Nite Without Crime On Rundberg 2009

On Friday, October 2, 2009, The North Austin Coalition of Neighborhoods is having our Annual Nite Without Crime on Rundberg event from 6 to 8 p.m.  Why?

• Because the community and the police have stepped up and decided to battle rampant crime, including drugs and prostitution, in the area.  They deserve to have a community that embraces and supports their efforts. 
• Because prostitution on residential streets is not acceptable. Drug deals on residential streets are not acceptable.  Violent crime on Rundberg within a stone's throw of Barrington Elementary is not acceptable.  Continued rising numbers of car and house burglaries in a 10 mile radius of this crime center is not acceptable. 
• Because the biggest zipcode in Austin is 78704 (43,000 people) and the second biggest zipcode is 78758 (42,000 people).  78758 and 78753 have at least 83,000 people and its estimated that by the 2010 census we will be closer to 100,000.  We are not only the biggest community in Austin but we are the fastest growing. And yet we continue to struggle as a community because we have what APD considers to be it's most serious crime problem right on Rundberg.
• Because the City Manager and the DAs and the Courts still are not on board with us. We have EIGHT neighborhood associations and numerous churches and businesses that have stepped up and embraced this community's efforts.  Isn't time our elected officials get involved and help as well?  
• Because all of us realize that being a good citizen goes beyond paying our taxes and voting.  It is stepping up to the plate and caring about our community and our neighbors and being responsible for what North Austin is, today and tommorow.  
• Because we are proud to be North Austin. And we are proud to serve our community as leaders and volunteers and as loving hands.   

We need volunteers to do the following by the July NACN/NCGANA meeting: 

1. Send letters to the small circulars in Austin asking for support (Done by Crossroad Community Church Volunteers!)
2. Send letters to area churches asking for support (Done by Crossroad Community Volunteers!)
3. Contact the Fire Department for support
4. Compile a list of non profits that may be willing to assist us with this event  
5. Obtain a sound Permit
6. Spray site at North Creek/Rundberg for ants
7. Ensure APD closes streets
8. Arrange parking w/ Hollywoods Video
9. Find list of Sponsors for last year
10. Make sure we have grills and cooks and food
11. Get a list of the streets that need to have flyers delivered to them (Done - thank you Austin Zoning Dept!)
12. Send a letter to the Sheriff's Department asking for support.
13. Put posters and flyers in the windows of businesses by September 19th
14. Get signs for the 20 metal yard sign holders that we have been advised we can borrow for this event
15. Contact TV and Radio stations to get their support.
16. Reach out to Austin Interfaith to see if they will support this event
17. List of businesses and other organizations that can support this event
18. Willing hands and more suggestions! 

And There's More!

Hey y'all, we need to take a minute to talk seriously for a minute about crime in North Austin. While most of us try our best to look out after our neighbors and do things like neighborhood watches, sometimes we have to step back and take a look at the big picture. What I have to tell you is not fun or easy to hear, but I think its something all of us should be aware of.

First, North Creek Georgian Acres has been talking to the judges who actually handle the cases from North Austin.  The neighbors over there are very concerned because it seems there is a revolving door on the criminals in their neighborhood.  They call the police, the people get arrested, and then the criminals are right back in the neighborhood. Something is obviously wrong. And what they are hearing is that the prostitution and/or drug arrests are simply not making it to the courts for the judges to do any kind of sentence.  And the judges are pointing the fingers at the DAs as being 'at fault'.

Now maybe its a case of finger pointing. Or maybe its true that despite all the arrests being made in North Austin, especially in the Rundberg/ I-35 corridor, the DAs office is 'throwing out the arrests'. Or maybe its a case of the police not being trained to make arrests that can be prosecuted. We are not sure.  But something seems to be seriously amiss.

What we are asking our community members (yes, that's you) to do:

Please write letters to the DA's offices and also to the Chief of Police and ask them to come to our community and explain at the August Commander's Forum (Aug 11th at Barrington Elementary):

1. what the actual numbers of prosecutions for drug and prostitution arrests are from January 1, 2007-June 30, 2008 (18 months) versus the number of arrests made for these same offenses in 78753/78758.
2. what the DAs and the Police Department intend to do to close these gaps if the arrest to conviction ratio is less than 80%.

Contacts:

Rosemary Lehmberg, District Attorney, 509 W.11th St., Austin, TX 78701

David Escamilla, County Attorney, 314 W. 11th St., #300, Austin, TX 78701

Chief of Police Art Acevedo, Austin Police Department, P.O. Box 689001, Austin TX, 78768.

(North Creek Georgian Acres has a letter available at their yahoo site of further steps they want their residents to take. You can visit it here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NCGANA_Discussion/files/April_handout.doc)

Unfortunately, I have some more harsh truth.  The Chief of Police spoke at the Austin Neighborhood Council meeting in April.  And here's where we stand, y'all. The City of Austin is 400 officers short for a city of our size.  93% of APD's budget is for staffing.  And the City of Austin has predicted a 30 million dollar shortfall next year and has asked the police department to cut 5 million dollars in next year's budget. Yeah, you can do the math.

Folks, we have a HUGE crime problem on I-35/Rundberg.

What this means to you:

1. the police who should be assisting you when you have an emergency are simply too overwhelmed to respond.
2. The crime continues to spread.  We continue to see way, way too many house break-ins and vehicle burglaries in North Austin and its because the crime is so bad along I-35. It's going to get worse unless we all step up as concerned citizens and do something.

So yes, we need to make sure each and every arrest counts.  And we need to see hard numbers from DAs and the Chief of Police. And an action plan if there is an issue.

Now, finally, there are two more things we really, really need you to do.

The City of Austin is applying for a federal grant so they can hire 50 more police officers. The idea is to break the new officers into 3 teams that will target the worst crime areas and help shore up some of the staffing problems APD currently has.

Please send a letter to your congressman and ask him to make sure this grant is approved:

The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, United States House of Representatives, 131 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-4310

And second?

Can you print two copies of this newsletter and pass them on?  If you know just two people who would be willing to step up and write letters, it would go a long way to making a difference in making a difference in how safe North Austin is for all of us.

Sincerely,

Mary Ruddig, Vice-President, NACN