[District 1 – Misael D. Ramos, Clinton Rarey, Melonie House-Dixon, Natasha Harper-Madison]
[00:00:06]
HEY, MY NAME IS MISSAL RAMOS AND I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL HERE IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'M RUNNING TO BRING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, BOTH RENTAL AND HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUR UNHOUSED AUSTINITES AND TO MAKE OUR GOVERNMENT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT MYSELF.
I'M A NATIVE TEXAN AND MY MOM IS FROM THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, HENCE THE RAMOS.
MY DAD IS ALSO FROM DALLAS, BUT I SPENT MY SUMMERS WITH MY GRANDMOTHER IN EAST TEXAS.
I'M A BUSINESS ANALYST MANAGER AT INDEED, WHICH MEANS I MANAGE A TEAM OF ANALYSTS THAT PARTNERS WITH STAKEHOLDERS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS. I ALSO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT FOR THE BLACK INCLUSION GROUP AT INDEED AS WELL.
OUTSIDE OF WORK, I AM THE PRESIDENT OF THE BLACKLAND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, WHERE WE DEVELOP AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I SUPPORT NEIGHBORHOOD AND ANTIS DISPLACEMENT COALITIONS IN WHICH I'VE HELPED TO PUSH POLICY AT THE CITY LEVEL, AND I'VE WORKED ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES AT THE CITY, LIKE THE EQUITABLE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE AND RESILIENCY HUB COMMITTEE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'M ACCOUNTABLE AND I LISTEN TO MY COMMUNITY TO ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE BEING HEARD.
NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SKILLS TO LEAD, BUT I ALSO HAVE A PROVEN RECORD AROUND IDENTIFYING ISSUES WHILE PUSHING COMMUNITY DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
TO GET THINGS DONE IN NOVEMBER, I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE FOR ME FOR CITY COUNCIL IN DISTRICT ONE, SO WE CAN BRING ACCOUNTABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND AFFORDABILITY BACK TO AUSTIN.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE, PLEASE VISIT WW DOT MESSIAH RAMOS.COM.
I'M RUNNING TO BE YOUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT ONE.
MY PLATFORM THAT I'M RUNNING ON IS LOWER COST OF LIVING, BETTER PUBLIC SAFETY AND TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY, MAKING SURE THAT THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ARE BEING GOOD STEWARD OF OUR TAX DOLLARS.
WHEN IT COMES TO COST OF LIVING, THE BIGGEST THING THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE RIGHT NOW IS BUYING HOMES THAT ARE WAY OVERPRICED, ELECTRICITY COSTS AND WATER COSTS.
RIGHT NOW, WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHEN IT COMES TO OUR WATER, WE'RE LOSING 6.5 BILLION GALLONS OF WATER PER YEAR.
OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS, WE LOST ENOUGH WATER TO FILL LIKE TRAVIS 1.5 TIMES.
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS RIGHT NOW ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO RESTRICT YOUR USE TO YOUR WATER, WHERE WE SHOULD BE FIXING THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO YOU'RE NOT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE ENOUGH WATER OR YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE LIKE IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY'RE PAYING A THOUSAND DOLLARS IF YOU GO OVER BY ONE GALLON OF WATER USAGE.
I ALSO WANT TO HAVE AN AUDIT OF AUSTIN WATER AND AUSTIN ENERGY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MON MONEY'S BEING SPENT ADEQUATELY TO FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE GENERAL FUND INSTEAD OF LOCAL PET PROJECTS RIGHT NOW, WHERE THE MOST EX, THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE CITY TO BUILD IN COMPARED TO LIBERTY HILL BEING NUMBER ONE WITH AUDITING OUR LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE, WATER, AUSTIN WATER, AND AUSTIN AUSTIN ENERGY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO FOCUS THE GENERAL FUNDS ON IMPROVING AND EXPANDING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A GROWING CITY THAT BE NEARING 3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE NEXT 20, 30 YEARS.
AFTER THAT, WE CAN LOOK AT OUR DEPARTMENT SERVICES TO LOWER THE COST OF FEES, SO IT'S CHEAPER TO BUILD FOR ALL, NOT JUST TO SELECT FEW THROUGH SUBS SUBSIDIZED BUILDING, SO THAT'S SLASHING OUR PERMITTING FEES AND SLASHING OUR CONSTRUCTION FEES, AND ALLOWING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE UTILITIES TO ACTUALLY PAY FOR OUR INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF BUILDING.
BUILDING FEES ARE MEANT FOR SMALL CITIES THAT DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THROUGH PROPERTY TAXES.
AS A HIGH DENSITY LIVING CITY, WE HAVE THE PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN AUSTIN WATER IN AUSTIN TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO RESTORE THE LEVELS OF HIRING TO WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE WE DEFUNDED THE POLICE AND REALLOCATED THE MONEY TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS INSTEAD OF OUR OFFICERS.
