[00:00:01]
YOU CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER IT'S JULY 22ND, 2021.
[Call to Order]
UH, WE ARE, UH, IN, UH, CITY HALL, BUT WE STILL HAVE THE ALLOWANCE FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE, UH, REMOTELY UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S RULES.AND WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE PARTICIPATING REMOTELY.
WE HAVE A MAYOR PRO TEM, UH, UH, BEHIND US AND PARTICIPATING YOUR VIEWABLE AIR PRO 10 BEHIND ME ALSO ON THE SCREENS THAT ARE IN THE, UH, IN THE, UH, IN THE CHAMBER.
UH, DEBORAH THOMAS, UH, CITY ATTORNEY IS ALSO WITH US.
I REMOTELY WANT TO IDENTIFY YOU, UH, COLLEAGUES.
UM, WE'RE GOING TO STAY IN THIS ORDER.
WE HAVE PROBABLY THE FIRST MEETING IN AUGUST.
WE'LL DRAW LOTS TO CHANGE, UH, SEATING, UH, UH, ARRANGEMENTS AS WE DO THAT EVERY SIX MONTHS.
DOES SHE HAVE TO LET UP SO THAT YOU GET TO MEET NEW PEOPLE? OR THIS IS THE NEW SHUFFLE, THIS IS THE NEW SHUFFLE TO BE FAIR.
WE, WE SAT THIS WAY FOR ONE OR TWO MEETINGS LAST YEAR, AND THEN WE ALL WENT ON PANDEMIC.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE BOTH CALLED US THE NEW SHUFFLE.
WE DON'T NEED TO RESHUFFLE THEM.
UH, WE HAVE A QUORUM PRESENT FOR OUR MEETING TODAY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF A FEW ITEMS OF BUSINESS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO ALSO HEAR SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS MANAGER.
DID YOU WANT TO START US OFF? YEAH.
AND AS YOU KNOW THAT WE PRESENTED THE PROPOSED BUDGET ON JULY 9TH AND TODAY WE ARE HERE TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC ON THAT BUDGET PROPOSAL.
UH, BUT TO START US OFF, I'D LIKE TO ASK OUR INTERIM BUDGET OFFICER CARRIE, UH, TO TALK THROUGH THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS BUDGET, UH, AND GIVE US JUST A BROAD OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S INCLUDED.
I LIKE TO ALSO RECOGNIZE AND THANK ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE TODAY TO PROVIDE YOUR INPUT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 22 PROPOSED BUDGET.
PRIOR TO THE SPEAKER COMMENTS, I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
IT'S A BUDGET THAT I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF, TO HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK ON ALONG WITH THE AMAZING STAFF IN THE BUDGET OFFICE AND ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY.
IN ADDITION TO THE STAFF WORK LED BY OUR CITY MANAGER AND THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
THERE HAS BEEN ENORMOUS INPUT FROM NUMEROUS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING MAYOR AND COUNCIL, BOARD, AND COMMISSIONS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
ALTHOUGH WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A DIFFICULT 14 PLUS MONTHS AS A COMMUNITY AND HAVE WORKED THROUGH CHALLENGES RELATED TO THE ONGOING PANDEMIC AND ARE PRESENTED WEATHER EVENTS, THE CITY HAS PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT INCLUDES CONTINUED INVESTMENTS IN THE AREAS THAT ARE MOST PRESSING TO OUR COMMUNITY ALL WHILE WORKING WITHIN A 3.5% PROPERTY TAX REVENUE CAP, I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY HIGHLIGHT THE ONGOING INVESTMENTS TO OUR COMMITMENT, TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH $65.2 MILLION IN FUNDING ACROSS 13 DEPARTMENTS THAT WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO FOCUS ON REDUCING INFLOW OR PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS, ADDRESSING CRISIS RESPONSE, THREE EMERGENCY AND TEMPORARY SHELTERS ESTABLISHING HOUSING STABILIZATION, INCLUDING $30.1 MILLION TO PROVIDE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR PSH AND HOTEL CONVERSION, STRATEGY REPAIRS, AND FINALLY PUBLIC PUBLIC SPACE MANAGEMENT FOR HOMELESS ENCAMPMENT CLEANUP.
OUR PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO ADDRESSES AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH INCLUDES FULL FUNDING FOR THE HOUSING TRUST FUND AT $9.6 MILLION AS WELL AS $79 MILLION IN VOTER APPROVED PLAN CAPITAL SPENDING TO SUPPORT THE STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT THROUGH ONE TIME FUNDING.
THIS BUDGET ALLOWS FOR INVESTMENTS IN THE AUSTIN ANIMAL CENTER TO ALLOW FOR CRITICAL REPAIRS TO THE PLAY YARD AND THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL KENNELS TO INCREASE POST-SURGERY CAPACITY.
IN ADDITION, THIS BUDGET INCLUDES CAPITAL FUNDING OF $2.8 MILLION OF PLANNED SPENDING FOR THE RENOVATION AND EXPANSION OF THE CITY'S CULTURAL CENTERS, INCLUDING THE ASIAN AMERICAN RESOURCE CENTER, CARVER MUSEUM AND THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER, AS WELL AS 1.2 MILLION IN PLANNED CAPITAL SPENDING FOR THE DESIGN WORK FOR THE NEW DOHERTY ART CENTER.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND, PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUES TO BE, TO RECEIVE THE LARGEST SHARE OF OUR FUND AND OUR PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE INCLUDE FUNDING FOR THE OPENING OF THE LOOP 360 FIRE EMS STATION, WHICH INCLUDES 16 FIRE POSITIONS AND 12 EMS POSITIONS.
WE ALSO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH THE NEW STATE LEGISLATION HOUSE BILL 1900 BY CREATING A POLICE BUDGET THAT ADDRESSES THE CONCERNS OF THIS NEW FUNDING LAW DEFUNDING
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LAW, EVEN WHILE COMPLYING TO THE STATE LAW, THIS COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER AND THE, AND THE STAFF REAFFIRM OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY WITH A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $29.1 MILLION IN THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH INCLUDES 27.2 OF ONGOING FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION, THE OFFICE OF PUB OF POLICE OVERSIGHT AND THE EQUITY OFFICE, AS WELL AS 1.9 MILLION IN THE NEW ONES IN NEW ONE-TIME FUNDING TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVERAL RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING TRAINING FOR VICTIM SERVICE COUNSELORS, EXPANSION OF THE CURRENT COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM, AND THEY TOUCH ANY TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION TO BETTER INFORM VIOLENCE PREVENTION POLICIES.FINALLY, AS WE LOOK AT THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND THE IMPACT TO THE COMMUNITY, THE TYPICAL TAX AND RATE PAYER, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP A BUDGET THAT HAS AN OVERALL INCREASE OF JUST 0.8, 5% TO THE TYPICAL TAX AND RATE PAYER THROUGH COUNCIL ACTION.
THE HOMESTEAD DETENTION HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 20% AND OVER 60 FIVES AND THE OVER 65 SENIOR EXEMPTION HAS INCREASED $25,000.
THESE POSITIVE COMMUNITY CHANGES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED AND THE CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET STILL ACHIEVES THE 14% RESERVE POLICY, WHICH FURTHER STRENGTHENS THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF OUR CITY.
AGAIN, I AM PROUD TO HAVE WORKED WITH THE COUNCIL, THE CITY MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE TEAM, ALL OF THE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO DEVELOP THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE ARE ABLE TO PRESENT A BALANCED BUDGET AT THE 3.5% REVENUE CAP AND ADDRESS SOME OF THE MORE PRESSING NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE PRIOR TO OPENING FOR CITIZEN COMMENTS.
AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE YOUR LEADERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
MAYOR, THANK YOU VERY MUCH COLLEAGUES.
[Consent Agenda]
TO OUR AGENDA HERE.THERE ARE THREE ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THAT WE BEGAN WITH, UM, TO, UH, TO, TO SET, UH, THREE PUBLIC HEARINGS ALL ON JULY 29TH.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEMS? ONE, TWO AND THREE, IN ESSENCE, IN THE CONSENT FORMAT, THAT'S A MEMBER.
KELLY MAKES A MOTION AUTHOR SECONDS THAT MOTION THOSE IN FAVOR OF SENDING THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS.
PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND ANATOMIST.
IF THOSE OF US ON THE DIOCESE OF THE MAYOR PRO TEM ALSO VOTING, YES, IT GETS US COLLEAGUES
[4. Conduct a community input session to receive public comment on the City of Austin Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Proposed Budget.]
TO THE MAIN WORK OF TODAY'S, UH, UM, UH, BUSINESS.GREAT, UH, SEE PEOPLE IN THIS CHAMBER AGAIN, UH, WE HAVE ABOUT 70 SPEAKERS THAT HAD SIGNED UP SOME REMOTELY AND SOME HERE IN PERSON.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
OUR RULES SAY THAT WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRST 20 SPEAKERS SPEAK FOR THREE MINUTES.
EVERYBODY ELSE SPEAKS FOR ONE MINUTE, UH, BECAUSE THIS WAS SET JUST FOR THIS KIND OF TESTIMONY.
AND BECAUSE WE'VE SAID IT SPECIALLY, UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, UH, I HAVE EXTENDED THE TIME FOR SPEAKERS TO SPEAK TO TWO MINUTES.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT FIRST GROUP, UH, IT WOULD INCREASE OUR MEETING TIME FOR ABOUT AN ABOUT AN HOUR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS REMOTELY AND THE FIRST 10 SPEAKERS, UH, HERE, WE'LL GET 10.
I GET THE THREE MINUTES, EVERYONE ELSE GETTING TWO MINUTES.
WE'RE GONNA BEGIN WITH THE REMOTE SPEAKERS AND THE CLERK IS GOING TO CALL THE, UH, UH, CLERK'S GOING TO CALL THE SPEAKERS.
YES, COUNCILOR AUTOBAHN MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO LET, UM, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC KNOW THAT I WILL NEED TO BE OFF THE DIASPORA BRIEFLY.
UM, BUT LISTENING VIA THE AUDIO.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DUCK OUT TO GET A PHONE CALL HERE IN A SECOND.
IF I'M NOT HERE AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THERE WERE MULTIPLE, YOU TAKE THE CHAIR.
IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CLERK WILL BE CALLING THE NAMES.
ALL RIGHT, CLERK, IF YOU WILL TAKE US THROUGH THE SPEAKERS THAT ARE CALLING IN.
THE FIRST SPEAKER IS MOLLY MALONE.
CAN YOU GUYS HEAR ME? YES, PLEASE.
THIS IS MOLLY MALONE CALLING FROM DISTRICT ONE, AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION'S BUDGET PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDE CIVILIAN CRIME SCENE TECHNICIANS AND NON-SWORN STAFF THAT REVIEW WITNESS AND SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
AND ALSO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ELIMINATE WELFARE CHECKS AND CIVILIANIZED THIS BY INVESTING IN COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND THE EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS INSTEAD OF WELFARE CHECKS.
SO JUST AS THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE CONTINUING ON THE PATH THAT WAS STARTED
[00:10:01]
A WHILE AGO TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT FUNDING FOR DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS IN DIFFERENT THINGS, IN SUPPORT OF, UM, RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.UM, I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
UM, I'M HERE READING TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
UM, FROM PAOLO RURAL CLASS, UH, PELLA SAYS I AM A MOTHER AND A MIDWIFE AND A VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER WITH CCU AS A REPRESENTATIVE OF CCU.
I SERVED ON THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE WORKING GROUPS AND COMMUNITY SESSIONS.
AS A TASKFORCE, WE HELD MANY INTIMATE AND ONE BIG PUBLIC CITY-WIDE LISTENING SESSION, WHERE WE HEARD THE POWERFUL TESTIMONY THAT A PERSON'S HARMED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT VIOLENCE.
WE PUT IN THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS ALONG THE WAY I WAS VOTED AS CO-CHAIR OF THE TASK FORCE.
I NOW FEEL PERSONALLY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE TIME LABOR HOPE AND PAIN THAT SO MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS POURED INTO THAT PROCESS.
THE POWERFUL VISION OF THE RPS RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDES LOGICAL PRACTICAL DIVESTMENTS FROM OUR CURRENT POLICE DEPARTMENT MOVE TO INNOVATIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF UNDER-RESOURCED AND OVER POLICED NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK AND BROWN NATIONALLY OFTEN HAS BEEN FRAMED AS A CITY THAT HAS MADE THE DEEPEST DEFUNDING OF POLICING.
SO OUR CITY GOVERNMENT HAS YET TO PUT THIS VISION INTO ACTION.
WE RECEIVED MANY BY ORGANIZATIONS AND MEDIA ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO SHARE THE SUPPOSE AND SUCCESSES OF OUR RE-IMAGINING PROCESS.
TODAY, WE NEED OUR AUSTIN GOVERNMENT TO DISPLAY THE VISION AND COURAGE NECESSARY FOR DEEP TRANSFORMATION IN THIS HISTORIC MOMENT.
UM, SO I'M GOING TO PAUSE HERE.
THAT WAS PART OF POLIS TESTIMONY.
I BELIEVE ONE OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS GOING TO GO ON.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I TOO WAS PART OF THE TASK FORCE AS ON ONE OF THE WORKING GROUPS AND I JUST I'M DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING AT THE TEXAS PLEDGE IN TERMS OF THE OBSTACLES PUT FORWARD, BUT I STILL BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT THAT THE CITY CAN DO TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VISION FOR RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INVEST SIGNIFICANT FUNDS, NOT JUST TOKEN AMOUNTS IN THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRAY HERE.
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING FROM THAT WE WANT TO PRIORITIZE TODAY.
SO THANK YOU, MICHELLE EDWARDS, JUST ONE MOMENT, MAYOR.
AND BY THE WAY, WELL, WE'RE CALLING UP THAT SPEAKER MAYOR PRO TEM.
CAN YOU SEE THE ROOM TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER IF I CAN'T? OKAY, THANK YOU.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU DIDN'T EXCLUDE ME.
I CAN SEE THE BEAUTIFUL DEBORAH TEMPS.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MRS. MICHELLE EDWARDS.
UM, MY NAME IS MICHELLE EDWARDS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M A MEMBER OF I'M DOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN, UM, AS WELL AS DISTRICT FIVE FOR BLACK LIVES.
AND I'M CONTINUING THE TESTIMONY FROM PALO ALTO HOSPITAL CCU.
UM, I KNOW THAT YOU FEEL PUSHED UP AGAINST THE WALL WITH HB 1900 AND THAT YOU WERE IN A DIFFICULT POSITION AS A MOTHER AND A MIDWIFE.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR ME TO NOT JUST SEE YOUR COLLECTIVE DECISIONS AND ACTIONS AS THE PERPETUATION OF A RACIST CAPITALIST SYSTEM.
WITH HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF MOMENTUM.
I ALSO PUSH MYSELF TO THINK ABOUT EACH OF YOU YOUR OWN LIVES FAMILIES LOOKING AT AND BELIEVING IN YOUR FULL HUMANITY.
AND I EXPECT YOU TO TRULY LISTEN AND REFLECT TODAY.
[00:15:01]
CRUMBS A TOTAL OF LESS THAN $2 MILLION TO THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY RECOMMENDATION, WHILE YOU ARE INCREASING FUNDS TO APD BY $8.5 MILLION MORE THAN HB 1900 REQUIRES, PLEASE REALIZE THAT THIS WILL ONLY CONFIRM THAT THE RPS TASK FORCE LIKE MANY CITY TASK FORCES IN THE PAST WAS A FARCE.AND YOU'LL BE CONFIRMING THAT TO ALL OF US WHO PARTICIPATED.
