South Central Austin Edition | September 2024

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South Central Austin Edition VOLUME 17, ISSUE 6 SEPT. 26OCT. 25, 2024

2024 Voter Guide

2024 Education Edition

The math problem

Austin ISD teacher Maria Mota works with her fth grade students on a math lesson Sept. 13. District ocials said they are implementing ways to focus on the subject as statewide test scores decline.

MATTHEW BROOKSCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Educators concerned as math test scores continue to decline in Austin ISD, statewide

fall amid learning loss and workforce turnover. “I really do think the pandemic brought every- body’s attention to, ‘Houston, we might have a math problem,’” said Susan Diaz, AISD’s assistant superintendent of secondary academics.

teachers and a lack of intervention for struggling students. Low math achievement rates were widely reported even before COVID-19, said Gabe Grantham, an education policy adviser for nonpar- tisan think tank Texas 2036. At Austin ISD, ocials said they saw achievement

BY HANNAH NORTON & BEN THOMPSON

In 2023, less than half of Texas students met grade level standards on the standardized math assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted previously existing issues with math education, experts say, including insucient training for

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Also in this issue

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INSIDE

Impacts: Try handmade pastas at a new Italian restaurant (Page 8)

Elections: Meet the candidates for the Austin ISD board of trustees (Page 14)

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

About Community Impact

Owners John and Jennifer Garrett launched Community Impact in 2005, and the company is still locally owned today with editions across Texas. Our mission is to provide trusted news and local information that everyone gets. Our vision is to build communities of informed citizens and thriving businesses through the collaboration of a passionate team. Our purpose is to be a light for our readers, customers, partners and each other by living out our core values of Faith, Passion, Quality, Innovation and Integrity.

Market leaders & metro team

Reporters Brittany Anderson Amanda Cutshall Dacia Garcia Kameryn Griesser Sarah Hernandez Anna Maness Haley McLeod Hannah Norton Brooke Sjoberg Ben Thompson Amira Van Leeuwen Gracie Warhurst Chloe Young Graphic Designers Alissa Foss Gloria Gonzalez Melissa Johnson Sabrina Musachia

Deeda Lovett General Manager

Minh Nguyen Joseph Veloz Publisher Travis Baker Managing Editor Darcy Sprague Senior Art Production Manager Haley Grace Quality Desk Editor Adrian Gandara

Elle Bent Editor

Gail Watson Account Executive

Volume 17, Issue 5: The private school guide on page 21 contains incorrect details. AHB Community School’s address is 4001 Speedway, Austin and its website is www.ahbcs.org.

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Impacts

BY ELLE BENT, SARAH HERNANDEZ, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

NORTH AUSTIN

Coming soon

Now open

5 Tzintzuntzan As Mexican restaurant Fonda San Miguel owner Tom Gilliland nears the celebration of 50 years operating in North Austin, Gilliland announced the birth of a new concept to be called Tzintzuntzan—pronounced “zin-zoon-zhan.” The new venue, to be located just next door, will serve up all the same authentic Mexican cuisine, but for breakfast and lunch. • Opening March 2025 • 2330 W. North Loop Blvd., Austin 6 Texas Thrift The thrift store is relocating from its East Austin location at 5319 N. IH-35, Austin, to North Austin. Texas thrift oers secondhand clothing and household items. The store will celebrate its grand reopening Sept. 21 with music, giveaways and free food. • Relocating in September • 8740 Research Blvd., Austin • www.buythrift.com 7 Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Food The 17th Austin-area Spec’s Wine, Spirits & Finer Foods store will replace what was a Randalls grocery store. The family-owned business opened in Houston in 1962 and now has more than 100 stores throughout the state. Spec’s rst came to Austin in 2007 oering alcohol, cigars, gifts and more. • Opening in fall 2025

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MOPAC

2 PERSEVERANCE DR.

HIGHLAND CAMPUS DR.

2 Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at The Grove

CLAYTON LN.

3 Antiques of Oakmont The new antique shop opened this summer, and is a curated collection of vintage goods oering furniture, art and trinkets. Vendors make up the store including Mad Man Vintage and South Congress Books. • Opened Aug. 1 4 UFCU The credit union opened a new, full-service branch location in August, located within the 1000 building at the Austin Community College Highlands campus. • Opened Aug. 26 • 6101 Highland Campus Drive, Bldg. 1000, Austin • www.ufcu.org/locations/acc-highland • 1803 W. 35th St., Ste. A, Austin • Instagram: antiquesofoakmont Austin’s newest dim sum and Chinese restaurant, Ling Wu Asian Restaurant at The Grove opened in the Rosedale neighborhood o Burnet Road this summer. Dishes include soup dumplings, egg rolls and Kung Pao shrimp, as well as chef specials like Peking duck, roasted duck pancakes and curry ox tail. Ling Wu is also found in Lantana Place. • Opened July 26 • 2625 Perseverance Drive, Austin • www.lingwugrove.com

