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Whispers
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 by Jessi Devenyns
Grim police statistics explained
APD Senior Chaplain Rick Randall shared some noteworthy statistics with the Public Safety Commission at its Oct. 1 meeting. According to Randall, if the low morale at the Austin Police Department continues, in 20 years, officer divorce rates will hover around 80 percent, alcohol abuse will be 300 percent more likely, and suicide rates for those in the profession will rest between the second and third spot for frequency nationwide. “Most significantly they will have a life expectancy that is 15 years less than the average person walking on the street,” said Randall. “That’s just the wear and tear of this job.” In a conversation with the Austin Monitor, Officer Randall explained that these statistics are “pretty broadly known.” According to him, “there’s a number of studies that have shown these same outcomes.” He indicated that much of the research he cited had come from Kevin Gilmartin, a national law enforcement expert who wrote Emotional Survival for Law Enforcement, and from the United States Department of Justice COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) program.
When asked why the suicide statistics he gave differed from what the CDC reports, he explained that “the suicide rate is confusing” and that there are “creative ways of reporting” findings. Some of these creative methodologies involve labeling death as an “unknown cause because it would be a difference in benefits for the family” as well as only documenting suicides of active officers. In reality, Randall explained, a third of all police suicides occur after retirement. He noted that his information came from a suicide prevention nonprofit called the Badge of Life. Randall said that although the statistics were well-documented and grim, the city of Austin has a good chance of not fulfilling the prophecy with its next generation of law enforcement if it continues to invest in the mental and emotional health of the officers that they are recruiting and training. “Agencies like Austin are putting more energies into employee wellness. Not only is it caring for our people but it is also a cost-effective measure, because if police officers aren’t able to have longevity in their career, that can be … pretty expensive … because you’re constantly having to recruit and train for new people to replace the people who didn’t make it,” he explained.
Tuesday, October 9, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Council candidates answer FAN’s questions
The data is piling up as local elections loom. Yesterday, the Friends of Austin Neighborhoods published candidate responses to its questionnaire, which, unsurprisingly, focused on neighborhoods. According to a press release from the group, the questions asked candidates “to discuss the city policies they advocate to improve, not just ‘protect’, neighborhoods, which policies would enable a full diversity of people to live affordably throughout neighborhoods, and how the candidates view the special relationship between individual neighborhoods and the citywide community.” Their answers can be found online in full here, for the curious.
Monday, October 8, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Happy Indigenous Peoples Day
Last year, the city of Austin officially replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. The holiday memorializing the Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus is a federal holiday, so it is still officially celebrated across the United States, but all Austin city materials, including calendars, now refer to the new name. The movement to adopt the counter-holiday in honor of the indigenous peoples in America first began when South Dakota replaced Columbus Day with Native Americans’ Day in 1990, and many other cities across the nation have followed suit. The Austin City Council vote to rename the holiday was 9-1-1, with Council Member Ellen Troxclair against and Council Member Alison Alter abstaining. The Austin Independent School District will not hold classes today in observance of the holiday.
Monday, October 8, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Hudson Meats gets 3-D art decoration
Longtime Austin artist Rory Skagen will soon be adding another element to the South Austin Business District’s colorful landscape. The Economic Development Department has been working with the South Congress Merchants Association and Souly Austin Program, a partner in this project for the last two years, to bring the artist’s 3-D installation to the area. “The new install continues in the tradition of my work following the Greetings from Austin mural, while being unique to South Congress,” Skagen said in a press release. “The colors illustrate my mood and memories of visiting South Congress while shopping, dining or staying in one of the avenue’s fine hotels. The nod to the history of South Congress was deliberate. Having visited South Congress since 1992 the memories change into nostalgia as time goes by. This kind of nostalgia has happened over the generations since 1852. I find that amazing.” Skagen’s project, which will be completed on Oct. 10, is being installed on Hudson Meats, which has operated on South Congress since 1968. “Rory Skagen’s historic view of the skyline is a colorful reminder that while Austin may keep changing, South Congress will always be our city’s most picturesque gateway,” said Michael Portman from Birds Barbershop, a board member of the association.
Monday, October 8, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Registration open for 2018 Senior Games
Attention all active, older Austinites: The Senior Games are happening again. Adults over the age of 50 are invited to compete in the 2018 games Nov. 1-3. The three days of Olympic-style events, hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, feature 20 different types of sport, field and leisure competitions including tennis, cornhole, billiards, dominoes, pickleball, Scrabble and more. Find more information at www.austinseniorgames.org, or call 512-974-5680. Registration is available online or by phone, and the deadline is Oct. 15, 2018.
Monday, October 8, 2018 by Jo Clifton
Garza opposes court collections contract
With City Council Member Delia Garza dissenting and Council Member Ellen Troxclair absent, Council on Thursday approved a five-year contract with GILA LLC, which does business as Municipal Services Bureau and MSB. The company has had a previous contract with the city, and a representative of the Linebarger law firm, which also specializes in collections, told Council they should not give the contract to MSB because of complaints about the company’s debt collection practices over the past 10 years. In response to questions from Council Member Greg Casar, Court Operations Officer Kim Chadwick said the court has to approve any language in collection letters the vendor sends out. James Scarboro, the city’s purchasing officer, said that although the contract is for five years, it contains a provision allowing Council to cancel the contract if they decide there is a problem. Garza said, “Given the discussion that we just recently had about how indigency was being determined, and my experience working in child support (collections) … many times people don’t pay because they really can’t pay.” Those who cannot afford to pay are then charged an additional penalty by the collection agency, she said, making Garza unable to vote for the contract.
