Austin has the craziest response to homelessness in Texas
Homelessness and homeless camping remain a major issue in Austin despite the city’s voters’ overwhelming rejection of the permissive camping policy Mayor Steve Adler and the city council approved in 2019. That policy allowed nearly unfettered camping citywide, leading very quickly to tent cities popping up in medians, under overpasses, and on sidewalks in front of businesses all over the city.
The city council has approved the purchase of hotels to house homeless people over the past couple of years, and going by Thursday’s meeting agenda addendum it’s set to buy another one. See item 89.
That’s the Candlewood Suites hotel in north Austin. Its proposed purchase by the city to house homeless people is already controversial, but Adler has refused to listen to the concerns of residents in the district.
The “Stop Candlewood” group says nearby business owners and homeowners have safety concerns. They’re asking for City Council to find another location for permanent supportive housing.
“We earnestly ask Council to explore an infinitely more economical and effective location that could serve three to four times as many people as the Candlewood Suites,” said Rupal Chaudhari, of Stop Candlewood.
In January, the city council approved buying a hotel to house homeless people and used money the 2020 council had taken from the police budget to pay for it. That hotel cost $6.7 million. In 2020 it purchased another hotel at a cost of just over $8 million despite the fact that it was appraised at $4.9 million. The Candlewood Suites will cost more than $9.5 million. Purchasing hotels takes them off the city’s tax rolls and puts them on the expense side of the ledger to operate them. Renovations to the hotels drive the full pricetag higher.
Item 85 on Thursday’s agenda calls for Austin to discuss similar purchases with surrounding counties including Williamson, to Austin’s north. That county is proactively opposing the Candlewood purchase and threatening to sue.
Williamson County commissioners threatened legal action June 8 against the city of Austin in its decision to purchase a hotel for homeless individuals.
Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell said during a Commissioners Court meeting that the court intends to take legal action against the city if it moves forward with the action at its scheduled June 10 meeting.
Gravell directed staff to include the lawsuit for consideration by the court at its next meeting June 15.
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This latest purchase would be in a district with the sole Republican council member who also opposes the libs ridiculous homelessness policies that look reminiscent of the idiocy seen in California cities. Mayor Adler and other libs were behind the disastrous defunding of the cops' movement in Austin which has led to a significant increase in crime. This should be a lesson for any community thinking of electing liberal Democrats. They will destroy the areas they control.
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