Victim Supports During multiple budget cycles, I have led on initiatives to support victims and streamline our ability to monitor violent crimes and hate activity in Austin, including funding for APD’s Victim Services division and the creation of the anti-hate initiative, We All Belong. Partners at All Levels An effective gun violence response and prevention ecosystem requires actions at many levels. Travis County under the leadership of Judge Andy Brown, Commissioner Brigid Shea, and District Attorney José Garza are taking important measures – through the establishment of the mental health diversion center pilot, hospital-based interventions, contributions to the TRC and the firearm surrender protocol to highlight a few. Our federal partners – Congressmen Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar have regularly seen the need and helped us secure federal funding and other technical support for OVP’s work. Our state delegation tirelessly works for change at the Capitol. When we embarked on this violence prevention work, we realized that we needed trusted and effective partners in the community to join us. We needed to support their organizational capacity so they could lead and be the trusted community members that this effort requires. If you would like to contribute to building a strong ecosystem, all of these organizations would benefit from your time, talent, or treasure. Here is an initial list to get you started:
| | | Photo: Office of District Attorney José Garza | | Gun Violence Summit In 2022, I helped organize the first Austin-Travis County Gun Violence Summit. I’m proud that this event has grown and is now led by the organizations working to break cycles of violence in our community. This year at the 3rd annual summit, I read a City proclamation declaring June 7 as Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 7-9 as Wear Orange Weekend, and June of 2024 as Gun Violence Awareness Month in Austin. In conclusion, I am proud of the innovative violence-prevention ecosystem we are creating here in Austin. As we build this movement, I am more convinced than ever that gun violence is a problem we can solve. I wish you and your family a wonderful start to the summer. Congratulations to all the new graduates among us. In the remainder of this letter, you will find information on an upcoming town hall, an opportunity to provide feedback on the search for Austin’s next police chief, and more. Regards,
| | Alison Alter Council Member, District 10 | | | | P.S. My team and I will be wearing orange this weekend to support gun violence awareness. I encourage you to do the same. City Hall will be lit up in orange lights this weekend to raise awareness. Learn more about Wear Orange Weekend at WearOrange.org. | |
Save the Date: District 10 Budget Town Hall
Council Recap
Council Member Alter in the Community Big Win for Child Care Indian American Heritage Day Happy Birthday, Austin Airport! Celebrating ACL Funds for our Parks Speaking at NWACA Annual Meeting Buddha’s Birthday
Announcements
City Services Updates The Free Zilker Shuttle is Back! Old Quarry Library Closing for Renovations Open District 10 Pools and Splash Pads Austin Water Quality and Environmental Reports
Service and Public Input Opportunities Austin Water Virtual Open House Share Your Feedback: Austin’s Next Police Chief Budget Survey Austin Animal Center Survey
| | | Save the Date: District 10 Budget Town Hall Join me for a District 10 town hall on Monday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church (8134 Mesa Drive). I’ll discuss my priorities for the FY25 City budget deliberations, and we’ll hear from City staff about the budget adoption process and ways you can get involved. I hope to see you there! | | | | Our May 16th Council Meeting was fully devoted to land use items (see my last newsletter) and so our May 30 agenda was packed with 184 items. The agenda included several important investments in services and housing for those experiencing homelessness, parkland renovations and purchases, support for a Family Violence Shelter, purchase of water quality lands and the following other items of note:
Increased Senior and Disabled Homestead Exemption: I co-sponsored an item to increase the senior and disabled homestead exemption by $30,000 to $154,000. This amount was designed to hold the annual property tax bill for the median senior/disabled homeowner flat and will help people age in place. Council also amended the ordinance to enable City staff to automatically post this item annually for our consideration and approval.
Quality of Life Survey for Young Families: Council initiated a quality-of-life survey for Austin's families with young children. This has been a longtime priority of our Early Childhood Council and I believe that the results will be illuminating for us as policymakers. We know with certainty that additional, transformational investment is needed to solve our child care crisis for families with young children. A few weeks ago, Travis County took a pivotal step and they are poised to place an item on the November ballot to do just that. I anticipate that this study will affirm the need for this investment, and I look forward to the other insights and recommendations that emerge so we can best serve our local families and caregivers.
Investments in our Wastewater Infrastructure: Council approved contracts to significantly enhance and expand the Walnut Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. These are important investments we must make now to support more sustainable operations and our growing population. Learn more here.
Expansion of TreeFolks’ Offices: Council authorized TreeFolks to expand their headquarters at Hornsby Bend. This is a great example of the City using our land to help advance our mission towards environmental sustainability. TreeFolks does incredible work to maintain our City’s tree canopy, especially in their reforestation efforts and tree distribution events for low-income households.
