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(Office of the Governor)
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's public safety priorities for the current legislative session include making it "fiscally impossible" for municipalities to defund their police departments and a statewide plan to address homelessness that will include a ban on public camping. Both are clear rebukes to recent policy changes enacted by local elected officials.
"We cannot and will not allow Austin to defund the police," Abbott said during a press conference on Thursday. "Texas must set the example for the United States of America, not only to support law enforcement but to fully fund law enforcement agencies."
<p>Austin City Council voted last August to cut the Austin Police Department budget by around 5% in the wake of mass protests against police brutality and racial injustice. Council members also approved putting around 30% of the budget into transition funds while they decide which traditional police duties could be moved out of the department's control. </p><p>Abbott did not elaborate on what such legislation might look like during a press conference on Thursday. But a few bills have already been proposed that might provide insight. </p><p>State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, filed a bill that would prohibit municipalities from passing annual budgets that reduce funding for public safety agencies. And State. Rep. Steve Allison, R-San Antonio, filed a bill that would require a referendum in cases where municipalities passed budgets with more than a 5% cut to public safety spending. </p><p>The Texas Legislative Council, a nonpartisan agency that helps lawmakers draft legislative, has also drawn up a proposal that, if filed and approved by state lawmakers, would <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-state-control" target="_self">put APD under state control</a>—while remaining fully funded by the city of Austin. Abbott signaled his support for the draft <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-police-state-control" target="_self">on Twitter</a>, writing that it had arrived "just in time for Christmas." </p><p>The main impact of the APD budget cuts was the cancellation of three planned cadet classes. APD's training academy has come under fire in recent years following allegations of racism, hazing and a paramilitary culture. Multiple reports commissioned by the City Council have recommended that it be put on hold until these issues can be resolved. </p><p>The most recent one—a <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/res66report" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">community review of APD's training videos</a> that was published on Monday—found "dangerous racial and class sterotypes;" limited representation of women, trans and non-binary people; a warrior mentality that pitts police officers against the community members they serve; and "constant refinforcement … that every encounter is potentially life-threatening," which could encourage excessive use of force. </p><p>Abbott said he "fully support(s) training reform" but is staunchly opposed to cuts.</p><p>Austin City Council Member Greg Casar, who spearheaded the recent push to cut APD's budget, said the governor was standing in the way of accountability.</p><p>"In the wake of unjustifiable shootings and violence by police, our community has pushed the city to make much needed change," he said in a statement. "Now, Gov. Abbott is supporting proposals to protect departments that do the wrong." </p><p>In addition to police funding, Abbott also announced a forthcoming statewide plan to address homelessness, which he said would include a ban on public camping. </p><p>Austin City Council voted in 2019 to overturn a camping ban, which prompted intense pushback from concerned residents, business owners and state officials, including the governor. Two council members faced conservative challengers in runoff elections last month who ran on reinstating the camping ban. Incumbent Jimmy Flannigan lost his race to Republican Mackenzie Kelly; Alison Alter narrowly defeated her opponent Jennifer Virden. </p><p>Earlier this week, Save Austin Now, a local campaign led by Travis County GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak, submitted thousands of signatures in support of a petition that, if validated, will allow Austin voters to decide whether to reinstate the campaign ban. It is the group's second attempt to do so after an earlier batch of signatures was ruled invalid before the November election. </p><p>Abbott called Austin "the front door for the state of Texas" and said such a ban is important for the city's appeal to visitors. "When they come into this community, they need to know that they're going to be safe."</p>
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Sides line up as Austin 'police takeover' could move from governor’s threat to legislative action
13 January
(Charlie L. Harper III)
With the Texas Legislature now in session, local public safety supporters and reform advocates are paying close attention to the public safety bills being filed in the aftermath of last summer's protests against police violence and the Austin City Council's decision to cut police funding.
In particular, they are looking for a bill that matches up with a piece of draft legislation that is supported by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and would, if passed, put the Austin Police Department under state control—while remaining fully funded by the city of Austin.
<p>Representatives from the Austin Police Association, a union that represents APD officers, and the Greater Austin Crime Commission, which supports public safety planning, said they need more information about the proposal, which remains unfiled and unattached to any state lawmaker. Meanwhile, local police reform advocates and some elected officials say the proposal, in any form, is retaliatory and infringes on the rights of local taxpayers. </p><p><strong>The proposal</strong><br/></p><p>Former Travis County sheriff and former Republican state representative Terry Keel and former Democratic state representative Ron Wilson shared the proposal with Abbott <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/gov-greg-abbott-moves-closer-to-transferring-control-of-austin-police-department-to-texas-dps/" target="_blank">in a letter last month</a>.</p><p>As drafted, it would apply to cities of at least 950,000 residents, with a ratio of less than two sworn police officers per 1,000 residents and where the governor has determined that "the safety of a municipality's residents is threatened" because of "insufficient municipal resources." Austin currently meets the first two criteria, as do <a href="https://www.sanantonio.gov/Portals/0/Files/SAPD/OpenData/SAPDSwornDemographics_07052020.pdf?ver=2020-07-14-115111-333" target="_blank">San Antonio</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/InsideFWPD/about/" target="_blank">Fort Worth</a>.</p><p>Although homicides and aggravated assaults increased substantially in Austin last year, overall violent crime decreased slightly, according to APD's <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-rise-in-violent-crime" target="_self">latest monthly report</a>. Austin is also safer than many other big Texas cities, including Houston and Dallas, <a href="https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2020/nov/06/dan-patrick/no-austin-not-one-most-dangerous-city-us-let-alone/" target="_blank">as PolitiFact reported</a>.</p><p>If filed and approved by state lawmakers, the draft legislation would allow Abbott to transfer control of municipal police departments to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The municipality, however, would remain responsible for all costs. </p><p>Policing is the largest expense for most cities. During the last fiscal year, nearly 40% of the city of Austin's general fund went to the police department—or about $444 per resident—more than any of the four largest cities in Texas, <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2020/09/03/texas-greg-abbott-austin-police/" target="_blank">according to the Texas Tribune</a>. </p><p>After mass protests against police violence and racial injustice, Austin City Council voted unanimously in August to cut the APD budget by around 5%, becoming the first Texas city to do so amid the "defund the police" movement. Council members also approved moving an additional 32.5% of the department's budget into transitional funds that will allow several of APD's traditional duties to continue while officials work out which to move out from under police oversight.</p><p>This fiscal year, taking into account these cuts and the transitional funds, the city allocated about 27% of its general fund to police—or about $299 per resident, according to <a href="https://assets.austintexas.gov/budget/20-21/downloads/Proposed/2021_Proposed_Budget.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">budget documents</a> and U.S. Census Bureau figures. Policing remains the city's largest single general fund expense.</p><p>Abbott staunchly opposed these budget decisions and <a href="https://austonia.com/abbott-legislature-police-austin" target="_self">swiftly promised</a> to support legislation in the upcoming session that would push back against it, including freezing property tax revenue and divesting cities that defund their police departments of their annexation powers.</p><p>When Keel and Wilson shared the proposal—which was drafted by the Texas Legislative Council, a nonpartisan agency the helps lawmakers draft legislation—Abbott tweeted that it had arrived "just in time for Christmas." </p><iframe src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/index.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1341081930641657856&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Faustonia.com%2Fr%2Fentryeditor%2F2649918004%23publish&partner=rebelmouse&theme=light&widgetsVersion=ed20a2b%3A1601588405575&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 405px; height: 387px; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet"></iframe><p><strong>The response</strong><br/></p><p>Despite the governor's enthusiasm, public safety advocates say they need more information about the proposal.</p><p>The Greater Austin Crime Commission, which opposes the recent cuts to APD's budget, won't comment until there's a filed bill. "There's so much we don't know about this (proposal)," Executive Director Cary Roberts told Austonia.</p><p>APA President Ken Casaday feels similarly. "We just need to make sure that our bargaining rights and pension rights stay the same," he said.</p><p>The filing deadline for the current session is March 12.</p><p>On the other hand, some local elected officials and police reform advocates say they know enough about the proposal to oppose it.</p><p>State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt called the draft legislation "political theater" <a href="https://twitter.com/sarah_eckhardt/status/1341206324399489027" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">in a statement</a>, adding that if the bill were approved it "would trample on the rights of local governments and citizens of Texas' largest cities."</p><p>Austin Justice Coalition Community Outreach Director Warren Burkley called it "obviously retaliatory" and said it would stifle local control, including ongoing reform efforts. "It would basically lock Austin citizens out of 40% of deciding what to do with their budget, which is just ridiculous," he told Austonia.</p><p>Burkley added that residents who are concerned about policing in Austin would be limited to advocating at the Texas Legislature, which meets every two years, rather than at Austin City Hall, where council meets weekly.</p><p>"A (state) senator or rep may not even know about a wrongful death in Austin, and they may not even care," he said.</p><p>ACLU of Texas Policy and Advocacy Director Sarah Labowitz agreed that police accountability oversight would weaken under state control, pointing to a recent review of state law enforcement regulation by the Sunset Commission, a state oversight agency.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.sunset.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/reports/Texas%20Commission%20on%20Law%20Enforcement%20Executive%20Summary_11-6-20.pdf" target="_blank">the commission's November 2020 report</a>, "the state's regulatory approach has resulted in a fragmented, outdated system with poor accountability, lack of statewide standards and inadequate training" and "the state's current regulation is, by and large, toothless."</p>
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(City of Austin)
Austin's newly sworn in council members were joined by Mayor Steve Adler, City Manager Spencer Cronk and Austin Municipal Court Presiding Judge Sherry Statman in a virtual swearing in ceremony on Wednesday.
In the aftermath of a tumultuous day that saw a violent mob of the president's supporters storm the U.S. Capitol, five Austin City Council members were sworn in for a new term, virtually, on Wednesday evening. They included new members Vanessa Fuentes, who will represent Southeast Austin's District 2, and Mackenzie Kelly, who will represent Northwest Austin's District 6.
"Reflecting on the images we all observed in our nation's Capitol today, tonight we honor these sacred rituals of peaceful transfer of power that safeguard our democracy," District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool said.
<p>FIve of Council's 10 seats, excluding the mayor, were up for reelection in November. Incumbent Council Members Greg Casar, Pool and Alison Alter were reelected. Fuentes replaces Delia Garza, who was elected to serve as Travis County Attorney, and Kelly replaces Jimmy Flannigan, whom she beat in a runoff election on Dec. 15.</p><p>Each of the council members being sworn in disavowed the violence in Washington D.C., including Kelly, the sole Republican, who drew criticism after posing for photos with members of the right-wing extremist Proud Boys group <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-anti-adler-protest" target="_self">in November</a>. </p><p>"The disturbing violence that we saw at the Capitol today was unacceptable, and it should not be tolerated by anyone," Kelly said. </p><p>In addition to redoubling their commitment to American democracy, the council members also stressed their priority issues for the coming year: the local pandemic response, public safety and homelessness. </p><p>Fuentes said her immediate focus will be on ensuring that there is equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccine in Austin and trust that it will work effectively. </p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3d72095f281fccd6beb5e17e0d342342" id="7004c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1346817421081010176"><div style="margin:1em 0">We are in week 4 of @GregAbbott_TX vaccine distribution effort and our local safety net distributor, Austin Public… https://t.co/DEGSe4Iw6B</div> — Vanessa Fuentes 💃🏽 (@Vanessa Fuentes 💃🏽)<a href="https://twitter.com/VanessaForATX/statuses/1346817421081010176">1609941270.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Pool stressed that the city may soon face a hospital crisis as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to surge.<br/></p><p>"We may face the very worst of the pandemic in the coming weeks," she said.</p><p>Kelly focused on the latter two issues. </p><p>"I am concerned about public safety. I am concerned about homelessness," she said. "And I will work to help make those problems be solved."</p><p>Casar highlighted the track record of the council, which he said has legislated according to its values even as state and federal policies have made that difficult, such as when it cut the police budget in August in response to mass protests.</p><p>He also thanked the people of Austin, as did many of his colleagues. </p><p>"It's not elected officials who make democracy work," he said. "It's you." </p>
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Two days before New Year's Day, 21-year-old Miranda Gloria Lopez died of a gunshot wound. She was shot three days before during a road rage incident that is still being investigated, according to the Austin Police Department.
Lopez was Austin's last homicide victim in 2020, a year in which 48 people were killed. This represents a 33% increase since 2019, when 36 homicides were reported and marked at least a 10-year high.
<p>Cathy Collins, a crime victims advocate at the Christi Center in Central Austin, saw an increased demand for services in 2020 due to the high number of homicides.<br/></p><p>"People are COVID crazy," she told Austonia, adding that she thinks the pandemic and its economic impact have driven some people to commit heinous crimes. It has also affected her work as an advocate.</p><p>"Zoom has been challenging, but at least we have something for these members," she said. </p><p>Collins lost her teenage boyfriend and later her brother to homicides and knows the long-term support that many violent crime victims require, sometimes decades after their loved one's death. "It's on the front burner for me," she said. </p><p>In a trying year that included the coronavirus pandemic, mass protests against police violence, economic hardship and a divisive election, Austonia recognizes those who were murdered. Here are their names and—where available through obituaries, fundraising pages and local reports—a look at their lives. </p><p>Dec. 29: <strong>Miranda Gloria Lopez</strong>, 21, was known as "Mannie" by her loved ones. </p><p>Dec. 8: <strong>Craig Robinson</strong>, 51</p><p>Dec. 2: <strong>Omar Munguia</strong>, 20</p><p>Nov. 27: <strong>Ahlame Qourzale</strong>, 26, enjoyed traveling, sampling international cuisine, playing tennis and "the highest level of fashion."</p><p>Nov. 8: <strong>Alex Arce,</strong> 25, was the life of the party, known for his contagious laugh and beautiful smile.</p><p>Nov. 7: <strong>Mario Robinson</strong>, 23, played high school football and loved sports cars, fashion and professional racing.</p><p>Nov. 6: <strong>Jerry Paul Le</strong>e, 60, watched the film "Remember the Titans" so many times his wife and son can recite every line.</p><p>Oct. 30: <strong>Jose Francisco Galeano Antunez</strong>, 38, is <a href="https://www.fox7austin.com/news/family-pleading-for-answers-after-man-shot-killed-outside-his-home" target="_blank">missed dearly</a> by his wife, Lourdes Mejia Gonzalez. </p><p>Oct. 26: <strong>Xavier McLemore</strong>, 34</p><p>Oct. 25: <strong>Terrence Cole</strong>, 28</p><p>Oct. 8: <strong>Darius Jonathan Maxwell</strong>, 39</p><p>Oct. 1: <strong>Donato Christian Ward</strong>, 20</p><p>Sept. 29: <strong>Luke Kemper</strong>, 16, was one of the best students his third-grade teacher ever had. </p><p>Sept. 16: <strong>John Young</strong>, 60</p><p>Sept. 4: <strong>Desmond Alexander Herrera</strong>, 25</p><p>Aug. 27: <strong>Amy Lynn Warner,</strong> 51, had been through a lot but <a href="https://austonia.com/bystander-shot-hurricane-sixth-street" target="_self">was always smiling</a>. </p><p>Aug. 26: <strong>Derrick Amoriko</strong>, 51, loved the city of Austin. </p><p>Aug. 26: <strong>Paul Brown</strong>, 21, was known as "Speedy." </p><p>Aug. 22: <strong>Dontra Jamol Kinse</strong>y, 27</p><p>Aug. 18: <strong>Nicklas Kinslow</strong>, 32</p><p>July 25: <strong>Garrett Foster</strong>, 28, fell in love with his fiancée when they were both 