Austin City Council candidate Q&A

Lee Leffingwell**, Age: 72, Occupation: Mayor of Austin, Years in Austin: 20-plus, www.leffingwellformayor.com

Q: What specic initiatives would you recommend or endorse to bring the infrastructure of our neighborhoods up to the high quality and standards expected by Austin citizens?

A: We have recently gone through the worst economic period in generations, and we felt the effects here in Austin through reduced services. I will continue to work to restore library hours, neighborhood pools, parks and other community spaces that Austinites rely on. I expect every part of Austin to have high-quality infrastructure. Many of the bond projects from the 2006 and 2010 bond packages are starting to be realized, so I expect that our neighborhood roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure will improve.

Brigid Shea, Age: 57, Occupation: Environmental adviser, Years in Austin: 23, www.brigidsheaformayor.com

Q: What specic initiatives would you recommend or endorse to bring the infrastructure of our neighborhoods up to the high quality and standards expected by Austin citizens?

A: Unfortunately, the current mayor has made it his policy to give tax breaks and special incentives to his developer friends when our neighborhoods have crumbling infrastructure. So, to begin the process of bringing Austin up to the high standards we expect, I will implement new ethics guidelines that limit bundling of big campaign contributions by these special interests. Next, if a developer wants to profit from developing their land, they should pay most or all of the cost of extending infrastructure I will move to amend Chapter 25-9 of the city code to reduce the city's reimbursement of infrastructure extensions.*

Place 2

Mike Martinez**, Age: 42, Occupation: City councilman, Years in Austin: 20-plus, www.mikemartinezforaustin.com

Q: What specific initiative or initiatives would you champion for our neighborhoods that would reduce opportunities for crime?

A: I think our first order of business should be beefing up our community policing efforts. By that, I believe that we should enhance how we systematically engage neighborhoods to solve issues specific to ... geographic areas of town. I think that begins with good dialogue. The Watch in a Box strategy that NACN has adopted looks to be on that track. I'd like to do more to see how APD can properly support the proactive approaches taken by neighborhoods. I do not think we necessarily need new approaches. Rather, I think we need to do a better job with what's around and support what neighborhoods are already doing. I also think that those efforts need to be replicated across the city. That begins with education.*

Laura Pressley, Age: 49, Occupation: Chemist, business owner, Years in Austin: 23, www.pressleyforaustin.com

Q: What specific initiative or initiatives would you champion for our neighborhoods that would reduce opportunities for crime?

A: I have personally seen significant reductions in community crime when citizens, neighborhoods and APD partner together to patrol areas, educate and bring awareness of best known practices to prevent crime. Because of increased crime in our Allandale neighborhood, our neighborhood association reinvigorated and implemented a neighborhood watch program, and my husband and I participated in it. Our association purchased magnetic car signs, assigned designated areas to patrol in our vehicles, and we did this for various time periods, and we saw our incidences of theft and vandalism significantly reduced.*

Place 5

Tina Cannon, Age: 40, Occupation: Entrepreneur, Years in Austin: 19, www.tinacannon.org

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: We need to educate folks from all sides of this equation, both the panhandler[s] and the residents. Many residents feel it is a charitable outreach to give money to panhandlers or feel "bad" if they do nothing. We need to encourage folks to not give directly but to give to those organizations that are established to serve this population. By removing the opportunity for panhandlers to receive direct contributions, we in effect move them from the corners to facilities, both private and public, that are better suited to handle their issues more effectively and longer term ... Neighborhoods can do their part by encouraging cleanliness, boarding up broken windows and reporting offenders.*

Dominic "Dom" Chavez, Age: 36, Occupation: Government affairs, Years in Austin: 10, www.facebook.com/Dom4Austin

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: I do not believe we can criminalize homelessness if for no other reason than we do not have the police, court or jail resources to do that except when very serious crimes are committed. So one way we can end panhandling, specifically on our public roadways, is to enforce existing traffic laws that would penalize drivers for giving money or goods to panhandlers on street corners. This must be accompanied by a public awareness campaign that stresses to residents that giving your dollar to the Caritas, Salvation Army, Mobile Loaves and Fishes and other entities is far more productive and useful than giving it to someone on the street—no matter what their condition.*

David Conley, Age: 35, Occupation: Art director, Years in Austin: 17, www.conleyforcitycouncil.com

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: As one who has not owned a car since 2001, I spend a great deal of time walking and using buses. Of the 300,000 times I've been asked for money by "panhandlers" I have never really felt threatened. I do not consider this a major problem of high priority. If there is a greater problem I am not aware of, I will be willing to listen.

John Duffy, Age: 30, Occupation: Activist, Years in Austin: Two, www.electduffyatx.com

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: Who is it a problem for and how? I'm not going to tell someone they cannot hold a sign, or ask people for money. They have every right to, and people have every right to give them money if they choose. Clearly, the problem is with economic asymmetry. Trying to push "panhandlers" to a place where you don't have to see them is not solving a problem, but merely relocating it.

R.A. "Bo" Prudente, Age: 59, Occupation: Safety professional for Capital Metro, Years in Austin: 28

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

Prudente declined to participate in the forum.

John Rubine, Age: 41, Occupation: Hospitality professional, Years in Austin: 10, www.johnrubineaustin.org

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: I have lived in other major cities, which couldn't get a handle on this problem in a definitive way. I must confess I don't have a solution easily on hand. Our police must remain vigilant and consistently enforce the laws that are on the books. If the current laws aren't working, then they need to be strengthened or changed. This ongoing issue is yet another indication that the status quo isn't working.

Bill Spelman**, Age: 54, Occupation: City councilman, professor, Years in Austin: 23, www.billspelman.org

Q: Panhandling is a major problem in our neighborhoods. What solutions have worked in other cities, and what would you propose for Austin?

A: ... For best results, we may need to think outside the box. Some cities have created voucher programs for food and clothing, so that people can give to panhandlers with the assurance that the money will not be used for drugs or alcohol. This program deserves a fair hearing in Austin. A simpler program was adopted in Nashville and Memphis: Special parking meters that accept contributions to homeless charities—but not to panhandlers. I also want to plug my own favorite proposal: Putting the most industrious homeless folks to work sweeping streets or painting out graffiti on conspicuous and well-traveled city blocks; nearby we set down a bucket and a sign reading "Formerly homeless person hard at work; donations accepted." If we give them a chance, I think the hardworking homeless will run the panhandlers out of business.*

Place 6

Sheryl Cole**, Age: 47, Occupation: City councilwoman, Years in Austin: 25, www.sherylforaustin.com.com

Q: Briefly state what your top two priorities will be if you are elected.

A: Education: Many issues need to be addressed involving our young people, ranging from inadequate facilities to high-school dropout rates. If re-elected, I will work with the council to help implement better programs to improve our school system.

Economic development: As our city continues to grow and develop, we need to make sure that our local and minority-owned businesses have the same opportunities.*

Shaun Ireland, Age: 28, Occupation: Entrepreneur, Years in Austin: 11 months, www.irelandforaustin.com

Q: Briefly state what your top two priorities will be if you are elected.

A: 10-1 district council system: I support 10-1 the system is so broken that our African-American and Latino communities must rely on gentlemen's agreements and fight citywide just to have someone on the council. But unrepresented communities are not all ethnic ... Forty percent of Austin's population lives south of the river Not a single council member lives in South Austin or in North Austin.

Building infrastructure: Austin still loses 4 billion gallons of water every year solely due to century-old leaky water mains. Even simple infrastructure such as sidewalks is largely ignored.*

*Answer appended. Visit www.impactnews.com/austin-metro/northwest-austin for the complete answer. **Incumbant