Expansion of Metrobike Program: The Transportation & Public Works Department received a grant from the Federal Transportation Alternative Set Aside (TASA) Fund which will be used to expand CapMetro’s MetroBike program. The program has ballooned in popularity since adding its e-bikes in 2020, and the grant, along with a local funding match, will be used to fully electrify the fleet and increase the bikeshare network to 240 stations throughout the city.
Mental Health Diversion Pilot: Council authorized a partnership with Travis County, Integral Care, and Central Health to pilot a Mental Health Diversion program. The program will expand options for those within our legal system who are navigating mental health diagnoses, providing alternatives to incarceration or hospitalization.
Support for At-Risk Youth: Council also authorized a partnership with Life Anew Restorative Justice to provide academic and personal development support to at-risk youth, with a goal of reducing harm and violence. | | | | | Big Win for Child Care For over a year and a half, representatives of the City (including myself), Travis County, the Austin Early Childhood Council, and United Way have been working with the Children’s Funding Project to advance early childhood and youth services in Austin. Recently, the Travis County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to grant our community the opportunity to invest in our children and the providers who serve them. Learn more and join our coalition by visiting affordablechildcarenow.com. | | | Indian American Heritage Day As a proud member of an Indian American family, I was honored to declare May 18 as Indian American Heritage Day and to join my colleagues in thanking the Indian American Coalition of Central Texas for enriching our democracy here in Austin. | | | Photo: Office of Council Member Vanessa Fuentes
Happy Birthday, Austin Airport! We celebrated 25 years of the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport! Special thanks to my appointee and Airport Advisory Commission Chair, Wendy Price Todd. | | | Celebrating ACL Funds for our Parks Last month, we celebrated additional funding secured for our beloved parks through a partnership with Austin Parks Foundation, Austin Parks and Recreation Department, C3 Concerts, and Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL). 2023 ACL revenue generated $8.1 million for renovations, planning, and improvements at our ATX parks! These funds supported the recent project to repair the lighting and make various upgrades at District 10’s Deep Eddy pool. | | | Speaking at NWACA Annual Meeting I always enjoy speaking with constituents at the annual Northwest Austin Civic Association meeting! Thank you to those who attended and organized this event. | | | Buddha’s Birthday It was an honor to help kickoff Buddha’s Light International Association's annual Buddha's Birthday Celebration. I was happy to join our neighbors in celebration of the strength of Austin's Buddhist community, especially during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! | | | | | Party at the People’s House Event and We All Belong Video I’m proud to have created We All Belong, a City program that improves our ability to monitor hate crimes and incidents, and celebrates diversity in Austin. Learn more in this newly-released public service announcement!
The City is also hosting the second annual Party at the People’s House event, in partnership with We All Belong and Almost Real Things. Stop by City Hall on Saturday, June 22, from 6 - 10 p.m. for a free celebration showcasing local food vendors, musicians, art, family activities, City departments, community organizations and more. Learn more and RSVP here. | | | | | | | | | | | The Free Zilker Shuttle is Back! The Zilker Shuttle runs from 12:00 - 8:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through September 2, and during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. Free parking is available at the One Texas Center garage (505 Barton Springs Road). One Texas Center parking passes must be validated by the shuttle driver. For more information, visit AustinTexas.gov/Zilker. | | | Old Quarry Library Closing for Renovations The Old Quarry Library will close on June 17 for renovations. The library is currently projected to reopen in the first quarter of 2025. | | | Open District 10 Pools and Splash Pads I am pleased to report that pools and splash pads in and near District 10 are open or opening on schedule, including the Murchison, Ramsey, Reed, Westenfield, Canyon Vista, Shipe, and West Austin pools, as well as the Bailey Square and Pease Park Conservancy Splash Pads. Deep Eddy Pool is open year-round. Find pool locations/hours here. | | | Austin Water Quality and Environmental Reports Austin Water provides a water quality report to its customers every year, describing the quality of water from raw collection to tap. Read the 2023 report here.
Additionally, Austin’s Watershed Protection Department has released this year’s State of Our Environment Report. The online report provides a snapshot of Austin's air quality, water, trees, public open space, wildlands, and climate change issues. Read the report here.
| | | | | Austin Water Virtual Open House To supplement their recent in-person open house, Austin Water is hosting a virtual event to share information about our water system, planned investments, and potential rate changes. Tune in on Thursday, June 13 from 6 - 7 pm — register here. Find more information on Austin Water rates here. | | | Share Your Feedback: Austin’s Next Police Chief Share your input as the City conducts a search for Austin’s next Chief of Police. This survey, available in English and Spanish, is anonymous, and will remain open until June 10. | | |
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