[District 4 City Council Candidate Forum ]
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HELLO, AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S SPECIAL ELECTION FOR DISTRICT FOUR CANDIDATE FORUM.
I AM CAROL ECHO CAMP WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AUSTIN AREA, OUR LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION.
TO HELP YOU GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES VYING FOR YOUR VOTE AS A LOCAL CHAPTER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN, LISTEN, POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF MEN AND WOMEN PROMOTING INFORMED AND ACTIVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
AND LAST YEAR ON THIS DATE, THERE WAS AN ATTACK ON THE US CAPITOL AND THE ATTACK ON OUR DEMOCRACY.
YOU ALL SIT HERE AS CANDIDATES FOR DISTRICT FOUR, AND OUR EXAMPLES OF THE GOOD THINGS IN OUR DEMOCRACY.
IF ELECTED, YOU WILL REPRESENT THE CITIZENS OF THIS DISTRICT AND WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EFFECT CHANGE ON A LOCAL LEVEL.
THIS IS HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.
SO LET'S GET STARTED CANDIDATES.
YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS AND TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENTS, AND WE'LL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
OUR TIMEKEEPER WILL HOLD UP A YELLOW WARNING CARD AT THE 32ND MARK AND A RED CARD.
WHEN YOUR TIME EXPIRES CANDIDATES ARE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS ON THEIR OPPONENTS.
IN THE EVENT, A CANDIDATE LOSES THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS FORUM.
YOU MAY RECONNECT AND YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MISSED TIME PERMITTING.
WE WILL BEGIN IN BALLOT ORDER AND ROTATE.
SO EACH OF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER FIRST.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS ON THE BALLOT.
MS. RIOS IS LISTED FIRST, BUT NOT IN ATTENDANCE AT THIS FORUM.
SO , WE'LL HAVE THE FIRST QUESTION.
SO LET'S BEGIN NOT THE FIRST QUESTION, BUT THE INTRO.
SO IT MAKES PUNTO, WE WILL BEGIN WITH YOU FOR YOUR ONE MINUTE INTRODUCTION.
YOU ARE MUTED, PLEASE UNMUTE FOR US.
BOTH OF YOU FOR THE WARM WELCOME AND, UM, UH, SHOULD I, AS MY TIME STARTING, SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND START? YES, MA'AM IT HAS ALREADY STARTED.
UH, I AM NOT A POLITICIAN, UM, BUT I CAN BE VERY POLITICAL.
I'M A TEACHER AND ARTIST AND A SINGLE PARENTS.
I TEACH FULL TIME AT A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL.
AND IN DISTRICT FOUR, I WORK AT A NORTH AUSTIN RESTAURANT EVERY WEEKEND AND PICK UP EXTRA GIGS SO I CAN PAY BILLS AND TAKE CARE OF MY CHILDREN.
ON MY FREE TIME, I SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
I HAVE SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT AND CO PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION.
UM, I SERVE ON THE NACA CONTACT PLANNING TEAM.
I FORMED THE NORTH AUSTIN PARENT ADVOCACY ADVOCACY GROUP.
I SERVE ON THE DISTRICT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND THE CAMPUS ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR NAVARRO EARLY COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL AND AUSTIN AUSTIN, INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I AM A MODERATOR AND CRISIS SUPPORT FOR THE AUSTIN MUTUAL AID, UM, AN ORGANIZATION THAT SUPPORTS THE UNHOUSED.
UH, AND I AM LOOKING TO SUPPORT THE THAI ASSOCIATION OF CENTRAL TEXAS.
I WANT TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN ENGAGING IN DISTRICT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO WORK TOGETHER, TO IDENTIFY CHALLENGES, GOALS, AND CONTINUE IN PURSUIT OF OUR UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE.
AND SO ON THE NEXT BALLOT ORDER WOULD BE MS. SHIRA, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR YOUR INTRODUCTION.
I'M RUNNING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR, BASED ON MY LONG-TIME EXPERIENCE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR NORTH AUSTIN, I HAVE, I WAS ELECTED AS VICE PRESIDENT AND PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION FOR SEVEN YEARS.
A MEMBER FOR 10, I HAVE SPENT THE 10 YEARS COLLABORATING WITH APD TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
LEADING NUMEROUS BEAUTIFICATION EFFORTS, ADVOCATING FOR IMPROVED PARKED PARK EQUIPMENT AND ADDRESSING ZONING REQUESTS ON THE NACA CONTACT TEAM.
I SPENT A YEAR AS A LEAD ORGANIZER FOR THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY TREE PROGRAM.
ANOTHER YEAR SUPPORTING SAVOR HOUSING FOR AUSTIN'S REPEAT OFFENDER PROGRAM AND ANOTHER YEAR BRINGING RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT FOUR TOGETHER AS A LEAD ORGANIZER FOR OUR VERY FIRST DISTRICT FOUR CANDIDATE FORUM.
I LED THE EFFORT TO PUBLICLY ADVOCATE FOR A RAIL THAT WOULD SERVE NORTH LAMAR, AT LEAST TO RUN BERG.
I LED THE EFFORT TO INCREASE ZONING ON NORTH LAMAR DURING THE MOST RECENT CODE NEXT PROCESS, WHILE NEGOTIATING THE REMOVAL OF INCREASED ZONING FOR DISTRICT ON RUNDBERG LANE.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IN CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. LAVERA UNMUTE.
AND IT'S YOUR ONE MINUTE INTRODUCTION.
LAVERA BORN AND RAISED AUSTINITE AND I HAVE LIVED IN DISTRICT FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE WHERE I NOW RAISE MY TWO CHILDREN.
I'M READY TO BRING THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE TO THE DECISION-MAKING
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TABLE AT CITY HALL.OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THIS CITY, THROUGH MY CURRENT WORK AS COMMUNITY LEADER.
IN MY CURRENT ROLE WITH WOMEN WHO WORK AND VARIOUS LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE MULTIFAMILY HOUSING INDUSTRY, MY EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOPERS, AND THE HOUSING MARKET UNIQUELY QUALIFIED ME FOR THIS ROLE, I WILL BRING REAL-WORLD KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO CITY COUNCIL.
MY PRIORITIES ARE HOUSING AFFORDABILITY, PUBLIC SAFETY, HOMELESSNESS SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND EMERGENCY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS.
I AM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CANDIDATE.
I UNDERSTAND THE HOUSING MARKET FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND WANT TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO OUR AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.
ADDITIONALLY, I BELIEVE THAT POLICYMAKING AND SPENDING THAT AFFECTS THE LIVES OF ALL OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS IN THE SHORT AND LONGTERM MUST BE CENTERED BY THE COMMUNITY'S VOICE AND NEEDS IN ORDER TO TRULY ACHIEVE THIS COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT IS VITAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. GUZMAN.
I'M MONICA GUZMAN, NATIVE AUSTINITE AND THE NEIGHBORHOOD CANDIDATE.
I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER WHO HAS WORKED WITH AND SUPPORTED LOW INCOME RESIDENTS TO INCREASE ACCESS TO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE AND TO STOP GENTRIFICATION AND DISPLACEMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE AND WAS THE CHAIR OF THE RESTORE RUNDBERG REVITALIZATION TEAM.