THIS IS AGAIN, THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A SERIES FROM FALLOUT OFFICE, AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT TWO AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
AND I'M CONTINUING THE TESTIMONY FROM PAULA ROJAS WITH COMMUNITIES UNITED AND PAULO GOES ON TO SAY DURING THE RPS TASK FORCE PROCESS, WHEN THE CITY COUNCIL MOVED FORWARD WITH THE POLICE CADET CLASSES WITH DISREGARD FOR THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, FORMAL DECISION, MANY COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES ON THE TASK FORCE WANTED TO STEP DOWN DUE TO THE CITY MANAGERS, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY.
I MET WITH YOU CITY MANAGER AND THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER AND ENCOURAGED MY FELLOW TASK FORCE MEMBERS TO STAY INVOLVED IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROCESS.
I CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE PROCESS AND SAW IT THROUGH DESPITE THE TREMENDOUS TIME IMPACT OF BEING A VOLUNTEER CO-ORGANIZER AND THE WORK AND THEY WORKING SINGLE PARENTS, PLEASE DO NOT DISRESPECT THE PERSONAL SACRIFICES TAKEN ON BY ME, MY TWO INCREDIBLY PATIENT KIDS AND SO MANY OTHER COMMITTED FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW YOUR INTEGRITY IS TRULY AT STAKE BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY DO NOT MAKE HB 1900, THE EXCUSE FOR NOT TRULY ADVANCING THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PROCESS IN OUR CITY.
AND JUST PLEASE DON'T CONTINUE WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL.
YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO MOVE THOSE $8.5 MILLION OUT OF APD AND TOWARDS THE RPS RECOMMENDATIONS, AND YOU CAN FIND THE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES NEEDED, HAVE THE COURAGE.
I WILL CONTINUE TO EXPECT MORE FROM YOU.
SO THAT'S FROM PAULA AND THAT CONCLUDES PAULA'S TESTIMONY TODAY.
AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO TAKE TIME TO PERSONALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE REALLY CONSIDER WHAT SHE'S SAYING.
PLEASE MOVE THAT MONEY OUT OF APD AND INTO THE RPS RECOMMENDATIONS.
UH, I'M TALKING TO BANKY FROM DISTRICT FIVE, CALLING IN SUPPORTIVE AUSTIN JUSTICE, JUSTICE COALITION, BUDGET PRIORITIES.
UM, INSTEAD OF THROWING MORE COPS AT PARSON'S PROBLEMS, I URGE THE COUNCIL WOULD INVEST FUNDS INTO OTHER INITIATIVES.
THAT WOULD BE MORE TO IMPROVE SAFETY, SUCH AS SETTING UP AN INDEPENDENT 9 1, 1 DISPATCH AND FORENSIC LAB, EXPANDING TRAUMA RECOVERY SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, UH, FUNDING, COMMUNITY RAPID RESPONSE, AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TEAMS, UH, ADDING PARK RANGERS, UH, USING EMS STAFF ON LAKE PATROL INSTEAD OF ADD, UM, SHIFTING CERTAIN APD TASKS TO NON-SWORN STAFF.
UM, THESE PROGRAMS WOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS, UH, MINIMIZE, UH, MINIMIZING THE HARM DONE TO MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
IT WOULD ALSO LOVE THE POLICE TO FOCUS ON ADDRESSING VIOLENT CRIME, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL JOBS THAT WE WANT THEM TO DO.
AND WE WOULD RATHER THEM DO THAT AS OPPOSED TO BEING INUNDATED WITH OTHER TASKS THAT DON'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE ARMED OFFICERS.
I'M JEN MARGULIES AND DISTRICT ONE.
I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY AS A MOM, A COMMUNITY MEMBER AND SOMEONE WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
I HAD THE HONOR OF PARTICIPATING IN TWO DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS ON THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, THE RE-IMAGINING 9 1 1 WORK GROUP AND THE WORK GROUP ON SERVICES FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
I HAVE TO SAY I'M PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED WITH HOW THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MANIFESTED IN THE CITY.
MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET, AND I'M URGING YOU IN THE STRONGEST TERMS TO RESCUE THIS BUDGET FROM THE BRINK OF A COLOSSAL MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE OFTEN TEACH IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION WORK IS THAT VIOLENCE ARISES FROM SYSTEMS AND THAT UNTIL WE PUT TIME, ENERGY AND RESOURCES INTO CHANGING THOSE SYSTEMS, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE PLAGUED
[00:20:01]
BY VIOLENCE.RESEARCH TELLS US THIS RACISM IS SYSTEMIC POLICE VIOLENCE IS SYSTEMIC.
THE ABANDONMENT OF SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR OWN COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN IS SYSTEMIC.
AND WE MUST BUILD NEW SYSTEMS THAT WILL NURTURE AND SUPPORT THE WELLBEING OF EVERY CHILD AND ADULT IN AUSTIN.
NOT JUST THOSE WITH MONEY AND PRIVILEGE, WE MUST DO MORE THAN JUST REITERATE REFORM OR REDECORATE THE SYSTEMS THAT HAVE CAUSED HARM GENERATION AFTER GENERATION.
THIS PROPOSED BUDGET HAS THE LARGEST ALLOCATION TO APD WE'VE EVER SEEN LARGER EVEN THAN WHAT WAS REQUIRED BY HB 1900.
AND THIS BUDGET EITHER ABANDONED OR SHORT CHANGES, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE RPS TASK FORCE.
WE NEED TO COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS OUTSIDE OF POLICING AS IF THEY CAN TRULY MAKE A DIFFERENCE, BECAUSE THEY CAN PLEASE LISTEN TO THE COALITION OF RPS TASK FORCE MEMBERS WHO HAVE WRITTEN TO YOU AND THE PEOPLE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THOSE MOST EFFECTED BY THESE ISSUES.
MY NAME IS BETHANY CARSON, UH, CALLING FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
AND I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.
I'M HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE DEEPLY TROUBLED THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATES A RECORD HIGH OF $442.8 MILLION FOR THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, NEARLY $8.5 MILLION MORE TO APD THAN REQUIRED BY HB 1900.
UNDER THIS NEW STATE LAW, THE CITY WOULD ALSO BE LOCKED INTO THIS INCREASE IN POLICING FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE URGE YOU TO REALLOCATE THIS $8.5 MILLION TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVE PROPOSED BY THE RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND TO FIND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN THE PALTRY 1.9 MILLION CURRENTLY ALLOCATED TO THESE PROPOSALS AND THE NEARLY 30 MILLION NEEDED INVESTMENTS FOR THIS FIRST FISCAL YEAR.
SOME OF THESE PRIORITIES INCLUDE $11 MILLION FOR 10 NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS, 12 MILLION FOR A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM, LIKE 5 MILLION OR 5 MILLION FOR A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.
2 MILLION SHIFTED AWAY FROM THE HARMFUL SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING BY THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER AND REINVESTED TOWARDS UNIVERSAL IMMIGRANT REPRESENTATION THROUGH THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE AND A MANDATORY EQUITY OFFICE REVIEW PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF CITY PROCUREMENT GRANTS AND CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS PERTAINING TO THE RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY PROPOSALS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO EXPAND A LITTLE BIT ON THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE A DEEP DIVE IN AS OF LATE, UH, IN A NEW REPORT THAT WE'VE RELEASED.
AND THIS NETWORK OF SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING IS ACTIVELY HARMFUL TO ALL OF US THROUGH THE EROSION OF OUR RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND PARTICULARLY HARMED SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE AUSTINITES.
UM, ERIC CONDUCTS INVASIVE SURVEILLANCE ON A WIDE ARRAY OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS THROUGH A WEB OF HIGH-TECH SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING CONTRACTS, AS WELL AS IN-PERSON MONITORING.
UM, MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS TRAINING CONFIDENTIAL INFORMANTS.
THESE ARE PRIVATE CITIZENS WHO ARE TRAINED TO SUPPORT, UH, REPORT SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY.
UM, THE BLUE LEAKS HACK OF ERIK SYSTEM REVEALED THAT A RICK SURVEILLING BLACK LIVES MATTER DEMONSTRATIONS CELEBRATION, UH, EVEN VIRTUAL, UH, CULTURAL FESTIVALS.
AND THIS INFORMATION IS SHARED WITH A NETWORK OF MORE THAN 20 LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
IN ADDITION TO, UH, FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS ICE AND DHS.
SO, UM, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY HARMFUL BECAUSE IT USES CITY RESOURCES TO SHARE PERSONAL INFORMATION OF VULNERABLE AUSTIN RESIDENTS, INCLUDING STUDENTS AND IMMIGRANTS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES, PLACING THEM AT GREATER RISK OF ARREST DETENTION AND DEPORTATION.
ABRAHAM HAS ALSO REFUSED TO ABIDE BY EVEN THE WEAK OVERSIGHT MECHANISMS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES.
HI, MY NAME IS CATCHY FOR, I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE AND I DON'T REMEMBER OF UNDOING LIFE DEPENDENCY OFTEN AND READING TESTIMONY ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE FROM DOCTORS MAY HELP PATEL WHO SAYS, HELLO, CITY COUNCIL.
[00:25:01]
AND I MUST SAY, WITHIN THE SAFETY NET HEALTH SYSTEM IN AUSTIN HERE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL.AND FOR THE PAST 15 MONTHS, THIS IS PRIMARILY INVOLVED CARING FOR THOSE HOSPITALIZED WITH SEVERE COVID-19 ILLNESS.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS, BUT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF AN ONGOING AND WORSENING PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.
OUR PATIENTS IN OUR COMMUNITIES HAVE AND CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THE POPULATION HEALTH OF LOW-INCOME AND MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR HAS DETERIORATED OVER THIS PAST YEAR.
AT THIS TIME, IT IS A CRITICAL PRIORITY TO INVEST IN OUR PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE, NOT FOR THEIR POLICING SPECIFICALLY, WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE HIRING OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER NETWORK AND TRAINING HUB, COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, OUR FRONTLINE PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS WHO ARE FROM AND HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE BECAUSE OF THIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP.
THEY BUILD TRUST AND SERVE AS EFFECTIVELY AIDAN BETWEEN HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FACILITATE ACCESS TO SERVICES AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF SERVICE DELIVERY.
AT THIS TIME, OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS IN AUSTIN HAVE BEEN CRITICAL TO THE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 FOR COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED, THEIR VACCINATION EFFORTS AND EFFORTS TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES TO HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES AND CARE HAS BEEN CRITICAL TO OUR COVID RESPONSE.
BUT OUR CURRENT RESOURCES ARE INSUFFICIENT AND SHORTLIST.
WE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THIS THROUGH INCREASED CITY FUNDING AT MINIMUM FOR THIS YEAR, THAT INCLUDES AT LEAST $4 MILLION TO HIRE AND TRAIN 50 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS AND $1 MILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A TRAINING AND NETWORKING OF SUPERVISION AND EVALUATION.
WE CAN THINK CREATIVELY TO DRAW OUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS.
I FULLY SUPPORT THE VISIONARY RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
I KNOW THE BUDGET IS TIGHT, BUT THIS ISN'T MINIMUM NECESSARY INVESTMENT DURING THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC THAT WE CAN BUILD ON IN FUTURE YEARS.
HELLO? HELLO? YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU PLEASE GO AHEAD.
UM, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO BE REALLY QUICK, BUT, UM, UH, YEAH, MY NAME IS ELIANA RUBIN.
I AM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE RIGHT NOW.
UM, AND I'M JUST CALLING INTO AGAIN, PUT MY SUPPORT WITH THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, UM, AND TO FOLLOW THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND THAT'S AN EXTRA $8,000,008.5 MILLION TO APD IS A DISGRACEFUL.
IT'S REALLY? YEAH, I MEAN, I I'VE SEEN THE STUFF THAT THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED AND GRASSROOTS RELATIONSHIP IS PUTTING OUT AND, UM, I WOULD JUST REALLY URGE CITY COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE THAT MONEY.
UM, THAT'S WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS.
THANK YOU, BEVERLY LAZARRE CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
UM, I AM REPRESENTING DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR NO NEW MONEY FOR APD.
INSTEAD, WE SHOULD INVEST IN COMMUNITY HUBS AND GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME AND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS.
WE SHOULD INCREASE THE MONEY TO EQUITY AN ADDITIONAL $2 MILLION TO THE EQUITY OFFICE SO THAT THE OFFICE CAN PROVIDE REVIEW FOR RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED PURCHASES AND DECISIONS.
UM, SPECIFICALLY, I'D LIKE TO SPEAK TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION'S BUDGET PRIORITIES, THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I SUPPORT INCLUDE INCREASING FUNDING CAPACITY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT WILL BE UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TECHS, TASK FORCE GOING FORWARD.
WE ABSOLUTELY MUST FUND THE CREATION OF A TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER THROUGH THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
THE TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS PROVIDE FREE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TRAUMA INFORMED THERAPY AND CASE MANAGEMENT FOR SURVIVORS OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME, REGARDLESS OF ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM OR IMMIGRATION STATUS.
WE SIMPLY MUST ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF SURVIVORS WHO ARE TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED AS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING
[00:30:01]
STREET AND GANG VIOLENCE, COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, THE HOMELESS AND THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY.HI, MY NAME IS CHRISTELLE ERICKSON COLLINS, AND I AM A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHAT'S FROM A C AUSTIN.
I WANT TO ECHO THE LETTER SENT TO YOU BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP, TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
AND I SWEAT A DAY AUSTIN FOR ORGANIZATIONS DEDICATED TO THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY PROCESS.
THAT DELIVERED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
BASED ON THE INPUT OF MANY PEOPLE, WHO'VE SUFFERED FROM STRUCTURAL DISINVESTMENT, RACISM AND POLICE VIOLENCE HERE FOR GENERATIONS.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY MAKES THEM SAFE IS HOUSING HEALTHCARE TREATMENT, THEIR BASIC NEEDS MET AND END TO POLICE VIOLENCE AND SOCIAL ABANDONMENT.
THE RPS TASK FORCE LAYS OUT THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF INVESTMENT NEEDED TO CREATE ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF SAFETY THAT DO RIGHT.
NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE, SUPPOSEDLY SERVED BY THE CURRENT SYSTEM, BUT ALSO FOR BLACK AND LATINO AND ASIAN AND IMMIGRANT AUSTINITES PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTION.
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND OTHER PEOPLE MADE VULNERABLE.
WHEN WE PRIORITIZE POLICING OVER COMMUNITY CARE, THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS NOWHERE NEAR REACHING THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY NEEDED.
I URGE YOU TO RESPOND TO THE LETTER FROM THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND TAKE UP THE WORK NOW TO SHIP BUDGET PRIORITIES TOWARDS THIS SYSTEMIC SOLUTIONS THEY PROPOSE WE'LL BE WATCHING.
UH, MY NAME IS SEAN SAILOR AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
I'M ANOTHER PERSON URGING YOU TO REMOVE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM POLICING AND INVEST IN THE RPS TASK FORCE PRIORITIES.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET NEGLECTS TO FUND RSP RPS PRIORITIES AT A LEVEL THAT CAN ACTUALLY CREATE TRANSFORMATION FOR JUST ONE EXAMPLE, THE COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS ARE SUPPOSED TO FUND EQUITY FOCUSED REINVESTMENT IN COMMUNITIES MADE VULNERABLE BY SYSTEMIC NEGLECT, PROVIDING A RANGE OF SERVICES AND RESOURCES.
FIRST YEAR FUNDING OF 11 MILLION IS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH 10 HUBS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ON THE GROUND AND EQUIP THEM TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATELY RESOURCES TO MEET COMMUNITY NEEDS.
THEY IDENTIFY AND NO WAY ARE THESE PRIORITIES REFLECTED BY THE EMERGENCY RESILIENCE HUBS PROPOSED IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, SAME WORD, VERY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS.