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North Central

• 1500 W. 35th St., Austin • www.specsonline.com

Now open

In the news

1 Nike Training Studio the Triangle Nike opened its rst of three planned Austin tness studios at The Triangle this summer. The Nike Training Studio, a partnership with FitLab, oers clients strength and high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, workouts across multiple class formats. • Opened Aug. 19 • 4615 N. Lamar Blvd., Ste. 305, Austin • www.nikestudios.com

8 Mixtape Marketing Local marketing agency Mixtape Marketing turns 15 years old in October. The agency was co-founded by Charlie Brown and Ben Steckbeck, supporting clients

from a variety of industries. • 1509 W. Koenig Lane, Austin • www.mixtapeagency.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Impacts

BY ELLE BENT, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

5 Linx From the owners of barbecue truck Distant Relatives, Linx offers sausages, sides and sandwiches next to dive bar Mean Eyed Cat, who is celebrating their 20th anniversary.

Now open

• Opening in September • 1621 W. Fifth St., Austin • Instagram: linxatx

6 Brass Poppy A cocktail bar is now open in the lobby of Hotel Van Zandt, serving drinks overseen by Lead Bartender Curtis Janto—formerly of Roosevelt Room and Equipment Room—and bites from Executive Chef Sergio Ledesma. • Opened Sept. 13 • 605 Davis St., Austin • www.hotelvanzandt.com/dine/brass-poppy

2 Desnudo Coffee Local roaster Desnudo Coffee opened a second location outside Fareground Austin. Desnudo serves a variety of coffee products sourced from farmers in Colombia, and its original location off Webberville Road also hosts community events such as weekly yoga lessons and a running club. • Opened Aug. 21

2 3

In the news

7 Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin The Tradition, An American Kitchen and bar Heydey Social Club will open in the hotel, replacing Las Bis and Luminaire. Both concepts’ food and drinks are overseen by Executive Chef Iain Reddick, who joined the hotel after stints at The Driskill and other Hyatt locations. • Opening Sept. 27 • 721 Congress Ave., Austin • Instagram: thetraditionatx and heydeysocialclub

DAVIS ST.

• 111 Congress Ave., Austin • www.desnudocoffee.com

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Downtown/West Campus

3 Y Comida Through the end of 2024, Y Comida will serve up part-Mexican, part-Cajun small plates at the Ellis by Fareground. • Open Aug. 23-Dec. 31

Closings

8 Club Eternal After two years in business, the dance music venue announced an “indefinite hiatus” after their final event. • Closed. Aug. 2 • 207 W. Fourth St., Austin 9 Estelle’s NoCo Hospitality’s cocktail bar permanently closed. The two-story botanical-themed lounge opened last spring, serving house cocktails and food. • Closed in September • 400 Colorado St., Austin • www.estellesatx.com

Now open

1 Neighbourhood Café Belfast-based Neighbourhood Café—co-owned by Oisin McEvoy and Ryan Crown—launched in Austin next to its partner bar The Dead Rabbit. The cafe serves coffee and tea drinks, with specialties like the iced tiramisu and freddo cappuccino. The menu also includes pastries, all-day breakfast and several lunch items. Cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks developed in partnership with The Dead Rabbit team will also be served. • Opened Aug. 22 • 204 E. Sixth St., Austin • www.neighbourhood.cafe/austin

• 111 Congress Ave., Austin • www.ycomida.com/ellis

4 Addie Rose The local women’s boutique and gift shop from owner Patty Hatton opened a second location downtown. Addie Rose first opened in 2021 at 3740 Far West Blvd., Austin. • Opened Aug. 24 • 908 W. 12th St., Austin • www.addieroseaustin.com

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Impacts

BY ELLE BENT, SARAH HERNANDEZ, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

Coming soon

Now open

5 OroBianco Italian Creamery The food truck located in the Bouldin Creek neighborhood will sell gelato, made with water buffalo milk. • Opening in September • 1800 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.orobiancomilk.com 6 Austin Regional Clinic The health provider broke ground Sept. 19 on a new 65,000-square-foot, two-story surgery and specialty clinic including over 100 exam rooms, seven treatment rooms, a lab and radiology equipment. • Opening 2025

MOPAC

3 Fig Italian Kitchen & Bar From Michelin Plate-awarded Chef Cole Fitzgerald and owner James Sun, the new restaurant offers Italian cuisine such as handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza and seafood. Fig Italian replaced now closed restaurant The Garden at the 704. • Opened Aug. 16 • 3403 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.figaustin.com

• 708 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin • www.austinregionalclinic.com

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In the news

PICKLE RD.

