By Dewitt Peart
It’s been 14 months since the Austin City Council last amended ordinances governing camping and sitting/lying in public places. Not surprisingly, over the past year, the issue of homelessness has become more visible across the city and in downtown Austin.
An active petition urges a return to the original ordinances, which prohibited people from sleeping or camping in many public areas. But the solution is not as simple as reverting back to these ordinances. Austin urgently needs a balanced approach and an actionable plan to address the crisis of homelessness.
The Downtown Austin Alliance is committed to ensuring that downtown is a safe and welcoming place for