AUSTIN HAS AN INCREDIBLE PRECEDENT OF PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND GREEN SPACES THAT I STRONGLY SUPPORT AT THE SAME TIME.
HOWEVER MANY FOLKS LIVING HERE FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE BEING LEFT BEHIND THREATENED BY GENTRIFICATION AND OVERDEVELOPMENT RENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS LIKE ARE BEING PRICED OUT OF THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY GREW UP IN.
WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE OUR VALUES AND OUR PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED IN CITY HALL.
UH, UM, UH, CHIEF DEVELOPS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE, UM, RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL BECAUSE I WANT AUSTIN TO BE A WELCOMING CITY FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
I WANT MY CHILDREN TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS THEY GREW UP IN.
UH, I'M ORIGINALLY FROM LAREDO, TEXAS.
I MOVED TO AUSTIN ABOUT 30 YEARS AGO TO ATTEND UT LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, AND I'VE NEVER LEFT, UM, UH, IMMIGRATION AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
AND I'VE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
I WAS A BOARD CHAIR OF THE WORKERS DEFENSE PROJECT ON IMMIGRANT AND LABOR RIGHTS ORGANIZATION.
I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLANTON ELEMENTARY PTA AND I WAS GREG KOSSAR'S APPOINTEE TO THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO I HAVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BOTH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT I WILL BRING TO THE TABLE AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT FOUR.
I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND PLEASE GO TO CHEETO, VELLA.COM TO FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AND FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND INSTAGRAM AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE GENERAL QUESTIONS AND MIX BONITA.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU.
SO MS. , IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED A $1 MILLION GRANT TO FUND PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES FOR CHILDREN, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVOCATE TO DO WITH THAT? AND WHY? IF THE CITY RECEIVES THE $1 MILLION GRANTS, UM, FOR CHILDREN, UM, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY ADVOCATE THAT WE, UM, FIND OUT FROM AN AND IF THIS IS GOING TO THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN, UM, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, UM, ARE GOING TO RECEIVE COMMUNITY INPUT AS TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
BUT FOR SURE THAT, UM, I KNOW AS AN EDUCATOR THAT A LOT OF OUR CHILDREN NEED ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, UM, NEED ACCESS TO DENTAL CARE.
UM, AND SO ALL THESE, UM, UH, YOU KNOW, EARMARKED DOLLARS THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO OUR COMMUNITY, I REALLY, REALLY HOPE THAT WE CAN, UM, GET COMMUNITY INPUT.
I AM GOING TO BE A HUGE PROPONENT OF ASKING FOR COMMUNITY TO SPEAK UP, TO LET US KNOW WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE BEFORE I ACTUALLY DECIDE WHAT, WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY FOR THEM.
THANK YOU, MS. SHERA, LET'S SAY THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED A MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO IMPROVE LOCAL PARKS.
WHAT WOULD YOU ADVOCATE THAT THEY DO WITH THAT AND WHY? THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.
AND I WISH THAT WAS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
UM, I'VE SPENT MANY YEARS, UH, VOLUNTEERING FOR A BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS AT OUR SCHOOLS, WHETHER IT WAS PARTNERING WITH THE UT PROJECT DAY OR, UM, COMPLETING A GRANT FUNDED PROJECT TO ADD A GOGGLE BALL PIT TO COOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
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SUPPORTIVE OF THAT.AND I THINK THAT MY PRIORITY WOULD BE TO FOCUS FIRST ON OUR COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS.
IF THE CITY OF AUSTIN RECEIVED A $1 MILLION GRANT TO CREATE AN ANTI-VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVOCATE TO DO WITH IT AND WHY? ABSOLUTELY.
SO I WOULD DEFINITELY ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY POLICING BECAUSE IT WORKS.
I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT THAT IS A HUGE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN DISTRICT FOUR WITH THE HIGHEST CRIME IN ALL OF AUSTIN FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS AND INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY AND THE KIDS AND FOCUSING ON OUR NEXT GENERATION IS CRUCIAL AS WELL AS PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR, UH, VULNERABLE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, INCLUDING WOMEN IN SELF-DEFENSE, UH, TYPE OF THINGS AND HOW TO HANDLE SITUATIONS AND MENTAL HEALTH AND, UM, STABILITY IN EMOTIONAL WELLBEING TO BE ABLE TO DEFLECT ON IF THEY'RE IN A SITUATION OF, OF, UH, SERIOUSNESS IN CRIME.
THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN, IF YOU RECEIVED A $10 MILLION GRANT FOR THE SEAT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, HOW WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO USE THAT ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN? WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH IT AND WHY $10 MILLION GRANT CITY WIDE.
I WOULD USE IT TO FUND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, PUT FORTH BY THE REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TASK FORCE, STARTING WITH MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE EQUITABLE REINVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY.
DOING SO OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCESS TO PARKLAND.
GREENSPACES, THAT'S BENEFICIAL FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GETTING NATURAL VITAMIN D AND THE MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR CITIZENS TO ACCESS THE CITY COUNCIL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS.
THEY GET LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE, DIGITALLY INCLUSIVE, AND THERE ARE OTHER PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY, UH, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH.
AND AT TIMES, UNFORTUNATELY, UNRECOGNIZED FOR THE WORK THEY DO, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST TWO YEARS IN LIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY NEED BETTER PAY.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO BE CONTRIBUTING TO AISD PAYING FOR THEIR PARENT, A PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
THEY ARE THE FRONT LINERS FOR THE FAMILIES.
THANK YOU, MR. VELA, IF AUSTIN RECEIVED A $1 MILLION GRANT TO CREATE AN ANTI-VEGF VIOLENCE CAMPAIGN, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVOCATE TO DO WITH IT AND WHY? I WOULD INVEST IT IN YOUTH PROGRAMS. I FIND THAT, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECREATION, FOR LEARNING, UH, BASKETBALL LEAGUES, UH, MENTORING PROGRAMS, UH, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, SWIMMING, THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
WHEN YOU ENGAGE CHILDREN IN MEANINGFUL RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT OFTEN STEERS THEM INTO A MORE POSITIVE TYPE ABOVE, UH, ENVIRONMENT, AS OPPOSED TO KIDS WHO DON'T HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND WHO ARE JUST FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN APARTMENT COMPLEX, WITHOUT ACCESS TO RECREATION, WITHOUT ACCESS TO, UH, TO ENJOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TO, UH, YOU KNOW, ENJOY AND, AND BLOW OFF STEAM AND LEARN.
SO I WOULD INVEST THAT IN, UH, IN OUR KIDS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE OVER INTO CITY SERVICES AND MS. SHIRA, THIS, YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO FIRST ON THIS, AND THESE ARE CITYWIDE AND POSSIBLY ONE FOR DISTRICT FOUR, BUT THINK CITYWIDE, THE AGING ROADS AND BRIDGES ARE CHALLENGES FOR MANY CITIES AS AUSTIN HAS EXPERIENCED EXPLOSIVE GROWTH IN THE LAST DECADE.
THE YOU BELIEVE THE CITY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS ON OUR AGING ROADS AND BRIDGES.