PLEASE DO WHAT IT TAKES TO SEE THIS CRITICAL INVESTMENT THROUGH.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
I'M ALSO HERE TO ASK YOU TO REMOVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM APD AND INVEST IT IN RPS TASK FORCE PRIORITIES, THE GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT, FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF THE RECOMMENDED 12 MILLION FOR IMMEDIATE CASH SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES IN PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, THE PROPOSED BUDGET HAS ONLY 200,000 FOR A STUDY.
THERE'S A GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE ALREADY ON GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME INCOME PROGRAMS TO QUOTE LIBBY SHADE.
THE MAYOR OF OAKLAND, WHERE THEY ARE ALREADY PILOTING SUCH A PROGRAM.
POVERTY IS NOT A PERSONAL FAILURE.
IT IS A POLICY FAILURE, GUARANTEED INCOME PRESENTS.
ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING TOOLS FOR SYSTEMS CHANGE RACIAL EQUITY AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.
WE'VE SEEN IN DECADES AS OUR CITY'S ECONOMIC INEQUALITY GROWS AND DISPLACEMENT OF BLACK AND LATINO AUSTINITES REACHES CRISIS LEVELS.
IT'S NOT TIME FOR MORE STUDIES AND BINDERS TO SIT ON SHELF.
WE WILL BE WATCHING LIRA, UH, MARI RAMIREZ.
MY RAMIREZ, I AM CO-CHAIR OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT COMMISSION AND A STUDENT AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND UT AUSTIN.
I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
[00:35:01]
TO-DO'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COLLEGE FOOD INSECURITY GRANT PROGRAMS. AS OUR COMMISSION PASSED RECOMMENDATION FOR IN JANUARY, THIS PROGRAM WOULD ALLOCATE A MINIMUM BUDGET OF $25,000 TO BE AWARDED TO APPLICANTS AT BOSTON AREA COLLEGES FOR FOOD INSECURITY, PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT WOULD BEST SUPPORT THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAMPUSES AND STUDENTS FROM MEAL VOUCHER SUPPORT FOR ON-CAMPUS FOOD PANTRIES TO MERGE THE AID FUNDS TO CALL IT.STUDENT COMMISSION REPRESENTS OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND COMBINED STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE, CONCORDIA, TILSON ST EDWARD'S AND UT AUSTIN.
THE PANDEMIC AND WINTER STORM HAVE EXACERBATED.
WHAT WAS ALREADY A HIGH PROFILE ISSUE AT OUR CAMPUSES, ESPECIALLY AS STUDENTS ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FOOD INSECURITY IS THEY MAY NOT TYPICALLY QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS UNDER GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. DO YOU THINK FOOD INSECURITY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE TO TRULY GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CLASSES AND BEYOND.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME MAYOR.
I JUST WANTED TO THANK THE LAST SPEAKER FOR HER SERVICE ON, UM, THE STUDENT COMMISSION THAT THIS IS AN IDEA THAT CAME FORWARD FROM OUR STUDENT COMMISSION.
AND I APPRECIATE HER BEING HERE TODAY OR VIRTUALLY TO TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THAT.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE ANOTHER SPEAKER LATER WHO MAY DO THE SAME.
SO THANKS AGAIN FOR THE WORK ON THAT.
ON THE STUDENT COMMISSION, MARY CHRIS HOME.
HI, MY NAME'S MARY CHISM AND, UM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M SPEAKING TODAY IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION, BUDGET PRIORITIES LIKE IMPOSSIBLE, INCLUDING 10,000 FEARLESS FIRST RESPONDERS, TWICE A NEW RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND PERFECT MANNER CONFLICT INTERVENTION.
IT MAY BE MANY YEARS BEFORE THE IMPROVEMENTS AND AUSTIN SYSTEM OF POLICING RETURNED DIVIDENDS AND INCREASED COMMUNITY TRUST AND IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE HARMS THAT COME FROM OUR CURRENT SYSTEM CAN BE AVOIDED WITH GREATER RELIANCE ON COMMUNITY-BASED RESPONSE SYSTEM.
THESE GROUPS WERE ALREADY WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
AND WITH LITTLE SUPPORT COULD RESPOND TO MORE CALLS, MORE EVENTS IN GENERALLY EXPAND THEIR SUCCESSFUL MODEL.
SO I AM ASKING THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UM, UH, LISTEN TO AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION AND ALL THE OTHER GROUPS TO, UH, MOVE MONEY TO WHERE WE NEED IT.
I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT SEVEN TO SAY THAT I'M AGAINST THE PROPOSED BUDGET BECAUSE IT DOES NOT READ MAGIC PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS ASKED FOR I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY WE'RE SPENDING EVEN MORE MONEY ON THE POLICE.
WHEN THE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE AT THE COUNCIL CLAIMS TO SUPPORT HAS ADVOCATED FOR THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS TO BE SPENT ON THE PROPOSALS THAT THE RPS TASK FORCE SPENT TIME THOROUGHLY RESEARCHING AND CRAFTING ALONG.
MANY OF OUR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITY MEMBERS, MYSELF INCLUDED.
I WANT TO SEE MY TAX DOLLARS FUND NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS, WHERE I CAN GET FOOD OR HELP FOR MY NEIGHBORS.
I ONLY SEND MY TAX DOLLARS FUND A CASH BASED GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PROGRAM SO THAT MY NEIGHBORS AND I CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR MOST BASIC NEEDS MET WITHOUT FEAR.
I WANT TO SEE MY TAX DOLLARS FUND COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, BECAUSE THEY ARE THE FRONTLINE.
I KNOW WHAT REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY CAN LOOK LIKE AND THANKS TO COMMUNITY.
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU ON COUNCIL DOES TOO.
LAST YEAR, THERE WAS A LOT OF RHETORIC ABOUT TAKING TIME TO RESEARCH, TAKING TIME TO FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS.
GIVE ME A RECORD AMOUNT OF MONEY TO APD ISN'T RE-IMAGINING ANYTHING SHIFTING AWAY FROM ALLOCATING MONEY TO APD, TO USE INTRUSIVE SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY.
AND INSTEAD OF USING THOSE FUNDS WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS, I BEG OF YOU.
PLEASE STOP ACTING AS IF ANOTHER VISION ISN'T POSSIBLE.
TO DELETE AND RERECORD YOUR MESSAGE.
PRESS THREE, REEDY SPIGNER PRESS STAR TO SEND THIS MESSAGE.
[00:40:05]
AMELIA CASSIS.I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SIX AND POLICY ANALYST WITH THE TEXAS PROJECT I'M CALLING IN AGAINST THE CITY PROPOSED BUDGET.
FIRST, WHEN I SAY THE RELEASE OF A BUDGET, COMPLETELY UNDERMINED THE DEDICATED WORK WITH THE RELIGION AND PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
THE PROPOSED BUDGET IS DISTRIBUTING WALKING $442.8 MILLION TO THE POLICE, WHICH AS YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD IS MORE THAN $8 MILLION OVER WHAT IS REQUIRED UNDER HB 1900.
MEANWHILE, ONLY $1.9 MILLION ARE GOING TOWARDS THE TASKFORCE.
HIS RECOMMENDATION, THE APPROXIMATE 400 TO ONE DISTRIBUTION OF DOLLARS TOWARDS POLICING OF OUR RE-IMAGINING THE IDEA OF REIMAGINING THE BUZZWORD RATHER THAN THE ACTUAL PLAN OF ACTION.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE LEGISLATURE HAS MADE THE BUDGET CYCLE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT THAT THE POLICE BUDGET SHOULD ONLY MEET THE BARE REQUIREMENTS AND NOT A SINGLE PENNY.
THAT IS A COMMITMENT ALSO WE NEED AND DESERVE FROM OUR CITY LEADERS TO HAVE THE CURSE, KEEP YOUR WORD AND DO RIGHT BY OUR COMMUNITY.
IMMEDIATELY JUMPING TO RECOUPLING FORENSICS.
AND THE 9 1 1 CENTER SHOWS A LACK OF EFFORT, CREATIVITY AND COMMITMENT TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
LISTEN TO THOSE WHO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY, YOU CAN CONSIDER ASKING A STATE FOR A WAIVER TO KEEP THEM ONLINE AND INDEPENDENT.
IN ADDITION, ALLOCATING $6.2 MILLION TO FUND ADDITIONAL CADET CLASSES WITHOUT ANY REAL COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO EVALUATE THE CURRICULUM.
THEN WE HAVE, AUSTINITES LIKE MIKE RAMOS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES AT THE HANDS OF POLICE.
INSTEAD OF FUNDING THE CADET CLASSES, ONE TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, LIKE DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY, RUN NON-POLICE FIRST RESPONSE TEAM AND GREATLY INVEST IN NEIGHBORHOOD HUB THAT WOULD PROVIDE EQUITY, FOCUS, COMMUNITY RESOURCES, HAVE THE COURAGE TO STAND UP TO WHAT THEY HAVE THE REST OF MY TIME.
HELLO, THIS IS BRAD LIMO AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE.
I'M ALSO CALLING TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION BUDGET PRIORITIES.
UM, JUST TO REITERATE THEM, THEY ARE SEEK A WAIVER FOR FORENSICS AND NINE 11 DISPATCH IN ACCORDANCE WITH HB 1900 SO THAT THEY MAY BE INDEPENDENT FROM APD DECLINED TO SPEND MORE ON APD, KNOWING THE CITY WON'T BE ALLOWED TO SPEND LESS INVEST IN A LONG-TERM PLAN TO EXPAND NINE 11 SERVICES EXPAND SERVICES FOR AS THE FIBERS OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND FUND COMMUNITY-BASED RAPID RESPONSE AND RESTORATIVE JUSTICE GROUPS.
HI, THIS IS LARA GROVER TUNA FROM DISTRICT TWO.
I AM ALSO SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF AJCS BUDGET PRIORITIES AND THE CITY MUST PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF AUSTINITES BY KEEPING THE NINE 11 DISPATCH SYSTEM INDEPENDENT IN LIEU OF ALLOWING IT TO BE REABSORBED BY APD ON INDEPENDENT 9 1, 1 DISPATCH SYSTEM ALLOWS THE CITY TO IMPROVE HOW WE IMAGINE EMERGENCY RESPONDERS TO THE EMERGENCY.
PEOPLE REPORT OFTEN STUDIED THAT NINE 11 CALL DATA AND DETERMINED THAT MOST CALLS EVEN THOSE GETTING A POLICE RESPONSE WERE RELATED TO NON-CRIMINAL AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
LAST YEAR, AUSTIN ADAMS, 67 MUCH NEEDED EMS PERSONNEL AND IS NOW IN A POSITION TO SERVE ITS RESIDENTS BETTER.
WE JOINED THE NATIONAL DISPATCH REFORM MOVEMENT OF CITIES THAT CREATE INDEPENDENT DISPATCH SYSTEMS IN ORDER TO ELIMINATE DUPLICATION, REDUCE OVERALL RESPONSE, AND GENERALLY MANAGE LIMITED EMERGENCY RESOURCES MORE EFFICIENTLY AND HAS HAD AN INTEGRATED INDEPENDENT NINE 11 CENTER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.
IT IS A DIVISION OF THE MAYOR'S OFFICE RATHER THAN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO GROWN.
ITS NEEDS HAVE EVOLVED AND THE CITY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RESTRUCTURE HOW PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES WILL BE DELIVERED WITHOUT PENALTY.
THEREFORE, THE CITY SHOULD KEEP ITS WORD FOR THE COMMUNITY REGARDING AN INDEPENDENT NINE 11 BY REQUESTING A WAIVER TO ALLOW NINE 11 TERMING AND INDEPENDENT.
[00:45:05]
HELLO.THIS IS ANGELINA MARK PANS FROM CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION'S BUDGET PRIORITIES.
OUR CITY LEADERS HAVE HELPED US TO PAVE THE WAY TOWARDS REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUSTIN.
WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH TO MAKE OUR POLICE SYSTEM BETTER, REDUCE HARM TO THOSE WHO CALL 9 1 1 AND IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY.
THE AUSTIN, THE SAFER WIND COALITION HAS BEEN VISITING AUSTIN RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS THE CITY.
AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOUR REFORM.
THE VAST MAJORITY OF AUSTINITES WANT TO SEE THIS COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY CONTINUE IN OUR CITY.
THE COMMUNITY PRIORITIES STAND FROM THE WEEK ON BUDGET TOOL THAT WE RAN LAST YEAR.
WE UNDERSTAND THE OUTSIDE FORCES AT THE STATE MANDATE OR RETURNED TO THE 2019 POLICE BUDGET.
YET WE BELIEVE THAT THE CITY MANAGER CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR MUST CONTINUE TO PURSUE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS OF THE PAST YEAR AND RETAINING THE STANDING.
WE HAVE EARNED AS A NATIONAL LEADER, COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACHES.
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS ARE STILL GETTING POLICE RESPONSE.
IN MANY CASES, WE ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO EXPAND THE FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIANS AND PURSUE LONGER TERM PROJECTS TO ENSURE THAT FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE SOMEPLACE BESIDES THE JAIL TO TAKE A PERSON IN CRISIS.
MY NAME IS MICHELLE MANNING, SCOTT AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT SEVEN AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
I'M JOINING TODAY IN THE CALL FOR INVESTING MORE BOLDLY IN THE ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED BY THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE THE RPS TASK FORCE PROPOSED A $4.5 MILLION BUDGET, BUT $4.5 MILLION TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE AND TRAINING HUB FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS WHO ARE FROM COMMUNITIES BEARING THE BRUNT OF INEQUITY BUDGET GIVES ONLY $500,000 TO APH TO COMPLETE THE ROLLOUT OF AN EXISTING COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER PROGRAM AT A MUCH SMALLER SCOPE AND SCALE REAL INVESTMENT WOULD BE A TRUE GAME CHANGER SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIO AUSTINITES AND IMPROVING HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH EQUITY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE KIND OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER HEALTH WORKER PROGRAMS CAN TRANSFORM HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BUT YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE REAL INVESTMENTS.
I'M IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE.
AND I'M ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF AJCS BUDGET PRIORITIES WHILE STILL WISHING THAT YOU HAD NOT LAUNCHED THE CADET CLASSES BEFORE YOUR CURRICULUM REVIEW PROCESS WAS UP AND RUNNING.
WE ARE GLAD THAT THE REVIEW HAS FINALLY STARTED AND IMPROVEMENTS ARE BEING MADE.
WE ACCEPT THE TWO CADET CLASSES AND THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, BUT OPPOSE ADDING A THIRD, MAINLY BECAUSE THE CURRICULUM WON'T BE FULLY EVALUATED UNTIL AFTER THE SECOND CLASS AT THIS MOMENT, THE REVIEW TEAM HAS GIVEN FEEDBACK ON FOUR UNITS REPRESENTING LESS THAN ONE WEEK OF COURSEWORK.
THE CADETS HAVE FINISHED THEIR FIRST MONTH.
WE SHOULD NOT LAYER ANOTHER CLASS ON TOP OF THOSE TWO, PUTTING GREATER PRESSURE ON THE REVIEW PROCESS AND ADDING CADETS BEFORE ANYTHING HAS BEEN EVALUATED.
PLEASE REMEMBER WHY WE ARE DOING THIS TO ADDRESS SERIOUS CONCERNS AND ALLEGATIONS RAISED BY CADETS AND BY THE VIDEO REVIEW PROCESS RELATED TO CONTENT AND TEACHING METHODS, THE TRAINING AT THE ACADEMY, IT NEEDS A LOT OF WORK.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THE MATERIALS ARE IMPROVING AND WE WILL HAVE A BETTER ACADEMY WHEN THIS IS DONE.
THE BAD NEWS IS THE PROCESS IS ALREADY UNDER GREAT TIME PRESSURE ALLOW YOUR OWN PROCESS TO WORK.
THANK YOU, JULIA VAUGHN, ALEXANDER JULIA VAUGHN ALEXANDER, PLEASE UNMUTE.
