By Krusee H.R. No. 506 74R9360 T R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The dramatic rise in drug trafficking, associated 1-2 violence and crime has created a new "terrorism" holding our 1-3 neighborhoods and our children's futures hostage; and that drugs do 1-4 not discriminate on the basis of age, race, nationality or sex and 1-5 no income level is immune; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Further escalating the fear of being a victim is 1-7 the creeping realization that this new terrorism is a strain 1-8 stubbornly resistant to "normal" solutions of increasing police and 1-9 security, strengthening prison sentences, greater isolation and 1-10 stiffer penalties; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Taylor, Texas and "The Line" were long known as the 1-12 drug capitol of Central Texas and open air drug selling was common; 1-13 and 1-14 WHEREAS, On April 12, 1994, citizens of Taylor from all walks 1-15 of life, white, black, brown, old and young became fed up and 1-16 joined with their Police Department, Housing Authority and others 1-17 to take back their neighborhoods by creating Turn Around Taylor; 1-18 and 1-19 WHEREAS, Turn Around Taylor marched weekly on drug areas and 1-20 by marching, the buyers and sellers are being run out of town and 1-21 the buildings that were their havens have been torn down by the 1-22 Texas National Guard; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The Texas National Guard, Company E, 111th Engineer 1-24 Battalion of the 49th Armored Division, and Waste 2-1 Management/Longhorn Disposal donated their time and services to 2-2 demolish and remove 26 crack houses; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Turn Around Taylor is a prime example of Texans 2-4 having pride in their communities and the independence to not wait 2-5 on government or someone else to do the job for them; and 2-6 WHEREAS, Turn Around Taylor has succeeded on its own showing 2-7 that success is not dependent on money and government support and 2-8 in fact it can be detrimental; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Turn Around Taylor has dropped overall crime 56% and 2-10 violent crime 82% in targeted areas and a new spirit has taken hold 2-11 so the neighborhoods are no longer controlled and victimized by 2-12 dealers, the neighborhoods have changed from fearful victims to 2-13 fearless victors. In short, "they have met the hero and he is 2-14 them;" and 2-15 WHEREAS, A targeted confrontation, mobilization and education 2-16 process led by neighbors in conjunction with law enforcement and 2-17 others has proven effective in reducing trafficking and lowering 2-18 crime and violence in neighborhoods; and 2-19 WHEREAS, To spread Turn Around Taylor's success Governor 2-20 George W. Bush has created Turn Around Texas in partnership with 2-21 the Attorney General's office, the Texas National Guard, Waste 2-22 Management and the U.S. Department of Justice; now, therefore, be 2-23 it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, of the Texas 2-25 74th Legislature, commends and congratulates Turn Around Taylor, 2-26 the City of Taylor and its citizens, the Taylor Police Department, 2-27 and the Taylor Housing Authority for their dedication and 3-1 commitment in taking back their neighborhoods from drug 3-2 trafficking; and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives, of the Texas 3-4 74th Legislature, recognizes the members of Turn Around Taylor as 3-5 the true heroes in the battle against drugs and crime.