WHY OR WHY NOT? I HAVE SEEN, UM, I'D SAY THE MOST INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I, I, UM, I'VE SEEN THE MOST IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
I, I GUESS A PART OF THAT, MY CONCERN IS OUR UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS AND ENSURING THAT WE REALLY FOCUS ON DIVERSIFYING OUR ENERGY SOURCES AND FOCUSING ON RENEWABLE
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ENERGY.WE'RE GOING TO AND ASK YOU THAT SAME QUESTION, UH, ON THE AGING, YOU KNOW, OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND DO YOU THINK THE CITY HAS DONE A GOOD JOB ON KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS ON OUR AGING ROADS AND BRIDGES? WHY OR WHY NOT? YES.
UM, I DO NOT FEEL THAT WE HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB IN KEEPING UP WITH THE AGING ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE IN GENERAL.
UM, I SEE I'VE SEEN THIS IN THE BUSINESS WORLD OF, YOU KNOW, A SMALL COMP COMPANY THAT GROWS TOO QUICKLY AND THE SYSTEMS AND THE OPERATIONS DO NOT EVOLVE WITH THEM.
AND I SEE THAT IN THE CITY HEAVILY, ESPECIALLY IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH ALL OF THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS HAPPENED, THE INFRASTRUCTURE HAS NOT BEEN PAID ATTENTION TO IN THE LONG-TERM AND WE ARE SUFFERING THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEM LATER OR NOW AND LATER TO COME.
AND I FEEL THAT THERE IS A STRONG NEED TO INVEST FURTHER AND REALLY DO AN ANALYSIS OF TARGETING AND ADDRESSING THESE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES AND THE ROADS AND, UM, SIDEWALKS THAT WE HAVE TO IMPROVE AND HAVE THE BEST THAT WE CAN FOR OUR CITY.
THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN, BASED ON THE 2021 WINTER STORM EXPERIENCE, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE THE CITY'S TOP PRIORITIES SHOULD BE TO PREPARE FOR ANY FUTURE EXPERIENCES LIKE THAT? THE CITY'S TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE WHAT THEY HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, MANY RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTH AND EASTERN, EXCUSE ME, NORTH AND SOUTHERN PART OF THE EASTERN CRESCENT, WHICH ARE ZIP CODES, 4 4, 4, 5, 5, 2 5, 3, AND FIVE EIGHT.
UM, THEY, THEY SPOKE UP, THEY CAME TOGETHER.
I KNOW THAT BOTH CITY AND AISD LEADERSHIP HAS HEARD THEM.
THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS TO USE AS NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS AND RESILIENCE, UH, SHELTERS, BOTH IN THE CLIMATE STRESSOR AND CLIMATE INDUCING, THREATENING WEATHER, BUT ALSO WHEN WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH THAT, USE THEM AS COMMUNITY PLACES, PLACES FOR TRAINING, BUT BACK TO THE WINTER STORM IS THEY NEED TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, GIVE MONEY TO AISD FOR THE PARENT SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
THAT'S WHO THE FAMILIES TURN TO FIRST, THEY ARE UNDERPAID, AND WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE AUSTIN PUBLIC HEALTH AND OTHER OFFICES SUSTAINABILITY ARE RECEIVING SUFFICIENT FUNDING SO THEY CAN MAKE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NEEDED FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU, MR. VELA, WE'RE GOING TO SCHOOL.
WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE CITY OF AUSTIN FOR ITS UPKEEP OF THE MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY IN THE FACE OF EXPONENTIAL GROWTH, INCLUDING OUR PURIFICATION SYSTEMS, SEWERS AND DRAINAGE ON WHAT DO YOU BASE THIS GRADE AND HOW CAN AUSTIN IMPROVE IT? THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY, UH, B UH, THE CAPACITY OF THE SYSTEM HAS INCREASED WITH THE INVESTMENT, A WATER TREATMENT PLANT, UH, FOR, I BELIEVE, UH, BUT AUSTIN'S DRAINAGE STILL HAS ROOM TO IMPROVE.
WE STILL HAVE FLOODING PROBLEMS IN THE CITY THAT CONTINUE TO POP UP DURING OUR, OUR VERY HEAVY THUNDERSTORM SEASON.
UH, AND THE OTHER ISSUE WITH WATER THAT I WOULD POINT TO, AND THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DEAL WITH IS OUR PER CAPITA WATER CONSUMPTION HERE IN AUSTIN IS HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD BE.
UH, MANY YEARS AGO, FOR EXAMPLE, SAN ANTONIO REALLY INVESTED IN EL PASO ALSO HAVE REALLY INVESTED IN REDUCING, UH, LAWN WATERING AND REALLY TRYING TO GET THEIR PER CAPITA WATER CONSUMPTION DOWN.
I THINK THAT THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN AUSTIN, SO WE CAN REDUCE OUR WATER USAGE, ESPECIALLY GIVEN, YOU KNOW, THE, THE DROUGHTS AND ISSUES THAT WE'VE SEEN WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, MIXED BHUTTO IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, WHAT CITY SERVICES DO DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS MOST NEED, AND WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR ADDRESSING THIS NEED? THANK YOU.
UM, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UM, THE FOUR DISTRICT FOUR, UM, IN HEARING, UH, FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY IN HEARING, UH, FROM, UM, APD, UM, AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, I THINK THAT WHAT WE'RE NEEDING IS, UH, A COMBINATION OF SERVICES.
I CAN'T JUST SAY THAT WE NEED, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC SAFETY, JUST, UM, APD, UM, POLICE OFFICERS TO BE ABLE TO PATROL.
UM, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT WITH A COMBINATION OF MENTAL HEALTH OFFICERS OF, UM, WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES,
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UM, SO THAT EMS AND, UM, UH, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND APD HAVE THE SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED TO FULLY ADEQUATELY SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY.WHAT, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND PREPARES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN DECISION-MAKING ABOUT THE CITY'S LARGE COMMERCIAL PURCHASES AS HOUSING SOLUTIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS? MY EXPERIENCE THAT I THINK, UM, REALLY DIFFERS FROM OTHER CANDIDATES IS JUST HOW MUCH TIME I'VE SPENT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND, UM, MAKING, GETTING COMMUNITY FEEDBACK, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT AS FAR AS DETERMINING THE BEST LOCATION DOES THAT LOCATION, UH, PROVIDES THE NEARBY SERVICES THAT MAY BE NEEDED AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
UM, I WOULD ALSO SAY, UM, I THINK THAT THAT'S GOOD.
THANK YOU, MS. LAVERA UM, DO YOU THINK BUYING HOTELS IS AN EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE STRATEGY TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS AND WHY OR WHY NOT? I DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT ADDRESS ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE THAT CAUSE HOMELESSNESS.
UM, OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IS DIVERSE AS WELL.
AND I SEE THIS FROM A PROPERTY MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT AND I HAVE MANAGED DEPARTMENTS AND, UM, IT, IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIT DISASTROUS AND MANAGING THOSE HOTELS FOR HOUSING AND ESPECIALLY WITH MENTAL HEALTH, WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND OTHER FACTORS THAT ARE, THAT THE HOMELESSNESS ARE EXPERIENCING.
UM, THERE, IT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE COUNSELING.
