What the fuck is wrong with you, Austin?

[Guest]

Good god, the police officers/police reps just come across as bullies. Just huge threats if the 4-year plan isn't passed.

Four-year plan may be the right direction, I honestly don't know enough to say. But the way they frame it is just BS.

[Bozo_Casanova 26840]

15 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

Between this and @Bozo_Casanova's frequent condemnation of their dereliction of duty, it would seem there is some severe chain of command issues. 

Look I'm a big fan of police in general and have no real inside visibility to the situation. But the relationship between the police department, City Management, and the Council has never been worse, and considering what a large majority of officers don't even live in the city it's dangerous.

[Wally Pryor 5407]

2 hours ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Not really. The relationship between Council and APD is roughly analogous to the relationship between Congress and the Army.
Council provides indirect oversight, controls the funding and legislates, but the police dept doesn't answer to the council on enforcement matters. 

The COO / City Manager manages the police chief and the city council gives marching orders to the City Manager, yes? I'll defer to you as it seems like we've been down this path.

Until the council collectively quits masturbating over the thought of having a zip code like a place in the Pacific Northwest then we're going to continue to see more camping in the city, voter mandate be damned. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26840]

7 minutes ago, Wally Pryor said:

The COO / City Manager manages the police chief and the city council gives marching orders to the City Manager, yes? I'll defer to you as it seems like we've been down this path.

Until the council collectively quits masturbating over the thought of having a zip code like a place in the Pacific Northwest then we're going to continue to see more camping in the city, voter mandate be damned. 

Don't get me wrong, council is ultimately accountable to the voters for everything at the local level. But its very naive to think some council preference or ideological bent is the reason the ban isn't being enforced right now.

Anyway, getting the BB's back in the box is the mayor's top priority, and one clear sign of that is announcing Jesus Garza  as interim city manager.  When I heard that my reaction was similar to when Marcellus Wallace told Jules he was sending the Wolf. 

[crash_davis 23468]

4 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Anyway, getting the BB's back in the box is the mayor's top priority, and one clear sign of that is announcing Jesus Garza  as interim city manager.  When I heard that my reaction was similar to when Marcellus Wallace told Jules he was sending the Wolf. 

[Guest]

15 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Anyway, getting the BB's back in the box is the mayor's top priority, and one clear sign of that is announcing Jesus Garza  as interim city manager.  When I heard that my reaction was similar to when Marcellus Wallace told Jules he was sending the Wolf. 

Can you elaborate? Know zero about Jesus Garza other than seeing he was city manager when Watson was mayor previously.

[Wally Pryor 5407]

32 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Don't get me wrong, council is ultimately accountable to the voters for everything at the local level. But its very naive to think some council preference or ideological bent is the reason the ban isn't being enforced right now.

Okay, help me get across the finish line because I must be missing something. If for some odd reason Chacon is choosing not to enforce a city law on his own volition, shouldn't he be held accountable by superior(s) who have made it a priority to hold cops accountable in following the law? (And good for them.) And since we see no evidence of Chacon being held accountable, why do we think that's occurring except for a council preference to effectively pretend the ban / law doesn't exist?

Either the police chief is being grossly insubordinate and needs to pay for it or he's simply following directions from his supervisors, direct or indirect. 

Appreciate your feedback.

[LCHorn 2750]

5 minutes ago, Wally Pryor said:

Okay, help me get across the finish line because I must be missing something. If for some odd reason Chacon is choosing not to enforce a city law on his own volition, shouldn't he be held accountable by superior(s) who have made it a priority to hold cops accountable in following the law? (And good for them.) And since we see no evidence of Chacon being held accountable, why do we think that's occurring except for a council preference to effectively pretend the ban / law doesn't exist?

Either the police chief is being grossly insubordinate and needs to pay for it or he's simply following directions from his supervisors, direct or indirect. 

Appreciate your feedback.