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7 Cosmic Pickle Bar Cosmic Pickle now has three new food truck options: Wow Poke, Biggie’s Yardbird and East Side King. Wow Poke offers poke, dumplings, wings and wraps, and has two other Austin locations. From the same team behind Armadillo Den and Dainty Dillo, Biggie’s Yardbird will offer chicken, smash burgers and fries. East Side King offers Japanese-inspired dishes and was founded by Motoyasu Utsunomiya and Paul Qui, with a brick and

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South Central

first opened at Hamilton Food Truck Park in North Austin last year then relocated to 1311 South 1st Park. • Opened Aug. 24 • 4201 S. Congress Ave., Ste. 101, Austin • www.thebougiefoodie.co 4 IV Nutrition The spa opened in Lakehills Plaza, offering IV drip therapy, vitamin injections, supplements and blood testing. Owned by Sabira Karovalia and Mary Ann Baltierra-Rocha, IV Nutrition’s therapy drips and injections can address muscle strength, inflammation, gut health, trouble sleeping, stress and more, Karovalia said. • Opened Aug. 19 • 4211 S. Lamar Blvd., Ste. A7, Austin • www.ivnutrition.com

mortar on South Lamar. • 121 Pickle Rd., Austin • www.cosmichospitalitygroup.com

Now open

Closings

1 Rivian The electric vehicle manufacturer opened a showroom featuring lounge areas and a rooftop patio. Demo drives are available by appointment. • Opened in June • 208 S. Congress Ave., Austin • www.rivian.com 2 The Bougie Foodie The dessert food truck opened its first brick-and-mortar shop on South Congress Avenue. Owner Brianna Cryar

8 Aviary Wine & Kitchen Aviary Wine & Kitchen closed after 18 years of business. The eatery offered a wine list and club. Owner Mike Smith cited financial pressures as a factor. • Closed in August

• 2110 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin • www.aviarywinekitchen.com

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Impacts

290

BY ELLE BENT, HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

EAST AUSTIN

The club is opening at the former Easy Tiger space on East Seventh Street, with a bar and outdoor area with a stage, cabanas and entertainment deck. • Opened Sept. 6 • 1501 E. Seventh St., Austin • www.wtficehouse.com

Coming soon

6 Rockman Coffee & Bakeshop Austin pastry chef Amanda Rockman will open her first solo bakery and coffee shop in East Austin. The shop will have dining and lounge areas with a pickup window for online orders. Rockman will offer bagels, pastries, sandwiches and desserts. There will be a full coffee bar and a cocktail menu. • Opening this fall • 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. 200, Austin • Instagram: rockmanatx

183 3 Nike Strength Studio A new Nike Strength Studio is expected to open on East Sixth Street in the fall. The facility will offer rack- and barbell-based weight training in small classes centered around hypertrophy, foundational strength, muscular endurance and weight-lifting techniques. Sessions will progress in line with clients’ long-term goals. Presale membership for the new east side studio will begin this summer. • Opens this fall • 1401 E. Sixth St., Ste. 200, Austin • www.nikestudios.com

In the news

1 3

7 DAWA Local nonprofit DAWA, which stands for Diversity Awareness and Wellness in Action, will celebrate its five-year anniversary in September. Founded in 2019, the nonprofit provides financial support and health programming to community members who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. • 916 Springdale Road, Bldg. 4, Ste. 109, Austin • www.dawaheals.org 973

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C O

East Austin

• Opened July 24 • 1123 E. 11th St., Austin • www.poetarestaurant.com

Now open

Closings

4 Floyd’s 99 Barbershop The barber shop provides hair coloring services, beard trims, waxing, fade haircuts and straight-razor shaves, as well as a signature massage shampoo and shoulder massage at the end of every appointment. • Opened Aug. 6 • 1201 Barbara Jordan Blvd., Ste. 1400, Austin • www.floydsbarbershop.com 5 WTF Sporting Club Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse is expanding with the launch of a new flagship location, WTF Sporting Club.