WE NEED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND SUBSTANTIAL HELP TO BRING THE HOMELESS POPULATION OUT OF HOMELESSNESS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN, WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE CITY'S PROGRAMS TO ALLEVIATE HOMELESSNESS AND WHY? I WOULD GIVE THEM A, B MAYBE A B MINUS THAT THE HEAL POLICY WAS GREAT, BUT IT REALLY WASN'T ENOUGH.
UM, JUST LIKE PURCHASING THE HOTELS.
AT LEAST IT GETS THEM OFF THE STREET, WHICH IS IMPORTANT, BUT THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE FUNDING FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.
THERE NEEDS TO BE MONEY AVAILABLE FOR CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE CITY, AUSTIN, PUBLIC HEALTH AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE HOMELESS.
THERE NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS TRUE LIVING WAGES, THAT THERE IS HOUSING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THEM PROGRAMS, WRAPAROUND SERVICES AT THOSE PLACES, THERE'S PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, THERE'S RAPID HOUSING.
THERE'S, THERE'S TWO MAIN WAYS TO GET SOMEONE HOUSED, BUT IT'S A RANKING SITUATION AND REQUIRES A COORDINATED ASSESSMENT.
AND THEN YOU ARE RANKED BASED ON NEED.
UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S NOT ENOUGH MONEY OR LOCATIONS TO GET ALL OF THEM HOUSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHAT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, IF ANY, ARE NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE AND WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY OF THOSE ADDITIONAL SERVICES? I'M HAPPY THAT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY HAVE COME TOGETHER TO INVEST A LITTLE MORE THAN $200 MILLION IN HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS, UH, OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THERE ARE ABOUT TWO TO 3000 UNITS OF HOUSING, UH, FOR, UH, HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS IN THE PIPELINE.
UH, I THAT'S AN IMPORTANT FIRST STEP AND IT'S GOING TO BE, UH, AN, AN EXCELLENT MOVE FORWARD.
I DO THINK THAT THE CITY'S POLICY OF THE HOTEL PURCHASES IS A GOOD ONE TOO, BEFORE WE CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THE MORE COMPLEX ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, DRUG ADDICTION ISSUES, TRAUMA THAT PEOPLE ON THE STREETS ARE DEALING WITH.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE A HOME IT'S DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE SERVICES CONSISTENTLY TO SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT HAVE AN ADDRESS.
WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM A FIXED LOCATION BEFORE WE CAN ADDRESS A LOT OF THOSE OTHER ISSUES.
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AND PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS TO PROVIDE HOUSING AND SERVICES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN LIVING IN HOMELESSNESS? AND HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED? I THINK THAT THE MORE THE MERRIER I DO NOT SEE WHY WE COULDN'T HAVE, UM, PRI PRIVATE AND PUBLIC, UM, ENTITIES WORK TOGETHER TO HELP ADDRESS THIS, UH, PRESSING, UM, CONCERN THAT I KNOW MY FRIENDS ARE EXPERIENCING.UM, I DO WHAT I CAN IN MY WORK TO SUPPORT THE UNHOUSED, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR ME OR ANYBODY, UM, ANY, ANY OF US IN THIS ROOM, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS WORK.
AND SO IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO FIND SOLUTIONS TOGETHER, WHICH I KNOW WE HAVE THIS, UH, CAPACITY IN 21ST CENTURY, AUSTIN WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGIES AND ADVANCEMENTS THAT WE HAVE AND ALL THE MONEY THAT WE SEE COMING INTO THE CITY, $2 MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH.
LET'S BRING MORE MONEY INTO HOW WE CAN SOLVE, UM, NOT A PROBLEM, BUT HOW WE CAN SUPPORT OUR FRIENDS.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE INTO THE CODE, OUR CODE SYSTEM AND LAND USE, AND WE'LL START WITH MISS LAVERA.
THE INCREASING DENSITY HAS BECOME THE NEW MANTRA IN HOUSING.
WHAT IS THE BEST BALANCE BETWEEN INCREASING DENSITY AND PROTECTING THE CHARACTER AND IDENTITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS? YES.
SO, IN, IN THIS, WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL WHENEVER THERE ARE UP ZONING OR REZONING SITUATIONS OR DEVELOPMENTS BEING APPROVED, UM, CONSIDERATION FOR NOT JUST THE SHORT TERM IMMEDIATE GAINS, BUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS NEED TO BE ANALYZED AND TRULY LOOKED AT AND CONSIDERED BEFORE THE DECISION IS MADE, BRINGING THE COMMUNITY IN IS CRUCIAL IN THIS STEP, AND IT WILL REQUIRE THAT WE ACTUALLY LISTEN TO HEAR WHAT IS NEEDED AND WHENEVER, IF THERE IS SOME DISPLACEMENT THAT IS NEEDED, THAT THERE IS SOME SUPPORT FOR THOSE RESIDENTS TO BE ABLE TO HAVE.
UM, I DO NOT FEEL THAT ADDING SIMPLY ADDING MORE HOUSING AT MARKET RATE IS GOING TO ADDRESS OUR VULNERABILITY ISSUE.
AND IT'S ALSO NOT GOING TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, WHICH IS THE HEART OF AUSTIN.
AND WE SHOULD PROTECT THAT, UM, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE REASON THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE AND OUR GROWING POPULATION.
SO THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN IN DISTRICT FOUR, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ZONING CHALLENGE FOR BUSINESSES AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO ADDRESS THEM? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
UM, I THINK IT'S THE SMALL BUSINESSES PART OF WHAT MAKES DISTRICT FOUR UNIQUE, ESPECIALLY THE NORTHERN AREA RUNDBERG.
WE HAVE SMALL BUSINESSES, CULTURAL, THE MOM AND POP TYPE.
AND WHEN THEY'RE JUST RENTING SPACE, LIKE IN A STRIP CENTER AND THE OWNER DECIDES TO SELL, THEY FACE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING DISPLACED, OR UNFORTUNATELY SHUT DOWN.
I KNOW THERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF DISTRICT FOUR IN, UH, WINDSOR VILLAGE.
UH, WE COME IN, THEY, THEY BUY IT OUT, REZONE.
IT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO TALK TO THE BUSINESS OWNERS, WORK WITH THEM.
IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO STAY IN THERE, IT'S NOT PART OF THE PLANS, THEN HELP THEM RELOCATE, HELP THEM STAY A VIBRANT PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THAT IS PART OF WHAT WAS DONE OVER IN NACA.
AND THE NORTH AUSTIN CIVIC ASSOCIATION WITH CARITAS IS DOING HOUSING AND THEY HELPED, UH, WITH BUSINESSES RELOCATING.
THANK YOU, MR. BELLA, IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IN AUSTIN'S EXISTING CODE, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? SO RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE COULD DO WOULD BE TO BUILD HOUSING ALONG OUR RECENTLY APPROVED LIGHT RAIL LINES.
THE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LIGHT RAIL LINE GOING UP NORTH LAMAR DOWN WHILE THE LUPA, AND THEN OVER ON RIVERSIDE, UH, TO THE AIRPORT AND BUILDING HOUSING AND THE CITY INVESTING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ALONG THE LIGHT RAIL CORRIDOR ALLOWS RESIDENTS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO THAT CORRIDOR TO HOPEFULLY MAYBE GO FROM A TWO CAR FAMILY TO A ONE-CAR FAMILY, OR POTENTIALLY EVEN NOT DRIVE, UH, AND JUST USE THE LIGHT RAIL.
