“The Austin Police Department on Friday identified the man who was found dead lying in the road with multiple gunshot wounds early Wednesday morning in South Austin.” CBS AUSTIN
“Commercial developer and operator Unico Properties has sold Bouldin Creek, a 170,000-square-foot office building in South Austin to San Francisco-based DivcoWest for an undisclosed price. Unico Properties developed the five-story building in partnership with Manifold Real Estate and OakPoint Real Estate. Amenities include a 2,500-square-foot coffee shop, rooftop terraces, fitness center and two acres of green space.” REBUSINESS ONLINE
“A popular community garden that serves several hundred people with local produce has stopped distributing to customers.” KXAN
“A person was taken into police custody following a SWAT call at a south Austin office building Wednesday night.” PATCH
“Happy weekend, South Austin! Below, we’ve included some of this week’s top events from around the South Austin area. Here’s a roundup of local events coming up in the area this weekend.” PATCH
“If you’re shopping for a new house, you’ve likely already pored through all the internet listings for your area. And while you may have learned roughly what these houses are like from the photographs, you just can’t beat an in-person encounter with the real thing.” PATCH
By Dallas Emerson, SARC Senior Communications Director & Data Analyst
“There’s just no hope.”
How many times have you heard that sentence, while someone sullenly shakes their head? A lot of times that sentiment is followed with, “That’s why I’m moving; this city’s just too crazy.”
I get the sentiment. Austin is growing rapidly, getting more expensive, and frightening more dangerous. I can’t tell you what’s best for you or your family but, I can tell you there is hope. Hope is an odd thing. When you’re without it, you almost guarantee the worst outcome—because everyone stops striving for a positive outcome. When people are without hope for a greater cause, they seek out ways to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. They turn away from the fight; they flee the city. In many ways, conservatives in Austin, remind me of Christian monks as the Roman Empire collapsed. Seeing that the people wouldn’t accept their messages, and watching as society spun down the drain, many monks left the cities for secluded monasteries, retaining knowledge that would have been lost otherwise. But without the monks’ learning and wisdom, society’s spiral accelerated in Rome. Now, we’re not the Roman Empire, and the Vandals aren’t burning everything down. Well unless you were downtown last summer.
But we are in a position where hope is faint—when we see it at all. We can all feel it. The city is on the verge of… something. If the Left continues its previously nearly-unopposed march, then its on the verge of disaster. But it may just be on the verge of a new beginning. If leftism hasn’t yet reached its high-water mark, its certainly approaching it. The City Council finally has a commonsense conservative in Councilwoman McKenzie Kelly. Mayor Adler and far-left Councilman Casar are both term-limited out of their seats at the end of next year. Austinites overwhelmingly supported Proposition B. The Democratic Socialists of America were stunned when dozens and dozens of concerned citizens called into the City Council to demand refunding of our police academy. Our police forces are training new recruits, and while the training may not be the best, we are adding new officers to our rosters for the first time in months.
“I’m a young man (though increasingly less young). I cannot afford to lose hope in the future.”
By Dallas Emerson, SARC Senior Communications Director & Data Analyst
Influential, free-thinking individuals are beginning to flock to Austin, as we see Joe Rogan and Elon Musk choose to move here. We can expect more of that soon. Tesla’s new factory will bring a combination of high-tech and manufacturing to Austin that is certain to be a boom. And if you’re reading this, you’re participating in a new, grassroots movement, to remake Austin. I’m a young man (though increasingly less young). I cannot afford to lose hope in the future. I refuse to believe that our best days are behind us. As our little club has already proven during the police class refunding debate, we have the ability to affect change in our city. So many of us watch the news and see the country sliding into something ugly. We see the city sliding faster. We want to win big, and turn the country around by working for and donating to big, federal office races.
“I’m here to encourage you to do two things; don’t lose hope and fight for your city.”
By Dallas Emerson, SARC Senior Communications Director & Data Analyst
We want to win the country, but we lose the city. I’m here to encourage you to do two things; don’t lose hope and fight for your city. When you board an airplane they tell you in case of emergency, “put your mask on first.” You need to be healthy enough to help those around you. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let’s put our masks (oxygen, not cloth!) on first, fight to make Austin a truly competitive, bi-partisan city, and show the country it can be done.