I want to hear @Bozo_Casanova's analysis, as well, but my conjecture is that we've had a mayor for 8 years that has the attention span of a honey bee and a council that, for a number of reasons, both institutional and otherwise, is made up of the politically inept.  Their main achievement is rarely agreeing on anything substantive; if you had a skilled city manager this might actually be beneficial (as the council would be hands off), but in the hands of the unskilled (or indecisive) it creates a struggle for power between city staff and the city manager that leads to inaction, conflict, or action in directions opposite the will of the people (as reflected by council preferences). 

[Wally Pryor 5407]

12 minutes ago, LCHorn said:

I want to hear @Bozo_Casanova's analysis, as well, but my conjecture is that we've had a mayor for 8 years that has the attention span of a honey bee and a council that, for a number of reasons, both institutional and otherwise, is made up of the politically inept.  Their main achievement is rarely agreeing on anything substantive; if you had a skilled city manager this might actually be beneficial (as the council would be hands off), but in the hands of the unskilled (or indecisive) it creates a struggle for power between city staff and the city manager that leads to inaction, conflict, or action in directions opposite the will of the people (as reflected by council preferences). 

And that may well be. If the city government's collective ineptness (both CM and council) is effectively neutering any ability to enforce the law, then that's the end game that the ACC wants to achieve anyway.

And since there's no one that can / will hold the city's feet to the fire to enforce the ban, we'll just continue to see it grow more and more.

 

[LCHorn 2750]

4 minutes ago, Wally Pryor said:

And that may well be. If the city government's collective ineptness (both CM and council) is effectively neutering any ability to enforce the law, then that's the end game that the ACC wants to achieve anyway.

And since there's no one that can / will hold the city's feet to the fire to enforce the ban, we'll just continue to see it grow more and more.

 

Again, this is conjecture, but I think Watson’s election over Israel may be understood as a re-establishment of control by the chamber of commerce types.  They will want someone in the City Manager role who is professional, can herd the cats on the council, and can be the bad guy with city staff if needed (the latter appears where Cronk tripped up).  
 

I *think*, from a governance perspective, Austin may be kind of a weird city to run (although they probably all have their special characteristics).  UT wants to be left alone, the state wants to point fingers but not actually fix anything, and the tech companies don’t have the kind of community ties that capital interests in previous generations led to the noblesse oblige.  With 10/1 we have a particularly fragmented power structure and no one has really figured out how to govern effectively through it.  

[Guest]

It's early, but I was impressed today with council/mayor. Watson seemed to make it clear he was the leader and was forceful without being condescending. Only saw a few council members speak, but they all seemed solid -- including Kelly.

I'm hopeful that this group is more serious about getting things done. 

 

[Bozo_Casanova 26840]

Meanwhile, in Northwest Hills : local house flipper would like you to pay back money she loaned herself.

Quote

I am now focused on retiring my personal $80K campaign debt, so I can continue to positively affect the future of Austin, and so we can continue working to influence policy at City Hall. Your generosity by contributing up to $450 (per person limit) will help chip away at this debt. We are now a known and important voting bloc, but it will take money, tenacity, and effective leadership for us to maintain and to build.

 

 

[crash_davis 23468]

or...she could claim that the election was a sham, include an 1-800 hotline to help fund overturning the election and then pocket all of the cash. That may or may not work depending on how stupid her voters are.

[ztejas 44223]

They got rid of Kronk?

[Judge Roybeanbag 11860]

Quote

we've had a mayor for 8 years that has the attention span of a honey bee and a council that, for a number of reasons, both institutional and otherwise, is made up of the politically inept.

Here's what we fucking have, and you can extrapolate it exponentially state and federal wide.  You have a bunch of booger eating morons in every governmental position between school boards and the federal senate.  Mackenzie Kelly for gods sake.  The whole thing is fitlumps, from the turtle on down...

Edited February 16, 2023 by Judge Roybeanbag

[hornian 5289]

Whose kids organized a “mansion rager” at a house they don’t even live at?

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/mansion-rager-party-northwest-austin-family-home

[royiv 9772]

28 minutes ago, hornian said:

Whose kids organized a “mansion rager” at a house they don’t even live at?