130 TOLL

1 Insomnia Cookies The dessert shop sells cookies, brownies and ice cream that can be delivered after midnight. • Opened in July • 1401 E. Sixth St., Austin • www.insomniacookies.com 2 Piccola Gelateria Italian restaurant Poeta opened a gelato truck this summer, serving scoops year-round in front of the Frances Modern Inn. 71

8 Halcyon Coffee shop and bar Halcyon closed its Mueller location after seven years. The Mueller location was an expansion for the business in 2017, from its initial spot at 218 W. Fourth St., Austin, that opened in 2002 and will remain open. Halcyon commemorated the closing with a goodbye party Aug. 14. • Closed in August • 1905 Aldrich St., Austin • www.halcyoncoffeebar.com

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Government

Austin, Travis County leaders back pretrial legal support A program providing legal representation fol- lowing arrest in Travis County is poised to expand. The big picture Local leaders and advocates aim to offer counsel at first appearance, or CAFA, post-arrest, regard- less of ability to pay for a lawyer. Travis County commissioners are considering a fiscal year 2024-25 budget that could reserve millions of dollars for expanded CAFA services. At City Hall, council approved a FY 2024-25 spending plan with money reserved for an ongoing county partnership. While CAFA has yet to be fully implemented, the lack of full-time legal services led one arrestee to sue the county this spring over its “two-tiered” magistration system that he, and others, have said

County employees get 5% raise in pay Travis County leaders approved a 5% increase in pay for all county employees— including elected officials—Aug. 27. The details The minimum wage for county employees will now start at $21.84, starting in fiscal year 2024-25 in October. “We won’t have this kind of money to give this kind of a pay raise on any predictable timetable in the future, and that is why I feel like it’s important to do it while we can,” commissioner Brigid Shea said. Pay increases are meant to keep pace with the cost of living and inflation in the Aus- tin-area, furthering internal efforts to recruit and retain experienced staff, commissioners said. The county is expected to spend over $30 million on employee pay in FY 2024-25.

CAFA ramps up* Local officials hope to expand CAFA services. After trial runs, daily shifts will begin in October followed by full implementation next year. 30 magistration shifts with CAFA completed so far 14 county judge shifts 16 city magistrate shifts 834 people magistrated; prosecution declined charges in 6% of cases

SOURCE: TRAVIS COUNTY/COMMUNITY IMPACT *AS OF AUG. 27

results in disparate legal outcomes for those who can and can’t afford a lawyer. What’s next Local CAFA offerings remained in a trial state as of this summer. New funding could support dozens of staff positions and more CAFA shifts. Travis County Budget Director Travis Gatlin called the current proposal “the single biggest and fastest undertaking” on the issue in more than two decades.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY HALEY MCLEOD AND BEN THOMPSON

Austin charter election called off

Thirteen proposed amendments to Aus- tin’s city charter were put on hold following

a legal challenge. What happened

Barton Springs Pool was closed for weeks for infrastructure repairs.

BEN THOMPSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT

District Court Judge Maya Guerra Gamble issued a temporary injunction against Aus- tin’s charter amendment election Aug. 29. Gamble sided with plaintiffs who claimed City Council didn’t give proper public notice and violated the Texas Open Meetings Act when calling the proposition election during their August budget adoption. The 13 items’ removal from the November election was confirmed just ahead of local deadlines to finalize ballots. A city spokes- person said staff took responsibility for the meeting posting process that prompted the lawsuit.

Barton Springs Pool reopens after repairs Barton Springs Pool reopened Sept. 19 after being closed for weeks while the city worked to repair a broken pipeline deemed to be a public safety hazard. What happened The parks department announced the pool’s

temporary closure on Aug. 29 ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend. The closure was extended the next day after city staff found a pair of large holes in a 1940s-era pipe beneath the pool creating a safety risk, “up to and including loss of life,” according to the department. Crews plugged the holes with gravel. Down- stream, in the “Barking Springs” area, the pipeline was also filled in with concrete. Officials said repairs were made with consideration for the endangered Barton Springs salamander.

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Election Voter Guide

2024

Dates to know

Where to vote

Oct. 21: First day of early voting Oct. 25: Last day to apply for ballot by mail (received, not postmarked) Nov. 1: Last day of early voting Nov. 5: Election Day and the last day to receive ballot by mail (or Nov. 6 if carrier envelope is postmarked by 7 p.m. at location of election on Election Day)

Travis County residents can vote at any polling location during early voting or on election day. Visit www.elections.traviscountytx.gov for polling locations, which may be different for early voting and on Election Day. This is not an official sample ballot, which is scheduled for release after press time. Candidates are shown in alphabetical order unless ballot order has already been set.

Only candidates in contested elections are included. Go to county election websites for information on uncontested races.

