Williamson County Sues Austin Over Homeless Hotel Purchase

[#TexasPolitics365]

 

Williamson County will sue the City of Austin over its plans to turn a northwest Austin hotel into a shelter for people experiencing homelessness.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court unanimously voted to give the county attorney permission to file suit Tuesday.

Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell previously stated he expected the City of Austin to have a conversation with the County before making a decision on the hotel. Gravell says Austin didn’t do that.

The hotel is located in Williamson County, but in a part of the county that is also within Austin city limits.

Community activists have been organizing against the purchase of the hotel, which is one of many hotels the City of Austin has purchased to house homeless people.

(Full story here.)
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#Texas Senate Approves Statewide Outside Camping Ban

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The Texas Senate approved legislation Thursday that would create a statewide camping ban after adding a change, directed at the city of Austin, to prohibit the city council's plan to use public parks to provide temporary shelter for the homeless.

Voters in Austin recently voted overwhelmingly to reinstate a ban on public camping by the homeless. Homeless encampments under interstate underpasses became commonplace when the city council reversed the ban.

(Full story here)
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Austin Voters reinstate Public Camping Ban

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Voters Saturday approved Proposition B, a reinstatement of Austin’s public camping ban. It penalizes those who camp in public spaces not designated by the Austin Parks and Recreation Department.  

In 2019, Austin City Council voted to repeal previous city bans on camping, sitting and lying in public spaces. 

Since that time, tent cities have spring up under numerous underpasses and in median strips. Several recent fires in the encampments have drawn alarm from residents and passers-by.

Nearly 60% of voters approved the measure Saturday, showing strong bipartisan support in the largely liberal Capitol city.

Opponents said the repeal of the camping ban has acted like a magnet to bring homeless from many other areas into the city. 

(Full story here)
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AG's Office Getting into Fight Against Williamson County Homeless Hotel

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The Texas Attorney General’s Office added its support to the fight brewing in Williamson County over the Austin City Council’s purchase of a hotel to eventually house the homeless, reports KXAN TV.

Asmall part of north Austin resides in Williamson County. Most of Austin, however, is in Travis County. Williamson County officials last week said they had not been consulted about the decision to house homeless people from Austin in the Williamson County hotel, and that no economic impact or other studies had been done prior to the decision.

Aaron Reitz, the Deputy Attorney General for legal strategy, joined local leaders and business owners during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. He said Attorney General Ken Paxton is looking to “see what legal avenues there may be” to challenge Austin’s decision.

Reitz said the city council entered into a contract without consulting Williamson County officials.

“[They] just sort of kicked the problem up to Williamson County,” Reitz said. “It’s not fair. It’s not just. It stinks.”

Meanwhile, Williamson County commissioners have indicated they are going to file suit against Austin to delay the purchase of the Candlewood Suites hotel.

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