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[Austin Mayor Steve Adler – State of the City 2020]
STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS PRESENTED VIRTUALLY FOLLOW ALONG AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA USING HASHTAGMAYOR PRO TEM COLLEAGUES ON THE COUNCIL, CITY MANAGERS, CITY STAFF, MY NEIGHBORS AND FELLOW AUSTINITES.
IT IS TRUE THAT THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR CITY IS ANXIOUS TROUBLE.
YOU'RE HURTING, BUT IT'S NOT THE COMPLETE TRUTH.
WE ARE ALSO SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT IN AN ALMOST CURIOUS WAY.
A REAL ESTATE OF OUR CITY IS ANXIOUS AND HOPEFUL.
EVEN AS WE MANAGE A SET OF ESCAPABLE CHALLENGES.
SO STAR IS TO STRETCH THE IMAGINATION.
WE LOOK TO A FUTURE PRECISELY BECAUSE IT IS UNCERTAIN THAT PROVIDES US A ONCE IN A CENTURY OPPORTUNITY OPPORTUNITY TO NO LONGER BE BOUND BY WHO WE WERE A YEAR AGO.
SOME GREATER POWER SEEMS TO HAVE REINVENTED US ALL THIS MUCH CHANGE ALL AROUND AND ALMOST EVERYTHING GIVES US AN ALMOST INFINITE SENSE OF FREEDOM TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY BECOME ALL THAT WE ASPIRE TO BE.
SO HERE WE ARE NOW CONFRONTING CHALLENGES, UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.
SO WHERE DO WE BEGIN IN TIMES OF SUCH GREAT UNCERTAINTY? WHAT SHOULD BE OUR GUIDING LIGHT? I THINK WE BEGIN WITH AND LOOK TO JUSTICE.
IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SPEECH ONLY ABOUT COVID-19 AND EVERY DISCUSSION OF THINGS THAT MATTER.
OUR FAMILIES, OUR HEALTH, OUR JOBS, BUSINESSES, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR BEST LAID PLANS.
THE VIRUS IS THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE CORONA VIRUS WAS THE SUPPORTING ACTOR THAT STOLE EVERY SCENE.
EVERYONE KNOWS THE ARC OF THE VIRUS.
THE HARD CHOICES CAME FAST AS WE CANCELED SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, AND THEN MOVED TO A VIRTA PUBLIC HEALTH DISASTER AND STAY AT HOME OF ORDERS TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF A VIRUS.
WE DIDN'T KNOW IF THE COMMUNITY WOULD JOIN IN SUCH AN EXTREME MEASURE OR IF INCREDIBLE DISRUPTION WOULD STOP THE VIRUS.
DID WE SAVED THOUSANDS OF LIVES IN OUR CITY? I WANT TO PAUSE TO THANK ON BEHALF OF A GRATEFUL CITY.
S SCOTT DIRECTOR, HAYDEN ONE OR TEASER CARTER, DR.
JOHNSTON AND JUDGE, AND NOW SENATOR ECKHART FOR HAVING SUCH A SIGNIFICANT ROLE WITH SO MANY OTHERS IN HELPING TO KEEP US SAFE.
WE ALL WANT THE LOCAL ECONOMY ON OUR LIVES BACK AS WE, AS WE KNEW THEM BEFORE,
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BUT THE GOVERNOR'S DECISION REOPENED FOR, WE HAD SUFFICIENT TESTING AND TRACING IN PLACE.AND BEFORE OUR NUMBERS WERE LOW ENOUGH COMPOUNDED THE CHALLENGE.
WE WENT ON TO MORE PERMISSIVE PHASES WITHOUT KNOWING THE IMPACT OF THE PROCEEDING.
WE TRIED TO OPEN BUSINESSES AS THEY HAD OPERATED PRE VIRUS.
LEADERS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS GAVE TO DESTRUCTIVE OR AMBIGUOUS MESSAGES ABOUT WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO THE PREVENTATIVE SURGE.
AND SO THE SURGE CAME ROARING BACK.
TRUTH IS THE VIRUS WAS NEVER GONE.
IT JUST HIDES, WAITING FOR US TO INVITE IT BACK INTO OUR LIVES.
AND THAT'S WHEN WE SHOWED AUSTIN.
THAT'S WHEN WE SHOWED IT, WE RALLIED AGAIN, FOCUSED ON MASKING AND DISTANCING AND AVOIDING GROUPS.
AGAIN, WE STOPPED THE TRAJECTORY.
WE SAVE MORE LIVES THIS TIME BECOMING A STATEWIDE MODEL FOR WHAT'S POSSIBLE.
WE LEARN, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VIRUS BY OUR BEHAVIORS.
AND WE GLIMPSED A FUTURE WHERE MORE WAS POSSIBLE TODAY.
IT APPEARS AS IF WE MIGHT BE AT A PLATEAU, THAT'S BETTER THAN A SURGE, BUT IT'S STILL DANGEROUS.
AND THE INFECTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY IS STILL TOO HIGH.
YOU WANT A SUSTAINED OPENING OF BUSINESSES AND SCHOOLS DRIVE DOWN THE INFECTION RATE FURTHER THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, INFECTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY NOW IS ABOUT 10 TO 15%.
AND BY THE WAY, ANY CROWD AT ALL GATHERING FOR A UT FOOTBALL IS NOT GOING TO HELP US GET THERE.
I READ THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS CONSIDERING GATHERING 25,000 PEOPLE FOR FOOTBALL GAMES.
AND I, AND I HOPE THEY'RE NOT REALLY GOING TO TRY TO DO THIS.
I'M NOT SURE THERE'S ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
THAT'S HAVING GATHERINGS WITH THAT SIZE.
THIS POINT, EVEN IN PLACES WITH LOWER VIRUS, INFECTION, SAY OUR CHOICES HAVE CONSEQUENCES.
MANY PEOPLE WHO LIVE THROUGH IT ARE CARRYING INJURIES THAT MAY BE WITH THEM.
THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, RISKS WE TAKE WITH MASKING AND DISTANCING OR ATTENDING LARGE GROUPS PUTS AT RISK.
THE SUSTAINING OF THE OPENING OF SCHOOLS AND BUSINESSES FOR ASSAULT.
THE VIRUS IS MORE THAN JUST AN ATTACK ON OUR PHYSICAL HEALTH.
IT'S ALSO A DEVASTATING BLOW TO OUR ECONOMIC UNEMPLOYMENT IS THAT UNIMAGINABLE LEVELS.
BUSINESSES HAVE SHUTTERED SOME TEMPORARILY IN SOME LOST FOREVER.
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE GOING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES, OR WHETHER THEY'LL BE EVICTED FROM YOUR HOMES.
TENANTS STRUGGLE WITH RENT AND HOMEOWNERS AND LANDLORDS STRUGGLE WITH MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, OUR HOSPITALITY AND CREATIVE WORKERS AND INDUSTRIES.
A PART OF OUR ECONOMY AND OUR CULTURE ARE REALLY, AND FOR MANY IT'S TOO LATE, THE CITY IS PUTTING MORE THAN $200 MILLION INTO PROGRAMS AND DIRECT AID TO MITIGATE ECONOMIC IMPACTS PRICES HEALTHY.
I WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK DIRECTOR
CONGRESS NEEDS TO PASS, CARES TO ACT, AND IT NEEDS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT DIRECTLY TO CITIES SO WE CAN CONTINUE TO HELP OURSELVES.
BUT COVID-19 IS ALSO A MORAL CHALLENGE.
IN MANY WAYS, IT MAKES THIS MOMENT EVEN BIGGER.
