ATX Politics. SAVE AUSTIN NOW: The latest on the City of Austin's refusal to enforce Prop B and its tragic consequences

  

Good Wednesday afternoon --

With the help of thousands of Austinites, in May 2021 we earned more than 90,000 votes to require reinstatement of the homeless camping ban in the City of Austin.

The will of the voters was CLEARLY expressed -- over the opposition of the then-Mayor of Austin, nine out of ten city council members, every local Democratic organization and elected official, and nearly every local media organization.

After Prop B passed, we gave the city several months to demonstrate enforcement -- but they didn't.

So we recruited four small business owners and sued the City of Austin for refusing to enforce Prop B. That lawsuit is now before the 3rd Court of Appeals (decision is expected this summer) and is expected to be finally decided by the Texas Supreme Court.

Our new Mayor Kirk Watson has said publicly on many occasions that Prop B must be enforced, as the voters passed it and there is a corresponding state law.

But so far, we have not seen Prop B enforcement.

While Save Austin Now supports the Mayor's announcement of the creation of a diversion center, that is but one small step and not a complete solution.

We want to see all encampments shut down and cleaned up. Not just cleaned up once, but protected from future encroachment and damage. We want to see mandatory treatment BEFORE expensive housing is provided with no reqirements. And we want to see real consequences for habitual offenders and those who refuse services.

We have seen recent media coverage of the continuing human catastrophe occurring across our city as a result of the refusal to enforce Prop B.

These stories are JUST IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS:

6/7/23 -- Fox News reports on a video taken by local resident Jamie Hammonds of the Gaines Creek Greenbelt (near Violet Crown trail) being trashed by hidden homeless camps, doing significant environmental damage. Fox News

6/16/23 -- KXAN reports on businesses who are concerned about crime near a sanctioned homeless camp (Camp Esperanza). KXAN

6/19/23 -- KTBC Fox 7 Austin reports that a man was killed in a homeless camp in North Austin. Fox 7 Austin

6/20/23 -- KEYE CBS Austin reports that the Gaines Creek Greenbelt (near Violet Crown Trail) homeless encampment has been officially closed as 75 homeless have been relocated to an Austin shelter. CBS Austin

6/21/23 -- Save Austin Now supporter Larry Maddalena appears on "Fox and Friends" to discuss 'out of control' homelessness and how it has affected his business. Video

Our city is in the second week of a record-breaking heat wave. Unsanctioned, unregulated, outdoor homeless camping is unsafe for the homeless and bad for public safety, the environment and tourism.

We will continue to keep the pressure on the City of Austin, including our lawsuit and efforts to hold city leaders accountable for the consequences of their decisions.

Our lawsuit will take some time and while we have excellent, committed lawyers, this battle will require resources. You can donate to our legal effort here. If you wish to send a check to ("Save Austin Now PAC" and mail to 807 Brazos Street Suite 701, Austin, TX 78701).

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> PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS TO HOLD THE CITY ACCOUNTABLE: You can support Save Austin Now here.

> PLEASE SUPPORT OUR LEGAL EFFORTS: You can support our legal effort to enforce Prop B (camping ban) here.

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HELP US HOLD CITY HALL ACCOUNTABLE HERE

SUPPORT OUR WORK

You can support our efforts to hold city leaders accountable for their decisions here. If you wish to send a check to ("Save Austin Now PAC" and mail to 807 Brazos Street, Suite 701, Austin, TX 78701).

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As we have said before, we have only begun to fight!

Thank you!

-Matt Mackowiak & Cleo Petricek
Co-founders, Save Austin Now PAC

> Questions? Email Matt.
> Learn more: http://www.SaveAustinNowPAC.com

Will you please support our efforts now?

You may donate to our legal effort here to force full enforcement of Prop B here: https://secure.anedot.com/save-austin-now-pac/save-austin-now-pac-legal-fund-c4cfa533f8ab98c9da232.

 

 

 

 

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Matt Mackowiak

President

Potomac Strategy Group, LLC

 

AUSTIN: 807 Brazos St, Suite 701, Austin, TX, 78701 | office: (512) 469-9090 | fax: (512) 532-0999

WASHINGTON: 1238 Wisconsin Ave, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007 | office: (202) 350-2647 | fax: (202) 318-8590

 

Twitter: @MattMackowiak

Podcast: “Mack on Politics”

(iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, MackOnPolitics.com)

Texas tipsheet: MustReadTexas.com

Firm website: PotomacStrategyGroup.com