The City Council's first meeting of 2025 will address how Austin can better respond to mental health-related emergencies. By directing the city manager to produce a report on how the city handles these incidents, the resolution aims to evaluate police and non-police responses to mental health calls. Chito Vela highlights a consensus among various stakeholders for more effective strategies, citing past incidents that revealed flaws in current methods. The outcome of the report is expected to inform budget considerations for Fiscal Year 2026, marking a significant shift in public safety policy.
"Right now, we have a rare moment of complete agreement from all stakeholders - police officers, city staff, mental health professionals and community advocates - that there is a better way to respond to mental health needs."
"Shifting appropriate mental health-related calls to trained professionals will ensure individuals in crisis receive the specialized care they need, while allowing officers to focus on core law enforcement priorities."
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