Latest news with #SanMarcosCityCouncil
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Abbott threatens to pull San Marcos funding over Israel ceasefire resolution
Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to cut off state funding to the city of San Marcos after its leaders agreed to put an Israel-Hamas war ceasefire resolution to a vote next week. The San Marcos City Council voted April 15 to advance a ceasefire resolution, with a formal vote scheduled for its May 6 meeting. That resolution includes support for ending U.S. military funding of Israel with federal and local tax dollars. Abbott, in a letter sent to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson on Tuesday, said there would be consequences if the resolution passes. The letter states that no governmental entity in Texas 'may enter into a contract worth $100,000 or more unless it includes a 'written verification' that the contracting entity 'does not boycott Israel' and 'will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract.'' Abbott added that the city's proposed resolution 'seems calculated to violate this law by calling for San Marcos to limit its commercial relations with Israel.' The city's resolution states more than $4.4 million in San Marcos residents' tax dollars went to Israel. Abbott rebutted that statement, calling it 'hard to believe.' Abbott added that the resolution's call to reallocate those dollars away from Israel's military and toward essential domestic priorities are 'unacceptable' and a public expression of a desire to do what state law prohibits. Despite Abbott's claims, San Marcos' resolution states that it's seeking to curb antisemitism rather than promote it. The resolution ends with the City Council condemning any 'anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, antisemitic, and all xenophobic rhetoric and attacks.' San Marcos officials declined to comment on Abbott's letter, saying they do not provide comment on items that are scheduled for consideration by the full City Council. They said the resolution is still expected to be considered at the May 6 council meeting. San Marcos leaders plan to 'hold a discussion regarding a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law." Abbott categorized the resolution as 'pro-Hamas' and wrote that, by passing it, San Marcos would be violating state law and disrespecting a Texas ally. 'Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas,' Abbott wrote. 'I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies.' House Bill 89, which prohibits government entities from conducting business with companies participating in, or planning to participate in, boycotts of Israel, became a Texas law in 2017. Those government entities include political subdivisions like the city of San Marcos, Abbott wrote. He added that when subdivisions enter into grant agreements with his office, they are required to comply with all state laws, including laws prohibiting government support for boycotts of Israel. Abbott wrote that his office is already reviewing its active grants with San Marcos to determine whether it has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with state law. He added that if the city adopts the resolution, his office will not enter into any future grant agreements with the city and will immediately terminate its active grants. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abbott threatens San Marcos funding over Israel ceasefire resolution
Int'l Business Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Texas Gov. Accuses San Marcos of Antisemitism, Threatens to Terminate Grants for Plan to End $4M in Funds to Israel
Greg Abbott called San Marcos City Council's proposed resolution divesting from Israel "antisemitism." Texas Governor Greg Abbott has accused the San Marcos City Council of antisemitism and of violating a state law prohibiting government entities from boycotting Israel, following a proposal to halt over $4 million in funding directed to the country. Next week, San Marcos City Council will vote on a resolution to stop sending "$4,434,675 [that] came from San Marcos residents' taxes" to Israel. Instead of spending taxpayers' money on "Israel's military," the money would be put "towards essential domestic priorities." The resolution also called for an "immediate, permanent and sustained ceasefire in occupied Palestine" and "permanent sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories." Abbott released a letter on Tuesday that called the council's resolution "pro-Hamas," adding that "Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies" and "Texas will not tolerate antisemitism." He then stated the City of San Marcos is violating a Texas law that prohibits governmental entities entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more from boycotting Israel during the term of the contract. In addition to reviewing current grants with the city to determine whether San Marcos violated the agreement, Abbott wrote his office "will not enter into any future grant agreements with the City and will act swiftly to terminate active grants for non-compliance" if the resolution passes. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas a letter to the City of San Marcos today condemning its proposed antisemitic resolution openly flouting Texas state law. Texas will NOT tolerate antisemitism. — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 29, 2025 Social media users responded to Abbott's letter with confusion, questioning the state's close ties to a foreign nation and its criticism of Texas taxpayers seeking more control over how their money is spent. "It's really worth reading this letter. The city of San Marcos, Texas has suggested that they could use the $4.4 million in tax money their residents sent to Israel to instead manage domestic problems (addiction, education etc) and now the governor is calling them antisemites," one X user noted. It's really worth reading this letter. The city of San Marcos, Texas has suggested that they could use the $4.4 million in tax money their residents sent to Israel to instead manage domestic problems (addiction, education etc) and now the governor is calling them antisemites — Sean Padraig McCarthy (@SeanMcCarthyCom) April 30, 2025 "I'm confused...a city in Texas with 67k people doesn't want to send $4.4 million of their taxes to Israel and the governor is saying it's antisemitism... Am I missing something here?" another wondered. I'm confused…a city in