Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TexasTowelie

(111,313 posts)
Tue Apr 27, 2021, 03:31 PM Apr 2021

As Austin voters weigh camping ban proposition, Texas lawmakers consider bills to prohibit homeless

As Austin voters weigh camping ban proposition, Texas lawmakers consider bills to prohibit homeless encampments statewide

by Juan Pablo Garnham, Texas Tribune


The Texas Legislature is considering bills that would ban homeless encampments statewide, almost two years after the city of Austin decided to lift a similar local ban — a move that critics say triggered the proliferation of tent cities throughout Austin.

If lawmakers approve the legislation and Gov. Greg Abbott signs it into law, it would become the latest instance of the Republican-led state government overruling local ordinances. State lawmakers also are trying to stop cities from decreasing police funding after the “defund the police” movement sparked by last year’s national protests against police brutality.

“We've seen a huge increase in not only the number of homeless living under bridges or on the streets, but also the rise in crime,” said state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, the author of House Bill 1925. “And really the difference has been that, at least in this case, this city has overturned their own ban.”

Austin’s City Council decided to lift the ban on public encampments in certain areas in July 2019, arguing that the policy had led to citations for people experiencing homelessness and hurting their ability to find housing. The move was quickly criticized by Abbott, who promised to take action against Austin and in his budget priority list asked the Legislature to withhold state grant money from cities that don’t ban such encampments.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/27/texas-homeless-camping-ban/
2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
As Austin voters weigh camping ban proposition, Texas lawmakers consider bills to prohibit homeless (Original Post) TexasTowelie Apr 2021 OP
So what is the state of TX going to do w/ its homeless population? Jail them all? Obviously their SWBTATTReg Apr 2021 #1
Why don't The Texas legislators all adopt one homeless person or family? That'd sure abqtommy Apr 2021 #2

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
1. So what is the state of TX going to do w/ its homeless population? Jail them all? Obviously their
Tue Apr 27, 2021, 03:56 PM
Apr 2021

rules / laws / etc. dealing w/ the homeless population aren't working. What are Abbott's solutions? He moans about current problems yet doesn't suggest a viable solution, figures.

Perhaps a different approach, e.g., tiny houses, etc. And where are they getting this stat on the increase in homeless numbers causes more crime? Maybe more petty thief etc., but I would think that if these people are homeless, they probably don't have ready transportation, otherwise, how are they able to get out and rob/steal/etc., thus causing more crime/propel crime rates higher supposedly? In short, this lawmaker is hyping the issue up more than it needs to be.

like the article said, it's against the 8th amendment of the U.S. Constitution on cruel and unusual punishment...

“Criminalizing Texans who are trying to meet their basic needs is unconstitutional. Under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, it is cruel and unusual to punish someone for status they cannot control, such as experiencing homelessness,” Hudson said. “Courts have found that it is unconstitutional to criminalize someone for sleeping or camping outside when they have no place else to go.”

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
2. Why don't The Texas legislators all adopt one homeless person or family? That'd sure
Tue Apr 27, 2021, 05:43 PM
Apr 2021

solve the homeless problem.

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Texas»As Austin voters weigh ca...