HI, MY NAME'S JULIA VAN ALEXANDER, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND ALSO A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
AND I HAVE TOO MUCH TO ADD, EXCEPT THAT I DO BELIEVE IN SUPPORTING THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
THEY'RE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING AUSTIN A PLACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN THRIVE AND WE ALL BENEFIT FROM THAT.
AND I WILL SAY, I THINK IT'S FUNDAMENTALLY IMAGINATIVE
[00:50:02]
THAT YOU ALL HAVE ADDED EIGHT AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET.I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME BASE REQUIREMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU CAN'T CUT FROM OTHER PARTS OF THAT BUDGET TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T INCREASE BEYOND WHAT IS REQUIRED BY THE STATE LAW.
ADDITIONALLY, I THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA TO PRESS THE WAIVER AND DO WHAT WE CAN TO TAKE DEPARTMENTS.
SHOULDN'T BE IN APD OUT OF APD.
SO I APPRECIATE Y'ALL LISTENING AND I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU TAKE ALL THIS COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND REALLY LISTEN AND DIG INTO YOUR HEART.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, JEANETTE? YES, WE CAN.
HEY, I'M CHEVYS AND DISTRICT ONE AND 10 SOMETIMES WITH WORKING GROUP 5, 1, 2, SPENCER, THE PROPOSAL WAS RIDICULOUS FOR THE SECOND YEAR CONSECUTIVELY AFTER YOU WERE PESTILENCE AND FAMINE WAS, BUT ALSO POWER OUTAGES WERE RAMPANT IN WHAT WE NOW KNOW WAS PITCH BLACK AUSTIN.
WE CAN'T BELIEVE THE CITY WISHES TO FUND MORE OF OUR PROPERTY TAXES AND NO REVENUE THEREOF OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE ASKED FOR OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TRULY RE-IMAGINED.
IT TOOK MARVEL AVENGERS STRENGTH TO SUSTAIN IN THIS ECONOMICALLY SEGREGATED CITY.
SO WHY WOULD APD W WHY WOULD THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVE ANYTHING MORE THAN THEY SHOULD? IF THE GOVERNOR CREATES BETTER DIVIDES RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FROM YOU, WE FEEL RESPONSIBLE AND REMINDING YOU TO RECONSIDER THIS PROPOSAL.
AND INSTEAD ON COMMUNITY INITIATIVES THAT HAVE TAKEN ON THE HEAVYWEIGHTS OF DISASTER RELIEF, HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND REFORM, WE FIRMLY BELIEVE IN SACRIFICED TIME OUT OF OUR BUSY SUMMERS TO TELL YOU WHAT THE LEASING AND ADDITIONAL SURVEILLANCE DOESN'T PROMOTE SAFETY OR SOLUTIONS IN THE CITY OF BOSTON, HOLISTIC SERVICES AND HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR THOSE WITHOUT DOES.
AND WE NEED A CITY FUNDED COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER TRAINING AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
OTHER TEXAS CITIES HAVE TO TEACH THE SAME PUBLIC SAFETY GOALS BY CULTIVATING NON POLICE NAVIGATORS AND BUILDING POWER COUNCIL.
AND YOU'LL WATCH MANY ARE IN FEAR OF LOSING THE WALLS THAT PROTECT THEM FROM THE WEATHER WE'RE GETTING.
SO WHY NOT A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT SUPPORT FAMILIES IN NEED OF DIRECT SERVICES THAT LENS AND EVEN INDIGENT DEFENDANTS IN CIVIL CASES HAVE NO IMMEDIATE GAIN IN THIS PROPOSAL, BUT I'M ALWAYS LISTENING FROM THE EQUITY OFFICE AND ENABLE THAT HARDWORKING BUNCH TO REVIEW ALL ITEMS, FILED NUMBERS, GRANTS, AND PROCUREMENTS, INSTEAD OF HARMFUL SURVEILLANCE AND EGREGIOUS DATA SHARING BY THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER, WE ALLOCATE 10 TO $15 MILLION INTO FUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS TO ADDRESS EQUITY, FOCUS, RESOURCES, AND AFOREMENTIONED RE UH, RESPONSES THAT WE, THAT WE PLAYED A ROLE IN EVEN ANALYZING WORKING GROUP 5, 1, 2, THAT IS LAST YEAR, WE SHOWED UP AS FAMILIES AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE TO DEMAND THAT YOU RECONSIDER HOW OFTEN USES THE FUNDS OF ITS RESIDENT BASED TAXES THIS YEAR.
WE'RE BACK TO REMIND YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENCY.
WELCOME GROUP 5, 1, 2 MINUTES WORKED TIRELESSLY IN THE LAST YEAR IN THE COMMUNITIES OF AUSTIN THAT WILL BENEFIT MORE FROM EXISTING RPS PRIORITIES AND EVEN OUR IDEAS, OUR FRESH IDEAS.
THEN FROM A RECORD HIGH CAROLYN SUMS. OKAY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN PLEASE GO AHEAD AND HEAR ME.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
I WANT YOU COUNCIL TO SHIFT $2 MILLION AWAY FROM THE SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING OF THE SO-CALLED AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER TAKES THE FUNDING THAT'S BEING USED BY ON AND HARASSED AUSTINITES AND USE IT TO INSTATE A SOLID EQUITY REVIEW PROCESS FOR ALL CITY PROCUREMENTS GRANTS AND COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS RELATED TO REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY PROPOSALS.
IT ISN'T ABOUT A SYMBOLIC BUMP IN EQUITY OFFICE FUNDING, BUT AN INVESTMENT REQUIRED TO EQUIP THE EQUITY OFFICE TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR EQUITIES AS RECOMMENDED IN THE RPA S TASK FORCE REPORT.
IT'S TOO EASY TO CALL SOMETHING RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY IS LIKE, YOU CAN CALL SOMETHING A SUPERFOOD WITHOUT MEANINGFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE EQUITY IMPACTS.
WE NEED A REAL EQUITY ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS, AND THAT TAKES REAL MONEY.
THANK YOU, DORIS ADAMS. MY NAME IS DORIS ADAMS AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE.
I SPEAK TODAY ON BEHALF OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
[00:55:01]
WE ARE UPLIFTING THE DEMANDS OUTLINED IN A LETTER SENT TO YOU ON TUESDAY BY A COALITION OF FOUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.THEY ARE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, GRASSROOTS LEADERSHIP.
I OUT OF AUSTIN AND TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE, THE BUDGET PROPOSED BY SITTER CITY MANAGER, KRONK ABANDONS YOUR PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY AND GOES BEYOND WHAT HOUSE BILL 1900 REQUIRES BY GIVING MORE TO POLICING THAN EVER.
WE URGE YOU TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND WORK WITH THE COALITION NOW TO MAKE REAL INVESTMENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
A PART OF THE 20 21 22 BUDGET, THOSE PRIORITY INVESTMENTS ARE, AND YOU'VE HEARD THESE ALREADY 11 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST YEAR FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS, 4.5 MILLION FOR A WORKFORCE IN TRAINING HUB OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, 12 MINUTES MILLION FOR A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT AND THE 2 MILLION SHIFTING AWAY FROM THE HARMFUL SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING CONDUCTED BY THE AUSTIN REGIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER AND INVESTED INSTEAD TO SUPPORT THE EQUITY OFFICES REVIEW OF PURCHASES, CITY PURCHASES, AND REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASKS FORCE PROCESSES.
AT A MINIMUM, YOU SHOULD REALLOCATE THE ADDITIONAL 8.5 MILLION INCREASE ALLOTTED TO POLICE IN THIS BUDGET TOWARDS THESE PRIORITY.
ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THE POLICE THIS YEAR CANNOT BE REVERSED IN YEARS TO COME.
RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT A BRAND.
IT IS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS YOU HEARD FROM LAST SUMMER TO REDRESS HISTORIC AND CURRENT HARMS AND BUILD NEW SYSTEMS OF COMMUNITY CARE.
IT REQUIRES MORE THAN SYMBOLIC RENAMING UNDERFUNDED PROGRAMS AND PRELIMINARY STUDY.
IT REQUIRES REAL INVESTMENT IN STRUCTURES OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
NOW IS THE TIME TO PUT THE CITY'S MONEY INTO ACTION.
UM, FROM RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE, YOU CALLING IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION AND VP BUDGET PRIORITIES AS WELL.
THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S GOING TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY'S RECOMMENDATIONS VERSUS WHAT IS THE INCREASE FOR THE POLICE BUDGET IS FRANKLY SHAMEFUL.
THE REALLY, IF YOU'VE GOT 2% INCREASE OF POLICE, UH, SALARIES OVERTIME, THEN THE EIGHT, 8 MILLION MAKES SENSE.
IF YOU'VE GOT THE SAME NUMBER OF POLICE ACTUALLY WORKING, BUT AS MANY NEWS SOURCES HAVE SHOWN, POLICE ARE SUPPOSEDLY QUITTING AUSTIN POLICE FORCE AND RECORD NUMBERS AT A RATE OF 10 TO 15 A MONTH.
I BELIEVE SO WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAVE MONEY BY NOT HAVING ALL THE SALARIES BETTER, PRESUMABLY OLDER OUT OF MONEY.
SO FRANKLY, ACCESS TO THE POLICE BUDGET INCREASES SO CLOSE TO A 2% INCREASE IS SUFFICIENT.
SO ON TO, AGAIN, EMPHASIZE THAT WE SHOULD BE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY HERE IN THIS CITY, AND THAT ALL OF THE PROMISES MADE LAST YEAR DURING THE PROTESTS SHOULD BE CUT.
WE ARE ALL WATCHING CHRIS HARRIS.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
I'M CALLING FROM DISTRICT NINE, UH, REPRESENTING TEXAS APPLE SEAT, AND I'M CALLING TO, UH, OPPOSE THE PROPOSED BUDGET AND TO SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, UH, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY HELP INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, WITHOUT SURVEILLANCE AND NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT OR THE RISK OF VIOLENCE THAT POLICE OFTEN BRING, UH, RECOGNIZING THE IMPACT OF HB 1900, EVERY ADDITIONAL DOLLAR INVESTED IN POLICE ABOVE YOUR FY 20 BUDGET, UH, CANNOT BE BLAMED ON THE STATE, UH, SINCE AND SINCE THAT DOLLAR FIGURE CAN NEVER COME DOWN, PROVIDED THIS LAW STANCE.
THIS BUDGET REPRESENTS AN UNJUSTIFIED TAX ON ALL FUTURE AUSTINITES AND THE CAPITULATION TO THE REACTIONARY POLITICS, COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED IN DATA AND OPPOSED TO THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE.
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THOSE THAT TRULY CARE ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, ADDITIONAL FUNDING, THE APD, UH, WILL NOT HELP, UH, ESPECIALLY IN THE FORM IT'S TAKEN, UH, REINSERTING.THE FORENSICS LAB IN THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER WILL NOT HELP PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND FOR THESE REASONS IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY REQUEST A WAIVER FROM THE GOVERNOR TO KEEP THESE DEPARTMENTS INDEPENDENT CITY SHOULD FORCE THE GOVERNOR TO EXPLAIN HOW PUTTING THEM BACK INTO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY, DESPITE THE EVIDENCE AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE IS ALSO WORTH NOTING THAT THE PUBLIC STATEMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR INDICATE THAT HIS OFFICE INTENDS TO BRING ALL OF THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF HB 1900 DOWN ON AUSTIN, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU DO WITH THIS BUDGET.
THEREFORE IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT CONTINGENCY BE PLACED INTO THE BUDGET, ENABLING THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER AND THE FORENSICS LAB AMONG OTHER CUTS, UH, TO CONTINUE IF AUSTIN IS DEEMED A DEFUNDING MUNICIPALITY, UH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE BUDGET FIGURE IS.
FINALLY LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT ALL OF THE RPS TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS COULD HAVE BEEN FULLY FUNDED IN SOME WITH THE UPPER INCOME TAX BREAK.
YOU'VE JUST CUT VIA THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION, FUNDAMENTALLY PROGRESSIVE BACK SIGNALING THAT PUBLIC SAFETY.
HOWEVER YOU DEFINE IT WILL ALWAYS TAKE A BACK SEAT TO HANDOUTS TO THE RICH, THANK YOU, EMILY SAWYER.
HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, WE CAN.
MY NAME IS EMILY SAWYER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR AND I'M SPEAKING IN SUPPORTIVE AJCS BUDGET PRIORITIES, PARTICULARLY THAT THE CITY MUST RECOGNIZE THE HARD WORK OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
ONE WAY TO DO THAT IS TO BEGIN IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONS OF OUR 9 1 1 DISPATCH SYSTEM AND NON POLICE CRISIS RESPONSE BY ONE INCREASING CAPACITY FOR MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR 9 1, 1 DISPATCHERS TO ENSURE CALLS ARE PAIRED WITH THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE AND TO DIVERT CALLS AWAY FROM POLICING, BUT DO NOT REQUIRE A POLICE RESPONSE TO FUNDING A NON-POLICE CRISIS LINE AND COMMUNITY RESPONSE, TEAM THREE, IMPROVING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION IN RESPONSE OPTIONS, INCLUDING OUTREACH ON WHEN AND HOW TO CALL FOR HELP FOR CONDUCTING ONGOING COMMUNITY ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION.
HAVING AN EMERGENCY SYSTEM THAT SENDS THE RIGHT RESPONSE TO MEET A PERSON'S CRISIS SHOULD BE THE BARE MINIMUM FOR A CITY STRIVING TO BE ONE OF THE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
PLEASE DO NOT SPEND ONE PENNY MORE ON THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAN WHAT IS REQUIRED BY HB 1900, BECAUSE THAT WILL BE A LEGALLY REQUIRED ONGOING INVESTMENT.
PLEASE DO NOT VEIL ON THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY BECAUSE OF PUSHBACK FROM THOSE GASPING, WITH THE LAST REST OF A TIRED AND UNIMAGINATIVE UNIMAGINATIVE VISION FOR OUR SOCIETY, MORE POLICE DOES NOT MAKE US SAFER AND ANYONE WHO MAKES THAT ARGUMENT IGNORES THE VIOLENCE AND HARM DONE BY THE POLICE THEMSELVES.
PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T PASS THE BUDGET THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN RIGHT NOW.
HI, MY NAME IS JONATHAN AND I'M AN EDUCATOR HERE IN AUSTIN AND, UM, AND ALSO A MEMBER OF, AND DOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
AND I WANT TO ASK YOU TODAY TO RESIST THE WHITE BACKLASH, UM, UH, AND BE BOLD AND RESHAPING THE PRIORITIES IN OUR CITY BUDGET.
AS NEARLY ALL OF YOU COMMITTED TO DO THE SUMMER.
WE ALL KNOW THAT BACKLASH AGAINST PROGRESS FOR BLACK INDIGENOUS AND LATIN X AND ASIAN AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITIES IS NOTHING NEW.
SOMETIMES THAT LOOKS LIKE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGNS AND PROTESTS ROADS.
SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE VIOLENCE, OR I MIGHT ADD SOMETIMES IT LOOKS LIKE COMMITTEE WORK AND TESTS FORCE THE, UH, RECOMMENDATIONS THAT AREN'T TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT, BUT SOMETIMES IT'S MORE SUBTLE, THE STEADY DRIP OF INCREMENTALISM AND CARVING AWAY AT HARD ONE PROGRESS TOWARD RACIAL JUSTICE, SYMBOLISM AND LIP SERVICE TAKE THE PLACE OF REAL CHANGE AND BIPAP COMMUNITIES ARE LISTED AS THREATENED AS THEY WERE BEFORE.
THE CAMPAIGNS FOR TRANSFORMATION.
DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN IN AUSTIN.
AS PROPOSED THE CITY BUDGET IS DANGEROUSLY DISMISSIVE OF THE REAL INVESTMENTS AND CHANGES WE NEED.