THEN ALL OF THAT COVID-19 IS NOT JUST KILLING PEOPLE.
IT'S IMPACTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY FELT BY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, BLACK AND LATIN X AUSTINITES ARE GETTING INFECTED AND DYING AT HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR WHITE NEIGHBORS.
HOW MANY OF US SAT AT HOME WHILE WE WERE SHELTERING IN PLACE FROM THE STORM AND WATCHED ESSENTIAL WORKERS, CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AND NURSING HOMES FORCED TO TAKE RISKS.
THE REST OF US COULD HAVE WORRIED.
AND WE HAD SUSCEPTIBLE AND ATMOS NEIGHBORS WAS NO LONGER THEORETICAL.
AND YES, WE WORRIED ABOUT WHETHER THERE'D BE TOILET PAPER ON SHOUTS, BUT WE BEGAN TO NOTICE PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME ECONOMIC FIRST RESPONDERS THAT WERE WORKING TO RESTOCK THE SHOPS.
COVID-19 HIGHLIGHTED THAT WE LACK THE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO GET PEOPLE TO THE JOBS THAT MAKE THE CITY RUN.
IT SHOWED US THE GENERATIONAL VULNERABILITY OF NEIGHBORS OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN SYSTEMICALLY
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DENIED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE RESOURCES.WE SAW THAT DURING A PEN DEMIC, THE HEALTH OF IMMIGRANTS, POOR PEOPLE, AND THOSE WITHOUT HOMES IS INTERCONNECTED WITH OUR OWN.
WE SAW THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES.
IT'S ALSO ABOUT NEARLY 40% OF THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
HOMELESSNESS IS A RACIAL ISSUE, A PARTICULARLY CRUEL RESULT OF DISPLACEMENTS AND DISINVESTMENT IN DESPAIR.
OUR STAY AT HOME MANDATE REVEALED THE HOUSING INSECURITY, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MIGRANTS.
COVID-19 MADE IT CLEAR HOW MANY ESSENTIAL WORKERS LACK ACCESS TO THE ESSENTIALS.
AND IS IT, IF THERE WAS ANY WAY TO AVOID SEEING THE RACIAL CONTOURS OF THE COVID-19 CRISIS? ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOREVER INTERTWINED WITH THE VIRUS WAS HEART BREAKING, REALLY CLEAR AND INFURIATING.
WHEN WE WATCHED GEORGE FLOYD PLEAD FOR HIS LIFE AND CALL OUT FOR HIS MOTHER BEFORE DYING, BENEATH THE KNEE OF A POLICE OFFICER, OVERWHELMING NUMBERS FINALLY BEGAN TO DISABUSE THEMSELVES OF THE FANTASY THAT PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE EQUALLY VALUED, PROTECTED, AND SAFE, EVEN BY THOSE SWORN TO PROTECT US IN AUSTIN, MR. FLOYD'S DEATH CAME NEAR WEEKS AFTER THE SHOOTING OF MY GRANDMAS, THE TRAGEDY WE HAVE YET TO EXPLAIN IN CAPITAL LOSS TO THOSE WHO LOVED HIM INTO HIS MOTHER.
MOST OF ALL, WE WERE NOT BYSTANDERS TO THE TRAGEDY IN MINNESOTA, LIKE CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
WE TOO HAVE BEEN LIVING THIS CYCLE OF POLICE VIOLENCE, COMMUNITY OUTRAGE, AND PRECIOUS FEW ANSWERS.
THE VIEW OF THE VIRUS AND OF OUR CITY THROUGH THE LENS OF JUSTICE AND RACE IS ONE WE SHOULD NOT END, CANNOT CLOSE OUR EYES TO, THEY CAN SEE IT EVERYWHERE AROUND US AND IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO, LIKE THE MIRROR THAT DOESN'T LIE, THIS CRISIS IS LAYING BARE INJUSTICES THAT HAVE BEEN TOO EASY TO IGNORE FOR TOO LONG.
WE JUST HAVEN'T DEALT WITH IT.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE TO LARGE, TO INTRACTABLE, TO DIFFICULT.
IN FACT, IT'S THE KIND OF CHALLENGE THAT SOCIETY CAN ONLY PICK UP AND RESOLVE WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A MOMENT OF SUCH UPHEAVAL.
THAT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IS NOT A CHOICE, BUT IT'S THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE HISTORY TELLS US THAT SOMETIMES IT TAKES A MONUMENTAL STRATEGY TO PUT US ON A FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT AND EVEN HISTORICALLY RIGHT, AND JUST PATH THAT WE WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE FOUND SOMETIMES.
GREAT SEE CHANGES IN DIRECTION AND INERTIA NECESSARY FOR US TO FUNDAMENTALLY AND TRANSFORMATIONALLY CHANGE A SOCIETY'S FUTURE HAPPEN ONLY BECAUSE OF GREAT DISRUPTION.
ONLY WHEN OUR CURRENT DREAM SEEMS SHATTERED.
ARE WE FORCED TO DREAM A NEW TO SEE OUR WORLD AND OURSELVES DIFFERENTLY WHEN WE COULD NO LONGER DO WHAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DONE.
WE CAN REALIZE THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY AND A NEW FOCUS ON NEW DREAMS. LET ME GIVE YOU TWO HISTORIC EXAMPLES OF WHAT I'M TALKING.
THE FIRST IS THE STORY OF AUSTIN'S DAM WAS AS RELATED BY FORMER UT PRESIDENT ANDRUS SEEMS IN THE LATE 18 HUNDREDS, AUSTIN WAS DREAMING ABOUT ITS FUTURE.
WHAT, WHAT DID WE GROW UP TO BE? THE LEADERS OF THE TIME LOOKED ENVIOUSLY AT THE GROWING NUMBER OF MILL TOWNS IN THE NORTHEAST AND HOW THEIR ECONOMIES WERE BOOSTED BY BUILDING DAMS AND HARNESSING THE POWER OF WATER FOR ENERGY TO DRIVE WHAT THEY HOPED WOULD BE NEW MANUFACTURING, AUSTIN, A MANUFACTURING CENTER OF THE SOUTHWEST.
I UNDERSTAND IN THE WORLD AT THAT TIME, AND THEN HISTORIC STORM CAME AND WASHED UP THE DAM AND THE DREAM AND THE LAND SURROUNDING THE DAM WOULD NEVER DEVELOP INTEGRATED IN FRACTURING, BUT INSTEAD WOULD TAKE ITS PLACE AS A PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS FROM THE DEBRIS OF ONE FUTURE CAME THE POTENTIAL REALIZATION OF AUSTIN AS A CITY OF IDEAS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS THE NEW DEAL RISING FROM THE GREAT DEPRESSION UP UNTIL MOST RECENT TIMES, THIS WAS THE DEPTH OF ECONOMIC CARE.
OVER 20 MILLION PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS.
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OUT OF THAT CRISIS.OUR RIVER, WE SAW THE INITIATION OF NEW IDEAS AND TOOLS THAT HAVE BEEN IN TRYING TO THIS VERY DAY.
PUBLIC WORKS PRODUCTS AND SOCIAL SECURITY PROJECTS AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
THEN OTHER NEW DEAL PROGRAMS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME AT SUCH A SCAM, DEALT WITH THE RELIEF FOR THE UNEMPLOYED AND POOR RECOVERY OF THE ECONOMY AND REFORM OF THE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
FROM THESE EXAMPLES, WE SHOULD DRAW COURAGE AND HOPE.
