Susana Almanza

City Council, District 3

https://www.facebook.com/VoteforSusanaAlmanza/

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Do you agree that the ballot language proposed for two ballot petitions – the CodeNEXT petition and the Austin Efficiency Audit – was misleading to the voters of Austin and if so, will you help clarify to voters what these measures really mean – regardless of how you might vote on them? (Note: This article in the Austin Bullldog is a helpful review. Also note: the Texas Supreme Court ruled on August 27 th , in favor of the city of Austin – see KUT report here.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

I will use social media platform to explain to grassroots communities what the petition means and what your vote signifies. …

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Will you pledge to immediately reconvene the Charter Revision Commission to revisit its recommendations and to discuss how to ensure its most important recommendations are placed on the next available city ballot? (Note: This helpful article in the Austin Bullldog explains how Council inaction put the kibosh on major reforms that should have been on the November ballot. The most egregious omission to us at IndyAustin was Recommendation 4 – which would close a loophole currently preventing petitions to repeal controversial Council decisions like the Precourt Soccer Stadium or the 2008 $2.3B biomass boondoggle – aka Voter Referendum. Read our Referendum page here.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Yes, will reconvene the Charter Revision Commission. Rate your support: 10

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Do you agree that Austin desperately needs a united front of officeholders, local businesses and voters to “make growth pay for itself?” (Note: An example is the passage of full water impact fees implemented on new developments in 2013. See the huge benefits below. Mind you, these benefits would have disappeared had the “Pilot Knob fiasco” been allowed to stand.) $300 million collections years 1-10 (already raised $150M in first 5 years) $45 million less debt service Fiscal Year 2018 15% lower customer bills Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

If developers don’t pay their share of fees to the city, then those fees fall upon tax payers. Increased property …

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Do you agree that increasing housing supply is only one side of the supply-demand equation for beating back Austin’s affordability crisis, and that Austin should refrain from subsidizing growth during times of rapid growth so as to reduce demand growth to levels that can be met with new supply? If so, in the Candidate Response section below, please tell us your ideas for ways to make Austin’s growth pay for itself. (Hint: You can refer to any of the materials parked on this page from the years of work conducted by local developers, Brian Rodgers and Ed Wendler, Jr., especially the power point at the bottom of the page Total Accounting and Impact Fees.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

The city of Austin should not be subsidizing growth. The market builds for profit. The private market cannot or will …

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Will you refrain from supporting any economic development projects that do not adhere to a 90% local hiring requirement​, unless they are related to addressing a security threat to the Austin area? (Note: 2014 Candidates Steve Adler and Greg Casar approved this idea in ChangeAustin.org’s candidate questionnaire. To our knowledge, neither have attempted to fulfill this promise.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Rate your support: 10

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Will you pledge to propose an ordinance or charter amendment to end the practice of the Chamber of Commerce or any other private trade association from negotiating public subsidy deals for the City of Austin without a super-majority vote of the City Council? — like the one going on right now for bringing the Amazon H2Q to the Austin area? (Note: This IndyAustin blog linking to the Austin Bulldog on the secretive Amazon negotiations by the Greater Austin Area Chamber of Commerce and Amazon for the City of Austin.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

I fully support this. Rate your support: 10

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Will you defend the right to petition for a public vote on publicly owned property outside the facilities so long as petitioners are conducting themselves in an orderly, legal, and peaceful manner to secure signatures? (Note: In 2017-2018, the Austin Public Libraries and the Palmer Events Center began barring petitioners from petitioning on city property outside the facilities. Petitioners were forced to threaten suit. The issue pending. The San Antonio Firefighters recently filed a federal lawsuit for similar practices by the San Antonio Public Library.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Yes, it is our constitutional right and our human right. Rate your support: 10

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Do you support Austin voters securing their right to vote on CodeNEXT or any comprehensive​ development code overhaul — Proposition J on the November ballot? (Note: Passage of Proposition J does not mean that all code changes come to a public vote – only a comprehensive code overhaul, whether it’s called CodeNEXT or something else.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

I support democracy. Giving voice and choice is part of democracy. Rate your support: 10

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As climate change and fast-paced growth proceeds in Austin, there is growing concern to both secure water supply for the future while conserving a finite resource for our region. Will you pledge to support an Austin future that prioritizes conservation, reuse, and local water supplies, and to oppose actions that would require pumping of groundwater in either the Edwards Aquifer or the Carrizo/Simsboro aquifers east of Austin beyond a sustainable level that matches rates of recharge? Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

