Nov 30, 2022 City Council Candidate Runoff Forums

[6 p.m. – 6: 30 p.m. – 15 minute break District 3 – Candidate José Velázquez Candidate Daniela Silva 6:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. – 15 minute break District 5 - Candidate Ryan Alter Candidate Stephanie Bazan 7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – 15 minute break District 9 - Candidate Zohaib “Zo” Qadri Candidate Linda Guerrero 8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. - End Mayoral - Candidate Celia Israel Candidate Kirk Watson]

[00:00:09]

GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS CAROL EEL CAMP, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA AS THEIR CANDIDATE FORUM CHAIRPERSON, AND TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION TO SHOWCASE ALL THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR EACH YEAR.

I WANNA INTRODUCE YOU ALL TONIGHT TO OUR PUBLIC AND OUR VIEWING AUDIENCE.

WE HAVE WITH US FOR DISTRICT THREE.

WE HAVE JOSE VELAZQUEZ, AND WE HAVE DANIEL SILVA.

AND I'M GOING TO BE YOUR MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING.

I PROMISE TO TREAT EACH OF YOU FAIRLY AND RESPECTFULLY IN RETURN, I ASK THAT, UH, YOU DO THE SAME AND NOT EXCEED THE TWO MINUTES TIMEFRAME FOR EACH ANSWER.

THERE WILL BE TIME FOR EACH OF YOU TO, TO HAVE A COMMENT OR REBUTTAL FOR WHAT THE OTHER SAYS.

OKAY? WE'RE GONNA DO IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WE, SO YOU WILL EACH HAVE TWO MINUTES.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE YOUR FULL TWO MINUTES, BUT WE WILL HAVE TIME FOR YOU TO COMMENT AND, AND PUT YOUR THOUGHTS TOGETHER.

WE DO ASK THAT YOU RE REFRAIN FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS.

AND SO LET'S STICK TO THE ISSUES TONIGHT AND I WILL RESERVE THE RIGHT TO, UH, A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

ALL RIGHT.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE NOT THOSE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION, OUR SPONSORING ORGANIZATION, BUT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA.

NEITHER OF THE CANDIDATES HERE HAVE SEEN THE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE.

AND THESE TOPIC COME FROM OUR ORGANIZATION.

THEY COME FROM ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE CITY AND TO INDIVIDUALS FROM INDIVIDUALS.

AT THE END OF THIS DEBATE, EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO CLOSE AND TELL THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN WHY YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.

ALL RIGHT, WE READY? THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON WEBSITES.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CANDIDATES COME OUT WITH POSITIONS.

YOU GUYS HAVE DONE A LOT OF INTERVIEWS AND A LOT OF OF, UH, ANSWERED QUESTION AND ANSWERS.

ONE OF THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES OF WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO WORK WITH IF YOU'RE ELECTED, HAS PROPOSED TO ALLOW EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT MEMBER TO BRING FORWARD A SET OF DISTRICT SPECIFIC CODE REFORMS INSTEAD OF FORCING EVERY AUSTIN DISTRICT TO ADOPT TO THE SAME TYPE OF CODE REFORMS. IF THAT CANDIDATE IS ELECTED AND YOU ARE ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT PLAN WHEN IT'S DISCUSSED? AND WE FLIPPED A COIN.

AND SO, UH, JOSE, YOU'RE GONNA GET THE FIRST ANSWER AND YOU'LL GET THE FIRST REBUTTAL.

WE, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT, UH, ABOUT OUR HOUSING.

AND WHILE I, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT, UM, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DYNAMICS AT PLAY THAT'LL, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORHOODS, TO NEIGHBORHOODS WE'LL HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.

UH, I WOULD WANNA FLESH THAT OUT AND TALK WITH THAT.

UM, THE, UH, THE, MAY THE MAYOR, THE MAYOR FURTHER BEFORE, UM, UH, HAVING AN ANSWER ON THAT CANDIDATE SILVA, UM, I THINK THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN CODE, UH, CHANGES THAT WOULD REALLY BENEFIT THE ENTIRE CITY AS A WHOLE.

AND WHEN WE BREAK IT UP DISTRICT BY DISTRICT, IT CAN GET REALLY DISJOINTED ON WHERE HOUSING IS BEING BUILT.

AND WE NEED HOUSING TO BE BUILT EVERYWHERE BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS WHO LOVE AUSTIN AND WANT TO CALL AUSTIN HOME.

SO I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH THAT MAYOR AND THEIR PROPOSAL, SEE WHAT EXACTLY THEY HAVE FLESHED OUT, THINK ABOUT WHAT THE LONG TERM IMPACTS WOULD BE, AND THEN GET BACK WITH THE FOLKS WHO THEY MET WITH WHO ORIGINALLY, UM, PROPOSED THESE CHANGES TO SEE WHERE WE CAN PERHAPS HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY, UM, AND SEE WHERE CITYWIDE WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE CHANGES THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL OF AUSTIN.

SO IN THE, AND THIS WILL BE CANDIDATE SILVA, YOUR FIRST OPTION HERE.

WHEN WE WERE AT OUR LAST DEBATE, WE PULLED OUT THE AUSTIN STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT SCORECARD, AND IT WAS JUST UPDATED IN 2022.

ALRIGHT, AND SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT THREE, THIS STRATEGIC HOUSING BLUEPRINT CALLS CITYWIDE FOR 60,000 AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS TO BE BUILT BY 2028.

OKAY.

INCLUDING MORE THAN 6,200 UNITS HERE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

THREE, ONLY 16% OF THAT HOUSING HAS BEEN BUILT, AND THERE ARE 1200 UNITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER, UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

IS THE CITY'S GOAL FOR THIS DISTRICT REALISTIC AND ATTAINABLE? WHY OR WHY NOT? I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY REALISTIC AND CAN BE ATTAINABLE IF WE GET SERIOUS ABOUT MAKING CHANGES TO THE

[00:05:01]

UM, A LOT OF FOLKS RIGHT NOW WANT TO BUILD HOUSING FOR TEACHERS AND MUSICIANS.

I'VE ACTUALLY TALKED TO FOLKS WHEN KNOCKING OUT THE DOORS AND THEY SAY, I HAVE ENOUGH LAND TO BUILD TWO OR FOUR, UM, UNITS THAT I WOULD LOVE TO KEEP DEEPLY AFFORDABLE, BUT BY THE TIME THAT I CAN GET THROUGH THE PROCESS, THEY WON'T BE BUILT UNTIL FIVE YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THAT ISN'T WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED HOUSING BUILT RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING, ESPECIALLY HERE IN DISTRICT THREE.

SO I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY IS ATTAINABLE, BUT WE HAVE TO REALLY WORK WITH OUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COMMUNITY AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE ZONING CHANGES A LOT EASIER AND QUICKER.

CANDIDATE VELASQUEZ? YEAH, I THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY ATTAINABLE.

