The #AustinCityCouncil has passed all consent agenda items. This includes items 21, 23, 24, and 43; all of these items were discussed during public comment this morning. Thanks for following along!
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She said item 43's intention is to help support these businesses and non-profit organizations who help keep our parks clean, safe, fun and "part of what makes Austin, Austin."
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Council Member Paige Ellis (D8) spoke about item 43, the resolution to designate legacy businesses that service or are located in Austin's city parks. She said the "legacy business" designation started during the COVID-19 pandemic to help support Austin's many live venues.
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Council Member Zo Qadri (D9) says he is committed to supporting item 21, a resolution to protect tenants from discrimination and eviction. He referenced the passage of SB 38, a recently-passed Texas bill to speed up the evictions process, to reiterate the importance of local protections.
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The Austin City Council has pulled item 24 (the Housing Assistance Program) to add an amendment to it. Council member comments are proceeding to discuss this item and item 43, which deals with recognition of legacy businesses located in Austin’s city parks.
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Another video shown by members of Vocal Texas showed Austin LEOs claiming they did not have to follow the city’s policy to give encampments notice of sweeps. According to the city’s policy, the city is required to provide at least a 72 hour notice before a cleanup and closure process starts.
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A couple members of Vocal Texas used their public comment time to play videos of testimony from Austin residents experiencing homelessness who have been impacted by the city and state’s homeless encampment sweeps. One man claimed DPS officers confiscated his deceased sister’s ashes.
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Members of Vocal Texas are calling for the city’s Housing Assistance Program to be revised to provide assistance to residents experiencing housing insecurity, regardless of criminal record. “Housing is a human right,” Carolyn Williams said, explaining her own experiences with housing insecurity.

A city resident named Jennifer is speaking on multiple agenda items dealing with funding for various city projects. “I would rather the city reinvest this million dollars back into the city, instead of brokers who have their own ulterior motives,” she said.
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