Issue(s): Affordability, Land Use

With Council’s decision to end CodeNEXT, how do you envision moving forward to update Austin’s land development code?

Issue(s): Affordability

How will you help address the affordability problems in Austin?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

How will you address Austin’s housing shortage? What regulations will you change to allow more housing where people want to live?

Issue(s): Mobility

What is your vision for the future of high capacity transit in Austin?

Issue(s): Mobility, Public Safety

Moving forward, what role should dockless mobility play in Austin?

Issue(s): Innovation

What steps will you take to support modernization and digitization of operations within the City of Austin?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity, Social Equity

What do you see as the City’s responsibility toward addressing the digital divide in Austin, and what steps would you take to bridge that divide?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity, Innovation

How can the City support the continued growth and success of Austin’s tech sector?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity, Innovation

How can the City better work with Austin’s tech community to bring innovative approaches to civic challenges?

Issue(s): Mobility

Do you support the implementation of dedicated, protected bicycle facilities on Shoal Creek Boulevard?

Issue(s): Mobility

In 2013, the City of Austin launched its bike share program, Austin B-cycle, with a $1.5 million federal grant matched with $500,000 in private donations. Since its launch, the program has set national records for bike share systems, and has been financially self-sufficient in its operations. But the program faces ongoing challenges as it strives to maintain an efficient, equitable system in a rapidly evolving market. As a Council member, will you support additional funding mechanisms, from the City of Austin or other local, state or federal sources, to grow Austin’s B-cycle system?

Issue(s): Mobility

Austin’s Bicycle Master Plan has spurred the development of hundreds of miles of bike lanes and street safety improvements throughout the city. These improvements have calmed traffic and created an affordable, healthy transportation option for Austinites. Do you support the full funding and implementation of Austin’s Bicycle Master Plan?

Issue(s): Mobility

Do you support the implementation of dedicated, protected bicycle facilities on East Riverside Drive?

Issue(s): Mobility

The city code currently prohibits the use of motor-driven devices on trails. But it allows electric bikes, scooters, and similar vehicles in bikes lanes if they are powered by a motor with a maximum speed of 20 miles per hour. Would you support a code amendment to allow some electric vehicles on trails?

Issue(s): Mobility

In the face of climate change, congestion, and other problems associated with cars, a growing number of cities have been eliminating parking requirements for new development. Would you support eliminating parking requirements West Campus, South Central Waterfront, and Transit Oriented Developments, and stepping up the management of on-street parking in & around those areas as needed?

Issue(s): Mobility

Are there other potential changes to the Land Development Code that you would support in order to promote cycling, walking, and transit?

Issue(s): Arts & Culture, Mobility

The Pleasant Valley bridge at the Longhorn Dam lacks bicycle facilities. How would you address this?

Issue(s): Mobility

Please tell us briefly about your recent experience with riding a bike. How many times have you ridden in the past month? The past year?

Issue(s): Mobility

City staff have proposed a new Street Impact Fee that would apply to new development. Presentations to date indicate that proceeds from the fee could be used only for street improvements that increase automobile capacity. Would you work to ensure that any such fees could be used to support other modes of transportation, including biking, walking, and transit?

Issue(s): Mobility

In 2017, Austin’s Bicycle Advisory Council asked that all city departments work to provide reasonable accommodations and access for effective pedicab service during events and in traffic plans. Pedicabbers continue to face difficulties during special events, including a lack of dedicated lanes and staging areas. As a Council Member, will you take action to support the use of pedicabs and other non-automotive vehicles at special events?

Issue(s): Mobility

Austin’s Urban Trails Master Plan uses existing trails and creates new trails in public green spaces to connect on-street bike and pedestrian facilities, establishing a citywide network of safe bicycle and pedestrian routes. Do you support the full funding and implementation of the Urban Trails Master Plan?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services, Social Equity

How will you ensure the implementation of the Age-Friendly Austin Action Plan, passed by the Austin City Council on November, 13, 2016?

Issue(s): Environment

What will you do to implement the Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2027, which was adopted by the City Council in Oct 2017?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services, Social Equity

What is your position on providing a cost of living increase for City of Austin retirees? Give specific actions you will take.

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

November 6, 2018, Austin voters have the opportunity to pass a $925 million bond package which includes $250 million for affordable housing. How do you plan to expand and promote the development of diverse housing options that are affordable for seniors of different income levels?

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion, Public Safety

What are some ways you will expand City of Austin programs to protect seniors against abuse and fraud?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services, Social Equity

What is your position on providing increased funding for retiree health care for current and future City of Austin retired employees? Give specific actions you will take.

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

What will you propose to improve health services for seniors?