UH, WE NEED, WE ALSO NEED TO CHECK TO SEE WHAT, UH, A NEW CITY AND PARTNER STOCK WE HAVE AS FAR, UH, TO BUILD AFFORDABLE UNITS, WORK ON THE PERMITTING BACKLOG, AND STAFF UP THE OFFICE EXPEDITE AND, UM, SITE THE SITE APPROVAL PROCESS AND BUILD UP DEEPLY AFFORDABLE UNITS, UH, AND WORK ON FEE REDUCTIONS.

I, UH, I THINK A LOT OF THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IN AUSTIN IS, IS GONNA BE THE PERMITTING OFFICE, AND I THINK WE NEED TO, UH, STAFF IT UP AND, AND WORK ON WHATEVER THE BOTTLENECKS ARE THERE.

SO, I WANNA FOLLOW UP A QUESTION.

UH, YOU, YOU KIND OF TOUCHED ON IT.

SHOULD THE CITY OF AUSTIN BE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING PROPERTY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS? OR SHOULD THAT BE LEFT TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS PROVIDING, DID YOU SAY PROPERTY OR PROPERTY? PROPERTY? UM, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

IF WE HAVE UN, IF WE HAVE UNUSED PROPERTIES THAT WE CAN, WE CAN MAKE AFFORDABLE UNITS, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED TO.

I MEAN, AND, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER THE NUMBER, BUT IT WAS, WE, I WANNA SAY IT WAS OVER 700 PIECES OF LAND THAT WE HAVE THAT WE CAN USE FOR AFFORDABLE UNITS, AND WE'RE NOT USING CANDIDATE SILVER.

YEAH.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO COMMENT ON THAT? YES.

UM, I BELIEVE, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES OF THESE CAN SPECIFICALLY BE USED FOR HOUSING, BUT WE HAVE OVER 6,000 TRACKS OF LAND THAT THE CITY CAN USE.

AND I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY IS A ROLE THAT THE CITY CAN PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO KEEPING DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE, BECAUSE OFTENTIMES IT JUST ISN'T ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE MARKET TO TAKE CARE OF THIS SITUATION.

AND SO THERE'S A ROLE IN GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING, UM, RESOURCES FOR FOLKS WHO ARE IN NEED AND WHO CAN'T BE PROVIDED BY MARKET AND MARKET RATE SOLUTIONS.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THIS ONE WILL GO CANDIDATE VELASQUEZ IN THIS YEAR, IN 2022, THE TEXAS REAL ESTATE RESEARCH CENTER AT TEXAS A AND M FOUND THAT AUSTIN IS ONE OF THE TEXAS' MOST EXPENSIVE CITIES TO BUILD NEW HOMES IN TERMS OF THE AMOUNT OF DEVELOPMENT FEES CHARGED BY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES.

NOW, WE, WE BOTH KNOW LOCAL PROFESSIONALS HAVE KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS AND HAVE PUSHED FOR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE UPDATES, BUT WE NOW HAVE A STUDY THAT DOES, THAT HAS A LOT OF DATA WITH IT.

IF ELECTED, YOU'RE GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ACTIONS AND POLICIES THAT ARE GONNA AFFECT HOME BUILDING PRICES THROUGHOUT AUSTIN, AS WELL AS IN YOUR DISTRICT.

THE STUDY SAYS THAT AUSTIN'S SUBURBAN STYLE DEVELOPMENT FEES ARE 80% HIGHER THAN THE FEES IN THE FIVE LARGEST METROS.

THE INFILL DEVELOPMENT FEES FOR THE INSIDE CITY LIMITS WERE 187% HIGHER THAN FEES ACROSS DALLAS, HOUSTON, FORT WORTH AND SAN ANTONIO.

SO IF ELECTED, WHAT'S THE FIRST STEP TO ADDRESSING AUSTIN'S OUT OF BALANCE DEVELOPMENT FEE STRUCTURE, WORKING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN MAKE IMMEDIATE REDUCTIONS, UH, AND, AND FIGURING OUT WHY, WHY THE THE FEES ARE SO SKY HIGH FIRST STEP CANDIDATE SILVA.

UH, MY FIRST STEP WOULD BE TO MEET WITH EXPERTS IN THE FIELD WITH, UH, FOLKS WHO HAVE A, A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, UM, DEVELOPING AND, AND GOING THROUGH THESE PERMITTING PROCESSES TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHERE THE INFLATION IS AND WHERE THERE MAY BE AREAS FOR REDUCTION TO MAKE, UM, FEES MORE EFFICIENT, AND TO SEE IF WE CAN CUT DOWN ON ANY REDUNDANCIES.

SO IF WE, I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP AND JUST CANDIDATE SILVA.

SO IF WE DO, IF WE DO A FEE REDUCTION, IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT THE BUDGET NEGATIVE NEGATIVELY, OR IS THAT GOING TO ALLOW MORE UNITS TO BE BUILT AND WHERE'S THE BALANCE? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

UM, I THINK IT WILL ALLOW MORE UNITS TO BE BUILT, WHICH IN THE LONG RUN WILL ADD TO THE BUDGET BECAUSE THE MORE UNITS THAT ARE ABLE TO BE BUILT, UM, THE MORE FEES THAT WILL BE PAID IN BY DEVELOPERS.

SO IT MAY TAKE A BIT OF A CUT IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT I THINK IN THE LONG TERM, IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO THE BUDGET.

SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING BUDGET CANDIDATE VELASQUEZ? NO, UH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THE MORE HOUSING STOCK WE BRING ONLINE, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO STAY IN AUSTIN, UH,

[00:10:01]

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE, UH, POLICE, UH, IN AUSTIN.

AND WE'VE COVERED THIS TOPIC.

YOU ALL HAVE ANSWERED THIS TOPIC, UH, ON A COUPLE OF OF ISSUES.

AND CANDIDATE SILVA, YOU'LL GET YOUR THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT COULD HAVE, THE P COULD HAVE HAD THE POWER TO SUGGEST DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TO THE POLICE CHIEF AFTER THE CITIZEN'S WAY IN AND VOTE NEXT MAY.

THAT'S GONNA BE ON THE BALLOT.

THIS COUNCIL PUSHED IT DOWN THE ROAD A LITTLE BIT.

DO YOU AGREE THAT THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE SHOULD HAVE THAT SU THAT POWER TO SUGGEST THAT? WHY OR WHY NOT? I DO AGREE WITH IT.

UM, I WAS A PROPONENT OF THE ACCOUNTABILITY ACT AND REALLY TRIED TO HELP INFORM PEOPLE THAT IT WAS, UM, A PETITION THEY COULD SIGN.

AND THERE, THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF, UH, THIRD PARTY OVERSIGHT THAT ALLOWS THERE TO BE A BALANCE IN WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE, UH, NEGATIVE ACTIONS TAKEN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AND WE SAW OVERWHELMINGLY BY THE THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES THAT WERE ON THE PETITION THAT AUSTINITES AGREE, THANK YOU CANDIDATE VELAZQUEZ.

