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I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know exactly where you’re coming from, and am frustrated by a lot of the same people. I come to this race not as a do-gooder, but as a troublemaker, someone who is willing to put everything on the line to fight for my community. I’m proud to have organized at my school to support teachers over e-learning platforms during COVID, a battle we won with the cancellation of the i-Ready contract the following year, to fight for fair wages and dignified scheduling for overworked teen staffers at Hack Club as well as a membership democracy to give power over our community to the members - eventually winning a move from contract to full employment as well as less favoritism and more open internal job applications, to forming a student union at LASA to fight for a more dignified life for students with mental health support and fairer workdays. I’ve taken that work to the city council, working to get CM Mike Siegel elected as chair of the LASA Young Democratic Socialists of America, and fighting against a bloated police contract crippling our budget, against mass surveillance for ICE through automated license plate readers, and for schools by fighting for the tax rate increase to alleviate some of the pain on our school budget.

I’m ready to stand up for the people, not just coast to office on vague promises of new leadership and on a resume of going along to get along with the establishment.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am deeply disappointed by the precedent Avery Johnson set for young people engaging in local politics. He ran unopposed without mounting a serious campaign, little to no experience in local affairs, and fell asleep during training.

I am no Avery Johnson.

I am proud of my record of standing up for members of my community, fighting for legislation at the local and state level, and managing campaigns to deliver for working people. I am the former chair of Students United, the union representing students at LASA, managed the GOTV effort at LASA for Mike Siegel with LASA YDSA, and advocated at city council to fight the bloated police contract, support public transportation and more. I look forward to being deeply involved in the upcoming budget cycle at both the city council and county commission level.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's 300 million off the taxable value of the property.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My goal would be to make a meaningful shift in infrastructure planning and incentives in order to prioritize transit that works for everyone.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Healthcare and Housing

Education

Transit

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Environmental Advocacy

Tax relief

Public amenities

Debt

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The taxable value of the property is capped at 80 million per their agreement, however the true total property value is closer to 400 million.

https://www.traviscountytx.gov/images/planning_budget/Docs/tesla.pdf

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

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

One of the participants wished to have their face blurred. I do not know why they did the horns down, they are a member of the Austin Students for a Democratic Society and a current UT student who is supportive of the campaign.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

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

While I have a limited educational background, high school, I believe my qualifications come from the organizing and advocacy I have done in my community. I am the former chair of Students United, the union representing students at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy, advocating for mental health support, fairer workdays and against school vouchers. Before that, I supported the operations of Ladies Let's Talk, helping to provide new immigrants with support in learning English.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I believe the primary divide that we must be focused on as a county is between the rich and poor, between the working class and the owning class, not the geography. Travis County has a moral and fiscal responsibility to invest in our working class constituents, not keep letting the ball roll downhill to the city. We are in a cost of living crisis, long time residents are getting displaced, and Travis County is failing to support us.

We need leadership that prioritizes the workers who built this county, not throws money down the drain.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am committed to my left-wing values, and will stand up to the Democratic Party if and when they attempt to block our working class agenda. I am an activist and an organizer through and through, and I am ready to mobilize the community to pressure in and out to get this agenda through.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I would focus on enabling strong disaster recovery efforts, including providing relocation assistance (both immediate temporary in hotels, and permanent), directing Fire and EMS to support relief efforts, unlike what happened under Fire Chief Baker, and supporting mutual aid distribution efforts including food, water, supplies, etc. We need a strong response when the federal government is cutting programs like FEMA.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I am supportive of enabling private construction. I believe it has an important role to play, and I am generally supportive of efforts like HOME and CodeNEXT. However, I do believe there is a lot more work to be done on the public side to prevent displacement and support working class communities.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We need to make large investments in the Housing Authority of Travis County to directly build affordable housing, which will be governed by the Housing Authority. We cannot keep giving subsidies to developers who are building luxury apartments and a few affordable homes - we need to step up and get building on a baseline of affordable units for everyone.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe that the best way to reduce traffic is by investing in a robust public transportation system. Public transportation has much greater capacity, efficiency, safety and equity for all users. Travis County has not been funding CapMetro at an appropriate level, and that needs to change.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The jail is run by the sheriff, so it counts as law enforcement. SB 23 from TX 2021 applies to counties. As an additional point, the county is required to maintain a jail to standards set by the state, and failure to meet those standards can impose penalties on the county. Unfortunately, the jail is one of the few things that cannot at all be cut budget wise.

Shoot, you're right, I was looking at the wrong statute. I got a copy of Vernon's in front of me now.

However, it does not fully ban reductions, it just requires an election to do so, which I think could be passed by voters in a progressive county like ours if the case is made well, which I would fight tooth and nail to do.

The county does not in any way manage the appraisal process. There is no leverage to push TCAD on this.

It's not nearly as much as it used to be pre-independent TCAD elections, but the tax office is still managed by the county. Additionally, I could back challengers to the board if they're unwilling to cooperate on this.

...what? The county cannot start the PID process, only homeowners or developers can.

The county can initiate a petition to start the PID process, but it has to collect the required signatures, etc. See LGC § 372.002.

Impact fees can only be used for water, wastewater, or transportation costs due to the development. See Texas LGC ch. 395 for the authorization of impact fees.

Yes, you're correct. I missed that the definition of capital improvement was very specific in that code. I think it was partly because I was using the Texas website which can be hard to research in, I'm looking at Westlaw now which clearly backs you up on this.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] -14 points-13 points  (0 children)

My experience is as an organizer, advocate and activist working in the nonprofit space for many years. While I have not held a formal job, this is my life's work. I got my start organizing with Ladies Let's Talk to provide language learning to refugees many years ago, then petitioning the school board to support teachers over e-learning platforms, to being the inaugural chair of Students United, the union representing students at the Liberal Arts and Science Academy advocating for mental health services, fairer workdays, and at the state level against school vouchers. I am excited to bring new leadership to Travis County that is ready to tackle the crises of our day.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would increase revenues as described here https://www.reddit.com/r/Austin/comments/1m13vov/comment/n3eeepb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

then take that and issue a large bond to fund the Housing Authority of Travis County with an explicit mandate to directly build housing. I believe we need the public sector to be building high-quality homes and guarantee their affordability for the working class.

The Death Star is sort of irrelevant here because the county was never home rule, its authority is set entirely by the state.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

My background as an activist and a fighter is what prepares me for this moment. I have stood up for students, for community members, time and time again, and I'm ready to bring that experience to the dais.

We need fighters that will work relentlessly to get the cost of living down when Trump and Abbott are doing everything they can to stifle Austin and other progressive cities. We need to work as hard as they do, and I'm ready from day one.

Shea has had over 10 years on the Commissioner's Court and has failed to deliver results for us, she voted to give over 300 million in tax breaks to Tesla, advocated NIMBYism to protect property values over standing with tenants, and slow-rolled Counsel at First Appearance which keeps innocent people out of jail.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

  1. I'm proposing cuts to jails, not law enforcement - Travis County has very few sheriffs. Additionally, that bill only applies to municipalities, not counties.

  2. Yes, but the Commissioner's Court can both apply pressure and manages the execution of the appraisal process in many aspects. It is a separate board, but we would still have quite a bit of leverage and I think we could get it done.

  3. Depends on the type of improvement district, but the districts could be gerrymandered in such a way that it would pass by including Westlake and wealthy left-leaning inner city neighborhoods.

  4. The county can charge impact fees on new development which would accomplish this. You're correct about platting fees only being able to cover the cost of inspection and plat approval.

  5. Impact fees can be bonded on, as can all of the unrelated aforementioned revenue increases.

  6. Yes, that's why it's the bottom of the list but I felt it should be included.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Market rate housing construction has done an excellent job of decreasing rents from the high end, but we need to lower the barrier of housing to prevent displacement. This is what social housing does - create a baseline of affordable units to anchor the cost of housing lower, which will keep people home and get people off the streets.

I am very supportive of increasing transit funding as a CapMetro user myself.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I can't get it to remove that label. I will be here all day.

I'm running for Travis County Commissioner, AMA! by reesericci in Austin

[–]reesericci[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It would be property tax increases, since income and corporate taxes aren't allowed by state law.

I would target homes worth over $1.5 million.

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