KEY: D Democrat G Green L Libertarian R Republican *Incumbent

Federal elections President D Kamala Harris L Chase Oliver G Jill Stein R Donald Trump U.S. Senate D Colin Allred

Texas Supreme Court Justice — Place 4 R John Devine* D Christine Vinh Weems Texas Supreme Court Justice — Place 6 R Jane Bland* D Bonnie Lee Goldstein L J. David Roberson Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — presiding judge R David J. Schenck D Holly Taylor Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — Place 7 D Nancy Mulder R Gina Parker Texas Court of Criminal Appeals — Place 8 D Chika Anyiam R Lee Finley Texas House District 46

Texas House District 48 D Donna Howard* L Daniel Jerome McCarthy U.S. House of Representatives, District 21 D Kristin Hook L Bob King R Chip Roy* U.S. House of Representatives, District 35 D Greg Casar* L Clark Patterson R Steven Wright U.S. House of Representatives, District 37 L Girish Altekar D Lloyd Doggett* R Jenny Garcia Sharon

L Ted Brown R Ted Cruz*

State elections Texas Railroad Commissioner

R Christi Craddick* D Katherine Culbert L Hawk Dunlap G Eddie Espinoza Texas Supreme Court Justice — Place 2 R Jimmy Blacklock* D DaSean Jones

Local elections Mayor Carmen D. Llanes Pulido Jeffery L. Bowen

D Sheryl Cole* R Nikki Kosich

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Wheatsville Food Co-op South Lamar Community Kitchen 4001 S. Lamar Blvd., Austin

Doug Greco Kirk Watson* Kathie Tovo Austin City Council District 10 Marc Duchen Ashika Ganguly Austin ISD Board of Trustees, District 2 LaRessa Quintana Sarah Ivory Austin ISD Board of Trustees, At-Large Position 8 Amy Moore Dylan “Sky” MacAdams Fernando Lucas de Urioste Lindsey Stringer Nathaniel Hellman Nick Franke Austin ISD Proposition A “Ratifying the ad valorem tax rate of $0.9505 per $100 valuation in the Austin Independent School District for the current year, a rate that will result in an increase of 8.3 percent in maintenance and operations tax revenue for the district for the current year as compared to the preceding year, which is an additional $184,628,049.”

Polling locations

Polling locations vary for early voting and election day voting. Early voting times vary, but election day voting hours are from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. statewide. This list is noncomprehensive.

Election day Anita Ferrales Coy Facility 745 Mansell Ave., Austin Baker Center Alamo Drafthouse 3908 Avenue B, Austin Oswaldo A.B. Cantu/Pan American Recreation Center 2100 E. 3rd St., Austin Conley-Guerrero Senior Activity Center 808 Nile St., Austin East Communities YMCA

Early voting Anita Ferrales Coy Facility 745 Mansell Ave., Austin Austin City Hall 301 W. 2nd St., Austin

Austin Energy Headquarters 4815 Mueller Blvd., Austin Austin Permitting and Development Center #1407

5315 Ed Bluestein Blvd., Austin Huston-Tillotson University 900 Chicon St., Austin Lamar Senior Activity Center 2874 Shoal Crest Ave., Austin Mary Lee Foundation Center 1339 Lamar Square Drive, Austin St. Edward’s University 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin St. John San-Juan Lutheran Church 409 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin St. Mark's Episcopal Church 2128 Barton Hills Drive, Austin Rosedale School 7505 Silvercrest Dr., Austin Zilker Elementary School 1900 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin

6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, Austin Austin Recreation Center Dance Studio

1301 Shoal Creek Blvd., Austin Ben Hur Shrine Center Ballroom 7811 Rockwood Lane, Austin

Carver Branch Library 1161 Angelina St., Austin Cepeda Branch Library 651 N. Pleasant Valley Road, Austin Conley Guerrero Senior Activity Center 808 Nile St., Austin Northwest Recreation Center 2913 Northland Dr., Austin Travis County Civil and Family Courts Facility 1700 Guadalupe St., Austin Westminster Presbyterian Church 3208 Exposition Blvd., Austin

Travis County Justice of the Peace, Precinct 5 Tanisa Jeffers* Sherri Lynn Taylor Travis County Proposition A

“Approving the ad valorem tax rate of $ 0.344445 per $100 valuation in County of Travis for the current year, a rate that is $0.025 higher per $100 valuation than the voter-approval tax rate of County of Travis, for the purpose of increasing access to affordable and high- quality child care and afterschool/summer programming and related services for low-income families and developing and administering related workforce and economic development programs. Last year, the ad valorem tax rate in County of Travis was $0.304655 per $100 valuation.”

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SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

Election

Austin ISD board of trustees District 2

Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?

What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?

As a Title I student who graduated from AISD schools, I know what it looks like when AISD puts their best foot forward. I would like to be a true voice for our often overlooked communities, because I know firsthand how it feels to be left out.

The district is looking at a large budget deficit. The state continues to put AISD between a rock and a hard place by underfunding our schools and creating costly mandates. I have state appropriations experience and I’m excited to bring my skill set and legislative relationships to the board.

