Election Q&A: Austin City Council District 9 candidates

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

I believe that very much of the problem of affordability lies in the greed in our capitalistic system. 38% of property bought in Austin is by investors, not residents. I’m heartbroken that my daughter who grew up here is moving her family out of state because they can’t afford a house in Austin. We need to put compassion over capitalism. I propose that we: Limit the profit investors make on selling a house to 2% simple interest per annum. This will apply to any residential real property that is not used as a primary home. This formula is used for people qualifying for affordable housing in order to keep houses affordable. If we can limit profits poor people can make, we can certainly do so for non-residents who are only investing for profit. Limit the number and amount of residential real property an individual or business may purchase. Investors who buy up properties only to flip them for profit or turn them into Short Term Rentals (STRs) are driving up prices and decreasing availability. Initiate a rent-to-own program for Austin renters. A percentage of rent paid would go toward interest to actualize at 5 or more years. They could use this toward the purchase of a home or for transition to a new home. Pass (more) legislation regulating STRs, as have many other cities. I’m aware that the Texas courts have killed prior such legislation and likely will again. That doesn’t mean we should stop fighting and bringing it back to the table. I sure will.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

I believe Austin is still safe compared with most large cities, but certainly not as safe as it was when I moved here 30 years ago. I can only imagine how difficult and stressful it would be to be a police officer, and I support our police department. That is why I believe we need to alleviate duties of the police that would be better served by other professionals. In trying to find help for my own brother who experiences dementia and severe mood swings, I was told someone could drop by his place for a “wellness check.” I later learned this was done not by a social worker, but a police officer. It terrified me that in my brother’s state of mind, he could have panicked seeing an officer and injured the officer or get killed himself. And what would have happened if he were a person of color? We need to safely let professionals handle their own professions. I also believe there should be a strong oversight committee to investigate instants and complaints of discrimination and violence. I must believe there is a minority of officers who act in biased, violent or hateful ways, but those that do must be removed from the force and given professional help. I would also push for a gun ban in public places in Austin. We love the old west here in Texas. Just like in the westerns, you can check your guns when you come to town. I would also propose using metal detectors for entering the Sixth Street area. Leave your guns at home.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

The answer to homelessness is certainly not to criminalize it. These are our people, cohabitants of our planet, who need support and resources to have decent living conditions. We all have a responsibility to help them. I would want to collaborate with Community First! Village and Foundation Communities. These are two phenomenal working programs that have helped countless low-income and homeless people. They are successful because they don’t only provide housing for people, they provide community. Austin should work with them to replicate these programs within the urban area.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

For the sake of our planet, mass transit must be high priority in our city. I strongly support Project Connect, and the Austin Transit Partnership’s commitment to community engagement through this transformation of our city. Regarding I-35 expansion, I am against it. We should incentivize non-local trucks to use toll roads around Austin. I honestly can’t see spending many years and billions, millions or even thousands of dollars to improve traffic for private vehicles when that money should be spent on public transit. Public transit must be made more functional and appealing than private vehicles. I propose: We need at least 3 commuter lines running directly to the airport, crosstown buses, and higher frequency. Improve ridership by making private vehicles impractical. Starting with the Drag and Congress Avenue, gradually shut down the entire downtown area to personal vehicles, allowing only buses, rail, bicycles, pedestrians, clearly marked taxis, and emergency vehicles. Strategically place park-and-ride locations outside of downtown. Incentivize businesses to encourage employees by charging for parking, while offering free public transit passes.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

Response not provided.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

Acting on our affordability and housing crisis must be a day 1 priority with the next council. We must expand affordability unlocked, eliminate exclusionary zoning, and ensure transit-oriented development is a priority. Affordability forces rising costs from rising demand without sufficient supply, so acting on reforms that legalize missing-middle housing and decreases cost of development caused by the antiquated permitting and review process currently raising costs with delay. Our current land use rules were first passed in 1984. We’re a growing city, but Reagan-era policies are funneling the gains of that growth away from the people who made it possible. We must ensure a future for Austin that is affordable and climate-resilient, so that our city can be a place that welcomes all and recognizes housing as a human right. It’s time to bring our land use rules in alignment with Imagine Austin, the Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, and the Austin Climate Equity Plan by reforming the rules that keep housing unaffordable. In addition, we must be proactive about preventing displacement of and stopping homelessness at the source by fortifying our right-to-return and right-to-stay programs, expanding community land trusts, investing in housing vouchers for low-income residents, and ensuring the $300 million in Project Connect anti-displacement funds gets spent on truly affordable housing. We must also expand the highly successful University Neighborhood Overlay (UNO) program to further expand student access to affordable housing, walkability near transit, and safe streets.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

