3 ms·

Check out what happened in Austin, TX. The city government proclaimed the same thing you are saying: there is no way to get rid of homeless so they allowed "cit

Check out what happened in Austin, TX. The city government proclaimed the same thing you are saying: there is no way to get rid of homeless so they allowed "city camping" in 2019. By 2020 the city of Austin had encampments under every overpass, in parks and on some major streets. But a PAC against this has been established and passed a ballot measure in 2021. The city government first ignored it (they've made up a 4-stage plan to implement it where each stage consisted of asking homeless not to camp) but the PAC stuck around and kept engaging the city in the courts and pushing other measures on the ballot. This caused a real fear of losing for the current mayor and city council so suddenly they've found a way to get rid of all the camps. Where there is a will (to stay in office) there is always a way.

hotpotamus 4y ago
My parents were up in Austin last week and complained about the camps, so they must have figured out how to get those camps out really quick. I'll be there myself in the next couple weeks for some datacenter work, so I can take a look firsthand.
- pandaman 4y ago
  I am in Austin and haven't seen a camp for quite a while.
  - hotpotamus 4y ago
    I wonder where they went - I assume the Republicans would be happy to woodchip them or whatever. This time of year, I'd probably take a ticket north for the summer, which would probably be a bit better for optics.
    - pandaman 4y ago
      What Republicans have to do with Austin? The city government is as Republican as San Francisco or Seattle. I've read the city is putting them into former hotels that it bought some time ago for that purpose but could not figure how to use them. Also they might have some areas outside downtown designated for encampments, last time I've read about it few were protested but there is plenty of land in Austin and the city owns thousands of acres.
      - hotpotamus 4y ago
        Greg Abbott's house is there (I've been, but it was Rick Perry's house at the time.) along with some famous Republicans like Alex Jones, and most recently Elon Musk and maybe Joe Rogan. It seems like the hip place for famous conservatives these days. But yeah, I try to avoid downtown if I can, but I've seen the camps off I-35 for years, just haven't been by in a month or two myself.
        pandaman 4y ago
        Right, plenty of Republicans live there but the city and county governments are Democrat just like any other big city in the US. I take I-35 to/from downtown all the time and don't see any camps. There used to be a few tents on every exit and a giant camp under the elevated part of it, right across the APD HQ. Those are gone.
        hotpotamus 4y ago
        Out of sight out of mind perhaps. It's possible that they got housed somewhere but that would be unusual in my experience. Like I said I'll go take a look for myself in a week or two - despite its problems, there's still some stuff I like to go do in Austin, and some occasional work too. Perhaps I'll remember this thread and reply back.
        pandaman 4y ago
        Exactly. Most people's problem is not that somebody is "experiencing homelessness" as they say. Most people are bothered by people littering, blocking public right of way, consuming drugs and alcohol, exposing themselves in public, assaulting passersby, stealing and trespassing on the private property etc. We don't care if they have no place to live or are eccentric billionaires who actually have 10 houses each, we are bothered by the antisocial behavior. Prevent this behavior as the law tells you to do and you can keep your seat in the city council and legalize whatever crazy ideas you have. Protect trees, emancipate armadillo, dig a subway, etc - nobody really cares enough to vote you out.
      - 4y ago

hotpotamus 4y ago

My parents were up in Austin last week and complained about the camps, so they must have figured out how to get those camps out really quick. I'll be there myself in the next couple weeks for some datacenter work, so I can take a look firsthand.

pandaman 4y ago
I am in Austin and haven't seen a camp for quite a while.
- hotpotamus 4y ago
  I wonder where they went - I assume the Republicans would be happy to woodchip them or whatever. This time of year, I'd probably take a ticket north for the summer, which would probably be a bit better for optics.
  - pandaman 4y ago
    What Republicans have to do with Austin? The city government is as Republican as San Francisco or Seattle. I've read the city is putting them into former hotels that it bought some time ago for that purpose but could not figure how to use them. Also they might have some areas outside downtown designated for encampments, last time I've read about it few were protested but there is plenty of land in Austin and the city owns thousands of acres.
    - hotpotamus 4y ago
      Greg Abbott's house is there (I've been, but it was Rick Perry's house at the time.) along with some famous Republicans like Alex Jones, and most recently Elon Musk and maybe Joe Rogan. It seems like the hip place for famous conservatives these days. But yeah, I try to avoid downtown if I can, but I've seen the camps off I-35 for years, just haven't been by in a month or two myself.
      - pandaman 4y ago
        Right, plenty of Republicans live there but the city and county governments are Democrat just like any other big city in the US. I take I-35 to/from downtown all the time and don't see any camps. There used to be a few tents on every exit and a giant camp under the elevated part of it, right across the APD HQ. Those are gone.
        hotpotamus 4y ago
        Out of sight out of mind perhaps. It's possible that they got housed somewhere but that would be unusual in my experience. Like I said I'll go take a look for myself in a week or two - despite its problems, there's still some stuff I like to go do in Austin, and some occasional work too. Perhaps I'll remember this thread and reply back.
        pandaman 4y ago
        Exactly. Most people's problem is not that somebody is "experiencing homelessness" as they say. Most people are bothered by people littering, blocking public right of way, consuming drugs and alcohol, exposing themselves in public, assaulting passersby, stealing and trespassing on the private property etc. We don't care if they have no place to live or are eccentric billionaires who actually have 10 houses each, we are bothered by the antisocial behavior. Prevent this behavior as the law tells you to do and you can keep your seat in the city council and legalize whatever crazy ideas you have. Protect trees, emancipate armadillo, dig a subway, etc - nobody really cares enough to vote you out.
    - 4y ago