Austin, TX
Student and advocacy groups prepare to battle SB17 on college campuses
AUSTIN, Texas — Sitting in what was once the school’s bustling multicultural center, University of Texas at Austin senior and Black Student Alliance member Madison Morris says she feels an emptiness.
“That was an integral part of my college experience and really made me feel accustomed at UT,” Morris said. “Seeing those programs go away makes me feel for the incoming students because I don’t think they’ll get that experience.”
In recent months, Senate Bill 17, a law that requires universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices, has created a massive ripple effect across the state. Schools are essentially dissolving DEI offices, faculty and programming. The loss of DEI offices led to UT students protesting the decision in Austin last week.
“There’s strength in numbers for sure and I think that protest made a lot of noise during the solar eclipse, so there were a lot of people to see it,” Morris said.
Between the court of public opinion and at the state and federal level, Nelson Linder, president of the Austin chapter of the NAACP, says universities have overstepped in their implementation of SB17. While it clearly states DEI offices must close, funding for specific groups or how many people to lay off is largely left up to interpretation. UT Austin and UT Dallas have already released dozens of staff members in recent weeks.
“We’re on the defensive and going to fight for all of our students. This bill and its implementation has a lot of holes in it and we’re going to find every one of them,” Linder said. “We have a multifaceted front, a battle that’s coming in this city, state, and I don’t think they’re prepared for that.”
UT President Jay Hartzell did not respond to requests for an interview on the story but said in a university statement, “It is important to respect the perspectives and experiences of fellow longhorns as changes take effect. It is also important that this continues to be a welcoming, supportive community for all.”
Morris believes many students may now have to find that sense of belonging elsewhere.
“Honestly, if this happened a few years ago before college, I probably wouldn’t even be attending UT right now,” Morris said. “I’m sure there are high school students looking at the news right now, not just here but other schools, and reconsidering their decision before May 1st.”
The 6,461-square-foot c-store was purchased by a Virginia-based 1031 exchange buyer.
TXB, which stands for Texas Born, has completed the sale of one of its Austin, Texas c-stores for $9.11 million. The 6,461-square-foot location was one of TXB’s 48 locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. The recipient was a Virginia-based 1031 exchange buyer.
Situated on 4.52 acres of land, the site is located just outside of Austin in Kyle, Texas.
The sale comes just a week after the chain announced a new initiative in central Texas, through which TXB will open two new locations in the region and refurbish 12 more. The chain also added electric vehicle (EV) charging capability at all remodeled locations.
The new locations will feature a variety of fresh-made food items, including hand-breaded chicken tenders, handmade quesadillas and more private-label offerings.
“It’s been an incredible honor to see TXB growing so rapidly in Central Texas,” said Kevin Smartt, CEO of TXB. “This rebrand is more than just a different logo or name; this is a true reflection of who we are as a company. We’ve become famous for our freshly made, restaurant-quality food items that we prepare on-site, as well as our line of private-label products including salsa, jerky, tea, water, coffee and more. We want our guests to have the absolute best experience every time they visit one of our locations.”
The new and remodeled sites are located in the following cities:
- Bee Cave
- Georgetown
- Cottonwood Shores
- Kyle
- Bryan (one existing store and one coming next year)
- College Station (opening next year)
- Marble Falls
- Johnson City
- Wimberley
- Spicewood
- Buchanan Dam
TXB was represented in the recent sale by SRS Capital Markets’ Executive Vice President and Managing Principal Patrick Nutt and Senior Vice President William Wamble. SRS is a Southeastern U.S.-based private developer.
Year to date, SRS Capital Markets has completed approximately $731 million in deal volume comprised of 182 transactions in 34 states. SRS currently has in excess of 698 properties actively on the market with a market value surpassing $3.7 billion.
TXB was named the 2023 CStore Decisions Convenience Store Chain of the Year.
Austin ISD is staring down a nearly $60 million budget deficit. District officials and school finance experts say adjusting per student spending for inflation would alleviate some of the financial strain public schools are facing.
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According to the City of Austin, former Montgomery Police Chief Darryl Albert has applied to be the next chief of police for the Austin Police Department. Albert is one of 32 people who have applied for the position.
According to ABC affiliate KVUE, the city is looking for a candidate with at least a Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public or business administration, or a related field. They must also have at least 10 years of “progressively responsible work in police administration,” with at least five years as a “bona fide law enforcement officer.”
The posting states that the most competitive candidates will have direct experience as a police chief in a large city with “issues that are similarly complex to those in Austin.” They will also have the ability to forge relationships with Austin’s many diverse communities and should have a “sound understanding of the history of institutional racism in policing” and work to provide public safety services equitably while also advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion, including within APD.
Albert resigned from the Montgomery Police Department on April 18, after he was put on administrative leave by Mayor Steven Reed on April 8. You can see Mayor Steven Reed’s press conference about Albert’s resignation here.
Reed said there were several issues, including sexual harassment and department morale, that led to Albert being put on paid leave. He would not go into specifics.
Reed said that when Albert submitted his resignation, they both mutually agreed that the department needed a new voice and a new direction. Albert became Montgomery’s police chief in 2022.
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