AND I'M SORRY, CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION AGAIN? IT'S JUST THAT THE OFFICE OF POLICE OVERSIGHT COULD HAVE THE POWER TO SUGGEST DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS TO THE POLICE CHIEF AFTER THE CITIZEN'S WAY IN AND VOTE NEXT MAY.

IT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN.

THIS COUNCIL CHOSE NOT TO TAKE ACTION.

THEY CHOSE TO PUT IT TO THE CITIZENS, UH, NEXT MAY.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS? WHY OR WHY NOT? YEAH, I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH IT.

UH, THE, THE EMS AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT DO NOT POLICE THEMSELVES.

THERE'S A THIRD PARTY INVOLVED THERE.

SO WE, WE ABSOLUTELY NEED MORE OVERSIGHT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I THINK THAT'S BETTER FOR OFFICERS AND BETTER, BETTER FOR OUR CITIZENS.

SO FOLLOWING UP ON THAT QUESTION, LET LET YOU START THERE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO REBUILD ALL OF AUSTIN? OUR CITIZENS TRUST IN THE POLICE FORCE? A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

UH, ONE, I THINK WE NEED MORE AND, UM, MORE AND BETTER, UH, COMMUNITY POLICING.

WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS RECRUITING FROM THE AREAS THAT THEY POLICE, UM, AND, UH, WORK AND USE THE, THE COUNCIL OFFICE TO, UM, HELP BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE WHERE IT MAY BE, ESPECIALLY IN, IN DISTRICT THREE CANDIDATE SILVA.

I THINK ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS COMES BACK TO HOUSING.

AS MANY THINGS DO, MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS, UH, ENOUGH AFFORDABLE AND DEEPLY AFFORDABLE HOUSING SO THAT FOLKS IN ANY SECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY ARE ABLE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN AND REALLY BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE SERVING.

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, SO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE DRIVING IN FROM ELGAN AND BUTTA, AND REALLY FOLKS WHO ARE LIVING HERE IN AUSTIN DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING SERVED BY THEIR NEIGHBORS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE WANT.

SECONDLY, I THINK THERE IS ROOM TO GROW IN TERMS OF THE AREA OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE IN FIGURING OUT HOW WE PERCEIVE PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHAT THE CULTURE IS AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY IN AUSTIN.

AND THERE ARE MANY EXPERTS WHO HAVE WORKED TO IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PRACTICES ON A POLICY LEVEL AND A CITY LEVEL.

AND THOSE ARE SOME RELATIONSHIPS THAT I'VE ALREADY BEGAN CULTIVATING.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE OVER TO A LOT OF OUR CITIZENS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

ALL RIGHT.

AND, AND CANDIDATES, SILVA WE'LL START WITH YOU.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN'S THOSE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTIN, IS IT A PROBLEM PRIMARILY, PRIMARILY A HOUSING CRISIS, OR IS IT A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS? WHY? IT'S IT'S BOTH, TO BE HONEST.

UM, I THINK FIRST IT IS A HOUSING CRISIS BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT BE IN THE SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN IF THEY HAD HAD HOUSING OPTIONS WHEN THEY WERE CAUGHT IN A TIGHT SPOT.

BUT ONCE YOU FALL INTO BEING UNHOUSED AND BEING IN A HOMELESS COMMUNITY, THOSE SITUATIONS LEAD SOMEONE, IF THEY ALREADY HAD MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR THEM TO WORSEN, THEY LOSE CONNECTIONS TO RESOURCES, THEY LOSE CONNECTIONS TO COMMUNITY, AND THAT THEN PERPETUATES A PERSON'S ISSUES THAT THEY MAY HAVE HAD SLIGHTLY BETTER, UM, UNDER CONTROL WHEN THEY WERE HOUSED.

SO WHENEVER WE TALK ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE TO RESOURCES, WHETHER IT'S TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES OR, UM, YOU KNOW, DEVELOPMENT, WHEN IT COMES TO PROFESSIONALISM, IT'S ALMOST, IF THERE ISN'T HOUSING FIRST, IT'S LIKE TELLING SOMEONE WHO'S DROWNING HERE, LET ME TEACH YOU HOW TO SWIM BEFORE BRINGING THEM ONTO SHORE.

SO IT IS BOTH ISSUES AND WE REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS THEM HAND IN HAND.

UM, I THINK THAT WORKING ON MENTAL HEALTH AND, UH, CONNECTING FOLKS TO THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED CAN BE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING ONGOING IN THE SHORT TERM WHILE WE WORK ON BUILDING UP THE HOUSING STOCK

[00:15:01]

CANDIDATE VELASQUEZ? YES.

NO, I, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S FIRST.

AND, AND IF WE DON'T, UH, I MEAN THAT IT'S, THAT IT IS BOTH.

AND IF WE DON'T, UH, TAKE A HOUSING FIRST APPROACH, THEN IT IS COMPLETELY DESTABILIZING FOR ANYBODY THAT IS SUFFERING WITH ANY, WITH HOMELESSNESS AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

UM, WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

WE NEED TO HELP WITH CO UH, COORDINATED ASSESSMENTS AND, UM, WE NEED TO WORK ON A REENTRY ROUNDTABLE TO HELP FOLKS GET BACK INTO HOUSING QUICKER AND HELP, UH, STABILIZE THEIR LIVES BETTER.

ALL RIGHT.

SO, CANDIDATE VELASQUEZ, I'M A FOLLOW UP, UH, WITH A SIMILAR QUESTION ON THE CITY'S WEBPAGE, CITY OF AUSTIN, IT'S TITLED, ADDRESSING HOMELESS IN AUSTIN, AND IT READS, AND I'M QUOTING, AS PART OF THE HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE, THE CITY OF AUSTIN COLLABORATES WITH AGENCIES, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND INDIVIDUALS WORKING TO MAKE HOMELESSNESS RARE, BRIEF, AND NON-RECURRING.

WHAT GRADE WOULD YOU GIVE THE CURRENT CITY COUNCIL ON ACHIEVING THE ABOVE GOAL AND WHY? UH, C IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LETTER GRADES, I THINK THAT, UM, A LOT OF TIMES WHAT HAPPENS HERE AT CITY HALL IS WE HAVE FOLKS DRAFTING POLICY THAT, UH, DON'T HAVE THE LIVED EXPERIENCE.

AND A LOT OF THE UNHOUSED UNHOUSED ADVOCATES THAT I'VE SPOKEN TO, I HAVE A PERSONAL FRIEND THAT THAT, UH, THAT IS, WAS BORN AND RAISED IN DISTRICT THREE AND DEAL DEALS DAILY WITH THE ISSUE IS, UH, THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THEY AREN'T IN THE ROOM WHEN POLICY IS BEING DRAFTED AND THEY AREN'T ABLE TO HELP CRAFT REAL SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING WITH OUR UN HOUSE NEIGHBORS CANDIDATE SILVA.