OUR HISTORY IS A CITY AND A COUNTRY IS ONE OF RESPONDING TO CRISIS WITH INNOVATION, GENERATIONAL INVESTMENTS AND FINDING THE WILL TO CORRECT OUR MISTAKES AND THE BIGGER THAN CRISIS WE FACE COLLECTIVELY AS A COMMUNITY, THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BIG IDEAS THAT REPRESENT FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE.
WE GET TO DECIDE IF COVID-19 IS ULTIMATELY REMEMBERED AS AN HISTORICAL BACKDROP ON OUR CITY'S MARCHED TO ADDRESS JUSTICE AND RACE AND INEQUITIES AS WE HAVE NEVER DONE BEFORE, OR WHETHER THE MEANNESS AND DESTRUCTION OF THE VIRUS BECOMES THE DOMINANT LET'S ACT BOLDLY TO BECOME THE CITY THAT WE WANT TO BE FAIR, PROSPEROUS, RESILIENT, NOT DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE MOMENT BECAUSE OF, BECAUSE OF THE FREEDOM TO CHANGE DIRECTION.
THAT ONLY COMES FROM GREAT CHANGE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS.
AUSTIN HAS THE OPPORTUNITY AND THE OBLIGATION AND RESPONSIBILITY TO MOVE DECISIVELY, TO END HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AUSTINITES LIVING ON THE STREETS AND IN THE WOODS HAVE DRAMATICALLY SHORTER LIFESPANS AND INCREASED VULNERABILITY TO VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR ALL OF THE DISCUSSION AROUND THIS TOPIC.
NO ONE WANTS THIS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS.
ABSOLUTELY NO ONE OR TWO LONG THOUGH.
WE WERE CONTENT TO NOT THINK TOO HARD ABOUT IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T SEE IT.
WE DIDN'T SEE IT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT, IT MADE US UNCOMFORTABLE.
WE ADOPTED POLICIES THAT WERE INTENDED TO MOVE IT ALONG AND HIDE IT.
I AM PROUD AS COMMUNITY HAS EMBRACED THE DISCOMFORT THAT COMES WITH BIG CHALLENGES AND THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON A REAL SOLUTION STONES TO END IT.
I AM THANKFUL THIS COMMUNITY REJECTED FALLS TO RETURN TO A TIME WHEN WE ASKED THE POLICE TO HARASS LEAST FORTUNATE SO THAT WE COULD AVERT OUR ATTENTION FROM THEIR NEEDS WHILE DOING LITTLE TO RESOLVE THEIR PLIGHT, DO THE PEOPLE THAT SIGNED ON TO THE PETITION BECAUSE THEY WERE DESPERATE FOR A SOLUTION FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT I SHARE YOUR IMPATIENCE HAVING CHOSEN, UH, THIS, UH, MORE THAN, THAN, THAN JUST THIS PATH AND HAVING REJECTED THE FALSE PROMISE OF, OF COSMETIC FIXES.
UNLESS WE FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH THE COMMITMENT, THE HOUSE, THIS WILL REQUIRE US TO DO A BETTER JOB OF INCLUSIVELY MANAGING SHARED PUBLIC SPACES.
COVID-19 MADE THAT COMMITMENT EVEN MORE, OR OUR RESPONSE TO THIS PANDEMIC BROUGHT THE CITY AND ITS NONPROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS TO WORK TOGETHER.
AS NEVER BEFORE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE NUMBER OF HOTEL BEDS TO TRANSITION PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS.
WE FOCUSED ON HOW OUR CRISIS RESPONSE SYSTEMS PURGING WE'VE COME UP WITH A CLEARER MAP THAN WE'VE EVER HAD BEFORE ON HOW TO, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD.
WE NEED TO INVEST IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND PREVENTION EFFORTS THAT MAKE HOMELESSNESS RARE, AND THEN DIVERSION AND RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS THAT MAKE HOMELESSNESS BRIEF.
AND WE NEED TO SIGNIFICANTLY INVEST IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING THAT ENSURES THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NON RECURRING FOR THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY RISE ABOVE IT, THAT EXPERIENCE THE SCALE OF RESOURCES TO END HOMELESSNESS IS GREAT, BUT THE SOLUTIONS ARE REAL AND THEY ARE ACHIEVED.
WE KNOW HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AS WE DID BY REACHING DENSE, DEFECTIVE ZERO FOR VETERANS, IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE SHOWN WE CAN MAKE GREAT PROGRESS ON AS WE HAVE WITH YOUTH HOMELESSNESS.
IT'S ALSO SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMUNITY HAS BEEN EAGER TO INVEST IN.
AS WE DID WITH THE HISTORIC $250 MILLION AFFORDABLE HOUSE BOND HOUSING BOND IN NOVEMBER OF 2018.
AND WE WILL AGAIN VOTE THIS NOVEMBER
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FOR FUNDING TO ADDRESS PLACEMENTS.NOW IS THE TIME OUR MOMENT OF OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT WORD AND TO ACT BOLDLY, TO MAKE OUR CITY OR JUST, WE KNOW THAT 38% OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IS BLACK OVER FOUR TIMES GREATER THAN THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE COUNTIES OF HALL.
WHEN WE WORK TO END HOMELESSNESS, WE ARE ALSO DOING THE IMPORTANT WORK OF ADDRESSING THE SYMPTOMS OF RACIAL INJUSTICE.
I WANT TO THANK DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, OUR RIVERA VENDOR BYTE, AND DIRECTOR, SHORTER FOR SUCH IMPORTANT WORK.
THEY ARE DOING, HELPING TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE WITHOUT HOLES.
LET'S TALK ABOUT MOBILITY, TRANSPORTATION PROJECT WITH MUCH OF THE CITY COMPLYING WITH STATE WATERS AND GUIDELINES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND HELP FIGHT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19.
OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS SEEM EERILY EMPTY RIDERSHIP ON PUBLIC TRANSIT PLUMMETING THAT RELIEF FROM TRAFFIC WAS SHORT, LIVED MORE AND MORE OF THE ECONOMY REOPENED OR ADJUSTED OPERATIONS.
CONGESTION HAS RETURNED TO 35 AND MOPAC, UH, AS, AS, AS AUSTIN'S TERMINAL FRUSTRATION, ALTHOUGH MANY FEWER PEOPLE WE'RE NOT RIDING OUR BUSES AND COMMUTER RAIL APATOW.
METRO WAS STILL CARRYING TENS OF THOUSANDS OF RIDERS A DAY.
THESE ESSENTIAL WORKERS DID NOT HAVE THE OPTION TO WORK FROM HOME OR THE OPTION TO DRIVE, TO GET TO THE JOBS THAT ALL OF US NEEDED IN OUR COMMUNITY.
FAR TOO MANY OF THE PEOPLE MOST IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, RAPID TRANSPORTATION TO MEET THEIR DAILY NEEDS AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES.
AS A RESULT, MANY ARE FORCED TO SPEND DISPROPORTIONATE PART OF THEIR INCOME ON DANGEROUS WAYS TO GET AROUND OR THEY'RE LOSING TIME.
AND IN TOO MANY CASES, RISKING THEIR LIVES TO MAKE USE OF INADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION.
PROJECT CONNECT IS A GOLD TRANSIT PLAN FOR THE, JUST AN ACCESSIBLE CITY.
WE ASPIRE TO BE, IT CERTAINLY ADDRESSES TRAFFIC, BUT IT'LL DO SO MUCH MORE WITH LIGHT RAIL, A DOWNTOWN TREADS, A TUNNEL, THE SPEED UP TRAVEL, NO MATTER WHAT VEHICULAR MODE YOU CHOOSE.
