austonia newsletter
Get connected with our daily update
(Charlie L. Harper III/Austonia)
All members of Austin City Council, Mayor Steve Adler and several other Austin-area candidates and elected officials have signed a pledge stating they will not accept political donations from police unions.
<p>"Proud that the entire City Council has signed this pledge and is the first and only city in the country to do so," Council Member Jimmy Flannigan wrote in a text message. City Council members can only take up to $400 per election cycle from any PAC, including police unions.</p><p>The pledge has signatures from officials and candidates in 25 different states. Signatories pledged to reject donations from the <a href="https://twitter.com/GLFOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank"><u>Fraternal Order of Police</u></a>, the largest police union in the country.</p>
<p><br/></p><p>"Elected officials have a responsibility to hold police accountable for the ongoing violence and abuses of power against Black people," the pledge says. "In doing so, they must act independently from police unions and others determined to stand in the way of common-sense solutions that keep communities safe."</p><p>The pledge says politicians and elected officials of all parties have denounced the killing of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, except for police unions. </p><p>"Workers have a fundamental right to organize and use their collective power to ensure fair treatment and compensation," according to the pledge. "Police unions are different in that they perpetuate harm by protecting violent police officers and creating barriers to officer accountability and policy change."</p><p><em>Additional reporting by Karen Brooks Harper</em></p>
Austin-area politicians who signed pledge
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQwMDA2MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMjY4ODA0Nn0.fkRf9Q30GP9cm93MaK7YnhPkmLgCr6uCrRQVoqIhlV4/img.png?width=980" id="1cea9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="de4c8622fd9bce6c908d23e1baecac7d" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Charlie L. Harper III)
As weeks of protest against police misconduct have raised questions about how best to increase accountability, the U.S. Supreme Court Monday chose not to review the qualified immunity doctrine, one of the foremost protections law enforcement officers have from punishment for misconduct.
<p>The decision comes as a blow to these efforts but was not necessarily surprising, St. Edward's criminal justice professor Carsten Andresen said. </p><p>"The Supreme Court is very nervous about weighing in on anything that can have implications for how the police do their job," Andresen said. "I do think in the future, though, that this is going to be up for review. Lawyers are held responsible for the work they do, physicians are held responsible for the work they do … the legal community is going to start raising questions."</p><p>Qualified immunity <a href="https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-qualified-immunity-and-what-does-it-have-do-police-reform" target="_blank">defends government officials from being personally held liable</a> for constitutional violations so long as they have not "violate[d] clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known." As a result, police officers are often shielded from being sued, even in cases of excessive force, and <a href="https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-police-immunity-scotus/" target="_blank">a lack of cases</a> overcoming this standard has made new lawsuits hard to win. </p><p>Questions about how to address the misconduct of police officers has been a topic of conversation around the country following the death of George Floyd at the hands of an officer in Minneapolis. Just over a month before Floyd's death, an Austin officer fatally shot Michael Ramos as he attempted to flee in his car. Ramos' case spurred a similar push in Austin. </p><p>Without qualified immunity for police officers, or at least a lower bar for overcoming it, Ramos' family might be able to sue the officer that shot him, Christopher Taylor, for damages, Andresen said. </p><p>Hesitancy by the Supreme Court to take up qualified immunity, or any case that could interfere with the ability of law enforcement to do its job, will likely continue for a while, Andresen said. For the court to take up any major changes to law enforcement, Andresen said it would likely take a very compelling case, and even then it could be 10 years from when the case begins before the court makes a decision. </p><p>However, the recent ubiquity of videos capturing law enforcement misconduct could potentially speed things up or affect how the court makes its decision, Andresen said. </p><p>"I'm a criminal justice researcher. I've always known that there are these problems, but knowing these problems (exist) and then seeing an actual video, it's so much worse in some cases than I might have imagined."<span></span></p>
Keep Reading
Show less
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley promises progress as City Council vows top-down change at APD
11 June
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley went on the offensive in a press conference today as City Council members discussed a slate of sweeping changes to the Austin Police Department's budget and policy, and hundreds waited to speak to the council on those items.
