That’s not how the statute is worded, but I’m jumping ahead to the practical effects:
After emotional testimony last week regarding homelessness in Austin, City Council members rescinded prohibitions on camping on public property. Starting Monday, so long as they are not presenting a hazard or danger, people will be able to sleep, lie and set up tents on city-owned sidewalks, plazas and vacant non-park space.
Except, not in front of City Hall itself.
City Hall building guidelines implemented by former City Manager Marc Ott in 2012 disallow anyone from using the outdoor plaza, covered amphitheater or raised mezzanine from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless a city meeting is going on inside. The rules specifically prohibit sleeping, camping, storing personal property and erecting tents.
Well, we can’t let transient drug addicts and lunatics hassle city employees. Their antics are only supposed to degrade the lives of regular law-abiding Austinites.
Evidently the Austin City Council looked at the poop-bedecked streets of San Francisco, the needle-strewn yards of Seattle, and the rat and typhus-infected tent cities of Los Angeles and said said to themselves “Hey, that’s just what we need in Austin! Our streets are far too feces- and needle-free!”
Note that every city council members except Alison Alter and Kathie Tovo voted to turn Austin into an open sewer.
Governor Abbott is promising action:
If Austin— or any other Texas city—permits camping on city streets it will be yet another local ordinance the State of Texas will override.
At some point cities must start putting public safety & common sense first.
There are far better solutions for the homeless & citizens. https://t.co/xYezoovVCg
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 24, 2019
Look at this insanity caused by Austin’s reckless homeless policy.
All state-imposed solutions are on the table including eliminating local sovereign immunity for damages and injuries like this caused by a city’s homeless policy.
The horror stories are piling up. #txlege https://t.co/WkBryvLKWU
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) July 2, 2019
Iowahawk has some observations:
RIP South Congress
— David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 1, 2019
Other tweets on the subject:
Wake up Austin City Council! If you haven’t noticed, this is what you are doing to Austin, by allowing the homeless to claim public spaces as personal real estate. This is a travesty! https://t.co/0WzKt8mLjA
— Karen Choate (@kchoate) June 28, 2019
This policy helps no one. I’ve lived in downtown Austin for over 3 years now. The homeless population has exploded (can’t overstate, exploded) and they are now setting up in every covered space. They have gotten very aggressive and large parts of the city are filthy. https://t.co/NVmwpgfbue
— Tyler Norris (@TXTylerNorris) July 2, 2019
The People’s Republic of Austin isn’t as far-gone as San Francisco yet, and this might just engender a widespread revolt by “liberal but not entirely insane” Austin voters who rank their own health and safety over virtue displays of just how woke they are. Dwight has a handy contact page for members of the Austin City Council, and regular Austinites should let their offices know, a great length, just what they think of the decision.
Tags: Austin, Austin City Council, Crime, Democrats, homeless, rats, Texas
I’m always amazed that there is a homeless problem only when a Republican is president.
They don’t care about the homeless, it’s just a big middle finger to traditional middle-class society. Literally shoving its face in s%@t.
The puritan hated bear baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.
– Thomas Macaulay
Having a heart is one thing but being stupid and an enabler is another thing I was a bum till I was like 40 years old when I started to work and take pride in myself was one of the best times of my life I am now a responsible truck driver live in San Antonio I’m 61 years old been married for 20 years and if my family would have kept enabling and being weak I would have been dead or a drug addict crapping all over the streets of Austin