SO THAT WOULD HELP PROMOTE AFFORDABILITY BECAUSE YOUR TRANSPORTATION COSTS WOULD BE LESS, IT WOULD PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE
[00:30:01]
LESS EMISSIONS.UH, AND IT COULD ALSO START TO TURN, ESPECIALLY NORTH LAMAR INTO, UH, A BEAUTIFUL BOULEVARD, UH, BEAUTIFUL, UH, VIBRANT MULTI-USE BOULEVARD WITH SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE HOUSING ALONG THE LINE TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN MIXED BHUTTO IN DISTRICT FOUR.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ZONING CHALLENGE FOR BUSINESSES AND HOW DO YOU PROPOSE TO ADDRESS THEM? UM, IN DISTRICT FOUR, UM, THE MOST CHALLENGING, UM, ZONING, UM, PROPOSAL FOR BUSINESSES WOULD BE, UM, THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE BUILDING, UM, WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, WATERSHED PROTECTION IN MIND.
AND, UM, I, I THINK I WANT TO, UM, SAY THAT A LOT OF WHAT'S, UM, WHAT WE'VE, UH, THAT THE DEVELOPER DEVELOPERS HAVE INHERITED, UM, WAS BUILT OUT PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE WATERSHED PROTECTION.
AND SO I THINK LOOKING AT, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR ZONING POLICIES LOOKING AT RE UM, REZONING REQUESTS, UH, AND AS PEOPLE WANT TO DEVELOP, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT IS SO IMPORTANT TO NOT JUST OUR, OUR EARTH, UM, OUR PLANET AND ITS WELLBEING, BUT TO THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR, BECAUSE IT WILL AFFECT ABSOLUTELY AFFECT OUR WATER QUALITY AND THEREBY OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THANK YOU, MS. SHEERA, HOW SHOULD THE CITY BALANCE LAND DEVELOPMENT POLICIES WITH ANTI-DISPLACEMENT DISPLACEMENT PROGRAMS AND STILL ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND AFFORDABILITY? SO MANY DISTRICTS HAVE A POST DENSITY, UM, AND MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO, I WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH THEM.
WE WERE ALREADY ONE OF THE MOST DENSE NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICTS.
I SOON REALIZED THOUGH THAT DISTRICT FOUR COULD AND SHOULD BE A LEADER ON INCREASING DENSITY, UM, IN TARGETED LOCATIONS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, I ALSO THINK THAT WE, WE NEED TO CREATE, UH, MULTI-FAMILY SLASH AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARDS AND COMMISSION, SO THAT WE CAN ANALYZE MARKET AVAILABILITY AND COST OCCUPANCY RATES.
ANTI-DISPLACEMENT UTILITY COSTS, UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS FOR MULTIFAMILY HOUSING, AND AS WELL, UH, FIND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR RENTERS AND PROPERTY PROPERTY MANAGERS.
THIS LAST QUESTION I BELIEVE IS GOING TO HIT ON THE TOPIC OF TRANSPORTATION, AND WE'LL START WITH MS. GUZMAN, AUSTIN VOTERS APPROVED SEVERAL BOND ISSUES IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS TO IMPROVE SIDEWALKS, STREETS, TRANSIT, TRAFFIC, SIGNALIZATION, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS, OR FOUR SCHOOLS, URBAN TRAILS, AS WELL AS HIKE AND BIKE TRAIL OF HIKE, BIKE, PEDESTRIAN TRAILS, AND LANES.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OR PLANNED IN DISTRICT FOUR? IT'S GREAT TO SEE WHERE THE SIDEWALKS HAVE BEEN FINALLY LAID OUT OR REPAIRED, BUT THEY'RE NOT DONE YET.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE THE NEW PEDESTRIAN HYBRID BEACONS, EXCUSE ME, AND PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALKS, BUT LAMAR IS A PRETTY LONG STRETCH, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF SPACE BETWEEN THOSE LIGHTS AND BEACONS.
WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE, FAMILIES, STUDENTS, EVEN THE MOBILITY CHALLENGED AND IMPAIRED CROSSING THE STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND UNPROTECTED WITH THOSE MEASURES.
SO WE NEED TO, THE CITY NEEDS TO WORK WITH TEXTILES SINCE THE STATE STILL OWNS THAT PART OF LAMAR TO SEE ABOUT GETTING MORE SAFETY MEASURES PUT IN PLACE, NEED TO WORK ON VISION ZERO.
UH, I BELIEVE THAT'S, THAT'S PROBABLY THE MOST DANGEROUS PART OF THE DISTRICT IS WHERE NORTH LAMAR IS AT, ESPECIALLY IN .
THANK YOU, MR. VAILA THERE CONSIDERABLE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR UNDER THE PROJECT CONNECT FUNDING.
WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO THE DISTRICT? AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTED TO NOT TO REPEAT MYSELF, BUT THE IMPLEMENTATION RIGHT NOW, THE, UH, RUNDBERG, UH, RUTLAND AREA IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST, UH, TRANSIT USING NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.
SO WHEN THE LIGHT RAIL LINE IS BUILT THERE, IT'S GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF RIDERS READY TO GO, WANTING TO USE A QUICKER, SAFER,
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UH, SMOOTHER, UH, TRANSIT TO DOWNTOWN.AND, UH, WE NEED TO INVEST IN THE SIDEWALK, INFRASTRUCTURE, THE BICYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE, TO THE LIGHT RAIL LINE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO, TO GET THERE, UH, AND MOVE ABOUT, UH, EASILY FROM THEIR HOMES, FROM THEIR BUSINESSES, UH, TO THE, UH, THE PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AGAIN, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENT FOR DISTRICT FORUM.
WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN TAKE TO MEET THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF A RAPIDLY GROWING CITY LIKE AUSTIN? I, UM, AM IN FULL SUPPORT OF PROJECT CONNECT AND OR ANY OTHER FUTURE PROPOSALS TO HAVE AS, UM, UM, WE'RE HEARING ABOUT LIGHT RAIL AND WHATNOT.
UM, I AM GOING TO, UM, BRING US BACK TO, UH, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DEVELOPING, UM, THESE THINGS, UM, THESE PROJECTS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT IN MIND WITH OUR COMMUNITY IN MIND.
AND I AM FRANKLY CONCERNED ABOUT, UM, A FEW OF THE CAP AND STITCH PROPOSALS THAT THE CONSUMER IS CONSIDERED, UH, IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS CORRIDOR THAT I KEEP HEARING ABOUT THAT WE'RE GOING TO, UM, BUILD TRANSPORTATION, UM, FOR THE COMMUNITY, UM, AND, UM, CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS AND HOUSING.
BUT I, I, I'M NOT SURE HOW DIRECTLY THIS WILL, UM, IMPROVE TRANSPORTATION, UM, WITHIN, UM, DISTRICT FOUR AND BEYOND.
UM, I, UM, STARTED TAKING THE BUS AND IT'S NOT EASY.
