Boycott Backlash: Some stay out of city

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The city council’s decision to boycott travel to Arizona is resulting in organizations and individuals boycotting the city of Austin in protest.

A growing number of political organizations, including the Odessa and Burleson Tea Parties, have decided not to do business with the city of Austin until the council rescinds the Arizona boycott they passed a few weeks ago.

“We will try to minimize what the city gets from our stay there,” said Hood county Republican Party Chairman Randy Shelton. “We will not stay in hotels inside the city of Austin and we will not ride the city transit.”

Shelton says they will continue to support Austin businesses but try to prevent any dollars from going towards city revenue. Other boycotts are more extreme.

A search online showed many more individuals vowing not to do business in Austin, including one poster who says they will cancel hotel reservations and a Leander resident who says they will skip having lunch inside Austin city limits.

The boycott apparently is already being felt according to the Austin Hotel and Lodging Association who sent KXAN this statement:

“The AHLA is not a political association and does not in any way support travel boycotts of any kind. Hotels in Austin are now beginning to experience concrete evidence from the many visitors now canceling their leisure or business plans to Austin.”
KXAN was told some of the cancellations include riders who normally take part in the Republic of Texas Rally.