DON'T LET THAT FANS DON'T BACK DOWN BLACK AND BROWN BUYERS ARE JUST AS PRECIOUS AND JUST AS THREATENED AS THEY WERE LAST SUMMER, MAKE THE REAL INVESTMENT TO REAL CHANGE.
AND I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT, UM, HIDING BEHIND HOUSE BILL 1900, UM, IS, IS DISGRACEFUL AND, AND, UM, YOU'RE NOT BEING REQUIRED TO SPEND THIS MUCH ON POLICING.
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UM, THANK YOU, SCOTT COBB.I LIVE IN DISTRICT 10 AND I BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THERE'S NOTHING TEMPORARY ABOUT EMPLOYEES.
I'VE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR YEARS AND YEARS.
WE WORKED THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC, EITHER AT THE POOL OR AS PARK MONITORS.
WE WERE OFTEN VICTIMS OF PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ASSAULT AS PARKED MONITORS.
WE WORKED IN JANUARY 3RD, STAGE FIVE AT THE PEAK OF A PANDEMIC, RISKING OUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE WE LIVE WITH.
WE DESERVE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE 2% ACROSS THE BOARD RATES AND THE PROPOSED $500 STIPEND.
WE ALSO DESERVE OTHER BENEFITS SUCH AS BEING ABLE TO BUY DENTAL INSURANCE, BLUE CITY AND EXTRA PAY ON HOLIDAYS.
IT WAS HURTING THIS YEAR WHEN JUNETEENTH WAS MAYBE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY, BUT LET'S NOT GET PAID EXTRA HOLIDAY PAY.
I'M LIKE COMPLETELY HE'S AT PLACES LIKE STARBUCKS, COSTCO, AND TARGET.
WE SERVED THE PEOPLE OF AUSTIN MEMORIAL DAY, JULY 4TH, LIKE
I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PICK MY PUBLIC EMPLOYER FOR HOLIDAY PERIOD FOR NATIONAL HOLIDAYS.
WHEN THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF NATIONAL HOLIDAYS IS TO INSTILL CIVIC PRIDE AND URGE DEMOCRATIC VALUES.
ONE OF THE FIVE PURPOSES ALLOWED THEM TO TREASURY DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES FOR FUNDS RECEIVED THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN IS PROVIDING PREMIUM PAY FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, OFFERING ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO HAVE AND WILL BEAR THE GREATEST HEALTH RISK BECAUSE OF THEIR SERVICE AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECTORS SPRINGS ACROSS THE BUDGET MESSAGE SAYS QUOTE FOR ALL CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES.
SO I'M HAPPY TO SAY THAT A PAY WAGE AND AT ONE TIME $500 STIPEND.
IT DOES NOT SAY BAKER, YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
HI, I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN FAVOR OF WHAT I'M DOING LICENSED.
KIND OF SEE AUSTIN IS SAYING LIKE A POLICE BUDGET.
I ASK YOU TO HAVE TO HAMSTRING YOURSELVES BY GOING ABOVE WHAT NEEDS TO BE NIKE HIRED, UH, REQUIRES, UH, THINK ABOUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN FUTURE YEARS.
IF YOU WANT TO MOVE THINGS AROUND MISSES THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, UH, WHAT YOU SPEND THIS YEAR, UH, YOU'RE ESTABLISHING A PERMANENT BASELINE.
IT ISN'T JUST AFFECTING HOW MUCH YOU BE PUTTING IN THIS YEAR, BUT WHAT YOU CAN SPEND THAT FUTURE YEARS AND WE GET THE COVID PANDEMIC AND EVERYTHING GOING ON, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT NEXT YEAR'S GOING TO BRING.
AND I URGE YOU TO NOT, UH, LIMIT WHAT YOU CAN DO NEXT YEAR WITH THE BUDGET.
I ALSO URGE YOU LOOK INTO THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTS PROCESS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THEY HIRE A THIRD PARTY SERVICE, UH, THAT I'VE HEARD IS FAR MORE EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF PUBLIC TESTIMONY, UH, TAKING A LOT OF TESTIMONY AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE MONEY AVAILABLE TO DEAL WITH, UM, UH, PUBLIC TESTIMONY IN THE FUTURE.
LIKE ALL THE, ALL THE CHALLENGES IN COVID IS BROUGHT TO THE, UH, SYSTEM, YOU KNOW, WITH STAFF LIAISON, UH, TRYING TO RUN MEETINGS THAT THAT MIGHT NEED MORE FUNDING.
UH, ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STILL THAT'S THE CO-OPS, UH, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO START NEW CO-OPS, UH, CO-OPS OFFER GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, GABRIELA TORRES, GABRIELA TORRES, PLEASE UNMUTE.
MY NAME IS GABRIELA AND I'M A COMMUNITY MEMBER OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR UNITED FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.
AND SO ON APRIL 20TH OF THIS YEAR, THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE PRESENTED A LIST TO YOU OF HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATION THAT ARE REALLY FULL OF DETAILED CHANGES THAT THE CITY CAN MAKE TO MOVE TOWARDS REAL PUBLIC SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
NOW, I AM PROFOUNDLY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS YEAR'S BUDGET ONLY SET 1.9 MILLION FOR THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS VERSUS ALLOCATING OVER 444 MILLION FOR APD.
AS MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID, THIS IS AN
[01:10:01]
8.5 MILLION INCREASE OVER THE LEVEL REQUIRED WITH HOUSE BILL 1900.AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS CLEARLY STATE THAT 29.5 MILLION WOULD BE NEEDED FOR THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE MOST URGENTLY NEEDED IN THE CONTEXT OF NOT ONLY AN ONGOING GLOBAL PANDEMIC, BUT ALSO POST WINTER STORM URI.
AND THOSE ARE, UM, 11, 11 MILLION TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST YEAR OF FUNDING FOR 10 NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS, $12 MILLION TO CREATE A GUARANTEED BASIC INCOME PILOT PROGRAM.
4.5 MILLION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WORKFORCE AND TRAINING HUB OF COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, AND TWO, MAYBE $2 MILLION SHIFTED AWAY FROM SURVEILLANCE AND DATA SHARING AND CONDUCTED BY, UM, THE, OUR IC AND INVESTED IN STEAD TO SUPPORT A MANDATORY EQUITY OFFICE REVIEW PRIOR TO CONSIDERATION OF CITY PROCUREMENT GRANTS AND CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS PERTAINING TO THE SPECIFICALLY OF THE RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
NOW, UM, A FEW COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SENT EACH COUNCIL MEMBER.
EACH OF YOU, THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER, A PUBLIC LETTER THAT WE'LL NEED YOUR RESPONSE IN DETAIL ABOUT YOU INTEND TO SUPPORT THESE PROPOSALS, INCLUDING THE DOLLAR AMOUNTS FOR EACH INITIATIVE MENTIONED, BUT WE AFFECTED YOUR MAYOR.
THAT CONCLUDES ALL THE REMOTE SPEAKERS.
THAT GETS US TO THE IN-PERSON, UH, LIST ABOUT 24 PEOPLE FIRSTHAND THREE MINUTES AFTER THAT, UH, TWO MINUTES EACH, UH, AND WE'LL, UH, CALL THE PEOPLE HERE AND SEE HOW THIS WORKS.
FIRST PERSON IS CORBY JASTROW OKAY.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION.
I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING THE NEW APD CADET CLASS AT A COMMUNITY MEET AND GREET LAST MONTH.
THIS DIVERSE AND IMPRESSIVE GROUP IS EAGER TO SERVE THIS CITY, THIS OUTSTANDING CADET CLASS, AS A RESULT OF THE WORK AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CITY STAFF OVER THE PAST YEAR HAVE DONE TO IMPROVE THE TRAINING ACADEMY.
AUSTIN WILL BE A NATIONAL POLICE TRAINING MODEL, THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION COMMENDS THAT CITY MANAGERS, SPENCER CRONK FOR INCLUDING FUNDING FOR TWO POLICE CADET CLASSES IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
WE'RE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO SEE FUNDING INCLUDED FOR THE LOOP 360 FIRE AND EMS STATION AND 18 NEW EMS PERSONNEL WILL URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CITY.
MANAGER'S PROPOSED PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET IN FONT, AT LEAST TWO POLICE POLICE CADET CLASSES NEXT YEAR.
THANK YOU AGAIN AND APPRECIATE YOU.
CARRIE ROBERTS ON DECK IS GOING TO BE, UH, UH, CALL, UH, CUT OFF.
I'M CARRIE ROBERTS, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION AND A DISTRICT EIGHT RESIDENT.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT CHALLENGING TIMES.
CRIME RATES ARE UP IN CATEGORIES THAT SIGNAL VIOLENT CRIME TRENDS, RESPONSE TIMES ARE SLOWER.
UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE FURTHER STAFF REALLOCATIONS ON AUGUST 1ST.
AND THAT MEANS THIS YEAR, AT LEAST 164 OFFICERS HAVE BEEN MOVED FROM SPECIALIZED UNITS BACK TO PATROL.
AND SO I'M HOPEFUL THAT THE CONCURRENT EVALUATION OF THE, OR THE CONCURRENT EVALUATION OF THE CURRENT CADET CLASS GIVES THE COMMUNITY AND THE COUNCIL CONFIDENCE TO RUN AT LEAST TWO FULL CADET CLASSES NEXT YEAR, STARTING IN FEBRUARY AND JUNE INTO CONSIDER A THIRD OR A MODIFIED CLASS BECAUSE CONTINUING CADET CLASSES IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO NOW TO ADDRESS THE ALARMING ATTRITION AND STAFFING CRISIS.
AND WE NEED TO GET BEYOND SORT OF THIS ANNUAL TRIAGE AND MUCH LIKE THE WORK THAT COUNCIL DID ON STRATEGIC DIRECTION PLAN FOR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS TO KEEP THE COMMUNITY CAN SAY, SAY WHILE COMPLYING WITH THE REVENUE CAP AND THE NEW STATUTORY BUDGET REQUIREMENTS.
AGAIN, WE HOPE YOU'LL PLEASE SUPPORT THE CITY.
MANAGER'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR TWO CADET CLASSES, AS CORY MENTIONED, FUNDING THE NEW FIRE STATION AND ADDITIONAL EMS PERSONNEL.
AND WE HOPE TO VISIT WITH ALL OF YOU ABOUT A CIVILIAN POSITIONS THAT FIRE NEEDS FOR INSPECTION SERVICES AND ADDITIONAL EMS, UH, RESOURCES, BECAUSE AS MOST OF YOU LIKELY KNOW, EMS FACES A SERIOUS, SERIOUS STAFFING SHORTAGE AS WELL, YOU KNOW, AMONG THE LESSONS WE'VE LEARNED, UH, IN THE PANDEMIC AND CERTAINLY THE IMPORTANCE
[01:15:01]
OF INVESTING IN PUBLIC SAFETY.AND, UH, WE APPRECIATE, UM, YOU'RE DOING THAT.
UH, GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR AND COUNCIL.
I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT NINE AND A POLICY ANALYST FOR THE GREATER AUSTIN CRIME COMMISSION STARTING THE PILOT RE-IMAGINE POLICE CADET ACADEMY WAS A SIGNIFICANT FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING APD STAFFING SHORTAGES AND THE CADETS I MET AT THE JUNE MEET AND GREET THAT WE ALL ATTENDED.
UH, WE'RE EXCITED TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND COMMITTED TO THE CITY'S VISION FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
STILL APD IS FACING A STAFFING CRISIS.
AS CARRIE WAS SAYING, APD WILL HAVE AT LEAST 156 VACANCIES BY THE END OF JULY AND HAVE CURRENT ATTRITION RATES HOLD APD WILL LOSE ANOTHER 90 OFFICERS BY THE TIME THE CURRENT POLICE CADET CLASS GRADUATES AUTHORIZING MORE CADET CLASSES IN THE 22 BUDGET WILL HELP APD BEGIN TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES.
WE ARE THANKFUL TO CITY MANAGER KRONK FOR INCLUDING TWO CLASSES IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET AND ASK THAT THE COUNCIL SUPPORT THESE CLASSES IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.
NEXT SPEAKER, AFTER THAT IS, UH, COLLIN WALLACE IS CALLING HERE.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, UH, SUKI CHAZ MORE HERE? YOU'LL BE ON DECK.
I'M THE SENIOR POLICY DIRECTOR AT AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
I'M SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF OUR BUDGET PRIORITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE CITY TO SEEK A WAIVER FROM THE GOVERNOR TO KEEP OUR FORENSICS DEPARTMENT INDEPENDENT WITHOUT PENALTY.
AND ACCORDING TO THIS HB 1900 SECTION ONE OH NINE.ZERO ZERO FOUR.
EXEMPTIONS ALLOWS ME TO SEE POLITY TO APPLY FOR A WAIVER OF THE BUDGET MANDATE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO WE'VE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE REASONS OVER THE LAST YEAR TO MAKE THIS DEPARTMENT INDEPENDENT.
AND YOU ALL REALIZE THIS GOAL ONLY MONTHS AGO, BUT AS A REMINDER ON THE TOPIC OF FORENSICS AND JUSTICE, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE RECOMMENDED A CONGRESS A DECADE AGO THAT FORENSIC SCIENTISTS SHOULD FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATORS LAST YEAR, AUSTIN CONVENTION MAKING THE FORENSICS DEPARTMENT INDEPENDENT AFTER NEARLY A DECADE OF TROUBLE MANAGEMENT AUDIT COMMUNITY INPUT, AND FINALLY EXTERNAL INVESTIGATION, ALL STAKEHOLDERS APPROVED MOVING FORENSICS OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
WHEN THIS COUNCIL APPROVED IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR TO MAKE THE LAB INDEPENDENT, EVEN KEN CASSIDY STATED, AND I QUOTE, I THINK IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE YEARS AGO.
IT GIVES A THIRD EYE, NOT A POLICE EYE TO THE EVIDENCE THAT'S BEEN EXAMINED.
IT WON'T BE COMING FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT WILL BE COMING FROM A NEUTRAL THIRD PARTY.
WE SUPPORT IT AND QUOTE, THIS DEPARTMENT MUST REMAIN MANAGE AS AN INDEPENDENT UNIT IN ACCORDANCE WITH BEST SCIENTIFIC BEST PRACTICES THAT ENSURE THAT THE BEST LAB SERVICES ARE IN PLACE TO ADDRESS ALL KINDS OF CRIMES, RECOGNIZE CHANGES IN SCIENTIFIC PRACTICE AND KEEP THE LABS UP-TO-DATE GENERALLY IMPROVE WAIT TIMES AND REDUCE CASE BACKLOGS AND AVOID THE MANY PITFALLS THAT LEAD TO WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS AND CRIMINAL CASES BEING OVERTURNED BECAUSE OF THE METHODS WERE WRONG OR THE TESTIMONY INACCURATE OR BIASED URGE THE GOVERNOR TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY, TO KEEP THE LAB INDEPENDENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT PENALTY AND BUILD COMMUNITY TRUST AND KEEPING YOUR WORD TO MAKE THESE FUNCTIONS INDEPENDENT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE COMING UP.
YOU'LL HEAR A LOT MORE ABOUT OUR PRIORITIES OUTSIDE OF THE ONES YOU'VE HEARD IN THE CALL ENDS, AND WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO THE RE-IMAGINED PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
AND AS WE KNOW, THIS CURRENT BUDGET DOES NOT REFLECT WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.
SO I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME MAYOR.
I JUST WANT TO REASSURE THOSE, UH, LISTENING.
AND I APPRECIATE THAT THE TESTIMONY ON THIS POINT THAT, UM, THIS, THE INDEPENDENT FORENSICS LAB IS SOMETHING THAT, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADVOCATES HAVE WORKED ON FOR SO LONG.
KADAVY'S DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB AT, UM, AT WORKING AND LEADERSHIP IN THAT, IN THAT LAB.