I live in downtown Austin, and while I believe that our city still is safe—I do know that criminalizing mental health crises, addiction, or housing insecurity won't solve safety problems especially as it only increases recidivism due to job or housing discrimination. Reimagining public safety in our city does require a hard look at if our city services are receiving equitable funding and pay parity. EMS workers have requested a pay raise and yet only received 17 additional cents to their paychecks. Additionally, the EMS pension and retirement program has not met parity with other city departments including firefighters and police, causing staffing shortages for emergency responses and forcing undued burdens on police response. We've seen that non-violent, mental health, or civil service conflicts have only increased pressure and weight on the Austin city police department and the existing staff. We don't want to lay-off hard paying workers in order to balance the city's budget that is currently inflated by major expenditures made to help people stay afloat as bandages to the affordability crisis. However, we have seen empirically in other cities that funding street lights can decrease violent crime in urban cores by 80%, and funding EMS services for holistic response to calls can do more to reimagine public safety to help all Austinites.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

As we approach conversations of development, we must ensure equity is prioritized and actualized in the distribution of the city’s anti-displacement funds, while also knowing that this is only a fraction of the funds necessary to prevent continuing city plans that hurt vulnerable communities more than they help. Additionally, to prevent displacement and stop homelessness we will push to fortify our right-to-return and right-to-stay programs, expand community land trusts, reform our land use code, and reflect on innovative policies like that in Oklahoma City in order to create housing programs for working families and city workers who may risk housing insecurity and displacement due to the prohibition by our state to raise minimum wages in cities across Texas. Finally, investing in community health clinics, wraparound services in schools, and building abundant and affordable housing are all necessary to intervene in the earlier stages of housing insecurity that lead to chronic homelessness.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

I unequivocally stand with advocates calling for “No Wider, No Higher” regarding the expansion of I-35. A scar through the community, I-35 first started as an unspoken line of segregation 70 years ago, the expansion plan merely fortifies this divide. 1950's planning won't solve congestion and, when looking at examples like the Katy Freeway which only increased the average commute by 19 minutes, that induced demand without investment in reliable and frequent public transit only worsens congestion and traffic violence. With the prospect of ‘cap and stitch’ programs, we can reimagine our relationship to I-35, and invest in transit plans that help Austin meet our climate, safety, and equity goals instead of ones that send us backwards. I-35 expansion isn’t the answer, but instead this moment can be a vehicle in and of itself in pushing our city to look at investing in multi-modal, pedestrian-friendly, and robust public transportation reforms. Reforming city and regional policy goals to make our city more walkable and pedestrian friendly is critical as we join other cities in reimagining a vision of multi modal transit. This includes increasing protected bike-lanes, adding and expand ADA accessibility to the remaining sidewalk curb-cuts, and working with many of the experts in this crowd and at the organizations putting on this forum to develop innovative policy- and design-solutions that develops safe, attractive and walkable places in District 9 and across Austin.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

There are a number of ways in which City Council meetings, our internal government bureaucracy, and the process of campaigning can be more representative and accessible for everyday Austinites. First, women, LGBTQIA people, and people of color are extremely underrepresented on our appointed city commissions. As your city council member, I will appoint commissioners that truly reflect the diversity of our city. Additionally, We must ensure interpretation services for people with disabilities and/or non-English speakers at any public-facing city government events and uplift the voices of our disabled neighbors to ensure accessibility in all parts of city life. Moreover, I will expand on our existing Campaign Finance and Elections Act as a city to close loopholes of personal loans to campaigns by independently wealthy candidates which still allows for the disparity against people-powered campaigns. While we can't legislatively ensure the public trusts our council, my commitment to frequent and accessible town halls, public input, transparency, and civic engagement reforms will hopefully work towards that goal.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

