WILLIAMSON COUNTY (Talk1370.com) -- Williamson County commissioners voted Tuesday to explore legal options, including potentially filing a lawsuit, against the City of Austin over its purchase of a northwest Austin hotel for supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Commissioners had asked the City to delay its purchase of the Candlewood Suites property, located at 10811 Pecan Park Boulevard, by up to 180 days. Instead, city council members brushed aside that request, voting to approve the purchase in a 10-1 vote last week.
By a unanimous vote Tuesday, commissioners asked the county's general counsel "to interview law firms and provide a recommendation of a law firm to represent Williamson County in relation to the filing of a lawsuit to enjoin the City of Austin from operating and using any property in Williamson County for the temporary or permanent housing of homeless individuals in Williamson County."
"This is not about homeless individuals; I have deep compassion for them and I think everyone on the court does," Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long said during Tuesday's meeting. "This is about the callous disregard the City of Austin has displayed and its impacts not only to the local government, but the school district as well as the county, and also adjacent property owners."
A letter from Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, sent to council members and Mayor Steve Adler ahead of last week's vote, expressed "deep concern for the lack of any communication by the City regarding the project" before putting it up for a vote.
Gravell and Long will be joined by State Sen. Charles Schwertner and Austin City Council member Mackenzie Kelly for a press conference at noon on Wednesday, calling for a "collaborative conversation together to discuss the serious issues of homelessness" and to "not be blind-sided by fast actions with no prior discussion."
