Austin Homeless Free for All Ordinance

[Hookah Horns 3083]

11 minutes ago, Texas Jeff said:

There is an old Air Force golf course that is part of ABIA that has the space for an entire camp, next door to a Travis Co correctional facility.  Putting a camp there would bother no one, so long as they could keep people off the runways.

This is not supposed to be permanent housing and it does not have to be great.

I'm looking at a satellite view of that land and it really does seem like a great spot for it.

No it doesn't have to be great or permanent, but the closer you get to great/permanent, the fewer people you're going to have to deal with penally. Of course there are always going to be some number of those, no matter how luxurious you made it, so at a certain point you get diminishing returns. 

The Community First model of tiny homes and campers is a proven winner, and it's staring the city in the face. I don't even live in atx anymore, but it really pisses me off that they are ignoring it and doing dumbass shit to address a homeless population of >3,000 by buying a few <100 room motels for ~$10 million a pop. I'm offended by how fucking stupid the city council is. 

[David Dennison 18860]

27 minutes ago, Texas Jeff said:

There is an old Air Force golf course that is part of ABIA that has the space for an entire camp, next door to a Travis Co correctional facility.  Putting a camp there would bother no one, so long as they could keep people off the runways.

This is not supposed to be permanent housing and it does not have to be great.

If you want it to work, it needs to be permanent housing.

[Guest Lobo]

Why are so many concerned about these housing facilities being so close to services?  None of Adler's budget increases, nor one-off real estate acquisitions, nor bond issuances have allocated $1 for homelessness service---the root cases of homelessness (counseling, social work, addiction specialists, job trainers, clinicians, et. al.).  

Remember what Progressive Austin always tells us---Budgets are a Reflection of Values/Priorities.  

Our continued priority is not to put homeless housing near facilities, but rather to put it by other real estate that suits certain people.  

[dcar00 14210]

27 minutes ago, Texas Jeff said:

There is an old Air Force golf course that is part of ABIA that has the space for an entire camp, next door to a Travis Co correctional facility.  Putting a camp there would bother no one, so long as they could keep people off the runways.

This is not supposed to be permanent housing and it does not have to be great.

agree but the plan is the opposite of your thought ere.    If your thought was the plan it would already be done.

I like the air force golf course idea but they don't want this to be out of sight.

[Deej 76793]

5 minutes ago, Lobo said:

Why are so many concerned about these housing facilities being so close to services?  None of Adler's budget increases, nor one-off real estate acquisitions, nor bond issuances have allocated $1 for homelessness service---the root cases of homelessness (counseling, social work, addiction specialists, job trainers, clinicians, et. al.).  

Remember what Progressive Austin always tells us---Budgets are a Reflection of Values/Priorities.  

Our continued priority is not to put homeless housing near facilities, but rather to put it by other real estate that suits certain people.  

"Close to services" is code for close to prime panhandling spots. 

[dcar00 14210]

3 minutes ago, Deej said:

"Close to services" is code for close to prime panhandling spots. 

and liquor stores.  its also easier to hide the drug deals.

Edited June 2, 2021 by dcar00

[TKthunder2 4991]

2 hours ago, dcar00 said:

I suggested this and muny a while back.  take hancock, 9 holes of muny and 9 holes of clay. enforce the camping ban and then start figuring out who really needs(and wants) help and who is just fucking around.  then you'll have to fight the ACLU and their merry band of idiots but do something to get them from being in 100 different places.

to be clear, all the above is a pipe dream because this city council doesn't want a solution that might be difficult and might unfortunately expose them.  they are in the Dean Smith 4 corners "offense" at this point.  they'll clean up downtown-ish due to tourism but that's gonna be it.

UT owns muny, not the city they just lease it, and UT has business interests in not letting a homeless camp form across the street from what is a multimillion dollar piece of land next to the river.  As soon as they build the graduate housing by the baseball fields UT is going to shop that riverside land to the highest bidder.

Also, does a golf course count as a park?  Because if so, that’s no longer an option since the lege squeezed in that extra provision in the state wide ban bill stating that cities could not turn parks into campsites.

[dcar00 14210]

1 minute ago, TKthunder2 said:

UT owns muny, not the city they just lease it, and UT has business interests in not letting a homeless camp form across the street from what is a multimillion dollar piece of land next to the river.  As soon as they build the graduate housing by the baseball fields UT is going to shop that riverside land to the highest bidder.

