Mariana Salazar

City Council, District 1

Campaign Website

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

I think the way the City and Council handled CodeNext was not effective in part because they oversold what it …

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How will you help address the affordability problems in Austin?

As a city council member, I will work with others to address the affordability problems by: Promoting access to better …

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

I believe our city’s top priority in order to address the housing shortage should be creating new housing, by investing …

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

I believe long-term investments in public transit are vital for our growing community: we can’t build our way out of …

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

I think one of Austin’s greatest transportation priority should be to shift mode share away from single-occupant vehicle trips in …

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

I am excited to see partnerships like the one between the City, Austin Tech Alliance and Capital Factory to find …

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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?

I recognize that using the internet and technology in general can significantly improve our lives in many ways, including gaining …

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

I think the City can support the continued growth and success of Austin’t tech sector by: Incentivizing the creation of …

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

As someone who is running for office, I am excited about ATA’s informed voter project. The city can better work …

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

Housing is generally thought as affordable or unaffordable depending on one’s income. Generally speaking, housing is considered affordable if one …

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Where should we be allowed to build multifamily apartment buildings? Should we allow it in more places in central Austin?

I came to Austin eleven years ago with my husband looking for a city where we could start our lives …

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Will you consult with us on appointments to the Planning Commission and Cap Metro Board of Directors?

Yes.

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Do you support more by-right zoning entitlements?

Yes.

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What is your position on homestead exemptions?

Homeowners across Austin and in District 1 are seriously worried and cost-burdened by increasing property taxes in rapidly appreciating neighborhoods. …

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How would you maximize the efficacy of the $250M affordable housing bond (assume that it passes)?

We need to ensure affordable units as part of the affordable housing bond are created at all levels of affordability …

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What can the city do to lower average rents or at least decrease the rate of growth of average rents?

Increased rents are forcing many of our working families, students, seniors, artists and other renters out of the city. Increased …

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How can we maximize transit ridership and decrease reliance on cars?

When I first moved to Austin, I was committed to not driving and using public transit. However, it quickly became …

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What three items would you most like reform in our current zoning code?

Unfortunately, our rents, property taxes and child care costs continue to go up in Austin. Our families are being pushed …

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

Prop A Prop B Prop C Prop E Prop F Prop G Prop H Prop I Austin is in a …

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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)

Yes. I came to Austin eleven years ago with my husband looking for a city where we could start our …

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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)

Yes I don’t have enough information to know whether I would support the specific goal mentioned, but in general I …

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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)

Yes, I would support amending the Strategic Housing Plan to add to the housing goal. We currently have an employment …

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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)

No As part of the $4.1 billion dollars budget recently approved, Council approved to raise the effective property tax rate …

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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.

To assist homeowners affected by increased property taxes, I will support exploring policies that prevent our families from being pushed …

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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)

Yes, I need more information to answer this question.

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

My vision when working with Travis County and Central Health is to build collaborative stakeholder relationships, and effective community partnerships …

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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?

As a city, we should be encouraging the private sector and foundations to play a bigger role in ending homelessness. …

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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?

I think part of what makes Austin unique is our entrepreneurial culture. I think we should embrace emerging technologies taking …

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Austin has experienced growth but some constituencies have been left behind. What is your vision for the City’s role in funding/supporting the nonprofit network that provide much needed social services? What is your plan for addressing disparities and inequities in our community?

Historically, District 1 residents have faced substantial discrimination, including segregation, redlining and limited access to resources. As District 1 residents …

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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)

Yes I think increasing social service contracts to ensure they can keep up with rising costs could be a reasonable practice, …

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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?

I support the council’s recent vote to approve the framework for a restructuring of the city’s economic incentives programs to …

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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?

We must work towards more public transit investments e.g. by supporting a 2020 transportation bond and lobbying Central Texas Regional …

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Transportation is the second highest family cost. When it is difficult to move freely around Austin, access to services and economic opportunities are limited; time spent commuting leaves less room for family obligations and socializing; and Austin becomes a more frustrating place. Do you support the items below? (Please mark each one you agree with)

Agree: Improve high-capacity transit to make it a more convenient, reliable alternative to single occupancy vehicles Support improvements for South …

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Why do you identify as a Democrat?

I identify with the following values: Expanding access to affordable housing, public transit and childcare. Raising income and creating good-paying …

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

I don’t have any experience or involvement in the Democratic Party in Travis County. Prior to running for office, even …

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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?

Yes, I have some ideas to help create more affordable housing. These include: – Supporting the $250 million Affordable Housing …

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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?

To reduce the number of officer-involved shootings and reduce the degree of mistrust that exists between the African American community …

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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?

Losing our African American population is a significant problem for our city. Historically, District 1 residents, in particular black residents, …

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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?

Because East Austin has been neglected for so long, what may be considered non-essential services in one part of the …

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Which Democratic value speaks to you most?

I identify with the following values: Expanding access to affordable housing, public transit and childcare Raising income and creating good-paying …

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

I will address the affordability crisis, by increasing affordable housing, preventing further economic displacement, increasing affordable childcare options, and expanding …

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

Carbon emissions cause catastrophic & extreme weather events, and in Austin, we see the effects of climate change in flash …

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

As an immigrant, I want a see an inclusive city that works for everyone and makes room for families like …

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

As a working mother raising two children in East Austin, I know how tough it can be for a family …

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What do you believe the role of private partners should be in maintaining and improving public parks? What actions would you take to strengthen and improve public-private partnerships?

I believe that private partners can be a key pillar in building, improving and maintaining public parks. City Departments are …

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Ensuring equitable access to quality parks for all Austinites is a key priority for Austin Parks Foundation. How might you work as a decision-maker for both your district and the city as a whole to move the needle on equitable access to quality parks?

If one looks at this PARD map for parks (https://tinyurl.com/y7aj6yu2), there appear to be a reasonable distribution of green spaces …

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What’s your favorite park in Austin? Why?

My favorite park is the Davis White Northeast District Park, because it’s the one closest to my house. As a …

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Austin Parks Foundation is continuously involved in community engagement to ensure that our projects and work align with community values and needs. What is your philosophy on community engagement, and how would you engage with the community to ensure that their needs around parks and open space are appropriately addressed?

Community Engagement is a major part of how I hope to be effective as a City Council Member. Throughout my …

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Parkland dedication fees are one mechanism by which the city funds park acquisition and improvements. What is your stance on parkland dedication fees, and are you in favor of maintaining them during the Land Development Code updating process?

I would like to do more research on the fee process and ordinance. From what I understand, there are some …

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The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department faces $125 million in deferred maintenance each year, ranging from playground maintenance and aquatics needs to mowing and servicing trash and recycling receptacles. What would be your strategy for addressing this need?

As our city grows, it is critical that City Council is monitoring and planning for the rising costs of maintenance …

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Do you consider parks an important community asset? Why?

Parks are an essential asset in any community, but especially in District 1 and in Austin. As our city grows, …

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