UM, WE'VE MENTIONED PROJECT CONNECT AND WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC CONCERNS ABOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION, YOUR, I WAS DEFINITELY CONCERNED WITH PROJECT CONNECT AT FIRST, BECAUSE IT WAS ONLY GOING, IT WAS GOING TO END AT THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER AND BASICALLY WOULD NOT SERVE NORTH LAMAR NORTH OF 180 3 AFTER PUBLICLY ADVOCATING THAT IT WOULD GO AND SERVE, NOR AT LEAST TO RUN BERG.
UM, A SECOND STAGE WAS ADDED AND TO TECH RIDGE.
AND, BUT THAT IS A SECOND STAGE.
SO I DO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A DISTRICT FOR VOICE AND THE COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THAT THAT HAPPENS.
IF WE'RE PAYING FOR THE RAIL, WE WANT IT TO SERVE DISTRICT FOUR.
AND ALONG NORTH LAMAR, NORTH OF THE NORTH LAMAR TRANSIT CENTER, YOU THANK YOU, MS. LAVERA, AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER, AUSTIN VOTERS APPROVED SEVERAL BOND ISSUES IN THE PREVIOUS FIVE YEARS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN SIDEWALKS, STREETS, SIGNALIZATION, SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS, ET CETERA.
WHAT'S YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE OR ARE PLANNED IN DISTRICT FOUR? YES.
SO WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A DETAILED AND CONSCIOUS REVIEW AND PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS.
THE PROJECTS WILL RESULT IN MORE, UH, RAISING OUR HEATS EVEN MORE.
UM, AND A FOCUS ON GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUCIAL TO A HEALTHY AUSTIN IN THE FUTURE.
UM, TREES, INNOVATIVE GREEN SPACES, ADDING, UM, ADDED EFFORTS TO PRESERVE OUR TREES THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN EXISTENCE, OUR MEDIUM AND LARGE HERITAGE TREES AS WELL, UM, AND IMPLEMENTATION CONSCIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR THE IMPACT TO LOCAL BUSINESSES BY WAY OF EMINENT.
DOMAIN IS ALSO A CONCERN FOR ME.
WE HAVE SOME EXTRA TIME WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A SET OF QUESTIONS AND WE'D LIKE YOU ALL, IF YOU WOULD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO QUESTIONS AND THIS IS ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND OUR POLICE.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MR. VILLA ON THE CONTINUUM FROM OVER POLICE TO IGNORED.
WHERE DO YOU PUT DISTRICT FOUR, IF YOU BELIEVE CHANGES ARE NEEDED, WHAT ARE THEY FROM OVERPOLICED TO IGNORED? I WOULD SAY THERE'S POTENTIALLY A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH THAT IS GOING ON IN DISTRICT FOUR RIGHT NOW.
UH, ON THE ONE HAND, WE HAVE POLICE RESPONDING TO SITUATIONS THAT I DON'T THINK THAT THEY'RE THE BEST FIT TO RESPOND TO.
FOR EXAMPLE, UH, AS A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, I'VE HANDLED
[00:40:01]
MANY CASES INVOLVING FAMILY VIOLENCE OR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WHO, UH, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS CALL FOR A POLICE OFFICER, UH, AND ARE, ARE, ARE, ARE THEY CALL 9 1 1, BUT THEY DON'T WANT A POLICE OFFICER.THEY WANT SOMEBODY THAT CAN RESPOND TO SOMEBODY IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND THERE, AND I HEAR THE 9 1, 1 CALLS, AND THEY'RE SAYING, WE DON'T WANT A POLICE OFFICER.
WE WANT THEM, BUT THEY, THEY SEND A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY OPTION THAT THERE IS.
AND SOMETIMES THAT CAN AGGRAVATE A SITUATION.
SO IN CERTAIN WAYS WE NEED TO, WE NEED THE POLICE TO STEP BACK FROM CERTAIN SITUATIONS, BUT, UH, IN TERMS OF VIOLENT CRIMES AND BURGLARIES AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS, WE NEED THE POLICE TO BE ENGAGED AND, AND HELPFUL.
SAME QUESTION ON THE CONTINUUM FROM OVERPOLICED TO IGNORED.
WHERE DO YOU PUT DISTRICT FOUR? AND IF YOU BELIEVE CHANGES ARE NEEDED, WHAT ARE THEY? I WOULD SAY THAT DISTRICT FOUR, UM, ON THE CONTINUUM FROM BEING, UM, OVERPOLICED TO IGNORED, UM, IS NOT UNIQUE TO DISTRICT FOUR.
UM, I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GROUNDWATER ANALYSIS, UH, OF INSTITUTIONAL RACISM WORKSHOPS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH APD AND JOYCE JAMES CONSULT CONSULTING.
AND, UM, IN HEARING THE HUMANITY FROM THE POLICE OFFICERS, THEY NEED SUPPORT DEFUNDING THEM.
UM, ABRUPTLY WITHOUT PLAN DOES A DISSERVICE TO THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS SERVES OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS IN THE MOST.
THANK YOU, MS. SHIRA, LET'S CONTINUE ON.
W WHERE DO YOU PUT ON THAT CONTINUUM FROM OVERPOLICED TO IGNORED WHERE YOU PUT DISTRICT FOUR? I DEFINITELY LEAN TOWARDS IGNORED, UM, ARE NEARBY CONVENIENT STORES ARE ROBBED OFTEN AT GUNPOINT.
PEOPLE AT THE CONVENIENCE STORE ARE SOMETIMES ROBBED AND OFTEN ON THE STREETS AS WELL.
AND MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE FROM THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.
I WAS CANVASSING AND MET AN ELDER ELDERLY WOMAN WHO WAS GETTING READY TO CELEBRATE HER 60TH BIRTHDAY, HER 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
AND SHE TOLD ME THAT HER PURSE WAS SNATCHED AT HEB.
UM, OUR GROCERY STORES SHOULD BE SAFE.
UM, THERE ARE VERY FEW GAS STATIONS WHO ARE WHERE THE, UM, EMPLOYEES ARE EVEN ALLOWED TO COME OUT FROM BEHIND THE COUNTER.
AND SO THEY'RE NOT MONITORING THE PUMPS OR THE GROUNDS.
UH, IT'S HARD TO EVEN FIND A GAS STATION THAT DOES HAVE THE SECURITY TAPE ON THE PUMPS TO PREVENT CREDIT CARD FRAUD.
THANK YOU, MS. LAVERA OVERPOLICED TO IGNORED.
WHERE DO YOU PUT DISTRICT FOUR ON THAT CONTINUUM? ABSOLUTELY IGNORED.
UM, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CRIME IN ALL OF AUSTIN AND DISTRICT FOUR AND HAVE FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
UM, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN UNDERSERVED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE LIVING HERE.
I'VE, I'VE RECOGNIZED THAT AS I MENTIONED, I BELIEVE IN COMMUNITY POLICING BECAUSE IT WORKS.
I'M HERE TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION AND COMMON SENSE REHABILITATION OF THE POLICE FORCE, ALONG WITH MODIFICATIONS OF THE POLICE CONTRACT AND CONSISTENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS TO REBUILD THE TRUST AND CONNECTION BETWEEN POLICE, PUBLIC, SERVANTS AND RESIDENTS.
