[2020 City Council Candidate Forum District 4]
[00:00:11]
WELCOME ALL TO THE CITY OF AUSTIN'S DISTRICT FOR CANDIDATE FORUM.
I AM CAROL ECHO WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AUSTIN AREA, THE LEAGUE PARTNERS WITH VARIOUS CIVIC AND MUNICIPAL ENTITIES TO PROVIDE THESE TYPES OF FORUMS. TODAY, WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF AUSTIN ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION.
TO HELP YOU GET TO KNOW THE CANDIDATES VYING FOR YOUR VOTE.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, AUSTIN AREA WAS FOUNDED IN 1919, AND AS A NONPARTISAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION OF MEN AND WOMEN, WE PROMOTE INFORMED AND ACTIVE CIVIC PARTICIPATION.
WE WISH TO BE CLEAR THAT THE LEAGUE NEVER ENDORSES OR SUPPORTS OR OPPOSES CANDIDATES OR POLITICAL PARTIES, BUT ATTEMPTS TO EMPOWER VOTERS WITH INFORMATION THEY CAN USE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.
ALL QUESTIONS ARE PUT TOGETHER BY THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN, VOTERS OF THE AUSTIN AREA, AND I'VE NOT BEEN SEEN BY ANY OF THE CANDIDATES.
THESE QUESTIONS COME TO US FROM MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND THROUGH THE EMAIL ADDRESS FORUM@WBAUSTIN.ORG, THERE IS STILL TIME TO SEND IN QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHER FORUMS. THIS IS FORM IT'S F O R U M AT L W V A U S T I N DOT O OR, OR O R G.
WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH STUDENTS IN UT SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK.
THESE STUDENTS WOULD NORMALLY BE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY GETTING THEIR SERVICE HOURS IN, BUT DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THEN YOU'RE LEARNING ALONG WITH ALL OF US TO MANAGE THEIR LIVES DIFFERENTLY.
A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CURRENT GROUP OF STUDENTS AND TO THE NEW GROUP COMING ON BOARD FOR THE OTHER FORUMS. AND THANK YOU TO THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS IN THE LEAGUE CANDIDATES.
YOU WILL HAVE A TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND YOU'LL HAVE A TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT AND YOU WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
OUR TIMEKEEPER WILL HOLD UP A YELLOW WARNING CARD AT THE 32ND MARK OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND A RED CARD.
WHEN TIME HAS EXPIRED TODAY, WE ARE JOINED BY A DISTRICT TWO CANDIDATE, MR. CASEY RAMOS, DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
HE WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND HIS DISTRICT TWO FORUM LAST WEEK.
HE WILL BE GIVEN QUESTIONS SPECIFIC TO DISTRICT TWO, ALONG WITH THE GENERAL QUESTIONS.
SO HIS CONSTITUENTS CAN HEAR HIS RESPONSES FROM THE RECORDINGS THAT ARE POSTED ON THE CITY OF AUSTIN.
WEBSITE CANDIDATES ARE ASKED TO REFRAIN FROM ANY PERSONAL ATTACKS ON THEIR OPPONENT.
AND IN THE EVENT, A CANDIDATE LOSES THEIR CONNECTION TO THIS FORM.
YOU MAY RECONNECT AND WE WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU MISSED TIME PERMITTING.
WE WILL BEGIN INVALID ORDER AND WE WERE ROTATE SO THAT EACH OF YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER.
FIRST, WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE TWO MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT AND MR. COSAR FIRST ON THE DISTRICT FOUR BALLOT, GOOD EVENING, I'M GREG FACADE.
UH, AND IN THIS TIME OF PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS ECONOMIC CRISIS AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, OUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY HERE IN AUSTIN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT IN THE YEARS.
I'VE GOTTEN TO DO THIS JOB AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.
I'VE NEVER FELT THIS JOB IS MORE IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE EVERYDAY I SEE HOW OUR FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS ARE MAKING OUR COMMUNITY MORE UNEQUAL AND MORE UNJUST AND MAKING THE PANDEMIC EVEN HARDER FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND ESPECIALLY FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR DISTRICT.
SO IT REALLY IS TIME FOR OFTEN TO BE A MODEL OF WHAT PROGRESSIVE AND INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY CAN DO.
I THINK TOO OFTEN, OUR CITY HASN'T STEPPED UP SLOWLY TO OUR POTENTIAL TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PEOPLE, BUT I'VE ALSO SEEN IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THAT WHEN PEOPLE ORGANIZE AND PUSH CITY HALL, THEY CAN TRULY MAKE LASTING CHANGE.
BEFORE I WAS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WAS AN IMMIGRANT SCHOOL ORGANIZER, AND I ALSO WORKED ALONGSIDE EVERYDAY PEOPLE TO PUSH CITY HALL, TO WIND WATER BREAKS AND BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS, AND OFTENTIMES AGAINST BIG ODDS AND AGAINST POWERFUL INTERESTS AND, AND, UH, AND BIG COMPANIES.
BUT I SAW HOW WE COULD PUSH CITY HALL TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
AND I'VE SEEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED HERE YEAR AFTER YEAR, WHEN DISTRICT FOUR RESIDENTS AT FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE CITY MADE US THE FIRST FAIR CHANCE HIRING CITY IN THE AMERICAN SOUTH, SO THAT WE COULD START STOP DISCRIMINATING AGAINST PEOPLE BASED ON THEIR PAST AND HIRE THEM BASED ON THEIR POTENTIAL.
WE WANT A $15 AN HOUR MINIMUM WAGE FOR OUR CITY WORKERS.
AND I'VE STARTED MAKING THAT THE BOTTOM LINE POLICY FOR ALL CONTRACTORS, WORKING WITH THE CITY.
IT PASSED THE FIRST EVER DEPORTATION DEFENSE FUND, UM, AND HAVE PUSHED TOWARD UNPRECEDENTED COVID RELIEF MEASURES TO MAKE SURE NOBODY LOSES THEIR HOME.
AND AS WE TRY TO SAVE SMALL BUSINESSES AND SAVE EVERY PART OF OUR CITY, WE CAN, IT'S REALLY UP TO US.
AND THE INCREMENTAL CHANGES WE'VE MADE HAVE BEEN
[00:05:01]
IMPORTANT, BUT IT REALLY IS TIME NOW FOR US TO PUSH FOR MORE TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE, TO TRULY REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.SO WE CAN PROTECT EVERYONE'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE SAFE TO PASS A MASS TRANSIT ELECTION THAT WILL REALLY HELP US WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND MAKE SURE OUR WORKERS CAN GET AROUND.
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR REELECTION AND ASKERS.
THANK YOU, MR. HERRON, YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE DISTRICT FOR 30 YEARS NOW, 40 YEARS NOW, AND I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL.
WE NEED A NEW DIRECTOR AND OUR CITY COUNCIL IS RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD.
WE'RE GOING TO END UP LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE HIGH TAXES.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING OUT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL.
I AM READY BECAUSE THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT MAKING A SOUND SAY IT'S MAKING IT AFFORDABLE.
EVEN THOUGH THEIR GOING TO BE AFFORDABILITY, THEY KEEP POPPING UP.
THEY CANNOT RUN A PROJECT PROPERLY.
THEY'RE BUYING HOTELS THAT ARE ONE OR $2 MILLION OF SPENDING $8 MILLION.
UH, WE'RE SPENDING WHAT ALMOST A MILLION DOLLAR FOR TEMPORARY, UH, UH, WATER AND WHITE FOR, I MEAN, BASICALLY POSED FOR DOWNTOWN.