Friday, October 5, 2018 by Elizabeth Pagano
Council approves child care resolution
City Council approved a resolution aimed at reducing the cost of child care by making it easier to build and open child care centers Thursday. The resolution, which was sponsored by Council Member Delia Garza, asked the city manager to explore a new path to more child care in the city by looking at fees, permitting and zoning regulations for child care centers. Though the resolution was approved on consent, and didn’t garner much discussion during the meeting proper, a press conference held prior to the meeting and available on the city’s website in its entirety featured Garza, Mayor Steve Adler, Council Member Alison Alter, Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo, the United Way’s Sara Reeves and others discussing why the resolution was so important. “We know that there are simply not enough slots available in affordable, high-quality child care facilities in the city,” said Garza. “This resolution … can directly address the lack of capacity at child care facilities. We will ask the city manager to coordinate between several city departments and figure out how we can make permitting and zoning work better so new facilities can open quickly and meet demand.”
Friday, October 5, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Flu season creeping in
It’s time for fall, which means it’s also time for a flu shot! Austin Public Health has scheduled a seasonal flu vaccine clinic, with free shots for uninsured residents of Travis County who are 6 months of age or older. All Medicare recipients can get a flu shot as well. The clinic will take place Oct. 6 at Travis High School, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. No appointment is needed, but Medicare recipients are asked to bring their card. There will also be available flu shots at Shots for Tots/Big Shots clinics for children who are uninsured or Medicaid recipients, and for uninsured adults. At these clinics, the flu vaccine costs $25 for adults, $10 for children. They are free for children with Medicaid. While these fee schedules will be recommended, no one will be denied services if they are unable to pay. Appointments are needed at the Shots for Tots/Big Shots clinics and can be made by calling (512) 972-5520. Flu season hits peak strength in January, but it’s best to prepare early with a flu shot and practice good prevention techniques such as washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your face with your hands, and covering your mouth when you cough. The health department has more vaccine information at www.austintexas.gov/immunizations.
Friday, October 5, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Montopolis Bridge to become bicycle/pedestrian only
On Monday, Oct. 8, the Montopolis steel truss bridge will be permanently closed to vehicular traffic. The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority plans to rehabilitate the historic structure into a pedestrian and bicycle crossing that will link up with other area trails and parks. The bridge will remain open to pedestrian and bike traffic as the authority does the construction work, aside from sporadic interruptions for lead paint abatement. The improvements to the bridge, which was constructed in 1938 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996, are part of the 183 South project. Starting next week, vehicles driving from Cesar Chavez Street will shift onto a new bridge and access U.S. Highway 183 southbound above the Colorado River, marking a milestone in the construction of the 183 South Expressway at the Colorado River. Drivers will no longer be able to access westbound Montopolis Drive directly from the Montopolis Bridge, but must detour via U.S. 183 southbound to the Vargas Road/Montopolis Drive detour to access Montopolis Drive. “As Central Texans, we’re proud of the Montopolis Bridge and what it represents for our region,” said Mike Heiligenstein, executive director for the mobility authority, in a news release. “We know this structure once served as the only connection between the Montopolis neighborhood and our capital city’s downtown core. Preserving its character and historical significance has been our priority from the outset. We are excited that this component of the project will improve safety, mobility and accessibility for Austin residents, travelers, and visitors to the region.”
Thursday, October 4, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Rosie’s Resolution
Today, City Council will formally recognize the importance of access to affordable abortion care. The name of the resolution – Rosie’s Resolution – will also call for a repeal of bans on insurance coverage for abortion. It is named for Rosie Jiménez, a 27-year-old Chicana who was the first woman known to die of complications related to an unsafe abortion after the Hyde Amendment was passed in 1976. The provision barred the use of federal Medicaid funds for abortions except when the life of the woman would be endangered by carrying the pregnancy to term. Council members will hold a press event before the Council meeting, with Council members Leslie Pool, Ora Houston and Delia Garza and Mayor Pro Tem Kathie Tovo joining reproductive rights advocates to speak on the necessity of reproductive rights for women.
Thursday, October 4, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Check out PARD’s plans for Givens park
The city is in the process of creating a master plan for the improvement of Givens District Park. As part of the process, the Parks and Recreation Department has been holding meetings for members of the community to share what they’d like to see improved and added. The department has scheduled the third meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. At this session, the project team will share its preliminary visual concepts that have been developed with the input from the community in mind. A brief presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Givens District Park Recreation Center, 3811 E. 12th St.
Thursday, October 4, 2018 by Katy McElroy
Brightening up the Barton Springs Bathhouse
The Parks and Recreation Department is moving ahead with its plans to redo the Barton Springs Bathhouse to be a modern, first-class facility, while maintaining the historical charm of the original structure. The next community input meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 30, 3-6:30 p.m. in the Tree Court area in front of that Barton Springs Bathhouse, at 2201 Barton Springs Road.