[2020 City Council Candidate Forum District 2]
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GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BOSTON'S GREAT TO KICK IN VOTERS, AUSTIN AREA.
OUR LOCAL LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED IN 1919, AND AS A NONPARTISAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF MEN AND WOMEN MEMBERS, WE WISH TO BE CLEAR THAT THE LEAGUE NEVER SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES CANDIDATES OR PARTIES OR VOTERS WITH INFORMATION THEY CAN USE TO MAKE THEIR OWN INFORMED AND ACTIVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
TODAY, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION TO HELP YOU GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
ALL QUESTIONS ARE PUT TOGETHER BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA AND HAVE NOT BEEN SEEN IN ADVANCE BY THE CANDIDATES.
THESE QUESTIONS COME FROM MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THROUGH THIS MAILBOX FORUM AT EL WV, AUSTIN.ORG, THERE IS STILL TIME TO SEND QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHER FORUMS THAT IS F O R U M AT L W V A U S E I N O R G.
THIS YEAR, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH STUDENTS IN THE UT STEVE HICKS SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
THESE STUDENTS WOULD NORMALLY BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY GETTING THEIR SERVICE HOURS, BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THEY ARE LEARNING ALONG WITH ALL OF US, HOW TO MANAGE OUR LIVES IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY, A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR CURRENT GROUP OF STUDENTS, AND A WELCOME TO THE NEW GROUP COMING ON BOARD FOR THE OTHER FORUMS. AND I TAKE THIS TIME ALSO TO THANK OUR VOLUNTEERS AND THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN, VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA CANDIDATES STATEMENT, AND A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT.
AND I, AND WILL I BE GIVEN A ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER EACH QUESTION? OUR TIMEKEEPER WILL HOLD UP A YELLOW 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 KUDUS.
THIS FORUM, AFTER REENTERING THE WEBINAR, YOU WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MISSED.
WE WILL ASK THE QUESTIONS IN BALLOT ORDER AND THEN ALTER NATE WHO BEGINS EACH TIME.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENTS FROM MR. CHIN KITCHEN, AND I'M REALLY PROUD.
YOU'RE RUNNING TO SERVE DISTRICT TWO ON THE AUSTIN COUNCIL BECAUSE DISTRICT TWO WAS A COMMUNITY THAT I WAS RAISED IN.
I GREW UP IN DUCT SPRINGS AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN AND LOVED.
AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY THAT DESPITE BEING SO UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED HAS REMAINED RESILIENT IN ME SO MUCH THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY LEADERS OF PUBLIC WORKERS, UM, AND JUST OUR NEIGHBORS IN MY, IN MY COMMUNITY REALIZE MY DREAM OF ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AND BECOMING THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO EARN A COLLEGE DEGREE.
AND SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE WORKED TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY TO CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE FAMILIES THAT CONTINUE TO FACE MANY OF THE SAME CHALLENGES WE FACE AND EVEN BIGGER ONES THAT HAVE ARISEN AS OUR CITY HAS CONTINUED TO GROW.
UM, I HAVE HAD THE HONOR OF SERVING AS THE CHAIR OF THE AUSTIN TO HANDLE DEMOCRATS ON THE BOARD OF MY LABOR UNION OPS ME 1624, AND AS A SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR STAFF AT THE CITY OF AUSTIN WORKING TO MOVE FORWARD, PROGRESSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND WORKER PROTECTION INITIATIVES.
AND THAT IS THE WORK THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO IN AN EVEN MORE IMPACTFUL WAY.
I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FAMILIES IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN HAVE OUR OWN VOICE WHEN DECISIONS ABOUT OUR HEALTH, OUR LIVES, UM, AND OUR QUALITY OF LIFE ARE BEING MADE AT CITY HALL.
I'M RUNNING TO HELP BUILD AN AUSTIN FOR ALL WHERE EVERY SINGLE FAMILY, REGARDLESS OF WHERE WE COME FROM, HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE THEIR DREAMS AND ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL.
THAT'S FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.
HI, I'M VANESSA QUENTIN AND I'M RUNNING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY ON AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT TWO.
I'M A COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE.
AND I RECENTLY WORKED WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS ON PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY AND POLICY AT THE LOCAL STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS.
I'VE WORKED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT AND FOR NONPROFIT, JUST LIKE YOU, AUSTIN IS MY HOME.
PART OF THE REASON WHY I'M RUNNING FOR COUNCIL IS BECAUSE WHILE AUSTIN
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CONTINUES TO GROW, THE REALITY IS, IS THAT OUR WORKING FAMILIES IN THIS CITY ARE STRUGGLING.WHETHER IT'S THE RISING COST OF HOUSING, THE RISING COST OF PROPERTY TAXES, OR WHETHER IT'S THE FACT THAT WAGES HAVE REMAINED SEGMENT.
MOST OF OUR WORKING CLASS IS BEING LEFT BEHIND.
I WAS RAISED IN A WORKING CLASS IMMIGRANT FAMILY.
MY DAD'S AN ELECTRICIAN AND MY MOM WORKS AT A GROCERY STORE.
I BELIEVE THAT THE WORKING CLASS OF THIS CITY SHOULD BE AT THE CENTER OF EVERY DECISION THAT OUR LEADERS MAKE.
IN THE YEARS AHEAD, I GOT INTO THIS RACE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS WONDERFUL CITY CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO STAY.
AND THOSE WHO WERE DRAWN TO AUSTIN BECAUSE OF OUR POTENTIAL ARE QUICKLY LOSING FAITH.
OUR FAVORITE LOCALLY OWNED BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS PRIMARILY LATINO, IS BEARING THE BRUNT OF CORONAVIRUS WITH OVER 3000 POSITIVE CASES OF COVID ALONE.
AND DISTRICT TWO, OUR PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING.
I BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE A CITY THAT EVERY PERSON CAN CALL HOME.
A CITY THAT GROWS RESPONSIBLY, THAT IS SUSTAINABLE AND A CITY WHERE DEMOCRACIES WILL, AND THAT OUR PERSPECTIVES ARE VALUED.
WE CAN UNLEASH OUR FULLEST POTENTIAL, LIFT UP OUR COMMUNITIES, PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE AND PRIORITIZE CONNECTED COMMUNITIES.
AND I AM PREPARED TO HELP US GET US THERE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONVERSATION TODAY, MR. STRIKER, YOU HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
MY NAME IS ALEX STRANGLER AND I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR DRIVES A PETTY CAB.
YOU KNOW, I'M LITERALLY THE WORKING MAN WHO, OUR QUOTE UNQUOTE PROGRESSIVE CITY COUNCIL CLAIM TO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, YET EVERYTHING THAT THEY'RE DOING FROM ENACTING ECONOMICALLY CRIPPLING SHUTDOWNS TO RAISING OUR PROPERTY TAXES BY OVER 25% WHILE WE ARE IN OUR BIGGEST ECONOMIC RECESSION TO, UH, DEFUNDING OUR POLICE OFFICERS IN A WAY THAT IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND DIVISIVE.
AND TO BE HONEST, WE'LL PROBABLY GET OVERTURNED BY THE STATE NEXT YEAR, UM, TO PUSHING A, A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR RAIL SYSTEM THAT BY THE TIME IT'S FINISHED IS GOING TO BE OUTDATED AND OBSOLETE.
AND IN BUILDING A HOUSING MODEL, THAT'S BASED ON URBAN DENSITY WHILE WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THESE POLICIES TOGETHER, IT'S JUST AN ABSOLUTE DISASTER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED A MORE AFFORDABLE, ACCESSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED AN AUSTIN WHERE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE CITY CAN AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.
UM, AND WE NEED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON THE HOMESTEAD TAX EXEMPTION BY RAISING IT TO 25 TO 20%.
UM, WE NEED TO KEEP OUR PROPERTY TAXES AT A SUSTAINABLE LEVEL SO THAT WORKING FAMILIES CAN AFFORD TO STAY HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE NEED MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
AND WE NEED COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS FOR OUR HOMELESS WITHOUT ENABLING AI CULTURE OF VAGRANCY.
UM, AND THE LAST AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT WE NEED IS THAT WE NEED TO PROVIDE IMMEDIATE AID AND RELIEF TO THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED MOST BY THE PANDEMIC.
UM, LIKE THE MUSIC VENUES, THE BARS, AS WELL AS OUR LIVE MUSICIANS, OUR BARTENDERS, OUR WAITERS, OUR DOOR GUYS, YOU KNOW, THESE PEOPLE ARE GETTING CRUSHED AND THEY NEED RELIEF AND THEY NEED IMMEDIATE LEAF.
UM, RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, MY NAME IS ALEX STRINGER AND, UM, WE NEED A MORE, UM, AFFORDABLE, ACCOUNTABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AUSTIN.
UH, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE BACK WITH US AND, UH, YOU WILL HAVE A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO ASK YOU THE SAME QUESTION THAT I ASKED THE OTHER CANDIDATES.
SO YOU WILL HAVE JULIAN AND BY YOU'RE READY.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M TRYING TO MEET THIS.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU FOR AN HOUR AND BE TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK ON WORK WITH TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
AND I'M HERE FOR, FOR REPRESENTATION FOR DISTRICT TWO, BECAUSE AS THE PREVIOUS QUESTION IS HOW WE'RE DOING THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE ARE BEING REPRESENTED EQUITABLY.
OUR VOICES ARE NOT BEING HEARD, AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE BECAUSE WE HAD SCREAMING THE CRIES FOR CHANGE AND FOR A BETTER WAY FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN OUR DISTRICT THAT ARE STILL LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
30%, ACTUALLY 30% OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIVING AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY LINE.
AND THAT SAME AMOUNT IS BEING ARE UNINSURED.
AND SO WE HAVE A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM HERE.
AND NOW THIS IS DISPARITY BETWEEN THE AFLOAT AND THE WORKING CLASS.
THIS IS HAPPENING IN CITIES ALL OVER THE GLOBE.
PEOPLE ARE BEING PUSHED OUT FROM THE INNER CITY INTO
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RURAL AREAS WHERE THERE ARE LESS FAR LESS RESOURCES, THE PEOPLE THAT BENEFIT FROM, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO STOP HERE.MY FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR THREE GENERATIONS.