We must make the process to deliver housing faster and less expensive. We can do this through conscious efforts to move the site plan and permitting processes away from discretionary (unelected, policy making, boards and commissions) to administrative (staff with technical understanding of the rules) to create a greater level of predictability for all parties involved in the building process.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Whatever you call it: defunding or reimagining, Austin is less safe today than when these policies were implemented more than two years ago. We deserve the best public servants, first responders, and social services. Austin should be a leader in creating a better model, not relying on left over ideas from other failed cities. My priority is to mend the relationship with those individuals that serve and protect our city.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

I would start with identifying and clearing a path to utilizing city owned property as a first step towards assessing and housing those in need. I would also move us away from the failed policies of the past 8 years, specifically Housing First, and bring the experts that are on the ground into the room to clearly define our short- and long-term goals to develop a real strategy and budget to achieve those goals.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

As a council member, I will ensure that the project our citizens have voted on and approved have the right people at the table to ensure that we deliver the most impactful improvements of project connect as quickly as possible. I-35 is a monumental opportunity for us to utilize TxDOT money to begin to repair the damage done when the construction of the freeway separated our city.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

I cannot effectively govern without the trust of my constituents. I will do everything in my power to get the stakeholders and experts in the room to establish facts and move away from speculation. Speculation can be crippling to the process and will not only fuel a lack of trust with my office but will increase the divisiveness that already exists between those on opposite sides of a debate.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

I will focus in three areas: 1. collaboration on council to make common sense, equitable and climate-focused updates to our land use policies including lowering parking requirements and streamlining permitting; 2. develop programs to ensure housing affordability for seniors and disabled Austinites while using affordable housing and anti-displacement funds to build income-restricted housing; and 3. leverage city-owned land with new incentives to build workplace housing for essential workers such as firefighters, paramedics, teachers and nurses.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Austin is one of America’s safest big cities, but we must continue to improve by investing in our EMS department to bring subpar staffing levels and wages up, increase funding in mental health resources to unburden our police officers, and ensure our fire department is able to remain a leader in the state. I will collaborate with public safety professionals and community leaders to ensure accountability and equity are at the forefront of this work.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

Houston and Boston have shown that city governments can have tremendous success by collaborating from community and private partners. While I support Austin’s recent housing-first approach to addressing homelessness, our efforts have been latent and reactive rather than proactive. By leveraging city-owned land and investing in mental health, addiction and other programs, Austin can more effectively ensure we are helping our unhoused neighbors with both shelter and services that truly enhance quality of life outcomes.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

The voter-approved Project Connect is a great start in our community’s desire to build for equity, mobility and sustainability. Sadly, the TxDOT plan to expand I-35 is a dark cloud hanging over Austin that could exacerbate the cultural and socio-economic divides of the last century, and I strongly oppose the expansion. Along with reducing our reliance on cars, we must continue to invest in walkability, bike lanes and other efforts which generate less harmful carbon emissions and prevent sprawl.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

Serving on City Council should not be about political ambition or holding onto power, but instead about public service. I fundamentally believe this service is only possible through active listening, collaboration and problem solving. For too long, Austinites have felt a lack of responsiveness from their government, and I intend to address this by holding open office hours, being a frequent face in the District 9 community as I’ve been for years, and being accessible to the community even beyond election season.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

I think it is not just housing, it’s everything. Our ma/pa businesses are incorporated into this pricing out/ affordability mix. It’s a big picture problem, and recent inflation isn’t helping. This is not just an Austin problem, the state is looking at this as well. Locally, we need to ensure with CoA increasing permits, fees, fines, etc for those still hanging on but barely affording to, we don’t unintentionally create a death spiral of prices some out to bring others in. We must dissect Austin’s permit process. We are by far the most expensive building permits and most in quantity and price on residential permits., yet we can’t pay our city employees? Something's amiss. A full audit is needed immediately.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