Texas with 67k people doesn't want to send $4.4 million of their taxes to Israel and the governor is saying it's antisemitism… Am I missing something here? — MARK MORAN™️ (@itsmarkmoran) April 30, 2025 "this story is even funnier/sadder/more egregious because 42% of San Marcos is Hispanic," @realChrisBrunet shared. "so it's a town full of Mexican people (99% of whom can't find Israel on a map) being being forced to pay taxes to Israel under the threat of force." "this is just slavery with extra steps," he continued. this story is even funnier/sadder/more egregious because 42% of San Marcos is Hispanicso it's a town full of Mexican people (99% of whom can't find Israel on a map) being being forced to pay taxes to Israel under the threat of force this is just slavery with extra steps — Chris Brunet (@realChrisBrunet) April 30, 2025 One individual was completely taken aback after learning cities across Texas send taxpayer dollars to Israel. "WHAT THE F--K DO YOU MEAN A CITY IS GIVING ISREAL 4.4 MILLION DOLLARS???" @Grug13766697 wrote. Since President Trump took office in January, his administrations has sent $12 billion to Israel. Originally published on Latin Times © Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott admonishes City of San Marcos for proposed Israel-Palestine resolution
The Brief Gov. Abbott is admonishing the city of San Marcos over a proposed resolution concerning Israel and Palestine Abbott says his office is reviewing active grants with the city to determine whether it has falsely certified compliance with state law Abbott says the resolution seems "calculated" to violate Texas law prohibiting government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is admonishing the City of San Marcos for a proposed resolution concerning Israel and Palestine. Abbott sent a letter on April 29 to Mayor Jane Hughson about the proposed resolution. What we know The San Marcos City Council recently held a discussion about a possible resolution "calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law." The city council voted to put the resolution to a formal vote at their next meeting on May 6. What they're saying In the letter, Abbott called it a "pro-Hamas resolution". "Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies," Abbott says in the letter. Abbott's letter reads: "In Texas, no governmental entity may enter into a contract worth $100,000 or more unless it includes a "written verification" that the contracting entity "does not boycott Israel" and "will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract." TEX. GOV'T CODE § 2271.002. A "governmental entity" includes a political subdivision, like the City of San Marcos. Id. §§ 2251.001(3), 2271.001(3). And to "boycott Israel" means "refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel …" Id. §§ 808.001(1), 2271.001(1)." Abbott says that San Marcos's proposed resolution seems "calculated" to violate Texas law by calling for the city to "limit its commercial relations with Israel". What's next Abbott says that his office is already reviewing active grants with the city to determine whether it has falsely certified compliance with Texas law. Also, Abbott says that if the city moves forward with the resolution, his office will not "enter into any future grant agreements with the City and will act swiftly to terminate active grants for non-compliance." Abbott adds that he will further direct all other state agencies to review agreements with the City for possible breach. Read Abbott's full letter below: Click to open this PDF in a new window. The Source Information in this report comes from an April 29 letter from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and city council records for the city of San Marcos.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Central Texas continues to grapple with use of license plate readers
SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – The San Marcos City Council voted on Tuesday to postpone its decision to purchase more license plate readers, citing the need for additional time to review policies on data security and privacy concerns. This move follows concerns raised by some Austin City Council members at their meeting last week. The San Marcos City Council agenda item to use around $125,000 to purchase more of the technology was in front of council members in February. At that meeting, Council Member Amanda Rodriguez motioned to postpone the decision to June. The agenda item came up for a second time on Tuesday, when it was punted again to a scheduled meeting in June. 'The first batch of cameras were originally done in 2022,' said San Marcos Chief of Police Stan Standridge in February. 'License plate recognition technology is currently underway and has been underway for several years,' he added. 'We're just simply adding additional cameras.' If council approves the new batch of cameras in June, San Marcos will have 33 operational cameras throughout its jurisdiction. License plate reader cameras help find homicide suspect, HCSO says 'I believe what we have today is a very well-vetted policy that does contemplate your privacy concerns as well as external data sharing with other law enforcement agencies,' Standridge said at a March work session. 'License plate recognition was built with privacy in mind,' he continued. 'We are using these cameras in the context of criminal investigations,' Standridge said. Concerns over privacy and data security are not isolated to San Marcos. Austin has consistently grappled with the use of the technology for the last several years. 'We believe it blatantly violates the Fourth Amendment's prohibitions against unreasonable search and seizure,' Kevin Welch, president of the EFF Austin board, told KXAN's Grace Reader in 2022. Austin's year-long license plate reader (LPR) pilot program began in March 2024. On March 27, Austin City Council voted 8-3 to extend the program for another 30 days. The city will decide later this year whether to permanently use the 40 fixed license plate readers. 'I do believe the landscape has changed dramatically since the last time LPRs were in front of this body,' said Council Member Mike Siegel, who represents District 7. 'This is based on the complete disregard for civil rights and the rule of law by other governmental entities,' said Siegel, who was one of the three dissenting votes. 'I'm concerned that continuing the LPR program will put our residents at risk.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
