Meth was big in area until they came down heavy on the labs.
Austin , a small town, once house a very large canning factory that hired many many people from south of the border (often seasonal). Many stayed Rough area that has spilled into larger communities.
They recently moved the state police post out of Seymour (a larger town just north on interstate.) They used to be multiple St Police cars in and out. We don’t see many now
So It’s now blossomed without their constant presence in the area!
So much for cutting the budget
Sorry, no. So much for the PRIORITIES.
I’d bet $$ to doughnuts there’s been an increase of ‘traffic violators’ and other ‘safe’ crack-down targets instead.
I could 2x the bet in saying even if the budget was grown, the $$ would only go into the benefits and ‘toys’ of the dept. instead.
Those unions, like govt, when the $$ starts to dry up attack those high-profile high-visibility areas (that effect the other 95% of the populace), like closing down the Mall during the last ‘govt shutdown’.