Paige Ellis

City Council, District 8

Democrat

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?

Austin is bursting at the seams, we need to do something to accommodate our growth. This means we must update …

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How will you help address the affordability problems in Austin?

We must have more diverse housing options. This means density where it is appropriate, in places where residents will also …

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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?

The land development code needs to be updated to allow density and increase our housing supply – diverse housing options …

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

My long term vision for Austin is an effective mass transit system such as rail. For the current Metro Rail …

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

I do believe in bikes and scooters as mobility options (I use scooters and have even considered using one to …

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

If Austin is truly going to be a modern city then we need to use modern techniques and best practices …

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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?

Whereas the digital divide was once exasperated by the financial barrier to entry of owning a desktop or laptop computer, …

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

One way is allowing for more telecommuting and coworking. Some industries are better adapted and ready to lead the way …

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

The city should be encouraging startups and entrepreneurs who aim to pay strong wages and want to bring innovation to …

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

It’s important for Austin to support multi-family housing in areas that are conducive to walkable communities and that have access …

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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?

Right now in Southwest Austin, homestead exemptions are helping homeowners offset the cost of rising property taxes. Until lawmakers at …

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

I would focus on land acquisition in a way that utilizes to proximity to transit, schools, and job opportunities.

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

The city needs to support dense housing such as apartments, condos, and Accessory Dwelling Units (which can also provide income …

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

Wayfinding visibility needs to be taken further in Austin. For instance, Metro Rapid has awnings and red, bold signage. But …

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

Simplicity – one of the main things our code needs is simplicity – people shouldn’t need to hire a lobbyist …

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

Southwest Austin cares about affordability and city services. Among other things we need a code compliance substation in the district. …

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

Proper watershed and stormwater protection measures. Because we are always protecting ourselves from (and preparing ourselves for) the threat of …

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

As we work to update the 1984 land development code, we need to allow for density along transit corridors and …

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

We need to protect the homestead exemption for homeowners, and increase dense housing and affordable housing inventory for renters. I …

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

Increased missing middle housing, We still don’t have safe walkable routes to school for many in Southwest Austin. I live …

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

A comprehensive rewrite of the 1984 land development code as required by the adoption of the Imagine Austin plan. Increased …

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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?

This will be more difficult now that our 1984 land development code rewrite has been delayed. Imagine Austin was adopted …

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

We have an opportunity here. There is a love of neighborhood character throughout Austin that newcomers and old timers both …

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