I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GIVE CITY HALL A GOOD GRADE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I'M ALSO GONNA HAVE TO GIVE THEM A C.

UM, THERE, THERE IS ALREADY EXISTING COLLABORATION WITH DIFFERENT NONPROFITS AND ORGANIZATIONS, BUT MORE CAN BE DONE.

UM, HAVING BEEN AN ACTIVIST AND ORGANIZER WITH FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING WITH THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY, I HAVE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE UNHOUSED COMMUNITY.

I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM FOR GROWTH WITH THE RELATIONSHIPS IN CITY HALL AND USING THE TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO BETTER IMPLEMENT THE RESOURCES AND CREATE A TIGHTER KNIT NETWORK OF THESE RESOURCES.

THE WEBSITE THAT CURRENTLY EXISTS FOR FOLKS TO LEARN ABOUT HOMELESSNESS ON THE CITY WEBSITE, IT'S OKAY, BUT IT CAN BE A LOT BETTER.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH OUR IN-HOUSE COMMUNITY, AND MANY OF THEM ARE NOT MENTIONED ON THE CITY WEBSITE.

UM, IF YOU CALL THREE 11 AND YOU ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE IN-HOUSE COMMUNITY, THEY WILL SIMPLY DIRECT YOU TO THE WEBSITE THAT IS NOT THOROUGH IN INCLUDING WHAT ACTUALLY EXISTS.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN CITY HALL WITH MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT FOLKS WITH THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE HEALTHY, THRIVING LIVES.

SO I'M GONNA FOLLOW UP CANDIDATE, SO WE'RE GONNA STAY ON THE SAME TOPIC BECAUSE WE GOT THIS IN, WE GET THIS IN OUR INBOX A LOT.

SO WHAT IS A DIRECTIVE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE TO CODE ENFORCEMENT ABOUT THE ADDRESSING THE POPULATION THAT IS STILL CAMPING IN PUBLIC SPACES? WHAT I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO SEE IS WORKING WITH FOLKS TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAKE THE SPACES THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY LIVING IN CLEANER AND SAFER FOR EVERYONE UNTIL WE CAN GET THEM CONNECTED TO THOSE MORE PERMANENT, STABLE LIVING PLACES.

FOLKS WANT TO BE HOUSED, WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH HOUSING RIGHT NOW TO PUT THEM IN, AND THEY REALLY HAVE NO OTHER PLACE TO GO.

AND I THINK MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT NEIGHBORS HAVE ABOUT OUR INHOUSE COMMUNITY IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TRASH.

THERE ARE OFTEN FIRES THAT HAPPEN.

AND IF WE CAN WORK WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT IN DIFFERENT, UH, SECTORS OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH FOLKS TO KEEP THEIR CAMPS CLEANER AND SAFER, I THINK NEIGHBORS WILL BE A LOT LESS BOTHERED BY THE PRESENCE OF THEM IN THE DIFFERENT WOODED AREAS AROUND THEIR HOMES.

DO YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT? CAN ? YEAH, I MEAN, I, I AGREE WITH THAT ALSO, THAT THE, A LOT OF THE COMPLAINTS ARE JUST, IT'S TRASH.

IT'S NOT PEOPLE.

AND IT, UM, I THINK IF WE'RE ABLE TO ELIMINATE, UM, THE MAJORITY OF THAT BY PROVIDING RESTROOMS, BY PROVIDING SAFER AND, UM, AND, UH, CLEANER OPTIONS FOR THEM TO BE HOUSED WHERE THEY'RE AT, INSTEAD OF JUST, UM, SHOWING UP AND, AND CAUSING AN UPHEAVAL AND, AND HAVING FOLKS START FROM SCRATCH WHEN THEY'VE LOST ALL THE POSSESSIONS THAT, THAT THEY CARRY AROUND IN A CART OR IN THEIR, UM, IN THEIR TENT.

RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA SWITCH GEARS.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A BIG CONCRETE DIVIDING LINE.

IT'S CALLED I 35.

OKAY.

NOW, IF WE WANTED TO ENHANCE EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY AND NON VEHICLE MOBILITY AND ADDRESS THE HISTORY OF SEGREGATION BETWEEN THE EAST SIDE AND THE WEST SIDE, THAT IH 35 HAS HISTORICALLY REPRESENTED IN AUSTIN, WE

[00:20:01]

BUT HOW DO WE, AND, AND WE'LL START WITH CANDIDATE VELAZQUEZ, HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT THE SURFACE LEVEL TREATMENTS TRULY RECONNECT THE CITY AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE AND REDRESS PAST HARMS? THAT IS A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

UM, MY FAMILY WAS ACTUALLY HERE AND WAS PART OF THE FORCED MIGRATION OVER, UM, EAST AVE AT THE TIME.

SO I, I DEFINITELY WANNA SEE I 35 COME DOWN AND, AND FOR IT TO BE, UH, FOR IT TO BE CAPPED, I THINK WE, IT WOULD BE INCUMBENT ON THE, UH, COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS TO HELP BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS GROWING UP HERE IN AUSTIN, IT WAS CALLED, WE CALLED, UH, I 35, THE GREAT WALL OF AUSTIN, BECAUSE VERY FEW RESOURCES CAME OVER AND WE VERY RARELY CAME ACROSS IT.

UM, SO USING THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OFFICE AND ALIGNING WITH, UH, WITH OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WILL BE REPRESENTING THOSE AREAS THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED, UH, AND HELPING TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND, AND WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

SO ARE YOU STATING THAT WE SHOULD FUND THE CITY SHOULD FUND THE CAPS BECAUSE TECH DOT'S NOT FUNDING THE CAPS.

TECH.IS ALREADY FUNDING, YOU KNOW, THE HIGHWAY IT'S FUNDED, IT'S GONNA BE 20 LANES.

SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING THE CITY COUNCIL, WE SHOULD FIND FUNDS FOR THIS CAP? ABSOLUTELY.

OUR, OUR, THE I 35 IS A MONUMENT TO SEGREGATION, AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT CANDIDATES.

SO, UM, I THINK IT'S, UH, PRETTY CLEAR THAT AUSTINITES DON'T WANT WIDER 35.

UM, THEY WOULD MUCH RATHER, UM, IT BE TURNED INTO, UH, SOME OTHER OPTION, WHETHER IT BE A BOULEVARD OR IT BE, UM, BURIED AND COMPLETELY COVERED.

BUT FOLKS ARE REALLY NOT WANTING, UH, WHAT'S CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED.

SO I THINK CITY COUNCIL CAN STILL DO SOME WORK IN ADVOCATING FOR WHAT AUSTINITES WANT.

