Save Austin Now PAC Highlights Recent Disqualifying Votes Taken by Mayoral Candidate Celia Israel

State Rep. Celia Israel Voted to Allow Statewide Homeless Camping and Police Defunding

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today nonpartisan Save Austin Now PAC announced although it will not make a formal endorsement in the Austin mayoral race, it has determined that two key votes cast by mayoral candidate, State Rep. Celia Israel, during her time in the legislature should disqualify her from holding the office of Austin Mayor.

During the 87th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, Rep. Celia Israel voted against both HB 1925 and HB 1900 – key bills that were aimed at preserving law, order, and public safety in cities across Texas who might follow Mayor Steve Adler’s lead in deregulating homeless encampments and defunding their police departments.

“Austin voters were subjected to Mayor Adler’s radical, failed social experiment in homeless camping for over two years and soundly rejected his policy at the ballot box,” said Save Austin Now PAC co-founders Matt Mackowiak and Cleo Petricek. “Austinites are now in a constant struggle to ensure that the City enforces the Proposition B camping ban by respecting the will of Austin voters. “Despite any current campaign rhetoric to the contrary, Celia Israel’s vote against HB 1925 demonstrates that she holds Mayor Adler’s position that the solution to addressing homelessness is for cities to repeal their laws regulating homeless encampments. In light of this vote, Austin voters cannot reasonably expect that Celia Israel would govern any differently if elected Mayor.”

Mackowiak and Petricek continued, “Just as concerning, Representative Israel voted against HB 1900 which created strong state-level disincentives for cities to defund their police departments, like Austin did under Mayor Adler’s leadership. Again, Adler’s social experiment failed miserably and demonstrably, resulting in a spike in homicides, property crimes, and a general perception among Austinites that their city is less safe than before. Celia Israel’s voting record again shows that she would govern just as Mayor Adler has on this issue critical to the city.”

It’s no wonder then, that one of the architects of police defunding and legalizing unfettered homeless encampments, Chas Moore, recently endorsed Celia Israel.

As Rep. Celia Israel seeks to lead the Austin City Council for at least the next two years, Save Austin Now finds her votes against public safety, law and order, wholly disqualifying as Austinites try to reverse the damage caused by 8 years of failed leadership under Mayor Adler.

While Save Austin Now is not endorsing a candidate for Mayor, Israel’s two main opponents’ positions on these critical issues to Austin may be found on their respective websites, linked below, so that our members may make their own decisions as Early Voting approaches:

Kirk Watson: https://www.kirkwatson.com/meet-kirk/

Jennifer Virden: https://www.jenniferforaustin.com/policy-papers/

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

Contacts

Cleo Petricek: (972) 639-7926 | Matt Mackowiak: (512) 423-6116