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/mansion-rager-party-northwest-austin-family-home

@Porterhouse thinks the homeowner is a little bitch for being unhappy about having teenagers trash his house. It's just a couple of cool Westlake teens trying to have a little fun and blow off some steam. Rager at his place this weekend!

[dcar00 14946]

On 2/15/2023 at 3:07 PM, LCHorn said:

I want to hear @Bozo_Casanova's analysis, as well, but my conjecture is that we've had a mayor for 8 years that has the attention span of a honey bee and a council that, for a number of reasons, both institutional and otherwise, is made up of the politically inept.  Their main achievement is rarely agreeing on anything substantive; if you had a skilled city manager this might actually be beneficial (as the council would be hands off), but in the hands of the unskilled (or indecisive) it creates a struggle for power between city staff and the city manager that leads to inaction, conflict, or action in directions opposite the will of the people (as reflected by council preferences). 

I think you underestimate Adler, Cronk(and the CC).  Everything went exactly according to their plan while they were(and as far as CC, still) in charge

[Guest]

2 hours ago, royiv said:

@Porterhouse thinks the homeowner is a little bitch for being unhappy about having teenagers trash his house. It's just a couple of cool Westlake teens trying to have a little fun and blow off some steam. Rager at his place this weekend!

Homeowner is not just a bitch. He’s a cunt. 

[Foggy Notion 1202]

 

[crash_davis 23468]

Fuck those assholes. I want the cops to shoot all those fucksticks. Tired of the fucking lawlessness.

Edited February 19, 2023 by crash_davis

[ChickenSandwich 9947]

20 minutes ago, Foggy Notion said:

 

Wow new milestone for Austin. We’ve got drift trash. 

[TKthunder2 5059]

1 hour ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Wow new milestone for Austin. We’ve got drift trash. 

I remember when it was just hippies and drunk college kids sitting on the curb smoking weed. And people complained about that too.

[mchookem 16765]

i mean what the hell is going on over there lol

[3adays 454]

Fuck those racer idiots, that’s a situation where I’d be good with cops beating the shit out of them.

As an aside, hat tip to whoever finally found the stones to clean up the homeless city by Central Makret south. Now keep it that way! 

[Js1 87174]

9 hours ago, crash_davis said:

Fuck those assholes. I want the cops to shoot all those fucksticks. Tired of the fucking lawlessness.

Are you okay? 

[DaggerHorns 3170]

 

[DaggerHorns 3170]

 

[Foggy Notion 1202]

 

[hornbri 1508]

I just saw all the drifting stuff last night. I was surprised at how early it was.

[gofuckyourself 9074]

9 minutes ago, hornbri said:

I just saw all the drifting stuff last night. I was surprised at how early it was.

Sorry. I'm getting older and needed to go to bed early.

[hornian 5289]

Between the non existent response to the dark traffic signals and the lack of a coherent response to this group shutting down a major intersection, APD is showing that even with record funding they refuse to do simple police work like traffic control. Not exactly making the case for a better contract when they don’t even meet simple metrics like this under their current one. 

[Brisketexan 106874]

Between the non existent response to the dark traffic signals and the lack of a coherent response to this group shutting down a major intersection, APD is showing that even with record funding they refuse to do simple police work like traffic control. Not exactly making the case for a better contract when they don’t even meet simple metrics like this under their current one. 

Seriously. When your negotiation strategy is “oh yeah? Wanna see us REALLY not do our job?”….fuck you.

[YGIFS 19458]

I have a number of informed opinions on all of this.  But for now, I'm watching them toss fireworks at the squad car going backwards on Barton Springs and all I can think of is: "Oh Lawd, back it up Terry!  Put it in reverse Officer Terry!  Oh Lawd, no!"  

[Armybrat 41385]

Bunch of stupid shits.

Keep that crap in a big parking lot so you don’t mess with other people.

[ChickenSandwich 9947]

Offer cash rewards for information on each car. Impound the vehicles for a couple years 

[Armybrat 41385]

4 minutes ago, ChickenSandwich said:

Offer cash rewards for information on each car. Impound the vehicles for a couple years 

Give them to the Ukraines.

