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.