AND, AND WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF PORTER POTTIES, AND WE'RE SPENDING ANOTHER WITH 200 TO 400,000 FOR PEOPLE OPERATING.
THE CITY NEEDS TO BE RUN PROPERLY.
I AM, UH, I AM AGAINST, UH, THE PLANNING OF THE PLACE I, AND FOR HIRING MORE POLICE OFFICERS.
I AM AGAIN, THE WAY TO CONNECT WITH GROWING BECAUSE THE CITY CANNOT RUN A PROJECT PROPERLY.
THEY'RE ASSUMING THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET FEDERAL FUNDS.
THEY HAVE NO COMMITMENT TO THAT.
WE'RE RAISING OUR TAXES BY 25% CITY TAX BY 25%.
IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT HIGHER THAN THAT.
AND I THINK THIS PROJECT, THAT PROJECT WILL POP UP SOMEWHERE 25 BILLION AND $50 BILLION.
THANK YOU YOUR TWO MINUTES OPENING STATEMENT.
YEAH, YOU NEED TO UNMUTE AND WE WILL START YOUR TWO MINUTES.
HI, MY NAME IS RAMSEYS AND I'M A GAY ECOSOCIALIST SELF-FUNDED AND I'M PRO BLOG BROWN, LGBTQ WOMEN'S RIGHTS AND VISIONIST RIGHTS FOR DRUG AND SEX WORK, DECRIMINALIZATION HEALTHCARE FOR ALL COLLEGE, FOR ALL SLAVERY REPARATIONS, LIVING WAGES, ABOLISHING POLICE UNIONS, AND QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.
GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS IN ACTING RANK CHOICE, VOTING AT GRAND NEVIL AND OVERALL ALL THINGS PROGRESSIVE.
THE REASON I'M RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL IS BECAUSE I USED TO WORK AT CITY HALL AS A CONTRACTOR, AND I WAS PAID MEAGER WAGES FULL TIME HOURS YET.
YES, WHICH THAT'S HAPPENS EVEN AT CITY HALL.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, I WAS TREATED WITH HOMOPHOBIA, XENOPHOBIA, AND BULLIED BY CITY OF AUSTIN POLICE.
WELL, THEY PICKED ON THE RIGHT ONE THIS TIME FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, MY COUNSEL NEVER, NEVER REACHED OUT TO ME NOR ANSWERED ANY OF MY EMAILS OR NOR SOCIAL MEDIA.
MY COUNCIL MEMBER OR GRAD HAS FAILED TO REPRESENT ME AS A CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT FOUR, AS WELL AS I'M SHOWING ME AT SUCH HALL.
AND I REFUSE, I REFUSE TO BE ANYONE'S COLLATERAL.
THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR I'M RUNNING AND REPRESENTING MYSELF AND CHALLENGING HIS POSITION.
I DON'T NEED NO MAN TO REPRESENT ME.
I'M GOING TO REPRESENT MYSELF.
AND WHEN MR. RAMOS LOGS BACK IN, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE LOST ONE OF OUR PANELISTS.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE INTO QUESTION ONE QUESTION ONE.
THIS IS ON THE GREEN SPACES IN YOUR DISTRICT.
THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR SPACES FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
IF ELECTED, WHAT EFFORTS WOULD BE MADE BY YOU TO DEVELOP AND OR IMPROVE THESE SPACES THROUGHOUT DISTRICT FOUR, YOU'LL HAVE ONE MINUTE AND WE WILL START WITH MR. HARRIS.
[00:10:01]
GREEN SPACES IN DISTRICT FOUR.UM, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A LOT MORE ART
WE HAVE A SMALL PART, BUT, UH, PERSONALLY, UH, IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WE HAVE A GROUP THAT GOES OUT THERE ONCE A WEEK TO CLEAN IT UP.
AND THEY WOULD NOT BRING A KID THERE BECAUSE OF PULLING NEEDLES.
EVERY SATURDAY, THEY GO OUT WITH A LOT OF NEEDLE QUOTE, UH, BUT I AM POOR.
IF WE CAN GET THE MONEY I HAVE FOR PUTTING OUT MORE HEART, UH, BECAUSE WE NEED OPEN AREAS.
AND IF THE NEW CONNECT GETS ADOPTED, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE VERY MANY GREEN AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE.
LIKE THANK YOU, MR. SET UP HENRY, THE QUESTION PLEASE WAS THIS ONGOING PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF ACCESSIBLE OUTDOOR SPACES FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.
IF ELECTED, WHAT EFFORTS WOULD BE MADE BY YOU TO DEVELOP AND OR IMPROVE THOSE SPACES THROUGHOUT DISTRICT? WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO FUND OVERALL, UH, PARKS FOR PEOPLE'S LEISURE NOW THAT PEOPLE HAVE MORE TIME TO SELF ACTUALIZE.
UM, BUT WE ALSO, IN TERMS OF, UM, THE GROWING, UM, HOUSELESS AND HOMELESS, UM, ACU, I THINK THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT FIRST BECAUSE I THINK THAT PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A HOME AND WITH THE PANDEMIC, THERE IS GOING TO BE OVERALL MORE PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, UH, TWO, THREE YEARS FROM NOW WHEN THE PANDEMICS ECONOMIC ATTACK TO CRYSTALLIZE.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT AND, UM, MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO A JOB AND HEALTHCARE AND HOUSING.
UM, SO THAT'S, UM, THEY HAVE PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS.
UM, AND SO WHEN YOU FEEL ADDRESS THOSE FACTORS FIRST, BEFORE WE SELF-ACTUALIZE, BECAUSE THE SELF ACTUALIZING PYRAMID HAS ITS STEPS.
THANK YOU, MR. CASAR, EVERY PART OF AUSTIN SHOULD HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO PARKS AND SHOULD BE TREATED WITH RESPECT BY THE CITY AND SHOULD GET EQUAL INVESTMENT.
BUT WE KNOW THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.
DISTRICT FOUR HAS THE LEAST PARK SEEKERS OF ANY PART, ANY DISTRICT IN THE CITY WE'VE BEEN BRINGING TOGETHER TO FIGHT THAT.
AND IT STARTED MAKING REAL CHANGE.
JUST IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE TURNED THE ST.
JOHN NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FROM A ABANDONED LOCK WHERE THE EMPTY POOL COVERED IN BARBED WIRE TO A FULL PLAYGROUND, GAZEBO AND TABLES.
WE'VE GOT MONEY TO RENOVATE THE ST JOHN LIBRARY AND LITTLE KAUFFMAN, THAT CREEK LIBRARY.
WE ADDED A BUNCH OF NEW EQUIPMENT AT THE RILEY SCHOOL PARK, THE COOK ELEMENTARY PLAYGROUND, WHICH HAD GOTTEN SHUT DOWN.
WE GOT FULLY REPAIRED AND REBUILT.
WE'RE ADDING THREE NEW PARKS AT THE OLD HIGHLAND MALL, BRINGING MONEY TO THE GUST GARCIA REC CENTER, ADDING NEW PARKS AND GEORGIA AND ACRES UP AND DOWN THE CREEK, IMPROVE THE BROWNIE PARK AND ACTUALLY EXPANDED IT.
AND I'M PROVING LOTS OF OTHER PARKS.
AND SO WE'RE FINALLY UNDER THE TEN ONE SYSTEM BRINGING THE PARKS DOLLARS THAT OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN.
UH, OUR DISTRICT HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN THIS AREA AND WE'RE FINE.
THE INVESTMENT THAT WE DESERVE TO THIS PART OF THE CITY.