MY GRANDMOTHER, ALICE SANCHEZ WAS A LIBRARIAN AT
MY MOTHER THERESA RAMOS WAS A COMMUNITY LIAISON AT SMITH ELEMENTARY AND DEBBIE TAYLOR ISD IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M GOING ABOUT THINGS LIKE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND HOW TO LOOK AFTER THE PEOPLE AND HOW TO MOVE.
HEY, LEARN THE, IF THERE WAS A COMMUNITY SERVICE.
SO YOU CAN BECOMING AN ELITE PROFESSIONAL BOXER, GIDDY EDUCATED AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
DURING THAT TIME, I NEVER FORGOT WHERE I CAME FROM IN THE COMMUNITY.
THAT HELPED ME BECOME WHO I WAS.
SO I CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK WITH NONPROFIT STUFF, HAD FOUND LIKE DESPERATE SPROUT AND COMMUNITY, NOT COMMODITY, WHERE WE'VE HELPED THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS IN NEED HERE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.
AND SO WE FIGHT FOR, LET'S SEE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
DO I NEED TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IN 10 TO 15 YEAR NOW POSSIBLE READY? AND THAT WILL HELP US IN THIS TIME OF NEED.
IT WAS PANDEMIC AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
OUR FIRST QUESTION, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ON THE CENSUS AT THIS POINT GO, AND THEN ALL OF YOU WILL GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER THE SAME QUESTION.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF RESPONSE ON SAYS TO THE U S HELPS TO DIRECT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES FOR HEALTHCARE, EMERGENCY RESPONSES, SCHOOLS, EDUCATION, PROGRAMS, ROADS, AND OTHER PUBLIC SERVICES, AND DETERMINES THE NUMBER OF SEATS EACH STATE HAS IN CONGRESS FOR OUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVE.
DISTRICT TWO HAS A 2020 CENSUS RESPONSE RATE THAT RANGES BETWEEN 41% TO 69%, DEPENDING ON THE AREA.
WHAT, IF ANY, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE BY THE CITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE THE RESPONSE RATE IN DISTRICT TWO.
THE CENSUS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND THERE'S A REASON WHY WE'VE BEEN UNDERFUNDED IN OUR ACCOUNT.
AND THERE'S A REASON WHY OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN STRUGGLING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE CALENDAR.
ISN'T SINCERE LACK OF FEAR ON THE CENSUS FROM OUR HARD TO COUNT POPULATIONS.
I, THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC HAVE REGULARLY ENGAGED BY COMMUNITY.
I MEAN, CORTANA OF GETTING COUNTED IMPORTANCE OF MAKING OUR VOICE HEARD AND INCLUDED, AS YOU'VE MENTIONED, FUNDING IN THAT STATE, WHAT I'VE DONE TO HELP INFORM AND PREPARE MY COMMUNITY INCLUDES POSTING A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION.
I DID A LIVE STREAM WITH THE ORGANIZER FROM JOEL AND WE TALKED ABOUT THE CENSUS, BUT IN ENGLISH AND IN SPANISH, AS I'VE HANDED OUT MEALS TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND WEED AND DEL VALLEY AND DUTCH SPRINGS, I'VE INCLUDED IMPORTANT CENSUS OUTREACH INFORMATION.
I'M PROUD TO SERVE ON THE LATINO CENSUS COUNT COMMITTEE.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO'S DEEPLY INVOLVED IN OUR, IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY AND SERVING ON THE BOARD OF THE HISPANIC WOMEN'S NETWORK AND THE GREATER AUSTIN HISPANIC CHAMBER, I'VE DOUBLED DOWN ON MY EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY GETS COUNTED.
THANK YOU, MR. CHIN CAN CHAN SAME QUESTION.
AND I APPRECIATE YOU, UH, INCLUDING THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THE CENSUS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS, IT WILL DETERMINE HOW FUNDING IS ALLOCATED FOR SCHOOLS, ROADS, HOSPITALS, UH, AND SO MANY OTHER SERVICES THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AND TO SERVE.
UH, AND IT ALSO IMPACTS THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
AND ONCE IT'S SET FOR 10 YEARS, WE ARE STUCK WITH THAT.
AND SO I'VE BEEN REALLY PROUD TO SPEND ABOUT FIVE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WORKING, UM, ON DIRECT CENSUS OUTREACH IN HARD TO COUNT COMMUNITIES, UH, AS PART OF TRAVIS COUNTY AND AS PART OF THE HISPANIC, LATINO COMPLETE COUNT COMMITTEE.
AND WE HAVE HAD LEADERS WHO HAVE REALLY STEPPED UP INCLUDING, UH, CONSTABLE GEORGE MORALES AND HIS TEAM IN PRECINCT FOUR, UH, TO HELP US GET THE WORD OUT IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN WHERE THESE, WHERE THESE RESPONSE RATES, UH, ARE REALLY LOW, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF, UH, FAMILIES THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS, UM, TO THE INFORMATION AND TO, UM, THE, THE, THE DEVICES AND, AND, UM, THE INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP ENCOURAGING EVERYONE TO DO THIS, AND I APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY AND TRAVIS COUNTY AND MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITIES, THANK YOU, MR. STRINGER, YOU BOXED.
UM, AND I CALL HIM MR. CHICKEN CHANCE TO DO SO.
YOU'RE YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN SECOND.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE LAST RESPONSE HERE, AND YOU'RE ALSO GONNA GET THE FIRST QUESTION YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO ANSWER THE NEXT QUESTION FIRST.
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I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, THE SET, YOU CAN'T UNDERSTATE THE IMPORTANCE OF FILLING OUT A CENSUS, UM, JUST LIKE DAVID AND VANESSA JUST MENTIONED, BUT WHAT THIS REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IS, YOU KNOW, IT BOILS DOWN TO TRUST.AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT, WHEN YOU HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT'S REPEATEDLY, UM, GENTRIFYING AND PUSHING, UM, WORKING FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF AUSTIN, WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY RECITING PROGRESSIVE PLATITUDES, AND WHICH THEY'RE DOING THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TRUST YOUR GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU'RE HARD TO COUNT, YOU'RE LESS LIKELY TO ACTUALLY WANT TO FILL OUT THE CENSUS FORM.
IF YOU DON'T TRUST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE, UM, THAT ARE GOVERNING YOU, YOU KNOW, SO WE NEED HONESTY.
WE NEED OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO BE STRAIGHT WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS ON EVERY ANGLE, EVEN IF IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR.
SO I THINK THIS REALLY BOILS DOWN TO TRUST.
IT BOILS DOWN TO TRANSPARENCY.
IT BOILS DOWN TO BEING ACCESSIBLE AS A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, AND IT, UM, BOILS DOWN TO HAVING UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE WHO MAY NOT SHARE YOUR POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS, BECAUSE, UM, IF PEOPLE DON'T TRUST YOU, THEY'RE NOT GONNA FILL THESE DOCUMENTS OUT.
AND THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT TO DO SO.
WE NEED BETTER TRUST OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
ALRIGHT, MR. STRINGER, WE HAVE THIS QUESTION AND THIS IS THE QUESTION THE STUDENTS CAME UP WITH AND IT'S ON FOOD SECURITY AND DISTRICT TWO VELOCITY IS A LARGE MIXED USE PROJECT PLAN TO DEVELOP AT THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF FM NINE, SEVEN AND THREE IN TEXAS 71 ATP HAS PURCHASED LAND THERE, BUT HAS NOT RELEASED INFORMATION ON IF OR WHEN A STORE MIGHT BE BUILT FAULT.
THE MAJORITY OF DISTRICT TWO IS A FOOD DESERT, AN AREA OF LAND CHARACTERIZED BY LACK OF ACCESS TO NOURISHING AND HEALTHFUL FOODS LIKE FRESH PRODUCE DUE TO PHYSICAL DISTANCE, TO A GROCERY STORE, AND OFTEN COINCIDING WITH LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OF THE RESIDENTS.
BUILDING AN HEB WILL BE A START, BUT WITHOUT A TIME LINE ON THAT PROJECT.
AND WITH THAT LOCATION BEING STILL IN FAR DISTANCE FOR MANY RESIDENTS AND ADDITIONAL SOLUTION IS NEEDED, WHAT OTHER POTENTIAL OPTIONS WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND WORKED ON BY YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADDRESS THE FOOD DESERT MR. STRINGER? I MEAN, WELL, WE SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY MADE THEM GIVE US A TIMELINE BEFORE OFFERING THEM A PERMIT.
AND I ALSO THINK THAT ONE OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS WITH, UM, WITH OUR FOOD SITUATION IS THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE, THERE IS VERY LIMITED ACCESS TO ACTUAL HEALTHY FOOD.
YOU KNOW, I LIVE ON 35 AND SLAUGHTER AND I GET BY BLUFF SPRINGS IS RIGHT NEXT TO MY HOUSE.
AND YOU WALK THROUGH THE AISLES AND IT'S LITERALLY PROCESSED FOOD AND MYSTERY MEAT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE GOING INTO WENDY'S, WHEREAS YOU GO TO HEB AND MUELLER AT ALL, AND YOU CAN GET SOME FRESH PRODUCE FROM JBG GARDENS.
SO WE NEED TO OFFER FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO THESE GROCERY STORES TO ACTUALLY CARRY HEALTHY, ORGANIC, NON PROCESSED FOODS ON THE SHELVES.
AND WE ALSO NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COLLABORATING WITH OUR SUSTAINABLE FARMS LIKE JBG, WHICH IS ACTUALLY EITHER IN OUR DISTRICT OR VERY CLOSE TO OUR DISTRICT IT'S WITHIN THOSE COPPER LINES TO PROVIDE SUSTAINABLE, UM, HEALTHY LUNCHES TO PEOPLE IN AISD AND DOVE SPRINGS ISD.
SO THERE ARE SO MANY RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE HAVE THE MOST OPEN SPACE OUT OF ANY DISTRICT, ANY SINGLE COUNCIL DISTRICT IN OUR ENTIRE CITY.
UM, WE SHOULD BE UTILIZING OUR TOWN HALL TO TEACH PEOPLE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO ACTUALLY GROW THEIR OWN FOOD.
YOU KNOW, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR RESPONSE, MR. CHIN CAN CHAN PLEASE.
UM, SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN DOVE SPRINGS, I'M REALLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE.
YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY HAS FACED DECADES AND DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT, UH, AND IT'S LEFT US REALLY VULNERABLE PREEXISTING CONDITION, HUSTLING, INSTABILITY, UH, FOOD INSECURITY, LACK OF HEALTH CARE AND FOOD INSECURITY.
