What is Proposition A?

Proposition B covers the entire City of Austin and reinstates our laws from 2019 that banned camping in our public spaces and aggressive panhandling. It will restore the safety that we lost when Mayor Adler and Councilman Casar removed all restrictions on “camping” publicly. Prop B is on the May 1st ballot. What all does it cover?

• It restores the law banning public “camping” citywide.

• It creates a law banning aggressive panhandling citywide.

• It restores the law on obstructing sidewalks by lying down in the Downtown and UT Campus area (think - sleeping in a doorway).

  The Exact Ballot Language is Below:

The exact ballot language for this proposition, Proposition B on the May 1st ballot, is as follows [highlights are for clarity and broken into sections]:

"Shall an ordinance be adopted that would:

1. Create a criminal offense and a penalty for anyone sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk or sleeping outdoors in and near the Downtown area and the area around the University of Texas campus; [this section specifies downtown and UT for particular sidewalk-related obstructions]

2. Create a criminal offense and penalty for solicitation, defined as requesting money or another thing of value, at specific hours and locations or for solicitation in a public area that is deemed aggressive in manner; [this covers the entire City of Austin]

3. Create a criminal offense and penalty for anyone camping in any public area not designated by the Parks and Recreation Department" [this covers the entire City of Austin] ?