Leaders Testify on codeNEXT at Joint Land Use Committee
Austin Interfaith leaders from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic and All Saints' Episcopal testified about the impact of a proposed land use overhaul to a Joint Land Use Committee of the City of Austin. Leaders told stories about the zoning-initiated displacement of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church to East Austin in the 1930s and subsequent displacements initiated by the City since then.
Though the Committee began the hearing 20 minutes before the planned start, 50+ leaders were there to support their speakers.
Testimony by Florence Briceño, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church (video here)
Testimony by Rev. Michael Floyd, All Saint's Episcopal Church
Civic Academy on codeNEXT & Affordable Housing Educates and Agitates
Hosted by Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church and the Austin Interfaith Affordable Housing Team, the latest civic academy on codeNEXT drew 120 mostly East Austin residents to learn about the proposed zoning overhaul, share their housing stories and identify opportunities for concrete action before the final City Council vote.
Moving Towards Healing after Bombings in Central Texas
As the immediate threats to safety due to the bombings over the past several weeks in Central Texas have been brought to an end, the victims, their families, and our whole community will move into a phase of healing from these tragedies. Our support and prayers are with all of those affected. Several of the victims lived, worked, and worshiped in the very neighborhoods that our organization works in most closely. Fundraising sites (see below) for the victims and their families have been set up, and we urge you to consider donating to help support them in their time of need. We are humbled by the families of these victims, who even in their inconceivable loss, have found it in their hearts to pray for the perpetrator and his family.
We also thank the over 500 law enforcement officers for their tireless work in ending this horrific period, making our communities safe, and in beginning to evaluate these events to make our community even safer in the future. Our community will always be safest when residents, community leaders, and law enforcement work together leveraging relationships that have been built before a crisis hits.
As we move into Holy Days in the Christian and Jewish faiths, we are reminded of the importance of neighborliness in its truest sense: getting to know those who share your neighborhood, community, and city in genuine, face to face relationships. This is the best investment we can make in our shared welfare, health, and well-being in Central Texas.
To make a donation to the victims and their families, please visit the following fundraising sites: