Austin City Council Votes Unanimously to Partially Defund Police

[Elderberry]

Texas Scorecard by Jacob Asmussen June 12, 2020

Some socialist groups in the city are protesting for the council to take away over $100 million from the department.

AUSTIN — “You cannot solve a public safety crisis by creating another,” Corby Jastrow, president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, told the Austin City Council on Thursday.

After a 12-hour meeting, the city council voted unanimously to partially defund the Austin Police Department.

The council’s decision directs the city manager to halt any new sworn officer staff positions, as well as redirect money from the department’s budget and use it toward other social services. The city manager will bring back proposals to the council over the next few months as they decide specific numbers for next year’s city budget.

As far as how much to cut, some socialist and leftist groups have been petitioning the council to take away at least $100 million—a quarter—from the police department’s budget next year.

Hundreds of citizens, including some members of the Democratic Socialists of America, testified to the council on Thursday in favor of the proposal, while some voiced a public safety concern over the decision to defund.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/local/austin-city-council-votes-unanimously-to-partially-defund-police/

[libertybele]

I'm sitting here shaking my head.  So much for conservative TX.  City by city, we will see a reduction in police ... to think that this isn't going to dramatically affect this country is foolish. Let's see this continues on for about 5 months; I wonder how many thugs are going to show up at the polls intimidating people and keeping them from voting?  Or ... will it be declared that there isn't enough police protection and the polls are not safe.

This IS all about ensuring Trump doesn't will re-election and making sure conservative voices are silenced.

So far no one is doing a darn thing about this.  No one.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Fine, let the Governor send in the National Guard to protect Austin citizens.

[libertybele]

Fine, let the Governor send in the National Guard to protect Austin citizens.

That's all fine and dandy if he will do it.  The problem is the National Guard in other areas of the country have been either turned away or sent in unarmed and if we take Seattle as an example, the governor is denying what is going on.  I hope Abbot reacts effectively.

[XenaLee]

I'm sitting here shaking my head.  So much for conservative TX.  City by city, we will see a reduction in police ... to think that this isn't going to dramatically affect this country is foolish. Let's see this continues on for about 5 months; I wonder how many thugs are going to show up at the polls intimidating people and keeping them from voting?  Or ... will it be declared that there isn't enough police protection and the polls are not safe.

This IS all about ensuring Trump doesn't will re-election and making sure conservative voices are silenced.

So far no one is doing a darn thing about this.  No one.

Um.... all the major cities are now controlled by the idiot left.  But here in Texas, we have a strong conservative base and a non-leftist Governor.   This will never 'fly' here, IOW.

As for no one doing a darn thing about this.... give them time.  This just happened two days ago (Thursday).   Also.... the taxpayers in Austin pay out the wazoo for things like police enforcement.  I doubt that, no matter how liberal they are, they want the police defunded while they continue to pay those high taxes.   

[Idiot]

Texas Scorecard by Jacob Asmussen June 12, 2020

Some socialist groups in the city are protesting for the council to take away over $100 million from the department.

AUSTIN — “You cannot solve a public safety crisis by creating another,” Corby Jastrow, president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, told the Austin City Council on Thursday.

After a 12-hour meeting, the city council voted unanimously to partially defund the Austin Police Department.

The council’s decision directs the city manager to halt any new sworn officer staff positions, as well as redirect money from the department’s budget and use it toward other social services. The city manager will bring back proposals to the council over the next few months as they decide specific numbers for next year’s city budget.

As far as how much to cut, some socialist and leftist groups have been petitioning the council to take away at least $100 million—a quarter—from the police department’s budget next year.

Hundreds of citizens, including some members of the Democratic Socialists of America, testified to the council on Thursday in favor of the proposal, while some voiced a public safety concern over the decision to defund.

More: https://texasscorecard.com/local/austin-city-council-votes-unanimously-to-partially-defund-police/

They are NUTS in Austin!  Democratic Socialists of America...I haven't heard that phrase before...pretty well describes my Austin brother.  Definitely something in the water there.

[sneakypete]

This is "The People's Republic of Austin".

Why is anyone surprised?