# Equity Action ## Posts - [RELEASE: Equity Action sues over City of Austin’s non-compliance with the Austin Police Oversight Act](https://equityactionatx.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Equity-press-statement-092223.pdf): December 6, 2023 - [Authors of police oversight act sue city for failing to fully implement ordinance](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-12-06/authors-of-police-oversight-act-sue-city-for-failing-to-fully-implement-ordinance/): December 6, 2023 - [RELEASE: City Poised to Finally Implement Prop A, More improvements to come](https://equityactionatx.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Equity-press-statement-092223.pdf) - [Austin slowly expands police oversight powers voters passed in the spring](https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-09-22/austin-slowly-expands-police-oversight-powers-voters-passed-in-the-spring) - [Recent AG ruling could give Austin Office of Police Oversight more access to police](https://www.kxan.com/video/recent-ag-ruling-could-give-austin-office-of-police-oversight-more-access-to-police/9021601/) - [City Must Give Secret Police Records to the Chronicle, Texas A.G.’s Office Says City’s “G File” no longer exists](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-09-21/city-must-give-secret-police-records-to-the-chronicle-texas-a-g-s-office-says/) - [STORY: Austin Community Groups Unite to Fight for a Share of City Budget](https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/austin-community-groups-unite-to-fight-for-share-of-city-budget) - [STORY: Community groups propose Community Investment Budget](https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2023/05/community-groups-propose-community-investment-budget/) - [Yes on A: Understanding Prop A and B and the Policing Paradigm Shift on the Ballot](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-04-20/understanding-prop-a-and-b-and-the-policing-paradigm-shift-on-the-ballot/) - [Yes on A: May 2023 Austin election ballot propositions: Voter resource](https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2023/04/may-2023-austin-election-ballot-propositions-voter-resource/) - [Yes on A: 100+ community organizations, city leaders show support for Prop A, opposition of Prop B](https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/100-community-organizations-city-leaders-show-support-for-prop-a-opposition-of-prop-b) - [Yes on A: ‘Accountability and transparency are important’ | Community launches campaign in support of more police oversight](https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/vote-texas/police-oversight-propositions-may-election/269-12f057d6-82a0-498c-a0d0-9e0199f92fe5) - [Yes on A: Editorial: Police should ditch false tweets, return to bargaining table ](https://www.statesman.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.statesman.com%2Fstory%2Fopinion%2Feditorials%2F2023%2F02%2F26%2Feditorial-austin-police-and-the-city-council-must-let-voters-speak-on-oversight%2F69935852007%2F) - [Yes on A: Council Goes for Short-Term Police Deal, Ignores Union Noise](https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-02-24/council-goes-for-short-term-police-deal-ignores-union-noise/) - [Yes on A: Council wants a one-year contract with Austin police to allow voters to weigh in on oversight measures. ](https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-02-15/austin-city-council-police-union-labor-contract) - [Yes on A: Why your vote on Austin police oversight measures will matter. ](https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/why-your-vote-on-austin-police-oversight-measures-will-matter/) - [Yes on A: Sources: City Manager Spencer Cronk Will Be Asked to Resign. Brazen police-contract gambit follows ice-storm SNAFUs.](https://www.fox7austin.com/news/vopa-pac-misleading-austin-police-oversight-petition) - [Yes on A: Council Balks at Deadline Pressure on Police Contract](http://Council%20Balks%20at%20Deadline%20Pressure%20on%20Police%20Contract%20) - [Yes on A: Council delays vote on one-year police contract extension, citing confusion](https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-02-10/council-delays-vote-on-one-year-police-contract-extension-citing-confusion) - [Yes on A: Dueling Austin police oversight measures set to appear on May ballot](https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/city-county/2023/02/09/dueling-austin-police-oversight-measures-set-to-appear-on-may-ballot/) - [Yes on A: Austin Police Association spends big on scheme to screw up civilian oversight](https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-01-20/austin-at-large-yo-cops-defund-our-election/) - [Yes on A: Concerns raised over group's Austin police oversight petition](https://www.fox7austin.com/news/concerns-austin-police-association-police-oversight-petition-vopa) - [Yes on A: Grumet: Imposter ballot measure lacks transparency in debate over Austin police oversight](https://equityactionatx.