“This morning, Austin Energy had around 3 dozen homes without power, but around by 5:25 a.m. that number jumped to 7,772.” FOX7 “People were seen fighting over food in the dumpster at an H-E-B store in South Austin on William Cannon and I-35 yesterday.” FOX7 “A residential development containing 375 units and rising up to seven floors at the … Continue reading South Austin News | SARC
Austin city council has voted to defund the Austin Police Department and move funds to “social programs.” Does that make you feel safe? Does this make you want to move to Austin with your family? Check out the details in this article to come to your own conclusion. But, we are confident that you won’t be optimistic about the leadership in Austin by the end…
Gov. Greg Abbott and top Texas leaders announced Tuesday that they will push for legislation next year that would freeze property tax revenues for cities that cut police budgets, just days after the Austin City Council approved a budget that will cut police funding by up to one-third by moving areas like forensics outside of the management of the police department to become separate municipal offices and by reinvesting money in social services.
These are some of the police department units that were cut or reduced during the budget approval:
911 Call Center – $17.7 million
Forensic Sciences – $12.7 million
Support Services – $14.1 million
Community Partnerships – $2.5 million
Victims Services – $3.1 million
Internal Affairs – $4.5 million
Special Investigations – $1.8 million
Special Events – $4.4 million
Mounted Patrol – $2.1 million
Traffic Enforcement – $18.4 million
Austin Regional Intelligence Center – $2 million
Park Police – $5.8 million
Lake Patrol – $1.4 million
Organized Crime/K-9 – $1.2 million
Nuisance Abatement – $312,000
Canceling 3 Cadet Classes – $2.2 million this year
Officer Overtime – $2.8 million
License Plate Readers – $133,000
Would you consider this to be “transformative?” No. Let’s explore some scenarios where these defundings directly impact you.
Scenario 1: You are in a wreck on I-35. Which will impact you? #’s 1, 3, 10, 16 and 17.
Scenario 2: You are driving with your families or friends and a drunk driver speeds through a stop sign. Which will impact you? #’s 1, 3, 10, 15, 16, 18 and 17.
Scenario 3: An intruder is trying to, or has, entered your home. Which will impact you? #’s 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
Is this okay? Is this the standard we hold for the great city of Austin?…
“Any city in the state of Texas that defunds law enforcement will have their property tax revenue frozen as of that time,” Abbott said in Fort Worth, where the press conference was held. “This will be an effective tool that effectively will prevent cities from being able to reduce funding support for law enforcement agencies.Some cities are more focused on political agendas than public safety,” said Gov. Abbott. “Austin’s decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk, and paves the way for lawlessness. Public safety is job one, and Austin has abandoned that duty. The legislature will take this issue up next session, but in the meantime, the Texas Department of Public Safety will stand in the gap to protect our capital city.”
While still strongly supporting First Amendment freedoms, Republicans nationwide are calling on elected officials to condemn the violent crime that has regrettably become associated with recent racial justice protests.
The Travis County Republican Party approved a resolution at its 2020-21 organizational meeting joining a growing number of Republican organizations calling for GOP activists, party officials, and government officials to 1) condemn terrorist-like actions, 2) support the immediate arrest and prosecution of violent protesters, and 3) demand law enforcement be adequately funded despite calls by radical leftists to defund the police.
“Visitors to Austin should not have to fear for their lives just blocks away from their state capitol, and Austinites should not have to look behind their backs every time they go downtown,” said Matt Mackowiak, Travis County Republican Party Chairman. “We as Republicans continue to commend our local, county, and state law enforcement for their tremendous effort keeping weekend protests safe and urge that the Austin City Council maintain full funding for the Austin Police Department. We believe a majority of voters support us in this call and urge Republican leaders at all levels to take a stand for law and order.”
The text of the resolution as unanimously approved is below.
WHEREAS our principles, our culture and our country are under attack by a group or groups of individuals who, behind a screen of perhaps well-meaning people purportedly seeking racial justice and equality and desiring to exercise their right of free speech, have vandalized and sometimes destroyed public and private property across the state of Texas and this country, impeded trade and commerce by interrupting the transportation of goods and persons, destroyed the lives and livelihood of law-abiding individuals and harassed, threatened and even injured, some fatally, the law enforcement officers whose sworn duty it is to protect the public from such conduct,
[THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED] We urge all Republicans, especially all Republicans holding any public or party office, to immediately do the following:
Condemn all criminal conduct by such people as domestic terrorism; and
Advocate and urge that each and every criminal act by such persons be dealt with by immediate arrest, imprisonment and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law; and
Demand that law enforcement agencies of all kinds be adequately funded and supported to enable each to have enough properly trained personnel, and the necessary equipment, to enable them to safely and effectively perform their duty of protecting the lives and property of the people they serve.
The Travis County Republican Party supports the conservative principles of the GOP and works to elect candidates up and down the ballot in the greater Austin metro area. For more information visit www.TravisGOP.com.
