One year since the mass shooting in Austin
Save Austin Now PAC
June 13, 2022
We would like to update you in several areas:
DOWNTOWN SAFETY
One year ago yesterday, the worst mass shooting in Austin history occurred.
A gang war that was advertised on social media spilled out onto the street of downtown at the intersection of 6th and Trinity.
In the end, 14 people were injured and one person died - Doug Kantor, a 25-year-old tourist from New York visiting friends.
The Travis County DA's office has left many observers with doubt, after arresting two persons of interest in the shooting but then not charging them.
One person, De'Ondre White, a suspected 20-year-old gang member from Killeen, recently had his first court hearing while facing a murder charge.
The Kantor family returned to Austin this past weekend with the goal of turning their grief into action, to push city leaders to improve safety on 6th street so that Doug's death need not be repeated.
However, City Hall's response has been insufficient.
Their Safer Sixth Street Initiative appears to increase surveillance cameras downtown and encourages police to ask minors if they need a ride home. Additionally, they are directing the City Manager to survey downtown bar owners to ask if they want handheld metal detectors. That's it.
This may be a slight improvement but it does not go far enough.
Many Austinites no longer feel safe on 6th street.
A serious policy response would:
1) Reinstate the juvenile curfew downtown
2) Funnel patrons through limited entry points to ensure weapons are not illegally possessed in bars
3) Fully reinstate and fully fund the anti-gang unit
4) Fully reinstate and fully fund the sex crimes unit
The victims of this mass shooting deserve better than this response from City Hall.
THE CAUTIONARY TALE OF SAN FRANCISCO
Last week San Francisco voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin by a vote of 60%-40%. Residents were fed up with the DA's lax prosecution of criminals and the rampant violent and property crime in the city.
Austonia reported that "all eyes now turn to Travis County DA Jose Garza" in light of the recall.
DA Garza is a major threat to public safety in Austin.
His office is not prosecuting criminals and is targeting police officers. They have now indicted 22 (!) officers for their response to riots that threatened the Austin Police Department headquarters and temporarily seized the 8th street bridge.
Texas law does not offer a recall provision for state and county officials, but other options to hold DA Garza accountable remain. We will continue to highlight his atrocious professional record.
The Marxist ideology unleashed by the University of Texas has ruined Austin
The Marxist ideology unleashed by the University of California Berkeley is a big factor in the ruining of San Francisco Relatedly, Nellies Bowles wrote an insightful piece in The Atlantic about how San Francisco became a failed city. There are many parallels to Austin.
REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT
Local attorney Bill Aleshire reported this morning that his lawsuit challenging the city's redistricting process is now before the Texas Supreme Court. The city was asked for a response to be filed by June 10 and Aleshire has now filed his response. The Court could rule in as soon as 7-10 days.
At issue is whether roughly 30,000 Austin voters should be disenfranchised by the city's redistricting commission when they were moved out of council districts on the 2022 ballot and into district on the 2024 ballot.
Aleshire's lawsuit was filed on behalf of 14 Austin voters and five prospective city candidates. If it prevails, all ten council seats will be on the 2022 November ballot.
PROP B LAWSUIT
Save Austin Now is suing the City of Austin for their failure to fully enforce Prop B, despite it passing in May 2021 by a 58%-42% vote. The lawsuit is pending and we hope to begin discovery very soon.
REDISTRICTING LAWSUIT
Local attorney Bill Aleshire reported this morning that his lawsuit challenging the city's redistricting process is now before the Texas Supreme Court. The city was asked for a response to be filed by June 10 and Aleshire has now filed his response. The Court could rule in as soon as 7-10 days.
At issue is whether roughly 30,000 Austin voters should be disenfranchised by the city's redistricting commission when they were moved out of council districts on the 2022 ballot and into district on the 2024 ballot.
Aleshire's lawsuit was filed on behalf of 14 Austin voters and five prospective city candidates. If it prevails, all ten council seats will be on the 2022 November ballot.
PROP B LAWSUIT
Save Austin Now is suing the City of Austin for their failure to fully enforce Prop B, despite it passing in May 2021 by a 58%-42% vote. The lawsuit is pending and we hope to begin discovery very soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment