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I'M LESLIE POOLE COUNCIL MEMBER FOR DISTRICT SEVEN, SINCE BEING ELECTED SIX YEARS AGO, I'VE FOUGHT HARD FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND ALL OF AUSTIN I'M RUNNING BECAUSE THE WORK IS NOT YET DONE.AND ESPECIALLY AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS ECONOMIC DEVASTATION TO POLICE BRUTALITY AND DEEP ROOTED RACIAL INEQUITIES TO THE URGENCY OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS TO AFFORDABILITY AND REWRITING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE MASSIVE, COMPLEX AND IMMEDIATE.
DURING THESE EXTRAORDINARY TIMES, OUR CITY NEEDS LEADERS WHO ARE READY TO FACE THESE CHALLENGES WITH THE EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILL TO LEAD OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH THE DIFFICULT MONTHS.
AND YEARS AHEAD, I HAVE A PROVEN RECORD OF STRONG LEADERSHIP ON PROGRESSIVE INITIATIVES AND GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY AND BUILDING STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE MY CORE VALUES.
AS SOON AS THE PANDEMIC HIT OUR CITY, I GOT TO WORK TO ADDRESS OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING NEEDS.
I JOINED THE COUNCIL AND APPROVING MILLIONS IN EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR THOSE RESIDENTS, MOST DIRECTLY AFFECTED FRONTLINE WORKERS, NONPROFITS, MUSICIANS, AND ARTISTS, COUNTLESS OTHERS.
I ALSO LED AND PASSED A RESOLUTION TO ASSIST SMALL BUSINESSES, TO REOPEN SAFELY AND CRAFTED A COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INITIATIVE SO THAT HARD HIT COMMUNITIES CAN RECOVER MORE QUICKLY IN THE FACE OF DISASTER AND BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE CRISIS WILL FACE IN THE FUTURE.
MORE RECENTLY, I SPONSORED A RESOLUTION TO ASSIST OUR BELOVED SMALL, INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES, MUSIC AND ARTS VENUES, RESTAURANTS, CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AND OTHER VULNERABLE ECONOMIC SECTORS.
AND IN THE TRADITION OF MY UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO OPEN GOVERNMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY, I AM DEMANDING TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROCESS.
I'M ALSO DEEPLY COMMITTED TO RE-IMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY AND AUSTIN, AND TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.
DURING THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, I WAS A LEADING VOICE CALLING FOR AN AUDIT AND REINVISIONING OF APD TO ADDRESS POLICE BRUTALITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR.
I LED ON EFFORTS TO DIVERT MY 11 MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY RESPONSE CALLS TO TRAIN PROFESSIONALS, WHICH WILL HELP RESTORE OUR SWORN OFFICERS TO THEIR CORE MISSION AND INCREASED COMMUNITY SAFETY.
I'M PROUD TO HAVE TAKEN A LEADING ROLE IN TACKLING LONGSTANDING RACIAL DISPARITIES WHILE INCREASING APDS EFFICIENCY AND PUTTING OUR COMMUNITY FIRST.
THERE'S A LOT AHEAD OF US TO TRULY REIMAGINE PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND I AM EAGER TO CONTINUE THIS WORK FOR OUR CITY.
FINALLY, I'M PROUD TO HAVE ALSO ACCOMPLISHED IMPORTANT WORK ON COUNTLESS OTHER ISSUES, INCLUDING INVESTING IN JOBS AND HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS FUNDING, MORE ON CAMPUS CLEANUPS, PROVIDING AFFORDABLE QUALITY CHILDCARE AT CITY RECREATION CENTERS AND SUPPORTING WOMEN'S ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.
THE MONTHS AHEAD WILL BE UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
THE DECISIONS WE MAKE NOW ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO OUR FUTURE.
I'M HONORED TO SERVE YOU THE CONSTITUENTS OF DISTRICT SEVEN AND THE GREATER AUSTIN COMMUNITY IN THIS CRITICAL MOMENT.
I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR DISTRICT SEVEN AND ALL OF AUSTIN.
AND I HAVE A CALL TO ACTION FOR EVERYONE.
BE SAFE, STAY STRONG, REGISTERED TO VOTE, AND THEN GO VOTE.
OUR LIVES ARE RIDING ON GOOD OUTCOMES IN NOVEMBER.
EARLY VOTING STARTS OCTOBER 13 AND ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER THREE.
AND I'LL SEE YOU AT THE POLLS.