NEW METRO RAPID LINES AND VEHICLES ARE THAT TRANSITION TO ZERO EMISSIONS FLEET.
PROJECT CONNECT WILL CONNECT OUR ENTIRE CITY, CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR AUSTIN RIGHTS, REDUCING OUR DEPENDENCE ON EXPENSIVE PERSONAL VEHICLES AND SAVE LIVES.
THE EXPENSE AND BURDEN OF OWNING A CAR ESTIMATED TO BE AN EXCESS OF $10,000 PER YEAR.
ON AVERAGE, SHOULDN'T BE THE PRICE OF ADMISSION TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR ECONOMY.
PROJECT CONNECT IS NOT JUST A TRANSFORMATIVE MOBILITY PROGRAM FOR OUR REGION.
IT REPRESENTS A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN A MORE JUST AND EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY FOR WHOLE SWATHS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO LIVE IN TRANSPORTATION ASSETS, PROJECT CONNECT ONCE FULLY BUILT.
WE'RE BRINGING MORE FREQUENT AND RABBIT TRANSPORTATION TO JOBS AND EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BLACK AND BROWN HOUSEHOLDS, THE ESSENTIAL NURSES, MEDICAL TREND TECHNICIANS AND GROCERY CLERKS AND COUNTLESS OTHERS.
MORE OF US HAVE RECENTLY COME TO APPRECIATE IS EVER BEFORE.
THE POTENTIAL IMPACT IS ENORMOUS.
CONSIDER THAT OVER 200,000 PEOPLE OF COLOR LIVING NEAR WHAT WILL BE NEW METRO RECORD STATIONS, NEARLY 55% OF THOSE WHO LIVE IN THEIR PROPOSED ORIGIN, BLUE RAIL LINES, AND NEARLY 80% OF THOSE NEAR THE GREEN LINE STATIONS ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOUSEHOLDS LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CAR OVER 57,000 PEOPLE IN POVERTY AND NEARLY 26,000 HOUSEHOLDS WITHOUT CARDS ARE LOCATED.
WE WILL HAVE NEW RETRO RAPID STATIONS.
THE BLUE LINE WILL SERVE OVER 26,000 PEOPLE IN POVERTY AND NEARLY 10,000 PEOPLE.
THE ORANGE LINE WILL SERVE 29,000 PEOPLE IN POVERTY AT ALL 11,704 HOUSEHOLDS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
HIGHEST NEED AREAS IN EASTERN CRESCENT WITH NEW COMPUTER COMMUTER RAIL AND RAPID BUS LINES, NEW RAPID BUS SERVICE IN MLK AND PLEASANT VALLEY COULD CUT TRANSIT USERS TO USE 30 MINUTES OR MORE GIVING PEOPLE TIME TO SPEND WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
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WE MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THE MAJOR TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS IN OUR PAST HAVE DONE MORE TO DEEPEN INEQUALITY, TO SEGREGATE RATHER THAN CONNECT AND TO DISPLACE RATHER THAN BENATAR.WE MUST LEARN FROM THAT PAINFUL PAST AND ENSURE WE DO NOT REPEAT THOSE ADJUSTMENTS.
WE MUST ENSURE THAT THE VERY COMMUNITIES THAT WE INTEND TO SERVE WITH IMPROVED TRANSIT ARE ACTUALLY ABLE TO KEEP LIVING IN THOSE AREAS.
ONCE THE EQUIPMENTS ARE IN PLACE, ALONG WITH THE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN TRANSIT WOULD COME IN HISTORIC INVESTMENT IN PRESERVING THE AFFORDABILITY OF COMMUNITIES NEAR OUR TRANSIT BANKING LAND FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING BEFORE GENTRIFICATION TAKES OFF BUILDING THOUSANDS OF NEW PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR PRESERVING EXISTING HOMES, NEW PROGRAMS DEVELOPED COLLABORATIVELY WITH RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND PACKAGE AND KEEP PEOPLE THERE IS NO OTHER CITY HAS EMBARKED ON A PROJECT.
THIS MAGNITUDE IN A WAY THAT LEARNS FROM THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND MAKES REAL MEANINGFUL INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE IN NOVEMBER.
I HOPE AND I BELIEVE ART COUNCIL WILL GIVE VOTERS THE CHANCE TO WRITE MANY TRANSPORTATION ROUTES IN AN HISTORICALLY GRANTED WAY.
I DON'T WANT TO THANK ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FEE AND DACA AND DIRECTOR CANALY AND CAP RETRO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CLARK AND ITS BOARD CHAIR RAKE COOPER FOR HELPING TO SHEPHERD THIS INITIATIVE SO WELL AND POSITIONING OUR COMMUNITY FOR THIS.
LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICING BUDGET AND LET'S THINK BIG.
WHAT IF WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFER AND WE'RE WILLING TO SUPPRESS THE HORIZONS? ARE WE REALLY WILLING TO ENGAGE IN THE REIMAGINING POLICING AND IT COULD MAKE US SAFER? AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REIMAGINE POLICING? AND WE'RE ALL WE'RE AT IT.
WHAT DO PEOPLE REALLY WANTED TO DO? PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO DEFEND THE PLACE? YOU KNOW, I AM ANXIOUS FOR US TO PUT THE POLITICS AND VERBALLY SIDE AND COMPLETELY THINK THROUGH THE CHOICES SURROUNDING THE DESIRE TO MAKE US MOST.
THERE ARE IMPLICATIONS AND THE PATHWAYS FOR WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHY IS IT THAT WE EXPECT OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO BE OUR FIRST OPTION IN RESPONDING TO MENTAL HEALTH INSTRUCTIONS? IT SEEMS THAT TOO MANY OF THESE POLICE CALLS DON'T GO WELL.
I DON'T WANT EXPAND THE AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS SO THAT THE POLICE ROLE IS WHAT A BACKUP IN CASE THESE PROFESSIONALS NEED HELP.
IF WE COULD FARM MUCH OF THIS ACTIVITY OUT TO THESE OTHERS, WE MIGHT NOT NEED AS MANY POLICE OFFICERS.
WE SHOULD FIND OUT SO MANY PEOPLE ASK ME IF THEY SHOULD CALL NINE ONE, ONE OR THREE ONE, ONE FOR THEIR ISSUE.
I'M NOT ALWAYS SURE THE ANSWER, BUT MAYBE ANOTHER QUESTION IS WHY DO WE NEED TO SEE DIFFERENT SETS OF OPERATORS? WHAT IF THERE WAS ONLY ONE NUMBER OR ONE SET OF OPERATORS TRAINED TO IMMEDIATELY FORWARD EVERY CALL TO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO? OR MAYBE IF THE NINE 11 OPERATORS WERE NOT IN A POLICE DEPARTMENT, VIEW OF THE CAUSE WOULD BE SENT TO THE POLICE, MAYBE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THE TAXPAYERS COULD SAVE SOME MONEY EVEN WHILE THE PUBLIC IS GETTING BETTER IN TOUCH WITH THE RIGHT PERSON.
IF WE NO LONGER MADE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PAY FOR 900 MARK, WE SHOULD FIND OUT FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, OUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERSHIP WORKING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE ATTORNEYS, UH, UM, HAS BEEN EXAMINING, UM, WHETHER TO PUT CIVILIAN SCIENTISTS AND DOCTORS IN CHARGE OF THE INDEPENDENT FORENSIC LAB, MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP WITH THE PERCEPTION OF IMPARTIALITY.
MAYBE THE COURT SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS WORK RATHER THAN IT COMING OUT OF THE POLICE BUDGET.