A poll commissioned by the Greater Austin Crime Commission helps confirm that there is growing dissatisfaction with the direction the Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court has taken the city. Some takeaways from the poll:
53% responded they oppose slashing funding for the Austin Police Department
40% responded they support reducing funding for APD
47% responded city is on “wrong track”
34% responded city is going in “right direction”
84% responded they are dissatisfied with the city’s homelessness policy
74% responded they are dissatisfied with how traffic is being addressed
92% responded they feel safe at home and in their neighborhoods
56% responded they feel safe downtown
80+% responded they are satisfied with Austin Fire and county EMS
“Most Austin voters oppose reducing police positions,” said Corby Jastrow, president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, in a press release. “There is strong community support for police reform but not cutting cops when violent crime is increasing and response times are slower.” The survey was conducted from July 14 to 17 of likely Austin voters. “The Austin City Council should invest in public safety reform and reject budget cuts that put the community at risk,” said retired Adm. Bobby R. Inman, former president of the Greater Austin Crime Commission, in the release. “Austin voters strongly back Chief Brian Manley and the Austin Police Department.” Resistance is beginning to grow.
The Travis County Republican Party was among a handful of entities that opposed de-funding the Austin Police Department, though public support is strong for keeping funding.
In the media…
The Austin City Council unanimously voted to cut its police department budget by $150 million, 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.
Of the cuts, $21.5 million is shifted in the form of “reinvestments” to programs such as $100,000 for abortion access and $6.5 million a year for the homeless under the “Housing First” policy of sheltering and feeding the homeless, with no expectation for them to seek treatment—essentially allowing them to live off taxpayer support until they die.
Beginning in October, about $21 million will fund social services, community resources including response to the coronavirus, mental health aid programs, violence prevention, victim services and food, housing and abortion access. Another $80 million will be redistributed to similar city services throughout the year, and $49 million will be spent on city’s Reimagine Safety Fund, which aims to provide alternative forms of public safety and community support besides policing.
“Some cities are more focused on political agendas than public safety,” said Governor Abbott. “Austin’s decision puts the brave men and women of the Austin Police Department and their families at greater risk, and paves the way for lawlessness. Public safety is job one, and Austin has abandoned that duty. The legislature will take this issue up next session, but in the meantime, the Texas Department of Public Safety will stand in the gap to protect our capital city.”
We have all heard of each side of the aisle calling the counter side out for voter fraud. This is common place in today’s political climate as a friendly tactic amongst pundits from both camps. However, beyond the name calling and accusations there may be some truth to the matter – especially in Texas.
Five years ago, Dr. Laura Pressley filed an election contest in Texas, citing irregularities and illegalities which occurred in the tabulation and recount of her 2014 Austin City Council race. Because of the electronic tabulation errors, constitutional violations, and illegalities in her recount, Pressley argued that the results were unknowable. The evidentiary and legal claims she presented were a first in Texas.
From 2005 to 2019, The Heritage Foundation has cited over 86 cases of election. That’s 6.14 election fraud cases per year. Which means that there are at least 1-3 cases per election cycle.
If convicted, a state election crime will get you prison time. If a federal offense, you have a permanent felony on your record.
With the onset use of technology in elections, ballot crimes have been a growing problem in Texas and the nation. We are now using algorithms, proxies and, and social media targeting to impact how votes are cast and counted.
“Those who violate our election laws don’t just steal a vote from another citizen, they destroy their community’s confidence in the democratic process. Mail ballots are intended to protect the voting rights of Texans who are unable to travel to polling locations, but criminals exploit this process to alter votes through manipulation and deception. Fraudsters who threaten the viability of our democratic elections must be caught and prosecuted, and I thank the Seventh Court of Appeals for remanding this case to trial so the State may do just that.”
In the case of Dr. Laura Pressley, she was sanctioned more than $100,000 in lower court proceedings just for asking legal questions of whether her loss to now-Austin City Councilman Gregorio Casar was the result of a fair election and accurate electronic ballot-counting.
But her sanctions were all overturned in January 2019 by a unanimous ruling in the state Supreme Court — a ruling that opens the door for future challenges to the way votes are counted in Texas.
There are obvious cases of voter and election fraud happening across the country. We are starting to use technology to catch those that act out of step in their roles in elections. Voting is not only our civic duty but also what keeps us and our elected officials honest.
We are responsible for bringing suspicious activity to, not just one person, but multiple. We must be vigilant in our approach in how we curate and nurture the voting process. Because in the end, if your vote is tampered with, your vote doesn’t count. That is the very definition of the loss of democracy. Most importantly, the loss of voting is the loss of this great country and how the founders birthed it to be.
Republican nominee Martin Harry and Democratic nominee José Garza, candidates for Travis County District Attorney, met Aug. 18, 2020 with the Austin American-Statesman’s editorial board. The office prosecutes felony charges in Travis County. The winner will replace District Attorney Margaret Moore, who lost in the Democratic primary.
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