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YOU READY, COUNSELOR? YES.AND WE'RE GOING LIVE IN 5, 4, 3.
[News Conference on Council Item to Combat Human Trafficking ]
GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.I AM A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, AND THAT'S IN FAR NORTHWEST AUSTIN.
HERE TODAY WE'RE JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE SAFE ALLIANCE, MAGDALENE HOUSE UNBOUND, NOW CENTER FOR CHILD PROTECTION, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, AND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TODAY MARKS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN OUR SHARED DEDICATION, ERADICATING ONE OF THE MOST EGREGIOUS VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
IT IS WITH A PROCE PROFOUND SENSE OF HUMILITY AND PRIDE THAT I ANNOUNCED THE UNANIMOUS PASSAGE OF A RESOLUTION I AUTHORED TODAY AT OUR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
THIS RESOLUTION SOLIDIFIES OUR STEADFAST RESOLVE TO COMBAT THIS ABHORRENT CRIME WITHIN OUR CITY.
UNDER ITEM 38, THE RESOLUTION MANDATES THE CITY MANAGER TO SPEARHEAD A SERIES OF PROACTIVE MEASURES AIMED AT COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
THESE MEASURES INCLUDE COLLABORATION WITH HOTELIERS, LAUNCHING A COMPREHENSIVE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, EMPOWERING THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT TO SECURE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, COORDINATING WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO ENHANCE VICTIM SERVICES AND PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO ESTABLISH SAFE HAVENS FOR SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
I EXTEND MY HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE WITH US TODAY AND PROVIDED LETTERS OF SUPPORT THAT BOLSTERED THIS POLICY, SOME OF WHOM ARE WITH ME HERE TODAY, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LENT THEIR SUPPORT AT TODAY'S COUNCIL MEETING.
THE UNANIMOUS PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION UNEQUIVOCALLY SIGNALS OUR COMMUNITY'S RESOLUTE STANCE AGAINST THIS NEFARIOUS CRIME.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING RECOGNIZES NO BOUNDARIES.
IT PREYS UPON THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND DEPRIVES INDIVIDUALS OF THEIR INHERENT FREEDOMS, DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
HOWEVER, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION TODAY, WE ECHO A POWERFUL MESSAGE.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAS NO PLACE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, NOT UNDER OUR VIGILANT WATCH.
I WANNA EXTEND MY APPRECIATION TO THE FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF THIS RESOLUTION TODAY AND FOR THEIR DEDICATION TO THE CAUSE.
THEIR COMMITMENT TO CHAMPION CHAMPIONING POLICIES THAT PRIORITIZES SAFETY AND WELLBEING OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IS APPRECIATED.
NEVERTHELESS, OUR JOURNEY DOES NOT CONCLUDE HERE.
WHILE THIS RESOLUTION MARKS A SIGNIFICANT STRIDE FORWARD, IT IS MERELY THE INCEPTION OF A LONGER PATH AHEAD.
WE MUST NOW TRANSLATE OUR WORDS INTO TANGIBLE ACTIONS, ENSURING THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY RESOURCES, SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND EDUCATION TO DETECT, PREVENT, AND RESPOND TO INCIDENCES OF HUMAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
TO THE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, I WANT TO CONVEY A MESSAGE OF UNITY.
YOUR VOICES AND EXPERIENCES HOLD IMMENSE SIGNIFICANCE, AND WE STAND READY TO SUPPORT YOU AT EVERY JUNCTURE.
THIS RESOLUTION EPITOMIZES THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO STAND ALONGSIDE SURVIVORS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, EMPOWERING THEM TO RECLAIM THEIR LIVES WITH DIGNITY.
AS WE PRESS FORWARD, LET US BE REMINDED THAT THE BATTLE AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING NECESSITATES A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT.
IT CALLS UPON ALL STAKEHOLDERS, GOVERNMENT BODIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS ALIKE TO STAND UNITED IN OUR RESOLVE TOGETHER, LET US FORGE A FUTURE WHERE EXPLOITATION FINDS NO QUARTER, AND WHERE AUSTIN EMERGES AS A PREEMINENT BEACON OF SAFETY OPPORTUNITY AND TRANQUILITY.
