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HI, MY NAME IS DEE HARRISON, AND I'M A CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT SIX ON THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL.
I RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE STATE AND BEGAN CONSULTING WORK, BUT LIKE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT COVERED 19 VIRUS THREW A WRENCH IN MY PLANS IN MY CAREER, I'VE SERVED ON BUILT AND MANAGED COUNTLESS COMMUNITY COALITIONS, SOME DEALT WITH CRIME VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OR SOCIAL EMERGENT STORED OF JUSTICE.
OTHERS WERE RELATED TO DISASTERS AND DISASTER RECOVERY.
I CHOOSE TO LIVE IN AUSTIN BECAUSE IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO LIVE.
WE HAVE LEGS, PARKS, MUSEUMS. WE HAVE ART SHOWS AND ART GALLERIES.
WE HAVE FOOD FESTIVALS AND MUSIC FESTIVALS, BEST OF ALL.
IT'S IN THE BEAUTIFUL TEXAS HILL COUNTRY.
SINCE I FIRST MOVED HERE IN THE EARLY EIGHTIES, THE POPULATION OF AUSTIN IS MORE THAN DOUBLED.
I'VE WATCHED IT CHANGED FROM A NO GROWTH CITY TO A GO GROWTH CITY.
MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED ABOUT AUSTIN IN THAT TIME.
SOME FOR THE BETTER SOME NOT, WELL, I MIGHT MISS SOME OF THE PLACES THAT ARE NOW GONE.
I KNOW THEY'LL BE REPLACED BY SOMETHING BETTER, SOMETHING MORE DIVERSE, SOMETHING MORE OSTENTATIOUS.
THE GOVERNING BODY OF OUR CITY CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE BOTH THE DUTY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED A CHANGE IN HOW WE LIVE, WORK, LEARN, AND PLAY.
PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR BUSINESSES, FRIENDS' FAMILIES, AND EVEN THEIR HOMES.
OUR SYSTEM OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IS AT A CRITICAL CROSSROADS.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THIS PANDEMIC WILL BE FELT FOR DECADES YET.
INSTEAD OF WAITING UNTIL OUR FINANCIAL TIMES ARE LESS UNCERTAIN.
THE COUNCIL PROPOSED A $7.1 BILLION PROJECT CONNECT, WHICH WILL RESULT IN A 20 TO 25% TAX INCREASE ON HOMEOWNERS TO FUND IT.
IT ALSO PROPOSED AN ADDITIONAL $460 MILLION BOND PACKAGE, WHICH WILL ALSO BE PAID FOR BY INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS.
THESE PROPOSITIONS ARE ALREADY ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO FUTURE COUNCILS WILL HAVE TO ABIDE BY WHATEVER THE TAXPAYERS CHOOSE ON ELECTION DAY.
THE SOCIAL UNREST AND PROTESTS HAVE SHOWN A BRIGHT LIGHT ON THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT HAS BEEN ROTTING OUR COUNTRY FOR GENERATIONS INSTEAD OF SEEKING SUSTAINABLE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SOLUTION, THE COUNCIL CUT THE POLICE BUDGET BY 30% AND PROPOSED $80 MILLION IN MORE CUTS.
IT PROPOSED TO MOVE VICTIMS SERVICES OUT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND DOING AN EFFORT THAT TOOK CRIME VICTIMS, SURVIVORS, VICTIMS, RIGHTS, ADVOCATES, POLICE, AND PROSECUTORS YEARS TO PUT INTO PLACE.
IT PROPOSES TO CUT FUNDING FOR DRUNK DRIVING ENFORCEMENT, UNDERMINING DECADES OF EFFORT BY THE FRIENDS AND FAMILIES OF PEOPLE IN CHILDREN, MAIMED AND MURDERED BY DRUNK DRIVERS.
THE COUNCIL REPEALED THE HOMELESS CAMPING ORDINANCE RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSION OF HOMELESS CAMPS.
THAT'S A STOP GAP MEASURE AT BEST AND AT WORST, IT'S JUST PLAYING CRUEL.
THESE DECISIONS ULTIMATELY PLACED MORE OF OUR RESIDENTS IN OUR CITY AT RISK WHILE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS REPRESENT THEIR INDIVIDUAL DISTRICTS, THEY HAVE A GREATER RESPONSIBILITY TO GOVERN THE CITY AS A WHOLE.
I'M NOT RUNNING AS A CANDIDATE FROM A POLITICAL PARTY.
CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE NONPARTISAN.
IF ELECTED I PLEDGE TO REPRESENT ALL MY CONSTITUENTS FAIRLY AND EQUITABLY, REGARDLESS OF THEIR POLITICAL SPRAY PERSUASION IN THESE CHANGING TIMES, I BELIEVE YOUR VOTE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
AND I BELIEVE I'M THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR YOUR VOTE ON ELECTION DAY FOR CITY COUNCIL, DISTRICT SIX.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND INTEREST.