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(Christa McWhirter/Austonia)
By Jo Clifton
In light of a likely U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision legalizing abortion, City Council Member Chito Vela is working on a resolution that tells Austin police they should not investigate or solicit information regarding women who get abortions or abortion providers.
The resolution will be called the GRACE Act. Vela told Politico, “This is not an academic conversation. This is a very real conversation where people’s lives could be destroyed by these criminal prosecutions. In Texas, you’re an adult at 17. We are looking at the prospect of a 17-year-old girl who has an unplanned pregnancy and is seeking an abortion (being) subjected to first-degree felony charges – up to 99 years in jail – and that’s just absolutely unacceptable.”
Texas has the harshest anti-abortion provision of any state.
While anti-abortion advocates have celebrated since the leak of the upcoming Supreme Court decision, it has sparked fury nationwide and alarmed Texas pro-choice organizations in particular. Texas has what is called a “trigger law,” designed to criminalize any abortion except for those performed to save the life or health of the mother. That law would go into effect 30 days after the Supreme Court decision.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza has joined district attorneys from other Texas cities in declaring that he would not prosecute women for having an abortion.
Vela, an attorney, is seeking to protect those seeking an abortion as well as those providing an abortion by enacting a policy that says city funds should not be used to target abortions and making abortion the lowest priority for criminal enforcement, according to a spokesperson for his office.
Council Members Vanessa Fuentes and Paige Ellis are among the resolution’s co-sponsors.
Fuentes told the Austin Monitor via email, “The importance of the GRACE Act cannot be overstated. By banning the use of city funds to record (and) investigate reports of abortion care and providing a recommendation to APD to place reports of abortion-related care at the lowest possible priority, we are demonstrating City Council’s willingness to go on the offensive by fighting back for reproductive rights in a proactive manner. Since Austin will be the first major city in Texas to pursue an initiative like this, we are working with groups like Local Progress to motivate and support other cities in Texas to take action.”
Council Member Paige Ellis also reiterated her support for the resolution in an email to the Monitor.
“The Austin community overwhelmingly supports abortion rights, and I am proud to co-sponsor Council Member Vela’s effort to decriminalize abortion if Roe is overturned and Texas’ trigger law goes into effect,” said Ellis. “The state of Texas has a history of inserting itself into private health decisions and to go so far as to criminalize personal choices made by families with their doctors is egregious. I’ve been a proud sponsor of the city providing amicus support in order to assist those challenging (Senate Bill 8) as well as a co-sponsor of the abortion access resolutions the Austin City Council has passed in previous years. My colleagues and I have led on creative measures to ensure abortion care is available to all who need it, and I know this Council will continue to do everything in our power to defend basic human rights.”
According to his spokesperson, Vela is seeking input from various pro-choice groups before preparing a final version of the resolution. The spokesperson said as soon as the Supreme Court acts – presuming that they overturn Roe v. Wade – Vela will be ready to ask for a special called meeting to consider the resolution. That will likely be in early July. At this point, Council is not scheduled to have any meetings between June 16 and July 26.
When asked how Austin police would respond to the resolution, a spokesperson for the city’s public information office provided the following statement: “The city is prepared to take the steps necessary to implement this resolution upon passage by City Council.”
The Texas Attorney General’s Office did not respond to a request for comment about the resolution.
- U.S. Supreme Court rules there’s no right to abortion, setting up Texas ban - austonia ›
- Austin City Council sets meeting to talk abortion decriminalization after Roe v. Wade was overturned - austonia ›
- Austin City Council sets meeting to talk abortion decriminalization after Roe v. Wade was overturned - austonia ›
- photos of Hundreds protesting for abortion rights in Austin amid Roe v. Wade ruling - austonia ›
- Texas is a case study of how abortion bans have a chilling effect on both healthcare workers and patients - austonia ›
Popular
(Gulfstream)
Elon Musk has placed an order for a new, top-of-the-line private jet: a Gulfstream G700, Austonia has learned. Delivery is expected in early 2023.
Billed as offering “the most spacious cabin in history,” the aircraft seats 19 and soars above the rest of us at up to 51,000 feet. Base price: $78 million.
The Gulfstream G700 was awarded the 2022 International Yacht & Aviation Award for excellence in cabin design this year. (Gulfstream)
According to the Gulfstream website, the G700 can fly up to 7,500 nautical miles without refueling, enough range to fly nonstop from Austin to Hong Kong. Powered by two Rolls-Royce engines, it has its own Wi-Fi system, 20 oval windows measuring 28” x 21”, and two lavatories.
The sweet new ride will replace his current top-of-line private jet: a 2015 Gulfstream G650, the aircraft that has been made somewhat famous by the automated @elonjet Twitter account, which tracks and reports his personal aircraft’s movements using public data.
Landed in Austin, Texas, US. Apx. flt. time 44 Mins. pic.twitter.com/jZ7HI0i4iV
— ElonJet (@ElonJet) June 24, 2022
Musk has repeatedly championed “free speech” as a guiding ethic in his planned purchase of Twitter. Last December, Musk offered the teenager who built the @elonjet tracker $50,000 to shut it down, citing security concerns. It’s still up.
According to the @elonjet account, Musk’s jet last traveled to Austin, where it’s been since June 23. The associated data says that his flight to Austin burned $2,573 worth of aviation fuel and discharged 4 tons of carbon dioxide.
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(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.