Abbott Send More State Troopers to Austin After Partnership Suspended

[#TexasPolitics365]

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Thursday said he was sending 30 additional state troopers to Austin after city officials, with the blessing of Mayor Kirk Watson, suspended its partnership over a controversial traffic stop. 

The Republican governor said he had deployed 30 additional Texas Department of Public Safety troopers "to protect and serve the city of Austin." 

The latest deployment, Abbott noted, brings the number of state troopers in Austin to 130.

(Full story HERE.)
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Austin City Councilor Takes Power Company To Task Over Outages

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Austin city councilor MacKenzie Kelly hold a news conference yesterday to take Austin Power to task for poor communications with their customers, as nearly 200,000 in Central Texas remain without power and heat after a severe ice storm. 

Specifically, Kelly, a Republican, said the lack of communications, and the slow repairs were unacceptable.

"With our current lack of power and for a city of this size, we deserve better." She called for power lines to be placed underground, something critics have said would cost billions of dollars and take decades to complete.

(Full story HERE.)
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GOP Legislator Wants To Dissolve City Of Austin

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As state lawmakers gear up for the legislative session in January, one North Texas Republican is making a longshot push to dissolve the city of Austin.

State Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco, filed House Bill 714 and House Joint Resolution 50 on Tuesday, proposing a new “District of Austin” that would replace Texas’ capital city as of Jan. 1, 2024.

(Full story HERE.)
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Trump Rallies In Texas Draw Tens Of Thousands

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Former President Donald Trump criticized Democrats for a litany of issues, including inflation and immigration, during an Austin rally Saturday where he urged conservative supporters to help the Republican Party take control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

The rally's speakers featured Trump, his son Don, Junior, former Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - what radio ads for the event featuring Trump called his "dream team."

The Austin rally drew approximately 10,000 people. A rally in Conroe, Texas reportedly true up to 80,000 in a larger venue.

(Full story HERE.)
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Rise In Austin Sex Crimes Blamed On Police Department Cuts

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47-year-old man who failed to register in the sex offender database was arrested in Austin last week after police officers caught him in the middle of a sexual act with an autistic teenager, and one expert says the city’s move to defund police has put it at the mercy of such criminals.

According to 13-year Austin police officer Justin Berry, the incident is directly related to Austin’s decision to strip funding from the police in 2020, which he says pulled resources from units that monitor and pursue convicted sex offenders. 

"When the city of Austin defunded us by a third of our budget they also cut 150 officer positions," Berry, who is running to represent Texas’s 19th House District, told Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

(Full story HERE.)
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Austin Ballot Will Have Pot Decriminalization Measure

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Activists have turned in enough signatures to place a marijuana decriminalization initiative on Austin’s 2022 ballot.

Ground Game Texas, a progressive organization that was established earlier this year, submitted more than 30,000 signatures to qualify the local measure to go before voters in the May 7 election next year.

While Austin, as well as other Texas cities like Dallas, have already independently enacted law enforcement policy changes aimed at reducing arrests for cannabis-related offenses by issuing citations and summons, the Austin Freedom Act of 2021 would take the reform a step further.

(Full story here.)
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Austin City Council Sues Streaming Services To Get A Cut

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The Austin City Council approved Thursday hiring attorneys to represent the city in a lawsuit against streaming services.

The approved resolution says Netflix, Hulu and Disney aren’t paying the required 5% of their gross revenue to use transmission lines and other public property to deliver streaming video programming.

(Full story here.)
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Williamson County Sues Austin Over Homeless Hotel Purchase

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Williamson County will sue the City of Austin over its plans to turn a northwest Austin hotel into a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to give the county attorney permission to file suit Tuesday.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell previously stated he expected the City of Austin to have a conversation with the County before making a decision on the hotel. Gravell says Austin didn’t do that.

The hotel is located in Williamson County, but in a part of the county that is also within Austin city limits.

Community activists have been organizing against the purchase of the hotel, which is one of many hotels the City of Austin has purchased to house homeless people.

(Full story here.)
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Court Denies #Texas AG Paxton Motion For Higher Fines For Austin

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A state appeals court on Thursday rejected Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's bid to dramatically increase a $9,000 fine levied against the city of Austin for violating a state law by banning firearms from City Hall in 2016.

(Full story here.)
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Austin Voters reinstate Public Camping Ban

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Voters Saturday approved Proposition B, a reinstatement of Austin’s public camping ban. It penalizes those who camp in public spaces not designated by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.  

In 2019, Austin City Council voted to repeal previous city bans on camping, sitting and lying in public spaces. 

Since that time, tent cities have spring up under numerous underpasses and in median strips. Several recent fires in the encampments have drawn alarm from residents and passers-by.

