JF: As Public Safety Chair, I’m leading a transparent process that includes officers and expert insight; research-driven data; training overhaul; and new investments in mental health 911 call diversion. I’m committed to ensuring a pragmatic approach and fiscal prudence by focusing on crime prevention, investments in public health, saving money and remaining one of the safest major cities in the U.S. First responders are our partners in public safety reform to serve and protect all citizens.

JF: In the wake of the SXSW cancellation, and as we saw the economic impact on our community, I authored programs that support small businesses, nonprofits, child care facilities and more. City Council has worked proactively to address the immediate health, safety and economic needs of our most vulnerable by designing programs to help renters and homeowners with their monthly obligations as well.

JF: Essential workers are the backbone of our community. To protect them, I authored a program to provide grants for businesses to cover costs of pandemic compliance and PPE, and we will continue to encourage and enforce masks and social distancing rules to bring virus rates down. Ultimately, we need state and [federal] support to ensure wide-scale testing, vaccine support and continued economic resources.

JF: Rapidly rising rents and out-of-control appraisals have made it nearly impossible for essential workers and the next generation to afford to live in our city. We need to streamline a regulatory process that adds unnecessary barriers and costs to building new housing, including transit-oriented developments, expanding affordable housing programs and other regulations to encourage diverse housing options in all parts of the city.

JF: It’s important that publicly funded amenities, such as the portion of the River Place trail funded by the state of Texas, remain free and accessible to the entire community. It is critical that we continue to invest equitably across the city in publicly funded parks and open space. I have also worked in partnership with the YMCA to identify additional recreation and sports facilities for District 6.

DH: The city has the duty and responsibility to provide for the public safety of its residents. As a result of Council’s cuts, academy classes were cut, and staffing levels were reduced to 2015 levels. Further, the governor proposed to take over Austin’s police services and drastically reduce the city’s ability to grow and raise revenue. I will advocate to restore the police budget and seek avenues to fund vital mental health services to at-risk populations.

DH: I have over 30 years of experience in the public sector, and as a manager, [I have] experienced numerous economic downturns and legislative-, agency- or court-imposed budget reductions. I have both training and experience in addressing the impact of pandemics and disasters on community lifelines across the state. The world is facing a sea change brought on by COVID-19. As a city, we must be more nimble in our response and be better prepared for the next.

DH: One of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 outbreak is that the city can continue to provide many essential government services via telecommuting and technology. I will advocate for departmental policies and practices that allow for this wherever practicable. The city must remain committed to following best practices and directives from public health authorities and the governor. We owe it to our city employees to provide safe, secure, and sanitary working conditions.

DH: First, we must determine if our current approaches to affordable housing and building strategies in the city are reflective of the post-COVID-19 economy and the changing economic needs of our residents. Then, we can determine the economic mitigation activities the city is willing to undertake, if any. Can we better leverage existing affordability programs? Simply increasing housing density does not equal housing affordability. We must stop increasing the tax burden on homeowners.

DH: The city should remain committed to providing outdoor and recreational resources for its residents at the facilities that it owns and the right to set hours and capacity. Limited districts and private property owners have the right to set conditions upon the use of their facilities and spaces, including admission fees. If practical, the city should investigate entering into access agreements with limited district facilities within city limits that it does not own.

MK: “Reimagining public safety” should never mean taking funding away when there are problems that need to be addressed. Our council needs to have the ability to identify and address problems before defunding occurs with a solid plan in place that is data-driven. The problems that the police are experiencing are expensive problems. With current staffing, if we do not hire more officers to make up for those leaving, our city will not be safe.

MK: With our current unemployment rate as high as it is, our council should work with state and federal leaders to create programs for those out of work. They also need to coordinate aid to assist businesses that may need it. Currently, council is playing political games with the state, and I would put an end to that. At the end of the day, it’s about helping the people, not whose partisan side you’re on.

MK: COVID has placed unique challenges on our community we have not experienced before. I would push for regulations that allowed businesses to keep at-risk workers working from home in order to help keep them safe. I also believe that personal responsibility is key to reducing the spread of the virus. If those that want to go back to work feel safe enough to do so, the city needs to let them.

MK: One of the great American dreams is homeownership, and our leadership in Austin is eroding the affordability and infrastructure access to that dream. The densification efforts of council have led to not only higher taxes and rents but are also rapidly displacing longtime homeowners near the metro area. Gentrification has become overwhelmingly problematic under the current leadership, and I will fight to end the movement toward the failures that are causing our community problems.

MK: My understanding is that the River Place Limited District’s decision was made after their plan to maintain the trail rules failed. Residents deserve equal access to outdoor recreational resources within the city limits; however, with defunding of the park police, it would be difficult to enforce rules and heavy trash left behind, such as what happened at the River Place Trail. Our residents all deserve clean and safe trails.

JM: I oppose the rhetoric of council in “defunding” the police for the sole purpose of grandstanding, particularly when council was already in the midst of the 2021 budget cycle. We must restore the cadet classes. We need to bring community-engaged policing times to the national standard. We should offer and require continuing education and team drills to keep our officers abreast of latest data driven methodologies and to root out violence and racial prejudice.

JM: The first step is to bring down and control the community positivity rate so that we can safely advance our staged opening and allow all our children to get back into the classrooms, all our families to get back to work and to get all of our businesses open. We need to partner with our tech and private industries to develop innovative business options for our musicians and creative artists.

JM: Our hospital has triaged and cared for patients severely ill with COVID-19 while maintaining a less-than-1% conversion rate in our staff. We need decisive medical leadership on the dais to advocate and fund public education, public PPE and public discipline with safety measures. We need an organized and funded trace/isolate program. We need medical leadership on the dais to ensure an equitable, data-driven approach to vaccination through [Austin Public Health] when this becomes available.

JM: There are two distinct issues: affordability and inventory. Affordability begins with fiscal discipline in the city budget, including audits of major departments. The city needs to streamline the permitting processes. We do need a modernized land code; however, the city needs to abandon costly litigation against property owners and instead seek a collaborative approach to expand affordable inventory in all districts. There are welcome opportunities around transit-oriented nodes without encroaching on Austin’s vibrant and diverse neighborhoods.

JM: The trails have remained free and open to the public over 90% of operational hours. Unfortunately, this is another example of [the city of Austin] and incumbent [candidate Flannigan's] failure to respond to the needs in D6. The LD has collaborated with [the Balcones Canyon Conservation Plan], [Texas Parks & Wildlife], [Austin Fire Department] and local stakeholders to create a safe, sustainable green space for all users. The fee is solely for trail management. Having served on a parks and rec board, [I know] the [city] needs to allocate supportive resources.