WE SHOULD FIND OUT, SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD EXPLORE WHETHER INTERNAL AFFAIRS WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO DO ITS WORK.
IF IT'S INVESTIGATING OFFICERS WERE NOT PART OF THE SAME POLICE FORCE, THEY'RE EXPECTED TO INVESTIGATE AND SHOOT.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO PAINT.
WE SHOULD FIND OUT WHAT ABOUT THE ACADEMY? RETROSPECTIVE POLICE OFFICERS RECEIVE THEIR INITIAL TRAINING ABOUT HALF OF THE CURRICULUM SET BY THE STATE, BUT ABOUT HUNDRED HOURS OF INSTRUCTION OR DIRECTING.
I ASKED LOCALLY, YOU THINK WE SHOULD CONSIDER REDIRECTING OUR HALF OF THE TRAINING TO MUCH MORE INTENSIVE TRAINING ON, ON ISSUES LIKE MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION.
WOULD THE TRAINING BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE COMMUNITY? GENERALLY, IF THE
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ACADEMY ADMINISTRATIONS WERE CIVILIANS AND POLICE OFFICERS SERVED AS ADJUNCT PROFESSORS, AND IF SO, WHAT IT REALLY NEEDED TO BE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.THAT PAGE, WE SHOULD FIND THAT ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE WE HAVE TOO MUCH VIOLENT CRIMES ASSOCIATED WITH FAMILY MARKETS IS, MUST BE HORRIBLE CALLS FOR POLICE, RESPONDING TO SITUATIONS WHERE A FAMILY MEMBER IS INJURED.
ANOTHER IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO BE SAFE AND PROTECTED BEFORE THE VIOLENCE OCCURS.
BUT RIGHT NOW, IF THEY CALL MANY ARE PUT ON WAITING LIST, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH AVAILABLE SPACE.
IF WE WANT TO DO MORE TO FIGHT FAMILY VIOLENCE, IS IT BETTER TO INVEST IN PEOPLE WHO RESPOND TO THE VIOLENCE ONCE IT'S OCCURRED OR IN PROVIDING MORE SHELTER SPACE TO AVOID THE VIOLENCE AT ALL, WE SHOULD FIND OUT.
IT SEEMS LIKE MANY, IF NOT, MOST CALLS ANSWERED PRIVATE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT MATTER ARE OUR HEALTH RELIEF.
MAYBE THEY'RE MORE TRAINED FOR THIS TYPE OF CALL, MAYBE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF EMS PERSONNEL WOULD MEAN THERE'D BE LESS.
WE'LL BE ASKING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO MAYBE SUCH A CHANGE.
AND WHO RESPONDS TO MEDICAL CALLS MIGHT SAY THE TAXPAYER'S MONEY.
THESE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE INVOLVED IN RE-IMAGINING POLICE.
RE-IMAGINING HOW WE DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED CONVERSATION WITH COLLEAGUES AND CITY MANAGER AND STAFF ON THESE ITEMS NEXT WEEK.
AND HERE'S WHAT I'M THINKING MIGHT BE THE WAY TO GO NEXT WEEK.
FOR ME, I SUPPORT ENGAGING IN THE REIMAGINING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
AND HOW WILL YOU ACHIEVE PUBLIC SAFETY IN MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.
I SUPPORT THE PROCESS THAT CITY MANAGER KRUG, THE DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, RIVERA VANDER.
MY DIRECTOR MUST BE PUT INTO PLAY TO EVALUATE TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY IDEAS SUCH AS THOSE.
I JUST WENT THROUGH INCLUDING WHETHER AN HOUR, ANY IDEA MAKES SENSE AND HOW IT WOULD BE ACHIEVED.
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS IS THIS CONCEPT IS GAINING SOME ACCEPTANCE IN LARGE PART BECAUSE YOU ARE TRUSTING.
THAT'S QUITE SOMETHING IN THIS DAY AND AGE.
I DO NOT SEE HOW WE ACTUALLY MAKE ANY OF THE THINGS HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY.
IF WE WANT REAL TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED TO DO THE WORK NECESSARY.
THIS WILL TAKE ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, DIGGING DEEP, RESOLVING CONFLICTS, REMOVING BARRIERS, BEING OUR MOST CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE, AND ADAPTIVE FOR SOME THINGS, THE PATH SEES WE'RE CLEAR.
ULTIMATELY THERE WILL BE NO LASTING REIMAGINATION REALIZED ITS STATE WITHOUT PUTTING IN THE TIME RESOURCES AND DELIBERATION.
THESE ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS.
THIS RE-IMAGINING PROCESS, HOWEVER, HAS TO HAPPEN FAST.
AND SOME OF THE IDEAS HAVE TO BE MOVED ON TO DEMONSTRATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS INQUIRY AND TO PROVIDE GREATEST TRANSPARENCY.
I SUPPORT REMOVING ELEMENTS SUCH AS THOSE I JUST TALKED ABOUT FROM THE POLICE BUDGET NOW AND PUTTING THEM INTO A TRANSIT TRENT, A TRANSITION POSITION, BUDGET CATEGORY.
IF YOU PUT IN THE THINGS THAT I'VE LISTED, THAT TRANSITION BUDGET WOULD CONTAIN WELL OVER $100 MILLION IN THE ELEMENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN THE POLICE PROJECT.
AND THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY DO THE WORK TO EVALUATE RECOMMEND AND BE READY TO EXECUTE WHERE APPROPRIATE I SUPPORT ONLY AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES OUT OF THE POLICE BUDGET AND THE TRANSITION BUDGET FOR SIX MONTHS.
THAT WOULD MEAN IN SIX MONTHS, NONE OF THESE BUDGETS WOULD BE FUNDED WITHOUT COUNSEL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, CREATING AN ESSENCE, A SECOND BUDGET PROCESS IN SIX MONTHS ON THESE MATTERS, THERE WOULD ALSO BE NO NEED TO WAIT SIX MONTHS FOR BUDGET AMENDMENTS, IF THEY ARE READY, OR IF A COUNCIL MEMBER WANTED TO BRING ONE MORE QUICKLY, I BELIEVE THAT THE ACADEMY CURRICULUM LACKS SUFFICIENT CONFIDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WILL MOVE POLICE PERSON NOW TO THE KIND OF CULTURE AND APPROACH MOST DESIRED.
AND WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE US TO GET THAT.
THEREFORE, I DO NOT SEE HOW AT LEAST THE NOVEMBER ACADEMY CLASS CAN GO FORWARD AS PLANNED.
THIS IS DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE ACADEMY IS THE BEST WAY WE HAVE
[00:35:01]
TO PLACE CULTURE CHANGE AGENTS AMONG OUR OFFICERS AND THESE CADET CLASSES PROVIDE US WITH OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO DIVERSIFY.THEY NEED TO EXAMINE APPROPRIATE FORCE LEVELS TODAY AS PART OF ANY RE-IMAGINING THAT GETS EXECUTED FOR FUNCTIONS INSIDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE UNDERTAKEN ELSEWHERE, HANDLED IN WAYS THAT ARE INTENDED TO PROVIDE INCREASED PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WE NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THE OVERTIME RESERVES TO SEE IF THERE ARE MONIES THERE THAT COULD BE MOVED TO, TO, TO, TO MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION, IT'S STILL NEEDS FINDING OR INCREASING CAPACITY OF THE ADDRESS.
