Camping ban vote
Austin’s camping ban will go up for a vote in May. Austin City Council approved just how it’ll be worded on the ballot, but not before residents and activists on both sides of the issue gave council their thoughts.
“The country and world come to UT. This diverse group of students deserves better than being confronted and threatened by aggressive people.”
“Right now, I support strategies to permanently house people. Criminal and civil punishment serves no constructive purpose.”
The ballot language specifically asks if it should be an offense to sit, lie, sleep outdoors in or around downtown, the UT campus or spots not designated by parks and rec.
As promised, Williamson County leaders are laying the groundwork this week for a lawsuit against Austin over its purchase last week of the Candlewood Suites Hotel for homeless housing. The county is officially hiring attorneys to consider all legal options, and Judge Bill Gravell tells KVUE Austin’s gone too far.
“Come and talk to us about what you’re doing instead of dictating to us or mandating us or trying to intimidate us to do what you want,” says Gravell.
He says he’ll call on the attorney general or the governor if necessary. Today at noon, a press conference will be held by Commissioner Cynthia Long, Austin Council Member Mackenzie Kelly and State Senator Charles Schwertner to discuss this issue.
Strong mayor system vote
Voters will also decide in May on whether or not to shift Austin to a strong mayor system of governing, where the mayor has veto power over the council and the power that the city manager currently holds. That proposal does have a lot of critics. Ana Gonzalez with the Workers Defense Project says it would ruin district representation.
“Our ability to succeed is in part because power lies with council members and not one individual who could veto a proposal that we know could be beneficial,” says Gonzalez.
The council could override a mayoral veto with a super majority vote. Supporters believe this change would create more equity across all parts of the city.
Binding arbitration ballot
The Austin Firefighters Association will have a ballot item this May. The association president, Bob Nicks, says Proposition A, as it will be seen on Election Day, will let voters decide if the association and city will be allowed to use binding arbitration in contract negotiations.
“If we reach an impasse or reach a disagreement or stalemate, there’s really no way to solve it. And so management just goes to impasse and firefighters don’t get a pay raise and they try to leverage us into actions that we would normally take for us or the citizens,” says Nicks.
If approved, the arbitration would streamline negotiations if and when there is an impasse.
COVID-19 update
After stalling for a day, Travis County’s hospitalizations have fallen once again. This morning, there are 424 people hospitalized. That’s a decrease of 22. For the first time in months, the number of active cases is now under 4,000. Austin Public Health says 3,846 cases are active, out of 72,625 confirmed with 68,084 recoveries.
Second vaccine dose
There’s still a lot of confusion in Central Texas among people needing a second dose of vaccine. Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea says Austin Public Health has to get better about communication.
“Frankly, it’s embarrassing to me that Austin Travis County, which is supposed to be this innovative, technically savvy city, can’t seem to get this right week after week,” says Shea.
Austin Public Health is vowing to contact everyone who has a second dose appointment but only when those second doses are available. The Department of State Health Services does not allow providers to use their supply of first doses for that second shot.
Paxton faces opposition
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is expected to face tough opposition this week from Republican controlled state Senate.The attorney general’s budget was cut by far more than the 5% other agencies experienced. Roughly $90 million and more than 150 jobs.
“Not so subtle signal to General Paxton that most of his Republican colleagues in the Senate would prefer that this be his last term as attorney general,” says Rice University’s Mark Jones.
He believes the slash is the direct result of the FBI investigation into Paxton for abuse of office and bribery.
“Texas Republicans realized that Paxton gives Texas Democrats their best hope for a statewide victory in 2022,” Jones says.
This news and more on News Radio KLBJ:
https://omny.fm/shows/klbjam-flash-briefing-1/am-newscast-2-10-21
