The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Austin City Council to change recently adopted ballot language for a proposed camping ban ordinance, ruling that voters would be misled unless the wording were changed.
According to the 6-3 ruling, the change should be rather simple to make: Delete one word anyone that was used twice in the ballot language for Proposition B.
The City Council promptly followed the court s order, voting unanimously Tuesday to drop the offending word.
The initial ballot language, approved by the City Council last month, said the proposed ordinance would create a criminal offense and penalty for anyone sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk or sleeping outdoors in or near downtown and for “anyone camping in a public area not designated by the Parks and Recreation Department.”