Mays Street & Old Settlers Park
Austin No Longer Weird
RECEIVED Mon., March 29, 2004
Mr. Black,
Thanks for Jordan Smith's eyewitness account of the events of March 18 outside Exodus ["Not Quite 'Ya Se Fue!,'" News, March 26]. I was not at the scene that night, but am a big fan of the band, have seen them every time they've been in Austin, and know that their "conga line" exit is a standard at their shows. I was, however, in the crowd of enthusiastic, unthreatening, mostly Mexican people outside of the Vibe last year during SXSW, listening to Molotov playing inside the club, when we got dispersed by APD on horseback. Are we seeing a pattern here? I don't want to start any racial controversy, because we are all familiar with APD's equal opportunity pepper-spray tactics. But if city officials are going to use the ridiculous slogan of "Live Music Capital of the World" on their advertising, it's time they start paying attention to how APD handles crowd control, especially during a world class live music event such as SXSW. I suggest a training course for APD officers in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Learn to assess real danger, please. And it's time they get rid of that absurd "noise ordinance." One more note to city officials: Do not use that other ridiculous slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," in any capacity. Austin ceased to be weird the day you allowed Liberty Lunch to be leveled to make room for an empty building.
Thanks for Jordan Smith's eyewitness account of the events of March 18 outside Exodus ["Not Quite 'Ya Se Fue!,'" News, March 26]. I was not at the scene that night, but am a big fan of the band, have seen them every time they've been in Austin, and know that their "conga line" exit is a standard at their shows. I was, however, in the crowd of enthusiastic, unthreatening, mostly Mexican people outside of the Vibe last year during SXSW, listening to Molotov playing inside the club, when we got dispersed by APD on horseback. Are we seeing a pattern here? I don't want to start any racial controversy, because we are all familiar with APD's equal opportunity pepper-spray tactics. But if city officials are going to use the ridiculous slogan of "Live Music Capital of the World" on their advertising, it's time they start paying attention to how APD handles crowd control, especially during a world class live music event such as SXSW. I suggest a training course for APD officers in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. Learn to assess real danger, please. And it's time they get rid of that absurd "noise ordinance." One more note to city officials: Do not use that other ridiculous slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," in any capacity. Austin ceased to be weird the day you allowed Liberty Lunch to be leveled to make room for an empty building.
Thanks,
Claudia Alarcón
Claudia Alarcón
