Over four million Texans were left without power after a cold snap sent temperatures plummeting across the United States.
The lack of electricity has forced them to endure the record cold temperatures and snowfall without electricity or heat, thanks to what experts say was an insufficiently winterized state power grid that saw energy sources from gas to wind turbines fall offline. The frigid temperatures have also led to a widespread lack of water.
But in a Tuesday Facebook post, Mayor Tim Boyd of Colorado City, Texas said his constituents would have to fend for themselves, chastising them for daring to request help from the local government their tax dollars sustain.
KTXS
Boyd wrote:
"No one owes you or your family anything; nor is it the local governments responsibility to support you during trying times like this! Sink or swim, it's your choice! The City and County, along with power providers or any other service owes you NOTHING! I'm sick and tired of people looking for a damn hand out! If you don't have electricity you step up and come up with a game plan to keep your family warm and safe"
Telling Texans to "think outside the box" for how to find water, Boyd's screed only got worse from there.
"Only the strong will survive and the week [sic] will parish [sic]. Folks God Has given us the tools to support ourselves in times like this. This is sadly a product of a socialist government where they feed people to believe that the FEW work and others will become dependent for handouts. Am I sorry that you have been dealing without electricity and water; yes! But I'll be damned if I'm going to provide for anyone that is capable of doing it themselves!"
Boyd blamed the demands for functioning electricity and water on a "socialist government," though Texas has a Republican governor and the United States—until under a month ago—had a Republican President and Senate.
Boyd announced his resignation in a later post, writing:
"I was only making the statement that those folks that are too lazy to get up and fend for themselves but are capable should not be dealt a handout. I apologize for the wording and some of the phrases that were used! I had already turned in my resignation and had not signed up to run for mayor again on the deadline that was February 12th!"
People weren't sad to see him go.
The fallout from Boyd's words continues.
Though he won't be running for reelection, it's unclear if Boyd's posts will mark the end of his political future.
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