Crime is at an all time high. Contract negotiations are at a critical 911; the contract is officially over. The police force only stands to deteriorate worse from this point. The lack of leadership from all parties involved is irresponsible putting safety in peril. We really need to look at the blythe areas that have been created in the district and the rapid pace in which they are expanding. This is absolutely not okay.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

We need a facility but more of a multi-resource community, suited to serve all different types of social and mental issues. While it may serve as a residence to some, this is for everyone across the community in need of social health / welfare services. Available hotline and resources other than suicide, 911 and 311. Let’s allocate a 211 type number and take some of the burden off our dismal police force.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

Infrastructure is critical. Must be upgraded to meet current demand and ensured prior to more density and a part of any major plan moving forward. Project Connect is failing and an Austinite nightmare. I also think a full review of plans , complete transparency and a regroup with all the stakeholders to set a more reasonable process with the least consequence possible. I35 expansion can learn from the mistakes of Project Connect and be handled properly and responsibly.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

Full audits and transparency on where our money is going. A full blown money trail report is needed with all details providing full transparency and maintaining such moving forward.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

We must build all types of housing for all income levels in all areas of the city, including subsidized Affordable housing and market-rate housing. To do so, we must update Austin’s 38-year-old Land Development Code to be more equitable and consistent across Austin. We can also better incentivize workforce housing development by expanding Affordability Unlocked and increasing density bonus programs. We must also streamline the permitting process (currently a significant contributor to housing costs), and increase transparency into development-related rules at the department level. We should also explore how the city can help low-income people stay in their homes through loans, expedited permitting, fee waivers, and other opportunities. The city should also explore working with UT, ACC, AISD to build housing for students, faculty, and staff, and partnering with the private sector to build employee housing.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

We know that access to housing, good paying jobs, healthy food, medical care, and opportunity creates safer communities. Unfortunately, increased economic inequities, rising mental health challenges, and reckless Republican gun policies have created significant issues across the country, including Austin. While meeting with neighbors, I have heard many concerns about the rise in crime and police response times. This is exacerbated by the current Austin Police Department (APD) vacancies, and we need to better understand how to staff the department appropriately, because everyone in our community deserves to feel safe. If we’re ever going to have faith that public safety is equitable in Austin, our City Council must work hand-in-hand with the community and APD to find common ground, because Austinites deserve to trust their police department. To rebuild trust, our city must acknowledge that Black and other Communities of Color have been overpoliced and disproportionately experience police violence, and that our officers have been overextended and asked to do too much. Austin deserves more transparency, more accountability, and better mental health response and de-escalation training for police. We also must fund ATCEMS more equitably and give our medics the tools they need. We should also increase investments in overpoliced communities, streamline grants, and lessen the administrative burden for organizations working to make Austin more equitable and safe.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

The rise in homelessness is a national humanitarian crisis fueled by Republican-ran states slashing mental health budgets, skyrocketing housing costs, and increasing economic disparities. The city's HEAL initiative is a good program, but it’s not enough, and we just learned that nearly a third of program participants left without a permanent home placement. The city must improve data collection to better understand how people are moving through HEAL, and work to decrease the time they’re waiting for housing placement. We should partner with adjacent communities and the private sector on a strategic regional plan that takes a housing first approach and increases temporary and permanent supportive housing. We should also better coordinate with the dozens of nonprofits serving those experiencing homelessness. In the meantime, those living on the streets need access to basic services to protect their health and safety. We should continue to expand access to cooling and heating centers, including transit to-and-from facilities. We should explore how other city facilities like libraries, recreation centers, and community centers can help support the unhoused community. We should also explore all options to expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

