Governor Greg Abbott is once again at odds with the Austin City Council. On Sunday, the governor issued a tweet giving fair warning that state lawmakers will not sit idly by and allow Austin to become a “tent city.”
“At some point, cities must start putting public safety and common sense first,” Abbott said.
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
His tweet is in response to the Austin City Council’s unanimous decision on June 20 to significantly reduce the enforcement of ordinances regulating where homeless people can camp, sit, lie down, or panhandle. Despite heavy pushback for more than a year from downtown business owners and residents who might be impacted by such a decision, the city council chose to follow the lead of activists who have made the case that enforcing the ordinances was akin to “criminalizing” homelessness.
The Travis County Republican Party is cheering the governor’s opposition.
“It is clear that they’re not going to stand by and let Austin race towards becoming another Los Angeles or San Francisco.” said Travis County GOP charman Matt Mackowiak. “You know, threatening the economic vitality of downtown is insane for the city of Austin, and that’s what this does.”
Over the weekend, a photo was widely circulated online showing a group of people grilling food in a median just off Ben White and Congress. They were spotted just hours after the city council voted to make the changes.
University of Texas Chief of Police David Carter on Monday also weighed in with his own take on the changes.
Act on 184 #ATXCouncil. The emergence of a Seattle type tent city will exacerbate conditions whereby those suffering addiction and mental illness become a greater danger to themselves and others by their behavior. They must not be left in the street without treatment. UT affected
— Chief David Carter (@UTPDChiefCarter) June 24, 2019
City leaders say no one should be made to feel as though they don’t belong, regardless of whether or not they have a home to go to each night. Because of that, the city’s ruling means businesses who might normally call 911 about a homeless person loitering outside of their establishment will no longer get much help from police.
“Whether it be in front of a business, or along a public thoroughfare, we will have to prove that conduct poses a hazard or a danger,” said Austin police chief Brian Manley. “This will fundamentally change some of the options police officers will have available to them.”
