AUSTIN, Texas — Public safety leaders are pushing back against potential changes to the City of Austin’s panhandling and public camping ordinances. This comes as Austin City Council considers changing the rules about what’s legal and what isn’t.
The rule re-write aims to remove some criminal consequences that people experiencing homelessness face. Under the proposed changes panhandling and sitting, lying or camping in public space would be allowed. That would not include camping in public parks or unreasonably blocking a public walkway.