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/GrumetColumn-1_8_23.pdf) - [Yes on A: What is VOPA?: The mysterious PAC behind "misleading" Austin police oversight petition](https://www.fox7austin.com/news/vopa-pac-misleading-austin-police-oversight-petition) - [Yes on A: Who’s the group behind the ‘other’ Austin Police Oversight Act?](https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/whos-the-group-behind-the-other-austin-police-oversight-act/) - [Yes on A: Pro-Cop Fake-Oversight Petition Drive Still Raises Questions](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2022-12-08/pro-cop-fake-oversight-petition-drive-still-raises-questions/) - [Yes on A: Family Decries Police "Murder" as APD Releases Troubling Incident Video. Moonesinghe shot from behind within moments of APD arrival.](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2022-12-02/family-decries-police-murder-as-apd-releases-troubling-incident-video/) - [Yes on A: City, Police Union Try to End-Run Citizen Initiative for Police Oversight](https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2022-11-11/city-police-union-try-to-end-run-citizen-initiative-for-police-oversight/) - [Yes on A: Pro-Cop Fake-Oversight Petition Drive Still Raises Questions](https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2022-12-08/pro-cop-fake-oversight-petition-drive-still-raises-questions/) - [Yes on A: Council sends police oversight act to voters, despite concerns about delay](https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2022/09/council-sends-police-oversight-act-to-voters-despite-concerns-about-delay/) - [Yes on A: Austinites will decide the fate of the city's police oversight office](https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2022-09-16/office-of-police-oversight-austin-police-department-city-council-voters-ballot) - [Yes on A: Austin police oversight initiative meets threshold for spot on May 2023 ballot](https://www.kvue.com/article/news/police/austin-police-oversight-initiative-equity-action-may-2023-ballot/269-dc8e589e-e947-465b-99dd-0e0a4c5ca513) - [Yes on A: Austin police oversight petition validated; City Council to decide measure's next steps](https://communityimpact.com/austin/central-austin/city-county/2022/09/07/austin-police-oversight-petition-validated-city-council-to-decide-measures-next-steps/) - [RELEASE: More than Two Dozen Local Groups Present “Community Investment Budget” for 2022](https://equityactionatx.org/uncategorized/release-more-than-two-dozen-local-groups-present-%ef%bf%bccommunity-investment-budget-for-2022/) - [RELEASE: Text of "Community Investment Budget"](https://equityactionatx.org/uncategorized/release-text-of-community-investment-budget/) - [RELEASE: Data shows no correlation between sworn officers and homicide rates in U.S. & Austin](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/release-data-shows-no-correlation-between-sworn-officers-and-homicide-rates-in-u-s-austin/) - [RELEASE: 80+ Organizations Join Together to Announce Launch of “No Way on Prop A” Campaign](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/release-80-organizations-join-together-to-announce-launch-of-no-way-on-prop-a-campaign/) - [STATEMENT: Texas Supreme Court rules the cost of Prop A will be included on ballot](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/statement-texas-supreme-court-rules-the-cost-of-prop-a-will-be-included-on-ballot/) - [RECAP: Austin City Council Members Respond to Save Austin Now’s Fiscally Disastrous Prop A](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/recap-austin-city-council-members-respond-to-save-austin-nows-fiscally-disastrous-prop-a/) - [RELEASE: Save Austin Now’s ballot measure could lead to financial disaster to city services](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/release-save-austin-nows-ballot-measure-could-lead-to-financial-disaster-to-city-services/) - [RELEASE: Save Austin Now’s Mackowiak Refuses to Answer Media Questions](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/release-save-austin-nows-mackowiak-refuses-to-answer-media-questions/) - [RELEASE: Local & State Organizations Oppose Republican Petition Adding Hundreds More Police](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/release-local-state-organizations-oppose-republican-petition-adding-hundreds-more-police/) - [BREAKING: Republican-Front Group Save Austin Now Misleads Petition Signers](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/breaking-republican-front-group-save-austin-now-misleads-petition-signers/) - [STATEMENT: Republican Party Police Mandate Would Slash Funds for Other City Services](https://equityactionatx.org/press-release/statement-republican-party-police-mandate-would-slash-funds-for-other-city-services/): Austin City Council Member Greg Casar releases the following statement regarding the budget process and the impact of the Republican-led petition and possible ballot measure.  ## Pages - [Community Investment Budget](https://equityactionatx.org/community-investment-budget-2026-2027/): The City’s budget is a reflection of our values. This year, Austin is navigating real fiscal constraints – but those constraints do not lessen our responsibility to meet the needs of our residents. Working families, low-income communities, and the historically underserved are facing increasing pressure from housing costs, economic instability, and gaps in essential services. The pressure Council feels to ensure the long-term stability of Austin as a whole pales in comparison to the pressure families feel day-to-day in this city as they seek out their own stability. We expect that every budget decision be grounded in equity, safety, transparency, and […] - [Equity Action 2024 General Election Endorsements](https://equityactionatx.org/equity-action-2024-general-election-endorsements/): Equity