The Travis County Republican Party comes out swinging over Austin’s new ordinances limiting the police department from making discretionary arrests for things like petty theft and pot possession. Chairman Matt Mackowiak says the council has taken on too much of a “social justice warrior” mentality against police, he believes the community would rather know that laws will be enforced, adding that he hopes state lawmakers may be able to step in next year to roll this back, as they plan to do with other local ordinances like paid sick leave.
Mackowiak also said that this sets a dangerous precedent that could lead some people to believe things like theft are now legal within Austin.
