New Billboards Popping Up in Austin

In a story reported by KVUE in Austin, new billboards are popping up around Austin.  The billboards read 'Warning! Austin Police Defunded Enter at your own risk!  #backtheblue

The billboards were put up by the Texas Municipal Police Association.  You can see one on the west side of I-35, facing north, one mile south of FM 1325. The second one is on the west side of I-35, facing south, just north of Burleson in Kyle, before exit 248.

Just last month, the Austin City Council unanimously approved a $4.2 billion budget that includes about $150 million in planned cuts to Austin police.  That money will be redirected to a wide variety of community programs and city departments, including Austin-Travis County EMS for COVID-19 response, mental health response, violence prevention, a family violence shelter, and victim services.

Governer Abbott fought back earlier this month by saying he's considering legislation that would put Austin's police department under state funding as a way to protect it after the city council voted to defund it. Governor Abbott tweeted this on September 2nd.

Let us know where you stand on the issue and what do you think of the Billboards?