* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:01] HI, I'M ROBERT THOMAS [Robert Thomas] AND I'M RUNNING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10. ARE YOU BETTER OFF TODAY THAN YOU WERE FOUR YEARS AGO OR EVEN ONE YEAR AGO, OVER AND OVER AGAIN, ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND ACROSS AUSTIN. I HEAR THE SAME RESOUNDINGLY. NO, WE'RE NOT BETTER OFF THAN WE WERE. AND THEY'RE ALL, ALL OF THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE POOR ACTIONS, THE BAD POLICIES AND THE LACK OF LEADERSHIP BY OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE'VE HAD AN INCREASE IN CRIME. WE'VE HAD A DEFUNDING OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, PARTICULARLY OUR POLICE. WE HAD A LACK OF AFFORDABILITY, WHICH IS PUSHED TO BE MADE EVEN MORE UNAFFORDABLE BY THE PUSHING OF A 25% PROPERTY TAX TAX INCREASE TO FUND A MISGUIDED PROJECT CONNECT. AND OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BEEN UNDER ATTACK BECAUSE OF THIS CRAZY LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, WHICH WAS GOING TO SHOVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DENSITY WITHIN THE HEARTS OF, OF OUR CORE CHARMING NEIGHBORHOODS, WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT, WHY, OR HOW IT WAS GOING TO IMPACT THE COSTS OR THE FAMILIES THAT BUILT THESE COMMUNITIES LOOK AND TEXT, MEET AND GREETS AND CHANCE CONNECTIONS. YOU HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL OR COUNCIL MEMBER ALTAR. YOU'VE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU EXPECT BETTER FROM YOUR CITY COUNCIL THAN CREATING POLICIES. THE RESULT IN SKYROCKETING, VIOLENT CRIME RATES IN HUMANE CITYWIDE, HOMELESS, CAMPING, DEFENDING OUR POLICE FORCE AND PUSHING FOR MORE UNAFFORDABILITY. YOU HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR, AUSTIN DEMANDS, GOOD GOVERNMENT WITH A HEALTHY DOSE OF PRAGMATIC LEADERSHIP AND COMMON SENSE. YOU HAVE BEEN CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT YOU SUPPORT ME AS A PROVEN COMMUNITY LEADER, A PUBLIC SAFETY ADVOCATE AND A 30 YEAR ENGAGED NEIGHBOR TO LEAD AND SETTING ASIDE THE RAMPANT HYPER PARTISANSHIP AND EXTREMISM WITH A BACKGROUND AS AN MBA, A JD, AND NOW PURSUING AND FINISHING MY PHD IN HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT AND POLICY, AS WELL AS MY LEADERSHIP OF STATE AGENCIES OVERSEEING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF, UH, BUDGETS AND THOUSANDS OF EMPLOYEES. YOU'VE MADE IT CLEAR THAT YOU'RE READY FOR A LEADER WHO KNOWS HOW TO GET THINGS DONE IN A MEANINGFULLY MEANINGFUL, RESPECTFUL WAY. AS YOUR DISTRICT TENDS TO REPRESENTATIVE AUSTIN, WE WILL DO BETTER. I WILL VOTE TO FULLY FUND THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT REINSTATE THE CADET CLASSES AND WORK WITH APD LEADERSHIP AND EXPERTS. DIDN'T ACT REFORMS FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL. I WILL REINSTATE THE CAMPING BAN AND ADVOCATE FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMELESS SOLUTIONS. AND I WILL ALWAYS VOTE AGAINST INCREASE AGAINST MASSIVE 25% PROPERTY TAX INCREASES. AND WE'LL ALWAYS PUSH TO INCREASE AFFORDABILITY, AUSTIN. WE DESERVE BETTER. YOU DESERVE BETTER. I ASKED YOU TO VOTE FOR ME. EARLY. VOTING STARTS ON OCTOBER THE 13TH AND ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER THE THIRD. PLEASE GO TO WWW.ROBERTATX.COM AND LEARN MORE ABOUT ME AND MY PLATFORM AND AUSTIN. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING BRIGHTER AND BETTER DAYS TOGETHER WITH ME AS YOUR DISTRICT 10 REPRESENTATIVE. THANK YOU. I'M ALISON ALTER. IT'S [Alison Alter] MY HONOR TO REPRESENT DISTRICT 10 ON THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M A MOM, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, A NEIGHBORHOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE AND FORMER EDUCATOR. I'M AFFECTIONATELY KNOWN AS THE PARK LADY FOR MY WORK LEADING THE RAMSEY PARK RENOVATIONS AND MY SERVICE ON THE PARKS BOARD AS A TRAINED ECONOMIST WITH A PHD FROM HARVARD AND AN UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN PUBLIC POLICY FROM STANFORD. I'M NOT AFRAID TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS. HERE'S WHAT I BELIEVE. I BELIEVE CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD SOLVE PROBLEMS AND CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH ALL CAN THRIVE AND FEEL SAFE. I BELIEVE WE NEED TO READ OUT RACISM AND ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I KNOW THAT FALSE CHOICES LEAD TO BAD POLICY. I BELIEVE IN SCIENCE AND THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL FACTS MATTER. AND SO DOES DATA. I BELIEVE IT'S IMPORTANT TO KEEP AN OPEN MIND, TO LISTEN TO NEW IDEAS AND DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IN 2020 IS TRUE. WE FACE MULTIPLE CRISES, PANDEMIC, HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, SYSTEMIC RACISM AND CLIMATE CHANGE. DID I BELIEVE THE BEST DAYS FOR AUSTIN ARE IN FRONT OF US? I AM RUNNING FOR REELECTION BECAUSE THIS IS A TIME FOR LEADERSHIP AND PROVEN EXPERIENCE. HERE'S A FEW EXAMPLES OF WHAT I'VE DONE AS YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. I VOTED AGAINST CODE NEXT AND FOUGHT FOR NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE THE PROPOSED LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE WAS DEEPLY FLAWED AND AUSTIN DESERVED BETTER. I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND UP TO DEVELOPERS AND FIGHT TO GUIDE AND MANAGE GROWTH. NOT SIMPLY UNLEASH IT. I HAVE CHAMPIONED THE ENVIRONMENT, MAKING SUSTAINABILITY RESILIENCE AND COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE. ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES. [00:05:01] I LED AUSTIN'S DECLARATION OF A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ARE PLANNING TO ELECTRIFY OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM. I ACCELERATED OUR SHIFT TO RENEWABLES WITHOUT INCREASING OUR UTILITY RATES, LAUNCHED THE AUSTIN CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS AND INVESTED IN OUR PARKS TRAILS AND OUR WATERSHED PROTECTION LANDS. PUBLIC SAFETY IS ONE OF MY TOP PRIORITIES FOR AUSTIN AND ESPECIALLY DISTRICT 10. THE RISK OF WILDFIRE IS NOT A QUESTION OF IF IT'S A QUESTION OF WHEN THAT IS, WHY I'VE ACCELERATED WHILE AFFAIR PREVENTION, EFFORTS AND INVESTMENTS ACROSS DEPARTMENTS AND CITYWIDE ENSURED ADOPTION OF THE WILD LAND, URBAN INTERFACE CODE INTO OUR BUILDING AND FIRE CODES AND SECURE COMMITMENTS FOR A NEW FIRE STATION. IN DISTRICT 10, I LED COUNCIL'S EFFORTS TO IMPROVE HOW SEXUAL ASSAULT IS PROCESSED AND INVESTIGATED. WE INCREASED STAFFING AND RESOURCES FOR VICTIM SERVICES, IMPROVED DNA TEST PROCESSING, AND LAUNCHED A COMPREHENSIVE OF OUR SEXUAL ASSAULT RESPONSE SYSTEM. I AM PROUD TO FACILITATE IT INVESTMENTS AND SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS FOR EVERY DISTRICT 10 ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL HAD EXPEDITED THE PERMITTING FOR VOTER BACKED RENOVATIONS IN THE RECENT BUDGET. I ADDED TWO AMBULANCES AND 46 EMS STAFF TO IMPROVE OUR MEDICAL RESPONSE DURING COVID-19 AND BEYOND. I ALSO INCREASED COMMUNITY ACCESS TO POSITION SERVICES AND CLINICAL OVERSIGHT WITH A SWITCH