ONE IS ONE OF THE ONES THAT'S REALLY DEAR TO MY HEART.
I HAVE, IF IT'S IN CHILDREN PROGRAM FOR THE WIC PROGRAM, PROVIDING FOOD ACCESS TO FAMILIES WHO ARE FOOD INSECURE, UM, NOT JUST DIRECT ASSISTANCE, BUT NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION.
AND ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT I WILL KEEP PRIORITIZING.
UM, AND I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK DURING MY TIME AT CITY HALL, AS A POLICY ADVISORY STAFF ON BRINGING MORE FOOD ACCESS TO EASTERN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
AND IF MY COMMUNITY ALLOWS ME TO SERVE AS A SR REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COUNCIL, UH, I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THIS AND WE'LL MAKE IT ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES.
NEW JUSTICE IS ONE OF MY TOP ISSUES.
IT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING I'VE WORKED ON BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.
WE TOOK ON ADDRESSING FOOD DESERTS, NOT ONLY HERE IN AUSTIN, BUT ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN PASSIONATE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING ON MY PERSONAL TIME AND ACTIVELY VOLUNTEERING RIGHT NOW AT THE DEL VALLEY COMMUNITY COALITION.
YOU MENTIONED THE AGB AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING TO PRESSURE AGB TO BREAK GROUND ON THEIR STORE OUT THERE IN DEL VALLEY, YOU KNOW, PROFESSIONALLY WITH AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, I ENDED UP POLICIES THAT WE'VE WORKED ON IN OTHER AREAS THROUGHOUT THE STATE INCLUDE A HEALTHY FOOD
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FINANCING INITIATIVE WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT WE'VE WORKED ON A HEALTHY INITIATIVE, THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE NEED TO GET A GROCERY STORE IN OUR FOOD DESERT.AND I, WHAT I WOULD INTEND TO CHAMPION IS DOING A GROCERY CO-OP MODEL, REALLY BUILDING COMMUNITY POWER, ENSURING THAT WE'RE ABLE TO NOT WAIT AROUND UNTIL AN ARBITRARY NUMBER ON ROOFTOPS THAT WE'RE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEED HEAD ON.
AND THEN SOMEONE WILL BE RAISING MY FAMILY HERE IN THE FOUR FOR A FOOD DESERT.
I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT FOOD ACCESS.
I HAD THE EXPERIENCE WORKING ON FOOD ACCESS BOTH PROFESSIONALLY AND AS A VOLUNTEER.
AND IT'S ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES.
ALRIGHT, SO FOR THIS NEXT QUESTION, UH, MR. CHIN CAN CHANT WHERE YOU'LL START WITH YOU.
AND THIS IS ON HOMELESSNESS IN LIGHT OF THE CITY'S CURRENT POLICY TO ALLOW HOMELESS POPULATION TO CAMP AND LIVE IN PUBLIC SPACES.
WHAT SOLUTIONS WILL YOU WORK ON IF ELECTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND ALSO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO OPPOSED THIS CAMPING UNDER THE BRIDGES AND ALONG THE HIGHWAY IN OPEN SPACES.
THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, CAROL.
I WANT TO SAY THAT CRIMINALIZING FOLKS WHO ARE NEED IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE, SHELTER AND CARE, UH, IS, IS REALLY CRUEL.
AND IT DOESN'T SERVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY OUTCOMES THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.
AND SO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON CONNECTING PEOPLE TO SHELTER, TO HOUSING, AND TO CARE, ESPECIALLY FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, ESPECIALLY FOLKS, UM, WHO ARE, UH, MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES.
UM, AND I THINK IN OUR COMMUNITY, UH, THIS IS A MOMENT TO REALLY COME TOGETHER AND GET AT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS, OF HOMELESSNESS, UH, TO WORK, TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS, TO BEGIN WITH.
UM, BUT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE CREATING A PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, THAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAMS, UM, THAT WE ARE CREATING WRAPAROUND SERVICES, UM, SO THAT WE ARE, WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO, UM, SUPPORT FOLKS AND MOVE THEM OUT OF HOMELESSNESS, WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT THAT, THAT THEY STAY, THAT THEY REMAIN HOUSE AND THAT THEY HAVE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS, ONE THING THAT WE KNOW IS THAT WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE IS CLEARLY NOT WORKING, NOT WORKING FOR ANYONE NOW WOULD BE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY NOT WORKING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS WHO ARE UNHOUSED CITY COUNCIL MADE THESE CHANGES AND THEN WENT ON BREAK FOR A MONTH.
THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF ENGAGEMENT THAT OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS LARGE SCALE INVESTMENT IN ADDRESSING THE HOMELESSNESS ISSUE.
WE NEED TO DO MORE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS, OUR UNHOUSED NEIGHBORS.
AND THAT INCLUDES GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS.
THAT'S IN RAPID REHOUSING AND PERMANENT HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES.
AND THAT WRAPAROUND SUPPORT THAT INCLUDES DRUG ADDICTION, TREATMENT AND TRAUMA.
ALL OF THOSE THAT ENSURE THAT AUSTIN IS AFFORDABLE, THAT AUSTIN IS SUSTAINABLE.
AND ESPECIALLY THAT AUSTIN IS SAFE.
YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT, AND THAT WE NEED TO DO MORE TO HELP OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND ON THE NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BE STARTING.
NO, ALEX, YOU GET TO ANSWER, I'M SORRY, THE HOMELESSNESS, SORRY, ALEX, MR. STRINGER.
SO LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED, UM, COMPASSIONATE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS OUR HOMELESSNESS CONCERN WITHOUT ENABLING AND PERPETUATING A CULTURE OF VAGRANCY.
UM, YOU KNOW, I, UM, I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD OVERTURN THE CAMPING BAN, BUT I DO HAVE A BIG PROBLEM, A LOT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT I KNOW WITH ALL THE REFEREES AND THE TRASH THAT'S LIKE UNDER THE BRIDGES AND ALL SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE CAMPS.
AND WE SHOULD BE INCENTIVIZING CLEANUPS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD BE OFFERING TAX BREAKS AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO BUSINESSES TO DO CLEANUPS AND TO DO CLOTHES AND FOOD DRIVES.
AND WHAT WE SHOULD ALSO DO IS WE SHOULD UTILIZE THESE CLEANUPS FOR DIVERSION PROGRAMS. LIKE IF YOU'RE CAUGHT DOING A MISDEMEANOR, OR IF YOU GET CAUGHT WITH LIKE SOME LOW LEVEL LEVEL DRUG OFFENSE, THEY SHOULD JUST HAVE YOU CLEAN UP A COUPLE OF HOMELESS CAMPS, WHICH ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED TO, UM, IN ORDER TO GET YOUR LIKE CASE OR CHARGES DROPPED.
AND THAT COULD EVEN EXTEND TO LIKE AISD OR DBI IFC FOR KIDS WHO, YOU KNOW, GOT CAUGHT, LIKE SMOKING WEED OR SOMETHING, AND THEN IT COULD GET THEM TO NOT GO TO ALC OR WHATNOT.
UM, WE SHOULD ALSO UTILIZE OUR PARKING METERS EVERY TIME YOU PARK YOUR CAR, YOU SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION TO DONATE MONEY TO A HOMELESS ORGANIZATION THAT'S APPROVED BY THE CITY.
AND YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS MAYBE THIS WILL EVEN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO PAY FOR PARKING.
AND ON THIS NEXT QUESTION, WE WILL BE STARTING WITH MS.
UH, THIS IS ON FLOODING AND FLOOD MITIGATION.
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INFORMED US THAT FLOODING OF RESIDENCES IS STILL OCCURRING IN DISTRICT TWO FROM ONION CREEK, WILLIAMSON CREEK AND OTHER WATERWAYS IN THE DISTRICT IN PART DUE TO THE PRIOR PRACTICE OF FILLING IN DRAINAGE WAYS AND CONSTRUCTING RESIDENCE OVER SUCH AREAS.WHAT WILL YOU DO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION AND TO ADDRESS THE HARM CAUSED ON DISTRICT TWO CITIZENS WHO EXPERIENCED FLOODING? YES, THANK YOU.
FLOODING ISN'T IS A SEVERE ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
OFTENTIMES WHEN I'M HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, THE SENTIMENT IS ALWAYS, HOW ARE WE PREPARING FOR THAT NEXT BIG FLOOD? IT'S NOT A MATTER OF IF IT'S A MATTER OF WHEN.
AND SO WHAT I PROPOSE IS RIGHT NOW IN THE LAND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, THERE ARE SOME PROPOSALS THAT WILL HELP US REALLY MITIGATE IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ON OUR FLOODING INFRASTRUCTURE.
I BELIEVE THAT DEVELOPERS SHOULD BEAR THE FULL COST OF MAKING DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ACTUALLY IMPROVE PEAK FLOODING AND LOCALIZED FLOODING RIGHT NOW, FEE IN LIEU PAYMENTS THAT ARE COLLECTED RARELY ADD UP TO THE AMOUNT NECESSARY TO CONSTRUCT LARGE WATER QUALITY TREATMENT OR DETENTION FACILITIES.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROPOSALS THAT WE COULD ADOPT TODAY TO HELP PREPARE COMMUNITY IS CERTAINLY WE NEED TO DO MORE.
WE ALSO NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THE PANDEMIC, HOW WE CAN HELP OUR NEIGHBORS THAT PAYING THEIR FLOOD INSURANCE PREMIUMS. THAT'S ANOTHER AREA THAT IS BEING OVERLOOKED AND ONE EASY WAY THAT YOU CAN GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO SOUTHEAST
UM, WE NEED TO BUILD IN A MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE FASHION KNOW, UM, WITH CODE NEXT IN 2018, DEVELOPERS WERE ALLOWED TO BUILD UP ON UP TO 90% IMPERVIOUS COVER.
UM, THAT SHOULD NOT BE A LOT, AND WE SHOULD NEVER ALLOW ANY DEVELOPERS TO BYPASS ANY OF THESE IMPERVIOUS COVER REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE STUFF LIKE THAT LITERALLY LEADS TO FLOODING.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE, YOU SHOULD UTILIZE OUR RAINY DAY FUNDS BETTER AND HAVE A BETTER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STATE AND WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
SO THAT WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS DOES HAPPEN AGAIN, YOU CAN PROVIDE JUST COMPENSATION TO THE PEOPLE WHOSE HOUSES WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT OF THE FLOODS.