AND I BELIEVE THAT COMMANDER DISHER WITH THE A PD ORGANIZED CRIME UNIT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
SO I WILL PASS THE MIC TO HIM.
I'M THE COMMANDER OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION.
UNDER THE ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION IS THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT.
I WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY MACKENZIE KELLY FOR CHAMPIONING THIS, UH, HUMAN TRAFFICKING RESOLUTION.
I HAVE A DEDICATED TEAM OF DETECTIVES AND CIVILIAN STAFF THAT WORK TIRELESSLY TO SOLVE THESE CRIMES.
UH, WE DO NEED QUITE A BIT OF HELP.
WE NEED RESOURCES FOR THE VICTIMS AND ALL THE FOLKS WHO ARE VICTIM COUNSELORS BEHIND US AND VICTIM ADVOCATES, THEY ALL WORK TOGETHER AS A MASSIVE TEAM TO MAKE ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO POSSIBLE.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR ALL YOU'VE DONE.
AND NOW WE'LL HAVE, UM, BROOKE AXTEL FROM THE SAFE ALLIANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP SPEAK, AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM CHIEF LUCR FROM EMS BROOKE.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE SAFE ALLIANCE.
I AM ALSO A WOMAN WHO OVERCAME CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING IN TEXAS, AND I START, STARTED MY RECOVERY HERE AT SAFE IN AUSTIN.
SAFE SUPPORTS APPROXIMATELY 5,000
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SURVIVORS OF ABUSE EVERY YEAR WITH OUR PARTNERS AND INCLUDING SURVIVORS OF SEX TRAFFICKING WITH VITAL SERVICES.THEY NEED TO FIND SAFETY, HEALING, AND HOPE.
WE ARE ALL HERE TODAY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE UNCONDITIONAL WORTH OF SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING WE BELIEVE THEY ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR, AND THAT NO ONE IN OUR CITY SHOULD ENDURE THE INJUSTICE OF EXPLOITATION.
SEX TRAFFICKING IS SEXUAL ASSAULT FOR PROFIT, AND IT HAS NO PLACE IN AUSTIN.
WE WANNA LIVE IN A CITY WHERE EVERYONE IS FREE, FREE FROM ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE.
A CITY WHERE EVERYONE IS COMMITTED TO ENDING HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND OFFERING A PATHWAY OF LIBERATION TO SURVIVORS.
TODAY, OUR CITY COUNCIL, WITH THE LEADERSHIP OF COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, RESOLVED TO CREATE MORE FUNDING, RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIPS TO END TRAFFICKING IN AUSTIN.
AND WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE AUSTIN A SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.
TOGETHER WE CAN COURAGEOUSLY FACE THE TRUTH THAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING HAPPENS EVERY DAY IN OUR CITY.
IT HAPPENS HERE BECAUSE THERE IS A DEMAND FOR IT HERE.
AS AUSTIN CONTINUES TO BE ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE US, THE DEMAND FOR TRAFFICKING CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
THIS IS A PAINFUL TRUTH TO FACE ABOUT A CITY THAT MANY OF US LOVE, BUT REAL LOVE DOES NOT LOOK AWAY FROM HARM.
LOVE PROTECTS THE VULNERABLE LOVE CHAMPIONS, FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE, AND REAL LOVE STOPS ABUSE.
SO ARE WE WILLING TO BRAVELY LOVE AND PROTECT OUR CITY AND SHOW SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING THAT THEY ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR EVERY DAY? OR WILL WE LOOK AWAY BECAUSE IT IS TOO DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING BOUGHT, SOLD, AND EXPLOITED IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IN THE LAST YEAR, SAFE SUPPORTED 138 CLIENTS IN OUR CARES PROGRAM, WHICH IS DEVOTED TO SUPPORTING SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING AGE 12 TO 24 IN OUR CITY.
WE ALSO SUPPORT SURVIVORS AGES 25 AND UP WITH MANY SERVICES INCLUDING COUNSELING, PEER SUPPORT, HOUSING, LEGAL SERVICES, SEXUAL ASSAULT, FORENSIC EXAMS, AND MORE WITH THE PARTNERS.