AND SO THE MANAGER AND I HAD A PRETTY LONG CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, AND I THINK THAT WE CAN COME TOGETHER AS A, AS A DIOCESE AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO EITHER MAKE IT A SEPARATE PART OF THE BUDGET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SUBMIT
[01:20:01]
WHATEVER DOCUMENTS WE NEED TO, TO THE, TO THE STATE, TO ASK FOR, UH, TO ASK FOR THAT WAIVER, BE IT FOR THIS IMMEDIATE BUDGET PROCESS OR FOR A BUDGET AMENDMENT.AND THEN AS A, UM, AS A REAL BACKUP, UH, TO SUBMIT DIRECTIONS TO THE VANTAGE OR FOR IT TO BECOME INDEPENDENT, UH, IN AUGUST OF NEXT YEAR WHEN THE POLICE BUDGET, BECAUSE OF ITS NORMAL GROWTH, UH, BASED ON THE CONTRACT COULD CREATE ENOUGH SPACE FOR THIS TO, TO IMMEDIATELY BECOME INDEPENDENT THEN, AND WE MIGHT JUST HAVE TO HAVE ONE BRIDGE A YEAR.
SO THAT'S A LONG WAY OF SAYING THAT.
I THINK THAT THERE IS CONSENSUS, AS YOU SAID, IN YOUR TESTIMONY TO GET THIS DONE.
UH, AND I THINK THAT THE COMMUNITY SHOULD EXPECT IT.
AND I EXPECT THAT THIS DICE WE'LL WORK TOGETHER TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAINTAIN THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE LAB, UM, TO EXONERATE PEOPLE THAT DIDN'T COMMIT A CRIME AND HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WHO DID THANK YOU.
CHAZ MORE OD DECK IS A TARA TALKER.
HEY, Y'ALL UM, GOOD TO BE BACK IN HERE AS ALWAYS I HAVE SOMETHING PLANNED AND THEN I HEAR PEOPLE TALK AND THEN THAT CHANGES.
UM, SO I WANNA, I WANNA START OFF WITH THIS QUICK PARABLE.
UM, IN ANCIENT TIMES, THE KING HAD, HAS BEEN PLACED IN BOULDER ON HIS ROADWAY.
UM, HE DIDN'T HIT IT IN THE BUSHES AND WATCHED TO SEE IF ANYONE WOULD MOVE THE BOULDER OUT OF THE WAY.
SOME OF THE KINGS WEALTHIEST RESIDENTS AND CITIZENS PASSED BY ASSEMBLY JUST WALKED AROUND IT LIKE 85% OF PEOPLE IN THIS CITY.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE HAVE ISSUES THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK THROUGH, BUT WE'RE JUST GOING ABOUT OUR DAY.
UH, THEN MANY PEOPLE BLAMED THE KING FOR NOT KEEPING THE ROADS CLEAR, BUT NONE OF THEM DID ANYTHING ABOUT GETTING THE STONE ROOF.
THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD PORTION OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY, RIGHT? LIKE WE COMPLAIN THAT WE DON'T MAKE CALLS TO INTERVIEW OFFICERS.
WE DON'T DO ANYTHING TO GET INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
WE JUST COMPLAINED, UH, ONE DAY A PEASANT CAME ALONG, CARRYING VEGETABLES UPON APPROACHING THE BOATER, THE PEASANT LAID THEM DOWN, UM, AND TRIED TO PUSH THE SUN OUT OF THE WAY AFTER MUCH PUSHING AND SWEATING.
HE FINALLY GOT THE BOAT OUT OF THE WAY.
UM, AFTER THE PEASANT WENT BACK TO PICK UP HIS VEGETABLES, HE NOTICED A PERSON LYING IN THE ROAD WHERE THE BOULDER WAS.
UM, THE PURSE CONTAINED MANY GOLD COINS.
AND A NOTE FROM THE KING THAT EXPLAINED THE GOAL WAS FOR THE PERSON WHO REMOVED THE BOATER FROM THE ROAD.
UM, THAT MAY SEEM RANDOM, BUT I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME BECAUSE I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED.
IF YOU SHOW UP ON JULY 22ND AT THE ONE BUDGET HEARING, YOU DIDN'T REALLY DO YOUR JOB.
IF YOU DIDN'T REACH OUT TO ANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE DIETS, ANY OF THE PEOPLE ON THE STAFF, YOU DIDN'T REALLY DO YOUR JOB.
IF YOU'RE JUST TAKING ONE-PAGERS FROM ORGANIZATIONS ABOUT AFTER THIS ON JULY 22ND, YOU DIDN'T DO YOUR JOB.
UM, AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO CATHY MITCHELL AND SICKIE MCMANN TARA TUCKER.
WHO'S GOING TO COME UP AND KILL IT THAT HAVE CONSTANTLY DONE THE WORK BECAUSE WE NEED MORE OF THAT.
UM, IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO UNDO ALL THE WRONGS AND ALL THE ILLS OF THIS BUDGET.
AND WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN AT 1100 CONGRESS.
IT'S ABOUT THE COMMUNITY COMING OUT AS CONSTANTLY AS THEY CAN DO A PANDEMIC.
AND NOW WE HAVE ZOOM, FACEBOOK, TWITTER CHAT, ALL OF YOU ARE, ARE ON ALL THESE OF THINGS.
AND I REALLY HOPE PEOPLE STOPPED SHOWING UP JUST ON THE DAY OF AND GET MORE CONSISTENT AND GET MORE INVOLVED, UM, LEADING UP TO DAYS LIKE THIS.
BUT ANYWAY, I SAY, I'LL LET YOU SAY, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT BLAMING CRUNK FOR THE OVERAGE.
I REALLY DO HOPE CITY COUNCIL.
UM, AND THE CITY MANAGER CAN WORK TOGETHER TO JUST REALLY GET BACK TO WHAT THE HOUSE BILL 1900 REQUIRES US TO DO.
UM, BECAUSE IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU LEAVE IT WITH THE OVERAGE, THEN WE HAVE TO KIND OF STICK WITH THAT.
AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS.
UM, ALSO IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT'S GOING TO COME UP AND FOR SOME REALLY GOOD STUFF, I WANT TO LIFT UP SOMETHING FROM MS. BARBARA SCOTT, WHO HAS BEEN A WARRIOR IN COLONY PARK, COLONY PARK, UM, IS A FOOD DESERT.
IT'S BEEN A FOOD DESERT FOR ABOUT 13 YEARS.
AND I THINK THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE IN A CITY LIKE AUSTIN, RIGHT? UM, THERE'S NO REASON THAT WE SHOULD HAVE ANY, UM, UM, COMMUNITY, ANY NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE CITY THAT IS A FOOD DESERT, UM, THAT DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO FAST HEALTH SERVICES.
SO I WOULD PERSONALLY ADVOCATE THAT AS MUCH MONEY AS THE OVERAGE MONEY, IF YOU, IF Y'ALL DECIDE TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM THE POLICE BUDGET GOES TO THAT BECAUSE THERE'S NO REASON FOR PEOPLE TO BE HUNGRY AND AUSTIN AND LAST THING.
UM, I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU ALL, UM, AND I'VE ALWAYS SAID THIS, I REALLY HOPE YOU ALL DARE TO DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH WHAT WE GOT.
I KNOW IT'S BEEN 1900, UM, SUCKS, BUT GO AS FAR AS YOU CAN.
AND I PROMISE YOU, THERE ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, UM, THAT ARE WILLING TO WORK TO MAKE SURE WE CAN KEEP US SAFE AND KEEP US LEADING THE WAY AS WELL.
COME ON DOWN ON DECK, UH, UH, DROP PAULO CAUDALIE, THERE'LL BE ON DECK.
HI, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TODAY.
I'M THE TEXAS STATE DIRECTOR FOR ALLIANCE FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, WHICH IS A MULTI-STATE ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO IDENTIFYING NEW SAFETY PRIORITIES AND INCREASING PUBLIC SAFETY FOR ALL.
[01:25:01]
SPECIFICALLY, UM, HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR THOSE IN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST HARMED AND LEAST HELPED, UM, WHERE THE PARENT ORGANIZATION OF CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE, WHICH IS A NETWORK OF OVER 6 6300 CRIME SURVIVORS ACROSS TEXAS.UM, WE'RE PROUD TO BE A PART OF THE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY HERE THAT CARES DEEPLY ABOUT RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN TODAY, UM, HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER PRIORITIES, UM, THAT CAME OUT OF THAT TASK FORCE.
AND I'M HERE SPECIFICALLY TO TALK ABOUT TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS.
UM, TRCS WOULD PROVIDE TRAUMA SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENT CRIME WHO ARE FROM COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED IN WHICH REDUCE VIOLENCE AND PROMOTE HEALING IN THESE COMMUNITIES.
I PROVIDED COUNSEL WITH A BRIEF THAT OUR ORGANIZATION RELEASED EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT IDENTIFIES RECOMMENDATION PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS TO STATE AND GOVERNMENTS ON WAYS THAT THEY CAN USE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY.
OUR THREE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE TO ESTABLISH TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS THAT WOULD, THAT ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE IN HIGHLY VICTIMIZED AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO FUND COMMUNITY-BASED VICTIM SERVICES PROVIDERS, UM, TO FUND RESEARCH, EVALUATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT AND HELP SUSTAIN ARP RECOVERY FUNDS.
UM, AND ALSO ONE THAT'S MORE THE STATE.
UM, I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER ADDING TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS TO THIS BUDGET.
AND IF YOU DON'T, I HOPE THAT YOU DEDICATE SOME OF THE, UH, PORTION OF THE AIR P FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE CITY.
I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO, TO GET TO PEOPLE AND PROVIDE SERVICES, TO HEAL THEM FROM THE THINGS THAT POLICE ARE NEEDED FOR, UM, EVEN IF THEY DON'T RESPOND TO POLICE.
AND THAT IS WHAT TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTERS ARE DESIGNED TO DO WHAT THEY DO SO WELL, AND THEY DO IT WITHOUT COSTING THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICES.
UM, AND, AND I JUST REALLY, REALLY BELIEVE THAT OUR COMMUNITY WOULD BENEFIT GREATLY FOR TRAUMA RECOVERY CENTER.
MITCHELL'S ON DECK JUMP OUT OR YOU'RE OFF.
MAYOR AND COUNCIL, JOHN PAULO WITH THE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT NINE AND I'M HERE TODAY TO TALK TO ABOUT, UH, DANGEROUS ROADS OF NO RETURN HB 1900, UM, PREVENTS TEXAS FROM EVER REDUCING THE POLICE BUDGET.
THAT MEANS THAT EVERY DOLLAR COMMITTED ABOVE THE 20 19 20 20 ALLOCATION IS PERMANENT.
THAT IS A DOLLAR THAT IS TAKEN AWAY FROM ANY KIND OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OR DEMOCRATIC CONTROL IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
THAT IS A DOLLAR THAT IS NOW UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE STATE.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY, REALLY BE CAREFUL WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ALLOCATING, INCREASING, ADDING MORE MONEY TO THE POLICE BUDGET.
ANY AMOUNTS ADDED TO THIS BUDGET ARE PERMANENT.
AND EVEN IF THE MONEY ADDED IS ONLY FOR A ONE-TIME EXPENSE, UM, IRREVERSIBLE INCREASES INCLUDES SUCH THINGS AS OVERTIME FOR ONE-OFF SPECIAL EVENTS, AUSTIN, AS A POPULAR CITY, WE HAVE LOTS OF EVENTS, THOSE THINGS MOUNT UP QUICKLY.
VERY SOON, WE HAVE ALLOCATED A LOT OF MONEY THAT WE CAN NEVER TAKE BACK.
THIS MONEY IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE AND THE STATE FOR GOOD.
UM, SO THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PATH FOR US TO GO DOWN.
UM, ONCE FUNDED, THESE INCREASES BECOME PART OF THE MANDATORY MINIMUM EXPENDITURE ON THE POLICE.
UM, SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE SHOULD SCRUB THE 10 MILLION THAT HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS BUDGET, UM, AND BE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING TO THE POLICE BUDGET MOVING FORWARD.
YES, IT IS A DANGEROUS TIME BECAUSE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY WINS THAT WERE TRANSFORMATIVE AND THAT WERE INSPIRING, HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY FROM US.
AND EVERYTHING THAT WE WON LAST YEAR IS NOW AT STAKE.
THAT IS THE REAL DANGER OF THIS MOMENT.
FEAR-MONGERING IS NOT THE DANGER.
UM, AND THERE IS NO DATA TO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT POLICE PREVENT VIOLENT CRIME.
THERE'S NO DATA TO SUPPORT THAT.
UM, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF MAJOR AND IMPORTANT THINGS COMING UP.
THE CITY IS WORKING ON BUILDING LOTS OF NEW PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, MAINTAINING RAPID ROCK WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS EXPENSIVE AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BADLY NEED.
UM, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER KEY COMPONENTS.
CHAZ MENTIONED FOOD DESERTS, WHICH ARE STILL A MAJOR PROBLEM IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS IN THE CITY.
SO WE HAVE OTHER PRIORITIES AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ANY INCREASES IN FUNDING MOVING FORWARD, BECAUSE THAT'S A PATH THAT WE CANNOT, UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN'T TAKE BACK.
[01:30:01]
TIME AFTER MS. MITCHELL SPEAKS, UH, KATE, UH, GRAZIANI KATE HERE.SO I TOO, I'M GOING TO GO A LITTLE OFF MESSAGE.
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO BE WANTED TO MAKE SURE AND SAY, I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT ONE THING.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FUNDING BECAUSE IT HASN'T COME UP YET.
ALTHOUGH I EXPECT IT WILL BEFORE THAT.
YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF WHEN YOU'RE SPEAKING.
IT'S A LITTLE, NOT VERY GOOD FITTING.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT AJC IS COMING IN, COMING TO YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF SOMETHING, A LITTLE DIFFERENT FOR THE AJC TEAM, WHICH IS THAT WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE PARKS FOLKS TO ASK YOU TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT THE PARKS RANGERS AND YOUTH PROGRAM ASK YOU SHOULD HAVE MATERIALS FROM THEM.
I DON'T WANT TO GO OVER ALL OF THAT AGAIN, BUT IN TERMS OF THE UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY HERE, UM, THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD SEND ARMED MEN INTO OUR PARKS WHEN A VARIETY OF THINGS ARE OCCURRING, ISN'T THAT GREAT? IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA.
AND IN FACT, YOUR PARKS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR PARK RANGERS FOR A LONG TIME.
UH, WHEN I FOUND THAT WE ONLY HAVE 21 PARK RANGERS FOR 303 PARKS, THAT WAS KIND OF AN EYE-POPPING MOMENT FOR ME AT HOW DO WE GET TO A SPOT LIKE THAT WHEN PARKS ARE SO VALUED IN THE CITY, HOW DO WE GET TO SUCH AN UNDERFUNDING MOMENT? WE GET TO IT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN JUST FUNDING POLICE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
ALL THE EXTRA MONEY WE HAVE ALWAYS GOES TO MORE POLICE LAST SUMMER, THIS REGULATORY MOMENT WAS REALLY THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'VE BROKEN THAT PATTERN.
SO NOW WE HAVE A MOMENT WHERE, AGAIN, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, WE DON'T HAVE TO OVER-FUND APD, WE SHOULD NOT DO MORE THAN IS REQUIRED BY 1900, BECAUSE WE CAN NEVER ROLL IT BACK.
AND INSTEAD WE HAVE AN IDEA HERE THAT'S WIDELY SUPPORTED ACROSS THE CITY THAT WILL ALLOW FOR BOTH SECURITY IN OUR PARKS AND ALSO YOUTH EDUCATION AND BETTER YOUTH PROGRAMMING AND FULLY, FULLY, UM, UTILIZE THE EXISTING PARK BUILDINGS AND SPACES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE, BUT WE'RE NOT FULLY UTILIZING BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PAYING THE PEOPLE TO DO THE SERVICES.
