Abbott Vows State Intervention To Upend Austin Homeless Rules

AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday threatened state intervention in possibly force the overturning of recent passed ordinances that sought to decriminalize homelessness.

On Twitter, the governor said he would “...unleash the full authority of every state agency to protect the health and safety of all Texans,” suggesting he would thwart city measures from being enforced. Austin City Council members recently passed ordinances that relaxed rules related to camping and sitting on sidewalks in an aim to decriminalize homelessness.

The governor said he would intervene if council didn't address his concerns by Nov. 1.

"Today I sent a letter to @MayorAdler about the growing crisis arising from the Austin Homeless policy," Abbott wrote on Twitter. "Feces & used needles are piling up & residents are endangered. If not fixed by Nov.1, I'll use State authority to protect Texans’ health & safety."

Related stories:

• Report Sheds Light On Austin's 'Criminalization' Of The Homeless
• Austin Seeks To Tackle Homelessness Issue
  
• UT-Austin Police Oppose City Steps To Decriminalize Homelessness
  
• Austin Mayor, Governor Clash On Homeless Issue

In a short video, Abbott claimed business owners were having trouble keeping their storefronts clear and home owners were feeling endangered since passage of the city's relaxed ordinances related to homelessness.

Austin Mayor Steve Adler didn't immediately respond to Abbott's threat of intervention. Austin City Council member Greg Casar issued a statement decrying the governor's threat while comparing him to Donald Trump's perceived authoritarian style of leadership.

“In the last few months, our city has opened homeless shelters, closed tax loopholes — and we’ve stopped pretending jail is an effective solution to homelessness," Casar said. "We’ve stopped hiding homelessness and because of that, we’re doing more than ever to solve it. If you ask Austin’s main homelessness service provider, we helped more people experiencing homelessness last month than in any other month in memory. But the Governor is choosing not to help, and instead is threatening martial-law-style interventions, in a move right out of the Trump playbook."

Casar asked if other major Texas cities with greater homeless populations should also be concerned about Abbott's potential move at state intervention. He categorized Abbott's declarations as unhelpful, noting the small amount of money from state coffers earmarked to help the marginalized..

"Should Houston and Dallas — who have more people experiencing homelessness than Austin —also worry about the governor sending in the state troopers?" the council member asked rhetorically. "Should they also be worried about being sued by the attorney general? Instead of threats, I hope the governor actually steps up and helps. This coming year, the State of Texas is spending a paltry $660,000 on helping with homelessness in Austin—less than one-tenth of what local Austin taxpayers are spending to address these challenges. Austin is done running away from homelessness. The state government could help, instead of continuing to fail us.”

Abbott has been vocal in his opposition to the city-passed ordinances, once inaccurately attributing a traffic accident to emboldened homeless people a day after rules were relaxed for their activity. "Look at this insanity caused by Austin’s reckless homeless policy," Abbott wrote over a photo of the wreck. "All state-imposed solutions are on the table including eliminating local sovereign immunity for damages and injuries like this caused by a city’s homeless policy. The horror stories are piling up."

The claim was later debunked by police, who said the accident had been caused by a motorist who passed through a red light. Police added there were no homeless people in proximity to the traffic accident Abbott referenced. Despite the factually incorrect claim, Abbott didn't take his post down on Twitter.

In reaction to Abbott's false claim, Mayor Steve Adler made a point to post the police response on Twitter that refuted the governor's account. "Governor: Why retweet the incendiary lie that people experiencing homelessness caused a recent traffic accident?" the mayor asked. "You blame what never happened on 'reckless' city policy. Really?"