American Thinker:

Some things are so obvious that only a progressive could fail to anticipate them. That dynamic is underway in Austin, Texas, where residents and officials are dismayed that the recent change in city ordinances allowing the homeless to camp out on public sidewalks and other municipally owned land has led to an increase in homelessness.

KXAN TV reports:

Hundreds of people attended Tuesday night’s Downtown Austin Alliance forum to hear directly from Austin’s police chief about how APD is interpreting and enforcing the new camping and sit/lie ordinances.

The changes went into effect on July 1.

Under the new ordinances, sleeping, sitting down or lying down in public areas is now allowed as long as you’re not blocking the public right of way and as long as you aren’t being a safety hazard to yourself or others.

“I’ll be honest with you. We are beginning to see an uptick in the issues in downtown,” said Dewitt Peart, President of CEO of Downtown Austin Alliance.

He said at Republic Square Park, the number of people who are homeless sleeping at the park, has increased from three or four to about 20.