Campsites in Austin
A plan has been approved by the city council to find designated campsites in Austin for the homeless. Council Member Kathie Tovo says the public has made it clear they don’t like the way the city’s handled the issue.
“Clearly, the voters have indicated that they want to see a more balanced use of the public space and we’re going to do that in our city in compassionate humane ways,” says Tovo.
The clock’s ticking here as the ban takes effect on Tuesday. The city manager though, has until July 1 to actually identify locations where camping will be designated in each district. By June 1, he’ll also present the estimate for exactly how much all this may cost.
So along with approving designated campsites the Austin council has also approved some other homeless related items. They include a contract with the nonprofit Caritas of Austin to provide housing, an agreement with Travis County integral care for Housing services and an agreement with a nonprofit Front Steps for emergency housing aimed at people most at risk for COVID-19.
Police cadet classes
The city council has also approved funding for a new Austin police cadet class, but the council says more work still needs to be done before the class starts June 4. Council Member Ann Kitchen and others want to see what further progress APD makes in adopting reimagined class blueprints. She notes Interim Chief Joe Chacon earlier explained they aren’t finished.
“Includes a report on the completion of the items on the blueprint. So those remaining items as well as a report on the status of community members involvement in the review committee,” says Kitchen.
Council also wants it so that the cadet class can be changed mid stride if need be.
Leaving Austin’s jurisdiction
A bill to let Lake Austin homeowners disannex themselves is dead now in the Texas house. More than 400 homes would have been able to leave the City of Austin’s jurisdiction had Senate Bill 659 made it to the governor. This now calls into question a similar bill, Senate Bill 1499 which would give the same ability to disannex the Lost Creek neighborhood in West Austin.
Election reform legislation
In the early morning hours, the Texas House has given approval to election reform legislation limiting the number of polling places voting hours and banning the mass mailing of ballot applications.
“There being 81 hours, 64 days, SB 7 has passed third reading.”
It was three am when the House hammered out an agreement over the election integrity legislation. A point of order by democrats nearly sunk the bill. After hours behind closed doors rewriting, the two sides agreed on 18 amendments somewhat gutting the criminal penalties. State Rep John Bussey authored one.
“It will make sure that only people who know they are ineligible to vote can be prosecuted for illegal voting and the people who make innocent mistakes in the voting process cannot be thrown in jail,” says Bussey.
After the final vote, the bill will head back to the Senate
Court ruling over Twitter blocking
A court ruling has forced Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to unblock nine people from his twitter account who filed the lawsuit to be able to once again follow his tweets. All nine people are highly critical of Paxton. In 2019, an appeals court ruled that President Trump violated the First Amendment right of one of his critics, who was also blocked.
COVID-19 update
The covid numbers for the city and county have looked better and better and this morning is no different. The number of active cases reported by Austin Public Health has fallen well into the 700s. Of the 82,733 cases confirmed overall, 766 of those are currently active. More than 81,100 people have recovered.
Chief Medical Officer
The Travis County Health Authority is shifting into a new role with the city of Austin. Dr Mark Escott will now become the Chief Medical Officer for the city. In a letter to the city council, Escott says with covid cases are improving day by day and now is the best time he thinks for this change. He will be involved in the hiring of the new health authority.
Rental car shortage has hit Austin
According to some estimates, rental car usage dropped 90% of the height of the pandemic, but people are starting to move on with their lives now and national demand is skyrocketing. This woman tells KVUE she flew into Austin with a group and there’s not much inventory.
“We have a family member that works for Enterprise and there’s none in Austin. And when we did find one, it was going to be like $1,000 for the four days that we were going to be here,” she says.
And with the recent hailstorm, a lot more inventory is now damaged and can’t be used. Travel experts recommend that you plan ahead if at all possible.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-5-7-21