Successfully implementing Project Connect will reduce car dependence and congestion, incentivize housing development, and help Austin achieve our environmental goals. It’s truly a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make Austin a more accessible, inclusive and sustainable city. It was also great to see $300 million of anti-displacement funds included in the project. However, as we’ve seen projected costs rise, we must also consider whether the original amount is sufficient or should be increased. Additionally, I take to heart the concerns I’ve heard about construction impacting local businesses operations. As for residents, we should take measures to ensure that local businesses are minimally impacted by construction. Renovating I-35 is another significant infrastructure project with the opportunity to greatly increase transportation safety and efficiency. We must continue to push TxDOT for a design solution that minimizes impacts to homes and businesses and better connects our community. The current upper deck segment is the most dangerous stretch of road in Texas and must be addressed, but there is no sense in tearing a wider scar through the heart of the most vibrant city in America. At the very least, we must work with TxDOT to ensure that renovations allow for I-35 to be capped from 32nd Street to 38th Street, and ideally all the way up to Airport. The city should also incentivize denser, more walkable, transit-oriented development, which will reduce car dependency and increase utility efficiency. Development along Project Connect lines and other transit corridors presents an incredible opportunity to sustainably house our growing community. Dedicating right-of-way for buses on corridors will greatly improve transit, and completing the sidewalk system and the urban trail network, adding protected bike lanes, and increasing e-bike subsidies will make it safer and easier for pedestrians and bikers to traverse the city.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

The Austin City Council is suffering from a crisis of confidence. Too many people in our community see the responses to COVID and other disasters, housing affordability, homelessness, and public safety as proof that our city government simply doesn’t work, and this perpetuates anger, frustration, and distrust. This November’s election is the opportunity to bring in new leaders with fresh ideas, reset the public discourse and rebuild trust with all of our residents. As a city, we must be more transparent and accessible to the public, especially when it comes to how their tax dollars are spent. I know from working in a City Council office that constituent services are table stakes, and that you must be available to and represent everyone in your district, not just those who voted for you or can make it down to City Hall. Our office will be accessible, transparent, and visible in the community. We'll attend neighborhood meetings and hold open office hours to listen and learn about the community’s priorities and concerns, and make sure that nobody is left behind as Austin continues to evolve. The challenges we face are complicated and multifaceted, and we're not always going to agree on everything. That's okay, but the city must always be transparent if we hope to earn back the trust of our community. I've been a collaborator and a coalition-builder throughout my career, and I know that, together, we can find common ground and opportunities to make Austin a better city for us all.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

One way Austin can impact the affordability crisis willI be to provide housing supply for those at the lowest end. The best opportunities for this housing supply are obtained by developing city-owned properties. Mueller is an excellent example of this approach, although the income restricted housing is not for the lowest end. All city land used for housing must include 100% housing at 80% MFI and a percentage at 30% MFI. At least 50% of the units must be family friendly with two or more bedrooms. Ownership units must be included. I will introduce a collaboration between AISD and the City of Austin to use schools that have been closed (such as Pease Elementary.) These properties can be used for affordable housing for teachers and school staff (like the school crossing guard, clerical workers, lunchroom workers). Another useful tool is community development corporations. These are nonprofit organizations focused on revitalizing the areas in low-income, underserved neighborhoods. As a council member, I will work with these organizations as a means to increase housing stock at the lowest levels of affordability. The city’s anti-displacement strategy should include the purchase of existing structures to rehabilitate and keep them for permanent affordable housing. This strategy will prevent existing affordable housing from being converted into high income housing.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

According to statistics, Austin is a moderately safe place. Our safety and first responders are working diligently to public emergencies and crime issues. I believe any increase in crime makes me and others feel unsafe. We need updated and accurate data on combating criminal activity in our community. The delay in the cadet classes, along with higher than average retirement rates, had measurable impacts on the vacancy rates. While the vacancy rate is of course an important metric, it only tells part of the story of increasing response times, concerns about officer safety, and overall morale. The next council will have to navigate through the meet and confer process to respond to these challenges, while also rebuilding trust in the community through enhanced police accountability and oversight. We’re going to need strong council leadership to help bring us forward and achieve such a contract. I support Austin’s Reimagining Public Safety Initiative (RPS), a holistic approach to training, retraining, assessing and evolving public safety systems intended to address community needs equitably for all Austinites. I will support continued funding and if needed increased funding for Austin’s Office of Police Oversight (OPO) to increase trust between Austinites and the Austin Police Department (APD). If approved by voters, I will support the "Austin Police Oversight Act" to strengthen the oversight of Austin police and encourage accountability for officer misconduct.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