THAT BEING SAID, IF THE OPTION THAT TECH DOT HAS CURRENTLY PROPOSED IS THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO GO FORWARD, UH, CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND THOSE CAPS AND MAKING SURE THAT DIFFERENT COMMUNITY GROUPS ACROSS CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE INPUT ON WHAT IS PLACED ON TOP OF THOSE CAPS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT MOBILITY IS ALLOWED TO BE ON THERE, WHETHER IT'S MORE ROOM FOR CYCLISTS OR PEDESTRIANS, MICRO MOBILITY, UM, PUBLIC TRANSIT FOLKS FROM ACROSS, UH, EAST AND WEST AUSTIN, WHO WILL BE USING THOSE THE MOST, SHOULD BE THE ONES WHO ARE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE.

THANK YOU.

SO CANDIDATE SILVA, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT GENTRIFICATION.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT DISPLACEMENT, UH, THAT'S HAPPENING IN MANY DISTRICTS.

UM, HOW IS DISTRICT THREE AFFECTED BY THE RISING RENTS OF BOTH RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND SMALL BUSINESS, THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE IN YOUR DISTRICT, AND HOW IS THAT AFFECTING THE DISPLACEMENT OF THESE RESIDENTS? UH, THEY ARE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, AS WE HAVE SEEN OVER THE PAST DECADE OF GENTRIFICATION THAT HAS BEEN CREEPING IN GENERATIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM EAST AUSTIN AS WELL AS MANY LOCAL BUSINESSES BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY CAN'T AFFORD TO STAY HERE ANYMORE.

THE FOLKS WHO ARE CURRENTLY HERE, WHO HAVE MANAGED TO STAY HERE ARE FEELING A LOT OF STRESS, UM, AND HAVING THIS UNDUE BURDEN OF PAYING THE RISING PROPERTY TAXES OR OF HAVING TO PASS THAT COST ON DOWN TO THE TENANTS WHO LIVE IN THE HOMES THAT THEY LIVE IN, OR IF THEY ARE TENANTS THEMSELVES FEELING A PRICE INCREASES ON RENT FROM A HUNDRED DOLLARS UP TO $700.

I PERSONALLY HAVE A FRIEND WHO LIVED OFF OF SES, CHAZ, WHO HAD BEEN IN HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX FOR YEARS, AND THE RENT WENT UP $700 AND HE HAD TO MOVE TO SOUTH AUSTIN.

THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HIS COMPLEX THAT WERE OF ALL AGE RANGES, BUT PARTICULARLY THERE WERE MANY ELDERS IN THAT COMPLEX.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALSO BEEN SEEING A LOT, AS MANY ELDERS WHO WOULD LOVE TO AGE IN PLACE AND STAY IN THE HOMES THAT THEY'RE LIVING IN, FEELING LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS.

AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WOULD GO IF THEY CAN'T CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THEIR HOME.

BECAUSE IF THEY HAVE TO MOVE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY, THEY'RE FURTHER AWAY FROM RESOURCES THAT THEY RELY ON.

THEY'RE FURTHER AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, SO OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY GENTRIFICATION CANDIDATE QUE CAN YOU REPEAT IT ONCE MORE PLEASE? MAYBE , WHAT IS, IT WAS JUST ABOUT THE NEGATIVE IMPACT AND IT WAS, UH, THE RISING RENTS OF BOTH THE RESIDENTIAL AND THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

[00:25:01]

UM, IT, I MEAN, IT'S HAVING A, A, A DAMAGING EFFECT AND, AND, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAS CHANGED SO RAPIDLY IN THE LAST 20 YEARS BECAUSE OF GENTRIFICATION.

AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE, UM, UH, PRO-HOUSING AND ANTI-GENTRIFICATION.

THE, THE BUSINESSES ARE STRUGGLING TO STAY, STAY THERE, THE FAMILIES, I MEAN, ON OUR BLOCK WE HAVE, UM, I THINK ONE MEMBER THAT GREW UP WITH US ON WILLOW STREET THAT STILL LIVES THERE.

SO IT'S, I MEAN, IT IS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE, UM, I WORK RIGHT NOW TO ACTUALLY HELP PEOPLE PAY THEIR PROPERTY TAXES AND STAY IN THEIR HOMES.

AND IT IS, I MEAN, WITHOUT THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER FOLKS WOULD, WOULD BE OUT TOMORROW.

SO I WISH WE HAD ABOUT 35 MORE MINUTES, BUT IS THERE, AND, AND I'LL GIVE YOU EACH A MINUTE ON THIS TOPIC.

IS THERE A TOPIC OR AN ISSUE THAT YOU REALLY WANNA EXPRESS AN OPINION ONTO THE VOTERS IN YOUR DISTRICT RIGHT NOW? ONE PARTICULAR TOPIC AND, UH, CANDIDATE SILVA WILL START WITH YOU, .

UM, IT, IT OFTEN COMES DOWN TO HOUSING, AND THAT'S WHAT I TALK ABOUT A LOT.

BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF HEALTH INEQUITIES IN THE DISTRICT THAT OFTEN GO, UM, UNDER WITHOUT ENOUGH ATTENTION.

WE LIVE IN AREAS OF, UM, HEALTHCARE DESERTS AND OF FOOD DESERTS WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE OR TO THE TYPE OF HEALTHCARE THAT BEST SERVES THEM.

THEY ALSO DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ACCESS TO FRESH, HEALTHY, AFFORDABLE FOOD.

AND THERE'S ALREADY A 12 YEAR SHORTER LIFE EXPECTANCY BETWEEN EAST AND WEST AUSTIN.

AND THAT IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE.

AND THE MORE THAT WE ARE TAKING SHOCKS TO SUPPLY CHAIN AND, AND SHOCKS TO OUR, UM, AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WE'RE GONNA SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE VERY VULNERABLE TO FOOD INSECURITY FOLKS WHO NEVER THOUGHT THEY WERE BEFORE.

THANK YOU.

CANDIDATE VELASQUE IS ONE TOPIC THAT YOU REALLY WANT THE VOTERS TO KNOW ABOUT THAT YOU CARE.

UH, IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE WORKING ON, AND IT IS UNIVERSAL.

PRE-K I THINK THIS, UH, UH, OUR CITY COULD LEAD ON IT.

IT HELPS WITH A JUMPSTART ON CHILDREN'S EDUCATION.

IF THEY GET INTO PRE-K EARLIER, THEY'RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A, UM, BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE, MORE LIKELY TO GO ON TO COLLEGE, MORE LIKELY TO EARN MORE MONEY.

UM, AND WE ARE, UM, IT, IT WOULD, IT WOULD BETTER HELP OUR WORKFORCE HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, UM, BY ENSURING THAT THEY HAD, THAT FOLKS HAD SAFE AND, UH, EDUCATIONAL PLACES TO DROP THEIR KIDS.

THANK YOU.

SO YOU'RE GONNA GET, I I ASK YOU TONIGHT TO, UH, TELL US IN ONE MINUTE FOR YOUR CLOSING WHAT IT IS THAT MAKES YOU A GOOD LEADER FOR AUSTIN AND, UH, CANDIDATES.

