{"id":2501805,"date":"2025-10-22T09:49:01","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abbott-launches-austin-operation-targeting-homeless-encampments\/"},"modified":"2025-10-22T09:50:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:50:51","slug":"abbott-launches-austin-operation-targeting-homeless-encampments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/abbott-launches-austin-operation-targeting-homeless-encampments\/","title":{"rendered":"Abbott launches Austin operation targeting homeless encampments"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fabbott-launches-austin-operation-targeting-homeless-encampments%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2501805&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Texas Governor Greg Abbott has launched a state-led operation aimed at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hundreds-protest-court-mandate-preventing-removal-of-san-francisco-homeless-camps\/\" title=\"Hundreds protest court order blocking removal of SF homeless camps.\">removing homeless encampments<\/a> in Austin to improve public safety and cleanliness. Since the effort began, state agencies, led by the Texas Department of Public Safety and supported by the Texas State Guard, have cleared 48 camps, removed over 3,000 pounds of debris, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >arrested 24 repeat felony offenders<\/a>, and seized narcotics. The initiative comes amid a 36% rise in Austin&#8217;s homeless population over the past two years and follows a 2021 voter-approved reinstatement of a ban on public homeless encampments. While some local groups and the Austin Police Association support the operation, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson criticized it for lacking coordination and empathy, noting that the city had already launched its own homelessness initiative focused on providing resources and shelter. The state&#8217;s effort is part of an ongoing debate over how best to address homelessness in Austin.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Abbott launches Austin operation targeting homeless encampments for removal<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2209868\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/greg-abbott\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Greg Abbott <\/a>(R-TX) on Tuesday announced he has launched a state-led operation to &ldquo;clean up&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/austin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Austin<\/a> by removing homeless camps in the capital city.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Texans should not endure public safety risks from homeless encampments and individuals,&rdquo; the governor said in a statement. &ldquo;Weapons, needles, and other debris should not litter the streets of our community, and the State of Texas is taking action. I directed state agencies to address this risk and make Austin safer and cleaner for residents and visitors to live, travel, and conduct business.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3859154\/pirro-blasts-bidens-dc-prosecutor-for-failing-prosecute-crimes\/\">Pirro blasts Biden&rsquo;s D.C. prosecutor for failing to prosecute 65% of crimes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3859206\/atlanta-airport-mass-shooting-plot-federal-charges\/\">Man who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-man-who-allegedly-planned-shooting-at-atlanta-airport\/\" title=\"DOJ charges man who allegedly planned shooting at Atlanta airport\">allegedly planned mass shooting<\/a> at Atlanta airport hit with federal charges<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3858661\/man-charged-stalking-wisconsin-chief-justice-karofsky\/\">Man charged with stalking Wisconsin chief justice: &#8216;Please eject yourself from office&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The effort began last week, Abbott said in a press release. As of Tuesday, the governor said the operation, led by the Texas Department of Public Safety in collaboration with other state agencies and the Texas State Guard, had already cleared 48 homeless encampments, removed over 3,000 pounds of debris, arrested 24 repeat felony offenders, and seized over 125 grams of narcotics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In 2021, Austin voters supported reinstating a ban on public homeless encampments by a large margin, rolling back the city council&rsquo;s move in 2019 to lift the ban. However, there have been complaints that the ban is not being enforced from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.saveaustinnow.com\/austin-vote-yes-on-prop-b-may-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Save Austin Now<\/a>, a local group that remains in litigation with the city over the matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Homelessness has become a growing problem in Austin. The number of homeless people has increased 36% over the past two years, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statesman.com\/story\/news\/homelessness\/2025\/05\/02\/austin-homeless-population-increases-since-2023-point-in-time-count-echo\/83391109007\/#:~:text=An%20additional%201%2C661%20were%20counted%20in%20Austin%2Darea,the%20previous%20point%2Din%2Dtime%20count%20conducted%20in%202023.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> from local nonprofit ECHO that was released in May.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Abbott&rsquo;s latest effort to target the encampments has received praise from local groups, including Save Austin Now and the Austin Police Association.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[The public] drive[s] by these encampments. They see these activities. They see the needles. They&rsquo;ve been around schools and all these other things, so it has a huge impact,&rdquo; Michael Bullock, president of the Austin Police Association, <a href=\"https:\/\/cbsaustin.com\/news\/local\/gov-abbott-begins-homeless-encampment-cleanup-in-austin-led-by-dps-and-state-agencies\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told CBS Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Statement from <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SaveAustinNow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SaveAustinNow<\/a> co-chair Matt Mackowiak:<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In May 2021, 90,000 Austin residents voted to reinstate the homeless camping ban by passing Prop B 58%-42%. Days later, the state banned homeless camping statewide. While Save Austin Now remains in active litigation over&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OOFoEUk7F7\">pic.twitter.com\/OOFoEUk7F7<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Matt Mackowiak (@MattMackowiak) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MattMackowiak\/status\/1980654271608598781?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">October 21, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>However, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed criticism, arguing that the state&rsquo;s efforts lack empathy and stating that there has been a lack of coordination between Abbott&rsquo;s office and city officials.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t need it politicized. We don&rsquo;t need it to be done in a way where it actually creates problems and does damage to what we&rsquo;re attempting to do,&rdquo; he said, adding the state did not notify city staff about the clean-ups.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3779754\/don-bacon-killer-instinct-five-term-streak-blue-house-district\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>DON BACON CREDITS &lsquo;KILLER INSTINCT&rsquo; FOR FIVE-TERM STREAK IN HARRIS-WON HOUSE DISTRICT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s unclear to us who will be doing what and where they&rsquo;ll be going next,&rdquo; the mayor added, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kvue.com\/article\/news\/local\/initiative-austin-relocate-homeless-texas\/269-bbb441fc-b42a-4238-872d-2e0be24bd2b6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to<\/a> KVUE.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>His criticism came as Austin had launched its own initiative to address the homeless issue just hours before Abbott announced his operation on Tuesday, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.texastribune.org\/2025\/10\/21\/greg-abbott-homelessness-sweeps-austin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">according to <\/a>the <em>Texas Tribune<\/em>. The Citywide Encampment Management Prioritization Initiative has cleared 46 encampments and arrested two people as of Monday evening. The initiative is <a href=\"https:\/\/services.austintexas.gov\/edims\/document.cfm?id=461380\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">set to last<\/a> through Nov. 8 &ldquo;to connect people with resources and shelter before severe weather arrives.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abbott launches state effort to clear Austin homeless camps<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2501806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2212834_sd_68adb74101e85_1756215105.jpg?w=640","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3697,9230,33136,65676,65675],"class_list":["post-2501805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-abbott","tag-austin","tag-homeless-encampments","tag-homelessness-initiative","tag-operation-launch"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/2212834_sd_68adb74101e85_1756215105.jpg?w=640","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2501805"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501805\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501809,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2501805\/revisions\/2501809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2501806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2501805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2501805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2501805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}