Austin City Council's Mackenzie Kelly, 3 Former Mayors Endorse Prop A


Broad Coalition Supports Ensuring Adequate Staffing and Doubling Police Training

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas — Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly (District 6) and former Austin Mayors Lee Leffingwell (2009-2015), Lee Cooke (1988-1991) and Ron Mullen (1983-1985), all City of Austin residents and former City Council members, joined Save Austin Now co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek to announce their endorsement of Prop A – an ordinance which will ensure adequate police staffing, increase community policing, double police training and enact sensible police reforms. Early voting begins Oct. 18 and Election Day is Nov. 2.

“More than 25,000 Austinites signed the petition to put Prop A on the ballot and those voices must be heard and respected, not out of state donors,” said Council Member Kelly.

“We know that the police staffing crisis is dire and urgent. Our council will not be forced to cut public safety funding if Prop A passes. We will not cut Fire and EMS.

"We must pass Prop A to bring our staffing level up, reduce 911 response times, and reduce violent crime across our city. I hope every Austinite join us in voting for Prop. A,” said Kelly (right) 

The three former mayors expressed their support for Prop A with a Joint Statement:

“We shared a common governing ideology as mayors of the city of Austin in that we worked diligently to diversify and modernize Austin while preserving the city’s unique history and character. Under our leadership and the leadership of the councils with which we served, we became the Live Music Capitol of the World in both word and deed.

"Together we sought out opportunities to expand economic opportunity for our citizens so that a town that was once known for being an epicenter of education and government became a hub for technology, medicine and the creative arts. We set our sights on protecting the environment and focusing on using land for its highest and best use for the benefit of all Austinites. We are proud of what we accomplished during our tenures because it reflects the established values of our community.

“It is easy to overlook the importance of safety because Austin police officers quietly go about their work – responding to calls and taking criminals off of our streets – all without seeking recognition or accolades. It is something that we never took for granted because the progress we made would never have been possible without the foundation of a safe city and the selfless service of the men and women of the Austin Police Department.

“Prior councils have commissioned numerous police staffing studies and each concluded that the Austin Police Department needs additional personnel in order to meet the growing demands of our city. This is something for which we both steadfastly fought, yet the actions and pronouncements of today’s council make clear that those on the dais are taking law enforcement for granted and our city is suffering with more crime and fewer police. Austin will continue to further degrade if citizens do not take action by voting in favor of a minimum police staffing level. It is for this reason that we enthusiastically endorse Prop A.

“Make your voice heard on November 2 so this council understands that you want safety to be their top priority.”
-former Mayors Leffingwell, Cooke and Mullen

“We are honored to unveil the support of four distinguished public servants for Prop A, which will save our city from the violent crime wave and police staffing crisis that threatens to engulf us,” said Save Austin Now PAC co-founders Mackowiak and Petricek. “On Nov. 2, a majority of this city will rise up and demand our city be safe again for everyone who lives here.”

To learn more about Save Austin Now PAC, please visit http://www.SaveAustinNowPAC.com
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