Also, does a golf course count as a park?  Because if so, that’s no longer an option since the lege squeezed in that extra provision in the state wide ban bill stating that cities could not turn parks into campsites.

yeah forgot UT owns that.   they could help but UT isn't really in to helping the community obviously or they already would have offered it. they are only interested in money not the greater good.

maybe substitute Mo Willie.

as far as the park thing.  they may be but the public has to pay to use it and you can't just walk around it any time you want like a normal park.  the problem is that it is a revenue source(even though they might lose money overall) and we know that the city likes its(and our)money.

[ChickenSandwich 9836]

5 hours ago, Hookah Horns said:

Here's a wild idea. Buy a large tract of land to build one camp. Instead of the stupid ass buying of motels or converting parks into slums. 

It will be in Barton Springs next to the course. 

Edited June 2, 2021 by ChickenSandwich

[Wally Pryor 5261]

These camps ain't going anywhere anytime soon.   Only saps believed otherwise.   

It is surprising that the "Homeless Strategy Manager" is still working for the city, but give her time. 

 

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s Homeless Strategy Manager says the city needs to relax some of its restrictions on sanctioned homeless encampments if it hopes to find any city-owned land that could work as an approved homeless camp.

Dianna Grey sent a memo to the mayor and City Council on Tuesday, saying in part that Council added too many secondary restrictions at its May 18 meeting and that’s made it difficult to find suitable sites.

Under council’s criteria, factors like being too close to a school, lacking access to utilities or restricting citizen access to high-use public amenities or programming would be disqualifiers for any potential sites.

“Applying all of the Secondary Criteria articulated by Council Members at the May 18
presentation and thereafter severely limits the use of City-owned land as an option for
consideration,” Grey wrote in the memo.

“If Council modifies the Secondary Criteria to allow for some City-owned land options to be
considered for encampments, staff will continue our analysis of any identified properties and will build the framework for a community engagement process.”

That means on June 1 — exactly one month after Austin voters overwhelmingly chose to reinstate the city’s camping ban — Austin still has approved no location to tell those people experiencing homelessness where they can legally camp. And the city doesn’t have enough shelters to house them all.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/austin-to-release-updated-list-of-approved-city-homeless-sites-tuesday/

[dcar00 14210]

well yeah because the plan is not to solve it, it is to delay, obfuscate, ignore, set up "working committee", such that the voters give up.  It is either the state lege or nothing at this point.

we don't need a "framework for a community engagement process".  feel good bullshit double speak like "community violence".

[David Dennison 18860]

1 hour ago, dcar00 said:

well yeah because the plan is not to solve it, it is to delay, obfuscate, ignore, set up "working committee", such that the voters give up.  It is either the state lege or nothing at this point.

we don't need a "framework for a community engagement process".  feel good bullshit double speak like "community violence".

What has the governor or the legislature proposed that will work toward solving the problem?

[dcar00 14210]

9 minutes ago, David Dennison said:

What has the governor or the legislature proposed that will work toward solving the problem?

the city of austin isn't going to do shit to move folks(and their shit) to any specific area(edit: until the ransom is paid) so I said it will be up to the state lege/governor to do it.  one possible, of course, outcome is they do nothing as well.

what is the point of your question?

Edited June 2, 2021 by dcar00

[blacklab 11929]

37 minutes ago, dcar00 said:

what is the point of your question?

His point is to troll like he does on every thread

[BurntOrange&White 39933]

1 hour ago, David Dennison said:

What has the governor or the legislature proposed that will work toward solving the problem?

Hopefully ship them the fuck out of Austin to a place such as College Station or Bryan.

[horncyclist 1387]

I haven't been in Austin for a few years cause of life and the pandemic. Came out here for a wedding and stayed downtown. Went for a run around town lake and thought "holy shit, what the hell happened, why would anyone allow this." Then get breakfast with a friend and he gives the whole story about getting rid of the ordinance and everything that ensued. I had no idea and what a total mess. Get it together, Austin.

[Wally Pryor 5261]

The inventory of bicycles under 290 (near Strait) is pretty incredible.   One tent yesterday looked to have a 3-man assembly line servicing them.

If you're missing a bike it's likely located at the above location.

[Eskimohorn 5635]

The inventory of bicycles under 290 (near Strait) is pretty incredible.   One tent yesterday looked to have a 3-man assembly line servicing them.
If you're missing a bike it's likely located at the above location.

About once a month I see a grown-ass homeless man riding a child’s bike.

[ChuckNorrisActionJeans 2675]

^^^ Exactly what a neighbor told me when my son's bike got stolen a couple of weeks ago. 

[washparkhorn 9939]

2 hours ago, Eskimohorn said:

About once a month I see a grown-ass homeless man riding a child’s bike.

Don't be a hater. Some have a need for pegs.

[McFly 606]

Saw a post on Nextdoor a couple weeks ago about a homeless guy trying to bike jack a group of three riders. They need to go after the guy that’s buying the bikes off them. 

