Mayor: Build more shelters and maybe we'll clear the sidewalks

In a previous article we reported that Mayor Steve Adler's plan all along was to build a homeless shelter in each district of the city. The recent, allowed explosion of homeless encampments over the summer was a tactic to make the problem more visual -- rather than hidden inside homeless camps in wooded areas -- and, we would assume, make the case for a major boost in public funding.

That plan is now starting to unfold and the overall picture is becoming clearer.

This morning, the Mayor and Council released a document previewing the next phase of the city's efforts to attempt to alleviate homelessness. In short: if Austinites behave (e.g. devote enough tax dollars to build new shelters and transition homes) then they can have their public spaces back.

KTBC-TV's (FOX 7) Casey Claiborne broke the story this morning of the preview document, which was this morning posted to the City Council's publicly view-able message board. Read the whole document here. We include some relevant text below, with a few edits for emphasis and due to formatting limitations:

"Over time, as more housing is provided, the restricted areas within such categories would be able to grow in number and size. 

• Vehicular traffic (Adjacent to roadways or medians, Adjacent to or on transit, bus or rail facilities) 

• Sidewalks, paths, and trails (Allowing safe, unobstructed passage for people and wheelchairs)

• Schools/child care facilities  

• Creeks, rivers, floodplain, flood ways, high fire risk areas 

• Areas with high pedestrian activity, specifically naming some streets (e.g. Congress Avenue, South Congress, or the Drag, etc., Entrances to buildings, residences, or businesses) 

• Shelters, bridge homes, navigation centers 

• ARCH"

We will note that parks and City Hall are already exempted from the city's homeless camping ordinance, which has led to a massive proliferation of homeless camps across Austin.

Meanwhile, the SaveAustinNow.com petition has gathered more than 26,000 signatures opposing the homeless camping ordinance.

See our previous coverage below:

• Austin Mayor Allows 'Adlervilles' To Spread To Build 10 New Homeless Shelters:
  https://thetravistracker.blogspot.com/2019/08/austin-mayor-allows-adlervilles-to.html
  
• City of Austin: Ask Questions About Homeless Camp Cleanups, You May Be Helping Terrorists:
  https://thetravistracker.blogspot.com/2019/08/city-of-austin-ask-questions-about.html

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Image sources: Wikipedia (photo of Mayor Adler); scene from Howard Lane and Interstate Highway 35 in Austin.

Updates made: 12:34 p.m. 8/20/19