TO A CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER MODEL. THESE ACTIONS WILL SAVE LIVES AND SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY OVER THE LONG RUN. I'VE BEEN ENDORSED BY CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT REPRESENTATIVE DONNA HOWARD, COMMISSIONER'S BRITISH SHEA AND JEFF 2 MILLION AND OTHER PROMINENT COMMUNITY LEADERS. I AM PROUD TO BE ENDORSED BY THE AUSTIN EMS ASSOCIATION OR CITY EMPLOYEES. UNION ASKED ME WEST AUSTIN DEMOCRATS NORTH BY NORTHWEST DEMS, CENTRAL AUSTIN, DEMS, AUSTIN, ENVIRONMENTAL DEMS, TANO DEMS, AND MANY OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS, AS WELL AS THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE. YOU CAN BELIEVE IN ME BECAUSE I AM RUNNING ON MY RECORD. I HAVE PROVEN THAT I KNOW HOW TO STAND MY GROUND AND TO FIND COMMON GROUND. YOU CAN BELIEVE IN ME BECAUSE I AM HONEST AND SINCERE AND I HAVE FOLLOWED THROUGH, AND YOU CAN TRUST THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. I INVITE YOU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT I HAVE ACCOMPLISHED WHILE IN OFFICE AND ALISON ALTER.COM. I BELIEVE THE BEST DAYS FOR AUSTIN ARE IN FRONT OF US AFTER THE HORRIBLE PANDEMIC. MY NAME IS ALISON ALTER, AND I HOPE I HAVE EARNED YOUR VOTE. HI, [Belinda Greene] I'M BELINDA GREEN. I'M WRITING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT 10. I'M A NATIVE TEXAN AND FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO CALL AUSTIN HEALTH FOR THE LAST 14 YEARS. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT. WHAT IS NOW DISTRICT 10 FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, MY WIFE, A WORKING MOM AND A PASSIONATE MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY. I OFFER A REASONABLE PERSPECTIVE ON ISSUES FACING OUR CITY. I DON'T BELIEVE MOST OF OUR COMMUNITY IDENTIFIES WITH EXTREMES. SO I WANT TO OFFER A MODERATE VOICE IN CITY HALL. WE ALL HAVE THE FREE SPIRITS OUR COMMUNITY IS MADE OF AND THE DIVERSITY. HOWEVER, THE LACK OF DIRECTION TO ADDRESS THE HOMELESS POPULATION, INCREASED TAXES AND OUR BUDGET POLICE BUDGET REFORM HAS ERODED THE FOUNDATION THAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY GREAT. I'M IN THE FOOD SERVICE SALES INDUSTRY AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH OUR HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY AND OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I HAVE CHOSEN TO STAY IN AUSTIN AND TO MAKE A CHANGE WITHIN AUSTIN RATHER THAN LEAVING AUSTIN. OUR HOMELESS POPULATION IS OUT OF CONTROL. THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED. I WOULD START WITH REINSTATING THE CAMPING BAN. THEN IDENTIFYING OUR MOST VULNERABLE WOMEN. MINERS VETERANS OFFER THEM A TEMPORARY HOME TO GET BACK UP ON THEIR FEET, HEALTHCARE, MENTAL HEALTHCARE, WHERE NEEDED OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, WHERE NEEDED GIVE THEM A ADDRESS AND RELIABLE COMMUNICATION. MOST OF THESE FOLKS ALREADY QUALIFY FOR SERVICES, BUT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ADDRESS OR THEY DO NOT HAVE RELIABLE COMMUNICATION, THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCESS THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE FOR THEM TO HELP THEM WITHIN THESE COMMUNITIES. THEY WOULD NEED TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF THE COMMUNITIES AND THE LAW OF OUR STATE. ONCE WE ESTABLISH A PROGRAM THAT WORKS WITH PROVEN RESULTS AND MEASURABLE RESULTS, WE SHOULD THEN GO OUT TO OUR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND SHARE OUR SUCCESS WITH THEM SO THAT THEY'RE STRUGGLING