KLRU
Don't Recriminalize Homelessness
RECEIVED Tue., Sept. 17, 2019
Dear Editor,
[Re: "Dueling Camping Bans on Tap at City Council," News, Sept. 13:] Homeless people have a right to use public spaces in Austin, including Downtown, to survive, particularly given that our society has criminalized, disenfranchised, and demeaned them.
The Travis County Republican Party (TCRP) is willfully misrepresenting and inciting fear about the homelessness policies recently enacted by the Austin City Council.
FACT: Austin’s new homelessness policies apply to public property and do not allow camping on private property.
TCRP is following President Trump’s strategy to divide our communities by spreading lies and stoking fear. TCRP should be held accountable for inflaming anti-homeless rhetoric that triggered hate-motivated attacks against homeless people in Austin.
Council should unanimously reject attempts to recriminalize homelessness in Downtown, West Austin, and other public spaces in Austin where the sight of homeless people might offend affluent residents and tourists.
Homeless people in Austin urgently need housing, health care, food, compassion, love, and respect!
[Re: "Dueling Camping Bans on Tap at City Council," News, Sept. 13:] Homeless people have a right to use public spaces in Austin, including Downtown, to survive, particularly given that our society has criminalized, disenfranchised, and demeaned them.
The Travis County Republican Party (TCRP) is willfully misrepresenting and inciting fear about the homelessness policies recently enacted by the Austin City Council.
FACT: Austin’s new homelessness policies apply to public property and do not allow camping on private property.
TCRP is following President Trump’s strategy to divide our communities by spreading lies and stoking fear. TCRP should be held accountable for inflaming anti-homeless rhetoric that triggered hate-motivated attacks against homeless people in Austin.
Council should unanimously reject attempts to recriminalize homelessness in Downtown, West Austin, and other public spaces in Austin where the sight of homeless people might offend affluent residents and tourists.
Homeless people in Austin urgently need housing, health care, food, compassion, love, and respect!
David King
Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