YOU KNOW, IT TOOK OVER TWO YEARS FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TO EVEN GET A PENNY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AS A RESULT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN DOVE SPRINGS A FEW YEARS AGO, THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.
SO WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF COMMUNICATING WITH HIGHER OFFICIALS, AND WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE WE BUILD AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER.
THANK YOU, MR. CHIN CAN CHAN, SO THE NEIGHBOR HOOD THAT I WAS RAISED IN STUFF'S FRIENDS, UH, HAS BEEN GRAPPLING WITH THIS CHALLENGE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
UM, AND IF WE DON'T TAKE AN ACTION, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE IN PAIN AND SUFFERING LIKE WE'VE ALREADY SEEN, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND TAKING URGENT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, THAT NEEDS TO BE AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITY.
UM, BUT IN DOVE SPRINGS, THIS TAKES ME BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER DECADES AND DECADES OF INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT, AND THAT HAS BEEN NEGLECT OF INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, END UP SPRINGS.
WE HAVE LOCALIZED FLOODING, UM, THAT EVEN WITH MODERATE RAINFALL, UH, MEANS THAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIVING IN FEAR THAT THEIR HOMES MIGHT BE SHREDDED.
AND SO WE NEED TO MAKE THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND LONG OVERDUE, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE NEED TO ALIGN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IN A WAY THAT, UM, BETTER ADDRESSES THOSE CLIMATE CHALLENGES THAT PROVIDES MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, UH, AND JUST HELPS US PLAN WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE FUTURE.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, MR. STRINGER.
AND WE HAVE A TWO PART QUESTION ON POLICE FUNDING.
WE HAVE, UH, THE FIRST FIRST QUESTION WE HAVE FOR TURN TO ALLOW, ALL OF YOU TO ANSWER IS ON THE PROTESTERS OR THE SECOND QUESTION WE'RE GOING TO HAVE IS ON PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS.
SO THE FIRST QUESTION AND MR. STRINGER, WE'LL, WE'LL START WITH YOU IS REGARDING THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE PROTEST AGAINST THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE CURRENT COUNCIL HAS VOTED TO ELIMINATE POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS, CANCEL CADET CLASSES, REALLOCATE DOLLARS FROM THE POLICE BUDGET TO OTHER CITY AGENTS, TO OTHER CITY PROGRAMS AND TRANSFERRED CERTAIN POLICE FUNCTIONS TO OTHER AGENCIES.
DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE COUNCIL'S ACTION TO DATE? WELL, WHY NOT? IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ADDRESS THE PROTESTORS CONCERNS, MAN, THAT'S A, AH, IT'S A LOADED QUESTION.
UM, LOOK, I THINK THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE DEFENDED OUR POLICE, UM, WAS VERY DIVISIVE AND BARRIER RESPONSIBLE.
THAT BEING SAID, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED, UM, REAL AND MEANINGFUL POLICE REFORM.
UM, SO WHAT I THINK, WHAT I THINK THE PROBLEM IS IS THAT WHEN WE, UM, TOOK $175 MILLION FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, NONE OF THAT MONEY WENT BACK ON INTO THE JOBS
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AND INTO THE VENUES THAT WERE THE MOST EFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC.YOU KNOW, IF THEY WERE TO BE FUND APD BY $175 MILLION AND PROVIDE THAT MONEY TO OUR MUSICIANS AND OUR ARTISTS AND OUR BARTENDERS AND OUR SERVICES, YOU PROFESSIONALS, I WOULD BE FINE WITH THAT.
AND I'M SURE A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES AND EVEN A BUNCH OF COPS WOULD PROBABLY BE OKAY AND UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST GOING INTO THE SAME THINGS THAT WE'RE ALWAYS PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO WITH NO TANGIBLE RETURN ON THAT.
UM, YOU KNOW, THAT, THAT BEING SAID WHEN IT COMES TO ADDRESSING POLICE REFORM, UM, WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE OUR POLICE BUDGET TO CREATE, UM, BETTER TRAINED COPS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY AND THE OFFICERS.
YOU KNOW, LOOK, WE NEED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW.
OUR NEXT ON THIS QUESTION, YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THE COUNCIL'S ACTION TO DATE AND IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ADDRESS THE PROTESTERS CONCERN? THANK YOU.
UM, WELL I AM ONE OF THOSE PROTESTERS, UM, AND I THINK THAT THE PROTEST FOR JUSTICE AND FOR BLACK LIVES THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY, UM, ARE RIGHTEOUS AND, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR COUNTRY EXPERIENCES OR INTERACTIONS WITH OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, UH, IN THE SAME WAY, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE BROAD DISCREPANCIES, UH, ESPECIALLY ALONG RACE.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S A MOMENT FOR US TO TAKE URGENT ACTION, UH, TO REALLY ADDRESS THOSE DISPARITIES AND TO HELP, UH, BUILD, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY INSTITUTIONS, UM, THAT BETTER SERVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
UH, YOU KNOW, THE REASON IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO SAVE BLACK LIVES MATTER IS BECAUSE THERE ARE INSTITUTIONS IN OUR COUNTRY WHO MEANT TO UPHOLD JUSTICE, THAT DON'T RECOGNIZE THAT SIMPLE FACT.
UH, AND SO IN OUR COMMUNITY AS ELECTED LEADERS, AS COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO PRIORITIZE OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY'S HEALTH AND SAFETY.
AND SO IF I'M ELECTED, UM, I WOULD WORK AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO FIND, UM, WAYS TO REFORM AND CHANGE OUR SYSTEM TO BETTER SERVE ALL OF US.
SO THE TRUTH IS AUSTIN HAS ONE OF THE SAFEST CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY THAT THE MAJORITY OF POLICE SHOOTINGS THAT HAPPENED IN 2018 HAPPENED IN SOUTH EAST AUSTIN.
THE REALITY IS FOR MANY OF OUR AUSTINITES LIVING IN DISTRICT TWO IS THAT WE FOUGHT OVER CRIMINALIZED BASED ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.
THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND THAT SAFETY ALSO NEEDS TO BE DEPENDENT ON HOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND INTERACT AND SHOW UP IN AUSTIN.
AND SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE WHEN IT COMES TO PROTECTING BLACK AND BROWN LIVES AND HOLDING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE A TRANSPARENT AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT TO REIMAGINE HOW WE DELIVER PUBLIC SAFETY.
I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN DISTRICT TWO.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR ADVOCACY GROUPS, LIKE AUSTIN JUSTICE COALITION, AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT HOW DOES PUBLIC SAFETY LOOK LIKE IT NEEDS TO START IN THE AREA FOR ME.
SO FOR THE SECOND PART OF THE QUESTION, NOW, WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONCERNS THAT HAVE COME IN OUR INBOX, AND WE WILL BEGIN, UH, WITH MR. JENKINS, DAN, ON THIS ONE, UM, GIVEN THE CITY COUNCIL VOTE ON THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, MANY CITIZENS EMAILED US AND WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PUBLIC SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF QUOTE UNQUOTE DEFUNDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SUCH AS DISBANDING THE PARK PATROL, CUTTING THE DUI UNIT IN HALF, REDUCING THE VIOLENT CRIMES AND GANGS UNIT AND LEAVING VACANT POSITIONS UNFILLED ALONG WITH NO NEW CADET CLASSES.
PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD ADDRESS THESE PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, I, IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, EVEN THEY AGREE THAT USING OUR POLICE OFFICERS, SO USING THE RESPONSIBILITY SOLELY ON THEIR SHOULDERS OF RESPONDING TO A VARIETY OF INCIDENTS, INCIDENTS INVOLVING PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISES, THAT THAT DOESN'T YIELD THE SAFETY OUTCOMES AND STUFF THAT OUR COMMUNITY WANTS TO SEE.
UH, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE ACTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY TOOK, UH, THAT NEED TO BE CLARIFIED.
UM, THEY HAVE SET A PATH FORWARD TO REIMAGINE THE WAY THAT WE DO, UH, THAT WE, THAT WE DO JUSTICE, THAT WE UPHOLD, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY.
UH, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A LONG CONVERSATION.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT REALLOCATING FUNDS.
IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT OUR POLICIES ARE LOST AND OUR INVESTMENTS REFLECT THE VALUES THAT ARE CREATING HOLES.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING, UH, TO CONTINUE THAT
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RE-IMAGINING PROCESS, UH, AND CREATE SYSTEMS OF BETTER SERVE ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES.YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REALLOCATING FUNDS, IT'S, IT'S HAVING, IT'S NOT JUST REALLOCATING FUNDS JUST TO REALLOCATE FUNDS.
IT'S HAVING THE UNDERSTANDING, WHAT ARE THE BUDGETARY ITEMS THAT MAKE SENSE? AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A CITY GOVERNMENT WHO DOES PUBLIC SAFETY B IN A WAY THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND SO WHEN WE LOOK AT HOW ARE WE DELIVERING PUBLIC FOR ME, IT MEANS HOW ARE WE GETTING TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF CRIME AND HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING POVERTY? WE MUST DO MORE TO PREVENT CRIME.
AND AS I SHARED EARLIER, I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT AS WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THIS FROM A RESTORATIVE JUSTICE LENS AND UNDERSTAND THAT OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO HEAL FROM THE INJUSTICES THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED.
AND SO I REALLY GOT TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, HAVING COMMUNITY LEADERS AND HAVING, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING EVERYONE THAT'S INVOLVED IN PUBLIC SAFETY AT THE TABLES, STARTING FROM A PLACE WHERE THERE'S AGREEMENT ON WHERE IT MAKES SENSE TO SHIFT A BUDGET, ALLOCATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT I HAVE A CHANCE TO FINISH ANSWERING THIS.
UM, YOU KNOW, LOOK, I DON'T LIKE HOW WE DEFINED IT, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THINGS NEED TO STAY AS THEY ARE.
WE NEEDED AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BOARD TO ADDRESS POLICE MISCONDUCT.
THAT'S MADE OF A COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTY OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS WITH, UM, OBJECTIVE AND MODERATE POLITICAL OPINIONS.
WE NEED BETTER TRAINING, UM, PROFICIENCY IN A GRAPPLING BASED MARTIAL ART NEEDS TO BE A REQUIREMENT TO CONTINUE BEING A POLICE OFFICER IN ORDER TO DEESCALATE, UM, HOSTILE SITUATIONS AND CONTROL SUSPECTS WITHOUT USING DEADLY OR EXCESSIVE FORCE.
