Austin Chronicle reporter launches sexist broadside against...local Mommy bloggers?!?

"Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come."
Proverbs 31:25

For those who've never heard of it, the Austin Moms blog is...exactly what it sounds like.  It's a generally apolitical group blog focused on lifestyle and parenting.  They're not particularly relevant to this author, but we are familiar with them.  FWIW, they have a strong testimony in the appropriate circles.

Austin Sanders, meanwhile, has been the city hall correspondent for the Austin chronicle for about a year.

Anyways, apparently the Moms are participating in an anti-sex trafficking initiative. Furthermore, apparently, as part of this initiative they're working with a PR company that also has clients in the law enforcement community. None of this sounds controversial.

Right?!?

Apparently not:

The PR firm representing the Crime Commission is holding a press event later today with two groups of moms opposing police budget cuts. On the left, Austin Moms. On the right, The Austin 20. Something about these groups that seems really...homogeneous. Can't put my finger on it. pic.twitter.com/GASKviz0Wx

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) August 6, 2020

I wonder what it is about these groups that make the Crime Commission think they would be effective agents at pushing back against police budget cuts 🤔🤔🤔

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) August 6, 2020

Yeah dude that’s it. Absolutely nothing to do with the sainthood afforded White mothers but denied to everyone else. https://t.co/B5A5wg7tVr https://t.co/OyHtD775sW

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) August 6, 2020

Yeah.

Lest you think this was some misunderstanding, the following exchange happened shortly thereafter:

As a sex crime VICTIM while I was a minor, I was asked to share my story. The entire press conference was regarding the sex crimes division. Were you on the press conference? I don’t remember seeing you there - wondering why you’d make a completely inaccurate claim without facts.

— Allison Mack (@AllisonMack_ATX) August 7, 2020

The press release literally says Austin Moms and the Austin 20 were banding together to oppose cutting the police budget. DM if you wanna talk about this tomorrow pic.twitter.com/mWJdqTFbPK

— Austin Sanders (@daustinsanders) August 7, 2020

It’s a PRESS RELEASE. Why wouldn’t you do investigative journalism to actually find out the context of the press conference? KXAN got it right, because guess what, they were at the meeting! I don’t need to DM you. This is grossly irresponsible.

— Allison Mack (@AllisonMack_ATX) August 7, 2020

And by your actions, you completely devalued the sex crime victims that The Austin 20 and me, Allison Mack, are trying to protect by having enough resources in the SEX CRIME DIVISION.

— Allison Mack (@AllisonMack_ATX) August 7, 2020

None dare call it mansplaining.

It's almost enough to make you miss Michael King.

Almost.

Bottom Line: None of this is surprising. At least, not really. The Austin Chronicle has been the worst of the worst in local media for a long time. Still, even by their standards, going after Mothers and sex trafficking surviors is...quite something.