AND FINALLY, FROM AT LEAST A PURELY FROM, FROM AT LEAST A PURELY PUBLIC SAFETY PERSPECTIVE, WE NEED TO COMMIT TO FUNDING AND OPERATING MORE TRANSITION AND PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THOSE WITHIN HOMES AND THOSE THAT NEED A SAFE PLACE TO GO.
THE DEMONSTRATORS AND THE MARCHERS AND THE HAPPY KIDS TO KNOW HOW MUCH I RESPECT AND ADMIRE AND APPRECIATE THEIR EFFORTS TO IMPACT THE DEBATE THAT WE'RE HAVING.
A CITY HALL IT'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN THE NATURE AND SUBSTANCE OF THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE HAVING.
AND I HOPE THAT THIS COMMITMENT PRETENDS WELL FOR AN INCREDIBLY HIGH TURNOUT POLLS IN NOVEMBER, SOMETHING TO WHICH WE SHOULD OFFER.
AND I WANT OUR ALONE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO KNOW THAT YOUR MISSION AND YOUR SAFETY IS PARAMOUNT.
IT MAY, AND THIS COUNCIL, I KNOW THAT DISCUSSIONS THAT CENTER AROUND CONSIDERING NEW AND DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACHIEVE SAFETY CAN BE HEARD BY SOME, AS AN INDICTMENT FORWARDS.
I DO KNOW THAT THE CONVERSATION AMONG THE DIOCESE FOCUSED ONLY ON OUR JOINT MISSION, YOU HAD US TO FIND THE BEST WAYS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE.
THAT DISCUSSION I HOPE WE HAVE OVER THE COMING FEW MONTHS IS ONE IN WHICH I HOPE YOU PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH FOR ALL OF US FINALLY, ON THIS SUBJECT, I WANT TO ADDRESS POLICE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP, THE DISCUSSION WE'RE HAVING AN AUSTIN ABOUT TRYING TO FIND THE BEST WAYS TO PROVIDE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY IS THE SAME AS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
WE NEED PARTNERS AND ADVISORS IN THIS SEARCH THAT ARE OPEN TO EXPLORING AND BUILDING ON NEW IDEAS.
WE NEED THE FULL DATA TO BE PRESENTED.
SO IT COULD BE A THAT WE CONSIDER WE NEED NOT ONLY AN OPENNESS TO CONSIDER, BUT A KEEN DESIRE TO MOVE PAST THE STATUS QUO AND TO LOOK AT PUBLIC SAFETY MORE BROADLY, AND EVEN MAINLY FOCUSING ON ENSURING THAT WE ARE BEST EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH UNSAFE MOMENTS AFTER THEY OCCURRED.
WE NEED MORE THAN JUST A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT CHANGE.
IF IT HAPPENS, WE NEED A CHAMPION FOR CHANGE AT ITS PAST YEARS PAST THIS STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS WOULD HAVE ENDED BACK HERE AFTER HAVING LAID OUT THE BIG THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO.
AND THESE BIG THINGS ARE ALL TRANSFORMATIONAL ENDING, HOMELESSNESS, DELIVERING PROJECT CONNECT, CITY WIDE, RAPID TRANSIT, AND RE-IMAGINING POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
LET'S ALSO START TALKING ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF AUSTIN AND TEXTS BEGAN AT THE EXPENSE OF EXPLAINS.
THE FIRST CENSUS IN 1825 SHOWED AUSTIN WITH 450 SLIDES, 35% OF THE TOTAL POPULATION BY 1860.
THE NUMBER OF SLAVES WERE INCREASING FASTER THAN THE POPULATION.
LARGE COLONIZATION LAWS GAVE SETTLERS UP TO 4,605, 4,605 ACRES OF LAND, AND THEN ADDITIONAL ACRES, 80 ACRES OF RAMP EACH SLAVE, BUT NO LAND BLACKS WERE KEPT FROM VOTING IN 1902.
AND THE POLL SEGREGATED ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN 1906 FOR BENNY PREVENTED FROM VOTING IN PRIMARIES OF 1923.
AND WE ON ROCHE IN 1928, AUSTIN ADOPTED THE FORCED AFRICAN AMERICANS TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES AND MOVE TO EAST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND IN 1932, WE PASSED ORDINANCES THAT MOVED NEARLY ALL OF THOSE THAT HAVE NOT HAD NOT YET BEEN FORCED TO A CENTURY AND MORE DELIBERATE SEGREGATION COMPOUNDED BY A LACK OF INVESTMENT OVER GENERATIONS AND OUR OWN LOCAL VERSION OF THE INSTITUTIONAL
[00:40:01]
RACISM HAD HAD DISASTROUS AND COMPLETELY PREDICTABLE RESULTS, EXTREME WEALTH AND WAGE DISPIRITS POVERTY RATES FOR TRAVIS COUNTY.BLACKS AS HISPANIC RESIDENTS ARE, ARE TWO AND A HALF TIMES GREATER THAN POVERTY RATES FOR WHITES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
28% OF ALL PEOPLE ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 65 WHO ARE LOW INCOME, HAVE NO HEALTH INSURANCE, BUT HISPANICS RESIDENTS MOST LIKELY ENSURE WHILE BLACK RESIDENTS ACCOUNT FOR 8% OF THE TOTAL ADULT POPULATION IN TRAVIS COUNTY, 23% OF ALL PEOPLE BOOKED INTO THE TRAVIS COUNTY JAIL ARE BLACK.
OUR RECENT REPORT BY THE URBAN INSTITUTE AND THE CENTER FOR POLICING EQUITY RIGHTS OF BLACK MOTORISTS ARE FOUR TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE ARRESTED AFTER BEING STOPPED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AS WHITE WORKERS.
THESE STATISTICS REFLECT NOT A DEFICIT OF ABILITY OR EFFICIENT EFFORT, BUT RATHER A SHAMEFUL COMBINATION OF RACIST POLICIES COMPOUNDED BY DECADES OF INATTENTION AND DISINVESTMENT BY AUSTIN'S PRIVILEGED, MOSTLY WHITE LEADERSHIP OVER THE ENSUING GENERATIONS.
WE'VE DONE A LOT TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PRESTIGIOUS INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND SYSTEM.
AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK OF PROFESSOR PIERCE BURNETT FOR THE WORK SHE DID WITH A TASKFORCE ON THAT SUBJECT.
SHE'S LEADING AN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL UNIVERSITY ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN IN HOUSTON.
WE SHOULD ALL BE THINKING ABOUT PROVIDING GREATER SUPPORT FOR THAT JAM CITY, BECAUSE NONE OF US WERE DOING OUR PRE PANDEMIC ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND STRATOSPHERIC GROWTH KID, AND THUS DELAYED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE RECKONING WITH AUSTIN'S LEGACY OF RACISM AND SYSTEMIC INEQUITY.
WE HAVE BEEN TAKING CONCRETE STEPS, BUT MOVING TOO SLOWLY AND PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING AS A RESULT.
WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROADBLOCKS TO PROSPERITY FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR IN AUSTIN OR SET INTENTIONALLY.
AND THEIR IMPACTS WILL BE FELT FOR GENERATIONS UNLESS WE ACT, WE MUST HARNESS THE ENERGY OF DISRUPTION.
