An East Texas Republican wants to name a portion of Interstate 35 in downtown Austin with language mocking Mayor Steve Adler for the city's homelessness problem.
State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, filed a bill, HB 2471, Monday to designate the stretch of the interstate from Fourth Street to 11th Street the Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway. The area has been a magnet for tent encampments since the Austin City Council voted two years ago to repeal the city's ban on public camping.
In an interview with the American-Statesman, Slaton, a rookie lawmaker, said he came up with the idea after speaking with lobbyists, Republicans and Democrats who all told him they were fed up with Austin's homelessness problem. He said he recently moved to Austin for the session and had a hard time finding an apartment in an area he felt was safe.
"All they're talking about is the overall safety in Austin, and no one's excited about it," he said. "They think Austin's way different now and not for the better."
Slaton said the "public restroom" part of the proposed name relates to complaints he has heard about an increase in people relieving themselves outdoors in the downtown area.
"A good joke requires some truth in it, and this has truth in the name," he said.
Adler has consistently said Austin's homelessness crisis is the biggest issue facing the city and has lent his support to a plan to buy hotels to house unsheltered people. The city purchased its third and fourth hotels earlier this year.
Adler released a statement suggesting he does not take Slaton's proposal seriously.
“We need real solutions and serious resources to address the housing crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. "Let’s start with state support for mental health interventions and a program to address the anticipated tsunami of evictions caused by the pandemic-related unemployment. We need more adults in the room.”
Slaton was a Baptist youth and family minister for 13 years before he began working with his father in financial services, he said. In November, he defeated a Democrat in the Republican-reliable District 2, securing 81% of the vote. Before then, he was in a Republican primary runoff and defeated longtime district representative Dan Flynn.
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His official House biography says he likes to hunt and shoot and is passionate about "helping the people of East Texas obtain and maintain a government that is transparent, protects liberty, defends the sanctity of life and fulfills the will of the sovereign people of Texas."
Slaton's attack on Adler was not the first time this year he made a political statement about changing the name of a road. In January, the House met to adopt legislative rules, and Slaton offered a proposal to ban consideration of naming a highway system, including a bridge or street, before a vote on a bill to abolish abortion.
"Members, I ask you to consider as you vote here, would you rather name roads and bridges, or would you rather make sure we at least get a vote on abolishing abortion in Texas?" Slaton said at the time.
The amendment failed, as 41 House members voted yes and 99 voted no.
Among the bills Slaton is co-authoring this session are removing fees for obtaining a license to carry a handgun and prohibiting reassignment surgery or gender transitioning for children. He's also co-authoring a bill allowing a referendum on Texas reasserting itself as a sovereign and independent state.
Slaton said he'll announce additional bills in the coming days, but none that would change the name of any other Austin streets or bridges.
And what does he think about the chances of getting a Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway?
"We'll see. I'm going to talk to some of my colleagues, and if they're on board, we'll go forward with it," he said. "I think it should pass because it fits that area."
An East Texas Republican wants to name a portion of Interstate 35 in downtown Austin with language mocking Mayor Steve Adler for the city's homelessness problem.
State Rep. Bryan Slaton, R-Royse City, filed a bill, HB 2471, Monday to designate the stretch of the interstate from Fourth Street to 11th Street the Steve Adler Public Restroom Highway. The area has been a magnet for tent encampments since the Austin City Council voted two years ago to repeal the city's ban on public camping.
In an interview with the American-Statesman, Slaton, a rookie lawmaker, said he came up with the idea after speaking with lobbyists, Republicans and Democrats who all told him they were fed up with Austin's homelessness problem. He said he recently moved to Austin for the session and had a hard time finding an apartment in an area he felt was safe.
"All they're talking about is the overall safety in Austin, and no one's excited about it," he said. "They think Austin's way different now and not for the better."