CITY&COUNTY
Updates on important issues facing local entities
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2022
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Austin leaders focus on violent crime prevention, public safety sta ng levels
RENTAL ASSISTANCE
$16.9MILLION
BY BEN THOMPSON
doled out by Travis County to assist renters
funding below its current level again without risking state penalties. One new e ort to combat violent crime is Austin Public Health’s O ce of Violence Prevention, or OVP. After its rst year in operation, OVP Manager Michelle Myles said in 2022, the o ce will expand its violence intervention programming, open grants for neighborhood investments and launch a campaign to address rising mental stress. “We’re going to surge resources into the community and work with the community to help decide how to utilize those resources and what needs to be done so that we can quell the violence in the area,” Myles said.
AUSTIN Violent crime prevention and o cer sta ng and accountability continue to dominate public safety discussions in the city for 2022. Police Chief Joseph Chacon is pushing for increased sta ng at the Austin Police Department to address vacancies as he welcomes graduates in January from the rst police academy in over a year. Over the last two years, APD’s funding—currently at its largest ever— has shifted as city o cials reacted to concerns over police misconduct and community calls for reform. House Bill 1900, passed into law in 2021, also means Austin cannot drop police
$7.8MILLION
request by the county for additional federal funds was rejected
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
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Travis County looks to help renters Since March 2020, Travis County has maintained an eviction moratorium and allotted more than $16.9 million in rental assistance. However, the county is looking for new protections for residents as funding runs out and a new law prevents moratoriums starting March 1. Travis County utilized American Rescue Plan Act funds to help renters; however, the federal government denied a request for an additional $7.8 million, leaving the county to fund $400,000 in outstanding requests from its budget and pause the program. Moving forward, the county is looking at new ways to fund the rental assistance and other protections such as legal aid and education programs. Austin’s a ordability issues linger Austin City Council ended 2021 with a renewed commitment to developing a ordable housing. HousingWorks Austin Executive Director Nora Linares-Moeller and Research Manager Woody Rodgers said they hope to see a ordable housing options expand throughout the city. “I would like to see more a ordability, both subsidized and not, all over Austin. Right now we only see it really in South and East Austin, because understandably, the land is cheaper,” Linares-Moeller said. Austin Board of Realtors data shows the median price of a home sold in Austin increased more than $90,000 between October 2020 and October 2021. Linares-Moeller said that rapid increase means more people who make too much to qualify for subsidized housing will struggle to nd housing they can a ord. O cials also hope to see movement on a new land development code for Austin. The city’s rewrite has been tied up in court since May 2020. After delays due to the pandemic, the case was heard by the 14th Court of Appeals in November. A decision is expected this year.
N EW STRATEGIES
The O ce of Violence Prevention has several initiatives in the area aimed at curbing violence that are underway at the city level and in partnership with other organizations.
COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION These programs will link “violence interrupters” with area communities and connect residents with resources. COMMUNITY GRANTS The new community-rooted grant program will support violence prevention and healing investments. STRESS REDUCTION CAMPAIGN The goal is to address mental stress, which is a key contributor to rising violence during the pandemic. SOURCES: CITY OF AUSTIN, OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
Travis County to see voting changes in 2022
BY BENTON GRAHAM
TRAVIS COUNTY ELECTIONS IN 2022
TRAVIS COUNTY The county’s voting process is changing in 2022 because of the state’s voting bill, which shortens the timing of early voting, provides greater rights for partisan poll watchers and increases requirements for voting by mail. It will also bring personnel changes in the county, marking the rst elections in over 35 years without Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir at the helm, as she plans to retire Jan. 28 after the District 4 special election. DeBeauvoir said with Senate Bill 1, she is largely concerned about the new rules for poll watchers and requiring that people voting by mail provide either a driver’s license or the last four
Voters will head to the polls for a number of elections, including party primaries in March and the midterm election in November. MARCH 1: state party primaries MAY 7: local and Austin special ballot elections NOV. 8: midterm general election
121 Pickle Road Austin, Texas 78704
6015 Dillard Circle #B Austin, Texas 78752
SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
digits of their Social Security numbers. On Jan. 13, her o ce announced it had to reject about 50% of all mail ballot applications due to the law.
www. cruxcc .com
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COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER • COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
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