LaRessa Quintana Experience: Former AISD student and graduate, Policy advocate, Community advocate, Former governmental affairs consultant www.laressaforaisd.com

I want to bring my education experience to the dais to advocate for equity-based solutions and be part of student-centered growth. As a parent of biracial children, I know students who share in a marginalized experience in underfunded schools are chronically underserved. I am committed to changing that history.

Our budget shortfall and the distribution of special education services are our two biggest challenges. In D2, we should be leveraging community support to equitable distribute resources, staff all positions, and partner with community organizations to better address dual language needs. We must have more transparent disclosures of our budget.

Sarah Ivory Experience: Public school teacher, coach, behavior specialist, administrator and mentor; AISD parent, THRIVE Teacher Mentor www.ivoryforaisd.com

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity. For more election coverage, go to www.communityimpact.com/voter-guide.

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COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

BY ELLE BENT & HALEY MCLEOD

Austin ISD board of trustees at-large Position 8

Why are you running for the Austin ISD board of trustees?

What is the biggest challenge facing the district and how would you address it?

I would like to bring my skills as an educator, collaborator, and problem-solver to guide AISD decisions and policies that extend equity to all parts of the school district. I am passionate about involving all voices as AISD tackles tough issues in the next few years.

The biggest challenge facing the district is balancing our budget. Our budget needs deep community engagement to ensure we are providing the programs and services our community expects our school district to offer. This deep community engagement will also help us remedy the decrease in enrollment over the past decade.

Amy Moore Experience Parent volunteer, AISD non-profit partner, Mom of 3 AISD graduates, former 7th grade math teacher, Former APIE Program Manager 512-949-9438

It is our civic duty to get involved when we believe there are problems to be fixed. I want to be a voice for the voiceless and create positive change in our community, and I believe I can be someone that students look up to, and see themselves reflected in.

The biggest problems our district is facing are declining enrollment and increased attacks on educational institutions by the right. I believe to counter both these issues we must boost services for students while launching media campaigns to boost the perception of our schools so that they are immune to attack.

Dylan “Sky” MacAdams Experience Chairman of The Coalition Austin, Organized in support of reproductive rights across district schools, Community Organizer www.skyforaisd.com

I believe that public education has the power to better the lives of students and I’ve spent over two decades fighting to help teachers and schools deliver that power to every student. I’m running to bring that fight as a Trustee to empower AISD to support students and staff holistically.

The biggest challenge is addressing the State’s unwillingness to appropriately and equitably fund schools. I will help AISD navigate budget impacts and appropriately utilize available resources with transparency in a manner that gives agency to the families, staff, and community stakeholders, creating consensus and allowing students and staff to thrive.

Fernando Lucas de Urioste Experience Nine years teaching in AISD, 10 years in Education Advocacy, Education Advocate & Director of Advocate Services at the Cirkiel Law Group www.fernandoforaisd.com

I’m running to ensure that Austin ISD actually lives out its mission to prepare every student with the knowledge and skills to thrive in college, career, and life; that we are improving our financial stability; and that our teachers are paid competitively for the amazing work they do.

We aren’t solving our biggest challenges in a systematic way and the district needs to operate more strategically. We are facing significant financial problems driven in part by inadequate state funding, but there are many actions we can take now to address declining enrollment, disparate student achievement, and low salaries.

Lindsey Stringer Experience 19 years public

education; 7 years leadership; Vice President of Technology & Business Operations for the National Math & Science Initiative www.lindseyforaisd.com

We need to provide basic needs to AISD students and staff such as access to showers and food for those who are homeless. We need to creatively utilize or rent AISD land, buildings, and technology. We need to develop student leaders by inspiring, educating, loving, empowering and meeting their needs.

Challenges face AISD [including] securing long- term future funding, access to resources, access to advanced technology, developing student leaders, and meeting the basic needs of students and AISD Teachers/Staff. A task force should be created to solve each specific AISD issue. If AISD serves the community, AISD will never fail.

Nathaniel Hellman Experience: Austin Community College District Police Officer & Texas Real Estate Agent, ACC Police Officer, American Federation Teachers www.hellmanvote.com

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

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Election

BY BEN THOMPSON

*INCUMBENT

Austin mayor

Why are you running for this oce and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address?

Following years of increased property taxes and costs for city services, how would you aim to keep Austin aordable for residents? I’d aim to budget more responsibly and transparently, looking for eciencies in outsourced contracting. I’d aim to stabilize home prices by preserving and producing deeply aordable housing, scaling community land trusts while incentivizing privately-owned, subsidized aordable housing. And I’d protect tenants and homeowners’ ability to negotiate redevelopment for maximum benet.