YOU SEE HERE, WHEN WE ASK SOME OF OUR CLIENTS WHAT IT MEANS TO THEM TO RECEIVE SUPPORT THROUGH OUR CARES PROGRAM AT SAFE, HERE IS WHAT THEY SAID.
IT MEANS TO HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO ENJOY AND TALK TO PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND A PLACE TO BE ME.
IT MEANS TO SUPPORT ME AND THE DECISIONS I MAKE.
I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN ME, THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALL SURVIVORS OF TRAFFICKING IN AUSTIN.
WE DON'T NEED ANYONE TO BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.
AS SURVIVORS, WE HAVE OUR OWN VOICES.
WE ARE HERE FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM EVERY DAY AS LEADERS, AS ADVOCATES, AS CHANGE MAKERS.
AND THIS IS WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WILL YOU BE OUR ALLIES AND OUR FRIENDS ON OUR CITY'S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM TOGETHER WE CAN PUT OUR COMPASSION INTO ACTION AND DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING THIS INJUSTICE TO AN END.
NOW WE'LL HAVE CHIEF LUCR FROM AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS SAY A FEW WORDS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE.
AND OF COURSE, THANK YOU TO YOU, ALL OF Y'ALL FOR THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.
AND TO OUR PARTNERS FROM, UH, THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THE, THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, UH, THAT YOU ALL HAVE EACH AND EVERY DAY TRYING TO ADDRESS THIS CRISIS.
UM, RECENT NATIONAL SURVEY THAT WAS DONE OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS SHOWED THAT, UM, 88% OF THOSE VICTIMS HAD ENCOUNTERED EMS OR OTHER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WHILE THEY WERE BEING TRAFFICKED.
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS AND OUR INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE TRAIN OUR PROVIDERS APPROPRIATELY IN RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM.
LARGE SCALE EVENTS LIKE THOSE THAT OFTEN HAPPEN HERE IN AUSTIN ARE OUR FAVORITE TARGET FOR TRAFFICKERS.
AND IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT FOR US HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, TO HAVE A FOCUS ON TRAINING OUR PROVIDERS TO FIND THESE SYMPTOMS HERE IN AUSTIN, AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY EMS IS COMMITTED TO DOING EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO END HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND WE REGULARLY PARTNER WITH OUR HOSPITAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS.
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MOST VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, AND WE SEE OUR PATIENTS WHERE THEY ARE IN ENVIRONMENTS THAT ALMOST NO ONE ELSE SEES.WE TRAIN ALL OF OUR STAFF AND USE USING SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR AND BEST PRACTICES IN IDENTIFYING THESE PATIENTS.
OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS ENCOUNTER VICTIMS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING FREQUENTLY AS THEIR PATIENTS ARE.
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE TO THESE CRIMES JUST IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS.
18 MONTHS ALONE ARE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS HAVE IDENTIFIED SEVERAL SEPARATE HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASES.
ONCE IDENTIFIED OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH PARAMEDICS DEVELOPED RELATIONSHIPS AND WERE ABLE TO BUILD TRUST AND CONNECT THEM WITH NEEDED RESOURCES, INCLUDING LOOPING IN OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS TO COMPLETE THE INVESTIGATIONS.
AND NOT ONLY DID THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIAL HUMAN, HUMAN TRAFFICKING SITUATIONS, THEY ALSO RESPOND ALONGSIDE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS WHEN THEY IDENTIFY SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE INTERVENTIONS AND PROVIDE VICTIMS WITH MEDICAL CARE AND A VARIETY OF RESOURCES THAT THEY MAY NEED.
THE WORK WE'RE DOING IS JUST THE TIP OF THE SPEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK ALONGSIDE OUR PARTNERS TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS.
AGAIN, THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY, AND TO ALL THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT SUPPORTED THIS RESOLUTION.
THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR US AND IT'S SUCH A KEY PART FOR US TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON BOTH IN EMS, IN HEALTHCARE AND IN PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS.
