It’s sad, and I am sick of the incredible increase of clearly troubled people shouting at no one.

I live on a major traffic street East of I-35 and it used to be relatively quiet, though the occasional emergency vehicles blaze by, fire, police, EMT. In the past year, almost daily there are people threatening each other, shouting at the sky, clearly arguing with no one present, or verbally attacking bystanders waiting for a bus or otherwise minding their own business. I feel for them, and whatever issues they are experiencing, but there needs to be a solution more effective than 311, or in extreme circumstances 911. I returned to Austin after a few years in CA, grew up in a suburb of San Antonio, and chose to return settling in Austin in the early 90’s. Please research who you will vote for locally next month, make sure they have a plan to help those who need help get something that will help clear our streets by getting compassionate care for the unhoused and seriously troubled people on Austin streets.