SO, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE TYPE OF LEADERSHIP THAT I PROVIDE IN OFFICE BY WHAT MY CAMPAIGN HAS LOOKED LIKE AND WHAT MY PRESENCE HAS BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY.

FOLKS FEEL UNSEEN AND UNHEARD BY COUNCIL CURRENTLY, AND OUR CAMPAIGN HAS PROVEN AN OPENNESS AND WILLINGNESS TO MEET WITH PEOPLE.

WE'VE BEEN AS ACCESSIBLE AS POSSIBLE, ANSWERING PRACTICALLY EVERY SOCIAL MEDIA DM, EVERY EMAIL, EVERY PHONE CALL, AND INTEGRATING, UH, SUGGESTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN US, AS WELL AS THE VAST DIVERSITY OF STAFF ON THE CAMPAIGN THAT WILL TRANSLATE INTO CITY COUNCIL TO SERVE, UH, THE DIFFERENT INTERSECTIONALITY THAT NEED TO BE REPRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.

THANK YOU.

CANDIDATE VELAZQUEZ ACCESSIBILITY.

THIS, UM, THIS CAMPAIGN ISN'T ABOUT POLITICS, IT'S ABOUT ACCESSIBILITY.

A AS DANIEL SAID, THE, UH, NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT WE COME ACROSS IN THE DISTRICT THAT DON'T FEEL SEEN, DON'T FEEL HEARD, ESPECIALLY OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT LIKE SOUTH AUSTIN THAT DON'T FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE CURRENTLY.

UM, I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BUILDING BROAD COALITIONS AROUND ISSUES, UM, FOR YEARS AND GETTING STUFF DONE IN THE DISTRICT AND, AND THE EAST AUSTIN AND TOPLESS IN SOUTH AUSTIN.

UM, BRINGING FOLKS TOGETHER AND BEING ABLE TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING ON DAY ONE BECAUSE OF MY STRONG COMMUNITY TIES AND THE, UH, THE, THE LEVEL OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS IN ME.

THANK

[00:30:01]

PLEASE GIVE THESE FOLKS A NICE ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR THEIR 30 MINUTES WITH US.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR ATTENTION AND IT, AND FOR WHEREVER YOU'RE LISTENING, UH, TO US.

IT'S NOW OUR TURN TO GO TO THE POLLS AND VOTE AND ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVE.

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, OUR VOTERS GUIDE IS ONLINE AT LW AT WWW L W V AUSTIN.ORG, AND WE HAVE EDITED IT FOR THE CURRENT RACES.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS TOMORROW, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1ST THROUGH FRIDAY, DECEMBER THE NINTH, FROM 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM EXCEPT PLEASE NOTE THAT ON SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH, THE POLLS ARE ONLY OPEN FROM 12:00 PM TO 6:00 PM ELECTION DAY, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH, 7:00 AM TO 7:00 PM THE POLLS ARE OPEN.

POLLING LOCATIONS CAN BE FOUND@WWWVOTETRAVIS.COM.

IT'S NOT.ORG, IT'S DOT COM.

FIND A LIST OR A MAP, AND YOU'LL SEE THE WAIT TIMES OF THE POLLING LOCATIONS AT THAT SITE.

PLEASE GO VOTE AND GOODNIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS CAROL EEL CAMP, AND I HAVE THE HONOR OF SERVING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA AS THEIR CANDIDATE FORUM CHAIRPERSON, AND TO WORK WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION TO SHOWCASE ALL THE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR EACH YEAR.

I'D LIKE, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE OPENING STATEMENTS.

I'D LIKE TO GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE OUR CLIENTS.

THIS IS DISTRICT FIVE, AND WE HAVE STEPHANIE BAAN AND WE HAVE RYAN AL.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU IN YOUR CAMPAIGN SO FAR.

I WILL BE YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT, AND I PROMISE TO TREAT EACH OF YOU FAIRLY AND RESPECTFULLY IN RETURN.

I ASK THAT YOU DO THE SAME AND NOT EXCEED YOUR TWO MINUTE TIMEFRAME FOR EACH ANSWER AND OR REBUTTAL AND TO REFRAIN FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS.

OKAY.

WATCH OUR TIMEKEEPERS SEATED HERE AND LISTEN FOR THE TIMER.

BUT LET'S STICK TO THE ISSUES TONIGHT.

AND I WILL RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ASK A FOLLOW UP QUESTION.

PLEASE KNOW THAT THE VIEWS EXPRESSED HERE ARE NOT THOSE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION, OUR SPONSORING ORGANIZATION, BUT OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AUSTIN AREA.

NEITHER OF YOU CANDIDATES HAVE SEEN OUR QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE, AND THESE TOPICS AND QUESTIONS COME FROM OUR ORGANIZATION, OTHER ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AT THE END OF THIS DEBATE, EACH OF YOU WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO CLOSE AND TELL THE VOTERS OF AUSTIN WHY YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL MAKE AUSTIN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK.

SO Y'ALL READY? ALL RIGHT.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF TALK ON WEBSITES, FACEBOOK PAGES, INTERVIEWS THAT YOU ALL HAVE DONE AND OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE DONE.

AND IN, IN ONE TOPIC, ONE OF THE MAYORAL CANDIDATES, OKAY, HAS PROPOSED TO ALLOW EACH COUNCIL DISTRICT MEMBER, WHICH ONE OF YOU WILL BE ELECTED TO BE THAT MEMBER, TO BRING FORWARD A SET OF DISTRICT SPECIFIC LAND CODE REFORMS INSTEAD OF FORCING EVERY AUSTIN DISTRICT TO ADOPT THE SAME TYPE OF CODE REFORMS. DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? WHY OR WHY NOT? NOW, WE FLIPPED A COIN FOR WHO GETS TO START FIRST.

SO CANDIDATE BAAN, UH, YOU WON THAT COIN TO US, SO IT'S YOUR FIRST, AND THEN YOU'LL HAVE THE REBUTTAL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.

I WANNA START BY SAYING I DON'T DISAGREE WITH EITHER CANDIDATE.

UM, SO WHOEVER I, I KNOW WHO IT, WHO THE CANDIDATE IS THAT WE'RE REFERRING TO.

UM, BUT I WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR THING IN THE ZONING.

UM, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EACH INDIVIDUAL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE RULES THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR THEIR DISTRICT.

I ALREADY FEEL LIKE OUR CODE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND.

UM, IT TAKES PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN IN IT FOR 30 YEARS TO REALLY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, WITH ALL THE OVERLAYS AND EVERYTHING THAT IS A PART OF THE CODE.

AND SO IT FEELS TO ME THAT HAVING INDIVIDUALS HAVE THAT POWER OVER THEIR OWN DISTRICT MIGHT CAUSE MORE HARM THAN HELP.

UM, I DO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK COLLECTIVELY.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE CITY AS A WHOLE, UM, WHEN WE'RE COMING TOGETHER AROUND SOME OF THE NEW, UM, THE NEW CODES THAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT.

AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT BEING SAID, I, I APPRECIATE, UM, THE THOUGHT BEHIND THAT.

UM, BUT AGAIN, WOULD PREFER TO WORK ON SOMETHING AS A COLLECTIVE.

UM, AND WE

[00:35:01]

OUR CODE IS FROM THE EIGHTIES, UM, AND WE'RE GROWING AND WE'RE CHANGING, AND IT'S NOT SERVING US VERY WELL.

THANK YOU CANDIDATE ALTAR.

I, I DON'T AGREE THAT A DISTRICT OR A COUNCIL DISTRICT OR ALL OUR DISTRICTS SHOULD BE ZONED SEPARATELY OR, OR HAVE SEPARATE PLANS.

UH, WE ARE IN A HOUSING CRISIS AS A CITY, NOT AS DISTRICT FIVE, NOT AS DISTRICT ONE.

THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS A HOUSING CRISIS, AN AFFORDABILITY CRISIS, AND IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS FOR EVERYONE.

AND SO THAT IS WHY I PUT FORWARD A VERY DETAILED HOUSING PLAN OF THINGS THAT I THINK WE CAN START DOING ON DAY ONE, WAYS TO MAKE IT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE IN ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ACROSS AUSTIN, NOT JUST WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HISTORICALLY, WHICH IS WE'RE GONNA CREATE SPECIAL RULES FOR INDIVIDUALS TO LIVE MAYBE IN THIS LITTLE SPOT OF TOWN OR THIS LITTLE SPOT OF TOWN, OR, OR JUST ON THE EDGES OF AUSTIN.

WE NEED TO HAVE REAL REFORM THAT TOUCHES ALL OF AUSTIN AND OPENS THE DOORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT AUSTIN HAS TO OFFER.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT, WHAT YOU'LL SEE IN, IN WHAT I HAVE PROPOSED, A LOT OF IT ARE THINGS THAT, THAT WE CAN DO, LIKE I SAID, STARTING ON DAY ONE AND WORK IN PARALLEL WITH A COMPREHENSIVE, UH, CODE, WHETHER IT'S A REWRITE, SIMPLIFICATION, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE IT SO THAT THE CODE IS ACTUALLY WORKING TOWARDS AFFORDABILITY INSTEAD OF RIGHT NOW.

IT INCENTIVIZES AND PUSHES WHAT PUSHES AWAY ANY KIND OF, OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT AUSTIN THAT THE CODE BASICALLY STEERS YOU INTO SCRAPING A LOT AND BUILDING A BIG HOME THAT FEW PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.

AND THAT'S HAPPENING IN ALL OF AUSTIN.

AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE SAYING, WELL, THAT'S OKAY IN SOME PARTS OF AUSTIN, BUT NOT OTHERS.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WANT TO TAKE A, A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THIS, THIS CRISIS.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA START, UH, CANDIDATE ALTAR.

YOU'LL START WITH THIS ONE.

AND, UH, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE BIG, HUGE ELEPHANT RUNNING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF AUSTIN .

AND WE ARE LESS THAN TWO YEARS AWAY FROM CONSTRUCTION ON THAT.

UH, THE LOWERING AND THE WIDENING OF I 35 CANDIDATE BAAN HAS STATED SHE AGREES WITH THOSE ON OUR CURRENT COUNCIL WHO HAVE ALREADY NOTED THAT WE SHOULD GO NO WIDER OR NO HIGHER ON 35.

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON THE CURRENT MOBILITY 35 CAPITAL AREAS CENTRAL EXPRESS PLANS? I DON'T LIKE THE CURRENT PLAN.

I THINK IF WE LOOK AT DATA, DATA HAS SHOWS US THAT WHEN YOU SIMPLY ADD LANES, YOU FILL IT WITH MORE CARS AND IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

INDUCED DEMAND IS A REAL THING.

AND SO WE WOULD NOT BE SERVING AUSTINITES IF WE PRETENDED LIKE THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT OCCURS EVERYWHERE BUT AUSTIN.

AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO IS HAVE THIS MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT ACTUALLY SUPPORT SOME OF THE OTHER INVESTMENTS WE'RE MAKING, LIKE WHAT WE'RE DOING IN PROJECT CONNECT.

IF WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, SPENDING CITY RESOURCES TO INCENTIVIZE AND CREATE TRANSIT OPTIONS, WE SHOULDN'T IN PARALLEL WITH THAT CREATE OR SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO DETRACT FROM THAT AND NOT ACTUALLY BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO IS IF WE ARE GOING TO BE, UH, DOING ANY KIND OF EXPANSION, IT SHOULD ACTUALLY MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH THE CITY AND, AND CREATE WHETHER IT'S, UH, ROUTES FOR TRANSIT OR OTHER MULTIMODAL OPTIONS.

AND SO YOU LOOK AT ONE PLAN, FOR INSTANCE, THAT'S BEEN PUT OUT THERE, UH, I'M, I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND SAY EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS PERFECT, BUT THE, THE RECONNECT AUSTIN PLAN THAT FULLY BURIES THE HIGHWAY THROUGH DOWNTOWN USES THE EXISTING RIGHT OF WAY AT SURFACE LEVEL, UH, AND CREATES A TUR.

SO, UH, UH, SOMETHING THAT HELPS CREATE REVENUE, THAT HELPS PAY FOR, UH, THAT PROJECT.

AND IT'S NOT JUST A CAP OR, OR NOT JUST THOSE STITCHES, BUT WE'RE TALKING A FULL GREEN SPACE OR, YOU KNOW, COUPLE LANES ON AT, AT LEVEL THAT REALLY DO BRIDGE EAST AND WEST AUSTIN AND, AND CREATE REAL TRANSIT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE, NOT JUST MORE LANES THAT ARE GONNA BE FILLED WITH MORE CARS CANDIDATE BA ON.

YEAH, SO I STICK BY WHAT I SAID BEFORE THAT I DON'T THINK THAT, UM, MORE LANES DO US MUCH MORE GOOD.

UM, I WILL NOTE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, ORIGINALLY WHEN WE WERE ASKED IF WE SHOULD GO MORE LANES AND

[00:40:01]

UM, AND THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT RETHINK 35, UM, TO LOOK AT FURTHER ANSWERS THERE, BUT I STUCK WITH WHAT I SAID FROM THE, FROM THE GET GO THERE.

UM, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT THAT WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE DOING, UM, IN THAT, UM, WITH THAT BUILD, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR CITIZENS WANT AND WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM.

I 35 HAS BEEN A SCAR, UM, IN AUSTIN FOR A REALLY LONG TIME.

AND WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW PEOPLE USE THE CITY.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP FROM EAST AND WEST.

UM, AND AGAIN, IF WE DO END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH WHAT IS CURRENTLY PLANNED, WE NEED TO BE THINKING INCLUSIVELY AGAIN AND HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE COME TO THE TABLE TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS AROUND WHAT IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE AND WHETHER WE CAP IT OR WHAT WE DO IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE.

