Gov. Abbott again takes aim at Austin over police funding, public camping issues
Gov. Greg Abbott continued his ongoing fight with Austin on Thursday, taking aim at changes the city has made to police funding and public camping that the governor described as reckless.
Speaking during a news conference in Austin to unveil his priorities for the state legislative session, Abbott said he will support a bill that denies tax revenue to cities that cut their police budgets, as well as another bill that implements a statewide camping ban for people experiencing homelessness.
Although the changes would affect the entire state, Abbott's comments seemed clearly directed at Austin. In 2019, Austin City Council members voted to repeal a 23-year-old ordinance that made it illegal to sleep in public areas, prompting an increase in tent encampments in the downtown area. On Wednesday, Mayor Steve Adler acknowledged for the first time that the repeal of the ban "is not working."
Last year, the City Council voted to cut $21 million from the Austin Police Department and cancel three scheduled cadet classes that police officials say are desperately needed to fill vacancies on the force.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/01/21/texas-gov-greg-abbott-introduce-public-camping-ban-homeless/6660032002/
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