<p>Manley announced that his department will be adopting new policies in response to widespread protests over police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd and Mike Ramos.</p><p>The press conference was held at the Boys and Girls Club of Austin in collaboration with JUST America, <a href="https://twitter.com/JustAmerica2020" target="_blank">a new organization</a> that says it is "[c]hanging the narrative of minorities in America."</p>
<div id="a1a73" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bf521de6758a6c056252fce2e485c7b3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1270224588153270273" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Austin, we have appreciated the love and support for what seems like such a short time since we've all come togethe… https://t.co/QDtqHi02un</div> — JUSTAmerica (@JUSTAmerica)<a href="https://twitter.com/JustAmerica2020/statuses/1270224588153270273">1591680116.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>According to a statement, JUST America presented Manley with four policy changes that could help make Austin a leader in police reform.</p><p>The policies Manley pledged to adopt are as follows:</p><ul class="ee-ul"><li>Restraints or holds of the neck by a person, object or device are banned. Violators will be referred to the department's discipline process.</li><li>Officers are forbidden from intentionally deactivating their body cameras during a critical incident. Violators will be subjected to indefinite suspension.<ul class="ee-ul"><li>Any investigation that reveals an officer intentionally tampered with body cameras will be referred to the appropriate district attorney for review.</li></ul></li><li>APD must inform Austin City Council and the public via APD's website within 24 hours of policing policy changes or amendments to APD's General Orders.</li></ul><p>The leaders of the organization—Eric Brown, Michael Burnet, Ahmed Toure and Nichelle Payne—spoke alongside Manley at the press conference. </p>From Your Site Articles
- What the future holds for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley - austonia ›
- Austin police will no longer use 'less lethal' bean bag ammunition at ... ›
- Manley: Two protesters shot by APD with 'less lethal' rounds remain ... ›
- JUST America wants now wants Austin Police Chief Manley gone - austonia ›
- Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will not be fired - austonia ›
- Austin police to discuss changes with city council committee - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
The Austin Police Department's post on Twitter about thank-you cards the department said came from grateful Austin residents drew immediate skepticism.
<div id="e6fe7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f6019ca9bb2a83cca776d71690591098"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1269326118366183424" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">We can’t express enough how grateful we are to serve you, Austin. Our officers have been working around the clock d… https://t.co/gzbTYXkwdT</div> — Austin Police Department (@Austin Police Department)<a href="https://twitter.com/Austin_Police/statuses/1269326118366183424">1591465904.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Retweeters and repliers noted that the handwriting on the cards looks similar, they don't have addresses and that they seem to be about the same size.</p><div id="7e1cd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f223ed3013a6769ba2f1d5586e3540af"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1269709028680183809" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@rohmontgomery Stop being so cynical. Can't everyone in Austin simply have identical handwriting? https://t.co/blsJpnsrYT</div> — Evil MoPac (@Evil MoPac)<a href="https://twitter.com/EvilMopacATX/statuses/1269709028680183809">1591557197.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>But APD says the cards are real, <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20200608/thank-you-cards-draw-online-skepticism-but-austin-police-say-theyrsquore-genuine" target="_blank">telling the Austin American-Statesman</a> that one person delivered a batch of them and "kindergarten-aged children were involved in making them."</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Austin Police Department changes get unanimous City Council support - austonia ›
- Austin police to discuss changes with city council committee - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Vic Hinterlang/Shutterstock)
The Austin City Council is poised to order sweeping changes to police work, responsibilities and spending as early as this week, members said on Monday, a day after thousands marched peacefully to protest police brutality.