[YGIFS 19458]

1 minute ago, Armybrat said:

Give them to the Ukraines.

Oh, I like this idea very much.  sure it's not the most stealth tactic to roll up on a fortified Russian position in a glowing purple Civic that can't clear the average Crimean road, with bass thumping from a mile away.  But the look on the faces of the Russian troops right before they get an artillery shell in advance of the approaching Civic would be fucking priceless.  

[SurlyBDR 23149]

[Heisenberg 162]

Apparently there were zero arrests and zero cars impounded.  There are no mentions of any traffic citations being issued.  Fuck the APD.

[Dbeasy 15561]

I drove through that intersection an hour before and there was some unusual milling around. Maybe some people knew it was coming. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26840]

Discouraging shenanigans is one of several reasons we need more traffic circles in place of 4 way stops and controlled intersections, in addition to vastly improved traffic, safer driving, less wear and tear on vehicles, etc. 

On the other hand, people in Austin hate and fear change. 

[ChickenSandwich 9947]

[tx 3 putt 78668]

One huge apd false flag operation. Apd let things escalate, prove me wrong. Now the general public will be outaged today, screaming for increased budgets to get more apd patrols on the street with increased salaries !! 

[MissingInAction 25553]

The stop lights at keonig and Lamar were out for days with zero apd presence.

Cocksuckers can't/refuse to do their most basic duties.

[YGIFS 19458]

Given the amount of pedestrians that are out on Barton Springs and South Lamar on a Saturday evening, no way APD would risk hitting people during those two high speed chases.  It is quite possible they let things escalate as a negotiating tactic (the contract vote is sitting even worse with them than the public realizes).  But I doubt very highly that was a false flag operation. 

This is all a ridiculous shame though.  The public was finally realizing the "DEFUND THE POLICE" thing, at least in the case of Austin, was bullshit.  They are adequately funded.  What they were though was under-staffed for a city of our size.  We even had the money to hire a huge chunk of them, but forces all over the country are having recruiting issues.  And living anywhere near Austin on a new policeman's salary is a non-starter given our cost of living.  I doubt any rookie cop with a wife and baby at home, wants to drive home to Belton or Seguin after a long day on the beat.  Late last year, we also tacitly signed off on their previous two bonds requests for another encumbrance sale of paper through the city's underwriters. So they can finish up some much needed capital projects that were delayed from 2020-22 sale cycles.  Things were going okay financially for APD despite all the ignorant rhetoric. 

Now our problem is Cronk ordered for the whole table before he planned to walk the tab.  Now this 1 v 4 year contract thing has fucked us over again.  Just when stupid people finally accept facts and data that conflict with their spoon-fed talking points.  The "smart people" at City Hall went and did some real stupid shit.  

[ABSR 5369]

2 hours ago, Heisenberg said:

Apparently there were zero arrests and zero cars impounded.  There are no mentions of any traffic citations being issued.  Fuck the APD.

You can eat donuts, but not do donuts in Gondola’s.  Just saying.

[Orange&White 5573]

This sure seems like a disaster.

Luckily we have a Harvard educated Disaster Scientist currently on staff.

Gonna be fine, Austin.

[ChickenSandwich 9947]

1 hour ago, tx 3 putt said:

One huge apd false flag operation. Apd let things escalate, prove me wrong. Now the general public will be outaged today, screaming for increased budgets to get more apd patrols on the street with increased salaries !! 

Everyone with a Travis Co registered Dodge Charger gets a ticket. Make your own budget 

Edited February 19, 2023 by ChickenSandwich

[Deej 77804]

9 hours ago, 3adays said:

Fuck those racer idiots, that’s a situation where I’d be good with cops beating the shit out of them.

As an aside, hat tip to whoever finally found the stones to clean up the homeless city by Central Makret south. Now keep it that way! 

There's a large camp that doubles as a flea market for their stolen bikes and other goods on a piece of property that butts up next to an elementary school in my neighborhood. Seems like a bad idea to have them that close to a bunch of little kids.