Issue(s): Criminal Justice

What measures will you take to ensure that seniors do not face barriers to exercising their right to vote? If an incumbent, what steps have you taken to remove barriers to seniors’ voting?

Issue(s): Mobility

What do you plan to accomplish with the $160 million of the $925 million bond package that is proposed for transportation to assist seniors?

Issue(s): Affordability

What is your position on strengthening the defined-benefit pension annuities for current and future City of Austin retired employees? Give specific actions you will take.

Issue(s): Affordability

How will you help address the affordability problems in Austin?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

Nearly one in five renters have difficulty paying rent, leading to formal and informal evictions. Evictions have long lasting detrimental economic effects on households. What city policies and roles can the city play to prevent formal and informal evictions among low income tenants?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

Given that the market produces the majority of all Austin housing, how do you suggest we enable the market to build more attainable housing for families and individuals currently priced out of our market, but earning more than 80% MFI?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

How would you encourage large employers and private sector partners in Austin to contribute to the provision of affordable housing for their workers and the industries serving them?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing, Land Use

The Austin Strategic Housing Blueprint, adopted in April 2017, identified a need for 20,000 housing units affordable at 30% MFI and Below over ten years, including Permanent Supportive Housing & Home Repair. Funding mechanisms and tools currently used by the city are unable to meet this need at this affordability level. The Blueprint calls for “new funding, new regulations, new programs, new and deeper partnerships and collaborations with non-profit organizations, legislative changes, land development code changes, and participation from the private sector” in order to meet the growing need. What ideas do you envision to reach significant progress with the goals identified in the Blueprint?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

When considering affordable housing to be supported by the City, whether financial or other support, what are the top 4 or 5 criteria you would use to rank order a project to deem it worthy of support?

Issue(s): Affordability

Affordability is discussed a lot in our community. How do you define affordability?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity

Which bond Propositions on the November 2018 ballot do you support or not support? Check each that you support. Briefly explain your position.

Issue(s): Land Use

As you know, the City unsuccessfully tried to change the code, what do you believe needs to be done differently to achieve a better code? Will you support working to revise the land development code to provide and allow for predictability and deep affordability? (Y/N; Explain)

Issue(s): Land Use, Open Government

Would you support a policy requiring the City’s Development Services department to achieve its goal of 90% permit review completion within 15 business days across all departments/disciplines by April 2019? (Y/N/Explain)

Issue(s): Affordability, Land Use

In a recent poll, residents of Austin cited rising property taxes as a major issue they face, iconic business are having to close their doors and longtime residents are moving out citing rising property taxes. Some have also cited homelessness as an impediment to business. How would you slow or stop the increase in City property taxes, encourage other taxing entities to do the same, and balance the requests for more funding coming from the City Departments and the public? One example of the request of more funding is to expand social service contracts to meet needs, including to provide more supportive housing programs. How do you balance less taxes and increased demand for social services? Please explain.

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity

Do you support a budget at the effective tax rate so home and business owners continue to benefit from the “growth dividend” and pay the same amount in property taxes as in the previous fiscal year? How do we balance this strategy with meeting the needs of people struggling to access services due to a lack of service capacity? How do you prioritize additional funding? Where would you look for efficiencies? (Y/N; Explain)

Issue(s): Affordability

Do you support maintaining affordable utility costs across Austin Energy and Austin Water that adheres strictly to the City’s affordability goals for Austin Energy, which require AustinEnergy rates to be in the bottom half of Texas ratepayers and minimizes increases to two percent per year for each rate class? (Y/N Explain)

Issue(s): Open Government

What is your collaborative vision when working with other governmental entities (Travis County, State of Texas, Central Health, etc.)?

Issue(s): Affordability

Solutions to homelessness exist – they require scaling up social services and housing programs, including the pathways from shelter to housing. To date, Austin has not identified adequate funding to address this challenge. How would you work to identify the funding needed?

Issue(s): Affordability, Housing

Council adopted the Strategic Housing Blueprint last year, calling for 13,500 new units annually over 10 years. This gets us to break-even in terms of need. Would you support amending the City’s proposed Strategic Housing Plan to increase the number to at least 15,000 housing units per year for 10 years, keeping the breakout across income levels and including permanent supportive housing for those chronically experiencing homelessness? (Y/N; Explain)

Issue(s): Affordability

Many low-income families and persons experiencing homelessness have debt to the utility companies, which are now barriers to their ability to securing housing. Would you support increasing debt forgiveness programs for 3-4 years to help more people access housing? (Y/N/Explain)

Issue(s): Innovation

Austin has long since been perceived as a town of creative innovators. Given the City’s recent regulatory attempts with the sharing and gig economy (Uber, AirBnB, Scooters), what is your position on how the City should handle emerging technologies and emerging markets? What is your view, generally, on the conflict between consumer demands and government interests? Similarly, when non-profits secure grant funding for innovative social solutions that requires a local match, what is your view on city funding being available for the match?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity, Open Government