<p>A package of resolutions addressing everything from the budget for the Austin Police Department to its staffing, from its use of force during arrests and protests to the very types of calls police should address, is up for a vote at the regular Austin City Council meeting Thursday.<br/></p><p>"Our black and brown communities deserve it, our city needs it, and this moment in history demands it," said Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza, a member of the council's judicial committee, which sponsored the proposals. </p><p>Some of those measures, like bans on the use of tear gas in protests and limits on no-knock warrants, can go into effect right away, said Council Member Greg Casar, another committee member. </p><p>Others, including proposed staffing reductions and budget cuts at the Austin Police Department, won't be officially addressed until budget season later this year.</p><p>"These are not problems that can be fixed overnight, but the backlog is so big we can kick this journey off with a flurry of activities," said Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison, who is also on the committee. </p><p>Several protesters <a href="https://austonia.com/city/austin-protesters-injured-police" target="_self">were seriously injured</a> during clashes with officers during the first week of demonstrations over the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May and Michael Ramos in Austin in April.</p><p>Resolutions appearing on the agenda for Thursday's regular City Council meeting propose changes including <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=341741" target="_blank">police use-of-force reforms,</a> an audit of Austin police disciplinary procedures, a rewrite of the department's general orders, <a href="https://www.austintexas.gov/edims/document.cfm?id=341743" target="_blank">capping police staff at current levels </a>and redirecting those budget dollars to community-based prevention strategies. They also address housing for former inmates and other community issues. </p><p>The resolutions appear to have broad support of the council and Mayor Steve Adler. The press conference on Monday only included the four sponsors, and Adler, as open meetings laws prohibit a quorum of council members from meeting without public notice. </p><p>Garza and Casar, another member of the judicial committee, have both suggested that Austin Police Chief Brian Manley step down as an act of good faith and the first step toward systemic change in the department. </p><p>They and two others, including Judicial Committee Chairman Jimmy Flannigan, last week expressed criticism over Manley's handling of recent police protests—as well as heading up a department that they said is generally slow to respond to council directives. Manley joined the force in 1990 and became chief in 2018.</p><p>Asked Monday if they would be taking that further, members did not repeat their call for Manley to resign and noted that City Manager Spencer Cronk alone has the authority to decide whether Manley stays. </p><p>Cronk last week issued a statement in support of Manley and city officials told Austonia on Friday there is no movement afoot to replace him. </p><p>But one of the resolutions does include a statement of no confidence in department leadership.</p><p><span></span>"We can express our opinion, as many of us have, but we are prohibited in interfering in personnel decisions," Casar said. </p><p>Said Harper-Madison: "We're basically asking our manager to heed the concerns and recommendations of the community and our constituents regarding Chief Manley's future with the Austin Police Department." </p><p>The resolutions, which include Items 50, 93, 95, 96 and 97 on the agenda, <a href="http://www.austintexas.gov/department/city-council/2020/20200611-reg.htm" target="_blank">can be found here.</a> Changes will be addressed formally in the regular meeting of the Austin City Council on Thursday.</p>
From Your Site Articles
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
- Austin police will no longer use 'less lethal' bean bag ammunition at ... ›
- Voting on the funding of the Austin police department - austonia ›
- McConaughey talks to former Longhorn Emmanuel Acho - austonia ›
- Cronk to Austin City Council: Here are the first steps to eliminate racial disparity in city and APD - austonia ›
- Cronk to council: Here are the first steps to address racial disparity in city and Austin Police Department - austonia ›
- Garza will vote 'no' on budget unless funds are moved away from police - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
As local activists groups see a chance to gain support for defunding the Austin Police Department, we wanted to know where Austonia readers stood on the issue. Yesterday, we asked, "What should the City Council do about the APD budget?" and the results show 53% voted to add funding to APD.
<p><br/></p><p>Comments for the "add funding" majority were concerned about the lack of resources the police department would face if funding was cut. Some wrote that APD needs more funding for the city to be safe.</p><p>The 17% of "leave as is" voters had similar comments, saying APD needs adequate funding to protect citizens. One person said the police force needs to change and that can only happen with sufficient funds. </p><p>The 29% who voted to defund APD left comments about APD being violent and said the funds should be redirected elsewhere. </p><p>The Austin City Council discussed APD conduct and funding today at a "<a href="https://austonia.com/city/austin-police-chief-manley-resign" target="_blank">special session</a>" meeting. Planning for the city budget is still in the early phases. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- Live: Changes proposed for Austin Police Dept after protests - austonia ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests - austonia ›
- List of proposed changes to Austin Police Department after protests - austonia ›
- Austin Police Department changes get unanimous City Council support - austonia ›
- What the future holds for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley - austonia ›
- Austin Police Department overhaul draws public testimony - austonia ›
- Cronk to Austin City Council: Here are the first steps to eliminate racial disparity in city and APD - austonia ›
- Cronk to council: Here are the first steps to address racial disparity in city and Austin Police Department - austonia ›
- Cronk to brief council on overhaul of Austin police, plans for Manley - austonia ›
- Garza will vote 'no' on budget unless funds are moved away from police - austonia ›
- Austin police to discuss changes with city council committee - austonia ›
Keep Reading
Show less
(Austonia staff)
Several Austin City Council members either called for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley to step down or suggested that he should during a special City Council meeting today.