NOW WE'RE GOING TO, I HAVE A QUESTION, UM, FOR ALL OF YOU, AND THIS IS ON THE TEN ONE DISTRICTS.
IT'S NOW BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THE CITY OF AUSTIN WENT TO THE TEN ONE GEOGRAPHIC COUNCIL DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.
DO YOU THINK THE TEN ONE MODEL HAD RESULTED IN REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT IS EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE IN ADDRESSING DISTRICT FOUR? WHY OR WHY NOT? AND MR. SET UP HENRY, WE ARE STARTING WITH YOU.
COULD YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? I'M NOT SURE IF I COMPREHEND IT QUICK.
I JUST ASKED HIM ABOUT THE TEN ONE DISTRICTS.
DO YOU THINK THAT THE TEN ONE MODEL HAS RESULTED IN REPRESENTATION ON THE CITY COUNCIL THAT'S EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE IN ADDRESSING DISTRICT FOUR? I'M NOT SURE IF I'M FAMILIAR WITH SUCH MODEL.
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE ST JOHN'S PROJECT OVER HERE OR I'M NOT SURE.
WHAT'S THAT RELATING TO THAT? WHEN YOU NOW DISTRICT FOUR, DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE PROPER, UH, EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE, UH, REPRESENTATION IN THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL? NO, I DON'T BELIEVE SO BECAUSE, UH, UM, THE, I MEAN, OUR PROPERTY LEVELS IS ALMOST ONE THIRD.
SO IF YOU TAKE, UH, I DON'T AS REPRESENTED, THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.
EVEN THOUGH I WORKED IN CITY HALL, I JUST NEVER FELT AS REPRESENTED.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY I'M REPRESENTING MYSELF.
[00:15:01]
AS, UM, PEOPLE OF LOWER ECONOMIC CLASS HAVE LESS CHANCES TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES BECAUSE THEY HAVE OTHER, THEY HAVE LOWER, THEY HAVE MORE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR FAMILIES AND, UH, HOUSING AND SUCH ARE TO SELF ACTUALIZE AND GO AND REPRESENT THEMSELVES ON OUR POLITICAL LEVEL.SO IN THAT ASPECT, I, I FEEL WE ARE REPRESENTED.
THANK YOU, MR. CASAR, TEN ONE IS WHAT WE MAKE OF IT.
AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE IN DISTRICT FOUR, DO AMAZING WORK TO MAKE THIS SYSTEM, UH, LIVE UP TO THE EXPECTATIONS WE HAD, UH, IN DISTRICT FOUR EARLY ON IN MY TENURE, A MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY BOUGHT MY OUT OF STATE INVESTORS.
AND THOSE RESIDENTS REACHED OUT TO ME.
WE CONNECTED THEM WITH LAWYERS AND THEY MANAGED TO WORK ALONGSIDE US TO BLOCK THOSE INVESTORS FROM KICKING THEM OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN TO PUSH THE CITY TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM BUY THAT LAND BACK SO THAT THEY COULD BE A PERMANENTLY AFFORDABLE PLACE TO LIVE THE OLD HOME DEPOT ON ST.
JOHN, THE PLANS FOR THAT WAS PROBABLY FOR IT TO JUST REMAIN NEGLECTED, A BIG EMPTY PARKING LOT FOR DECADES TO COME.
BUT NEIGHBORS CAME TOGETHER AND PUSHED CITY HALL, AND WE UNANIMOUSLY VOTED ON NEW PLAN FOR PARKS AND RECREATION SPACE, NONPROFIT SPACE AND HOUSING SO THAT PEOPLE CAN STAY.
SO I REALLY AM SEEING RESIDENTS EVERYDAY PEOPLE ACROSS AUSTIN, BUT IN DISTRICT FOUR, ESPECIALLY STEP UP AND MAKE THE SYSTEM WORK FOR THEM IN A WAY THAT NEVER WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN YOUR ART SYSTEM.
MR. RAMOS, WE'RE GLAD YOU'RE BACK WITH US AND 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 JILLIAN AND YOU'RE READY.
YOU'LL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR YOUR OPENING STATEMENT.
CAN YOU REMEMBER TO NOT MEET THIS? WE CAN HEAR YOU FINE.
THE FEMORALS THANK YOU FOR AN RMP TO THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK ON AND I'M HERE FOR REPRESENTATION, OR BECAUSE AS THE PREVIOUS QUESTION ASKED 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 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 UNINSURED.
AND SO WE EAT, 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 RURAL AREAS WITH LESS FAR LESS RESOURCES FOR 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 THE THOUGHT PROCESS OUT THE FRESH LIBRARY STUFF FOR 25 YEARS.
MY MOTHER THERESA RAMOS WAS A COMMUNITY LIAISON AT SMITH ELEMENTARY AND DEBRA ISD IN DISTRICT TWO.
I'M GOING ABOUT THINGS LIKE WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE, 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 GETTING EDUCATED AT AUSTIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
DURING THAT TIME, I NEVER FORGOT WHERE I CAME FROM AND THE COMMUNITY THAT HELPED ME BECOME WHO I WAS.
SO I CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK WITH NONPROFIT STUFF UP, 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.
I'VE BEEN TO LEAVE IMMEDIATELY IN 10 TO 15 A YEAR.
NOW WE'RE READY AND THAT WILL HELP US IN THIS TIME OF NEED.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
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? WELL, WE HAVE LOST YOUR VIDEO AGAIN,
[00:20:01]
AND WE'RE, IF YOU COME BACK WITH US, I THINK YOU MAY BE ABLE TO STILL HEAR US.THAT'S IN ONE QUESTION, UH, FOR EFFECTIVENESS AND RESPONSIVENESS AS NOT LIVED UP TO ITS POTENTIAL, IT HAS THE POTENTIAL AND IT SHOULD SERVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT WAY, BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN TRUE REPRESENTATION BECAUSE THE PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENED TO, UH, EVERY SINGLE COUNCILMAN INCUMBENT 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.
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, HOW DO WE ELEVATE EVERYBODY OUT OF THEIR SITUATION? THAT WAY EVERYBODY CAN FAIRLY 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 COMPETING IN MARKETS FOR 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.
UH, NO, I THINK THERE'S BEEN SOME GOOD THINGS FROM THE TINDER ONE, BUT I DON'T LOOK AT 10.
I MEAN, OUR COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE ALWAYS BEEN REPRESENTING, UH, LIKE ON THE VOTED FOR THE FOUNDING OF THE PLATE.
IT PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN DISTRICT FOUR WITH AGAINST IT.
AND THEN HE KIND OF LOOKED AT THE CITY WIDE, 80% OF THE CITY WORK AGAINST THE FUNDING.
OUR COUNCIL IS NOT LISTENING TO OUR BEST OR ONE OF THE BIGGEST COMPLAINTS I HEAR IN OUR DISTRICT IS OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DOES NOT ANSWER THEIR RESPONSE.
WHEN I GET AHOLD OF HIM, I WILL NOT BE THAT WAY.
UM, I WILL BE, UH, FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TALK TO ME, I WILL SET UP A MEETING AND TALK TO, I KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE, THANK YOU.
NOW THESE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIFICS.
SO I'M GOING TO ASK THIS ONE IS FOR DISTRICT TWO, AND THIS IS FOR MR. RAMOS.
AND THEN I'LL ASK THE DISTRICT FOR CANDIDATES, THEIR QUESTIONS.
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 COST THE DISTRICT TO CITIZENS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING FLOODING.
MR. RAMOS, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO UNMUTE MR. ROSS.
THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT QUESTION UP.
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 THE NEIGHBORHOOD WERE NOT DEVELOPED PROPERLY.
THE PROPER STERN STORM GENTLEMAN TO 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 REP, THAT'S GONNA, UM, BE BASED OFF OF TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS OUR WALKS, OUR ROAD WALKS GOING NOWHERE, MOST HAVE POTHOLES IN THEM.
IMAGE INFRASTRUCTURE IS DAMAGED, OUTDATED.
THAT WILL TAKE OUT A BOND TO FIX OR SIDEWALKS FIX.
[00:25:01]
AND THAT BAIT OUR STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS. SO THAT WAY WE CAN BUILD SAFELY CONSCIOUS PASSIONS CONSCIOUSLY AND, UH, BY A MINI STAGE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO THRIVE IF YOU'RE IN AUSTIN FOR THE NEXT 50 TO A HUNDRED YEARS.THIS IS FOR DISTRICT FOUR CANDIDATES.
AND ON THIS, WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. KASAR.
THIS IS ON VOTER RIGHTS AND EDUCATION.
AND THIS IS FROM OUR STUDENTS.
ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT TRAVIS COUNTY VOTER REGISTRAR DATA THAT THEY GOT FROM 2014, LESS THAN 35% OF THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT FOUR ARE REGISTERED VOTERS.
THIS IS THE LOWEST PERCENTAGE OF REGISTERED VOTERS OUT OF ALL AUSTIN DISTRICTS.
THIS DISTINCTION HAS CONTINUED THROUGH THE LAST SIX YEARS, FOR REASONS, INCLUDING THE PREVALENCE OF RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT WITH LOWER INCOME, LACK OF VOTER EDUCATION, TO NEW CITIZENS, AND A LARGE NUMBER OF NON-CITIZENS RESIDING IN THE DISTRICT.
ACCORDING TO TRAVIS COUNTY VOTER REGISTRAR, BRUCE FUND, WHILE THERE ARE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS HEADSTART HEAD COUNT, AUSTIN THAT ARE WORKING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.
IF ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU WORK WITHIN YOUR ROLE AT THE DISTRICT FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION AND TO ASSIST THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR, TO BECOME BETTER EDUCATED VOTERS? SO, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BY FAR, IT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DENYING PEOPLE, THEIR RIGHT TO, UM, THAT, THAT THEY DESERVE YOU.
WHEN I GO TO PTA MEETINGS IN DISTRICT FOUR, AND I DO A CYCLE THROUGH ALL THE SCHOOLS, AS CONSISTENTLY AS I CAN, IT'S REGULAR FOR THERE TO BE OVER A DOZEN MOMS THERE, NONE OF WHOM ARE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO VOTE BECAUSE OF RACIST, FEDERAL POLICIES THAT THEY ADD IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES LONGER, SOME ARE LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN ALIVE, THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
AND BECAUSE WE HAD LOTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN, UM, AND SO WE NEED TO CHANGE FEDERAL POLICY SO THAT ALL IMMIGRANTS HAVE A RIGHTS TO VOTE.
DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE, DENIED TO THEM OF THE PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
WE HAVE RENTERS THAT SOMETIMES MOVE AND IT'S HORRIBLE AT THEIR STATE POLICIES THAT DON'T AUTOMATICALLY ALLOW PEOPLE TO, TO JUST BE REGISTERED WHEN THEY MOVE.
BUT WHAT WE ARE DOING IS ACTUALLY THROUGH AUSTIN ENERGY, SENDING PEOPLE REMINDERS ABOUT REGISTERING TO VOTE, I'M READY TO PUSH AND WORK WITH OUR LIBRARIES.
ONCE COVID STARTS TO EASE UP FOR US TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE TO QUICKLY, UH, GET REGISTERED, BUT WE SHOULD HAVE ONLINE AND AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION.
MR. HERON, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HAVE IN OUR DISTRICT, I AGREE WITH GREG, FROM WHAT I SEE BETWEEN 30 TO 40% OF THE POPULATION ARE NOT, UH, EVEN THOUGH THEY'VE LIVED HERE A LOT OF YEARS, I MIGHT HAVE ME.
UM, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN LIVING HERE A LOT OF YEARS AND I'VE NEVER GONE THROUGH, BUT I WISH EVERYBODY VOTED.
I WISH WE HAD 90% OF THE PEOPLE I WOULD RECOMMEND, UH, AND I WILL GO FOR AND PUSHING FOR EVERYBODY TO RUBBISH.
BUT ALSO THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE WHERE THEY'RE RUNNING FORWARD, WHY THEY'RE ROOTING FOR YOUR NAME.
YOU NEED ANOTHER POLICY FOR POSSIBLE AND GET MORE POSSIBLE.
UH, WITH MY, I WOULD RATHER CLEAN 20 PEOPLE LIKE IN OUR DISTRICT WITH, TO HAVE EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, MR. SANTA PEN, RAY, HOW ARE YOU WORKING AS YOUR ROLE AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, DISTRICT FOUR TO INCREASE VOTER REGISTRATION, YOU NEED TO ASSIST THE CITIZENS OF DISTRICT FOUR TO BECOME BETTER EDUCATED VOTERS, BASICALLY TO STREAMLINE OUR VOTING PROCESS.
I THINK WE'RE THE KEY, THIS SERVICE BY USING ANTIQUATED TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS VOTING ON PAPER, VERSUS WHEN WE CAN MAKE AN APP WHERE PEOPLE CAN VOTE AND THEREBY MAKING BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT AND MORE CONVENIENT.
LAST RUNOFF ELECTION, THERE WAS NO VOTING POLLS.
AND IN MY DISTRICT SEVEN, EIGHT, SEVEN, FIVE, TWO ZIP CODE, THERE WAS NO VOTE IN POLLS.
SO I HAVE TO GO PERSONALLY TO THE NEXT DISTRICT DRIVE TO DISTRICT ONE, MY NEAR THE NEAREST POLLING PLACE TO VOTE.
SO THIS, FOR ME, IT SHOWS THAT IT'S A CLEAR SIGN OF VOTER SUPPRESSION, EVEN A FEW.
[00:30:01]
WE WANTED TWO PEOPLE TO VOTE.WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO AT? IF WE DON'T HAVE ANY VOTING POLLS IN OUR DISTRICT? SO THE OTHER THING I FEEL AS WE NEED TO MAKE VOTING COMPULSION, EVERY AISLE BLUE GET CHARI DEMOCRACY, ISN'T JUST, I'M FREE.
SO I FEEL WE NEED TO MAKE IT OBLIGATORY JUST LIKE AUSTRALIA OR OTHER PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE TO VOTE TO BE A CITIZEN OR IT'S YOUR CITIZEN, RIGHT.
DID EVER EVEN GET A CHANCE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? YES.
AND THE MR. HERON, HE DIDN'T GET TO, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A T TWO QUESTION OR D FOUR QUESTION THAT WAS FOR BEFORE HE GOT TO ANSWER THE FLOODING QUESTION.
SO THE REST OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE GOING TO BE CITY WIDE QUESTIONS FOR OUR CANDIDATE FROM DISTRICT TWO AND FOUR, OUR THREE CANDIDATES FROM DISTRICT FOUR.
AND, UM, WE ARE GOING TO USE THEM IN ORDER ON WHO ANSWERS FIRST AND ON THIS ONE, UH, MR. COSTAR, THIS IS YOUR, UH, YOUR LEFT FIRST, THE FIRST PART OF THIS QUESTION, 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.
WE ABSOLUTELY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE CITY.