SO I JUST WANT TO BRING THAT UP.
I THINK IT FITS NICELY WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE HEARING.
IT'S THE KIND OF DIRECTION THAT THE CITY SHOULD CONTINUE TO GO.
UM, AND FINALLY, I'M PERHAPS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE YOU'LL HEAR TODAY.
WHO'S ACTUALLY ON THE CURRICULUM REVIEW COMMITTEE AND I WANT TO RE STATE THAT I'M, UH, I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED THAT THE TWO CADET CLASSES DON'T INCLUDE THE ONE THAT WE'RE ALREADY THAT'S ALREADY IN.
UM, WOULD LOVE SOME CLARIFICATION ON THAT.
IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TWO CADET CLASSES WHERE THIS ONE AND THE NEXT ONE, I KNOW SPEAKERS, AREN'T SUPPOSED TO ASK QUESTIONS.
UH, BUT ALL I WILL SAY IS I WOULD LOVE TO SPEAK TO YOU ALL MORE ABOUT EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE IN THAT PROCESS.
IT IS GOING VERY WELL IN SOME RESPECTS, BUT IT IS PERHAPS MUCH SLOWER THAN YOU'VE BEEN TOLD.
AND I THINK IT'S TWO CLASSES IN ADDITION TO THE ONE THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
I THINK FRANCIS JORDAN IS UP NEXT IS YOUR PARENTS IS JORDAN WITH US.
UH, MY NAME IS KATE GRAZIANI I'M WITH THE TEXAS HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE.
UM, OUR DROP-IN CENTER FOR PEOPLE WHO USE DRUGS IS IN DISTRICT ONE.
UM, I WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND THE RA THE HARM REDUCTION ALLIANCE THAT I HELP RUN.
IT WAS ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS OF, UH, THE REINVESTED FUNDS FROM
[01:35:01]
APD LAST SUMMER.UM, SO, YOU KNOW, 11 MONTHS AGO, WE WEREN'T HERE IN PERSON, BUT MANY OF US WERE SPEAKING TO YOU ALL ABOUT THE INVESTMENTS THAT YOU WERE MAKING, UM, BOTH AWAY FROM OUR POLICE AND INTO THE COMMUNITY STRATEGIES THAT WE KNOW, KEEP OUR PEOPLE SAFE.
UM, I BELIEVE I SAID SOMETHING TO YOU ALL OR, UM, TO THE EFFECT OF A REAL SERIOUS INVESTMENT IN PREVENTION MEANS THAT WE WON'T FEEL THE NEED FOR THE LARGE POLICE FORCE THAT WE HAVE, UM, AND THAT WE WILL REPLACE IT WITH EQUITABLE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS.
AND, UM, THAT WAS A PATH THAT WE EMBARKED UPON TOGETHER 11 MONTHS AGO.
UM, AND THAT WAS A COMMITMENT THAT Y'ALL MADE TO YOUR COMMUNITY.
UM, WE, WE SPENT HUNDREDS OF HOURS AS PART OF THE TASK FORCE PROCESS DOING RESEARCH, PULLING TOGETHER, UM, BEST PRACTICES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
AND I THINK WITH ONLY 1.9 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND A RECORD HIGH FOR THE APD BUDGET, THE PROPOSED BUDGET REALLY SHOWS A COMPLETE DEPARTURE FROM THAT PATH THAT WE EMBARKED UPON TOGETHER ONLY 11 MONTHS AGO.
UM, MANY OF US WHO ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, PUT INTO PRACTICE THESE PROGRAMS, UM, THE REINVESTMENTS, WE'RE ONLY MONTHS INTO OUR PROJECTS.
WE'RE JUST BEGINNING TO SHOW YOU WHAT WE CAN DO WITH FUNDS, IF YOU INVEST THEM IN COMMUNITY HEALTH STRATEGIES.
UM, WE ALSO, NOT ONLY DID I PARTICIPATE IN THE TASK FORCE AND GIVE HOURS AND HOURS TO THAT PROCESS, BUT WE ALSO EMBARKED ON A RESEARCH PROJECT WITH OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND NO ONE SAID THAT POLICE KEPT THEM SAFE OF ALL THE FOLKS THAT WE TALKED TO.
UM, SO, UM, AT THE VERY LEAST PLEASE CONSIDER THOSE THAT $8.5 MILLION OVER, UM, PLEASE CONSIDER IT.
IT GOES TOWARDS THE REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS.
I LIVE IN DISTRICT FIVE, ONE OF OUR EAST AUSTIN GYMS. THE MILLENNIUM YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX IS IN NEED.
I SERVE AS THE TREASURER AND REPRESENT THE AUSTIN ROSEWOOD COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORPORATION THAT MANAGES THE EAST AUSTIN COMMUNITY ASSET FUNDED FUNDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
ALTHOUGH THOUGH THE MILLENNIUM WAS PROFITABLE PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO KEEP FACILITIES UP TO DATE, NOR HAS THERE BEEN A BUDGET INCREASE IN 20 YEARS TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION WITH THE BUILDING BEING SHUTTERED FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW, WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN THE BUDGET TO COVER THE FULL OPERATING COSTS, THE MIDDLE LINEAGE WILL STRUGGLE OPEN.
IF FOR SOME REASON, THIS EAST AUSTIN TREASURE IS UNABLE TO OPEN IT STORES.
THE CURRENT BOARD OF THE CORPORATION HAS WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS TO IMPROVE OUR AVID OR OUR ADVISORY OPERATION AND GET A NUMBER OF THINGS IN ORDER.
COURTNEY ROBINSON, THE CHAIR OF THE SPORT HAS BEEN WORKING LIKE A CHAMP SPINNING COUNTLESS HOURS WITH CITY STAFF, BOARD MEMBERS AND OUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY.
AND WE ARE ON THE PRECIPICE OF MOVING THINGS FORWARD TO GET THE MILLENNIUM BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE AND VIBRANCY.
WHEN THE MILLENNIUM WAS ORIGINALLY CREATED BY THE CITY, WE, THE BOARD NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ADJUSTING THE BUDGET TO OUR ORIGINAL QUESTS OF 1.6 MILLION.
THE AMOUNT IT COSTS TO OPERATE THE MILLENNIUM.
IT HAS BEEN REQUESTED EVERY YEAR, BUT THIS YEAR WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF THIS ADDITION BECAUSE THE ALLOTTED 78, 6,000 WILL NOT BE ENOUGH.
PLEASE CONSIDER REVIEWING OUR ORIGINAL CRESTS OR REQUESTS AND APPROVING IT.
WE WILL HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE, UM, IT'S OPENED AS OUR DEDICATED COMMUNITY MEMBER, VANESSA SILAS RETIRED OVER AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.
LET THIS EAST AUSTIN, JIM, LET'S SET THIS EAST AUSTIN GYM UP FOR SUCCESS.
WE GOT 750,000 FOR THE HVAC SYSTEM, BUT THAT WAS A NEED FOR YEARS.
AND IN CLOSING AND SHIFTING GEARS AS THE BOARD CHAIR FOR THE THANK YOU, AND PLEASE SUBMIT TO THE, TO THE COUNCIL OF THE BALANCE OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY.
IS MAGGIE LUNA HERE? YOU'LL BE UP NEXT.
I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN.
I'M HERE TO ECHO WHAT YOU'VE HEARD.
UM, MANY OTHER FOLKS SAY SO FAR, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK LATELY ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT POLICING DOES NOT EQUAL SAFETY, CRIMINALIZING, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE FOR EXISTING
[01:40:01]
OR CRIMINALIZING BEHAVIORS ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTION OR BEING UNHOUSED DOES NOT CREATE SAFETY INVESTING INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL TREAT EVERY AUSTINITE WITH DIGNITY CARE AND RESPECT BRINGS SAFETY.THIS PROPOSED BUDGET DUMPS NEARLY EVERY EGG INTO THE BASKET OF POLICING.
THAT'S A ROTTEN CHOICE THAT MAKES NO ONE ACTUALLY SAFER.
AND IT'S A HUGE STEP BACKWARDS.
YOU CAN FIX THIS FUND COMMUNITY, NOT MORE POLICING AS A START, AS OTHERS HAVE SAID, SHIFT THE ADDITIONAL 8.5 MILLION IN THE BUDGET FOR POLICING OVER 2019 LEVELS TO COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, FUND PUBLIC HEALTH WORKERS, NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS, A UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME PILOT AND AN EQUITY SPENDING REVIEW PROCESS AT 29.5 MILLION FOR FYI 20 21, 20 22.
MY NAME IS MAGGIE AND LUNA AND I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FOUR AND I AM IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN, JUSTIN COALITIONS BUDGET PROPOSAL.
I HAVE MANY YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN COUNTERING OUR SO-CALLED LEGAL SYSTEM.
SO WHEN I SEE THE PRESENCE OF POLICE, MY FIRST THOUGHT IS NOT OF SAFETY.
IT TERRIFIES ME TO SEE AN OFFICER PULL UP BEHIND ME.
I KNOW I'M COMPLETELY ILLEGAL, BUT MY VERY REAL EXPERIENCES HAVE PROVEN TO ME THAT THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
IT DOES NOT MAKE ME AS A PERSON SAFE.
MY POLICE INTERACTION HAS PROVEN TO JAPAN ON WHATEVER LENS THAT OFFICER MAY CHOOSE TO SEE ME THROUGH ON THAT GIVEN DAY ON PAPER, I MAY LOOK REALLY SCARY, BUT IT ONLY TAKES A MOMENT FOR ANYONE TO LISTEN AND FIND OUT THAT I'M NOT THAT PERSON.
THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW FOR REAL INNOVATIVE INVESTMENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND ACTUALLY RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY.
I AM PART OF THE PUBLIC POLICING DOES NOT MEAN SAFE TO ME.
SO IF WE'RE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY FOCUS ON THE PUBLIC.
IN QUESTION, AFTER I HAD MY FIRST INTERACTION WITH OUR LEGAL SYSTEM, NOTHING THAT I EXPERIENCED MADE ANYONE IN MY COMMUNITY FEEL SAFER.
I CAME OUT VENGEFUL ANGRY AND I NO LONGER CARED.
SO WHO BENEFITS FROM AN ANGRY PERSON WITH NOTHING TO LOSE? WE MUST REMEMBER THAT HURT PEOPLE, HURT PEOPLE.
SO LET'S STOP HURTING PEOPLE AND BEGIN BUILDING THEM UP AND UNITING THEM, INVEST IN THE PEOPLE, GIVE THEM A SENSE OF PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE, WHICH WILL IN TURN, MAKE US ALL SAFER.
IS THAT? WHAT ABOUT, UH, UH, JEN IRONMAN? JAN WIREMAN.
WHAT ABOUT, UM, UH, MADDIE DIONNE RILEY, MADDIE, LEON RILEY.
WHAT ABOUT, UH, AUDREY? K, YOU'LL BE UP NEXT.
I'M TYPICALLY DOWN HERE ON LAND USE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE ISSUES, BUT I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE AND SUPPORTIVE AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION'S BUDGET PRIORITIES, UH, THE AGC COMMENDS CITY COUNCIL FOR ITS EFFORTS THIS PAST YEAR TO REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUSTIN.
HOWEVER, THE EFFORTS HAVE BARELY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE OF POSSIBILITIES AND MAKING AUSTIN SAFER FOR ALL TO THAT END, WE ASK IT IN THIS BUDGET CYCLE, YOU STAY THE COURSE BY NOT INCREASING THE POLICE BUDGET ABOVE THE LEVEL REQUIRED BY HB 1900.
INSTEAD WE ASK THAT YOU FUND PUBLIC SAFETY SOLUTIONS GET PRIORITIZED THE NEEDS OF VULNERABLE AUSTINITES, ESPECIALLY THOSE HISTORICALLY HARMED BY POLICE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TAX BOARDS THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT RECOMMENDED COMMUNITY RUN, EMERGENCY FIRST RESPONSE, ET CETERA, IS THE PROGRAM RUN LOCALLY THROUGH 10,000 FEAR WHAT'S WORK RESPONDERS HAVING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE FIRST RESPONDERS THAT DO NOT POSE A THREAT TO AUSTIN.
NEXT OF COLOR IS AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP TO ENSURE ACCESSIBLE VERSE RESPONSE FOR ALL AUSTIN X.
AND I WOULD ALSO SAY HAVING SERVED ON A LOT OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MYSELF, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO, IF YOU ASK PEOPLE TO SERVE ON SOMETHING LIKE A TASK FORCE FOR RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY, YOU GOT TO REALLY MEET THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AND INVEST IN WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
AND I KNOW THAT A CARD WITH HB 1900, BUT, UH, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO LISTEN TO ALL THE INPUT AND, AND TRY TO DO MORE IN THAT DIRECTION.
[01:45:01]
IS CYNTHIA, UH, AND MAIDEN YOU'LL BE UP NEXT.I AM A PROUD MEMBER OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE CHURCH AND A LEADER OF CENTRAL TEXAS INTERFAITH.
I SPEAK ON OUR PRIORITY OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ON TUESDAY.
CTI HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE CALLING ON THE CITY TO RELEASE THE 84 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TIED UP IN A CONTINGENCY FUND AND FOR THE COUNTY TO ALLOCATE A HUNDRED MILLION OF ITS STIMULUS DOLLARS TO HELP OUR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS, THE SHELL GAMES NEED TO STOP AND BOTH THE CITY AND THE COUNTY NEED TO ACT.
NOW I AM HERE TODAY TO URGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACT QUICKLY AND RELEASE THE $84 MILLION HELD IN CONTINGENCY ONLY TO BE SPENT.
IF ANOTHER 200 MILLION IS RAISED FROM STILL UNIDENTIFIED SOURCES, THE DELAY NOT ONLY RISKS LIVES, BUT THE MONEY RISKS BEING REALLOCATED TO OTHER PRIORITIES.
IF MATCHING FUNDS, AREN'T REACHED, PEOPLE ARE IN NEED OF HELP.
EVERY DAY THAT MONEY IS HELD IN CONTINGENCY IS A DAY THAT PEOPLE'S SAFETY AND SURVIVAL ARE AT RISK.
I SPEAK TO PEOPLE ON THE STREETS AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE GROWTH PROSPERITY, AND THE RISING PROPERTY VALUES IN THIS CITY.
THE CITY NEEDS TO DEPLOY THE 23 MILLION ALREADY APPROVED FOR THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND TO IMMEDIATELY FREE UP THE 84 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY.
THE CITY HAS BEEN GIVEN HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN OUR FEDERAL STIMULUS DOLLARS ON TOP OF BEING ONE OF THE WEALTHIEST CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, SPEND THIS ALLOTTED MONEY.
NOW AS A PERSON OF FAITH, I TAKE THESE MATTERS SERIOUSLY.
AND PERSONALLY, I TAKE TO HEART MATTHEW 25, WHICH SAYS WHATSOEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF OUR BROTHERS THAT YOU DO FOR ME AND WHATSOEVER YOU DON'T DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BROTHERS THAT YOU DID NOT DO FOR ME.
YOU DIDN'T DELAY THE INCREASE IN THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
SO DON'T DELAY HOUSING FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH TO OUR SPEAKER AND TO AUSTIN INTERFAITH FOR THEIR CASSIE FOR ON SO MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES, INCLUDING ISSUES RELATED TO HOMELESSNESS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC KNEW THAT, UM, I DID REACH OUT TO OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER THIS WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE WERE NOT PROGRAMS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MADE THAT DECISION TO PUT SOME, UM, IMMEDIATE, MAKE SOME IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE AND THEN HAVE OTHER FUNDING BE MORE CONTINGENT ON THOSE ADDITIONAL, THAT ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION.
UM, WE DID MAKE SOME IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.
