Defund Austin Police website

2020: The Austin City Council unanimously voted to cut its police department budget by $150 million on Thursday, after officers and the city’s top cop faced months of criticism over the killing of an unarmed Black and Hispanic man, the use of force against anti-police brutality protesters and the investigation of a demonstrator’s fatal shooting by another citizen.

2021: In Austin, elected officials cut millions from the police budget last year and then refunded the department this year. Now, residents in the city are deciding if they want to hire more police.

2023: The City of Austin has reached an agreement with the Austin Police Association (APA) for a new four-year police contract.The City said the agreement includes oversight provisions and efforts to boost Austin Police Department recruitment, to deal with an ongoing officer shortage. The current contract is set to lapse at the end of March, and this new agreement still has to get the City Council's approval.

Too late!

Last night: Some Austin City Council members are speaking out about the police department's vacancies and ongoing problems at the 911 call center after a chaotic scene unfolded downtown on Saturday night. Street racers took over an intersection at South Lamar Boulevard and Barton Springs Road, drifting in the middle of the street and setting off fireworks as throngs of people looked on at the mayhem. One law enforcement officer was injured and several police cars were damaged in the fracas. "Imagine for a moment that the incidents last night happened with large scale events going on," Council member Mackenzie Kelly said Sunday, noting that she is "increasingly concerned about our police vacancies. The possibility of a catastrophic cascading failure due to lack of support from our police department puts the city, its residents, and visitors at risk of danger."

Oh, I see. It is the police who are not supporting you.

They've got some real bright sumbitches in Austin. Yeee Haaaaw!!!

Austin, Tx. Just a little slice of California.

They moved here and took Austin over and bring all the fuck with them.

Texas Californication.

From the Fox news article: "An Austin City Council member was reportedly on hold with 911 for 28 minutes after calling about the street racing takover."

Gee, that's a shame

At least for the most part they are contained.

A real Texan would have driven his dually, diesel F350 right over those cars in that intersection. I was waiting to see that but then I remembered how un-Texas like Austin is.

One reason why there is a shortage of 911 operators and police is the district attorney. Austin is located in Travis County, and surprise surprise surprise they have a woke Soros funded District attorney. If the police show up and arrest street racers, it's a lose lose situation:

arrest street racers and they're back on the street in hours and in some diversion program (i.e. no consequences). In other words, the police wasted their time and made zero difference.

go in high speed chase in attempt to arrest street racers and the police will be prosecuted for any accident that occurs

if one of the street racers gets violent or decides to use car as a weapon, if the police respond with force or deadly force the police are more likely to be prosecuted than the street racer.

Something about reaping what you sow...

I live in Pflugerville, which is a suburb just north of Austin. The whole Austin area and even around where I live is a complete liberal mess. Full of people who moved from California. So many posts on Nextdoor are unbelievable like they are freaking out about gunfire during dove season and then when they hear there is a dove season, they cry about dying animals and it should be banned. Don’t move to Texas if you don’t like guns, hunting, freedom, etc!

Thank goodness I don’t depend on Austin Police for a response. My local police are pretty good.

People get what they ask for. They hate the police, but then cry when they don’t get the response they want. Buy a gun…..oh….sorry…..guns are scary to them.

Tell 'em that next year, Texas is going to have a Californian hunting season, no limit.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
From the Fox news article: "An Austin City Council member was reportedly on hold with 911 for 28 minutes after calling about the street racing takover."

Gee, that's a shame

Austin is the only city I have ever been placed on hold for a 911 call. It has happened many times. Last time was when I was behind a severely drunk guy swerving across multiple lanes of traffic almost hitting people. I was on hold for 10 minutes while I followed him. As soon as they answered, he had figured out I was following him and threw all of his beers out and tried ramming me. I explained what was going on and got admonished by 911 for following him and they told me to pull over into a parking lot with him to wait for an officer. I told them how much they suck, that I was leaving, and this was on them if he killed somebody.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Tell 'em that next year, Texas is going to have a Californian hunting season, no limit.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
I live in Pflugerville, which is a suburb just north of Austin.

...

Thank goodness I don’t depend on Austin Police for a response. My local police are pretty good.

I'm in a similar position except it's Houston and I live in the county north.

Houston is in a similar mess as Austin with it's woke Soros funded DA, idiot Demonrat mayor, idiot Demonrat County Judge that may be dumber and more corrupt than AOC, police shortage, etc.

My county Judge made a FB post about our sheriffs catching a catalytic convertor thief who upon reading the county name on the side of the cruiser asked, "Did I cross into Montgomery County?" and when he heard yes he replied, "Oh shit!" Criminals know very well that our district attorney actually prosecutes criminals. In fact, just last week one of the local law enforcement agencies caught serial burglars and the district attorney charged them with organized crime statutes.

Austin - The stain of Texas.

Whenever I need to drive I-35 I just use the Austin bypass. Austin is truly weird.

quote:

Originally posted by StorminNormin:
I live in Pflugerville, which is a suburb just north of Austin. The whole Austin area and even around where I live is a complete liberal mess. Full of people who moved from California. So many posts on Nextdoor are unbelievable like they are freaking out about gunfire during dove season and then when they hear there is a dove season, they cry about dying animals and it should be banned. Don’t move to Texas if you don’t like guns, hunting, freedom, etc!

Thank goodness I don’t depend on Austin Police for a response. My local police are pretty good.

People get what they ask for. They hate the police, but then cry when they don’t get the response they want. Buy a gun…..oh….sorry…..guns are scary to them.

Norm, I thought at least some of the Californians moving to Austweird were somewhat on the conservative side and just haven't made their way to a nearby red county. Is that not the case?

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Austin - The stain of Texas.

It really is, and it is sad. Austin is a great city, except for its political views.

quote:

Originally posted by snoris:

Norm, I thought at least some of the Californians moving to Austweird were somewhat on the conservative side and just haven't made their way to a nearby red county. Is that not the case?

So far I haven’t found any. I am sure there are some as I hear of some escaping here on the forum, but sadly they are the minority it seems. Texas as a whole is red, but the city of Austin is bright ass blue!

For example, Williamson County, County just north of Austin Travis County, is/was one of the most conservative and hard core counties on crime since god knows when. Now, the latest election in Williamson County barely won the Republican vote. Sad.

quote:

Originally posted by TexasScrub:
Whenever I need to drive I-35 I just use the Austin bypass. Austin is truly weird.

I NEVER drive I-35 if I don’t have to. One of the worst interstates. For work I can drive on the toll for free and do every time to avoid I-35.

Back in the late 80's into the early 2000's I really enjoyed visiting Austin. Yeah, it was weird and full of hippies, but there were a lot of things to do, good restaurants and some nice scenery, but in the last ten years it just plummeted into a liberal hell hole. It's really sad.