Advocacy
Public Safety
Making Downtown Safe & Welcoming
Downtown Austin is a place for everyone. We support policies to make it safe, clean and welcoming to visitors, residents and employees. Through our longtime partnership with Austin Police Department (APD), we have implemented initiatives to extend and supplement the department’s capacity to protect downtown.
See Our Full Advocacy Agenda⟶APD Staffing Support
To support APD as the department struggles with unprecedented staff attrition, which has resulted in the Downtown Area Command being staffed below 80% of capacity, we successfully advocated for an ordinance to renew and guarantee APD benefits and wages. We are currently advocating for a new police contract and continue to monitor staffing levels to inform further action steps as needed.
Increasing Visible Resources and Cameras
We fund an APD overtime patrol that puts two additional APD officers in the Downtown Public Improvement District from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. We also provide funds to enhance APD’s HALO camera system, which helps deter and solve crimes.
Mental Health Diversion Center
We support the Travis County Commissioners Court’s action to create a mental health diversion center to provide necessary treatment alternatives for people with behavioral health issues that become engaged in the criminal justice system, or for those who can be deflected from the system by accepting treatment. This support includes advocating for a pilot program that launched in September 2024, as well as plans for a permanent center. The Downtown Alliance staff is represented on the Mental Health Diversion Steering Committee planning body.
Entertainment District Safety and Cleanliness
We advocate for programs that improve cleanliness and enhancing safety in downtown’s East Sixth and Red River districts.