I PROPOSE EXPLORING SOLUTIONS SIMILAR TO RESTORE.
REMEMBER, HOWEVER, WITH, UH, PLANS TO HAVE ONGOING EFFORTS THAT MAINTAIN THAT IN THE LONGTERM SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN THE PROGRESS THAT'S MADE AND REINFORCE THE CHANGES TO STAY.
THANK YOU, MS. GUZMAN, OVER POLICED OR IGNORED AND WHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED.
OH, UM, THERE'S SOME AREAS, YOU KNOW, AS ISABELLA WAS SAYING THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING, UH, CRIMINALIZED OR BEING ARRESTED FOR SMALL THINGS.
AND THERE ARE AREAS THAT ARE IN DIRE NEED OF POLICE PRESENCE, SPECIFICALLY THE GEORGIAN DR.
POWELL LANE INTERSECTION, THERE'S A HIGH LEVEL OF PROSTITUTION IN AN OPEN AIR DRUG MARKET DURING RESTORE RUNDBERG.
THERE WASN'T INCREASED PRESENCE.
IT WAS CONSIDERED A HOTSPOT AND ACTIVITY DID START TO DIMINISH.
BUT ONCE THE GRANT ENDED, BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CONTINUATION, NO TRANSITION, YOU'VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THAT.
AND THAT IS VERY ALARMING TO THE SURROUNDING RESIDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
SO WE DO NEED INCREASED POLICE PRESENCE, WHERE THERE IS ONGOING CRIME.
[00:45:01]
BEEN HARMED, THEY'VE BEEN ASSAULTED, THEY'VE BEEN ROBBED, BUT WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING MINOR, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S A PERSON OF COLOR THAT RAISES A RED FLAG ABOUT THE NEED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO BASICALLY ADDRESS INSTITUTIONALIZED RACISM.NOW FOR, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU OUR TWO MINUTES ON OUR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND MS. GUZMAN, WE ARE GOING TO START WITH YOU.
UM, I AM SEEKING THIS OFFICE TO CONTINUE MY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, LIFT THE VOICES OF DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A VOICE AT CITY HALL.
I HAVE 10 YEARS, MORE THAN 10 YEARS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING EXPERIENCE FIVE YEARS OR MORE, UH, SUPPORTING POLICIES, REFLECTING THE NEEDS AND EXPERTISE OF THE RESIDENTS.
I AM PART OF THE COMMUNITY EFFORTS, WORKING WITH RESIDENTS ADDRESSING NEEDS.
WE FACE, UH, COMING UP IN DISTRICT FOUR AND OTHER VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES IN THE EASTERN CRESCENT.
MY PLATFORM IS, UH, SOCIAL JUSTICE REFORM, NEIGHBORHOODS, STABILITY AND FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE.
UM, I AM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CANDIDATE AND I HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE.
MY WEBSITE IS MONICA FOR D FOR M O N I C A D.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.
UH, I COME AS A CANDIDATE AND I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT MY EXPERIENCE IN, IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING IN STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FOR, UH, FOUR DECADES NOW.
UH, I'VE, UH, BEEN EMPLOYED IN A CITY.
UH, I'VE BEEN ON THE AUSTIN PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, WAS A GENERAL COUNSEL TO A STATE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE, UH, IN THE TEXAS HOUSE.
UH, AND I'M THE MOST EXPERIENCED CANDIDATE AND I'LL BE READY TO FIGHT FOR DISTRICT FOUR FROM DAY ONE.
UH, I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER, GREG SAAR, THE MAYOR ADLER, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, VANESSA ATLANTIS COUNCIL MEMBER, AND NATASHA HARPER MEDICINE, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, JOSE GODSON, UH, AND NUMEROUS OTHER, UH, LABOR UNIONS AND PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE ALSO BEEN ENDORSED BY THE, UH, AUSTIN CHRONICLE.
UH, MY PRIORITIES AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, WE'LL BE BUILDING MORE HOUSING IN AUSTIN, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS THAT WE'RE CONFRONTING RIGHT NOW.
UH, RENTS ARE INCREASING BY, UH, WE HEAR REPORTS OF, YOU KNOW, $300, $400 A MONTH, UH, INCREASES FOR, UH, APARTMENTS.
UH, WE SEE OUR HOUSING PRICES ARE AVERAGE HOUSING PRICES OVER A HALF, A MILLION DOLLARS FOR A HOME IN AUSTIN.
IT'S FORCING PEOPLE TO OUT OF AUSTIN, UH, AND, AND THAT HAS TO STOP AUSTIN AS A BEAUTIFUL CITY.
AND WE NEED, UH, TO, UH, OPPORTUNITIES FOR A WORKING CLASS RESIDENTS TO LIVE WITHIN THE CITY AND ENJOY THE, UH, CULTURAL AMENITIES.
THE, THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT AUSTIN PROVIDES.
UH, I WANT TO INVEST IN OUR TRANSPORTATION, UH, NETWORK BY, UH, BUILDING, UH, CREATING, UH, TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, NOT JUST FOR CARS, BUT ALSO FOR WALKING, FOR BIKING, FOR TRANSIT.
AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, UH, NOT JUST THE, UH, UH, ARRESTING, BUT SUPPORTING, UH, PEOPLE SO THAT THEY COME OUT OF A, UH, OF A CRIMINAL, UH, SITUATION.
YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR CLOSING.
I WANT TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN, VOTERS AND CITY OF AUSTIN FOR HOSTING THIS CANDIDATE FORUM.
I AM HONORED TO BE HERE WITH ALL MY FELLOW CANDIDATES, UM, JAY, UM, ALWAYS A DELIGHT TO SEE YOU AND MELINDA.
UM, YOU'RE DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE AND MONICA AND T-TO.
UM, SO I, UM, WANT TO CONTINUE TO SERVE DISTRICT FOUR.
I HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN THE COMMUNITY TO SERVE DISTRICT FORM.
IF I AM ELECTED TO SERVE ON CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT FOUR, I WOULD BE ADDRESSING TOPICS THAT ARE AT THE FOREFRONT, UM, OF DISTRICT FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
BUT I WOULD, I WOULD SAY THAT ALSO ACROSS THE CITY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY IS A HUGE CONCERN.
I AM PERSONALLY EXPERIENCING IT RIGHT NOW, LIVING WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT.
I AM NOT TALKING MINIMUM WAGE.
I WANT TO DEMAND A LIVING WAGE SAFETY POLICING.
[00:50:01]
MY NEIGHBORS, UM, GEORGIAN ACRES, UM, I'VE SPOKE TO A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT HAVE DONE SO MUCH WORK, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO, BUT WE NEED SUPPORT FROM CITY GOVERNANCE, FROM OUR LEADERS, DEVELOPMENT, MOBILITY, HEALTHCARE, WELLNESS, WATERSHED ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, CAREER DEVELOPMENT.IF ELECTED, WE WILL BE THE FIRST NONBINARY AND ASIAN-AMERICAN TO SERVE CITY COUNCIL FOR DISTRICT FOUR.
I AM OF THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
THANK YOU, MS. SHEERA, I HAVE THE MOST EXPERIENCE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER TO DISCUSS ALL ISSUES OF DISTRICT FOUR AND ENSURING BEST OUTCOMES TO SUM UP MY ACTION ITEMS AS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE, ON OUR FUTURE RAIL LINES.
