Austin is stronger now; keep it up by getting to know your neighbors
Over the last three weeks, our community lost two of its brightest lights, and four others were injured. The serial killer’s senseless murders and attacks have struck at the core of our city — otherwise one of the safest big cities in the nation.
Austin should remember the fallen victims of these attacks. Both good men, Stephan House and Draylen Mason made our city a better place. Together with their families, we have all lost something with their murders that we cannot replace. We won’t let Stephan and Draylen slip from our minds, and our prayers are with Esperanza Herrera and the other injured and all the families.
I want to convey my sincere thanks to the FBI, the ATF, Texas DPS, and our own Austin Police Department. All the law enforcement officers and first responders who worked this case on the ground and around the country deserve our gratitude, including Chief Brian Manley, FBI agent Christopher Combs, and ATF agent Fred Milanowski. I also want to thank Gov. Greg Abbott for his support during this ordeal, and everyone in the community and across the state who reached out to offer whatever help might be needed.
I didn’t sleep much in the past few weeks. I’ve visited the crime scenes and spoken with hundreds of Austinites in affected neighborhoods and at community meetings. I focused on rallying the community and trying to get accurate, useful information out in a timely manner. I wanted everyone to know to be safe and to make sure that our city knew what was happening on the ground.
I want you to know that our city is OK. Even though we began to question simple routines and daily decisions, we did not let fear stop us from living our lives. Austin is stronger now because we made it through this together. The legacy of the past weeks needs to be a city that gets better even from a horrible experience.
We can’t and shouldn’t go back to life as it was.
Many in the city were afraid and terrorized by these attacks. Different communities in Austin see and process these events differently because our experiences in this city are not the same. This issue — the difference in the reality of Austin, depending on where you live or who you are — is part of our renewed and ongoing conversation about racial equity in our city. These recent events reinforce the importance of continuing this work to address biases and inequities and to change institutions.
But another thing is also apparent from the last couple weeks; We will be a stronger community if we know our neighbors better. So, I’m asking you to do something more.
I want you to go outside, knock on some doors, and meet neighbors that you may not know. Maybe it’s the house across the street. Maybe it’s the house down the street. But I need you to go and meet your neighbors, your fellow Austinites. If you live in an apartment, visit the unit upstairs, or maybe it’s the folks across the hall. Meet your neighbors. Get to know them. Our city will be safer as a result because we will know each other better. You will better know what your neighbors need, and they will be in a better position to help you.
Mister Rogers was a wise man when he often asked, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” We have got to look out for each other. We have got to get each other’s back, just like we did these past couple weeks. We can help each other more if we know each other better.
The last three weeks have been tough. We’re getting through this together, Austin. And we’ll be stronger for it. Go meet your neighbors.