AUSTIN (Talk1370.com) -- Save Austin Now, the educational non-profit that spearheaded an effort to put Austin's camping ban on the May 2021 ballot, says it's launching a new petition effort aimed at improving public safety in the City of Austin.
The "Safe Austin Now" effort, which includes a petition drive aiming to put an ordinance on the November 2021 ballot, calls for a minimum of 2.0 police officers per 1,000 residents. That would potentially add hundreds of new positions to the department.
The proposal would also double police training by requiring an additional 40 hours of post-cadet class training per year, along with efforts to increase minority hiring, ensure racially-diverse community policing, and provide retention bonuses for officers without complaints.
“Austin has never been less safe than it is today and we must make Austin safer for everyone who lives here," Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek said in a statement. "The unconscionable 11-0 city council vote in September 2020 cut up to one-third of the police budget ($150 million) and it is having disastrous effects on our city."
Organizations supporting “Safe Austin Now” include SafeHorns, the Austin Police Association, the Texas Police Association, the Texas Municipal Police Association, the Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas, the Austin Retired Police Officers Association, the United Hispanic Contractors Association, and Amigos en Azul.
"Homicides are on track to double last year’s all-time record," Mackowiak and Petricek continued. "Our current police staffing level is equal to 2008, when Austin was 45% as large as it is today. Attrition is harming readiness and response times. Police morale is at an all-time low. We cannot recruit, retain, or pay overtime. Thankfully, we can fix this. Mayor Steve Adler and the City Council have once again made our city less safe and they refuse to admit it. We will again clean up their mess.”
In addition to Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek, others expected to attend the press conference include U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, Austin Police Association president Ken Casaday, and members of statewide law enforcement organizations.
In order to get the ordinance on the November ballot, Save Austin Now will need to collect at least 20,000 petition signatures.