AND OUR POLICE OFFICERS ALSO NEED TO BE EMT CERTIFIED.
I WAS DOWNTOWN THE NIGHT, GARRETT FOSTER DIED.
AND, UM, IT TOOK NOT ONLY DID IT TAKE ABOUT 20 MINUTES FOR AN AMBULANCE TO GET THERE, BUT YOU KNOW, THE COPS ARE THERE FOR THAT ENTIRE PERIOD OF TIME AND HAD NO IDEA HOW TO ADMINISTER PROPER CARE TO GARRETT.
UM, WE WOULD SAVE COUNTLESS A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF LIVES.
COPS ARE USUALLY THE FIRST PEOPLE ON THE SCENE OF A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT.
UM, IF WE REQUIRE OUR COPS TO BE EMT CERTIFIED, UM, AN UNCOUNTABLE NUMBER OF LIVES WOULD BE SAVED AS A RESULT OF THAT.
SO I THINK THESE ARE SOME MEANINGFUL, ACTIONABLE SOLUTIONS THAT EVERYBODY CAN GET BEHIND AND THAT'S WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MS. POINT.
THIS AND THE STUDENTS WERE DIGGING INTO TRANSPORTATION AND AUSTIN AND PROJECT CONNECT AIMS TO COMPREHENSIVELY REVAMP AUSTIN'S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND LIGHT RAILS.
THE, THE EQUITY OF THE PROJECT SERVICE TO AUSTINITES IS BEING DISCUSSED BY THE CURRENT COUNCIL, SOME SECTIONS OF AUSTIN, INCLUDING DISTRICT TO EITHER RECEIVE FEWER IMPROVEMENTS ALLOCATED BY THE PLAN OR WITH THE IMPROVEMENTS.
THOSE LIVING NEAR TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT WILL EXPERIENCE GREATER INTERFERENCE OR THEIR RESIDENTIAL LIFE THROUGH NOISE, DECREASED SAFETY AND ACCESSIBILITY TO THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS.
IF ELECTED, HOW WILL YOU ENSURE PROJECT CONNECT IS EQUITABLE AND BENEFITS THE UNDERSERVED ALL OVER THE CITY? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S THE, THE THING THAT THE DEAL WITH PROJECT CONNECT IT'S THAT IT DOESN'T DO ENOUGH FOR SOPPY SAUCE.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT WE APPROACH ANY BIG PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT FROM AN EYE OF EQUITY.
AND WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY, AND UNDERSERVED AND NO ACCESS AREAS LIKE DELL VALLEY GET EQUITY WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSPORT OPTIONS.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS AT THE VERY MINIMUM, BE A US HAVING A, A BLESSED YARD IN SOUTH AUSTIN.
AND THAT WOULD BE ONE WAY WE CAN ENSURE RELIABILITY, CONSISTENCY OF THE, OF THE BUS ROUTES THAT CURRENTLY SERVICED SOUTHEAST.
UM, AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
BUT FIRST WE IT'S UP TO THE WORLD, THE VOTERS, WHETHER OR NOT PROJECT NEXT WILL GET PASSED, I BELIEVE THAT IT'S NECESSARY GIVEN THE CLIMATE CRISIS THAT WE'RE IN AND THEN IT'LL BRING THE NECESSARY JOBS THAT WE NEED RIGHT NOW IN THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN.
THEY CERTAINLY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY.
I MEAN, UM, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT PROJECT CONNECT IS A GOOD IDEA OR THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW, IF YOU WANT MY HONEST OPINION, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT.
THAT'S GOING TO BRING OUR TAXES THROUGH THE ROOF OVER THE YEARS, WHICH WILL RAISE RENT ON HIM SUBSEQUENTLY.
UM, AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT, UM, TRAIN RIDERS DECREASED YOUR OVER YEAR FOR THE PAST 20
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YEARS AND IN THE FACE OF A PANDEMIC WITH MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME.UM, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET ANY BANG FOR OUR INVESTMENT.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BY THE TIME, BY THE TIME THIS PROJECT ACTUALLY GETS BUILT, IT'S GOING TO BE OBSOLETE.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, UM, WE'RE MAKING SUCH GREAT ADVANCEMENTS IN MICRO MOBILITY RIGHT NOW THAT BY THE TIME PROJECT CONNECT ACTUALLY BECOMES LIKE A REAL THING.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE, UM, SCOOTERS AND MOPEDS THAT ARE ABLE TO GO ON 35 AND MOPAC ANYWAY, THAT ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLES, WHICH WILL BE FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE.
SO, I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT LIKE A MORE REASONABLE AND ACTIONABLE AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE WAY TO ADDRESS THIS.
AND WE SHOULD DO A BETTER JOB OF UTILIZING OUR MICRO MOBILITY.
WE CAN EVEN HAVE PEOPLE PAY A SUBSCRIPTION TO HAVE A LINE SCOOT TO HAVE LIKE SCOOTERS OR ON THE REBEL MOPEDS OR ANY OF THESE ELECTRIC BIKES DELIVERED TO THEIR HOME.
SO THEY CAN USE THEM ON A MONTHLY BASIS IN A MORE AFFORDABLE FASHION, BUT THEY SPEND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON A RAIL RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE IN A HUGE RECESSION.
IT'S JUST THIS ISN'T THE TIME.
UM, I'M REALLY PROUD TO HAVE A STRONG RECORD SUPPORTING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSIT, UH, INITIATIVES AND INVESTMENTS ACTUALLY TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES IN EASTERN SOUTH AND SOUTH AUSTIN.
UM, FOR ME, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, ISN'T JUST ABOUT GETTING FROM POINT A TO POINT B.
IT'S ABOUT HAVING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY TO GROCERY STORES AND JOBS AND EMPLOYMENT CENTERS AND SCHOOLS AND HEALTHCARE CENTERS, AND SO MUCH MORE.
UH, AND SO I'M GOING TO CONTINUE FIGHTING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS AND FOR TRANSIT, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITIES SOUTHEAST AUSTIN THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED.
WHEN I TAKE THE BUS, WHEN I TAKE THE NUMBER SEVEN DOWNTOWN, THE FOLKS I'M RIDING IT WITH OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS, WORKER, SERVICE, INDUSTRY WORKERS, PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE BUILDING TRADES.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WE NEED TO SERVE, BUT WE HAVE TO MAKE INVESTMENTS LIKE THE COUNCIL MADE, UH, AND INCLUDING THE $300 MILLION FOR ANTI-DISPLACEMENT STRATEGIES, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT DISPLACING THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE INTENDING TO SERVE BY, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CREATING MORE OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THOSE TRANSIT CORRIDORS FOR PEOPLE TO BE CONNECTED TO SERVICES.
OUR NEXT QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MR. STRINGER.
UM, MR. STRINGER, THIS WAS ON, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT LAND DEVELOPMENT AND CODE REWRITE.
UH, THIS, THIS IS FROM THE STUDENTS, THE STUDENTS.
SO I'VE FOUND THAT THE AUSTIN BULLDOG REPORTED THIS MONTH, THAT AN AVERAGE OF 19% UP TO 37% OF CANDIDATE FUNDRAISING SINCE JUNE 30TH HAS COME FROM REAL ESTATE OR PROPERTY RELATED SOURCES IN AUSTIN.
SO THEY WANT TO KNOW IF ELECTED, WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR REZONING AND LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES, AND HOW WILL YOU ENSURE THE VOICES OF ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS COME BEFORE THE VOICES OF DEVELOPER DONORS? WELL, UM, BEFORE WE START OUT, I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A PENNY FROM THE REAL ESTATE AND DEVELOPMENT INDUSTRY.
SO LET'S GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO BUILD AN ECONOMICALLY AND IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY INTELLIGENT MANNER, UM, WE NEED TO PRESERVE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, UM, OWN AND KEEP THEIR SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AT ALL COSTS.
WE NEED TO GET RID OF THE BURDENSOME REGULATIONS AND, AND FEES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO PAY TO THE CITY TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOUSE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, LAST THING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS BUILDING A, BUILDING A LAND CODE ON URBAN DENSITY WHEN WE ARE LITERALLY IN THE MIDST OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND BEING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO ONE ANOTHER IS HOW YOU SPREAD VIRUSES ON THE IDEA OF INSTITUTING.
SOMETHING LIKE CODE NEXT RIGHT NOW IS IT'S IRRESPONSIBLE BEYOND MEASURE IF YOU WANT MY HONEST OPINION.
AND NEXT TO ANSWER THIS, MR. CHIN CAN CHAN WELL, THANK YOU.
UM, LIKE I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE NEED A NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE BECAUSE THE ONE WE HAVE NOW IS ROOTED IN A SEGREGATIONIST PLAN FROM 1928.
UH, AND IT HASN'T CHANGED VERY MUCH SINCE THE 1980S.
UH, AND WHAT WE HAVE SEEN UNDER THIS LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE IS GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT, SLEDDING, SPRAWL, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.
AND SO WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND DO THINGS BETTER.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE PROVIDING PER SERVING AND CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKING FAMILIES.
WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE DISPLACED.
UH, AND SO I HAVE A STRONG RECORD OF WORKING ON THIS, UH, IN THE PAST AT CITY HALL, UM, WORKING WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPERS, WORKING WITH OUR PUBLIC AUTHORITY TO CREATE MORE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND THAT LAST QUESTION ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSIT.
AND I THINK APPLIES HERE AS WELL.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOUSING, IT'S ABOUT OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES THAT THEY NEED, AND WE ARE INVESTING IN INFRASTRUCTURE, UM, IN, IN OUR UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOODS.
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BELIEVE THAT OUR GREATEST ASSET IS OUR PEOPLE AND IT'S THE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR DISTRICT.IT'S THE FAMILIES OF PROCESSING.
AND FOR ME, IT'S KNOWING THAT I'M GOING TO BE RAISING MY FAMILY HERE IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, I'M LOOKING AT, I'M LOOKING AT IT THROUGH THE LENS OF HOW IS IT HELPING OUR PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE TODAY AND HOW DO WE HAVE MARY PLANNING FOR THE FAMILIES OF TOMORROW? AND THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE A GENERAL SENSE OF FEAR OF DISPLACEMENT.
THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENED ON THE EAST SIDE, THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENED, WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE TOP LIST.
AND THERE'S A GROWING SENSE THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE IN DEB SPRINGS AND IN SOUTHEAST VALLEY.
SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, AND I DO BELIEVE IT NEEDS TO BE UPDATE AT DATED.
THE LAST TIME IT WAS AT WAS BEFORE I WAS BORN, WHEN AUSTIN WAS HALF THE SIZE IT IS TODAY, THEY FULLY FUNDED ANTI-DISPLACEMENT PROGRAM.
WE NEED TO DO MORE TO PROTECT OUR MOST VULNERABLE.
WE ENSURE THAT THE AUSTINITE THAT TODAY CAN, CAN STILL CONTINUE TO CALL AUSTIN YOUR HOME.
HEY, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TIME FOR A COUPLE LITTLE MORE QUESTIONS.
UM, AND THIS QUESTION, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH MR. CHIN CAN TAN.
THIS QUESTION IS ON THE TEN ONE DISTRICTS AND, UH, IT HAS NOW BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WENT TO TEN ONE GEOGRAPHIC AREA, DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.
YOU THINK THE TEN ONE PLAN HAS HAD A POSITIVE EFFECT ON YOUR DISTRICT? WHY OR WHY NOT? ABSOLUTELY.
I WAS REALLY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE EFFORT THAT HAS GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.
AND THE REASON I PARTICIPATED IN THAT, EVEN BACK WHEN I WAS A STUDENT, UM, WAS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN THAT INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT THAT MY COMMUNITY HAS FACED.
UH, I'VE SEEN THE LACK OF SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY OWN FAMILY, UH, HAD TO GRAPPLE WITH.
AND SO I THINK IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR US TO MOVE TO SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS.
UH, AND I HAVE, I'VE BEEN REALLY PROUD OF, OR, UH, IN, IN HER RACES FOR CITY COUNCIL, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR HER.
UM, AND SHE HAS REALLY FOUGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CORRECT SOME OF THAT INSTITUTIONAL NEGLECT, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE MAKING UP FOR DECADES AND DECADES OF IT.
AND SO THERE'S STILL A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
UM, THERE'S A LOT MORE SERVICES AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED.
THERE'S WE NEED TO WORK ON FOOD ACCESS, PROVIDING CHILDCARE AND A BETTER EDUCATION, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I THINK HAVING A VOICE FROM OUR OWN COMMUNITY CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE PEANUT PRODUCTS.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORTED THE TEN ONE EFFORT.
I THINK IT'S MADE A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MY COMMUNITY HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A, THE ADDITION IN DEL VALLEY AND INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, WHERE THERE'S STILL SO MUCH MORE THAT WE NEED TO DO TO TAKE ON THE DECADES OF INSTITUTIONS BLACK.
AND THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE WE NEED MORE VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY, LESS THAT REPRESENT CITY HALL AND TRUST.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE THAT HAS THEIR EAR AND EYES TO THE GROUND.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IS WHERE I SIT IN MY LAST SIX YEARS DOING EVERY WEEK, I GO TO A DIFFERENT TACO TRUCK IN DISTRICT TWO, TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY ISSUES.
I HAD VIRTUAL LIVE STREAMS, LIVE STREAMS ALMOST EVERY WEEK ON DIFFERENT TOPICS OF INTEREST.
MEANING ENGAGEMENT IS AT THE BASE OF EVERYTHING THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING, WHAT WE EXPECT OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND I THINK TEN ONE IS A GREAT REPRESENTATION OF THAT.
I MEAN, I THINK, UM, IT'S GOOD.
THERE'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY TO BE SAID ABOUT HAVING SOMEBODY WHO IS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER.
UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I, UH, WHEN THE BARS OR RESTAURANTS FIRST GOT SHUT DOWN DURING SOUTH BY I, UH, EMAILED DELI AND SHE ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE STILL HAVING TO PAY PERMANENT FEES BECAUSE, UM, EVEN THOUGH WE CAN'T USE THE CALVES AND NOTHING'S OPEN, UM, AND SHE GOT BACK TO ME LIKE THE NEXT DAY, YOU KNOW, AND UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE STILL HAVING TO PAY THESE PERMITTING FEES, WHICH MAKES NO SENSE AS THINGS ARE CLOSED AND NOBODY'S USING THESE CABS AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF WHO HAVE GREEN JOBS THAT ARE LIKE LITERALLY HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT IN A SAFE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION.
BUT THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS YOUR COUNCIL MEMBER, THAT YOU CAN TALK TO THAT UNDERSTANDS WHAT'S GOING ON, WHERE YOU LIVE.
SO I THINK THAT IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AND I THINK THAT WE JUST NEED TO KEEP DOING A BETTER JOB OF ACTUALLY COMMUNICATING AND BEING IN TOUCH WITH WHAT PEOPLE IN OUR DISTRICT WANTS AND NOT WHAT, UM, INTEREST GROUPS, UM, WANT INSTEAD.
[00:50:01]
THAT'S MY TAKE ON IT.THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR LAST QUESTION.
BEFORE WE DO OUR CLOSING EYE, WE WILL START WITH MS. POINT.
THIS WAS, THIS IS ON COVID-19.
DO YOU FEEL THE CITY HAS DONE AN ADEQUATE JOB AND THEIR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR RESPONSE AND EXPLAIN HOW YOU AS A CITY COUNCIL WOULD ADDRESS THE FUTURE RESPONSE OF THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY IS ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT AREAS OF ALL OF ALL OF AUSTIN.
WE'VE OVER 3000 POSITIVE CASES OF COVID.
UM, WHAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEEN THE CITY DO A LOT EARLIER WAS ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY HAD THE RESOURCES NEEDED.
YOU KNOW, I STEPPED UP AS A VOLUNTEER AND HELPED PLAN THREE DIFFERENT PTE DISTRIBUTIONS IN DEVS SPRINGS AND IN DEL VALLEY.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT MY COMMUNITY CAN EXPECT FROM ME THAT I WILL ROLL UP MY SLEEVES AND MAKE SURE THAT MY COMMUNITY STANDS PROTECTED FROM THE PANDEMIC AND THAT WE HAVE A PROACTIVE ENGAGEMENT GOING FORWARD.
IF YOU VISIT MY WEBSITE, I HAVE A PLAN ON HOW TO ADVANCE YOUR COMMUNITY HEALTH.
AND I ALSO HAVE A PLAN ON PROACTIVE TO MEET ENGAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO THE PANDEMIC.
I W I BELIEVE THAT MY EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY AND I DEMONSTRATED WORKER BACARD OF SERVING OUR COMMUNITY WILL SERVE MY COMMUNITY WELL ON COUNCIL.
THANK YOU, MR. STRINGER, DID THE CITY DO AN ADEQUATE JOB ON COVID-19? NO, THEY THEY'D DONE A HORRIBLE JOB.
I MEAN, UM, THEY'RE, THEY'RE LITERALLY DECIMATING SMALL BUSINESSES LEFT AND RIGHT THERE WAS A WHOLE, UM, CHRONICLE ARTICLE OR SOME ARTICLE, OR SOME LADY POSTED SOMETHING ON INSTAGRAM ABOUT ALL OF THE BUSINESSES THAT HAD TO CLOSE AS A RESULT OF IT.
AND IT WAS A LITERAL LAUNDRY LIST.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SHUTTING DOWN THESE SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, AND YOU'RE OFFERING LITTLE TO NO JUST COMPENSATION TO HELP THESE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, THIS SHOULD BE PRIORITY.
NUMBER ONE, IF YOU'RE GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY THAT THEY CAN'T WORK, IF THEY CAN'T EARN A LIVING, THAT THEY CAN'T OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT IT.
AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS THE SAME, THE SAME THING DISREGARDING THEIR EMPLOYEES LIKE THAT IS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION, WHAT THE CITY'S DOING.
UM, I MEAN, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT IT REALLY HURTS ME THE MOST BECAUSE I'M, I AM LITERALLY THE PERSON WHO'S MOST AFFECTED AS A RESULT OF THIS, YOU KNOW? UM, AND THEN YOU FIND OUT THAT 94% OF ALL THE COVID DEATHS HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
WE NEED TO SHIFT THE NARRATIVE NOW TO HELPING PEOPLE LEAD HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES.
AND OUR CITY IS NOT DOING THAT.
THEY'RE PERPETUATING A FEAR BASED NARRATIVE TO KEEP US ON EDGE AND FIGHTING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
AND IT'S ALMOST AS THOUGH THEY ARE INTENTION AND OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHIN KITCHEN, WE'VE EXPERIENCED PAIN, DEATH AND SUFFERING AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC IN OUR SOUTHEAST SALSA COMMUNITY AND IN OUR LATINO COMMUNITY WHERE WE MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF THE CASES, UH, AND MORE THAN HALF THE COVID RELATED.
UM, AND A HUGE FACTOR IN THAT HAS BEEN THAT INCIDENT.
AND ANOTHER ASPECT OF IT IS THAT IN OUR COMMUNITY, WE HAVE FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE OUT THERE RISKING THEIR LIVES, THEIR HEALTH, AND THEIR SAFETY TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
AND THEY'RE DOING IT WITHOUT THE ESSENTIAL PROTECTIONS THAT THEY DESERVE WITH LITTLE CHOICE AND A LITTLE COMPENSATION.
UH, AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAVE ACCESS TO TESTING THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO TCE, BUT WE ALSO NEED, UH, TO SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESS OPERATORS AND WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR WORKERS, UM, AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO PAID SICK LEAVE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.
WE NEED TO BUILD COMMUNITY OPPORTUNITY IN SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO FACE FUTURE PANDEMICS, FUTURE DISASTERS, THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND YOU NEED TO BE BETTER PREPARED.
THANK YOU GUYS VERY MUCH FOR USING YOUR TIME.
VERY WISELY ON ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONS.
UH, MR. BOSS, THIS QUESTION I ASKED WAS ON THE TEN ONE DISTRICTS.
UH, IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WENT TO THE TEN ONE GEOGRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.
YOU THINK THE TEN ONE MODEL HAS RESULTED IN REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL.
THAT IS, THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE IN ADDRESSING DISTRICT TWO.
WHY OR WHY NOT? ONCE WE HAVE LOST YOUR VIDEO AGAIN, AND WE'RE HAVE YOU COME BACK WITH US.
I THINK YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STILL HEAR US.
CAN YOU COMPETE THERE YOU ARE.
THAT'S IN ONE QUESTION FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSIVENESS HAS NOT LIVED UP TO ITS POTENTIAL.
