In August 2017, KXAN reported:

Assistant [Austin] Police Chief Justin Newsom explained that the overcrowding of the homeless population is tied to the spike of drug activity in the area.

“We had the spike in K2 calls earlier this year which led to a few people dying actually,” Newsom said. He added that just this year his officers have made more than 100 narcotics arrests near the ARCH.

“There are homeless men and women and children that are just languishing on the sidewalks without services being provided to them. Because of that, it’s created this environment where drug dealers can prey on substance-addicted individuals,” he said.