Nearly 60% of voters approved the measure Saturday, showing strong bipartisan support in the largely liberal Capitol city.

Opponents said the repeal of the camping ban has acted like a magnet to bring homeless from many other areas into the city. 

(Full story here)
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Senate Bill Would Let Lakeside Properties To Secede From Austin

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A bill filed in the State Senate would allow hundreds of Lake Austin shoreline properties to disannex or "secede" from the City of Austin. 

State Sen. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway) said she filed Senate Bill 659 because the Lake Austin properties – which had a property tax exemption granted to them in 1986 but repealed in 2019 by the Austin City Council – were not receiving City services. Those lakefront properties are now being charged property taxes from the City of Austin for the first time.

(Full story here.)

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Judge Upholds Austin's Continued Mask Mandate Order

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Rejecting arguments by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Travis County state judge declined Friday to block Austin and Travis County pandemic orders requiring employees and customers to wear a face covering in local businesses.

State District Judge Lora Livingston announced her ruling in a short order Friday afternoon after a three-hour hearing held remotely via Zoom.

"I cannot find that (the state) met its burden to demonstrate the right to the relief it seeks," Livingston said, adding that a signed order will follow with additional details.

Full story here.

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AG Paxton Again In Legal War With Austin Over Local Mask Mandate

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Accusing Austin and Travis County officials of violating Gov. Greg Abbott's pandemic-related orders, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened Wednesday to sue unless a local mask mandate for businesses was rescinded, the Austin American-Statesman reports.

The legal drama is likely to be playing out today in Texas courts.

Abbott's most recent executive order, which ended a statewide mask mandate and prohibited limits on business operations, "has the force and effect of state law and supersedes local rules and regulations," Paxton said in a letter to Austin Mayor Steve Adler and Travis County Judge Andy Brown.

The governor's order urges all people in the state to continue to follow best practices oh, and allows businesses to individually require masks within their stores.
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AG's Office Getting into Fight Against Williamson County Homeless Hotel

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The Texas Attorney General’s Office added its support to the fight brewing in Williamson County over the Austin City Council’s purchase of a hotel to eventually house the homeless, reports KXAN TV.

Asmall part of north Austin resides in Williamson County. Most of Austin, however, is in Travis County. Williamson County officials last week said they had not been consulted about the decision to house homeless people from Austin in the Williamson County hotel, and that no economic impact or other studies had been done prior to the decision.

Aaron Reitz, the Deputy Attorney General for legal strategy, joined local leaders and business owners during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He said Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to “see what legal avenues there may be” to challenge Austin’s decision.

Reitz said the city council entered into a contract without consulting Williamson County officials.

“[They] just sort of kicked the problem up to Williamson County,” Reitz said. “It’s not fair. It’s not just. It stinks.”

Meanwhile, Williamson County commissioners have indicated they are going to file suit against Austin to delay the purchase of the Candlewood Suites hotel.

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Gov. Abbott Tells Austin's Mayor His New Year's Curfew Is Illegal

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Gov. Greg Abbott has a message for Austin mayor Steve Adler: your New Year's Eve curfew is not allowed.

Adler ordered all businesses in Austin to close over the New Year's holiday tomorrow night, from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. January 3rd. The order closes bars and restaurants during one of their busiest holidays of the year.

A news release published on the city's official website explained:

"Venues serving food and drink may still operate between 10:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. using drive-thru, curbside pick-up, take-out, or delivery service. This change applies to any venue serving food or drink from an onsite kitchen, food truck, or catering service. Between 6 a.m. and 10:30 p.m., venues are permitted to continue dine-in operations."

County Health officials in Travis County also went along with the curfew order.

In the official City resolution, issued Tuesday, Adler cited the governor's previous order (GA-32) allowing reopenings if counties exceeded certain hospital admission standards.

His resolution ordering the closures, issued Tuesday, notes, "Travis County has experienced 48,951 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 542 deaths as a result ofthe disease." 

But Gov. Abbott was not having any of it. He took to Twitter almost immediately, tweeting late Tuesday night:

"This shutdown order by Austin isn't allowed. Period. My executive order stops cities like Austin from arbitrarily shutting down businesses. The city has a responsibility to enforce existing orders, not make new ones."

KVUE TV reported that the Texas Attorney General's Office also weighed in on Twitter, noting that the city's orders, "violate @GovAbbott’s Exec Order GA-32. They must rescind or modify their local orders immediately."

At risk are potentially hundreds of jobs in tens of thousands of dollars in earnings over the New Year's holiday, which brings to a close a year in which hundreds of thousands of lost their jobs in the restaurant and bar industries throughout the state.