Council has passed 2 resolutions supporting an annual increase of about 2-3% for social service contracts in order to ensure that service agencies can keep up with rising costs of doing business and maintain service capacity. Would you direct the City Manager to include this annual increase in the budget for contracts meeting their performance targets? (Y/N/Explain)

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion, Economic Opportunity

One of the best ways to make Austin more affordable is to ensure we have a diverse set of industries which provide local, skilled and the hard-to-employ talent the opportunity to compete for jobs that have a career ladder. The Austin City Council is considering adopting a revised economic incentive policy, expanding the previous one-size-fits-all policy. If the Austin Chamber of Commerce presents a company that meets the criteria for an incentive as set by City Council policy, will you vote to support incentivizing jobs for both small operators and large in our city? How will you monitor success with the provision requiring employment of the hard-to-employ?

Issue(s): Mobility

How will you coordinate with regional partners to meaningfully address our increasing traffic level? What is your long-term vision for addressing traffic in Austin, and what would be the immediate first actions you would champion as a City Council Member to address the crisis?

Issue(s):

Why do you identify as a Democrat?

Issue(s):

Please share your experience and involvement in the Democratic Party in Travis County.

Issue(s): Housing

Affordable housing is a major problem in Austin. Large numbers of people who work in Austin cannot afford to live in Austin. Many families are moving outside the city to find affordable housing. Do you have any ideas to help create more affordable housing or to make existing housing more affordable?

Issue(s): Criminal Justice

Although Austin has remained a relatively safe city, there have been far too many shootings of African American men. What kind of changes would you institute at APD to reduce the number of officer-involved shootings and reduce the degree of mistrust that exists between the African American community and the police?

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion, Social Equity

A respected University of Texas study has found that Austin is the only high-growth city that is losing African Americans, both in terms of numbers and percentage of the total population. Do you consider this a problem? If so, what would you do to reverse or stabilize the decline?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

Rising property taxes are a growing concern. There are a number of people who believe taxes are high because the city provides not only essential city services (police, fire, etc.) but non-essential services (social service contracts, education funding, etc.) If elected, how would you prioritize what is or is not an essential city service?

Issue(s):

Which Democratic value speaks to you most?

Issue(s): Housing, Public Safety, Social Equity

What are the most critical issues in your district and how will you address them?

Issue(s): Environment

What is your top environmental concern and how would you address it?

Issue(s): Land Use

Explain what important aspects of the land development code revision you support.

Issue(s): Affordability

What policies do you support to make Austin a more affordable place to live for all residents?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

Five years from now, where do you see the City in in the No Kill movement and how would you hold the City Manager accountable when actions or inactions by the City Manager’s office jeopardize Austin’s No Kill status?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

Will you vote for passage of a CAPA ordinance if recommended by the Animal Advisory Commission?

Issue(s): Arts & Culture, Health & Human Services

Are you aware that a permanent director of the City’s animal center still has not been named, that six key positions at the animal center have remained vacant and unfilled and that the City’s No Kill status has come into jeopardy as a result?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

Do you support the current balanced “No Kill” approach embraced by the Council and “No Kill” advocates? Or, are you willing to risk the progress Austin has made by imposing a mandatory alteration law?

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

Will you oppose any city ordinance that bans any breed of dog?

Issue(s): Land Use

Will you continue to support this decision and help facilitate permitting, design, and construction on the new facility to help the nonprofit complete this project as efficiently and cost effectively as possible.

Issue(s): Health & Human Services

What skills, or qualities do you have that will allow you to discern legitimate complaints that need investigating and a response from the frivolous and groundless ones?

Issue(s): Economic Opportunity, Health & Human Services

What do you propose to do about the understaffing and absence of a permanent director at the Austin Animal Center? If you are an incumbent, why have you not directed the City Manager to fill these critical positions?

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion, Social Equity

What policies and approaches will you advocate to promote neighborhood improvement, and avoid neighborhood protectionism, as Austin changes and grows?

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion, Social Equity

How will you resolve policy issues and cases that come before you when the wishes of some incumbent residents in a neighborhood conflict with the interests of other residents and the larger, city-wide community?

Issue(s): Affordability, Diversity & Inclusion, Economic Opportunity, Housing, Mobility, Social Equity

What policies will you advocate to address the increasingly unaffordable housing, transportation, and utility costs that are economically segregating our neighborhoods?

Issue(s): Diversity & Inclusion

What policies will you advocate to accommodate and welcome the full abundance and diversity of people who aspire to live in Austin’s neighborhoods?