I completely support this measure. Water is sacred, it is the live blood of mother earth and humanity. Rate your support: …

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Will you refrain from voting to allow the City Manager to execute contracts for controversial projects like the Soccer Stadium on public land and demand a final review and vote of the Council? (Note: This letter from open government attorney, Bill Aleshire, to the City Attorney, warns about the legal problems that are likely ensue after a final lease or contract is signed with Precourt Sports Ventures.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Yes, the people should have a direct say when it comes any kind of development on city owned land. Rate …

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Do you support the right of Austin voters to vote on the sale, lease, or conveyance of any City-owned land that will be used as a sports and/or entertainment stadium? (Note: We recommend this Statesman commentary by UT Professor, Nathen Jenson, for context to this question.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

Public land belongs to the public and we should have a right to vote to ensure that property is being …

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When the Council considers an agenda item that includes granting fee waivers or waivers of environmental standards, a.​ will you pledge to push for public agenda notices that clearly set out proposed fee waivers whether or not it is required by the Texas Open Meetings Act? And, b.​ , will you pledge to help ensure that staff- granted waivers are reported to Council? (Note: District Judges said that the postings for Pilot Knob – which did not mention over $100 million in fee waivers, and the Champion tract agenda item – which did not mention waivers from the Hill Country Roadway Ordinance and Lake Austin Watershed Ordinance – should have included public notice of those waivers.) Rate your support on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the most support and 1 being the least.

I believe in full transparency in all aspects of government, especially on the local level. Rate your support: a. 10  …

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Why do you identify as a Democrat?

As a young child I went to the Polls with my Dad and he always voted Democrat. He believed the …

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

My life works includes working for democracy.  I have worked on numerous campaigns for democratic candidates.  I have also served …

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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?

We need to support the Peoples Plan.  The Peoples Plan calls for the establishment of Low-income housing trust fund and …

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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?

Include program, “Ethical Policing Is Courageous” training for police officers. Police departments and prosecutor officers should look and feel like …

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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?

I consider it a crisis! Austin is just beginning to address its racist policies that has led to the displacement …

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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?

In addition to making steady progress to implement the promised 20% homestead exemption, the city (and county) should adopt a …

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Which Democratic value speaks to you most?

Protection of Civil Rights and Universal Health Care.  

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

Implement Peoples Plan which addresses low-income housing, environment & equity. Support preserving & expanding low-income & moderate housing through rehabilitation, …

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

Implementation of Peoples Plan on housing, environment & equity; Recommendations of COA Flood Mitigation Task Force; Austin Community Climate Plan …

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

Proposition J gives residents a choice to approve or disapprove any plan like CodeNEXT at the ballot. Refocus on the …

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

Implement the Peoples Plan which addresses low-income housing, environment & equity. Support preserving & expanding low-income & moderate housing through …

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How can legislation improve access to affordable housing?

Allow the City of Austin to use Linkage Fee; Allow the use of Inclusionary Zoning; Give the City of Austin …

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How would you improve access to affordable housing for both renters and owners in Austin?

Create programs that encourage developers and owners to offer long (perhaps five-to-seven year) leases to tenants at all income levels …

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How would you address the issue of declining enrollment in Austin’s schools and bridge the achievement gap across AISD?

In District 3, the AISD school enrollment has been the result of displacement and gentrification. We need to support the …

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How can you make healthcare more accessible and affordable to the large population of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Austin?

Produce marketing that clarifies the role of the City of Austin in providing health care services, versus other providers, clinics …

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What role can Austin play to improve access to affordable healthcare?

There needs to be improvements for increased access to healthcare services and information by promoting and protecting a healthy community …

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How would you counteract anti-immigrant sentiment to make our local communities welcoming to all?

Policy-makers need to better understand what causes anti-immigrant sentiments because resistant public opinion is the key roadblock for immigration reform …

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As a majority-minority state, what role do you see Austin playing in the long-term conversation around immigration and migrant rights?

Policy-makers need to better understand what causes anti-immigrant sentiments because resistant public opinion is the key roadblock for immigration reform …

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How do you plan to accommodate low-income neighborhoods who need alternative transportation methods?

Eliminate Capital Metro Bus fares. If elimination is not accepted, then ensure that the elderly and disable ride for free. …

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How do you plan to to improve access to public transportation and ensure its affordability?

Through my work at PODER, we have advocated for bus riders and we have worked on campaigns for Capitol Metro …

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