Homeless camping, recall petitions organizers racing against clock to gather signatures

With deadlines forthcoming in the new year for inclusion on the May election ballot, petition circulators in Austin are hard at work on several major initiatives.

Here's an update on the petition drives we know about:

Homeless camping rollback (80%)

Save Austin Now reports they have reached 80% of their goal with 24,000 petitions in hand to rescind the city's homeless camping ordinance. Their deadline is Jan. 18.

The goal is 30,000 signatures, which is much more than the 20,000 required by city charter. However, the previous attempt to place a homeless camping option on the presidential ballot was unsuccessful due to the city's disqualification of signatures based on spurious "spot checks" of the petitions turned in.

The previous petition gathered 24,500 signatures, delivered to the city on July 20. On Aug. 5, 12 days prior to the ballot language approval, the City Clerk's office said the group was short 900 signatures. The organization suggested legal action as one alternative but has until now been focused on a May ballot petition with a 10,000-signature buffer to be on the safe side.

Recall petitions (50%)

From runaway crime statistics to homeless camping around the city, and from COVID-19 business restrictions to cutting the police budget by a third, many Austinites are not happy with the way things are going.

The solution, according to Your Minute Is Up, is to recall District 8 Council member Paige Ellis, District 5 Council member Ann Kitchen, and District 3 Council member Pio Renteria -- each of whom are Council members up for re-election in 2022 -- along with Mayor Steve Adler.

The aforementioned Council members and the Mayor each have their own petition requiring 20,000 signatures. The Council member petitions must be signed by those who live in their respective districts, making for a geographic challenge for the all-volunteer organization. Their deadline is April 11, the city-required date.

According to organizers, most petitions are halfway from the minimum required signatures, though they declined to break it down for us.

"Progressive reforms" (100%)

Austinites for Progressive Reform announced they have already submitted 24,000 signatures for the following ballot items:

• Mayoral elections to appear on presidential election ballot
• Ranked-choice voting (aka. instant runoff) for Austin elections.
• "Democracy Dollars" which would give those who qualify $25 in taxpayer money to direct toward the candidate of their choice.
• The "Strong Mayor" proposal, which would siphon authority from the city manager's office and city staff.

The Tracker will take a closer look at these proposals in the future.

How to get involved:

Save Austin Now requests signed petitions (which may be printed off here) be dropped off rather than mailed in due to the Jan. 18 deadline. They are asking those signing to find at least five other Austin residents to sign. Volunteers and donations are also requested. For more information visit www.saveaustinnow.com.

Your Minute Is Up is hosting several petition-signing opportunities, including curbside options. Every Saturday in January from 12 to 4 p.m., the group will be at the parking lot at Target at 5300 S. Mopac Expy., near the entrance. They are also requesting donations. To see a list of locations visit www.stopadler.com