Action proudly endorses these candidates for local office in the current election. These are the candidates we believe will best support and champion policies that promote equity, justice, and civil rights in our community. Equity Action exists to promote transformative justice in the Austin area and we endorse candidates that share our priority of addressing the root causes of social issues, rather than relying on police and prisons. This election we based our endorsements on candidate’s public stances and actions related to a combination of the following issues: District AttorneyJose Garza County AttorneyDelia Garza Austin MayorDoug Greco Austin City Council […] - [Help Stop a Disastrous Police Contract](https://equityactionatx.org/help-stop-a-disastrous-police-contract/): Overview City of Austin staff in the labor negotiations department have tentatively agreed to a new police contract with the Austin Police Association. This deal: Get Involved The Austin City Council will discuss this proposed police contract on Tuesday, October 22 during a public work session, and is set to vote (yes or no) on the deal on Thursday, October 24. They need to hear from everyone that opposes this deal! You can have your voice heard by: Talking Points This deal costs too much This deal undermines voter-approved police oversight and transparency This deal won’t improve public safety We don’t […] - [Your Testimony Will Save Austin's Budget & Preserve Voter Approved Police Oversight!](https://equityactionatx.org/your-testimony-will-save-austins-budget-preserve-voter-approved-police-oversight/): This Contract Steals $218M from Everything Else Republicans already set revenue caps on the state’s biggest, Democratically controlled cities. Now they are demanding massive, unaffordable increases in police spending in both Austin and Dallas. In Dallas, voters will get a chance to say NO to massive increases in police spending. Here in Austin, our Council will decide this next week. Your testimony matters!! Council members know it takes effort to come to City Hall. Your effort says you care deeply, and you will hold them accountable for their actions! The message is simple. After we add $218M more to the police […] - [Tell Council to Fund Urgent Needs (Community Investment Budget)](https://equityactionatx.org/tell-council-to-fund-urgent-needs-community-investment-budget/): On Tues. Aug. 1, Demand a Budget for the Rest of Us! Garza’s “Back to Basics” Budget swings Austin back to the past, when the powerful people who ran the city: The Garza-proposed FY 2023-24 Austin budget: Come to City Hall and testify against the proposed budget and FOR amendments that will: Not only did Garza cut millions in assistance to those most in need, his budget left your elected Council members fighting for every dollar to allocate to their constituents in the regular budget cycle. Austin is booming and tax revenues are rising. Where did all the money go? For […] - [Why No on B](https://equityactionatx.org/why-no-on-b/): What is Prop B and Why Must Austin Vote NO!  Late last year, out-of-town signature gatherers, some posing as Equity Action, collected signatures on a measure with the same name, nearly the same caption, and very different content [see this redline showing the differences.] Voters for Oversight of Police Act, a PAC launched (we learned in January) by the Austin Police Association, said its goal was for voters to pass BOTH measures. If this happens, the clarity created by the REAL Austin Police Oversight Act will be lost. The City and the police will return to the bargaining table for a […] - [Why Yes on A](https://equityactionatx.org/why-yes-on-a/): Under Austin’s current oversight system, the police are responsible for investigating themselves. Prop A will ensure that investigations include civilians with fact-finding ability. Prop A will ensure any future police contract contains strong oversight provisions to hold police accountable and deter misconduct like excessive force. Prop A will ensure that accountability and oversight are required in every police contract, bringing stability and predictability to the oversight system and focusing bargaining on pay and benefits. Court settlements related to police misconduct cost city taxpayers almost $20 million last year and millions more just last week. Prop A will reduce those costs by […] - [Yes on A, No on B Endorsements](https://equityactionatx.org/yes-on-a-no-on-b-endorsements/): Endorsing Organizations! The following groups endorse Prop A, the REAL Austin Police Oversight Act, and its enactment in 2023 if passed by the voters in May. Advocates for Social Justice Reform American Civil Liberties Union of Texas American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 1624 Austin Airwaves Austin American Statesman Editorial Board Austin Area Urban League Austin Central Labor Council Austin Chronicle Editorial Board Austin Community Law Center Austin DSA Austin Environmental Democrats Austin Justice Coalition Austin Tejano Democrats Austin Young Democrats Black Austin Democrats Black Lives Matter Austin Central Austin Democrats Circle C Democrats Democrasexy District 5 for […] - [Current Campaigns](https://equityactionatx.org/current-campaigns-2/): October 2024 Police Contract On Thursday October 24, City Council voted 10-1 FOR a police contract that threatens implementation of the APOA and costs an