There are different populations in the homeless community, and one size does not fit all. The city should develop a system to aid people appropriately. Community First Village does a good job of creating community. The following four steps can help with homelessness: 1. Have the data—identify and engage people at risk of and experiencing homelessness; 2. Support those that have housing now who may lose it. Intervene to stop people from losing their housing and divert people from becoming homeless; 3. Have shelter and crisis service available for immediate access; 4. Connect people who are homeless to housing assistance and services that they need to help them get, maintain stable housing, and deal with problems including mental health, addictions, and unemployment.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

I see Project Connect as a transformative project. However, with the 30% design not yet completed, I have concerns about the impact of Project Connect on local businesses, the cost increases, and the environmental effect of two river crossings. As a Council Member, I’d like to serve on the CapMetro board, so that I have the opportunity and information to oversee Project Connect. I’m similarly concerned about TxDOT’s proposed widening of I-35 and subsequent displacement of an estimated 150 homes and businesses. Widening highways typically encourages more automobile traffic resulting in more pollution. I think the proposals for a greener, more sustainable I35 area will be embedded in the future Cap and Stitch process currently being worked on with stakeholder involvement. I support most of the Rethink I35 and Reconnect Austin’s goals which can be incorporated into the final plan. When I chaired the community scoping working group on this project, I established a relationship with the TxDOT staff. I will build on that relationship to find solutions for the impacts on affordability, displacement, and the environment. The City Council and members of the public need to continue to advocate for a better plan. Improving road safety requires better enforcement to ensure that drivers obey the signs and signals on the road. A public education campaign would help inform drivers of the importance of following the rules of the road.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

I decided to run for council because many people were expressing feelings of being discouraged and unheard. Many residents report that Austin holds community engagement meetings and then fails to address the public's concerns. It is vital for transparency and an effective process that staff and council listen to the public. Part of our responsibility is to listen to the public during public hearings. I will advocate for the council to return to pre-Covid rules at City Council meetings, when everyone is allowed to speak for at least 3 minutes and use time certain to make sure people can be heard. In my own office, I will create an open door policy and quarterly round table discussion to understand residents' most pressing concerns. I am willing to meet with neighborhood associations ahead of time and discuss issues with committee members. I will commit to building on my strong relationships and community trust during my service on the City Council.

How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?

Our guidestar is to ensure that there is enough housing to meet the demand near jobs, services, and opportunity, which has been proven over and over again to flatten rents and purchase prices. We also need to continue to build income-restricted units (for those earning less than the median income) to fill gaps in the existing supply for lower income earners, to provide nearby options for those displaced now and in the future, and to help provide resiliency in the housing market. We also need to continue to subsidize housing for those with the lowest incomes. Some of the mechanisms that should be approved by early 2023 and would have the quickest on-the-ground results include streamlining the development review process (including guaranteeing development timelines), eliminating car parking requirements (which both reduces costs and allows for more housing), building housing on city land, reducing development fees (temporarily and/or permanently), allowing existing residences to subdivide into multiple units, expanding Affordability Unlocked (to make it more effective and widely used, e.g., more sixplexes), and relaxing compatibility to allow more housing on corridors. By the end of 2023, we should allow more of Austin to benefit from more housing types, e.g. town homes and cottage courts, which provide more opportunities for home ownership. And we should incentivize and facilitate replacing parking lots with housing.

How safe do you believe Austin is today? Do you think any funding, staffing or operational changes are needed in the city’s public safety departments?

We need a data-driven approach to frame our response to emerging crime trends. Of major cities, Austin continues to have among the lowest violent crime rates nationwide. Most cities saw an uptick during the pandemic, regardless of changes to police forces or budgets. Our community is stronger, safer, more just, and healthier when we focus on preventative measures, e.g. social services, sidewalks, housing, education, and economic development, rather than focusing only on reactive measures that often exacerbate problems and cost much more. The Reimagining Public Safety effort helped reset unaddressed structural problems, e.g. the lack of standardized police cadet training. Though the state now prohibits any reduction in the police budget in nominal dollars, I will still pursue options to meet our community’s needs in more effective ways at lower cost. We do, however, need to increase EMS staffing levels and pay as soon as we can. I will lean on my professional relationships with public safety employees, criminal justice advocates, and health care leaders, as well as connecting with community members on the ground, to improve our public safety services. Our community members should feel safe in their city, regardless of their background, and our public safety employees should feel respected in their role by our city leadership.

