SAN PAC: 37 Days to Go / 64th Murder / Police: Send Civilians to 911 Calls? / Fundraisers This Week
Good Monday morning --
We have just 37 days until the November 2nd election when public safety will be on the ballot in Austin when voters have the opportunity to ensure adequate police staffing, double police training and enact important police reforms.
Early voting begins in just 22 days, on October 18.
Our city has suffered 64 (!) homicides this year -- breaking last year's all time record of 48 with more than four months left in the year. Violent crime is up across the board. Police staffing has never been worse. We are 260 officers down FROM ONE YEAR AGO and will likely be 250 down by year's end.
Austin has NEVER been less safe than it is today. But we can change that.
We must pass Prop A on Nov. 2nd to ensure adequate police staffing, double police training, and enact sensible police reforms.
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After the STUNNING news late last week that sworn police officers will no longer respond to 'non-emergency' 911 calls starting Oct. 1, now KVUE has a story that APD will consider sending civilians to respond to some 911 calls.
Austin Police Department seeks to have civilians, not officers, respond to some calls
By Tony Plohetski
KVUE
Interim Chief Joe Chacon hinted at the proposal Wednesday during an announcement that he would be the city's next chief.
Austin police are drafting a plan that would call for civilians to respond to some calls instead of uniformed officers.
Interim Chief Joe Chacon hinted at the proposal Wednesday during an announcement that he would be the city's next chief, pending council approval. He also addressed it during an interview with Senior Reporter Tony Plohetski.
On Friday, the department also issued a statement:
The Austin Police Department (APD) regularly reviews response policies and procedures to ensure APD prioritizes calls with an immediate threat to life or property over non-emergency calls for service. As a result of a recent review of APD’s patrol COVID mitigation protocols initiated in May 2020, recent staffing challenges and aligning with the Reimagining Public Safety Task Force patrol response recommendations, APD will change call routing and response for non-emergency calls for service effective October 1, 2021.
APD urges people to use iReportAustin.com or call 3-1-1 to report crimes which are no longer in progress, when the suspect(s) are no longer on scene or in sight and when there is no immediate threat to life or property. Please continue to call 9-1-1 for emergencies when there is a threat to life or property.
Officials are expected to more fully explain their plan next week, including types of calls in which civilians would respond.
According to a draft, they include home burglaries in which suspects are no longer on the property.
As the KVUE Defenders have reported in its police reform series "Reforming the Force," the department has lost dozens of officers during the past year. Meanwhile, city council members suspended the police academy to alter the curriculum, leaving no new rookies to replace them.
Reformers also have advocated for non-officers to respond to certain calls, saving uniformed officers for emergencies.
HOMICIDE #64
A fatal shooting occurred in East Austin overnight. This is the 64th homicide of the year. On the current pace, we will suffer 87 homicides this year, a 79% (!) increase in homicides SINCE LAST YEAR.
CBS Austin has the details here.
Due to Steve Adler and Greg Casar's unconscionable $150 million cut to the Austin Police Budget, we now have no Anti-Gang unit, no Park Police, no Motorcycle Unit for traffic enforcement, no Lake Patrol and we've seen cuts to other units like the Sex Crimes Unit. This is directly contributing to the violent crime wave Austin is experiencing.
FIVE FUNDRAISING EVENTS THIS WEEK
We have the following fundraising events this week:
Monday: Near 35th & MoPac from 6-8pm
Tuesday: Off Westlake Drive from 6-8pm
Wednesday: Southwest Austin from 5:30-7:30pm
Thursday: Downtown bar from 6-8pm
Friday: Near Balcones Country Club (NW Austin) from 5-7pm
Email events@potomacstrategygroup.com for questions and details. RSVPs are required.
YARD SIGNS ARE IN: RESERVE YOURS NOW
Our first batch of yard signs are in!
Reserve yours here before we run out. Delivery is available.
>>> Reserve your yard sign now <<<
HOW WE WILL WIN
A majority of Austin residents will support Prop A if we explain how the police budget has been defunded, how the staffing crisis is rapidly worsening, and how this has led to an unprecedented violent crime wave in Austin.
We need to identify and turn out Prop A supporters over the next 22 days before voting begins.
This will require significant financial support, thousands of volunteers, and a tremendous team effort to overcome 9 out of 10 council members, the Mayor, and far left wing groups across our city.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT US RIGHT NOW
1) To attend an upcoming Save Austin Now PAC fundraiser, please email us -- events@potomacstrategygroup.com.
2) Donate now online: Will you support our efforts right now? Securely donate here -- https://secure.anedot.com/save-austin-now-pac/donate.
3) Donate now by check: Make a check to "Save Austin Now PAC" and mail it to 807 Brazos Street, Suite 202, Austin, TX 78701.
ADDITIONAL WAYS TO HELP
1. Share our social content on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SaveAustinNowPAC) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SaveATXNowPAC).
2. Sign up to volunteer -- https://www.saveaustinnowpac.com/volunteer. We will need office help, phone banks, and door to door activity starting very soon. We have a nice office downtown with parking!
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As I have said before, we have only begun to fight!
Thank you!
-Matt Mackowiak
Co-founder, Save Austin Now PAC
> Questions? Email Matt -- matt@saveaustinnowpac.com.
> Learn more: http://www.SaveAustinNowPAC.com
Will you please support our efforts now?
You may donate here: https://secure.anedot.com/save-austin-now-pac/donate