eye-popping $218M. The coalition of groups for this very expensive deal included RECA, the Chamber, the business group Downtown Austin Alliance, Gary Farmer’s Heritage Title and California-based glass tower owners Kilroy Properties. Between Tuesday’s work session and Thursday’s meeting at which Council voted, more than 250 Austinites testified, mostly in person. The nine hour hearing on October 24th featured vocal opposition from labor, environmental groups, social justice groups, parents, elders and residents of every district. It […] - [Letter to City Manager Garza: Add your name!](https://equityactionatx.org/letter-to-city-manager-garza-add-your-name/): Send a message to City Manager Garza, cc Mayor Watson and City Council Add your name to the letter below to City Manager Garza in support of the Community Investment Budget (CIB). The CIB includes about $100M (7.7% of general revenue) in spending recommendations for next year’s City of Austin budget with the goal of advancing equity and promoting a safer Austin for all. Dozens of groups collaborated to develop the CIB and more than 40 organizations currently endorse it. A more equitable Austin must increase investments in housing, childcare, parks and youth programming, workforce development, food access and increased wages […] - [Oppose HB 4842 and SAVE CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF POLICE!](https://equityactionatx.org/oppose-hb-4842-and-save-civilian-oversight-of-police/): Sign up to Register AGAINST HB 4842 Please tell us that you intend to register AGAINST HB 4842 on Tuesday April 25 before 8am! We encourage folks to come in person. If you want to register AGAINST and leave, you can do so. If you want to testify you can do that as well. There are only four bills posted so we don’t expect this hearing to last long. - [Help us stop bills to block Prop A!](https://equityactionatx.org/help-us-stop-bills-to-block-prop-a/) - [Help us Build the 2023 Community Investment Budget!](https://equityactionatx.org/help-us-build-the-2023-community-investment-budget/) - [Media](https://equityactionatx.org/media/): Video Imposter Petition Booth Someone unaffiliated with Equity Action gathering signatures for a Fake Police Oversight Petition Audio - [Contact Us](https://equityactionatx.org/contact-us/share-info-about-the-fraudulent-petition/): Did You Sign The Fraudulent Petition? If you signed the fraudulent petition, don’t worry! You can rescind your signature. Share your name and contact here and we’ll reach out with instructions. Fraud like this harms democracy! Any information you can also provide about what you were told about this petition at the time you signed it will help us defend direct democracy from scammers in the future. Thank you for contacting us! - [Home - Alert](https://equityactionatx.org/home-alert/): Update! The IMPOSTER “Austin Police Oversight Act” petition was turned in to the city clerk on Dec. 19th at 5pm! The City Clerk will not accept any requests to remove your name from the petition, regardless how you were deceived, after the organization behind it has turned in their signatures. Equity Action would still like to hear about your experience and we are looking into every legal option we have to prevent an identical title and nearly identical caption from appearing on the ballot next to the REAL Austin Police Oversight Act in May 2023. This fraud on the voters is […] - [Austin Police Oversight Act Explainer](https://equityactionatx.org/austin-police-oversight-act-explainer/) - [Tell us anything you learned!](https://equityactionatx.org/tell-us-anything-you-learned/): Yes, I made my phone call! Add your name and tell us which Council offices you called and any intel you got! Every little bit helps! - [Protect the will of the voters!](https://equityactionatx.org/help-make-the-austin-police-oversight-act-law/): On September 15th, Austin City Council voted to put the Austin Police Oversight Act (APOA) on the May 2023 ballot. This was disappointing because the city and the police are currently negotiating a new long-term contract that could prevent enactment of the the will of the voters on police oversight. How? A police contract, once approved by both the police union and City Council, pre-empts state and local laws. The APOA addresses this problem by prohibiting the City Manager from bringing Council a proposed contract that does not implement the APOA. But that means the APOA must be in place before […] - [Kathy Mitchell](https://equityactionatx.org/kathy-mitchell/): Kathy Mitchell is the Treasurer of Equity Action. She is a policy coordinator for a Texas criminal justice reform advocacy organization called Just Liberty, with a special focus on policing. She managed the statewide coalition formed in 2020 to support the Legislative Black Caucus and Chairwoman Senfronia Thompson’s George Floyd Act. In her volunteer time, she walks dogs for the Austin Animal Center and is the local Austin Precinct Chair for Pct 102 on the East side. She has lived in Austin for four decades and over that time has volunteered to improve local environmental protections, close the tank farms, address […] - [Full text of Austin Police Oversight Act](https://equityactionatx.org/full-text-of-austin-police-oversight-act/): CAPTION Shall the voters of Austin adopt an initiated ordinance that will deter police misconduct and brutality by strengthening the City’s system of independent