17 and later served as <a href="https://austonia.com/austin-protests-garrett-foster" target="_self">her caretaker</a>. </p><p>July 20: <strong>Karen Sue Henson</strong>, 59, was the eldest of seven siblings and an advocate for the homeless. </p><p>July 19: <strong>Trevon Jaquis Mize-Ellison</strong>, 20, only wanted to <a href="https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/caught-in-the-crossfire-friends-remember-young-man-who-police-say-was-innocent-bystander-in-shootout/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">look out for people</a>. </p><p>July 16: <strong>Dettrick Dwayne Arnold Harris</strong>, 20, was a little handyman and always loved to help his grandpa around the house.</p><p>July 13: <strong>James Anthony Walker</strong>, 38, had just become a father to a precious baby boy. </p><p>July 8: <strong>Guadalupe Sanchez Jr.</strong>, 36 was a loving father to two sons and enjoyed dancing with his dog, Chico.</p><p>June 28: <strong>Aaron Perez</strong>, 50</p><p>June 24: <strong>Darnell McClain</strong>, 37, was a lifelong Austinite known as "Dino."</p><p>June 23: <strong>Adelaido Bernabe Urias</strong>, 68, was a beloved neighborhood ice cream man. </p><p>June 20: <strong>David Dunn</strong>, 59</p><p>June 19: <strong>Anthony Hebert</strong>, 19, was pursuing a career as a truck driver and was known for his love of music. </p><p>May 28: <strong>J</strong><strong>ames Lewis Allen Jr.</strong>, 38, was described as loving, caring and strong by his loved ones.</p><p>April 16: <strong>Brian Hoff</strong>, 50 was a lover of the outdoors, drawing and skiing and raised sheep for livestock shows.</p><p>April 13: <strong>Saundra Jo Vollette</strong>, 60, was a lively Austin Yellow Checker Cab dispatcher and is survived by her children and many grandchildren.</p><p>March 29: <strong>Kalvin "Nunu" Anderson</strong>, 24, shined as a track star and football player while a student at Manor High School and will be remembered for his "heart of gold."</p><p>March 26: <strong>Zach Ledbetter</strong>, 24, was a loving son and faithful church-goer who will be remembered for his hugs and bright smile. </p><p>March 26: <strong>Julio Enriue Saqui Tzalam</strong>, 17</p><p>March 22: <strong>Lekita ReVette Hurd</strong>, 30, served four years in the Army, with two tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and was known for her love of the Dallas Cowboys. </p><p>March 13: <strong>Oscar San Juan Jaimes</strong>, 19</p><p>Feb. 23: <strong>Shawn Thomas Eaton</strong>, 29, was an artist who loved to tinker with anything he could get his hands on. </p><p>Feb. 18: <strong>Casuandra Hernandez</strong>, 30, and <strong>Emilio Maisonet</strong>, 29</p><p>Feb. 17: <strong>Elvi Vanessa Cervantes-de la Torre</strong>, 38</p><p>Jan. 23: <strong>David Garcia</strong>, 38 </p><p>Jan. 17: <strong>Pearl Calvery</strong>, 22 months</p><p>Jan. 17: <strong>Chase Collins</strong>, 26, loved collecting designer belts and never met a challenge he could not overcome.</p><p>Jan. 11: <strong>Isaac Dixon</strong>, 37</p><p>Jan. 3: <strong>Jonathan Aguilar</strong>, 34, will be remembered for his genuine and caring nature.</p>
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