I REACHED OUT TO OUR HOMELESS STRATEGY OFFICER THIS WEEK TO MAKE SURE THAT, THAT, UM, WE HAVE NOT SPENT THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO ALLOCATE OR SPEND ALL OF THAT FUNDING.
SO AS FAR AS, AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE NOT PROGRESS PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AT THIS POINT FOR LACK OF FUNDING, BUT I JUST THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO CLARIFY THAT.
CAUSE I WOULD HATE FOR ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THINK THAT THERE WERE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT MOVING FORWARD RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE FEDERAL FUNDING HAD NOT YET BEEN ALLOCATED AS I, AGAIN, JUST TO REITERATE, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR STRATEGY OFFICER IS, HAS ASSURED ME THAT THERE ARE NOT PROGRAMS AWAITING FUNDING.
WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THAT HAPPEN.
OUR DECK IS, UM, A MAN, AMANDA LEWIS LEWIS HAIR.
OKAY, YOU'LL BE UP NEXT OR I'D HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'M CYNTHIA VAN, MEN, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
UM, I'M HERE SPEAKING TONIGHT ON BEHALF OF TCP AND MYSELF AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE.
UM, THE WORK THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS UNDERTAKEN WITH THE LEADERSHIP FROM THIS COMMUNITY, UM, TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY HAS BEEN CRITICAL IN MOVING US FORWARD AS A CITY, TRAVIS COUNTY DEMOCRATS SUPPORT THAT WORK AND WE BELIEVE IT MUST CONTINUE.
WE SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PUBLIC SAFETY THAT DOES NOT RELY ON POLICING TO ADDRESS ISSUES THAT ARE ROOTED IN INEQUITY.
WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL PROCESS AND INVEST IN EMS AND FIRE RESPONSE, MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES, GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AFFORDABLE, AND QUALITY QUALITY HOUSING FOR ALL EQUITABLE HEALTHCARE SERVICES IN PANDEMIC RESPONSE, AND TO CONTINUE ENCOURAGING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND PARTICIPATION.
IN THIS PROCESS, WE FIRMLY OPPOSE THE ATTEMPTS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE AND FROM OTHER FORCES TO HELP THIS PROGRESS BY USURPING COUNSEL'S AUTHORITY OVER THE BUDGET PROCESS, THE BUDGET PROCESS, BECAUSE THESE EFFORTS ARE ATTEMPTS TO STRIP POWER FROM THE VOTERS WHO ELECTED YOU AND THE COMMUNITIES YOU SERVE, WE WILL REMAIN OPPOSED TO THOSE.
AND WE ASK THAT YOU STAND STRONG AGAINST THOSE EFFORTS AS WELL, TO THE GREATEST
[01:50:01]
EXTENT POSSIBLE USING ALL MEANS AVAILABLE TO YOU AND THAT YOU CONTINUE MAKING PROGRESS FOR THE RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN.UM, I AM A CO-FOUNDER OF THE SURVIVOR JUSTICE PROJECT AND I'VE ALSO SAT ON THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
I AM IN SUPPORT OF AUSTIN JUSTICE, COALITION'S BUDGET REC PRIORITIES.
AND I WANT TO SAY JUST AS A TASK FORCE MEMBER HEARING EVERYONE'S TESTIMONY, UM, I, IT REALLY IS SO VITAL.
THE WORK THAT IS ONGOING AND THE PROCESS OF RE-IMAGINING IS A LONG, LONG PROCESS.
AND I STILL HAVE TREMENDOUS HOPE THAT WE CAN GET, UM, GET ON TRACK WITH IT.
UM, I THINK, UH, GREAT THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.
I THINK THE OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION IS A HUGE DEAL.
UM, THE EQUITY OFFICE IS DOING GREAT WORK.
UM, I WILL SAY AS SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR SURVIVORS OF VIOLENCE, UM, AND CHAIRED THAT WORKING GROUP FOR THE TASK FORCE, UM, THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING VIOLENCE, NOT ENOUGH CULTURALLY, UM, SUFFICIENT SOURCES.
THERE'S NOT ENOUGH, UM, COUNSELING AND CRISIS WORK.
AND I'VE TALKED BEFORE ABOUT THE RAPE TO PRISON PIPELINE AND THE TRAUMA TO PRISON PIPELINE.
WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS SOMEONE'S NEED AFTER VIOLENCE.
UM, THEY END UP BECOMING CRIMINALIZED.
THEY END UP, UM, UH, BECOMING, UM, UNABLE TO DO THE GOOD WORK IN OUR COMMUNITY.
SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I DO WANT TO ADD THAT SINCE APD DOES HAVE THIS EXTRA MONEY, UM, THAT IT CAN AFFORD TO PAY THE VICTIMS OF CRIME, OF THEIR, OF THEIR VIOLENCE, UM, OUT OF ITS OWN BUDGET, THEY CAN ALSO PAY TO, UM, SETTLE LAWSUITS LIKE THE SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, SURVIVOR LAWSUIT.
UM, I ALSO THINK THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY, UH, VICTIM'S COUNSELORS MORE MONEY TO DO WORK, UM, THAT THAT IS IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE THAT REPORT VIOLENCE.
GOOD EVENING, CHRISTINE AND I GOT ASSIGNED THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT AVANT SAY AUSTIN.
WE ARE A TWO GENERATION EDUCATION, NONPROFIT WORKING PRIMARILY WITH SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES BY TWO GENERATION.
I MEAN THAT WE PROVIDE FREE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF THREE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR THE PARENTS.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH HUNDREDS OF LATIN X PARENTS AND THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN FOR A PERIOD OF NINE MONTHS, UH, WHICH RESULT IN HEALTHIER HOME ENVIRONMENT, SCHOOL READINESS FOR KIDS AND INCREASED SOCIAL AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL FOR THE PARENTS.
PARENTS WHO GO THROUGH OUR PROGRAM GO FROM BEING INTIMIDATED TO ENROLL THEIR KIDS IN PRE-K TO RUNNING PTA MEETINGS, SITTING ON A NONPROFIT BOARDS, INCLUDING OURS, UH, AND CONTINUING THEIR OWN EDUCATION.
WE ARE PROUD PARTNERS OF THE READY FAMILIES, COLLABORATIVE, UH, FUNDED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
AND I'M HERE FIRST TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING OVER $11 MILLION FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN TO CHILDCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION.
WE KNOW THAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS HANDS-DOWN THE BEST USE OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
IT YIELDS THE BIGGEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AND SIMPLY WE'RE HERE TO PREPARE, NOT REPAIR.
AND AS YOU DECIDE HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THESE FUNDS, I ASK THAT YOU PRIORITIZE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK ALONGSIDE UNDER MESSICK COMMUNITIES AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I ALSO ASK THAT YOU CONSIDER AN ORGANIZATION'S CULTURAL COMPETENCY AND COMPOSITION OF ITS BOARD STAFF AND COMMITMENT TO RACIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IS NOT SOMETHING THAT ONLY HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM BETWEEN A TEACHER AND A STUDENT.
IT STARTS AT THE HOME AND IT HAPPENS 24 7 WITH EACH INTERACTION THAT A CHILD HAS WITH THEIR CAREGIVER.
I HOPE THAT YOU TAKE THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT SIMPLY SUPPORT HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND INVESTING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, BUT TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FAMILY AS A WHOLE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS LIKE AVANT SAY, AUSTIN ARE ALSO THE ENTRY POINT FOR HUNDREDS OF LINE NEXT PARENTS TO ACCESS COMMUNITY RESOURCES, CD PROGRAMS, AND TO BECOME MORE CIVICALLY ENGAGED.
FOR EXAMPLE, UM, DURING THIS PAST YEAR, OUR SPANISH SPEAKING EDUCATORS HELP PARENTS APPLY FOR THE RICE FONTS AND RENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
THEY GOT 94% OF OUR CLIENTS TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS, AND WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A MASSIVE VACCINATION EFFORT TO GET OUR PARENTS VACCINATED.
AND WITH THAT, I HOPE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO INVEST.
AND I WANT TO SAY AUSTIN AND IN THE READY FAMILIES COLLABORATIVE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE MESSAGE
[01:55:01]
ABOUT MASKING IS, UH, UH, LUIS HERE ABOUT PHARRELL AND IS STEPHANIE HOFFMAN HERE? YOU'LL BE UP NEXT GOOD EVENING.I'M THE ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AUSTIN VOICES FOR EDUCATION AND YOUTH, A 5 0 1 C3, NONPROFIT THAT WORKS WITH SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM BECOME COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND ALSO RUNS FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS.
MANY OF YOU ARE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR WORK IN THE PAST, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL TO YOU FOR THAT.
UM, SINCE CAMPUSES WERE CLOSED DURING COVID, WE PIVOTED AND ALONG WITH THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS WORKED TO MAKE SURE FAMILIES CONTINUED TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
EVEN DURING THIS DIFFICULT PERIOD, NORMAL TIMES, WE'RE SERVING ABOUT 4,000 FAMILIES A YEAR, WRAPAROUND SUPPORTS FOR HOUSING, UTILITY, UH, HEALTHCARE ACCESS EMPLOYMENT, ET CETERA.
UH, THIS WORK REALLY HAD TO CHANGE A LOT DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE SHIFTED VIRTUALLY, UH, BY PHONE, WE SET UP A CALL CENTER, WE RAN OVER 70 LARGE FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
UH, THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK TOLD US WE WERE THEIR BIGGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF FOOD BESIDES THEMSELVES.
UM, WE'VE CONTINUED WORKING WITH VULNERABLE FAMILIES TO KEEP THEM FROM FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
WE WERE SUCCESSFUL AT THIS BECAUSE WE ARE ORGANIZED AROUND A RESILIENCE STRATEGY AND WE DEAL WITH CRISIS ON AN ONGOING BASIS, NOT OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AT ONCE, BUT FAMILY BY FAMILY.
WE'VE PROVIDED THE CITY COUNCIL WITH A COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE'VE BEEN SUPPORTING FAMILIES DURING THE PANDEMIC.
AND WE WANTED TO COME TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR OVER 10 YEAR PARTNERSHIP, HELPING US TO FUND OUR EIGHT, UH, FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS.
AND TO ASK YOU TO THINK ABOUT DOING MORE NEXT YEAR, AUSTIN VOICES IS REQUESTING THAT YOU WORK WITH US TO DO A ONE-YEAR PILOT CALLED RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, RESILIENT SCHOOLS.
THIS WOULD BE BASED ON OUR DECADE OF SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY SCHOOLS DEVELOPMENT, AND THE EXPERIENCE THAT WE'VE HAD WORKING WITH THE NEEDIEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
UM, THIS WOULD ENTAIL FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOL COORDINATORS, AND WE WILL GET YOU A WRITTEN PROPOSAL AND LOOK FORWARD TO A DISCUSSION WITH YOU MAYOR, IF I COULD ADD ONE MORE THING WE ARE WAITING TO HEAR FROM, UM, THE US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ON A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT THAT WE WROTE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A WHOLE HOST OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS, INCLUDING AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH, TO TRAIN 60 COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKERS, TO DO IMMEDIATE WORK AROUND COVID VACCINATION FINGERS CROSSED THAT WE GET THAT IF WE DON'T, WE'D LOVE TO TALK TO AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND TO COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO MAY BE THINKING ABOUT DIRECTING SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY IN THAT DIRECTION.
MARY I'D JUST LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT WHILE MR. ALFARO IS HERE TO JUST THANK AUSTIN VOICES FOR YOUR WORK DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT THEN ESPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER STORM, YOU WERE ON THE PHONE, I THINK WITH, WITH MANY OF US WHEN IT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, 1130 AT NIGHT, AND WE WERE ASKING, CAN YOU RUN A FOOD BANK TOMORROW, STARTING AT 11 IN THE MORNING? AND YOU SAID, YES.
AND THEN WE ASKED, ACTUALLY, THERE'S A SECOND ONE THAT AT THE MILLENNIUM CENTER, CAN YOU HELP US RUN THAT? AND YOU SAID, YES, UH, WHILE YOU WERE HELPING PEOPLE NOT GET EVICTED AND HELPING FAMILIES WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON, NOT JUST WITH PEOPLE GETTING SICK, BUT WITH VIOLENCE AND EVICTIONS.
SO I THINK YOU'VE JUST REALLY BEEN A MODEL FOR WHAT A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND THEN ALSO WHAT THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASKFORCE TALKED ABOUT WITH A NEIGHBORHOOD HUBS AT OUR SCHOOLS.
SO I DO HOPE THAT, UM, AS WE WORK ON REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND RESILIENCY, THAT, UM, WE CAN CONTINUE TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR WORK AND JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANKS.
ANYBODY ELSE HERE HAS SIGNED UP AND I MISSED THE STOP AND GO AHEAD.
MY NAME IS STEPHANIE HOFFMAN AND I'VE LIVED IN DISTRICT THREE EAST AUSTIN, UH, NOW GOING ON 15 YEARS.
UM, AND I'M A MEMBER OF UNDOING, UH, WHITE SUPREMACY, AUSTIN, BECAUSE I WANT TO GET ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.
I WANT TO CONTINUOUSLY ADVOCATE AND I'M SHOWING UP HERE IN PERSON BECAUSE MY CALL HAS DROPPED THREE TIMES AND PAST ATTEMPTS TO ADVOCATE FOR MY NEIGHBORS AND THOSE WHO LIVE, UH, HERE IN AUSTIN, ACROSS THE BOARD, THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE PRIORITIES HAVE BEEN SHRUNKEN
[02:00:01]
TO SYMBOLIC STATUS.SOME OF WHAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET CALLS RE-IMAGINING ACTUALLY GOES DIRECTLY TO POLICE FOR CADET ACADEMIES, VICTIM SERVICES FUNDS ARE PROPOSED ONLY FOR APD AND NOT FOR THE COMMUNITY VICTIM SERVICES CALLED FOR BY THE TASK FORCE.
I TOO HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE.
SO THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR ME.
AND COMING OUT HERE TO YOU TODAY, WE CANNOT SHY AWAY FROM FUNDING ALTERNATIVES TO POLICING AT ALL LEVELS THAT MAKE NEW SYSTEMS OF SUPPORT AND SAFETY TRULY FEASIBLE.
THE RPS TASK FORCE WAS CLEAR THAT ONLY REFORMING ASPECTS OF HOW POLICE ARE TRAINED DOES NOT PROTECT BLACK AND BROWN AUSTINITES OR PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS MADE VULNERABLE BY POVERTY AND OPPRESSION.
WHILE POLICE MISCONDUCT MUST BE CHECKED FROM TRAINING THROUGH TO ACTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, WE CANNOT SKIP THE BIGGEST PART, AND THAT IS RESTRICTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR POLICE TO HARM PEOPLE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE MUST CREATE SYSTEMS OF SAFETY BASED IN COMMUNITY CARE, FUN COMMUNITY, NOT MORE POLICING.
THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE ON OUR AGENDA.
UH, SOME OF YOU HAVE, UH, INQUIRED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD BE TAKING A LOOK AT AN ADDITIONAL MEETING SCHEDULED IN THE FIRST WEEK OR 2ND OF AUGUST, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW IT'S BEING LOOKED AT NOW AND I'M SURE THE FOLKS WILL REACH OUT TO YOU BETTER.
JUST A REMINDER FOR THE PUBLIC, THE SECOND HEARING ON THIS BUDGET AS FOR NEXT THURSDAY, THE 29TH.
AND SO THERE'LL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK ON THIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
AND MANAGERS, ARE YOU AND YOUR STAFF? EVERYBODY HERE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK I KNOW THAT WENT INTO PREPARING THIS BUDGET.
I THINK YOU PUT US IN A GOOD POSITION TO BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT.
AND HERE, UH, AT, UH, UH, SIX 15, UH, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
WAS THAT EASY? HE JUST MADE HIS MIX TAPES AND MOVED TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
MAY SOME GRADE AND THEY ROCK AND ROLL.