The Black Leaders Collective hosted a briefing on the City of Austin’s $1.1 billion general fund budget proposal for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. The purpose of the briefing was to highlight the priorities of Black-led programs and initiatives and gaps. The recommendations come from leaders in the Black community.  

You can watch the full briefing here:

Budget 101 | Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison: 

Councilmember Natasha Harper-Madison provided an overview of the budget and reminded us that although the budget vote takes place Aug 12-14, it can be adjusted throughout the fiscal year. The City Manager Spencer Cronk prepared this year’s budget and presented it to City Council July. The Mayor and Council are currently reviewing and discussing changes or additions.  

You can reach your city councilmember by calling 3-1-1 or emailing the city council members by clicking here.

Sign up to testify at the next Austin City Council meeting by clicking here.

You can view Councilmember Harper-Madison's segment here: 

Food Insecurity | Joi Chevalier: 

Joi Chevalier is a food industry expert and owner of the Cooks Nook and member of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board. She shared how important it is to create a more equitable regional food system and more knowledgeable Black food leaders who can participate. 

She urged the support of the food policy recommendations that have been sent to the Council. These recommendations include two full-time positions in the City to create a food systems dept/group, RISE, and CARES Act funding.  

“Austin is about to be the 10th largest city in the US, but we have no food resiliency plan. Without the needed strategic planning with an equity focus and significant investment, these gaps will only continue to widen throughout this on-going emergency response and during the next crisis.” 

BLC Food insecurity Recommendation 

Share your support for the food policy recommendations that have been sent to Council and includes two full-time positions to create a food systems department group, and additional RISE and CARES Act funding. 
 
 Read the full recommendations here.

You can view Joi Chevalier's segment here: 

Public Health | Shannon Jones & Naomi Watson: 

In the middle of the greatest pandemic we are facing in more than 100 years, the Austin Public Health Public budget shows minimal or no increase in programs that focus on health equity, disease prevention, and health promotion in epidemiology and public health preparedness. 

“For years, we have been talking about the disparities in health, and there needs to be additional funding to addresses culturally appropriate additional testing and screening for COVID-19, mental health services, chronic and infectious diseases.”   

During the briefing, Jones shared that there needs to be a focus on health outcomes for minority men and Black males in particular. 

Austin declared racism a public health crisis last week, and in 2017 there was a recommendation to create a public health commission to create accountability for how Austin Public Health carries out its mission. “There is a public safety and library commissions – but no public health commission.”  

Naomi Wilson, with Black Trans Leadership of Austin, supports recommendations for reallocating funds to the STAR Housing project, which is housing for black trans people. emergency housing funds, food funds 

BLC Public Health Recommendation: 

Show your support for an additional $10 million increase to the Austin Public Health budget instead of the proposed $3.6 million increase to address COVID-19, culturally proficient programs, healthy food programs, and the creation of a Public Health Commission. 

You can view Shannon and Naomi's segment here: 

Public Safety | Chas Moore: 
 

A recent survey of more than 1,500 Austinites indicates overwhelming support of divesting an average $236 million from the Austin Police Department. Currently, APD takes up about 40% of this year’s budget. This same survey indicated that the average increase in funding the community wants for Austin Public Health is $40 million.  
 “It’s scary for people to reimagine public safety – the question is, how can we invest more into people that are experiencing harm and the need for mental health or other resources.”  

 Please review AustinJustice.org detailed report on how to successfully achieve the $100 million cuts to APD’s budget. 

BLC Public Safety Recommendation:

Show your support for the defunding of APD at a minimum of $100 million and divert those funds to public health, mental health, affordable housing, violence prevention, and survivor support.  

  
You can view Chas's segment here: 

Economic Development | Greg Smith: 
 

Another $7.7 million is being transferred to low-income housing programs. However, Black people make up more than 40% of the homeless population, although we are only 8% of the community.   

Related to workforce development: “They [the City of Austin] can stand to increase this by double” about the workforce development programs. It is an already successful program that helps Black people find jobs.  

The current budget includes $3.5 mil in low-interest loans to small businesses. This could substantially benefit Black companies; however, the City needs to increase awareness around the program. Partnering with established non-profit organizations that already serve Black and minority businesses would increase the viability of getting funded.   

Cultural arts contracts are earmarked for a substantial reduction of $6 million down from $14 million. Many Black organizations compete for this funding and will be significantly impacted by the reduction.   

BLC Economic Development Recommendation:

 Show your support for an increase of low-interest loans to small businesses to $7 million, which is double what is included. Given the higher rate that Black people contribute to the homeless population in Austin, we also need to increase the low-income housing budget. 

Also, ask City Council to restore the $6 million in cultural arts funding that was removed from this year’s budget and fund at the same level as last year.  

You can view Greg's segment here: 

Education | Dr. Courtney Robinson: 
 

“We have an early childhood council and a college student commission, but we don’t have an education commission.” Dr. Robinson pointed out that the more programming and educational resources are given to children, the less likely for them to become a part of the school to prison pipeline. The Carver Museum & Cultural Center is not funded at the same levels as other cultural centers in Austin.  

“How do we support virtual learning and creating a space for mental healing for the children? We are not considering how the pandemic is affecting school-age children (3rd grade +). The more we can use community spaces like the Millennium Youth Entertainment Complex - the realization that basic technology needs have not been met for youths during the pandemic. 

  BLC Education Recommendation:

Show your support for creating an Education Commission at the City of Austin and additional funding for library, parks, and cultural center programs for youth.  

You can view Courtney's segment here: 

Civil Rights Office | Shuronda Robinson: 
 

The creation of a new Civil Rights Office will centralize into one a single office, all existing public education programs, community service initiatives and enforcement efforts aimed toward preventing and reducing discrimination in Austin. (source: July 2020 COA Civil Rights Report) 

BLC Civil Rights Office Recommendation:
Show your support for full funding for the Civil Rights Office. Also, the new office needs to be located on a bus line in an easily accessible area. It is also essential to raise the concern about ensuring there is no conflict of interest in terms of who the Civil Rights Office reports to at the City.  

You can view Shuronda's segment here: 

Black Music Fund | Chaka: 
 

A proposal has been presented to create a $750 thousand fund for Black musicians.  This proposal will come forward to the City Council later this fall. Since July, more than 2000 people have signed a petition to create this resource.   
 

Sign the Black Music Fund petition: 

You can view Chaka's segment here: 

Project Connect and Transporation | Yasmine Smith: 
 

Safe affordable and convenient mobility choices that meet every citizens’ need is the focus of efforts by People United for Mobility Action. A new transit improvement plan called Project Connect will go to the voters with a $9.8 billion price tag in November of this year.  

Through the work of advocates and elected officials, PUMA was able to secure a commitment of $300 million from the City of Austin for “anti-displacement measures" for vulnerable communities. The idea is to fund projects and programs that will make living near the proposed transit improvements affordable.  PUMA is hyper-focused metrics and outcomes that show that ProjectConnect is equitable.  

To find out more, go here: 

You can view Yasmine's segment here: