As you know by now, on Wednesday, Governor Greg Abbott showed leadership after four months of failed leadership from Mayor Adler and the City Council.

His letter to Mayor Adler gave the city 30 days to substantially improve the homeless situation in Austin, or the state would use every resource at its disposal to protect citizens.

You can read his letter here. You can read a news story about his letter here.

Mayor Adler's response was predictable. He wants state money, but nothing else. He recently said that homeless camping could continue as long as five years until enough housing is built. Outrageous!

Council Member Greg Casar, the author of the homeless camping ordinance, had a meltdown and called Abbott's letter a threat of 'martial law' in Austin.

Here's a quick recap: In June, the Mayor and the City Council, over the objections of the Austin police, the Downtown Austin Alliance, and the Greater Austin Crime Commission, voted (9-2) to allow homeless camping and sleeping in public, with only a few exceptions. The policy took effect on July 1.

The council then took a five week vacation and left the police and the residents to deal with the mess.

Despite promising to revisit the issue in August, they did not put it on the council agenda once.

In September, they considered banning camping on six specific streets, but the overwhelming opposition prevented a consensus from forming and the issue was tabled.

Meanwhile, the city's homeless policy expert, hired from Orlando, began on Sept. 9.

Despite admitting that spending $30 million each year has failed, the city manager proposed spending $62 million a year starting this year. The council approved the request.

Now the council plans to reconsider the homeless policy on Oct. 17, after a work session on Oct. 10.

They can keep pretending everything is fine, but the clock is ticking.

Governor Abbott says the state will take action on November 1. The Associated Press reported today that Austin nonprofits are backing Abbott on this issue.

Meanwhile, in perhaps the most significant development yet, Austin Police Commissioner Brian Manley yesterday told the media that the city should repeal the homeless camping ordinance changes while they develop a long-term solution.

This is our position, as well.

We are nearing 35,000 signatures on our online petition. Our pressure campaign is working. But we need to keep going.

TAKE ACTION

> Have you emailed Mayor Adler? You can do so here right now.

> Have you emailed your council member? You can do so here right now.

> Do you wish to financially support our efforts? You can do so securely here right now.

One more thing, Governor Abbott has asked the public to share examples and photos of the homeless mess on Twitter. Please post your photo and tag @GregAbbott_TX, @MayorAdler and @GregCasar.

Thank you!

To victory,

Matt Mackowiak

Save Austin Now

Co-founder

(Email: matt.mackowiak@gmail.com)