#TXLEGE, #atxcouncil: Abbott (kinda sorta) Makes Vague Promise (a month from now)

"A fool vents all his feelings,
But a wise man holds them back."
Proverbs 29:11

Alright there tough guy:

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott presented Austin and its Mayor Steve Adler with an ultimatum Wednesday: “Demonstrate consequential improvement in the Austin homelessness crisis” by Nov. 1 or the state will step in.

In a press release announcing the warning, Abbott’s office lamented reports of “violence, used needles, and feces littering the streets of Austin and endangering Texas residents.” The situation has drawn ire from a number of Republican officials and certain Austin businesses owners who have decried recent changes to city ordinances — meant to avoid criminalizing homelessness — as a threat to public safety and the local economy.

Under the changes, sitting and camping in public — except on parkland — is legal as long as a person does not endanger “the health or safety of another person or of themselves” or make “usage of such area unreasonably inconvenient or hazardous.”

“As the Governor of Texas, I have the responsibility to protect the health and safety of all Texans, including Austin residents,” Abbott wrote in a letter to Adler. “Further inaction by you and the Austin City Council will leave me no choice other than to use the tools available to the State of Texas to ensure that people are protected from health and safety concerns caused by the Austin homeless policies.”

The governor laid out several strategies that state agencies can utilize if there's no change by Nov. 1. Those agencies include the Health and Human Services Commission, which has the authority “to adopt rules in the areas of communicable disease, sanitation and health protection,” Abbott said. The Texas Department of Public Safety, he warned, will add troopers in Austin areas that “pose greater threats.”

“DPS also stands ready to increase security for state agencies that are forced to respond to the homelessness crisis,” Abbott said.

Apparently, no special session.

Instead, Abbott wants a commission to...adopt rules?!?  What exactly is that supposed to accomplish?!?  Besides keeping bureaucrats busy.

Meanwhile, from what current responsibilities does Abbott intend to pull DPS personnel?!?  Because the state doesn't have an unlimited number.  "Adding troopers" on high profile issues comes at the expense of DPS' core responsibilities.

There might be some activity, but there's very little accomplishment.

We've seen this movie:



Abbott = Hans Blix.

Bottom Line: Nobody should take anything Abbott said yesterday seriously.