All five Austin mayoral candidates discussed police policy and housing affordability at a forum on Sept. 25.
Moderators Francheska Castillo, a reporter at Univision 62, and Kylee Howard, news editor at The Daily Texan, asked candidates about the announcement of a new police contract and the recent court ruling stating city officials “failed to perform their mandatory duty to end Austin’s use of the G-file.”
G-files, personnel files containing conduct complaints and internal investigations results, are kept by police and fire departments, and could not be accessed by the public until an August ruling stated the city must end its use of the g-file.
Doug Greco, former lead organizer with Central Texas Interfaith, an organization offering Austin residents educational resources, said he supports paying police and public safety officers “competitively.” Greco said the Austin Police Oversight Act should have already been implemented.
Carmen Llanes Pulido, executive director of Go Austin/Vamos Austin, a coalition working to improve public health and safety, said she supports the Police Oversight Act. Pulido said she witnessed the results of large investments into the police department with “very few requirements related to long-term maintenance of our culture.”
Jeffery Bowen, a member of Austin’s Neighborhood Association, said he and the other candidates have not fully reviewed the contract. He said the 28% raise for the department over five years seems “fairly reasonable.” Bowen also said the public should hold officials to a higher standard.
Kathie Tovo, former mayor pro-tem and District 9 council member, said critique and analysis of the new contract will happen when it is made public. She said the 28% raise in police salaries may require a tax rate election, and the City Council and city manager need to have that conversation to ensure proper funding.
Mayor Kirk Watson said the contract doesn’t take away the public’s right to vote on the Austin Police Oversight Act. He said the city will pay officers enough to live in the city they patrol.
Moderator Ed Bryson, director of news and public affairs for PBS Austin, asked candidates about the new land development codes, whether the policy would help reduce housing costs and what steps they would take to protect middle and low income individuals.
Tovo said there are valid concerns regarding the new development code. She said the lack of provisions for affordable housing will prevent construction of new housing for the middle and lower class.
Watson said the previous council had been “stagnant” when making changes to the development code, which had not been reformed since the mid ‘80s, and his administration has been “doing a great deal” to address housing affordability.
Bowen said the amendment to the code has unintended consequences for smaller developers. He said he wants to see the city undergo an external audit to understand where money is being spent.
Greco said many people are unable to buy a home because of discrimination or income. He said the cost of living has “gone through the roof.” He called for more housing at all income levels and credited former mayoral candidate Celia Israel for bringing attention to problems with the old land development code.
Pulido said she has worked closely with community members directly impacted by the cost of living through working on the planning commission. There are ways to address affordability for low income homeowners, but the city needs “to keep people where they are.”
The forum will air as a shortened hour-long version on Austin PBS Oct. 10 and Oct. 18. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 7. Election Day is Nov. 5.
