Thread by @MattMackowiak

Here's a quick thread on the absolutely dire public safety situation in Austin ...

1/

Austin has never been more dangerous than it is today. I've lived here since 1984 (except 8 years in DC after college).

It is true that major cities have been dealing with a violent crime surge since 2018/2019, but in Austin it has accelerated. Why?

2/

It's simple: We have the same # of police officers in May 2021 that we had in 2008 (when Austin was 45% as large as it is today).

How is this possible?

With an 11-0 vote, the Austin City Council voted to defund the police (up to $150M) in Sept. 2020.

3/

No city in TX defunded the police except Austin. Not Dallas, Houston or San Antonio, despite the fact that they are Democratic bastions with progressive Mayors.

No, @dallasmayor & @SylvesterTurner courageously said no to defund. In SA, an attempt was made, but it lost 51-49

4/

So Austin stood alone in weakening public safety and claiming that doing so WOULD NOT make public safety worse.

How's that going?

Disastrously.

Let me give you some stats.

5/

As of May 26 (the 146th day of the day), we have had 32 homicides. That's the exact yearlong total from 2019.

Last year, under @MayorAdler, we had an all-time record of 48 homicides.

We are con track to have 80+ homicides this year, but summer is when homicides spike.

6/

I will make a sad and scary prediction now: We will double last year's all-time record for homicides this year (meaning 96+).

I hope and pray I am wrong. But I won't be.

Here's why ...

7/

Our current staffing level will continue to decrease, due to attrition, an inability to recruit, low morale, and the city's refusal to graduate the most diverse cadet class in city history for four months.

8/

Meanwhile, the average response time to a 911 call is now 9 minutes. On weekends and late at night, it's worse.

The 1/3 budget cut means we cannot recruit, retain, or pay overtime.

Specialized units are shutting down to move officers to daily patrols.

9/

.@GregCasar believes fewer police means less crime. In fact, it means fewer arrests, fewer investigations, fewer charges & fewer convictions, equaling MORE CRIME.

This is proven by the fact that every violent crime stat in our city is rising at the fastest rate in 5 yrs.

10/

So what can we do?

Lobbying city council is hopeless, pointless and a profound waste of time.

Apart from @mkelly007, they don't listen or care about their constituents.

They respect only far left wing fringe groups and their paid activists.

So we will organize.

11/

This morning we launched the #SafeAustinNow coalition, to educate Austin residents about violent crime and city policies, and secure enough signatures to put a public safety measure on the Nov. 2021 ballot.

We aim to collect 50k signatures from Austin residents in 50 days.

12/

Our ordinance:

1) Ensures adequate staffing levels
2) Doubles police training
3) Enacts major police reforms

Learn more about it here: saveaustinnow.com/a-safe-austin?…

Read the petition here: static1.squarespace.com/static/608cd16…

We need your help.

We must save our city by restoring public safety to every neighborhood.

Please sign & share -- saveaustinnow.com/a-safe-austin?…

Please donate to support our efforts: secure.anedot.com/saveaustinnow/…

We can save our city.