Statewide camping ban
A statewide camping ban has now passed through the State Senate and it takes particular aim at Austin’s new effort to create designated campsites. Cleo Petricek with the group Save Austin Now says the state is siding with a lot of people in Austin by banning the use of city park space for homeless campsites.
“They added an amendment that passed with strong Democratic support. Everyone believes that we should have the right to access parks,” says Petricek.
The bill does have one more stop now back in the House and should it pass there, the next stop will be Governor Greg Abbott’s desk.
A member of the Austin City Council is verbally accosted outside of City Hall. District 6 Council Member Mackenzie Kelly says she was doing an interview when a person targeted her with a string of obscenities over the reinstated public camping ban, which voters did strongly favor in the May 1st election. According to Matt Mackowiak, with the group Save Austin Now the person is allegedly a member of the group Homes Not Handcuffs, although that has not been independently confirmed by KLBJ. However, the group does say that the city is criminalizing the homeless by not allowing them to camp wherever they choose.
APD motors unit on hold
As of August 1, the Austin Police Departments Motors Unit, which includes motorcycle patrols, will be put on hold. A statement from APD says staff reallocations ordered by the council are playing a role in this, but police association president Ken Casaday tells KVUE it’s got even more to do with a lack of cadet classes.
“There won’t be anybody to work school zones and there won’t be anybody left to work the high speed roadway. So that’s why we’re calling on the governor in the summertime to please send help,” says Casaday.
The Health Department says the suspension of the motors unit will be temporary and officers will be re-allocated away from other departments down the road if necessary.
COVID-19 update
Another day, another drop in active cases of coronavirus reported by Austin Public Health this morning. 480 cases are said to be active, marking a decline of 177 active cases since Monday. 96 people are hospitalized, which is slightly up from yesterday, but only 29 are in the ICU. 82,150 people have recovered.
Events in Austin
Austin’s tourism industry is celebrating a pair of big steps to getting back to normal life. University of Texas says it will allow for their outdoor sporting events to have 100% seating capacity as the Austin City Limits Music Festival sells out of tickets. Visit Austin’s Tom Noonan says these are needed to get back to normal.
“It’s great that weekends are back and this is a huge first step for us. We’re very excited about it, not to blow it because it’s a huge deal, but we’re not going to get fully back until every night is back,” says Noonan.
He says, for full return to normal though, corporations and businesses will need to do their part with conventions and in person meetings.
Tourism rebounding
The local lodging industry is certainly benefiting from the slow rebound of tourism. W Hotel General Manager Joanna McCreary tells CBS Austin that more guests are booking stays. The demand for workers is roaring back as well.
“As you know, our industry was devastated by the last year and we did, unfortunately, have to furlough a number of associates. We’re so excited to have been able to bring a lot of those folks back and hire new folks,” says McCreary.
But the increased activity at hotels is still well below pre pandemic levels. Some industry experts think Hill Country hotels be the first to fully rebound while downtown hotels will be among the last
Bastrop mask mandates
Following the lead of Governor Greg Abbott, the Bastrop School Board votes to rescind its mask mandate as of June 1. That decision comes following a majority of speakers at this week’s board meeting actually demanding the mandate be lifted immediately. Abbott’s order does allow schools until June 4 to lift their face covering requirements.
Cap Metro in Leander
The fate of Capital Metro’s presence in Leander will come down to the will of the voters this Fall, very likely. Back in 2019, the city started considering withdrawing itself from its partnership with Cap Metro but never proceeded with it. But as of this week, the city council has now voted nearly unanimously to let voters decide on that.
“We have a 1st and 2nd, all in favor, all opposed. Alright, motion passes six to one.”
So this boat gets the ball rolling, and the council will have until august 16th to officially call that November election.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-5-21-21