[00:55:01]
AND IT SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN TRUE REPRESENTATION BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENED TO, UH, EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMAN INCUMBENT OR CANDIDATE BELIEVES THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HIGH DENSITY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT SIMPLY CAN'T TAKE IT.CAN'T SUSTAIN IT ENVIRONMENTALLY OR SOCIALLY OR ECONOMICALLY.
SO WE HAVE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON FIRST AND FOREMOST, BEFORE WE DEVELOP, BEFORE WE BRING IN RAILS, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY CHANGES, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE KEEP OUR PEOPLE HERE, HOW WE FIGHT THE POVERTY, HOW WE FIGHT THE POVERTY RATE, HOW DO WE BRING, HOW DO WE ELEVATE EVERYBODY OUT OF THEIR SITUATION? THAT WAY EVERYBODY CAN 30 COMPETE WITHIN THE HOUSING MARKET FIRST AND FOREMOST, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.
YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE AT OR BELOW THE POVERTY RATE AND WE'RE CON WE'RE COMPETING IN MARKETS WELL, THE WORLD.
AND SO PEOPLE ARE FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THAT, BUT WE HAVE A GLOBAL, A GLOBAL SYSTEMIC PROBLEM HERE IN ADDITION TO PRESSURES FROM THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER, OTHER SOCIAL PRESSURES FROM THE STATE AND FROM THE FEDERAL LEVELS THAT WE NEED TO WORK ON FIRST.
NOW THESE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIFICS.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK GOD, THIS ONE IS FOR DISTRICT TWO.
ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS INFORMED US THAT FLOODING OF RESIDENCES IS STILL OCCURRING IN DISTRICT TWO FROM ONION CREEK, WILLIAMSON CREEK AND OTHER WATERWAYS IN THE DISTRICT IN PART DUE TO THE PRIOR PRACTICE OF FILLING IN DRAINAGE WAYS AND CONSTRUCTING RESIDENCES OVER SUCH AREAS.
WHAT WILL YOU DO AS A COUNCIL MEMBER TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION AND TO ADDRESS THE HARM CAUSED THE DISTRICT TO CITIZENS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FLOODING.
MR. RAMOS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO UNMUTE.
I TELL THEM YOU MR. ROSS, CAN YOU HEAR THAT? YES.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND 2013.
AND IN 2015, WE LOST HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS TO FLOODING BECAUSE AS YOU STATED EARLIER, PREVIOUSLY, PREVIOUS DEVELOPMENTS THAT CAME UP IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WERE NOT DEVELOPED PROPERLY.
THE PROPER STORM STORM WATER DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS NOT BUILT IN CORRECTLY, OR IT WAS NOT BUILT IN AT ALL.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE WE START BEFORE WE DEVELOPED BEFORE.
AGAIN, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE BRING THEM IN HIGH DENSITY DEVELOPMENT BEFORE WE BRING IN A RAIL, THAT'S GOING TO, UM, BE BASED OFF THE TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS OUR WALKS, OUR ROAD WALKS GOING NOWHERE, MOST HAVE POTHOLES IN THEM.
AND INFRASTRUCTURE IS DAMAGED THAT IT EXISTS AT ALL.
THAT WILL TAKE OUT A BOND TO FIX OR SIDEWALKS FIX AND UPDATE OUR STORMWATER GAMING SYSTEMS. SO THAT WAY WE CAN BUILD SAFELY CAUTIOUS, CAUTIOUS, CONSCIOUSLY, AND, UH, BY A MINI STAGE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO, RIGHT, IF YOU'RE IN AUSTIN FOR THE NEXT 50 TO A HUNDRED YEARS, STUDENTS WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THAT ACCORDING TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S WEBSITE AND THE AUSTIN HOMELESSNESS ADVISORY COUNCIL, THERE ARE A FEW ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
AND ABOUT $6,000 IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BUDGET FOR MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, WITH THE CLOSURE OF THE LIBRARIES FOR COVID-19 AS WELL AS THE RESTRICTED ACCESS TO OTHER CITY FACILITIES.
YOU THINK THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BEING PROVIDED TO AUSTIN'S HOMELESS COMMUNITY IS SUFFICIENT.
IF NOT, PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF ELECTED TO IMPROVE THE CITY'S MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT OF OUR HOMELESS COMMUNITY.
UH, I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE, THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST A ONE SIZE FITS ALL ISSUE.
SO MULTIFACETED, IT HAS TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR DRUG ADDICTION, AND JUST LACK OF HOUSING, LACK OF READILY AVAILABLE, AVAILABLE HOUSING.
THESE ARE BASIC HUMAN NECESSITIES THAT ARE NOT BEING PROVIDED FOR A HOMELESS EMERGENCY SHELTER, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, IT'S A HEALTH COUNSELING DRUG, DRUG ADDICTION COUNSELING.
[01:00:01]
NO, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE A COMPLETE WRAP AROUND SERVICES.AND THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WHAT I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW TODAY WITHIN OUR CITY IS THAT THEY'RE JUST AFTER FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
AND THE EASY WAY OUT WAS JUST TO LET THEM BIRTH AND STAY WHEREVER THEY WANT IT TO.
THAT'S A, IT'S A HEALTH AND A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE HOMELESSNESS WELL WITH PEOPLE THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED, WE NEED A COMPLETE WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
WE NEED A PUBLIC WORKS SERVICE, AT LEAST AT MINIMUM.
THAT WAY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING ON THE, ON THE SIDEWALKS ARE LOOPING ON CAN AT LEAST HAVE A CLEAN LIVING SPACE, HAD THEM PAY THEM TO CLEAN HAYDEN, TO CLEAN UP THEIR OWN.
UH, UH, CAMPING SITES ARE PAID THEM UP TO GET OUT OF ANY KIND OF SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
AT LEAST THEY CAN WORK, WORK, GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN WORK OUT OF.
PLUS THE NUMBER TWO QUESTION THAT CAME IN THE INBOX FROM ALL OVER THE CITY, AND IT'S THE HOMELESS POPULATION AROUND AUSTIN IN LIGHT OF THE CITY'S CURRENT POLICY TO ALLOW ITS HOMELESS POPULATION TO CAMP AND LIVE IN PUBLIC SPACES.
WHAT SOLUTIONS WILL YOU WORK ON IF ELECTED TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND ALSO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THOSE CITIZENS WHO OPPOSE THIS CAMPING UNDER THE BRIDGES AND ALONG THE HIGHWAYS IN OPEN SPACES.
UH, ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION, BUT REALLY DISTINCT FROM WHERE WE ARE AS A SOCIETY HERE IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD, IT'S THE PARITY BETWEEN BE A FLUENT AND THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SERVICES DOWN ENOUGH RESOURCES HERE AT HERE AT THE BOTTOM, OR NOT EVEN AT THE BOTTOM, BUT THIS HERE AND HERE IN THE WORLD, HERE IN OUR SOCIETY HERE, AND WE'RE OPERATING, WE JUST NEED TO HAVE MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WE NEED, AGAIN, WE NEED AN EMERGENCY SHELTER.
WE NEED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING, WOULDN'T BE MENTAL HEALTH.
WE JUST NEED RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR OUR RESOURCES AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND HERE ALSO AT THE CITY LEVEL, WE HAVE, WE CAN BURBERRY AND CITY WITH OUR PROPERTY TAXES.
WE JUST HAVE TO GET OUT AND VOTE AND CHOOSE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THOSE PROPERTY TAXES AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE MOST EFFICIENTLY.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE FOR TRANSFERRING SERVICES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT THE POLICE CAN BETTER EFFICIENTLY WORK ON POLICING.
AND THAT THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES CAN BE BETTER SERVED BY BE BETTER SERVED BY THE OTHER PROFESSIONALS.
SO THAT'S, WE JUST NEED TO DECIDE WHO WE ARE AS A SOCIETY, WHAT DIRECTION WE NEED TO GO AND HOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THE HOMELESS AND THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT MOST.
AND, UH, THIS IS THE LIGHT OF DISTRICT TWO.
YOU ALSO HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORS.
I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IT UP.
IT'S A BIG TOPIC AND IT'S A, IT'S A, IT'S A HIGH NEED IN OUR DISTRICT AND IT'S ONE OF THE FIRST NEED THAT NEEDS TO BE SERVED OR FOR ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE TAKE OUT A BOND FOR A $9 BILLION RAIL THAT WE WON'T, THAT WON'T SERVICE BEFORE WE REDESIGN OUR LAND DEVELOPMENT CODES, BEFORE WE MOVE ON WITH ANYTHING, WE NEED TO FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEVELOP ON A INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS OUTDATED? AND THAT IS GOING TO LITERALLY CRUMBLE BENEATH US.
IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT NOW, HOW INEFFICIENT WOULD THAT BE WITH OUR FUNDS AND WITH OUR HOUSING, SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY SORTED THAT SATURDAY LANKAN.
SO OF COURSE, LIKE I STATED EARLIER, WE NEED TO TAKE OUT A BOND FOR A PUBLIC WORKS TRUST FUND THAT WILL UPDATE AND SOLIDIFY OUR EXPERIMENTER JANUARY INFRASTRUCTURE, ALONG WITH OUR SIDEWALKS AND OUR ROADS, BECAUSE WE'RE AN OUT OF CITRIX CITY AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO.
WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE ELSE.
ANYTIME SOON, ESPECIALLY WITH TESLA COMING HERE AND WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER ELECTRIC CARS, UH, CATCHING UP A LOT OF THE OTHER COMPANIES CATCHING UP WITH THE ELECTRIC CAR TRAIN.
SO MOST OF THE TIMES, UH, WE'RE FOLLOWING TRENDS FOR RAIL THAT MOST OF THESE BUILT 150 TO A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT'S GONNA TAKE FOR US TO BUILD A RAIL.
SO WE USED THE PROPOLIS AND THIS IS ON POLICE FUNDING.
AND THIS IS FROM, UH, WE'VE GOT TWO TYPES OF EMAILS IN OUR BOXES, AND IT WAS FROM THE SIDE, FROM THE PROTESTOR SIDE AND WHAT THEIR NEEDS WERE EXPRESSED WERE.
AND IT WAS ALSO FROM THOSE WHO HAD A FEAR OF, FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
SO HIS FIRST PART IS GOING TO BE FROM THE PROTESTOR SIDE, YOU GUYS WOULD BE ADDRESSING THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE PROTESTING REGARDING THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY THE RECENT PROTEST.