UM, ESPECIALLY IN A STATE LIKE TEXAS WAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST FOR MENTAL HEALTH INVESTMENTS, PER PERSON, WE'VE SEEN A SHREDDING OF THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE STATE.
AND SO THE CITY HAS HAD TO STEP UP.
SO JUST RECENTLY, NOT IN THIS BUDGET, THEN THE BUDGET, I THINK WE WERE SEEING FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING GET CUT FROM ALL THE LIMITED MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDER FUNDING.
AND WE HAD TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE AND THIS BUDGET, SOME OF THE MONEY THAT WE REALLOCATED WHEN WE DECIDED TO PAUSE SOME CADET CLASSES TO BETTER PROTECT PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS, OVER $4 MILLION, BE ALLOCATED TO MENTAL HEALTH.
WHEN YOU CALL NINE ONE ONE, THIS COMING YEAR, WE NEED TO CREATE A SYSTEM WHERE THEY SAY, DO YOU NEED FIRE EMS POLICE, OR MENTAL HEALTH SO THAT WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH RESPONDERS GOING TO THOSE THOUSANDS OF MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CALLS.
THE POLICE ARE NOT BEST EQUIPPED FOR, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE CLOSURE OF OUR LIBRARIES, THERE'S LESS PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO GET THAT HELP.
SO WE NEED TO RAMP THAT UP, ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.
YEAH, I AGREE WITH GREG, IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR IS TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN GETTING MORE MONEY OR THE MENTAL HEALTH FOR THE HOMELESS.
UM, IN THE PAST WITH THE PRACTICES THAT HAVE BEEN, I WOULD HATE TO USE THE WORD, BUT THEY'VE BEEN DUMPING A LOT OF THE, THEIR MENTAL HEALTH, THE CITY, AND WE NEED TO REALLY QUICKLY SAY TO GET MORE FUNDING, UH, WE HELP THEM AND WE NEED TO PUT A BETTER, UM, A BETTER CLIP TO MANAGE THEM AND TO GET THEM HELP.
WELL, I THINK I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH EXPERIENCE BEING HOMELESS.
SO I CAN BRIGHTFUL SPEAK ON THIS SUBJECT.
I'M NOT JUST PLAYING ARMCHAIR ANTHROPOLOGISTS.
I, HOMELESSNESS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE WITH MANY DIFFERENT PASSES.
SO IF YOU WANT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS, UM, DRUG USE, LACK OF FAMILY SUPPORT.
SO A LACK OF SOCIAL CAPITAL, A LACK OF HEALTHCARE, LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS.
AND WE REALLY HAVE TO, UM, REPURPOSE OUR POLICE FORCE AND OUR FUNDING TO, UM, USE MORE OF PSYCHIATRISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS AND COUNSELORS ABOUT HOW THE CREDIT DEBT PRESIDENTIALS TO, UM, ADDRESS AND PROPERLY ADDRESS THESE DISPARITIES.
UM, UH, UM, SO IT'S, IT'S NOT SO MUCH OF A ONE SIZE FITS ALL RESPONDER THAT WE SEND OUT THE POLICE TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO HAVE MULTIPLE, UH, PROFESSIONALS ON BOARD.
[00:35:02]
THANK YOU, MR. RAMOS.I AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS CANDIDATE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR THAT HOMELESSNESS IS NOT JUST A ONE SIZE FITS ALL ISSUE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH MENTAL HEALTH, UH, 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.
YOU KNOW, IT JUST NEEDS TO BE A COMPLETE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
AND THAT'S JUST NOT WHAT I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING.
WHAT I SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE HOMELESS RIGHT NOW TODAY WITHIN OUR CITIES THAT THEY'RE JUST LEFT TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES.
AND THE EASY WAY OUT WAS JUST TO LET THEM LIVE AND STAY WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO.
THAT'S A, IT'S A HEALTH AND A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE ENTIRE CITY AND THE HOMELESSNESS WORLD WITH PEOPLE THEMSELVES, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED, WE NEED A COMPLETE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WE NEED A PUBLIC WORKS SERVICE, AT LEAST AT MINIMUM.
THAT WAY THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING ON ON THE SIDEWALKS ARE LIVING ON CAN AT LEAST HAVE A CLEAN LIBERAL SPACE, HAD THEM PAY THEM TO CLEAN, PAY THEM TO CLEAN UP THEIR OWN CAMPING SITES OR PAID THEM TO HELP THEM GET OUT OF ANY KIND OF SITUATION THAT THEY'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
AT LEAST THEY CAN WORK WITH THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THEM SOMETHING THAT THEY CAN WORK OUT OF.
THIS WAS PROBABLY WAS 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.
AND WE WILL START THE ANSWERS WITH MR. HERON, SEVERAL CLIENTS.
I LOOK AT, UM, AGAIN, THE, UH, THE CAMPING, THE CAMPING BAN OR AGAINST THE, THE ORDINANCE OF THE CITY.
UH, I AM FOR, I'M A PARTNER IN THAT, UH, WHERE WE, UH, BEING A MAN OF FISH BEING PART DADDY, I AM FOR HELPING ME TO GET BACK ON TRACK, GET INTO HONG KONG, WORKING WITH LIKE MOBILE, UH, FOR THE, THE MENTALLY ILL, UH, QUITE A THREAD TO GET SAFE.
WE WANT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET OFF DRUG AND ALCOHOL EDUCATION PROGRAM.
LIKE, UH, WE HAVE DOWN IN SAN ANTONIO TO HELP HIM GET IT OFF, BUT WHEN I'M THE ONE WHO REALLY WANT TO GET OUT OF HOME AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET, UH, FOR RETRAINING AND WORKING WITH INDUSTRY GROUP, RETURNING THEM AND TO HELP BUY THEM AND I'LL FIND THEM LONGTERM HEALTH.
AND THIS ONE, MR. SET UP AND RAY SAID THE SAME QUESTION AND HOW WERE YOU ADDRESSED THE CONCERNS OF THOSE CITIZENS? WHO OPPOSED THE CAMPING UNDER THE BRIDGES AND ALONG THE HIGHWAYS IN OPEN SPACES? SO I, AGAIN, I AM THE ONLY KID THAT WOULD EXPERIENCE BEING HOMELESS.
UM, AND I HEAR THE PEOPLE, I UNDERSTAND THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.
I EVEN I'M AGAINST THE HOMELESS BAD, BAD, BECAUSE, BUT I'M NOT AGAINST CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO CRIMINALIZE PEOPLE'S SITUATIONS.
WE'RE NOT ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS, SUCH AS LACK OF LIVING WAGE, LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, LACK OF SOCIAL CAPITAL, LACK OF AGITATION.
SO I UNDERSTAND PEOPLE'S ISSUE AND FRUSTRATIONS, BUT WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO, TO SOLVE THE ISSUE YOU'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE IT.
SO I PERSONALLY OPENED MY HOME, MY, MY ONE BEDROOM APARTMENT TO ALLOW PERS PEOPLE OF MY COMMUNITY TO LIVE AT, TO HAVE HOUSING.
SO I THINK WHEN YOU, UH, THE STAKE TO STEP INTO A LOT OF PEOPLE TO LIVE IN GROUP HOMES THAT ARE, HAVE MENTAL DISABILITIES TO HAVE A FOSTER PROGRAM, THAT FROM THE COMMUNITY ITSELF TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO HAVE ACCOMMODATIONS, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE LIVING IN TEXAS, ISN'T GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.
YES, IT'S MERCY, BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE ISSUE.
THANK YOU TO MR. RAMOS, UNLESS YOU ARE SKILLED MUTED.
