Downtown Safety Discussed at Meeting

City Leaders are meeting with community members to discuss ways to improve downtown safety.

Residents got the chance to talk to City Leaders about safety issues and to hear what leaders are planning to do about them.

One main concern brought up, besides drug possessions, burglaries and robberies, was panhandling.

"Crime begets crime. Panhandling is illegal. I think it just leads to more crime," said frequent downtown visitor Glenn Williams.

The issue is something that downtown residents and visitors share.

Austin Police are hoping that the 17 newly installed cameras will help improve the quality of life downtown.

APD has caught two crimes since the cameras have been up.

“Word is going to start getting around that if you come downtown and you do something, you will be held accountable,” said Senior APD Officer Michael Schultheis.

While some citizens think the cameras will help with crime, others have a different ideal of how to stop the crime.

"Have a zero tolerance and not look the other way. Even though it's against the law to jaywalk, panhandle you look the other way you let people know it's really okay to do it," said Williams.

"Downtown is where it's at and you want to be able to go down there and feel comfortable, safe and you want it to be beautiful and you want tourists to come back you don't want them to come and say oh my God," said Austin resident Cindy Stokes.