AND SO, UM, THIS IS GONNA BE SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS US FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

UM, AND IT'S NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER, BUT IT CERTAINLY NEEDS TO TAKE, UM, ALL OF OUR CITIZENS INTO ACCOUNT AND WE NEED TO LOOK LOCALLY.

UM, CUZ OF COURSE 35 GOES THROUGH AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A, IT'S A REGIONAL ISSUE AS WELL.

UM, BUT WE NEED, NEED TO PUT AUSTINITE AT THE CENTER OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO LET'S CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT 35 IN, UH, CANDIDATE BAAN.

YOU'LL GET THE FIRST CHANCE TO ANSWER THIS ONE.

THE PLANS ARE, THERE'S A 20 LANE, UH, HIGHWAY GOING THROUGH WITH, WITH, UH, TOLL MOBILITY ON IN THAT DESIGN.

AND WE ARE, AGAIN, JUST TWO YEARS AWAY FROM CONSTRUCTION STARTING ON THAT PROJECT.

WE HAVE BEEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE EAST WE, EAST WEST CONNECTIVITY AND THE NON VEHIC MOBILITY THAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE BETWEEN EAST AND WEST I 35 HAS HISTORICALLY REPRESENTED IN AUSTIN THAT DIVIDING LINE.

AND RIGHT NOW WITH THE CAP AND STITCH THAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE, CIVIL ENGINEERING FIRMS AND OTHER GROUPS, IF WE THINK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IT DOES TO THAT CONNECTIVITY, WOULD THE CAP AND STITCH PROPOSALS THAT GROUPS SUCH AS THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE HAVE BROUGHT UP ACCOMPLISHED THIS? THANK YOU.

I THINK CAP AND STITCH IS, IS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.

I THINK IT DOES LOOK AT, UM, USING THAT SPACE IN A NEW WAY, UM, AND ALLOWING MORE TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITIES THAT AREN'T, UH, CARS.

UM, SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN LEAVE OUT THE OTHER OPTIONS THAT PEOPLE ARE PUTTING ON THE TABLE.

I DO THINK THAT IF WE WERE TO GO WITH CAP AND STITCH THAT IT'S, YOU KNOW, UM, THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE CITY BACKS THAT AND HELPS, HELPS PAY FOR THE CAP.

UM, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE CAN JUST SIMPLY SAY THAT THAT IS THE ANSWER.

WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT MORE LANES SHOULD NOT BE THE ANSWER.

WE CAN, WE CAN LOOK TO OTHER, UM, PLACES IN THE NATION AND SEE THAT, UM, THAT IT DOESN'T SERVE FOLKS WELL.

UM, AND AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO OUR ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS FAR AS SUSTAINABILITY AND THE TYPE OF CITIES THAT WE'RE BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE.

UM, AND WE NEED TO THINK BEYOND THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND THINK INTO, UM, THE NEXT DECADES AND WHAT SORT OF CITY WE'RE LEAVING FOR OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, FRIENDS.

UM, AND I, SO THAT'S WHY IT'S NOT AN EASY ANSWER, BUT WE DO NEED TO SEE WHAT THE POSSIBILITIES ARE BECAUSE IT ALLOWS US A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

UM, SO THIS ISN'T ME SAYING NO, JUST FOR THE SAKE OF SAYING NO, IT'S SAYING SOMETIMES THERE'S POWER IN THE PAUSE AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US AND LISTEN AGAIN TO WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND, UM, COME, COME TO A SOLUTION THAT AGAIN, IS GONNA SERVE US LOCALLY.

CANDIDATE AL.

YEAH, I WOULD SAY PUTTING A, A GREEN SPACE WHERE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF I 35 EXIST PRESENTLY OR, OR SOME KIND OF OF BRIDGE ISN'T AUTOMATICALLY GOING TO JUST HEAL THIS, THIS WOUND AND, AND BE A BRIDGE FROM EAST TO WEST.

YOU KNOW, WE, WE LITERALLY CEMENTED RACISM INTO THIS CITY IN 1928 THROUGH THE MASTER PLAN AND, AND PUTTING A CAP OR A STITCH

[00:45:01]

WHAT, WHAT HAVE BEEN DECADES AND DECADES OF BOTH ECONOMIC BUT ALSO RACIAL SEGREGATION IN THIS CITY.

AND SO IF WE WANT TO TRULY BRIDGE EAST AND WEST, WE HAVE TO CREATE, UH, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EAST AND WEST.

AND THAT'S HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, THAT'S ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

AND, AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH MORE THAN JUST A, A BIKE LANE OR A SIDEWALK.

YOU KNOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE THE, THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS FROM, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE FROM EAST AUSTIN, UH, WHO RIGHT NOW DOESN'T NECESSARILY, UM, FEEL LIKE GOING INTO, INTO DOWNTOWN IS, IS ACCESSIBLE.

WE, WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A A POSSIBILITY.

SO I THINK THE, THIS IS A STARTING POINT.

THIS IS NOT THE, THE FINISH LINE.

AND SO ONCE WE DO THIS, THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE TO THE EQUATION.

WE CAN'T JUST SAY WE FIXED IT BY PUTTING THIS CAP OR THIS STITCH.

THAT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE CONVERSATION.

SO WE'RE GONNA HEAD OVER TO ANOTHER TOPIC.

LET'S HEAD OVER TO THE AUSTIN, THE POLICE AND OUR ISSUES THAT HAVE COME UP OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

STEPHANIE, UH, I MEAN, EXCUSE ME, CANDIDATE BA ON THIS IS, UH, FOR YOU TO GO FIRST.

CANDIDATE ALTAR HAS STATED IN THE PAST THAT MANY INSTANCES OF POLICE RESPONSE DON'T ACTUALLY REQUIRE A TRAINED OFFICER TO RESPOND SUCH AS RESPONDING TO A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS OR SEXUAL ASSAULT.

AND WE COULD USE OTHER TRAINED PROFESSIONALS.

WOULD THIS HELP WITH OUR OFFICER'S RESPONSE TIME TO OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AND VIOLENT CRIMES? WHY OR WHY NOT? SO I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT THE POLICE SHOULD BE DOING THE JOB THAT THEY SIGNED UP TO BE DOING.

AND SO IT IS HELPFUL IF, UM, THEY'RE DOING THE WORK OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND THAT IF WE HAVE SITUATIONS WITH MEN AROUND MENTAL HEALTH, FOR EXAMPLE, UM, THAT WE HAVE FOLKS SPECIFICALLY HELPING AROUND THOSE AREAS, UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE COMING INTO, UM, AGAIN, MORE OPPORTUNITY AND POSSIBILITY WHERE THIS IS A, COULD BE A NEW ERA OF PUBLIC SAFETY FOR US, UM, WITH THE NEW CADET CLASSES COMING IN, UM, AND HOW THEY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE TRAINING DIFFERENTLY.