[00:40:01]
QUESTION THAT REALLY JUST STEMS FROM WHERE WE ARE AS A SOCIETY HERE IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD.IT'S THE PARITY BETWEEN THE AFFLUENT AND THE WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
THERE AREN'T ENOUGH SERVICES DOWN ENOUGH RESOURCES HERE.
WE WERE AT THE BOTTOM OR NOT EVEN AT THE BOTTOM, BUT JUST HERE AND HERE IN THE WORLD.
WE DON'T HAVE SOCIETY HERE WHERE WE'RE OPERATING.
WE JUST NEED TO HAVE MORE WRAPAROUND SERVICES GOING TO BE, AGAIN, WE NEED AN EMERGENCY SHELTER.
WHEN THE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING WOULDN'T BE MENTAL HEALTH.
ULTIMATELY WE JUST NEED RESOURCES THAT WE NEED TO FIGHT FOR OUR RESOURCES AT THE STATE LEVEL, AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND ALSO AT THE CITY LEVEL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE, WE CAN BUILD OUR OWN CITY WITH OUR IMPACT 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, HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THOSE FOR TRANSFORMING SERVICES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
SO THAT, THAT, THAT THE POLICE CAN BETTER EFFICIENTLY WORK ON POLICING.
AND THAT THOSE SOCIAL SERVICES CAN 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.
YEAH, I THINK I'M GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF FEEDBACK CAUSE NOT, EVERYBODY'S NOT ME.
I DON'T HEAR IT ANYMORE IN A CITY AS PROGRESS AS AUSTIN, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREETS, PERIOD.
I BELIEVE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY END HOMELESSNESS THIS COMMUNITY.
AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE TO VIOLATE ANYONE'S HUMAN OR CIVIL RIGHTS IN ORDER TO GET THERE BECAUSE A MODERN DAY HOMELESSNESS AND OUR AMERICAN CITIES IS A RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON.
AND THE 1980S AS HOUSING AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS GOT SLASHED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AND SO IT'S UP TO US TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND DO WHAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN DONE IN DECADES.
WE HAVE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD WHO CAN DO THIS.
I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH PEOPLE THAT WE SHOULD HAVE RULES THAT APPLY TO EVERYONE HOUSING ON HOUSE TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE AREN'T IN UNSAFE PLACES TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE RESPECTS EVERYONE, TO MAKE SURE NOBODY GETS HURT.
BUT THEN REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU FALL ON THE DEBATE, WE ALL HAVE A SHARED GOAL THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME.
AND BY HOTELS, BY HOUSING FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, GET PEOPLE BACK ON THEIR FEET, GET THEM CONNECTED TO JOBS AND THE SERVICES AND TREATMENT AND CARE THEY NEED AND END HOMELESSNESS IN THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE ON THE STREETS.
UH, NOW THIS IS ON CITY SERVICES AND, UH, MR. UH, SET UP IN MAY, WE'RE GOING TO START WITH YOU, UH, ADDRESSING AGING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS LIKE ROADS AND BRIDGES, WATER SUPPLY, AND PURIFICATION PLANTS, STORM SYSTEMS, AND SEWAGE TREATMENTS CAN BE CHALLENGING IN THE RAPID GROWTH OF AUSTIN.
WHAT ARE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS OF DISTRICT FOUR? IT IS THE CITY DOING A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING UP WITH THE DEMANDS IMPOSED BY OUR MODULATION GROWTH.
AND IF ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THOSE NEEDS WITHIN THE OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS IN THE REST OF AUSTIN? WELL, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO ONE, UM, KILL ALL THE POTHOLES ON LAMAR AND RESURFACE LAMAR, OUR CAUSE A DRYER BRAND.
I FEEL EVERY TIME I HAVE TO DRIVE A LAMAR, I FEEL THOUGH THIS SUSPENSION SYSTEM, MY CAR IS GOING TO GIVE OUT.
SO I FEEL THOUGH, UM, I FEEL THAT IF IT WAS ANOTHER DISTRICT OR ANOTHER EXCELLENT DISTRICT, THIS WOULDN'T BE THE CASE BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULD BE COMPLAINING.
SO I FEEL THOUGH, UH, IT'S UM, IT'S A SOCIOECONOMIC ISSUE TOO.
IT'S PEOPLE ARE USED TO ARE, HAVE, UM, LEARNED HELPLESSNESS TO, UH, TO LIVE IN A SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A DISTRICT WHERE THE IT'S NOT AFFLUENT, THEY GET THE LESSER END OF THE STICK.
SO I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE COMPLAINING AS CITIZENS TO DEMAND OUR RIGHTS AND DEMAND, TO LIVE IN A PROPER COMMUNITY, NOT OUR RE UM, NOT TO AN, A, AN, A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE PROPER ROADS AND PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EVERYONE.
AND, UH, THIS IS THE LIGHT OF DISTRICT TWO.
YOU ALSO HAVE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN SOME OF YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
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 NEEDS THAT NEEDS TO BE SERVED BEFORE.
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 ANYTHING, WE NEED TO FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE HOW ARE WE GOING TO DEVELOP ON A INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS OUTDATED? AND, BUT IT'S GOING TO LITERALLY CRUMBLE BENEATH US.
IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
[00:45:01]
NOW, HOW INEFFICIENT WOULD THAT BE WITH OUR PHONES AND WITH THEIR HOUSING, SOMETHING THAT'S ALREADY SORTED THAT SATURDAY LANKAN.SO OF COURSE, LIKE I STATED EARLIER, WE NEED TO TAKE OUT A BOND FOR PUBLIC WORKS TRUST FUND THAT WILL UPDATE AND SOLIDIFY OUR EXPERIMENTAL VENDOR'S INFRASTRUCTURE, ALONG WITH OUR SIDEWALKS AND OUR ROADS, BECAUSE WE'RE AN AUTO CENTRIC CITY, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO.
WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON, ESPECIALLY WITH TESLA COMING HERE AND WITH A LOT OF THE OTHER ELECTRIC CARS CATCHING UP WITH ALL THE OTHER COMPANIES CATCHING UP WITH THE ELECTRIC CAR TREND.
SO MOST OF THE TIMES WE'RE FOLLOWING TRENDS THROUGH THE RAIL THAT MOST OF THESE BUILT 150 OR 200 YEARS AGO.
AND THAT'S THE BEST AMOUNT OF TIME IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOR US TO BUILD A RAIL.
SO WE USE THE PROPER STANDARD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A MINUTE THAT THE QUESTIONS IS GENERALLY ABOUT OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE CITY AND THE DISTRICT, SORRY, KAREN, YOU'RE ON MUTE.
IF ELECTED, HOW WOULD YOU PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS WITHIN DISTRICT FOUR WITHIN THE OVERALL INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS AND THE REST OF THE CITY? IT'S NO SECRET THAT DISTRICT FOUR HAS BEEN AN AGGRESSIVE PART OF THE CITY.
WE HAVE HAD, I SAT MENTIONED LESS PARK ACRES THAN ANYWHERE ELSE.
OUR LIBRARIES WERE BADLY IN NEED OF INNOVATIONS.
AND SO NOT ONLY HAVE I ADVOCATED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN OUR DISTRICT, I RAISED THE VOICES OF PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT, BROUGHT THEM TO EXPLAIN AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD AT COUNCIL TO MAKE THAT CHANGE.
