A few decades ago, Austin was a place to go. Plenty of good restaurants, live bands by more than talented musicians, and surrounding sights wonderful to see. Things are different today. The police have decided to not respond to non-emergency calls. That means most crimes that an officer doesn't feel involves the threat of immediate harm will not be answered. When you really think about this, shoplifting, petty theft, muggings, burglaries...etc., become mostly just paperwork shuffling, and those affected are left to deal with it themselves.
I've avoided Austin for years. The decline has been notable, and from my perspective, the lack of judgement by the local officials, and citizens, only reinforced my belief the most dangerous places to be are where politicians gather. There are too many people scrambling for the fat, and there's a tendency of local politics to be infiltrated by outsiders looking for power, with mostly ill gotten fortunes. To add insult to injury, the economy is corrupted by people that really don't produce anything. When multiple generations of these people are too much of the citizenry, the fact they exist only by the will of those that produce is ignored. They feel their tasks of producing legislation, and bureaucracy, are more important than producing the goods that keep their sorry lives intact.
It is what it is, but the surrounding communities of Austin are inhabited by hard-working folks that are not the same as those that waste their resources. They will be more prepared for their visits to the city, well armed, and many arrogant criminal will find their crime has a capital punishment.
It won't last. Eventually some hard ass will come along and clean the place up, and the trash will get sent packing. There is one helluva reckoning coming. The silent majority is starting to make noise now, and the Usual Suspects are sweating bullets.
ReplyDeleteI have an in-law that moved to the suburbs about a year ago. They have many friends, and they agree not to talk about politics. That, to me, is the same as sticking your head up your ass to avoid important decisions.
DeleteAnd, if answered, they won't be prosecuted. Welcome to consequence-free criminality.
ReplyDeleteThey get a night in jail, an appearance before a judge, and must promise they never do it again.
DeleteIt's much easier to hang near a busy intersection, pull over those running the yellow light, and adding to the revenue to the city. I think that's what I would be doing, since it's usually safer, and doesn't require being shot at over and over by the same criminals.