[HenryJames 66052]

5 hours ago, ChuckNorrisActionJeans said:

^^^ Exactly what a neighbor told me when my son's bike got stolen a couple of weeks ago. 

[David Dennison 18860]

On 6/2/2021 at 2:09 PM, BurntOrange&White said:

Hopefully ship them the fuck out of Austin to a place such as College Station or Bryan.

They'll just come back.

[ChickenSandwich 9836]

[ChuckNorrisActionJeans 2675]

2 hours ago, HenryJames said:

FRANCIS

[Deej 76793]

Quote

City of Austin staff has recommended that the city council direct 58% of funds the city will receive from the American Rescue Plan – nearly $84 million – to homelessness services over the next two years.

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/several-austin-city-council-members-concerned-about-spending-on-homelessness-services/

[ChickenSandwich 9836]

Impossible to redirect those funds so we don’t have to raise property taxes 8% due to “emergency”?  Because fuck tax payers and home owners?

[Wally Pryor 5261]

1 hour ago, Deej said:

https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/several-austin-city-council-members-concerned-about-spending-on-homelessness-services/

On top of the $150MM+/- or so that has already been spent, on nothing? 

I said a couple of weeks ago that I was taking the over on 100 days before Ben White was completely cleaned up.    I'm now betting you''ll still have bums and their Christmas decorations across from Dan's when Christmas comes around.    

 

[Deej 76793]

The mayor and the city council members should all change their names to "Homelessness Services" so they can just put the checks directly into their accounts. 

[Hookah Horns 3083]

I like the sense of urgency from Adler and his minions to earmark this money for homeless when they don't even have the slightest clue of how to put it to good use.

[Hookah Horns 3083]

I can't wrap my head around how retarded this is. $98k per room (probably per homeless person - I can't find any info on if these rooms are to be single occupancy, but I'm guessing so). 

[dcar00 14210]

25 minutes ago, Hookah Horns said:

I like the sense of urgency from Adler and his minions to earmark this money for homeless when they don't even have the slightest clue of how to put it to good use.

these people are morons.  not getting "bogged down in the details" is what got us here, you fucking idiots.  this is the grift and ransom at work.

Now you are concerned about the constituents lil' stevie?

Princeton and Texas Law need to ask for his degrees back...

Mayor Steve Adler described the federal funds as “transformational,” urging council members to act swiftly to approve some of the city’s allotment for homelessness programs. Council Member Ann Kitchen shared Adler’s position, warning that some council members appeared to be “bogged down” in the details.

“I think that on Thursday we have an opportunity to send a high-level message,” Adler said. “Our constituents are asking, why haven’t you acted?”

[dcar00 14210]

20 minutes ago, Hookah Horns said:

I can't wrap my head around how retarded this is. $98k per room (probably per homeless person - I can't find any info on if these rooms are to be single occupancy, but I'm guessing so). 

complete insanity...

[justhookit 4191]

Lulz. They are trashing all the tents and trash at city hall this morning.

[Guest Lobo]

I love that Adler and Casar are on vacation during such a pivotal week in Austin.  

[Biff Tannen 45687]

24 minutes ago, Lobo said:

I love that Adler and Casar are on vacation during such a pivotal week in Austin.  

Is this the start of phase 2 or whatever?

[dcar00 14210]

7 hours ago, justhookit said:

Lulz. They are trashing all the tents and trash at city hall this morning.

apparently the excuse is for "pending construction".  probably a bullshit cover to see how it goes.  I expect it to only happen in downtown-ish area and then stop.  basically, you know, where dumbass lives and works.

they'll never get to the north and south areas.

phase 2 supposedly started Sunday.

[justhookit 4191]

7 hours ago, dcar00 said:

apparently the excuse is for "pending construction".  probably a bullshit cover to see how it goes.  I expect it to only happen in downtown-ish area and then stop.  basically, you know, where dumbass lives and works.

they'll never get to the north and south areas.

phase 2 supposedly started Sunday.

They seem to actually be doing it but of course those tents were bought and paid for. Adler doesn’t walk anywhere anymore his driver takes him from the W to city hall when he stays there. It’s a really fucking long walk.

[justhookit 4191]

I didn’t explain that very well. He’s got a driver that takes him from the W garage to city hall. It’s one block.

[MAUFRAIS 6629]

He got tired of the old woman ringing the bell and saying shame.

[Texas Jeff 1945]

On 6/2/2021 at 7:22 AM, Wally Pryor said:

These camps ain't going anywhere anytime soon.   Only saps believed otherwise.   