POPULATION DOESN'T LOOK TOWARDS AUSTIN. AS A REFUGE, TAXES HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED AT A REASONABLE RATE OR THE INCREASING TAXES MAKES IT MORE FOR LESS AFFORDABLE IN AUSTIN. I'LL PUSH TO INCREASE OUR HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION TO 20% ALLOWED BY TEXAS LAW. CURRENTLY IS AT 10%. [00:10:01] THIS INCREASE IN THE EXEMPTION WILL LOWER OUR, THE AMOUNT WE PAY IN TAXES YEAR AFTER YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, I WILL BE VOTING AGAINST PROPOSITIONS A AND B PROJECT CONNECT. THIS INCREASES OUR TAXES BY 24 AND A HALF PERCENT AND NOT ONLY AFFECTS PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT IT AFFECTS BUSINESSES AND RENTERS ALIKE. ESPECIALLY DURING A TIME LIKE THIS, AUSTINITES SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER PROPERTY TAX INCREASE. ADDITIONALLY, I WILL LOOK TO REPRIORITIZING THE POLICE BUDGET. WE NEED BETTER POLICE TRAINING, NOT LESS POLICE TRAINING. I WILL START WITH REIMPLEMENTING OR REINSTATING THE INCOMING CADET CLASS. IF WE DO NOT, WE WILL BE LOSING OFFICERS FASTER THAN WE CAN BRING THEM ON BOARD. ADDITIONALLY, REPRIORITIZING FUNDS FOR BETTER TRAINING AND SOCIAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS WOULD BETTER SERVE OUR COMMUNITY THAN MOVING THE NINE 11 CALL CENTER AND THE FORENSIC CENTER AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WHAT OUR CURRENT CITY COUNCIL DID JUST WEAKENED THE FORCE. I'M BELINDA GREEN. I'M NOT A POLITICIAN. I'M NOT AN ATTORNEY. I'M ALSO NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN. I AM A MODERATE MAMA TRYING TO MAKE A CHANGE IN OUR COMMUNITY. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME. HELLO AND GREETINGS [Bennett Easton] TO MY FELLOW AUSTINITES AND CENTRAL TEXAS NEIGHBORS. MY NAME IS BEN EASTON AND I AM RUNNING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL AND DISTRICT 10. AND BEFORE I FORGET, I WANTED TO PAUSE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE SPONSORS OF THIS VIRTUAL CANDIDATE FORUM. YOU PEOPLE HAVE TEAMED UP TO HELP ME AND THE OTHER CANDIDATES, ESPECIALLY THE NON-INCUMBENTS TO GAIN RECOGNITION IN VARIOUS COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. SO THANK YOU TO THE ETHICS REVIEW COMMISSION, THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE AUSTIN AREA AND STAFF OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN. THANK YOU ALSO TO THE CREW AT TSN THE CITY OF AUSTIN ACCESS CHANNEL AND KASI 88.7 AUSTIN COMMUNITY RADIO, BY THE WAY, I'D MUCH RATHER BE SPEAKING TO YOU ALL IN PERSON ABOUT MAKING EYE CONTACT AND SO FORTH. BUT I CAN'T. SO I'M DOING MY BEST TO LIKE FIND THE CAMERA ON MY COMPUTER AND, UH, BUT I'M ALSO READING. SO ANYWAY, PLEASE CUT ME SOME SLACK. OKAY. SO BACK TO MY INTRODUCTORY REMARKS, ONE YEAR AGO, I ATTENDED THE FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING. MY FIRST CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL CALAMITOUS DECISIONS THAT SPURRED ME TO FIND OUT WHAT IN THE WORLD WAS GOING ON AT CITY HALL. THIS WAS IN EARLY AUGUST, 2019, NOT QUITE TWO MONTHS AFTER THE COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVE A BAN ON CAMPING, SITTING IN LYING AND ON PUBLIC STREETS. THIS DECISION SEEMINGLY INNOCENT AND MILD PROVED TO BE INSIDIOUS AND DISASTROUS TRIGGERING A CASCADE OF DOWNSTREAM EFFECTS AND ACTIONS THAT HAVE FUNDAMENTALLY TAINTED OUR FORMERLY FAIR CITY. AND MY THIRD COUNCIL MEETING, I MADE SURE TO SIGN UP FOR A SPOT IN THE CITIZEN COMMUNICATION INTERLUDE DURING WHICH FOLKS LIKE ME CAN HAVE THEIR SAY IN THREE MINUTES OR LESS WHEN IT