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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 IN 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 AS A COMMISSIONER AT CITY HALL, I FOUGHT FOR MORE TRANSPORTATION FOR OUR SENIORS SERVICES, FOR WOMEN WHO FACE FAMILY VIOLENCE AND FUNDING 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 IS STILL WORK TO BE DONE.
I'M PROUD TO CALL THIS EXCEPTIONAL CITY HOME, BUT AS A CITY, WE MUST ADAPT AND RISE TO THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.
AS OUR CITY CONTINUES TO GROW FASTER THAN ANY OTHER IN THIS COUNTRY, SAFER STREETS AND TRANSPORTATION ARE ESSENTIAL AS YOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, I WOULD 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.
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 RESPONDERS, OUR ADVOCATES AND OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THESE 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 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 RESIDENTS 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 NEIGHBORHOOD AND HAVE A VOICE IN GOVERNMENT.
AUSTIN CITY GOVERNMENT SHOULD MEET YOUR NEEDS, STARTING FROM THE SIDEWALKS UP.
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.