UM, SO THAT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE AND THE WORK THAT YOU DO IN THE COMMUNITY TO HELP COMBAT HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
UM, WITH THAT, I BELIEVE WE'RE DONE WITH OUR REMARKS AND THE PRESS CONFERENCE IS OVER.
OH, DID, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I WANTED TO ASK WHAT GOT YOU TO WANT TO DO THIS PROGRAM AND WHAT INITIALLY STARTED IT FOR YOU? SO THE QUESTION WAS WHY I WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS ISSUE AND WHAT GOT US STARTED.
I ACTUALLY HAD GONE TO THE, UM, A PD HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT, UM, THE MORNING THAT THEY ACTUALLY RECOVERED A SURVIVOR OF, OF TRAFFICKING.
AND HEARING THE STORY AND LEARNING FIRSTHAND WHAT SOME OF THE RESOURCES THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD HAVE AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT COULD BE STARTED REALLY WAS THE IMPETUS FOR THIS RESOLUTION.
AND I'M SO THANKFUL THAT I SOUGHT OUT THAT EDUCATION SO THAT I COULD LEARN MORE AND I COULD SHED LIGHT ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
UH, YOU MAY HAVE MENTIONED IT EARLIER, UM, BUT, UH, UH, WHAT CAN, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBERS DO TO GET INVOLVED TO HELP, UM, UH, LOCAL AGENCIES AND, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, TO HELP STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING? YEAH.
SO A LOT OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE STANDING HERE BEHIND ME HAVE GREAT PROGRAMS THAT THEY DO THROUGH NONPROFIT WORK THAT HELP EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY.
UM, ANOTHER WAY THAT PEOPLE CAN GET INVOLVED IS WHEN THE CITY ROLLS OUT THEIR EDUCATION PROGRAM, THERE ARE VARIOUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE ONLINE THAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT IN ORDER TO LEARN ABOUT SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND TO GET THAT AWARENESS.
LAST YEAR I PASSED A RESOLUTION RELATED TO HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT ACTUALLY NOW REQUIRES ALL OF OUR SOCIAL SERVICE CONTRACTORS AT THE CITY WHO WORKED DIRECTLY IN HOMELESSNESS TO TAKE AT A MINIMUM, UH, AWARENESS TRAINING FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.
SO THOSE ARE OTHER TOUCH POINTS, UM, WHICH ARE HELPFUL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? I'M THINKING
I'M SORRY TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
DO YOU WANNA MAYBE TALK ABOUT SOME SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING THAT YOU, YOU ALL KNOW ABOUT MAYBE THAT THE COMMUNITY COULD, COULD LEARN MORE ABOUT? I THINK IT'D BE BEST IF WE, UM, I'D LIKE TO PUT THAT IN A FORMAT WHERE IT COULD BE VIEWED ONLINE.
BECAUSE THERE'S QUITE A FEW INDICATORS AND, UM, BUT WE DO HAVE EDUCATION.
WE DO INTEND ON DOING SOME TRAINING, UM, FOR ANYBODY WHO'S WILLING TO HEAR ABOUT IT, WHETHER IT'S EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, UM, BUSINESSES, AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE WITH THE NONPROFITS ARE REALLY CRITICAL.
UM, THE INITIAL PART OF GETTING A VICTIM OUT OF THAT, UM, PREDICAMENT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT QUITE A BIT IN OUR INITIAL MEETING.
AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE REALLY NEED IS PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOLKS WHO CAN TAKE THESE VICTIMS IN AND KEEP THEM SAFE IN A SAFE LOCATION.
AND SO I THINK THAT WAS A BIG THING THAT WE REALLY ARE FOCUSING ON.
ONE OF THE PARTS OF THE RESOLUTION THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IS, UM, DIRECTING THE CITY MANAGER TO PARTNER WITH HOTELIERS.
SO INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN HOTELS WHERE THEY CAN PROVIDE SAFE HARBOR FOR A SURVIVOR OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITHIN THE FIRST 24 TO 72 HOURS OF BEING TAKEN OUT OF THAT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.