WAS MY TURN, I MADE IT CRYSTAL CLEAR THAT I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE LIFTING OF THE CAMPING BAN AND THE INEVITABLE SURGE IN HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS THAT WOULD IMMEDIATELY, OR THAT DID IMMEDIATELY START SPREADING OVER THE CITY FROM EAST TO WEST AND NORTH TO SOUTH. THIS PHENOMENON IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE EXPONENTIAL GROWTH OF PANHANDLERS, VAGRANTS, BEGGARS, AND CON MEN SCATTERED ABOUT TOWN WHO ARE NOW UNFORTUNATELY UBIQUITOUS BLEMISHES ON THE CITY OBSTACLES PREVENTING YOU AND ME, THE VAST MAJORITY OF US TO ENJOY OUR CITY LIFE. A FRIEND HAD TAKEN IT UPON HERSELF TO CAPTURE THE IDEA, TX AND VIDEO FEED AND REPOST IT ON HER PERSONAL YOUTUBE CHANNEL. SHE SENT IT OUT TO SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS. I WAS SURPRISED AND FRANKLY PLEASED WHEN PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM STRANGERS LET ME KNOW THAT THEY WERE GRATEFUL THAT SOMEBODY WAS FINALLY WILLING TO STAND UP IN PUBLIC AND MAKE THE POINT THAT THEY WISH SOMEBODY WOULD MAKE. AND THAT IS THAT THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS GOING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. I AM THE CANDIDATE WHO WILL STAND UP, SHAKE MY FIST IF NECESSARY, AND INFORM THE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT WE, THE TAX PAYING AND LAW ABIDING RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY WILL NOT TOLERATE THE FURTHER DETERIORATION OF OUR VALUES, ETHICS AND AESTHETICS, ALL OF WHICH ARE BEING TRAMPLED AND COMPROMISED IN FRONT OF OUR VERY EYES ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS DECISION HAS BEEN, YEAH, THE EVIDENCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, PERHAPS CATALYZED BY THE PASSAGE OF PROP THREE AND THE SUBSEQUENT ADOPTION OF THE TEN ONE PLAN, WHICH ENDED THE SEVEN AT LARGE MEMBER COUNCIL AND BECAME THE BY DISTRICT COUNCIL PLUS, AND AT-LARGE MAYOR. I AM NOT HERE TO PROPOSE THAT WE TRY TO PUT THE TOOTHPASTE BACK IN THE TOOTH. IT AIN'T GOING BACK IN. THAT'S OBVIOUS. WHAT I AM HERE TO DO IS CALL A SPADE, A SPADE. THAT MEANS I USE PLAIN ENGLISH TO DESCRIBE WHAT IS HAPPENING. FOR EXAMPLE, THE TENT CITIES UNDER BEN WHITE AT MANSHACK ARE UGLY AND THEY SHOULD BE REMOVED IMMEDIATELY. [00:15:01] NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO CAMP ON PUBLIC THROUGHWAYS CITIES, ROADS, PARKS, SIDEWALKS, BRIDGES, AND BENCHES. THEY'RE ALL DESIGNED FOR SPECIFIC NORMAL DAILY USE BY AVERAGE WELL BEHAVED CITIZENS, GUESTS, AND VISITORS, JUST BECAUSE I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, A BAD WEEK OR EVEN A BAD YEAR, AND CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY RENT DOES NOT SUDDENLY TRANSFORM THEIR PREDICAMENT INTO SOME BIZARRE, RIGHT TO NULLIFY LONGSTANDING COMMUNITY RIGHTS AND OBVIOUS STANDARDS OF DECORUM. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IT IS FAR MORE IMPORTANT TO ME TO TELL THE TRUTH THAN TO GET ELECTED. I AM NOT HERE TODAY TO CATER TO MY CONSTITUENTS. I SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE AND SHARE THE SAME IDEAS TO ALL AUDIENCES. MY MESSAGE BOILS DOWN TO THIS RESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER, RESPECT FOR PROPERTY AND NATURAL BEAUTY, RESPECT FOR PEACE AND QUIET AND RESPECT FOR BUSINESSES AND TRADE. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENTION AND YOUR CONSIDERATION OF MY VIEWS. I WOULD LOVE IT IF SOME OF Y'ALL WANT TO VOTE FOR ME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THIS IS [Pooja Sethi] WITHOUT QUESTION, THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION CYCLE OF OUR LIFETIME. OUR COMMUNITY FACES UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES AND OUR CONTINUED GROWTH AND VERY SURVIVAL DEPEND UPON US COMING TOGETHER. MY NAME IS POOJA SAPPY, AND I'M RUNNING FOR AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 BECAUSE NOW MORE THAN EVER, EVERY VOICE NEEDS TO BE HEARD. AND OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT, I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE AND HAVE A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF BUILDING BRIDGES ACROSS OUR CITY. IT TAKES TRANSPARENCY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND ATTORNEY, A MOM AND A NONPROFIT FOUNDER, I'M READY TO SERVE YOU. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE PEOPLE DEPEND ON YOU TO HAVE TO MEET PAYROLL AND TO JUGGLE WORK AND CHILDREN'S SCHOOLWORK. I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO FIGHT FOR OTHERS BECAUSE IT'S WHAT I DO EVERY DAY. AS AN ATTORNEY, I LISTEN TO CLIENTS ANALYZE BACKS AND CREATE A PLAN OF ACTION. I BECAME A LAWYER BECAUSE I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT FIGHTING FOR OTHERS AND ENSURING EVERY VOICE IS HEARD. AND AS YOU'RE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WILL FIGHT FOR YOU. WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO AUSTIN, I SAW MOMS FACE DISCRIMINATION IN THE WORKPLACE. SO I STARTED SOUTH ASIAN AUSTIN MOMS TO GIVE MOTHERS A VOICE WHEN COVID-19 STRUCK AND FORCED US TO SHELTER IN PLACE. I CREATED A TASK FORCE AND PARTNERED WITH CITY SERVICES TO FEED OUR MOST VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. DURING MY TIME A COMMISSIONER AT CITY HALL, I FOUGHT FOR MORE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR SENIORS SERVICES, FOR WOMEN WHO FACE FAMILY VIOLENCE AND FINDING FOR CENSUS OUTREACH. I HAVE ADVOCATED FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO BE SAFER, STRONGER, AND BETTER SUPPORTED THROUGH MY WORK ON THE CLIMATE EQUITY TASK FORCE. AND AS A MEMBER OF THE GREATER AUSTIN ASIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I SUPPORT OUR SMALL BUSINESSES. I'VE BEEN ON THE GROUND, WORKING IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THERE'S STILL WORK TO BE DONE. I'M PROUD TO CALL THIS EXCEPTIONAL CITY HOME AS A CITY, WE MUST ADAPT AND RISE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE. FIRST. WE NEED AN ACCESSIBLE AUSTIN. AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW FASTER THAN ANY OTHER IN THIS COUNTRY, SAFER STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION ARE ESSENTIAL. AS YOU'RE A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD ADD ADVOCATE FOR INCREASING TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS FROM SIDEWALKS AND PUBLIC TRANSIT TO TRAILS. WE NEED MORE SPEED BUMPS, STOP SIGNS AND STREET LIGHTS, BECAUSE I WANT MY FAMILY AND YOURS TO FEEL SAFE. WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. WE ALSO NEED TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE. OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEMS SHOULD MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE AT, WHICH IS WHY I'VE DEVELOPED MY COMMUNITY CENTERED SAFETY PLAN, WORKING WITH OUR FIRST RESPONDER, OUR ADVOCATES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS. THESE PEOPLE COMMUNITY CENTERS WILL BE MULTIPURPOSE HUBS TO PROVIDE INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES, COMMUNITY HEALTH, RESOURCES, AND VICTIM SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS TAILORED TO EACH UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD. WE ALSO NEED REAL SOLUTIONS REGARDING OUR HOMELESS POPULATIONS SOLUTIONS THAT USE COMPREHENSIVE DATA AND INVEST MONEY INTO A RAPID REHOUSING PLAN TO BUILD A SAFER, STRONGER AUSTIN IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE GET SMART ABOUT USING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES. FINALLY, WE HAVE TO GROW STRATEGICALLY. LET'S BE SMART ABOUT DEVELOPMENT. I BELIEVE ANY PLAN TO MAKE AUSTIN MORE FAIR AND AFFORDABLE SHOULD BE COMMUNITY DRIVEN. WE NEED TO CREATE AN AUSTIN WHERE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS, CITY WORKERS AND TEACHERS CAN AFFORD TO LIVE WHILE ENSURING WE USE [00:20:01] OUR CITY'S RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY TO SERVE EACH NEIGHBORHOOD. MOST IMPORTANTLY, AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE. I WANT EVERY VOICE TO BE HEARD. I WANT RESULTS. AND IT'S TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CITY HALL BEFORE IT HAPPENS, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY THIS IS YOUR CITY AND YOUR HOME. YOU SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ACCESS TO DECISION MAKERS SO WE CAN WORK TOGETHER TO BE A BETTER CITY. FOR ME, RUNNING IN CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT 10 IS PERSONAL FROM TARRYTOWN OR MY SISTER LIVES WITH MY NEPHEWS. ALL THE WAY UP TO GREAT HILL IS WHERE I'M RAISING MY OWN FAMILY. I WANT EVERY DISTRICT 10 RESIDENT TO HAVE SAFE STREETS LIVE IN A QUAINT AND HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT. AUSTIN CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD MEET YOUR NEEDS, STARTING FROM THE SIDEWALKS I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE AND YOUR SUPPORT. SO I CAN REPRESENT YOU AND WORK TO BUILD BRIDGES ACROSS AUSTIN AND LEAD US TO A BRIGHTER TOMORROW. I'M JENNIFER [Jennifer Virden] VERDIN, AND I'M EXCITED TO BE RUNNING FOR THE DISTRICT 10 SEAT ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL. I'M A NATIVE AUSTINITE. AND I GREW UP IN NORTHWEST HILLS. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WHAT IS NOW A DISTRICT 10. I ATTENDED DOSS ELEMENTARY MARCUS AND MIDDLE SCHOOL ANDERSON HIGH SCHOOL. AND I'M A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN WITH A DEGREE IN FINANCE. I'VE BEEN A REAL ESTATE BROKER FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS AND TO REMODELING GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, MY DECISION TO RUN FOR COUNCIL WAS INFLUENCED BY FACTORS. I WANTED TO SEE IN A CANDIDATE, SOMEONE WITH SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS EXPERIENCE WHO WILL MAKE SOUND DECISIONS AND SOMEONE WHO HAS NOT SPENT THEIR ADULT LIFE TRYING TO CURRY FAVOR FOR OUR FUTURE POLITICAL CAREER. THE FINAL STRAWS FOR ME WERE THE LIFTING OF THE PUBLIC CAMPING BAN AND DEFUNDING THE POLICE NO LESS IMPORTANT IS HOW CRITICAL TO AFFORDABILITY IT IS FOR US TO DEFEAT PROPOSITION A ON THIS BALLOT. THE FOURTH ISSUE OF CONCERN IS THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE REWRITE THAT IS ON OUR HORIZON, NEVER IN THE HISTORY OF AUSTIN HAS OUR CITY COUNCIL DONE ANYTHING AS DAMAGING TO OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. AS THIS CURRENT COUNCIL HAS DONE BY LIFTING THE PUBLIC CAMPING BAN PRACTICALLY OVERNIGHT, OUR HOMETOWN HAS BECOME WHAT RESEMBLES A DEVELOPING COUNTRY WHERE LITTERED STREETS AND SHANTIES ARE A COMMON SITE. OUR CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS CANNOT DENY THE RECKLESSNESS OF THEIR ACTIONS YET. THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THEN CORRECT THEIR MISTAKES. IT IS