GUIDELINES

forms of public safety.

In a recent video posted to social media, Abbott said defunding the police “invites crime into our communities, and it threatens the safety of all Texans.”

Will Austin’s plan work? We don’t know. But if voters in Austin are unhappy with this decision, then they can elect new public officials. That’s the beauty of local control.

These are complex issues, requiring nuanced thinking, discussion and creative solutions, not “you’re either for or against us” attacks or gimmicks like signing pledges in the middle of an election. Law enforcement is vital to the health and safety of a community, but it’s not the only factor. And there are also many instances when law enforcement may not be the appropriate or best response to a crisis. Consider the tragic case here of Damian Lamar Daniels, who was in mental distress but was killed in a confrontation with Bexar County deputies. Would a social worker been better suited for such a call?

It’s a fair question, not one that implies a lack of support for law enforcement. Signing a pledge is easy. Guiding a nuanced discussion about law enforcement and community safety is hard work.

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Letters may also be mailed to Letters, Express-news, P.O. Box 2171, San Antonio, TX 78297. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Length? The shorter the better – long enough to make your point. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity.