A recent poll in Austin conducted by Notley Ventures in conjunction with the Austin Monitor, found that behind affordability, public safety and crime is the biggest issue on Austin voters' minds this November.
In the wake of the George Floyd protests in 2020, Austin City Council voted unanimously (11-0) to remove $150 million through cuts and reorganization from the Austin Police Department budget and cancel three upcoming police cadet classes, according to The Texas Tribune.
The Austin Journal reached out to businesswoman Jennifer Virden, a candidate to be Austin’s next mayor, and asked her for her opinion on public safety and what she would do if elected mayor.
Virden said that she opposes the decision to cut police funding and said she would have voted differently if she was mayor.
"I would have voted 'no' and done all I could to prevent it. In fact, it is one of the reasons I left my career in the private sector to run for office," Virden told Austin Journal. "Few decisions in Austin's history have had a more devastating impact than city council's decision to defund the police. Regarding council’s desire to revamp the curriculum, it would have been more prudent to 'change in-process,' rather than irresponsibly halting the academy altogether."
Instead of cutting police funding, Virden said officials could have "improved training and accountability without defunding the police and creating a staffing shortage."
KXAN News reports that since then, Austin has experienced a rise in crime, especially violent crime, leading some residents to even consider moving out of Austin.
According to top officials at the police department, there is a staffing shortage that has reached a “crisis” point, KVUE ABC reported.
Virden said that crime and public safety is one of her top priorities and that she will work to bolster Austin's police force if elected mayor.
"In my first 100 days, I will propose adding needed funding to the department, increasing the amount and frequency of cadet classes and adding incentives to recruit new officers and fill vacant positions, to retain the officers we have now, and to re-recruit recently retired/resigned officers," Virden told Austin Journal.
When asked what the end of her first term would look like, Virden said, "Crime should be trending down. If we are successful, Austin will be more safe, more clean and more affordable."