DISGUSTING WHAT THEY CAUSED TO HAPPEN TO OUR WANTS BEAUTIFUL CLEAN WORLD-CLASS CITY. WE PAY AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF TAXES TO LIVE IN WHAT HAS BEEN A BEAUTIFUL AND CLEAN CITY AS IF THIS PANDEMIC ISN'T ENOUGH. OUR HOMELESS POPULATION CRISIS IS ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECTING OUR ECONOMY WHEN I'M ELECTED MY STAFF AND I WILL IMMEDIATELY GET TO WORK PROPOSING AND ENACTING POLICY TO SOLVE THIS CRISIS. WE CURRENTLY BUDGET 62 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS, WHICH IS ADEQUATE. IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE PEOPLE LIKE ME ON THE COUNCIL TO GET IT DONE. ANOTHER EGREGIOUS MISCARRIAGE OF OUR TRUST AND BREACH OF THEIR DUTY TO KEEP WATCH OVER OUR SAFETY. IT'S OUR CITY COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS VOTE TO DEFUND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, ADEQUATELY FUNDING CORE MUNICIPAL SERVICES, WHICH ALL OF OUR FIRST RESPONDERS ARE THE COUNCILS IT'S ABILITIES. WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE THEY THINKING WHEN THEY PULLED THE PLUG ON THE PUBLIC CAMPING BAN, THINK THE POLICE ARE FIRST RESPONDERS PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US EVERY SINGLE DAY. IT IS UNCONSCIONABLE TO ME THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL WAS SUCKER PUNCHED. THESE HONORABLE MEN AND WOMEN FINANCIALLY AND MORALLY WITHOUT MATURE AND PROPER DELIBERATION. WE CANNOT OPERATE OUR CITY IN THIS IRRESPONSIBLE MANNER. ANOTHER IMPORTANT ISSUE AT HAND IS OUR EMINENT REWRITE THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE. I REALLY DODGED THE CODE. NEXT BULLET. WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ MY DETAILED POSITION PAPER POSTED ON MY WEBSITE REGARDING THE LAND DEVELOP. MY WEBSITE IS JENNIFER FOR AUSTIN.COM. MAKE NO MISTAKE. THIS ISN'T OKAY. GOOFY, RELATIVELY BENIGN CITY COUNCIL OF THE 1970S AND EIGHTIES. THEY'RE SERIOUSLY GOING AFTER OUR BASIC PROPERTY RIGHTS AND PROPOSING UNPRECEDENTED TAX INCREASES. WHEN I SAY UNPRECEDENTED TAX INCREASES, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE DEFEAT PROPOSITION A ON THIS BALLOT. PROP A IS THAT FANCY PROJECT CONNECT COMMERCIAL THAT WE'RE ALL SEEING ON TV MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY, PAID FOR IT WITH OUR TAX DOLLARS PROJECT CONNECT IS A $7.1 BILLION THAT'S BILLION, NOT MILLION ANTIQUATED FIXED RAIL PROJECT THAT WILL INCREASE OUR CITY PROPERTY TAXES BY AN UNCONSCIONABLE 25% STARTING THIS YEAR [00:25:01] AND BE COLLECTED FOR 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT RAIL EVEN MOVES ITS FIRST PASSENGER, PLEASE GO TO MOBILITY, AUSTIN.COM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY PROJECT CONNECT IS WRONG FOR AUSTIN. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IRONIC TO ME. HOW COUNCIL PREACHES ABOUT LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN AUSTIN YET THEY'RE PUSHING AN UNPRECEDENTED INCREASE IN CITY PROPERTY TAXES. I'M JUST LIKE YOU. I DON'T LIKE THE DIRECTION OUR CITY IS HEADING. I PROMISE TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH ALL OF MY DISTRICT, 10 NEIGHBORS, TO BE RESPONSIVE TO YOUR CONCERNS AND TO BE ACCESSIBLE TO YOU ALL. PLEASE HELP ME MOBILIZE ALL OF OUR LIKE-MINDED FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND NEIGHBORS TO GET TO THE POLLS BY NOVEMBER 3RD AND AGAIN ON DECEMBER 15TH FOR THE RUNOFF VOTING AGAIN. AND THE RUNOFF IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO OUR WINNING. PLEASE VOTE FOR VERDUN. THANK YOU. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.