I am running to improve Austin’s quality of life with new, accountable and community-driven leadership, placing public interests over special interests. Austin is at a crossroads facing stark income inequality, strained infrastructure and frequent extreme weather. With transparency, inclusivity and creativity, we can create a thriving future for all Austinites.

Carmen Llanes Pulido Experience: Lifelong Austinite, 20-year community organizer, City commissioner (Planning, Quality of Life, Redistricting), Land use scholar www.carmen4mayor.com

Getting back to the basics of running a city. Provide clarity to the citizens regarding the out of control spending and the city budget.

Since taxes never go down, the city needs to operate with a budget that does not further burden the taxpayers.

Jeery L. Bowen Experience: 68 years of life experience are my best qualications and working with various personalities www.jeowenforaustinmayor.com

As a former Austin ISD teacher and community organizer, I am running to ght for working families, build a strong middle class in Austin, and to stand up to Greg Abbott and state leaders against their attacks on local decisions, school funding and our civil rights.

Investing in education, workforce, and living wage jobs and implementing the unspent $1.8 billion in voter-approved bond measures will give us our best return-on-investment and an economic stimulus to bring in increased tax revenues. Ending “sweetheart rates” for large industrial utility users will lighten the burden on residential ratepayers.

Doug Greco Experience: Over 25 years

experience as an organizer, non- prot leader, LGBTQ advocate and public school teacher www.grecoforaustin.com

I’m running for reelection because there’s more to do to make Austin aordable and address needs such as homelessness, public safety and trac. In just two years, we’ve passed the most ambitious land-use reforms in decades, made the Austin Infrastructure Academy to create more jobs and improved City Hall performance.

We need to build more housing, dierent types of housing, and housing around transit lines. We were hamstrung by segregation-era zoning restrictions and an outdated land development code, which is why we made reforms to make it easier to match the demand in housing from new and longtime residents alike.

Kirk Watson* Experience: Mayor, 1997-2001, 2023-present; State Senator (2007- 2020) www.kirkwatson.com

Austin needs an experienced leader committed to transparent government, with a track record of putting people rst; one who is a climate champion; and one committed to work with the community on Austin’s biggest challenges, from addressing issues of aordability to becoming more resilient in the face of climate change.

As your Mayor, I will approach this issue as I did on Council: requiring developers to pay the full costs of infrastructure and development; collaborating with partners to leverage city resources; trimming unnecessary expenses from the budget; analyzing utility rates and other fees to avoid increases that impact family budgets.

Kathie Tovo Experience: Mayor Pro Tem, 2015–2019; City Council Member 2011–2023; UT adjunct professor, 2023–24 www.kathieforaustin.com

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN EDITION

PAID POLITICAL AD BY AUSTIN UNITED PAC, TANYA PAYNE, TREASURER

COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM

Election

BY COMMUNITY IMPACT STAFF

Austin City Council District 10

Why are you running for this office and what’s the central issue you’re hoping to address? I want to build on my professional and community service experience to continue to bring accountability and affordability to our budget, land use policies, and city planning. I’ll work to ensure we are putting District 10 people and priorities first and push back against extremism and wastefulness.

How would you aim to keep Austin affordable for residents? I’ll leverage my financial and budgeting experience to ensure projects are scoped correctly and tax dollars create value. I’ll advocate for audits, retire obsolete programs, spend our $1.4B in unexpended bonds, and champion metrics that tie spending to outcomes so we can continue what works and fix what’s broken.

Marc Duchen Experience: Two decades in politics, advocacy, technology, running a small business, decade of community board service. www.marcforaustin.com

District 10 faces many challenges after years of growth. I grew up in Austin, and I have watched the city change. We are facing public safety challenges, including police staffing and wildfire preparedness, traffic and housing challenges, and the biggest challenge of all - holding on to what makes Austin special.

The median home price in Austin has tripled in the last fifteen years. That’s because we don’t have enough housing. The council should focus its energy on ensuring long-time residents can afford to live here while also responsibly managing growth. We can do more with senior and disabled homestead exemptions.

Ashika Ganguly Experience: Five years [Austin] ISD teacher, UT Masters in Policy, Legislative and Policy Expert at Capitol www.ashikaforaustin.com

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Transportation

Development

BY HALEY MCLEOD & BEN THOMPSON

BY ELLE BENT & HALEY MCLEOD

Development headed to South Lamar A new mixed-use development headed to South Lamar will oer housing, retail, restaurants, oce space and a two-story athletic club. The Bouldin project—at 1401 South Lamar Blvd., Austin—will include over 300 multi-family units, restaurants Postino and Paperboy, a Life Time athletic club and two levels of underground parking. These anticipate opening throughout 2025.