SO THAT'S GETTING MORE OFFICERS, THAT'S GETTING MORE POLICE DISPATCHERS, THAT'S GETTING MORE EMS, MORE FIREFIGHTERS.
RIGHT NOW, THE AUSTIN PD ISN'T VERY COMPETITIVE IN SALARIES, SO OUR OFFICERS ARE GOING ELSEWHERE.
SAME THING WITH OUR EMS AND OUR POLICE DISPATCHERS.
LASTLY, IT'S GOING TO BE OUR GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
IN 2018, OUR CITY OFFICIALS CONVINCED YOU NOT TO DO A FULL CITY AUDIT, AND WHEN A POLITICIAN TELLS YOU NOT TO LOOK AT THEIR BOOKS, THAT'S WHEN YOU DEFINITELY NEED TO LOOK AT THEIR BOOKS.
SO IF, IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH THE STATUS QUO, THEN DON'T VOTE FOR ME.
BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHANGE IN IMPROVEMENT IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, VOTE FOR CLINTON.
HI, I'M MELANIE HOUSE DICKSON, AND I AM AN AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT ONE AS PRESIDENT OF A EAST MLK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION CO-CHAIR OF THE EAST MLK CONTACT TEAM, A VICTIM SERVICES VOLUNTEER, AND FORMER BUSINESS OWNER WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT ONE.
I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT HOW OUR DISTRICT IS BEING LED AND
[00:05:01]
WITNESSED THE EFFECTS CURRENT LEADERSHIP HAS HAD ON OUR RESIDENTS.AS YOU CAN SEE, I AM DEEPLY INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY AND WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WE FACE SUCH AS HEALTHCARE.
WHAT WE DON'T HEAR ABOUT ARE THE HEALTH DISPARITIES IN OUR DISTRICT.
WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABLE SERVICES TO KEEP DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS HEALTHY.
WE CAN ADDRESS THIS BY REQUIRING DEVELOPERS TO INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND OFFER ITEMS LIKE FRESH FRUIT, GROCERIES, MEDICAL CLINICS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS TO OFFER PREVENTATIVE CARE.
EDUCATION, POVERTY SHOULD NOT LEAD TO ILLNESS, AND WE AS A COMMUNITY CAN DEMAND CHANGE.
OUR DISTRICT FACES AN ALARMING RISE IN HOMELESSNESS ACCORDING TO THE 2019 AUSTIN HOMELESS DASHBOARD.
AS A CITY, WE CAN DO BETTER AND EVALUATE THE CURRENT SERVICES WE USE AND AS A COMMUNITY, IMPROVE OUTREACH SERVICES AND SHELTERS, FIND FUNDING FOR THOSE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING AND HELPING OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAL, TO GROW, TO UNITE.
THE UNHOUSED ARE OUR NEIGHBORS TOO, AND WE MUST INCLUDE THEIR VOICES ALONG WITH THE SHELTERS AND SERVICES.
ALREADY AT OUR DISPOSAL, LOOK AT CURRENT SOLUTIONS TO HELP IMPROVE AND ALLEVIATE THESE ONGOING CHALLENGES.
IT IS CLEAR THAT NOT MUCH HAS BEEN DONE IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS TO INVEST IN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH OUR AREA'S LOWEST INCOME AND ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN MIND BEFORE GENTRIFICATION OCCURS, ONE PERSISTENT ISSUE IS REALISTIC AFFORDABILITY.
MORE MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO ENSURE INDIVIDUALS CAN REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES, SUCH AS REQUIRING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FROM DEVELOPERS FOR OUR RESIDENTS, NOT MAKING AUSTIN'S MEDIUM INCOME.
ASSESSING THE CURRENT TAXATION METHODS CREATE GREATER ACCESS TO HOME OWNERSHIP, IMPROVING EMPLOYMENT THROUGH HIGHER WAGE, AMONG OTHER ASSETS THAT ALL AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF AFFORDABILITY.
TO RESTATE, WE LACK SAFE ROADWAYS AND SIDEWALKS, PUBLIC TRANSIT, CHILDCARE FACILITIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND PARK LANDS.
UNSAFE ROADWAYS IS ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN.
WITH MORE DEVELOPMENT AND AN EAST OF OUR DISTRICT, OUR ROADS HAVE BECOME MORE DANGEROUS AND TRAFFIC JAMMED WITH MORE DRIVERS.
OUR DISTRICT ALREADY HAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL OF OUR MAJOR STREETS AS HIGH INJURY ROADWAYS BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WHERE IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE? INFRASTRUCTURE IS NEEDED FOR ENSURING SAFETY OF OUR RESIDENTS.
OUR PRIORITIES SHOULD BE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS UP AND RUNNING EFFICIENTLY AND MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
DEVELOPERS SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR CONDUCTING TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IN MAJOR QUARTERS AND NEIGHBORHOODS PRIOR TO REZONING CASES, LIKE THE MOST RECENT ZONING CHANGE TO THE EAST 11TH AND 12TH STREET QUARTER.
