The City of Austin used Covid-19 Relief Funds to Pay Their Allies and Their Businesses.

For nearly 10 months Mayor Adler pushed stay-at-home orders shutting down businesses, which ultimately crippled the small business industry in Austin. Over 50+ brick-and-mortar stores closed their doors permanently due to these draconian lockdowns.

Instead of supporting the businesses directly impacted by these lockdowns. By helping these families that lost their businesses/jobs with covid-19 relief funds. The city decided to take a different route.

Austin elected officials decided to hand out Covid-19 Relief funds to people who they closely associate with or agree with politically. People like Joyce M. James who received $109,000 in Covid-19 Relief Funds. She also has a contract with the city to teach Anti-Racism at the Austin Police Academy @ $10,000 a day and not to exceed $2.9 million.

Austin’s Equity Action Team member Courtney Santana received $800,000 in Covid Relief Funds for her Company Survive 2 Thrive Foundation.

The Food Policy Board member Joi Lynne Chevalier received $214,000 in Covid Relief Funds for her catering company “The Cook Nook” and an additional $486,000 in Covid Relief Funds in another catering company she is a stakeholder in “Chisos Star LLC”

Measure Austin a Social Justice NGO focused on Anti-Racism received $32,800.15

Mayor Adlers UBI Program which will provide $1,000 of city taxpayer dollars to 85 families with no-strings-attached is run by UpTogether a California-based NGO that received $2,971,538 in Covid Relief Funds & an additional $12 million in grants on top of their contract to run this UBI Program.

The CEO is Rosa Valdez of BCL of Texas or also known as “Cen-Tex CDC” a business & community financial lender promoting ESG & DEI received $56,662.50 in Covid Relief funds, $206,696 in PPP loans and between 2008 - 2021 the city of Austin gave them $1,533,520.03 for “Counseling”.

Lourdes G. Zuniga who sits on the board of the Hispanic/Latino Quality of Life Advisory Commission since 2021 received $202,300 Covid Relief Funds for her company Financial Health Pathways. She has also received over $113,336 for her company in 2022 in taxpayer grants from the City of Austin

Lastly, the Better Business Bureau of Austin received $202,500 in Covid Relief Funds and since 2020 they’ve received $41 million in taxpayer grants for “creative Sector Assistance”.

LOCK DOWN TIMELINE


March 16th, 2020 the Federal Government encouraged people to stay home for 15 days to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Three days prior to President Trump’s announcement on March 13th the first 3 cases of coronavirus were officially announced. University of Texas president Gregory L. Fenve’s wife was one of these patients. Gov. Greg Abbott issues a disaster declaration for all 254 counties on the same day. Texas has 39 confirmed cases at this time.

March 15th, 2020 Mayor Adler bans events of more than 250 people until May 1st, 2020 under stay-at-home orders. March 17th Travis County closes bars, restaurant dining rooms, and limits gatherings of more than 10 people.

May 1st, 2020 Gov. Greg Abbot allows restaurants, stores, movie theaters, museums, libraries, wedding venues, and golf courses are allowed to reopen at 25% occupancy

May 8th, 2020 Mayor Adler extends stay-at-home order until end of May

May 29th, 2020 Mayor Adler extends stay-at-home order until Jun 15th, 2020

June 15th, 2020 Mayor Adler extends stay-at-home order until August 15th, 2020

August 17th, 2020 Mayor Adler extends stay-at-home order until December 15, 2020

December 29th, 2020 Mayor Adler attempts to extend stay-at-home orders and fine businesses $1,000 if they violate covid-19 restrictions. Gov. Greg Abbot steps in to stop Mayor Adler.

February 9th, 2021 Travis County downgrades from Stage 5 to Stage 4 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 25-50% capacity

March 13th, 2021 Travis County downgrades from Stage 4 to Stage 3 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 50-75% capacity

May 19th, 2021 Travis County downgrades from Stage 3 to Stage 2 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 75% capacity

October 12th, 2021 Travis County upgrades from Stage 2 to Stage 3 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 50-75% capacity

December 29th, 2021 Travis County upgrades from Stage 3 to Stage 4 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 25-50% capacity

March 1st, 2022 Travis County upgrades from Stage 4 to Stage 3 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 50-75% capacity

March 4th, 2022 Travis County upgrades from Stage 3 to Stage 2 restrictions. Businesses can only operate at 75% capacity

March 29th, 2022 Travis County does away with Stage 1 to 5 system