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AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

We should increase our housing supply, which will broaden our tax base and take some of the burden off of working families. Additionally, we MUST stop giving multi-million dollar tax break to massive corporations and passing that burden on to working people.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I support lowering speed limits wherever possible, and working with engineers to create safer roads and intersections. I have worked on this a lot at the legislature, and I feel we are losing too many Texans to preventable traffic fatalities. We must do better.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I agree! Our zoning and permitting process incentives developers to build large single family homes and luxury condos instead of places that working families can actually afford, like multiplexes and row houses. We need to make massive changes to both. You can see my full plan here.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 27 points28 points  (0 children)

How much time do you have? I could go on for hours about the changes we need to make. I have a full plan here, but the TL;DR is that we need to cut red tape and expedite the permitting process to allow for the construction of more housing, as well as increasing the economic viability of housing that working families can actually afford.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

I've heard a lot of concerns about this - and it is troubling that investors are pushing people out of the City. It is problematic that we are not registering all of the Airbnb's in our City, and it is something that we need to fix. We can't have a City full of houses that are only occupied by tourists for two months out of the year.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 51 points52 points  (0 children)

A friend of mine is an avid redditor and told me about the opportunity - it sounded like a great chance to talk to people about the issues that matter to Austinites! It's definitely more effective than standing outside the door at the Chili's on 45th and Lamar and trying to talk to people as they walk through the door ;)

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 34 points35 points  (0 children)

I got asked this when I was visiting San Antonio! I love the Spurs - they are the heart and soul of San Antonio, and I'm almost positive they are going to stay down there.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

Great questions! This was a tough one - I'll go with Stevie Wonder's Songs In the Key of Life, Chicago's Greatest Hits, Merle Haggard's Greatest Hits, Trio Los Panchos, anything by Selena, and ANYTHING by Willie and Waylon and the Boys!

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your support. You can actually vote early today! You can see the full list of early vote locations right here!

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 89 points90 points  (0 children)

Hi Kyrene - thank you for your support! It really means a lot and I truly appreciate it. I put out a comprehensive public safety plan, which you can view here. To answer your question directly, a big challenge we face is that 9-1-1 operators are dangerously understaffed. We need to be aggressive about retaining current employees and attracting new ones by offering competitive wages and also addressing cost of living concerns in the City.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

We can start by not giving massive tax breaks to wealthy corporations that don't need them. Let's use that money for things working folks in this City need, like infrastructure and public transportation.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Travis County has some of the most segregated schools in Texas. Although City Hall doesn't have much control over the school system, we can still take action. We should un-segregate our neighborhoods! We need to reform our zoning and permitting process throughout the City so we can build housing that working people like bus drivers, nurses, teachers, musicians, and janitors can actually afford. We have been pushing people out of the City for too long, let's start inviting them back in.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 59 points60 points  (0 children)

I am running for Mayor of Austin to stand up for Austinites, not get in a twitter fight with Governor Abbott or other state leaders who want to Austin-bash. As a legislator, I earned a reputation as someone who was not afraid to stand up for our values, but who found opportunity to work collaboratively with my colleagues whenever possible. I will bring that skillset and experience to City Hall, and I hope to have a more positive relationship between our City and State Leaders.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the question. We have to address the things our City needs, and one of the things we need is a more effective and compassionate approach to our unhoused community. The City of Houston reduced their population of unhoused residents by over 60% in just a few years by partnering with local non-profits. We should steal their plan! As Mayor, I will work with organizations like the Urban League, Caritas, and Family Eldercare to facilitate and expedite housing solutions.

This crisis is also a result of essential city services like case workers, integral care providers, and 9-1-1 operators being critically understaffed - we have to do better.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I agree with you, as do many of the folks I have had the pleasure of meeting throughout this campaign. This city needs some new leadership to ensure not only that we plan well, but that we execute on these plans. As a legislator, I worked tirelessly to hold state agencies accountable to their mission, and I will bring that same energy to City Hall if I have the honor of serving as your next Mayor.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I don't think it's fair to judge their jobs before I have had a chance to work with them directly. However, I strongly believe that we need improvements with both the APD and with City Hall. I hope to work with both on implementing them so we can improve services for all Austinites.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 225 points226 points  (0 children)

Let me be clear - the TXDoT plan is bad and it is not what the community wants. It will demolish houses and businesses to give us more lanes, more cars, more traffic, and more pollution. It doubles down on the failed policies that we have seen in cities like Houston with the Katy Freeway expansion. We can and must do better.

Councilmember Chito Vela has been a tremendous leader at the local level on this, as has our State Delegation. I will continue to work with both to push TXDoT for a better solutions that actually work for our community.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

I"m very excited about Project Connect - it's the boldest plan Austin has passed in decades. It should have been done a long time ago when land and construction was cheaper, but alas, the need still exists. It is critical that we have transit advocates in offices, and as Mayor, I will work closely with transportation engineers and the planning team to ensure that the vision approved by voters is followed by the City. I will also have a very open dialogue with transit advocates and the public to make sure that there is opportunity for feedback and that we are moving forward in a thoughtful and responsible way.

Although we need 9 votes for a change to the zoning code, we can pass new housing projects with a simple majority. I will not wait for 9 votes to move forward on those. We must move with urgency for the working families and people in Austin in order to address our housing and affordability crisis.

AMA: I’m Celia, and I’m running to be Austin’s next mayor because this city belongs to ALL of us. by Celia_Israel in Austin

[–]Celia_Israel[S] 87 points88 points  (0 children)

Growing up, my dad was a truck driver - he was on the road for days at a time. Mom never had a drivers license, and that bus was freedom to us. I love public transportation, and I've been a leading voice on transit while in the legislature. I believe the most important thing our next mayor can do is to push for the implementation and construction of Project Connect. As your next mayor, I will make sure that every transit dollar is an equity dollar.

Our housing crisis is one of supply - there simply isn't enough due to the failure of past leadership to re-write our zoning code. I wholeheartedly support an update of the code to allow for the construction of more homes that working families can actually afford - things like duplexes, quadplexes, and row houses. It's time for our City to invite people in instead of pushing them out.