Why do you believe you are the best fit for this office? What kind of voice would you bring to the council dais?
I recognize the frustration people feel over increasing rent prices because I face the high rents of this city myself. I know from experience how difficult it can be to make ends meet and the sacrifices it can require. I am working overtime at three jobs and one unpaid internship, while living with four guys in a two bathroom duplex. I endure the unreliable Capital Metro bus services. While at [The University of Texas], I would take the bus home to South Austin. If I was leaving UT at 3 [p.m.], I’d get home at 6 [p.m.]. If I was late to the bus by a couple of minutes, I could be getting home at 8 or later. I know people getting off of work at 5 or 6 p.m. are struggling with these same issues. I know how it feels to be constantly disappointed by the Austin government and its status quo because I actually live under it. When we had the freeze two winters ago, the government scrambled as families across Austin struggled to survive. I took my four by four and drove people to grocery stores to get supplies for their families, helped people get back to their homes, or took them to places with running water and electricity if they had none. When Steve Adler told Austin residents to stay home during COVID, then flew on a private jet to Cancun for a wedding, which extended into a vacation in Cabo, I felt as betrayed and fed up with this two faced system as any other Austinite. I am running to represent the real people of this city as a born and raised Austinite myself.
How would you work to tackle the issue of housing affordability for both renters and homeowners in the city?
The first two steps we must take is changing development codes and using public property. Changing public property codes will allow for more multi-family housing developments that are both Austin-friendly and neighborhood friendly. This would range from massive apartment complexes to small duplexes and triplexes. This would let us to have more housing on the market and help with the demands while keeping current house owners happy. Austin must also use its property wealth and turn empty lots into affordable housing. Low costs houses, and low-rent homes. These two things will allow more individuals to live in Austin and allow the city to earn more tax money. Once that occurs, property taxes can be dropped to help current homeowners and their expenses.
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?
The average response time to high-priority alerts was over a minute longer than the previous year, while citizens simultaneously faced the city's highest homicide rates since 2001. Specialized divisions like drug task forces no longer exist due to the thinly spread budget and officers have expressed their concerns over crime rates and response times due to extreme overtime hours. While budget cuts were made due to real issues, there are other ways to tackle these problems. Austin must re-evaluate these issues through the Police Oversight Office in order to determine what measures and funds are needed to guarantee proper police conduct, as well as increase citizens' safety.
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?
Fortunately, Austin qualifies for $11.4 million from the federal government to help fight homelessness, thus pulling financial responsibility off of the people. However, this money needs to be given to the hundreds of charitable organizations and non profits of Travis County. These organizations have systems and programs already in place, and have shown to be extremely effective. What we can achieve with a dollar, they can do for 50 cents.
What challenges or needs related to the overall city budget and property tax rate do you anticipate facing during your term? What fiscal strategies would you bring to the table to address those?
The main issue our city will face is overall rising prices for services. However, Austin's services have often been considered faulty and flawed in many ways. The easiest way to tackle these rising costs is to reevaluate every project, road, program, and etc. in order to find these flaws and fill them. We can be extremely more cost-effective and yet still achieve better service. This would leave the city with excess tax money that can help with any issue thrown our way in the future.
What aspects of the city’s land development code, if any, would you propose to review? How do you believe council should handle Austin’s ongoing growth and its existing neighborhoods, from individual zoning cases to broader policy updates?
Multifamily housing is a must. Many homeowners are paranoid about skyscrapers being open right next door, but really there are duplex options, triplex options, and so many more that would achieve what this city needs and not jeopardize neighborhoods. For overall policy updates, the city of Austin needs to update all code on 20-year or even 10-year basis. 1984 development codes hurt this city and cause Code Next to fail and leave this city in peril.
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 am the only candidate to be opposed to both projects mentioned. I-35 only helps people driving through Austin, not in it, and Project Connect destroys so many aspects of this city that make it amazing. This city needs to learn to develop a noncar commute culture. We need to reevaluate Cap Metro and Project Connect to make them both cost less and be much more effective. Why constantly expand a pipe when you can just eliminate the need for it.
Austin has weathered several disasters in recent years. How would you rate the city’s response to such incidents and what changes, if any, would you propose for civic emergency management operations?
COA and Texas have simply failed Austin on every occasion. Austin always flaunts its money, well its time to divert those funds for better planning and infrastructure for these issues. Even if a natural disaster is unlikely or near-impossible, Austin should have programs and equipment ready to go anyway. The city of Austin is weird, and so is the weather. So we must be prepared for it.
What is your familiarity with Austin City Council meetings and city governance processes?
I have attended too many meetings to count and have read too many procedures to count. I have a headache with everything in my head so my familiarity is high.
How would you promote accessibility, transparency, and trust between City Council and the public?
We need to force every department, every project, and even city council to have monthly or even weekly reports on progress, spending, and whatever else. The city needs to see where the money is and how its being used. If we can allow a finger to be pointed at a specific place, then responsibility and accountability can be achieved.