Is unclear whether habit or the Attorney general's office would seek an injunction Wednesday to override the order, or whether businesses in Austin and Travis County would simply ignore it, risking fines.

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Governor, Lt. Governor, House Speaker Agree To Reopen Capitol Jan. 4

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The Texas Capitol building will open back up to the public on January 4.  The move was announced by the office of Gov. Greg Abbott, L. Gov. Dan Patrick, and outgoing House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Monday afternoon in a news release.

Legislators had argued that it was a violation of the state constitution and the principle of open government up keep it closed during a legislative session.

Rep. Terry Wilson said at an event recently he would fight closing the Capitol building to visitors.

"The Texas House should not be closed," he said.

Rep. Mayes Middleton, who argued for the reopening, wrote on Facebook that he was pleased with the decision.

"The Capitol belongs to all 29 million Texans, glad it will finally be open to its true owners, everyone deserves the right to make their voice heard in person!"

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State Takeover Of Austin Police Dept. Closer To Reality

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Monday night, Gov. Greg Abbott signaled that legislation could be on the way soon to transfer the powers of the Austin Police Department away from the city council and under the control of the Texas Department of Safety.

Abbott tweeted:

"Just in time for Christmas: The Legislative Council has sent draft language for a proposed law that would transfer control of the Austin Police Department to the Texas Department of Public Safety. One way or another we will pass a law to keep Austin safe."

The tweet from Gov. Abbott was not a surprise, reports KXAN,-TV.  

Back in September, Abbott expressed his displeasure with Austin City Council’s decision to cut $20 million from APD’s budget, in addition to transitioning $130 million out over a year. 

Abbott has vowed to pass law to defund cities that defund police departments.

APD reports a rise in several violent crimes in the city this year. The department says the murder rate increased by 55% over 2019.

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Legislator Tries Again To Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

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Texas State Representative Mayes Middleton (R - Wallisville) introduced legislation to end taxpayer-funded lobbying during the last session of the Texas Legislature and is filing a new bill to do so this week. 

Though that reform effort passed the state Senate during the last session, it fell short in the state House. 

Things have changed since then, however, and this reform is now poised for enactment in 2021, reports Forbes Magazine, which says it could be the catalyst for other states to adopt similar legislation.

About the bill, Middleton wrote on Facebook:

"Our tax money is being spent on Austin lobbyists to advocate against the taxpayer and basic good governance.  Most Taxpayers have no idea that their local school boards, city councils, and county commissioners courts are using taxpayer money to hire Austin lobbyists, who then lobby against property tax reform and for higher taxes."

Middleton said the bill (link opens .pdf) that he is has filed this legislative session is "a lot more simple" than the previous text. 

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Upstart Mackenzie Kelly Defeats Incumbent Flannigan In #Austin Council Runoff

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Mackenzie Kelly has defeated incumbent Austin City Councilor Jimmy Flannigan in a runoff election Tuesday.

Kelly, a Republican who ran on a pro-law enforcement platform, won by 4 points, taking 52% of the vote to Flannigan's 48%.

Flanagan, who will be leaving the council after only one term, had argued in favor of defunding the Austin Police Department, going so far as to call for the literal dismantling of the police department's headquarters downtown. Kelly received the Austin Police Association's endorsement, While Flanagan received the endorsement of city irefighters. Both organizations send Kelly congratulatory words on Twitter Wednesday morning.

Kelly released a statement to the media Tuesday night following her victory:

"From standing courageously behind our law enforcement community to demanding safer conditions for our homeless population to fighting for transparency at City Hall, the voice of Northwest Austin has been heard. Considering the stark differences between my campaign's priorities and the platform of the incumbent, their united voice is resoundingly clear this evening! I am honored to be the next representative for District 6 on the Austin City Council and will work immediately to begin healing the divisions in our community."

On her Twitter feed, Kelly said Mayor Steve Adler had called her Wednesday morning to congratulate her on her victory. The previous evening, Adler heaped effusive praise on Flanagan for his service to the community as a councilor.
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#Austin City Council To Draft "Social Contract" For City

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Culture Map Austin reports that the Austin City Council issued a directive to the city manager to compose a "social contract" for Austin. 

During its Thursday, December 10 meeting, The council asked City Manager Spencer Cronk to work with the city’s Joint Inclusion Committee to write the document, which is slated to be presented to the council by June 1, 2021. 

"A global pandemic and racial unrest have led this nation and communities across the country to an inflection point; and ... despite the polarization playing out on the national stage, the Austin community strives to rise above," reads the resolution.

The non-binding resolution will be the first of its kind in the nation, say it's backers.

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