IT'S THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THE CURRENT COUNCIL HAS VOTED TO ELIMINATE POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS, CANCELED CADET CLASSES.
WE ALLOCATE DOLLARS FROM THE POLICE BUDGET TO OTHER CITY PROGRAMS AND TRANSFERRED CERTAIN POLICE FUNCTION TO OTHER AGENCIES.
IF ELECTED, WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ANYTHING, TO FURTHER ADDRESS THE PROTESTORS CONCERNS.
AND WE WILL START WITH MR. RAMOS ON THIS QUESTION, THANK YOU.
[01:05:01]
THOSE ARE ALL VALID CONCERNS.ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST YOUTH CRIME RATES.
YOU HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARGETED, UH, DWI, UH, WHO, UH, RATES FOR BEING PULLED OVER.
WE HAVE NON VIOLENT CRIMES THAT ARE BEING, THAT ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PROSECUTED FOR THAT DO NOT NEED TO BE, UM, FURTHER.
SO WE NEED, WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMUNICATION OR INTERACTION WITH POLICE, AND WE NEED PROGRAMS LIKE THAT.
LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE POLICE ACTIVITIES LEAGUE A YOUTH PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED BY APD THAT PUTS ON AND FUND SPORTS LEAGUES.
IT FIRMS, UH, LIBERAL ARTS ACTIVITIES.
IT'S A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.
WE NEED PROGRAMS LIKE THAT TO HELP FURTHER UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER AND NOT SEPARATE US IN SUCH A TIME WE'RE DIVIDED AS A COUNTRY AND WE DON'T UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER.
SO I THINK THE LAST THING THAT WHEN HE WAS TO SEPARATE OURSELVES, THEY SEPARATE THE COMMUNITY FROM THE ELISE AND WE NEED THE PROTEST.
IT'S A, IT'S OUR AMERICAN RIGHT TO PROTEST.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAD THE PROTESTORS HAD EVERY RIGHT TO PROTEST AND HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM THE BLEEDS.
YOU'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE TO GOING TO HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS, AND WE WILL HOLD UP THE ONE MINUTE WARNING AND THEN WE'LL HOLD THE 32ND.
AND THEN WE'LL ASK YOU TO STOP AGAIN.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THAT.
MR. STRINGER, YOU GET THE FIRST CLOSING STATEMENT.
THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
UM, LIKE I SAID EARLIER, I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR WHO DRIVES A PETTY CAB AND I AM THE LITERAL WORKING PERSON WHO THE CITY NEEDS TO ACTUALLY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.
AND IT SEEMS AS THOUGH EVERYTHING OUR CITY HAS DONE AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC HAS BEEN ALMOST DELIBERATELY DONE TO PUSH PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF OUT OF AUSTIN.
YOU KNOW, UM, I WISH I COULD SAY THAT I WAS HAPPY TO BE HERE, BUT I'M NOT, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT A POLITICIAN AND I DON'T WANT TO BE A POLITICIAN, BUT THE, UM, GROSS INEPTITUDE OF OUR CITY COUNCIL AS A RESULT OF HOW THEY HANDLE THE PANDEMIC, THE DECISION TO RAISE OUR TAXES, FUNDING, A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT, THAT'S GOING TO BE OBSOLETE BY THE TIME IT'S FINISHED BUILDING A HOUSING MODEL ON DENSITY WHEN THAT'S, HOW YOU LITERALLY SPREAD VIRUSES.
I MEAN, THIS GLARING AND APTITUDE LEAVES ME NO CHOICE, BUT TO HAVE TO RUN.
UM, SO YEAH, I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT TWO.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO VIEW IT AS SOMETHING I HAVE.
NEXT, WE'LL GO TO MR. JENKINS CHAMP, PLEASE.
UM, AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING THIS FORUM.
UM, I WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK WHAT MAKES THIS FEEL THIS STUD UM, I AM THE CANDIDATE THAT HAS A DEEP PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THIS DISTRICT.
UH, THE CONVICTIONS AND THE VALUES NEEDED TO PUSH CHANGE, UH, THE PART AROUND TRUST AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE NEEDED TO CONTINUE BUILDING STRONG COALITIONS FOR PROGRESS AND THE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE THAT'S NEEDED, UH, TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE TIME TO WAIT.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, YOU KNOW, OUR COMMUNITY DESERVES A REPRESENTATIVE WHO UNDERSTANDS OUR COMMUNITY, UM, WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF US WHO IS GOING TO CENTER THE VOICES OF WORKING FAMILIES, UH, AND THE FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN UNDERSERVED FOR SO LONG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HOSTING TONIGHT'S BOMB.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERY AUSTINITE HAS A RIGHT TO MOVE SAFELY AROUND OUR CITY, THAT A ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD SHOULD BE A GIVEN THAT HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS IS A PRIORITY.
I BELIEVE THAT HEALTHCARE IS A RIGHT, NOT A PRIVILEGE.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THAT AUSTINITES SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE LIFE THEY WANT TO HAVE.
HOWEVER, PERMITTING OUR COMMUNITY.
I, I AM RUNNING TO BRING OUR COMMUNITIES VOICE TO CITY HALL, AND HERE'S WHAT I KNOW OUR COMMUNITY IS RESILIENT.
WE SURVIVE THE HISTORIC AND DEADLY FLOODS OF 2013 AND 2015, AND ARE NOW GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
WE NEED A LEADER WHO WILL ASK THE TOUGH QUESTIONS WILL DEFEND THEIR COMMUNITY FROM DISPLACEMENT AND WE'LL STAND UP OUR COMMUNITY ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER.
I'M AN EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY HEALTH ADVOCATE.
AND AS WE LOOK TO OUR LOCAL LEADERS TO GET US THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC, I BELIEVE IN MY EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY, LIKE UNPARALLELED WORK ETHIC AND MY BACK MEETING LEADERSHIP BEST POSITIONS NEED TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND TO TAKE ON THE STATUS QUO.
AS WE MOVED TO CREATE SYSTEMIC CHANGE, WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE OUR FEATURE.
WE ARE AT A PLACE RIGHT NOW WHERE WE GET TO DECIDE WHAT WE WANT OUR POLITICS AND OUR POLICIES TO LOOK LIKE.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE MORE VOICES AS WE, AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE
[01:10:01]
PARTICIPATING OR FRESH VOICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND LESS FOR CITY HALL AND TRUST.I TRULY BELIEVE THAT AUSTIN CAN BE A CITY THAT EVERY PERSON CAN CALL HOME.
A CITY THAT GROWS RESPONSIBLY, THAT IS SUSTAINABLE IN A CITY WHERE DEMOCRACY IS REAL AND PERSPECTIVES ARE VALUED.
THIS CAMPAIGN IS FOR ALL OF US, NO MATTER OUR DIFFERENCES, WE'RE ALL CONNECTED AND WE ALL BELONG.
I LOVE OUR COMMUNITY AND I WILL WORK HARD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
IT'S TIME FOR US TO SHOW UP FOR AUSTIN.
WE NEED TO SHOW UP FOR US JOINING THIS MOVEMENT TO BRING CHANGE TO CITY HALL BY VISITING VANESSA BOSTON.COM.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
IN MY OPINION, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FORUM.
WE HAD SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES LAST TIME AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE VERSES OF THE UNHEARD MARTIN FOR A BETTER WAY.
WHY ME FOR THE TRUE WAY, LONGING FOR THE WAY THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO GO VERY TRULY CONNECTED CITY FOR A CITY.
THAT'S FOR ALL CITY THAT'S FOR ALL INCOMES, ALL RACES, ALL, ALL WALKS OF LIFE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DESERVE AT THE BASIC LEVEL.
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY, THEN WE NEED TO PERFORM THOSE BASIC BASIC DUTIES FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE.
AND I WILL FIGHT FOR POLICIES THAT ARE TRULY PROGRESSIVE AND THAT DARK ROOM THAT DON'T GO GETS TO PEOPLE BECAUSE TOO, TOO MANY TIMES AT THE TOP OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CLAIMING TO BE PROGRESSIVE, BUT YET THEY VOTE IN FAVOR OF DISPLACEMENT POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO DISPLACE PEOPLE, AND THAT ARE GOING TO HURT THE PUBLIC, UH, AND RATHER THAN BENEFITED DIRECTLY AND NOT MEDICALLY AND SOCIALLY ADJUSTED JUSTIFIABLY.
AND SO THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE TO DO.
I'M HERE TO VOTE FOR TRUE POLICIES.
I'M HERE FOR THE TRUE VOICES OF AUSTIN.
I'M HERE FOR, UH, LOOKING AT WHAT WE HAVE AS A CITY AND NOT WHERE WE CAN LOOK, LOOK TO IN THE FUTURE.
BECAUSE WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS A CITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NEAT, THAT NEED HELP.
WE NEED HELP WITH OUR SIDEWALKS.
WE NEED HELP WITH OUR SCHOOLS.
WE NEED HELP WITH HOMELESSNESS, WITH DRUG, DRUG, REHABILITATION, MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, RISING OUT OF THE POT, RISING OUT OF POVERTY AND MAINTAINING ALL WHAT ALL WALLS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL ISSUES THAT NEED HELP.
NOW, NOT IN 10 TO 15 YEARS, NOT FAIR.
THAT'S NOT GOING TO BENEFIT US.
WE WRITE UP A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE NEED TRUE REFORM, TRUE POLICE REFORM, TRULY LAND DEVELOPMENT, CODE REFORM, TRUE REFORM FOR THEM AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M FOR A DISTRICT TO CASEY RHINOS KNOWS THE NUMBER FOR THAT.
THAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER TWO.COM.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.
UM, SINCE WE CANNOT GIVE YOU A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FROM THE AUDIENCE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SINCERITY THIS EVENING AND YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE OUR CITY.
HERE'S SOME DATES TO REMEMBER OCTOBER 5TH IS THE LAST DATE OR REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE THE GENERAL ELECTION, OCTOBER 13TH, EARLY VOTING BEGINS IN TEXAS AND IT ENDS ON OCTOBER 30TH.
OUR NONPARTISAN VOTERS GUIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT EL WV.
ALSO VOTE FOR
WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION TIME, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT NO DIGITAL DEVICES ARE ALLOWED IN THE POLLING LOCATIONS.
THE LEAGUE URGES ALL REGISTERED VOTERS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE TO VOTE IN THIS ELECTION.