THAT'S WHY STUDENTS FROM NOVATO HIGH SCHOOL CAME AND TALKED ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS IT WAS TO CROSS LAMAR AND GOT MASSIVE INVESTMENTS IN NEW LIGHTS, IN SIDEWALKS, UP AND DOWN LAMAR BOULEVARD.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE FINALLY GETTING RENOVATIONS TO OUR LIBRARIES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE ABLE TO START ADDRESSING THINGS IN ST.
AND THAT'S WHY SO MUCH OF PROJECT CONNECT WILL BE CONNECTING OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND FINALLY BRINGING REAL MASS TRANSIT TO, TO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
WE STILL, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGHT FOR BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL WE GET PRIORITIZED THE WAY THAT WE SHOULD.
THANK YOU, MR. HERON WILL BE AN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER AND I'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR, FOR MY JOB.
I'VE BEEN PUSHING EVERY HOODIE TO DO AN ASSET MANAGEMENT FACILITY EVOLVED WHEN IT STARTED, BUT THEY HAVE NOT COME CLOSE TO FINISHING.
UH, MOST CITIES DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT, HOW MUCH THEY HAVE IN THE GROUND BETWEEN THEIR WATER, THEIR WATER, ALL THEIR INTERTRACTOR FROM ELECTRICITY.
THIS CITY ME, BEFORE WE CAN DO ANYTHING, WE NEED TO HAVE A PRACTICE ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.
SO WE CAN START PLANNING ON REPLACING, UPGRADING.
YOU HAVE TO MOVE CODE NEXT TIME PLAN.
WE DON'T HAVE THE BROKER TO THE HANDLE, THE NEEDLE FOR DRINKING WATER, THE ELECTRICITY SIDE, THE WHITE SIDE, ET CETERA.
SO I WILL BE PUSHING FOR AN ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND WE CAN BE THE BATTERED AND THE LA LIVELIHOOD OF ALL OUR ASSETS.
WE MAY ONLY HAVE TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION.
UM, WE I'D LOVE TO ASK, THIS WAS A TWO PART QUESTION, BUT I'M GOING TO ASK THE FIRST PART, 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 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, REALLOCATE 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.
AND THOSE ARE ALL VALID CONCERNS KNOW, ESPECIALLY WITHIN OUR DISTRICT, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST YOUTH CRIME RATES.
WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARGETED, UH, DWI, UH, UH, RATES FOR BEING PULLED OVER.
WE HAVE NONVIOLENT CRIMES THAT ARE BEING THE, SO PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING PROSECUTED FOR THAT, UH, DO NOT NEED TO BE, UM, FURTHER.
SO, BUT 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
[00:50:01]
A YOUTH PROGRAM THAT IS FUNDED BY APD THAT PUTS ON AND FUND SPORTS LEAKS.IT FUNDS, UH, LIBERAL ARTS ACTIVITIES.
IT'S A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE.
WE NEED PROGRAMS LIKE THAT TO, UH, 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 WE NEED IS TO SEPARATE OURSELVES, THE SEPARATE THE COMMUNITY FROM ELISE AND WE PROTEST, IT'S A, IT'S A AMERICAN RIGHT TO PROTEST.
SO I BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE THE PROTESTORS HAD EVERY RIGHT TO PROTEST AND HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR WHAT THEY WANT AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM THE POLICE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR.
AND SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPOSED INJUSTICES THAT WE CAN NO LONGER IGNORE.
AND WE'RE RECOGNIZING AS A COMMUNITY THAT POLICE ALONE CAN'T SOLVE SO MANY OF OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES.
AND THAT'S WHAT I SAY TO FOLKS ON ALL SIDES OF THE DEBATE.
AND WE HAVE TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S CIVIL RIGHTS AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY MORE SAFE FOR EVERYONE.
I'VE WORKED TO PASS AMENDMENTS, TO POLICING POLICY, TO REDUCE NEEDLESS ARRESTS, TO REQUIRE DEESCALATION, TO IMPROVE TRAINING.
BUT DESPITE ALL OF THOSE EFFORTS, YOU CONTINUE TO SEE A SYSTEM OF POLICING THAT DOESN'T MEET THIS MOMENT.
IT DOESN'T MEET OUR COMMUNITY VALUES.
IT DOESN'T FOCUS ON WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO US.
AND SO WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO REDUCE OUR OVERRELIANCE ON POLICING, FOCUS THAT ON WHAT IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE FOCUSED ON.
INSTEAD REALLY THIS YEAR BUILD OUT A SYSTEM WHERE WE CAN GET MENTAL HEALTH, FIRST RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WHERE WE CAN TREAT HOMELESSNESS WITH HOUSING, WHERE WE CAN ADDRESS SUBSTANCE USE CRISES, NOT WITH JAILS, CAUSE EVEN POLICE RECOGNIZE THAT DOESN'T FIX THE ISSUE, BUT WITH TREATMENTS AND CARE, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THIS PATH OF REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE IT MORE SAFE FOR EVERYONE AND TO PROTECT CIVIL RIGHTS.
I THINK WHO WE FIRST KNEW THROUGH ADDRESS THE RACIAL DISPARITIES OF POLICING, THEN WE NEED TO, UH, ADDRESS THE FACT THAT WE ARE SPENDING WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON, UH, THE CITY BUDGET GOING ATTUNE.
UH, APD 40% IS WAY TOO MUCH OF A CITY BUDGET IS THIS ALL CENTERS, THIS OF GUN STAN.
WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE THE WAY WE ENFORCE LAWS.
AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE SENT OUT POLICE OFFICERS AS A ONE SIZE FITS ALL A RESPONDER TO SOLVE ISSUES THAT ARE, THAT DON'T NEED A GUN.
UM, SO WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY POLICE FORCE TO INCLUDE COUNSELORS, PSYCHIATRISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, ET CETERA.
AND ALSO IF WE REALLY WANT TO REDUCE CRIME, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE COMMIT CRIMES IN THE FIRST PLACE.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT POVERTY AND CRIME ARE LINKED.
AND SO IF WE WANT TO REDUCE CRIME, WE EACH ABOLISH POVERTY THROUGH LIVING WAGES, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, PROVIDE HEALTHCARE, PROVIDE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL CAPITAL TO AND NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THEM SO THAT WE REDUCE CRIME OVERALL.
AND AT THIS TIME WE'RE GOING TO MOVE IN TO OUR CLOSING, MR. HERON, DIDN'T FORGET YOU, YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
I WORK AT, UH, THE RUNNING OF THE PLACE FROM THE WAY IT WAS DONE, UH, WITH THEM, UH, TERM PLANNING.
IT WAS DONE VERTICAL AND WE WHO, UH, YOU KNOW, I REPORT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO HEAR A RUMOR EMPATHICALLY CAPITAL IS GOING TO PUT BACK ON A GOOD DECK BECAUSE OF ALL THE PRESSURE FROM THE, UH, UH, THE CREDITED.
NOW, YOU KNOW, THE CROWD POLL, WE PUT BACK TO THAT CLASS, BUT I'M HEARING THAT WITH THEM AND MAKE A HABIT.
BUT I AM FOR A COMMUNITY POLICING.
I HAVE FOUR WHO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, KNOW THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'RE WORKING FOR.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WISH WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AND I HAVE TO STOP NOW.
SO NOW I'M ON THE CLOSING STATEMENTS, UH, MR. CASA, WE'LL, WE'LL START WITH YOU.
OUR DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN THROUGH A REALLY HARD TIME, AND IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET HARDER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR AWHILE.
