Tomorrow, Wednesday, Sept. 18, the Austin City Council will hold a special meeting on homeless policy at 1pm at City Hall.

There's a kiosk in the main entryway where you can sign up to speak for up to three minutes. I signed up. If you wish to donate your time to me, you can do so in person at the meeting by notifying the city clerk.

What is expected to happen?

Among other minor changes, the council likely will ban homeless camping on six streets in Austin:

 1. Guadalupe St.

 2. W. 24th St.

 3. Congress Ave. to Oltorf St.

 4. 2nd St.

 5. 5th St.

 6. 6th St.

This is an admission that homeless camping does, in fact, harm public safety, or they would not be banning it on these streets. If you are fortunate enough to live and/or work on one of these streets, then you will benefit. But the vast majority of Austinites will not benefit and homeless camping will increase everywhere else.

I have said from the beginning that our goal is the full repeal of the Homeless Camping Ordinance, and anything short of that is unacceptable.

Currently more than 31,000 people have signed our petition at SaveAustinNowPetition.com. Please post this link on your social media pages.

We will keep fighting for all Austinites who want a clean and safe city in which to live, work, and raise a family.

If the Mayor and the Council fail to fully repeal the Homeless Camping Ordinance that is destroying our city, we will begin our effort to put it on the May 2020 ballot by collecting 20,000 hard copy petitions.

I will update you fully tomorrow.

In the meantime, please make your voice heard:

TAKE ACTION:

 > Will you email your Council Member right now? Click here to do so.

 > Will you email the Mayor right now? Click here to do so.

 > If you wish to financially support us, please do so here.

 

Thanks,

Matt Mackowiak

Save Austin Now, co-founder

(Email: matt.mackowiak@gmail.com)