City to address 2010 Texas Relays

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council will vote Thursday on forming a group to coordinate better plans for the 2010 Texas Relays.

Council Member Sheryl Cole is concerned because various businesses like Highland Mall closed early or altogether before the relays even began this year, citing safety concerns.

Groups cited racial insensitivity at the closings because the Texas Relays attract a number of African-Americans to town.

Austin's police chief, members of city management and City Council are scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall on the issue Wednesday.

The Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays are an annual track and field competition held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin and hosted by the University of Texas. Participants can enter at any level, including high school, college or university and invitational divisions.

In 2008, Austin police spent nearly $250,000 to provide 50 additional officers to supplement the mall’s private security. But, this year, that was not provided because of budget constraints, so the mall decided to close early.

NAACP president Nelson Linder called the decision racist and an embarrassment to the city.

"It should never have happened," said Linder. "The fear, the paranoia, no basis in reality, this is definitely a racial issue."

The manager of Highland Mall, Jeff Gionnette, claimed his highest priority was keeping the people in the mall safe.

"The mall secured 120 private security officers, but Austin police were unable to commit to providing the same number of law officers as in previous years, therefore the decision was made to close," said Gionnette. "Race was not a factor."

The mall's current occupancy rate is 60 percent, compared to the national average of 94 percent. The Security and Exchange Commission said that is the lowest rate of any indoor mall in the United States.