I WILL IMPLEMENT A TASK FORCE ON A POTENTIAL MULTIFAMILY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING BOARD, OR COMMISSION TO ADDRESS WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND FOR OUR RENTERS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I WILL SUPPORT HOUSING FIRST INITIATIVES.
I WILL COLLABORATE WITH APD TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS VERSUS OUR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS.
I WILL CREATE A PLAN TO INVENTORY ALL ABANDONED VEHICLES AND RETURN THEM TO THEIR OWNER.
THERE IS MUCH INVESTMENT NEEDED IN OUR COMBINED COMMUNITY SCHOOL PARKS, WHICH I WILL PRIORITIZE AND SUPPORT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO DIVERSIFY OUR ENERGY SOURCES WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY.
THESE COSTS WILL EVENTUALLY BE CHEAPER AND PREVENT INFLATED FOR PROFIT COSTS OF ENERGY.
I WANT TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF AN OPEN SOURCE MULTI-LINGUAL COMMUNICATION PLATFORM TO CONTINUE MY MOTIVATION OF SUPPORTING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS SOLICITING FEEDBACK AND NEEDS.
I HAVE ALWAYS GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, WHICH COMES FROM A MOTIVATION OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND LIVING IN A COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
IT WAS A NO BRAINER FOR ME TO PLEDGE TO DONATE 10% OF MY COUNCIL INCOME TO EFFECTIVE NON-PROFITS OR SCHOOLS FOR DISTRICT FOUR EFFORTS.
I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR VOTE.
PLEASE VISIT MELINDA NUMBER FOUR, AUSTIN.COM TO LEARN MORE.
AND I TRULY THINK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, I LOOK AT THE GUIDE FOR EVERY ELECTION AND ALWAYS ENJOY WORKING WITH CITY OF AUSTIN STAFF.
CHANGES NEEDED FOR LONG-TERM STABILITY IN AUSTIN.
I'VE SEEN IN EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND HOW LITTLE TENSION OUR DISTRICT HAS GIVEN.
WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN UNDERSERVED AND UNDER INVESTED DISTRICT FOUR DESERVES A FULL PIECE OF THE ATTENTION AND FINANCIAL PIE.
I INTEND TO BRING THAT ATTENTION SPOTLIGHT TO DISTRICT FOUR, AND WHILE I WILL DIRECTLY REPRESENT DISTRICT FOUR, I WILL HAVE A VOTE AND SAY IN ALL OF AUSTIN.
AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER.
I WANT TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE MISSING INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR ROADS, FLOODING CRIME, PUBLIC SAFETY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
AND MOST OF ALL, I WANT TO FOCUS ON THE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS IN OUR DISTRICT.
I ALSO WILL CHAMPION CREATING A RESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE CITY AND IDENTIFY SPECIFIC AND RELATIVELY SIMPLE OPERATIONAL AND SYSTEMATIC ADJUSTMENTS.
THAT WOULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN HOW THE CITY INTERACTS WITH RESIDENTS AND TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNICATION, AND WILL ALSO LIKELY INCREASE EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AS WELL.
I AM A RATIONAL, CONSIDERATE AND COMMON SENSE FACT FOCUSED LEADER.
I'M A NATURAL COMMUNITY BUILDER AND COMMUNITY INCLUSION AND REPRESENTATION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
I HAVE OVERALL HIGH-LEVEL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE AND UNDERSTAND OPERATIONS, BUDGET, WRITING, STRATEGY PLANNING, IDENTIFYING RISK AND BENEFITS, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND EMPLOYEE RETENTION AND SATISFACTION, WHICH IS LACKING IN CITY STAFF AND OPERATIONS.
OVERALL, I AM YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CANDIDATE AND YOUR COMMUNITY CANDIDATE.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SUPPORT AND LEARN MORE@JADEFORAUSTIN.COM, F O R AND ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK AND TWITTER, JADE FOR AUSTIN.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
I SINCERELY HOPE TO HAVE YOUR BOAT AND THANK YOU FOR THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE AUSTIN CITY STAFF HERE AS WELL FOR HOSTING THIS.
THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH CANDIDATES FOR BEING WITH US AND FOR YOUR SINCERITY AND ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE AUDIENCE WHEREVER
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YOU'RE LISTENING FROM IN MY INTRO TONIGHT, I TOLD THESE CANDIDATES THAT THEY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO AFFECT CHANGE, BUT IT'S YOU THE VOTERS OF DISTRICT FOUR WHO HOLD THAT POWER IN OUR DEMOCRACY, YOU HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE AND THEN THE OBLIGATION TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.ONCE THEY'RE IN OFFICE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IS WHAT WE DO AS A LEAGUE.
AND WHAT WE ENCOURAGE FROM EACH OF YOU ARE NONPARTISAN VOTERS GUIDE FOR THIS SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE@WWWDOTLWVAUSTIN.ORG.
THAT'S L WWW DOT L W V A U S T I N DOT O R G.
EARLY VOTING BEGINS MONDAY, JANUARY THE 10TH AND ENDS JANUARY 21ST ELECTION DAY IS JANUARY 25TH, 2022.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE, LISTENING AND WATCHING, AND PLEASE BE A PART OF THIS GREAT DEMOCRACY AND VOTE.
AND I WANTED, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND I WANTED TO GO OVER.
AND SO THERE'LL BE LESS POLLING PLACES.
AND I WANTED TO GO OVER WITH YOU.
THE EARLY VOTING POLLING PLACES ARE AT THE CHINATOWN ON NORTH LAMAR, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT HERE.
THE NEW BUILDING AT WILAMENA DEL CO DRIVE, THE GUS GARCIA RECREATION CENTER ON EAST RUNDBERG.
THOSE ARE THE THREE EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY.
WE HAVE SAWYER HALL ON EAST 51ST, THE GUS GARCIA RECREATION CENTER ON EAST RUNDBERG, THE CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICES ON WILAMENA DELCO DRIVE THE VIRGINIA BROWN RECREATION CENTER ON BLESSING AVENUE, THE CHINATOWN CENTER ON NORTH LAMAR, THE ONE NAVARRO HIGH SCHOOL ON PEYTON JENN ROAD AND THE YMCA NORTH AUSTIN AT A THOUSAND WEST RUNDBERG LANE.
SO WE HAVE THE, THERE'LL BE SEVEN POLLING LOCATIONS ON ELECTION DAY, BUT THERE'S ONLY THREE POLLING LOCATIONS ON EARLY VOTING.
AND AGAIN, IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN GO TO THE CANDIDATES WEBSITES, OR YOU CAN GO TO THE LEAGUE, THE WWW LWP AUSTIN.ORG, AND WE'LL HAVE THOSE POSTED FOR YOU.
WE WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH IN CLOSING THIS EVENING, AND PLEASE ALL OF YOU BE A PART OF THIS DEMOCRACY THAT WE SO LOVE AND EXERT YOUR VOTE FOR THESE CANDIDATES.
DO IT VIGOROUSLY, GET ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, HELP PEOPLE GET TO THE POLLS.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION TONIGHT.