AND IT IS SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW FOR US TO
[00:55:01]
CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER, TO PUSH OURSELVES AND TO, TO MAKE IT OUT ONTO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS VIRUS, WE HAVE TO RECOVER FROM COVID-19 IN A WAY THAT INCLUDES OUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS, THE VERY PEOPLE THAT MAKE THIS CITY RUN THE PEOPLE OF DISTRICT FOUR, RATHER THAN EXCLUDING THEM.UH, WE NEED TO CREATE, UH, AN ECONOMY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS THAT SAVES OUR BELOVED LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ALSO CREATES UNION JOBS WITH BENEFITS AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE NEED TO COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE, NOT A MORE SEGREGATED CITY THAT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE, EXPENSIVE.
WE'RE ONLY A FEW PEOPLE MAKE MORE MONEY, BUT ONE THAT IS TRULY INCLUSIVE AND CONNECTED.
AND ONE, A CITY THAT DOESN'T RELY ON MASS INCARCERATION AS THE MAIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO OUR PROBLEMS, BUT ACTUALLY ADDRESSES OUR CHALLENGES HEAD ON.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE MOST PRO WORKER AND THE MOST INCLUSIVE AND ONE OF THE MOST TRULY EQUAL CITIES IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING PEOPLE IN PLACES LIKE DISTRICT FOUR WHO ARE READY TO PUSH AND STAND UP AND RAISE OUR VOICES TOGETHER.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE, WATCHING THAT, THAT WE NEED YOU IN THIS MOMENT, UH, TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY, TO VOTE, TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE AND TO MAKE US THE AUSTIN THAT WE ALL WANT TO BE.
WE HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT AUSTIN, AND WE SHOULD WIN THAT.
THANK YOU, MR. HERRON, MR. HERRON.
NOW YOUR TURN FOR YOUR TWO MINUTE CLOSING STATEMENT, I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT.
UH, UH, AS I STATED, UH, I GREW UP IN THE FILTER COST 30 YEARS ON A FOR MAYOR.
I'M AN ENGINEER BY TRAINING AND ENGINEERS ARE TRAINED TO LOOK AT BIG PROBLEMS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM.
IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, AND I WILL LOOK AT IT AND ENGINEERING, UM, UH, TYPE OF VIEW.
I WILL LOOK AT IT MORE AS A BUSINESS PROBLEM, A EMOTION OUT BECAUSE YOU CANNOT MAKE RATIONAL EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS. UH, WE HAVE A LOT OF DISTRICT.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN OUR, IN OUR CITY AND WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO'S WILLING TO FOLLOW THEM.
I AM, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE HAPPY WITH THE GUILFORD IN YOUR HAPPY WAY, THE FUNNIEST GOING, AND YOU'RE HAPPY, THE WAY EVERYTHING IS GOING IN THE SLIPPER THAT YOU NEED TO VOTE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL.
BUT IF YOU'RE UPSET, MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO I TALKED TO WERE UPSET WITH IT, YOU NEED TO VOTE COMMITTEE BECAUSE WE NEED CHANGES.
WE NEED TO SHAKE UP CITY HALL AND TELL THEM WE'RE NOT, WE NEED A MORE RATIONAL CITY.
WE'RE GOING TOO FAR TO GO TO THE LAB WHERE THE CITY IS GOING TO BE UNATTAINABLE.
WE'RE GOING INTO A DEAL WHERE WE WILL BE MORE LIKE WE'LL BE A DONUT CITY WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE LEAVING THE CITY AND GROWS AND THE CITY WILL BE GOING DOWNHILL.
SO YOU NEED TO, I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE, IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THE WAY THE CITY IS GOING.
AND, UH, YOU CAN GO TO MY WEBSITE, WHICH IS HIS HAIR.
UM, AND I HOPE, UH, OPEN EVERYBODY COMES OUT IN, UH, THREE WEEKS FOR EARLY VOTING OR COME OUT ON NOVEMBER 3RD AND BOTH COMMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. SET UP HENRY ALL TO REITERATE, UM, AS SELF-FUNDED GAY EATERS, SOCIALIST, UM, PRO BROWN, BLACK, LGBTQ WOMEN'S RIGHTS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, UM, FOR DRUG AND SEX WORK, DECRIMINALIZATION HEALTHCARE FOR ALL COLLEGE, FOR ALL CELEBRITY REPARATIONS, LIVING WAGES, ABOLISHING POLICE UNIONS, AND QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, GETTING MONEY OUT OF POLITICS, PUBLICLY FUNDED ELECTIONS AND ACTING RANK CHOICE, VOTING, AGREEING YOU DEAL AND ALL THINGS PROGRESSIVE, UM, ARGUABLY THE MOST PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE ON THIS PLATFORM.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT VOTERS WOULD VOTE FOR ME.
AND I ENCOURAGE, ESPECIALLY ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO RUN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE THAT IS THEIR FUTURE.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE HERE.
IN MY OPINION, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE NOTES BECAUSE THIS TIME AND, UH, YOU KNOW, I'M HERE FOR THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS A CAMPAIGN FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR THE VERSES OF THE UNHEARD PARDON FOR A BETTER WAY.
[01:00:01]
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 WALKS OF LIFE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU DESERVE AT THE BASIC LEVEL.
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IN THIS 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 DOVE GROUP THAT DON'T GO GETS TO PEOPLE BECAUSE TOO, TOO MANY TIMES AT THE TOP CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS CLAIMING TO BE PROGRESSIVE, BUT YET THEY VOTE IN FAVOR OF PEOPLE, OF DISPLACEMENT POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO DISPLACE PEOPLE, AND THAT ARE GOING TO HURT THE PUBLIC AND RATHER THAN BENEFITED DIRECTLY AND ECONOMICALLY 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 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 THAT.
WHILE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL ISSUES THAT NEED HELP.
AND THAT NEED ATTENTION NOW, NOT IN 10 TO 15 YEARS, NOT IT.
WELL, THAT'S NOT GOING TO BENEFIT US, NOT FOR THE ATLANTA BELLA REWRITE OF A LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE.
WE NEED TRUE REFORM, TRUE POLICE REFORM, TRUE LAND DEVELOPMENT, CODE REFORM, TRUE REFORM FOR THEM AND FOR THE PEOPLE.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M THIRD DISTRICT TO CASEY RAMOS.
THAT WOULD BE THE NUMBER TWO.COM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SINCERITY AND ANSWERING OUR QUESTIONS TONIGHT.
HERE'S SOME IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER.
OCTOBER 5TH IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE THE 2020 GENERAL ELECTION EARLY VOTING BEGINS OCTOBER 13TH AND ENDS OCTOBER 30TH IN TEXAS, NOVEMBER 3RD IS ELECTION DAY.
OUR NONPARTISAN VOTERS GUIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
SOON, THE PAPER COPIES OF THE VOTER'S GUIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE AROUND TOWN AND INSERTED IN THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE.
THE WEEK BEFORE EARLY VOTING BEGINS, YOUR PERSONAL BALLOT CAN BE VIEWED AND CREATED@VOTEFORONEELEVEN.ORG.
DOWNLOAD YOUR BALLOT AND TAKE IT TO THE POLLS BECAUSE NO DIGITAL DEVICES ARE ALLOWED IN THE POLLING PLACES IN TRAVIS COUNTY.
YOU CAN ALSO TAKE THE VOTERS GUIDE INTO POLLING LOCATIONS.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US TO EDUCATE OURSELVES ON ISSUES THAT WILL AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND TO GO AND VOTE, CAST YOUR VOTE, BUT DO NOT STOP THERE.
KEEP TRACK OF THOSE ELECTED TO SERVE BY COMMUNICATING WITH THEIR OFFICES AND HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE LISTENING.