UNDER THE PARLANCE OF URBAN RENEWAL, AND DESPITE HEAVY OPPOSITION FROM THE COMMUNITY CRITICAL COUNCIL VOTED TO ALLOW FOR MORE ESTABLISHMENTS THAT SERVE ALCOHOL IN SPITE OF THE CONCERNS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ARE BEING IGNORED AND TRANSPARENCY IS NOT EX IS NONEXISTENT.
I KNOW I AM THE BEST FOR DISTRICT ONE AND KNOW WITH YOUR VOICE WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS.
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT ME@MELANIEHOUSE.COM.
MELANIE HOUSE DIXON FOR DISTRICT ONE AND MELANIE UNDERSCORE FOR DISTRICT ONE, VOTE FOR ME FOR CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT ONE.
I'M NATASHA HARPER MADISON, PROUD CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT ONE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I'M COMING TO YOU TODAY TO ASK FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND MY BID FOR REELECTION TO CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
AS A PROUD AUSTIN NATIVE, THAT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO TWO THINGS.
ONE, BRAG ABOUT BEING A PROUD AUSTIN NATIVE, AND TWO, IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE THROUGH THE DIFFICULTY OF BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER WITH THE FULL RECOGNITION THAT NOT ONLY DO I CARE ABOUT MY NEIGHBORS AND MY FRIENDS IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MY FAMILY LIVES RIGHT HERE.
WE PLANTED OUR ROOTS IN THE MID SEVENTIES, AND I CAME ALONG AT THE OLD BRACKEN RICH HOSPITAL IN 1977.
THIS HAS BEEN MY HOME, THE PLACE THAT RAISED ME, THE PLACE THAT EDUCATED ME, AND THE PLACE THAT
[00:10:01]
SHOWED ME THAT YOU CAN MAKE YOUR CITY WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.I'VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY OVER THESE FOUR YEARS TO RECOGNIZE THAT MY ORIGINAL REASONS FOR RUN IN STAND FIRM AUSTIN NEEDS HOUSING, HOUSING, HOUSING, HOUSING.
AUSTIN NEEDS ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY AND WITH ECONOMIC SEGREGATION WIDER THAN IT'S EVER BEEN BEFORE, NATIONWIDE, WORLDWIDE.
AUSTIN CAN ONCE AGAIN BE THE TEMPLATE FOR HOW MAJOR METROPOLITAN CITIES RECOGNIZE WHERE THE GAPS ARE AND FIX THEM WITH INNOVATIVE POLICY APPROACHES.
I WANNA BE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER MOVING INTO THE FUTURE BECAUSE I RECOGNIZE THAT DISTRICT ONE NEEDS, A COUNCIL MEMBER NEEDS A CHAMPION WITH TRUE CLARITY, A PURPOSE.
MY PURPOSE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE CLEAR.
TRANSIT AND HOUSING, MOBILITY AND HOUSING, COMPREHENSIVE MOBILITY, ALL MODES AND HOUSING CANNOT BE SEPARATED.
I'M GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH POLICY POSITIONS THAT RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF THOSE THINGS AND MAKE THE HARD DECISIONS TO PUT US IN A POSITION TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE AUSTIN OF THE FUTURE.
MY CHILDREN, MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS, MY MOTHER, MY SIBLINGS ARE ALL HERE IN AUSTIN, JUST LIKE YOUR FAMILIES.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WHEN I MAKE A COMMITMENT TO BE A LEADER FOR THIS CITY, IT'S NOT A FAIR WEATHER COMMITMENT.
I'M IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL, LIKE I'VE SHOWN YOU IN THE PAST THROUGH COVID, THROUGH WINTER STORM, YURI, I WILL ALWAYS SHOW UP AND I WILL ALWAYS GIVE YOU EVERYTHING I HAVE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT A LEADER DOES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOUR SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD THROUGH AUSTIN, REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT AS THE 11TH LARGEST CITY IN THE NATION TODAY AND THE CAPITAL OF THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS, WE'VE GOT NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.
WE ARE RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR TRUE RECONCILIATION AND TRUE ATONEMENT FOR THE SINS OF OUR PAST TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, AND MOVING FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WE WON'T CONTINUE THOSE MISTAKES.
NOT ONLY WILL WE NOT CONTINUE THOSE MISTAKES, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH AN AUSTIN THAT OFFERS EVERY RESIDENT THE BEST ACCESS TO THE BEST POSSIBLE QUALITY OF LIFE.
I WANNA BE YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
I WANNA EARN YOUR TRUST AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR FOUR MORE YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR AUSTIN, TEXAS.
I WANT US TO DO THIS TOGETHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO EARNING YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR TRUST.