and transparent civilian police oversight? ORDINANCE AN ORDINANCE TO ENACT AN “AUSTIN POLICE OVERSIGHT ACT” THAT WILL STRENGTHEN THE OVERSIGHT OF AUSTIN POLICE AND ENCOURAGE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR OFFICER MISCONDUCT AND BRUTALITY BE IT ORDAINED BY THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Chapter 2-15 of the City Code is hereby amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 2-15: POLICE OVERSIGHT. § 2-15-1 POLICE OVERSIGHT POLICY. It is the policy of the City of Austin to have a robust […] - [Letter to City Manager Cronk: Add your name!](https://equityactionatx.org/letter-to-city-manager-cronk-add-your-name/): Send a message to City Manager Cronk, cc Mayor Adler and City Council Add your name to the letter below, which we will send the week of June 20th to the City Manager in support of the Community Investment Budget (CIB.) The CIB proposal was developed by several organizations and endorsed by more than 30 groups. Cronk continues to balk at the wage request from EMS and any significant increase for our lowest paid city workers, even though all city departments are struggling to hire people. Skyrocketing rents will push more families into homelessness if we don’t hold out a hand […] - [What was YOUR experience of Austin police?](https://equityactionatx.org/doj-investigation-apd/) - [Equity Action 2022 Democratic Primary Endorsements](https://equityactionatx.org/equity-action-2022-democratic-primary-endorsements/): Equity Action was formed to defend, support and expand Austin’s effort to bring safety and wellbeing to every part of our community. Safety and wellbeing require investment in alternatives to police and incarceration for mental illness, drug use, and homelessness, along with investment in programs that lift people up and create opportunity. Our first major campaign – No Way on Prop A –  united an unprecedented coalition in the fall of 2021 and resoundingly defeated (69%-31%) a ballot measure designed to massively increase public spending on policing at the expense of all other city services. We now seek to affirmatively promote […] - [Privacy Policy](https://equityactionatx.org/privacy-policy/): Equity PAC, who created yesonanoonb.com and nowaypropa.com, has created this privacy notice to explain how we use information that you may provide while visiting our website and to demonstrate our firm commitment to Internet privacy. Equity PAC may modify this policy from time to time so we encourage you to check this page when revisiting this website. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this website. The type and amount of information received depends on how you use the site. Analytics This website collects personal data to power our site analytics, including: This information may also include details […] - [Press](https://equityactionatx.org/press/): Press Releases & News Stories Members of the media, contact us at media@equityactionatx.org! Grummet: Transparency should be non-negotiable at police contract bargaining tableMarch 17, 2024 City, police union resume bargaining over long term police contractMarch 15, 2024 Austin police contract not available to public during negotiations, negotiations will be streamedMarch 13, 2024 - [CONTACT US](https://equityactionatx.org/contact-us/): Have Questions? Feel free to contact us with the form below. - [VOLUNTEER!](https://equityactionatx.org/join-the-coalition/): Individual and Group Endorsements, Volunteer! Endorse the Community Investment Budget! Help us shift city spending to address our most urgent needs and make all of Austin safer: increased pay for medics and other emergency health personnel (low wages have created the highest vacancy rates among our city departments,) rental assistance and other services to prevent families from falling into homelessness, harm reduction programs to address overdose deaths, cooling and warming centers to help people during our increasingly frequent weather emergencies, gun violence prevention programs, child and youth programming at our parks and community centers, better park maintenance and park rangers for […] - [Past Campaigns](https://equityactionatx.org/who-we-are/): Equity Action’s second major campaign, in 2022, started with signature collection in the midst of one of the hottest summers on record. We turned in more than 33,000 signatures and put the Austin Police Oversight Act on the ballot. The May 2023 election was a sweep. A deceptive rival petition by the police association failed, garnering only 20% of the vote, while the REAL Austin Police Oversight Act is now law. Equity Action is working with the city to reinstate our civilian oversight system in accordance with the new law, in effect since May 16, 2023. REAL Austin Police Oversight Act […] - [Why Voters Said No Way!](https://equityactionatx.org/why-vote-no/): Voters spurned Prop A 69% to 31% because it forced unacceptable tradeoffs. It would have forced Austin to cut essential services like medics, firefighters, park rangers and more, and redirect hundreds of millions to the police department, with zero accountability. Learn more about why Austinites said, “No Way on Prop A!” - [Home](https://equityactionatx.org/): Equity Action thanks Austin for supporting safety for all. ## Optional - [Agent (MCP protocol)](websites-agents.hostinger.com/equityactionatx.org/mcp) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)