<p><br></p><p>Greg Casar explicitly asked the chief to step down, while, the Texas Tribune reports:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"Council member Jimmy Flannigan was more subtle, suggesting Manley could better work to reform police policy and culture as a private citizen, and Council member Sabino Renteria said he will join Casar in calling for a resignation if he doesn't see a commitment to change."</p><p>Delia Garza also <a href="https://www.statesman.com/news/20200605/four-austin-city-council-members-say-theyrsquove-lost-faith-in-police-chief-brian-manley" target="_blank">suggested asking for Manley's "honorable resignation</a>."</p><p>"You see why people are so frustrated," Garza said. "You see why we got thousands of emails and thousands of calls asking for change. And it is because of that, I have to join my colleagues who have asked the chief to reconsider your role in this organization, including asking for your honorable resignation. I don't know how we show the community that we're listening. I don't know how we move past this. I don't know how we retain faith in our community after this weekend."</p>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM3NTYyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwMjEwMzUwN30.ZwFfoK0kHCR9ig_V-l94avEef2EYIuv7ettH1Dqs40Y/img.jpg?width=980" id="92eb1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a8ef3b1c8a51baf38110e48653992562" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<p><em>This story is developing and will be updated.</em></p>(Austin Police Department)
From Your Site Articles
- What the future holds for Austin Police Chief Brian Manley - austonia ›
- Should Brian Manley be fired? - austonia ›
- JUST America wants now wants Austin Police Chief Manley gone - austonia ›
- Austin Police Chief Brian Manley will not be fired - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
(Mary Elizabeth Potts)
Protesters gathered in front of City Hall Sunday to demonstrate against police violence.
Austin City Council members said they are committed to systemic reforms following four days of protests at which there was police violence against demonstrators, vandalism and looting. Two people—a 20-year-old black man and a 16-year-old—are currently hospitalized after they were shot with bean bag rounds over the weekend.
<p>"I am angry and I am hurt and I am sad, and you should be too," Council Member Natasha Harper-Madison said, in tears, during an emotional call to action at a virtual work session earlier today. "It didn't start with George Floyd. It didn't start with Mike Ramos. I could name names all day, and that's a damn shame y'all."</p><p>She called for police reform and a review of the city's budget, which will be developed in the coming months. "We absolutely have an obligation to respond, and my hope is that we will and do so in a way that is substantive and meaningful," she said</p><p>Council will formally discuss the protests again at a Thursday meeting, where the Austin Police Department will brief members on the weekend's events and the use of force against protestors.<u></u></p><p>But in opening statements on Tuesday, members started to consider what reforms might be on the table.</p><p>As is the case in most cities, the Austin Police Department is the single largest general fund expense. In the fiscal year 2019-20 budget, it accounted for 40% of the $1.1 billion fund. Local activist groups, including<a href="https://twitter.com/Grassroots_News/status/1267266483433934855" target="_blank"> <u>Grassroots Leadership</u></a> and Communities of Color United, are calling for defunding APD. </p><p><br/></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowtransparen="" div="" frameborder="0" height="734" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FCCUCoalition%2Fposts%2F2508282242607952&width=500" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="500">
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;
</iframe></div><p>"When we're talking about systemic change, we're talking about all the systems," Harper-Madison said. "It's not just one system."</p><p>Mayor Steve Adler said at the work session that he hopes the protests, like the pandemic, serve as an opportunity to make Austin a better place. "I really do believe that this is an important watershed moment," he said.</p><p>Other council members acknowledged the limits of their authority. "We work on this all the time here," Council Member Greg Casar said in response to Harper-Madison's comments. "But it's so clear that we haven't done enough, and what you're speaking to is that we're not even close." </p><p>Council Member Jimmy Flannigan said his perspective has changed since the weekend and that he is committed to supporting his colleagues of color in pushing for change, despite the roadblocks. "These systems are not designed to go quickly," he added. </p>
From Your Site Articles
- Organizers cancel Sunday protest in Austin - austonia ›
- Two days of protest: demonstrators shut down I-35, Austin police ... ›
- Protests over police killings planned for Austin this weekend ... ›
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
- Austin activists see moment to strike on defunding APD - austonia ›
Related Articles Around the Web
Keep Reading
Show less