It is surprising that the "Homeless Strategy Manager" is still working for the city, but give her time. 

 

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin’s Homeless Strategy Manager says the city needs to relax some of its restrictions on sanctioned homeless encampments if it hopes to find any city-owned land that could work as an approved homeless camp.

Dianna Grey sent a memo to the mayor and City Council on Tuesday, saying in part that Council added too many secondary restrictions at its May 18 meeting and that’s made it difficult to find suitable sites.

Under council’s criteria, factors like being too close to a school, lacking access to utilities or restricting citizen access to high-use public amenities or programming would be disqualifiers for any potential sites.

“Applying all of the Secondary Criteria articulated by Council Members at the May 18
presentation and thereafter severely limits the use of City-owned land as an option for
consideration,” Grey wrote in the memo.

Over the weekend, I went back and watched portions of the city council discussion to see where this is headed.  I can report back and say it is not headed anywhere.

The council and city staff are still bunkered up from COVID, and there is only so much you can accomplish via Zoom.  The folks on council that got us to this point don't want to take any steps that might harm the homeless.  Somehow they want the city staff to come up with large sites out of the floodplain near downtown that are city owned that are not being used for any other purpose, in one of the most expensive downtown areas in the country.  Also, one site per district would be best, unless said site is actually in a council member's district, in which case it's a bad idea.  Add it up and there is no solution, and council and staff have a bunch of circular discussions that eventually end with "meeting adjourned, thanks everyone for all of the hard work".

Don't think that there is a plan that maps to reality ... I didn't see one.

[dcar00 14210]

2 hours ago, Texas Jeff said:

Over the weekend, I went back and watched portions of the city council discussion to see where this is headed.  I can report back and say it is not headed anywhere.

The council and city staff are still bunkered up from COVID, and there is only so much you can accomplish via Zoom.  The folks on council that got us to this point don't want to take any steps that might harm the homeless.  Somehow they want the city staff to come up with large sites out of the floodplain near downtown that are city owned that are not being used for any other purpose, in one of the most expensive downtown areas in the country.  Also, one site per district would be best, unless said site is actually in a council member's district, in which case it's a bad idea.  Add it up and there is no solution, and council and staff have a bunch of circular discussions that eventually end with "meeting adjourned, thanks everyone for all of the hard work".

Don't think that there is a plan that maps to reality ... I didn't see one.

except that there is a plan but it maps only to city council's(mainly Casar/Adler)reality.  the plan is don't do shit and wait for everyone to give up or pass some ransom bond/payment.  

It is beyond hilarious that the first place they "cleaned up" is city hall.

I think its possible downtown is cleaned up by ACL in Oct. As long as those folks just move to outer encampments the communist Casar and his butt buddy Adler will be good.

Edit: side note, they used future construction as the excuse to clean the area near city hall.  I would suggest we use that excuse everywhere and just start tossing shit and say move the fuck along, here is your 200 dollars do not pass go.

Edited June 15, 2021 by dcar00

[mchookem 16336]

'butt buddy'? how old are you? 🙄

 

[Deej 76793]

Quote

"Please don’t let these cops feel OK about what they’re doing. They should walk home from here feeling a shame, they are traitors to the people, look at them," shouted a man with a megaphone.

You mean the people who voted to reinstate the camping ban? Seems to me they are following the will of the people.

https://www.fox7austin.com/news/seven-arrested-at-city-hall-homeless-camp-cleanup

[mchookem 16336]

yeeaah...i don't think most of the homeless folks raging at city council realize this was NOT what the majority council members wanted... the "people' are the ones that want them gone.

of course, given the mental state of many of them, i doubt that nuance could be comprehended. 

what a shitty situation all around.

 

[Deej 76793]

Already more tents up around city hall today. 

[Wally Pryor 5261]

Shocking. 

[Bozo_Casanova 26462]

11 hours ago, justhookit said:

I didn’t explain that very well. He’s got a driver that takes him from the W garage to city hall. It’s one block.

Where you getting that and since when? I've never heard that. 

[justhookit 4191]

4 minutes ago, Bozo_Casanova said:

Where you getting that and since when? I've never heard that. 

Just a guess/joke. Used to see him a lot but hardly ever now. Assumed he was driving garage to garage so he doesn’t encounter Austinites on the street that want to beat the shit out of him. Maybe he just isn’t spending as much time at the W.

[Bozo_Casanova 26462]

3 minutes ago, justhookit said:

Just a guess/joke. Used to see him a lot but hardly ever now. Assumed he was driving garage to garage so he doesn’t encounter Austinites on the street that want to beat the shit out of him. Maybe he just isn’t spending as much time at the W.

I don't know.