Austin Homelessness Crisis, Mayor Steve Adler Policy Proposal
Austin city leaders are facing backlash after a unanimous vote to allow public camping and panhandling resulted in a perceived public safety risk. Mayor Steve Adler issued a six-page proposal focused on housing options and "non-policing tools," though critics argue the plan ignores mental health and substance abuse issues. One host plans to visit the Community First Village on September 9th to investigate alternative solutions to the crisis.
austin· steve adler· homelessness· city council· community first village· texas
00:00 Why are you like him? This is no good! Now available in streaming stereo and broadcasting live from the Opportunity Zone 33 in Austin, Texas. Capital of the drone star state! In the morning everybody I'm Adam Curry And from Northern Silicon Valley where it's surprisingly balmy today I'm John C. DeVore It's Crackpot & Buzzkill In The Morning Balmy? Baaaaalmmy Really now? Hmm
00:38 It's not supposed to be balmy there. That's probably just a cloud of steaming poop! It could be... And will you please stop tweeting that we- What did I do? You keep tweeting, send people, send the homeless to Austin Oh i'm doing them a favor No stay- you've gotta- and Austin too because let's face it no Austin is opening its arms why are you such a grumpy Gus It's opening its arms to the poor homeless and they welcome them. So I'm just trying to get the word out We do not want your homeless, and by the way that you come here and you'll bake on the street You! Hey there's a glimmer of hope in Austin
01:26 You know, a slight glimmer of hope. If you live in Texas and you're anywhere but Austin someone says hey where are you from? And you say I'm from Texas they say yeah we're in Texas. You say Austin they'll say that's not Texas! That's exactly what they say but I think the liberal Austin local government mayor and city council I think that they're just not as, when we say liberal they're not like California liberals. They understand and maybe it's not even them maybe its the people of Austin they are revolting against what is going on here you recall several weeks ago
02:13 The council voted unanimously, I believe to remove all city ordinances of camping where you except for of course in front of City Hall or the Capitol building but you can pretty much camp anywhere else not in a city park but anywhere else you want to on the median on the right side of the road. You can do whatever you want. You can panhandle in front of bus stop school grounds anywhere you want Freedom, man! Freedom. Actually that was 50 days ago... it's longer than I thought But now, things have changed. Two months after voting to allow sitting lying and camping in public places City leaders are tweaking the rules No one wants anybody camping anywhere in our city Today Mayor Steve Adler and council members sent out a six-page proposal aimed to solve problems of people experiencing homelessness in the city I've lived in Austin my whole life And my beautiful city is a mess
03:17 Is that Elizabeth Warren? It's funny you say that. I heard this the second time I played it and does sound like her, doesn't it but no it's not My whole life and my beautiful city is a mess And I hate it. Kim von Sirmulin is one of hundreds of outspoken Austinites asking council to change the sit-lie camp ordinance She says it's caused a public safety risk and health hazard Where is that people should not be camping in sitting and lying? In the report, Mayor Adler answers those questions proposing increased restrictions on people who camp adjacent to roadways or medians
03:54 on sidewalks, near creeks or in front of the arch. He also suggests a renewed focus on creating new housing options but says the changes won't be possible without community input and support. Are we really ready to do what it takes to actually solve this problem? This guy gets my goat! You know, all he ever says are we already to solve the problem? Do we do can we come together? Can we fuck you Adler go do something. Oh this guy is so annoying. The can we all come to get your supposed to lead dipshit won't be possible without community input and support Are we really ready to do what it takes
04:37 to actually solve this problem rather than just chasing it around the city and hiding it. And in the next couple weeks, City Council is expecting more concrete proposals on changing this ordinance also tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock there will be a public town hall right here at The Austin Convention Center It's open to the public. It's your chance to ask city leaders questions directly about this homelessness issue So I look at this six-page proposal, and they're clueless. Outline... Proposed principle and goals. This is annoying! What is this you playing in the background? Uh what are you hearing? I'm not hearing anything Oh it must be on my machine. I'm not playing any of it. Look how it's playing! Oh no do we need to stop tape are you okay? No I'm good I stopped it
05:29 I thought it was you, i thought you were just playing a little bed for some reason. Oh yeah. Just to kind of liven things up. Hey everybody! It's the morning zoo here let me hit a little drama bed there yeah Proposed principles and goals, proposed community agreement direction. Our community needs multiple housing types and services for individuals experiencing homelessness Next bullet point We know what works Yeah I call bullshit on that! No you don't You have no clue what works Oh here it is New programs, expansions And increased housing capacity on the horizon Possible places from among which to increase restrictions On camping sitting and lying
06:05 Ordinance standards, interpretations and applications. Rules regarding camping where it occurs as we build up more housing and services Non-policing tools to encourage people to go to better and safer places This whole six page document has nothing about mental health Nothing about substance abuse or addiction Until the very very very bottom under those non policing tools Help people get assistance for to the bullet point one sobering center, mental health assistance shelter slash bridge home navigation Center and community court. And everything else is about appropriating apartment buildings or old hotels if to turn into affordable housing this is not going to work
07:02 Oh my. So what's your solution, Mr.? Well there is one... I talked about this that there's one solution that seems to be working that's the Community First Village September 9th. I'm going to go over there gonna see what they're doing and i shall report back and maybe I'll do an interview with the CEO who's running it. This was recently featured in People Magazine has gotten a lot of attention as something that seems to be working But, jeez. They have nothing here! Just nothing... We've got a new idea here in San Francisco Nooo! Nooo! Not shipping him to Austin Besides that, that's a standing offer Gee thanks
