This is unconfinable. This is Texas with malicious, plutocratic Republicans running the state.
BY JOHN KRUZEL
Some Texas state courts are openly defying a federal order to halt evictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, even as the state sits on more than $1 billion in undistributed federal rental aid with more assistance from Washington on its way.
New guidance issued by a state judicial advisory panel has given a green light to Texas courts presiding over eviction cases to disregard a moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that temporarily halts evictions through June.
Hundreds of thousands of Texans risk being thrown out of their homes under the new court guidance, a problem that advocates say is compounded by the state’s sluggish pace in distributing
Texas disbursed less than 1 percent of $1.3 billion in federal funding in the first 45 days of its state-run rent relief program, according to the Dallas Morning News, citing an April 5 report by a state legislative panel.
Last week the Texas Supreme Court decided not to extend their moratorium on evictions.
Shame on the state government of Texas.
UPDATE:
The Texas Apartment Association is still directing its members to abide by a CDC eviction moratorium, but acknowledges property owners are in a tough place.
By Dom DiFurio
4:15 PM on Apr 9, 2021 CDT
The Texas legislature wants the state agency handling federal rent relief distribution to find a way to halt eviction proceedings while it works through a backlog of requested relief payments.
The Texas House Committee on Urban Affairs delivered that message to the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs at a hearing this week. It followed a scathing report that detailed how the agency had disbursed less than 1% of its $1.3 billion in the first 45 days of the program.