Capital Metro appoints rst-ever police chief In an eort to increase safety for riders and transit operators, Capital Metro swore in its rst chief of police Aug. 26. What’s new? Eric Robins was appointed as Chief, along with Assistant Chief Joseph Rose and Captain Jeremy Benoit. The Transit Police Department will work along- side the agency’s public safety ambassadors and community intervention specialists to respond quickly to transit safety needs across the metro. Put in perspective Concerns over safety are not new. Following the induction of new police department leadership, sev- eral bus operators voiced their day-to-day run-ins with unsafe behavior at a CapMetro board meeting. Katina Brown, a CapMetro bus operator, said two

Over $2B in airport projects proceed Austin-Bergstrom International Airport’s expansion is advancing this summer with approvals for projects totaling billions of dollars around the aireld. What happened? In July, Council approved about $190 million in contracts for improved aireld lighting, a ramp control system to improve aircraft safety, engineering services, and infrastructure upgrades. That was followed by $300 million more for various upgrades in August, while contracts worth nearly $2 billion were considered in September— including for a new concourse and connect- ing tunnel. Aviation Department CEO Ghizlane Badawi called this summer period a “major milestone” for the expansion.

From left, Jeremy Benoit, Eric Robins and Joseph Rose were all sworn in to the new CapMetro Transit Police Department on Aug. 26.

New mixed-income multifamily housing is currently under construction in southeast Austin.

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New aordable housing option coming soon Half of the 328 units planned for a new apartment complex, at 6205 Ross Road, Austin, are earmarked for residents earning low-to-moderate income. About the project The NRP Group, in collaboration with the Travis County Facilities Corporation, has broken ground

COURTESY CAPITAL METRO

on a $62 million multifamily project Aug. 13. It’s expected to be completed and available for renters by 2026. Renters need to make between 60%-80% of the area’s median income, about $49,080 to $65,450 annually in Travis County, to qualify for aordable housing. The 16.5-acre property will feature a nearly 400,000-square-foot, four-story development with green spaces and outdoor amenities including a dog park, a pool, a tness center and a community kitchen.

weeks prior she was nearly assaulted by a passenger riding the bus. Looking ahead CapMetro board Chair Jeery Travillion said the agency has been working with the union representing CapMetro drivers to increase safety for transit operators. The agency also has plans to increase security cameras on vehicles and facili- ties. CapMetro is looking to ll remaining positions on its Transit Police Department.

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Development

BY BEN THOMPSON

New building program in use

Some context

Dozens of zoning cases for mixed-use development around Austin are advancing this year under the new DB90 program. DB90 expands Approved Pending approval

DB90 requires more aordable housing than the overturned mixed-use program. Between 10% and 12% of the housing built under DB90 must be set aside for residents making less than two-thirds of the Austin area’s median family income, or MFI. The former program’s standards were based on higher MFI limits.

Plans for dozens of mixed-use developments with aordable housing are advancing around Austin under a new city building program. The program, DB90—a density bonus program allowing up to 90 feet of building height—stems from City Council eorts to bring denser, mixed- use development to Austin’s busiest corridors. Initially, ocials expanded the existing vertical- mixed use aordable building program. However, a local judge voided that update in late 2023 following a resident lawsuit. In response, DB90 was created with similar provisions. Many zoning cases under the new designation have now moved through city reviews after the rst few were approved this spring. More than 20 DB90 cases have been approved since a program revision was nalized in August, and more will be considered in the future. In total, DB90 cases approved through mid- September would add more than 8,300 new homes and apartments with thousands of square feet of new commercial space around Austin. That development would also include more than 800 income-restricted housing units. “We’ve heard calls for more aordable housing for all kinds of people in all parts of town for years, and the council has acknowledged and joined those calls,” Mayor Pro Tem Leslie Pool said Aug. 29. “The city is responding with policy revisions, and this dais continues to act. DB90 and its original iteration ... is just one example of specic, targeted action.”

360

DB90 requires developers to set aside at least one-tenth of new housing units for lower-income residents earning 50%-60% of the local MFI.

183

2222

That’s currently $44,100-$52,920 for an individual

$63,000-$75,600 for a four-person household

MOPAC

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Austin

OAK BLVD.

SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTIN, DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT

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One more thing

As council continues to sign o on DB90 projects, the program has drawn criticism from many around Austin. Some neighborhood groups have called for a moratorium on all projects under the program. Residents have said the program’s rollout was rushed after the 2023 court decision, that the taller projects are too widespread and out of line with many neighborhood plans, and that community benets like aordability won’t eectively serve the surrounding areas.

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SOURCE: CITY OF AUSTINCOMMUNITY IMPACT

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