How do you believe city resources should be used to address homelessness? What do you see as the most effective policy options to get people services and housing?

Homelessness has affected members of my family and, if elected, it will be a top priority for me as a council member. I firmly believe that we can and should end chronic homelessness by providing adequate permanent housing to those who need it. On the way to achieving that goal, and by 2024, we should provide a minimum of basic shelter to all those who need it. By the end of 2023, we should expand transitional or emergency shelter in order to immediately lift up the health and safety of all those who are unhoused. Our overall housing policy also plays a major role. As local housing prices rise, and more people have to spend over 30% of their income on housing, homelessness also increases. People of higher incomes outbid those who earn a little less, and the result is that those with the lowest incomes have nowhere they can afford to live. Ending chronic homelessness means that we need to allow for more housing across income levels. Indeed, there is typically a contributing factor to becoming unhoused (e.g. mental health issues, drug addiction, escaping domestic violence, job loss, systemic racism, or residence damage), and those all require attention too, but fundamentally, homelessness is a housing problem.

How should council address the implementation of larger transportation initiatives including the I-35 expansion and Project Connect? What safety and mobility improvements would you propose for city roadways and bike/pedestrian routes?

I’ve led efforts over the last 16 years to expand our city’s sidewalks, bikeways, trails, and transit access so that more people can safely and conveniently get around Austin without a car. I would build on that work by ensuring that Project Connect is successfully implemented and that our all-ages-and-abilities walking, wheelchair, and bikeway networks serve all parts of Austin. I have also led on Vision Zero road safety for car passengers and would continue that work as well. I am opposed to expanding I-35, which will displace businesses and residences, exacerbate climate change, and, according to TxDOT, result in longer travel times for most users after it’s completed. If the I-35 CapEx Central project moves forward despite local opposition, I am committed to restoring the urban fabric and maximizing what can be created at the surface, e.g. parks, affordable housing, and safer streets. I have led on Austin’s I-35 efforts for the last 8 years via Reconnect Austin, Rethink35, Our Future 35, and have played a key role in successfully depressing the main lanes and in shaping the political conversation to include residents’ input and needs. It is not yet top-of-mind to most of those in District 9, but these and other upcoming major transportation construction projects will be an inescapable part of life in the district for several years. These projects require coordination across multiple government agencies, all of which I have experience working with in my various leadership roles. To weather the construction, we will need to provide residents, workers, and visitors with enhanced bus and MetroRail access that can bypass congestion, plus preserve safe walking and bicycling access. We will need to ensure that businesses and other destinations continue to be accessible by all modes of transportation, and that any traffic flow changes are well-communicated to businesses and other stakeholders.

How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?

I would pursue several measures. Our city council meeting process and decision making structure must be made clearer to a lay person and our news media. The role that city council plays in the timelines of various city functions must also be more clearly described. Council items that have significant public interest should be heard and discussed at specified times. The roles of city expenditures and their relation to various other public budgets must be clearly relayed to the public in an understandable format. As previously mentioned, we must cycle through every city program to ensure that each program is still bringing good value to Austinites, and we should communicate that value to the public. Robust community participation is fundamental to a well-functioning government. As a community leader, I’ve participated in numerous community engagement processes and have witnessed how the quality of the process compares to the trust developed between community members and our government. I believe the best decisions can be made only when various viewpoints are heard and become a part of shaping the process and result. I recognize that not every issue can be anticipated in advance, so I’ve included Constituent Services among my campaign issues to emphasize the importance of constituent communication, and I will be responsive to emerging concerns. If elected, I would visit community meetings plus other in-person and video forums for direct engagement on a regular basis. I would also have periodic open office hours.