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Ppl are rightfully upset about the power outages & y'all know I'm the 1st to call out racism. From what I can tell, the calls about eastern & lower income neighborhoods being without electricity while wealthier neighborhoods are still on, is more of a 2nd hand situation.
Like, I don't think (& pray to gawd) that there isnt a person at @austinenergy flipping switches & deciding who can go w/o based on an individuals or groups bias. The assumption of this worst case scenario being that AE is intentionally keeping power on for wealthy neighborhoods.
What I do think is happening is that AE cut power to all "nonessential" circuits. Meaning those neighborhoods closest to hospitals, senior living facilities, & grocery stores get to keep their power on. bc of systemic racism, the hoods w/o those are more likely POC & lower income
See quick Google searches that once again demonstrate the I-35 divide
Also ppl who still have power should be limited to no more than 1 light and 1 appliance at a time. And all of downtown and other businesses that are nonessential should be called out/fined/etc for keeping their lights on.
And at the same time I am so grateful that the facility my grandma is in still has power & heat. Everyone working there -- esp those who have to stay there over night bc no one can come to relieve them -- should get substantial hazard pay.