DO WE MAKE AUSTIN AS A CITY, A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL, IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A COMMITMENT BY EACH OF US TO ADDRESS AFFORDABILITY, DISPLACEMENT CRISIS, TO EXPAND HEALTHCARE OPTIONS AND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, TO EVERY CORNER OF THE CITY, TO ENSURE THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE JUST AN EQUITABLE, HAVE BEEN MORE APPROPRIATELY, APPROPRIATELY DIVIDE THE PIE, ADDING MY VOICE TO THOSE MAYORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO ARE CALLING ON CONGRESS TO DEVELOP AND EXECUTE A NATIONAL PROGRAM OF RESTITUTION FOR DESCENDANTS OF SLAVES IN THIS COUNTRY WHO ADDRESS THE YAWNING CASANOVA WEALTH GAP BETWEEN BLACK AMERICANS THAT BEGAN WITH SLAVERY AND HAS WIDENED OVER GENERATIONS THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION THROUGH THIS SHAMEFUL SCOURGE OF JIM CROW AND REMAINS IN THE CITY IS FORCED TO THIS DAY.
WE ALSO MUST DO THE WORK HERE.
WE WOULD NOT BE ALONE IN THE SMART CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, ASHEVILLE, PROVIDENCE, DURHAM, TULSA, AND OTHERS ARE ONLY UP TO THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND ECONOMIC PRIVATES VISITED UPON PEOPLE OF COLOR BY THE COMMUNITIES.
AND TONIGHT I'M ASKING YOU COUNSEL IN THE COMMUNITY, BEGIN A PLANNING, A PATHWAY TO ATONEMENT AND RESTITUTION.
THERE IS ALREADY MOVEMENT IN THIS DIRECTION IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE SHOULD SUPPORT THOSE THAT ARE TRYING TO FIND THE WAY FORWARD.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT ADDRESSING OUR HISTORY AND WRITING THE WRONGS.
IT IS THE WORK OF SAYING, AS WE DO BLACK LIVES MATTER, I BELIEVE COVID-19 WILL EVENTUALLY BE OVERSHADOWED BY THE IDEAS THAT IT'S OFFERED, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANT WILL BE WHY AND HOW WE DO THE BIG THINGS.
IMPORTANTLY, EACH PROMOTES JUSTICE, AN ANALYZED THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS.
HISTORY WILL REMEMBER 2020 IS THE MOMENT THAT POINTED US IN THE DIRECTION OF JUSTICE, BECAUSE THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT FORCED US TO SEE INJUSTICE, UNLIKE ANY TIME LIKE SOMEONE GRABBING AND THEN HOLDING OUR FACE BETWEEN THEIR HANDS AND NOT LETTING US TURN AWAY, FORCING US TO LOOK AT THE UNFAIRNESS AROUND US AND OUR PART IN PERPETUATING IT.
LAST YEAR, AS I GAVE THE STATE OF THE CITY, I STOOD AT A PODIUM
[00:45:01]
IN CITY HALL, CHAMBERS AND SAT RACE ISSUES REMAIN OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT EQUITY.DO YOU THINK THOSE WORDS RESONATE WORDS RESONATED WAY THAT THEY DO TODAY? THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION.
TEN-YEAR DIFFERENTIAL IN LIFE EXPECTANCY, DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU LIVE ON THE EAST OR WEST SIDE OF TOWN.
AND THAT WAS BEFORE THE PERIMETER.
THE TRUTH IS THAT LAST YEAR WE HAD YET TO REALLY GRASP THE ENORMITY OF THE OPPORTUNITY GOLF THAT SEPARATES OUR NEIGHBORS OF COLOR FOR MANY OF THEIR 2020 HAS THUS FAR BEEN A TROUBLED YEAR.
I BELIEVE IT WILL TURN OUT TO HAVE BEEN THE KIND OF NECESSARY TROUBLE THAT CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS EXHORTED US TO DEBATE IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS.
NEVER HAS THE RESOLVE BEEN SO GREAT TO LIVE IN A MORE FAIR AND GORGEOUS SOCIETY.
AND IT IS TODAY AT HOPE AND DREAM.
THE SENSE THAT THINGS ARE SOMEHOW DIFFERENT AND MORE DIFFERENT THAN THEY HAVE EVER BEEN IS WRAPPED IN A FEELING OF HOPE AND OPTIMISM THAT IS EQUALLY UNIQUE.
THE TIME IS NOW THE DRUM BEAT GROWS.
THE TIME IS NOW TO ENSURE WE EXIT THIS TIME AS A MORE JUST CITY.
AND WE WERE, WHEN WE ENTERED, WE CAN DO THIS.
IF WE'RE NOT SCARED TO THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE.
WE SHOULD DEDICATE OURSELVES TO DOING JUSTICE AND NOT IN LITTLE WEDDINGS.
WE MUST RISE TO THE MOMENT AND CHANGE HISTORY, MOTIVATED VIOLENCE BY AGENTS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NOT RECUR PERHAPS ONLY AT TIMES, SUCH AS THESE, WHEN OUR ROUTINES AND INERTIA ARE SO UTTERLY DISRUPTED, CAN WE BE FREE AND FORCED TO DREAM AN ACT PIG? WE CAN GET SWALLOWED BY THE CHALLENGES, OR WE CAN SEE THEM AS FREEING US TO THINK IN GRAND WAYS AND DIFFERENTLY, AND TRULY DELIVER A NEW KIND OF TOMORROW.
LET'S BRING REAL MOBILITY TO AUSTIN.
LET'S REIMAGINE HOW WE KEEP ONE ANOTHER SAFE THAT'S ADDRESS RACE, AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT CORRECTING CENTURIES OF INJUSTICE, BECAUSE IT IS THE FUNDAMENTAL INJUSTICE THAT FUELED SO MANY OTHERS.
I WANT TO NOTE ALSO THAT I THINK THAT MOST, EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID HERE TONIGHT ABOUT THE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES AND GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS AND PRIORITIES THAT GUIDE THESE EFFORTS ARE SHARED BY ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I WANT TO SAY WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HONOR IT IS TO SERVE WITH.
AND I WANT TO THANK MY CHIEF OF STAFF, LESLEY VARGHESE, AND MY ENTIRE STAFF.
AND LET ME CONCLUDE BY RECOGNIZING AT DOING THESE THREE BIG THINGS WILL REQUIRE A MAJOR DISRUPTION OF THE STATUS QUO.
ALL OF THESE CHALLENGES AND OTHERS REQUIRE A RECKONING WITH RACIAL DISPARITIES THAT EXIST IN EVERY QUARTER OF LIFE IN THIS CITY, WE HAVE TO RECOVER, BUT SHAME ON US.
IF WE REBUILD SYSTEMS AS INEQUITABLE AS BEFORE, LET US EMBRACE THE REMARKABLE GIFT.
IT IS TO HAVE SO MUCH UNDECIDED AND UP IN THE AIR.
LET'S CELEBRATE THE OPPORTUNITY BOARD OR THE NECESSITY TO REBUILD.
LET'S COMMIT TO BE GUIDED BY A SEARCH TO DELIVER JUSTICE.
LET'S JOIN IN A DISRUPTIVE RECOVERY SEIZING THE MOMENT TO REBUILD IN A JUST AND EQUITABLE STAY TUNED FOR MEDIA AVAILABILITY IN A FEW MINUTES,
[00:51:26]
I AM.CAN SOMEBODY PUT UP A SLATE FOR A SECOND, RIGHT? NEVERMIND.
BARBARA SAYS, UM, I'M AVAILABLE TO DO IT NOW.
I'M TORIA CHIN, AND I'LL BE MODERATING TONIGHT'S MEDIA.
THEY'LL BE FOCUSED ON TONIGHT.
STATED THE CITY SPEECH GIVEN BY MAYOR STEVE ADS, OR JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO.
WE'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEDIA OUTLETS IN ADVANCE.
AND MAYOR ADLER WILL ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS FROM EACH MEDIA OUTLET.
ANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED AFTER THIS AVAILABILITY CONCLUDES.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL GET STARTED WITH OUR FIRST QUESTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION COMES FROM LOUIS JILLIAN AT KTU MAYOR.
I'M JUST PULLING UP THE QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION IS, HAS THE CITY'S EFFORTS TO COMBAT HOMELESSNESS AND AUSTIN BEEN REDUCED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
AND ARE THERE ANY PLANS THAT COULD TAKE EFFECT IN 2020 TO HELP WITH THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE? NO.
THE, THE, THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY INCREASED THE ATTENTION THAT THE CITY HAS GIVEN TO THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, ONE OF THEM WAS SUSCEPTIBLE POPULATIONS TO THE VIRUS WHERE THERE WERE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN SO MANY OF THOSE PLACES.
THERE WAS A, UM, A CLUSTER AND MULTIPLE COSTUMES THAT FORM IT PROBLEMATIC, UH, IN, IN WAYS THAT FRANKLY WE'VE SEEN HERE IN NURSING GROUPS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO, TO, TO COCOON IN LARGE MEASURE, UH, SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY, WE WERE ABLE TO CREATE TASK FORCE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO FIND VIRUS, UH, WHEN IT APPEARED AND ISOLATE, UH, PEOPLE, UH, WE CREATED, UH, PROTECTION, UH, PROTECTIVE LODGES, UH, PULLING, UH, LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND PUTTING THEM INTO TO HOTEL ROOMS. UH, WE'VE ACTUALLY HAD, UM, NOW, UM, ALL THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND STAKEHOLDERS WORKING TOGETHER IN WAYS THEY NEVER DID BEFORE WE HAVE FIVE, I THINK, SIX COMING ONLINE MOTELS NOW, UH, THAT ARE, THAT ARE PROVIDING HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.
WE'RE GOING TO EXIT THIS WITH SEVERAL OF THOSE FACILITIES STILL IN PLACE, EVEN AFTER THE VIRUS.
UH, WE JUST HAD A CITY COUNCIL THIS PAST WEEK, A REPORT THAT SHOWS STRATEGICALLY HOW IT IS.
WE LAUNCHED THIS CONCERTED, OUR COMMUNITY WIDE EFFORT.
SO I THINK WE ARE POISED RIGHT NOW TO START TAKING THE STEPS WE NEED TO TAKE.
IS THERE, I'M NOT HEARING ANYTHING, SHOULD I BE
[00:55:02]
YES.THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM BILL CLIFTON AT OFF THE MONITOR.
SHE SAYS, QUOTE, WE NEED MORE THAN JUST THE WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT CHANGE.
IF IT HAPPENS, WE NEED A CHAMPION FOR CHANGE AT ITS BEST.
DOES THAT MEAN YOU ARE CALLING FOR A NEW CHIEF? I DID NOT CALL FOR A NEW CHIEF.
I CALLED FOR A CHIEF THAT WOULD EMBRACE THOSE VALUES.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM KEVIN CLARK KICK TAN.
FIRST QUESTION IS WHICH ASPECTS OF APDS BUDGET DO YOU PLEDGE TO MOVE INTO THE SIX MONTH TRANSITION BUDGET YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR SPEECH? I THINK THAT ALL THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED IN THE SPEECH WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THAT, UH, THE FORENSIC LAB, THE NINE ONE ONE CALL CENTER.
UH, BUT I ALSO WOULD ADD PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BY THAT.
I MEAN, NOT INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND TRAINING.
I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT PARKS AND LAKE PATROLS, UH, VICTIM SERVICES, TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, UM, SUPPORT SERVICES, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, UH, BOOKING AND PROCESSING SUPPORT THE QUESTION, CANINE EXPLORERS, UM, CUTTING OVER, UH, OVER TIME, UH, AND, UH, UH, PIO AS BEST AS I CAN FIGURE ALL THOSE THINGS ADD UP TO MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
NEXT QUESTION AGAIN, FROM KEVIN CLARK AT KICKS, A N IS COVID-19 HAS HURT MANY PEOPLE ECONOMICALLY.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO STRUGGLING HOMEOWNERS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT VOTING FOR PROJECT TENANT DUE TO THE ANTICIPATED TAX INCREASE? NO, I RECOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A TAX IMPLICATION OF PROJECT CONNECT.
UM, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN DO TO BUILD OUR CITY AND BUILD OUR ECONOMY IS TO INVEST IN A PROGRAM SUCH AS THIS, WE WILL BE OUT OF THIS VIRUS.
AND WHEN WE COME OUT OF THIS VIRUS AND ONE OF THE WAYS WE WILL COME OUT OF IS VIRUS MORE VIBRANT AND STRONG, OR THAT ARE THE JOBS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS KIND OF A CAPITAL PROJECT.
BUT AS WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE SPEECH, IT'LL CHANGE THE, THE, THE CITY AND ITS, AND ITS FUTURE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S $23 A MONTH IS THE TAX IMPLICATION AVERAGE HOME.
AND I RECOGNIZE THAT'S, THAT'S THAT'S REAL MONEY.
UM, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, FOR PEOPLE THAT RECOGNIZE THAT THE QUALITY OF OUR LIFE IS SO IMPORTANT, WE NEED TO DO THIS PROJECT VOTERS WERE CONFRONTED WITH THIS CHOICE 20 YEARS AGO.
I WISH THEY HAD VOTED TO DO THIS, THAT SO THAT WE WOULD ALL BE ENJOYING IT.
NEXT QUESTION IS ALSO AGAIN FROM KEVIN CARTER KICKS IN WHAT SPECIFIC PLANS, IF ANY, HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED WITHIN THE CITY, AS FAR AS RESTITUTION IS CONCERNED, WHICH STAKEHOLDERS WOULD BE INVOLVED AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE? I THINK THAT THE CONVERSATIONS CONCERNING, UM, ATONEMENT KINDS OF ISSUES ARE HAPPENING NOW OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
I, AND I'M SURE THAT I DON'T KNOW ALL OF THEM.
I DON'T KNOW OF ANY FORMAL CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE CITY GOVERNMENT, BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD CHANGE.
AND I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BEGIN BY, BY LISTENING TO THE INITIATIVES THAT ARE ALREADY BEING DISCUSSED OUT IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
AND THIS SEEMS TO BE OUR LAST QUESTION.
IT'S FROM JOE DUSTIN AT AUSTIN MONITOR.
SHE HAS A QUESTION THAT MENTIONED YOU REFERENCED EARLIER ABOUT TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS IN THE PAST THAT ENCOURAGED DIVIDING OF THE COMMUNITY BY RACE.
IS IT A REFERENCE TO RECENT? IS IT ABOUT
UH, CERTAINLY, UM,
IT'D BE OLD HIGHWAY, UM, DIVIDED THE, UH, THE CITY, ACCORDING TO THE 1928 LINE.
YOU'RE PUTTING,
UH, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE DONE MANY OTHER, UH, TRANSPORTATION, NOT PROJECTS FOR FISHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE MOVED EAST AND
[01:00:01]
GONE THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS.UH, WITHOUT US TAKING A LOOK AT THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE COMMUNITIES.
UH, YOU CAN SEE THAT KIND OF THING ON, ON RIVERSIDE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST THAT ONE PROJECT.
UH, IT'S IT'S I AM REAL PROUD THAT THE OPTION BEING CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS WEEK AS A $300 MILLION POTENT IN IT TO DEAL WITH DISPLACEMENT.
AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR THE EVENING.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING GOODNIGHT.