The Platform

Austin is still unaffordable for many residents. For many years, working families have been priced out. Property taxes and rent are still too high. Many Austinites wonder where our taxes are going, and want to see results. Affordable, quality homes and apartments must be accessible to everyday Austinites, not a luxury.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

  • When we make strategic investments in building housing that is truly affordable to working families in our neighborhoods, we stabilize housing costs for all residents in our diverse neighborhoods.

  • We must protect neighborhoods designated vulnerable to displacement with an Anti-Displacement Overlay, and fix housing development programs that give incentives to private developers while offering little affordability and putting affordable apartments at risk. Instead of speeding up gentrification, we can invest in a Housing Preservation Fund, a cost-effective way to lock-in supply of truly affordable housing.

  • Homeownership is one of the strongest tools for generational stability and wealth, but it has been out of reach for too many working people in District 1. The City must leverage all of the strategies that make homeownership accessible for working people, including collaboration and investment to scale-up the successes of Community Development Corporations and Community Land Trusts.

  • Many Austinites wonder where our property taxes are going and want to see results, especially when it comes to affordability and homelessness. By strategically investing in community-informed solutions that are proven to work, including Permanent Supportive Housing, rather than spending millions on consultants and contracts, Misael will make sure your tax money is working for you.

Public safety outcomes are based in access to housing, mental health support, and programs aimed at prevention. All communities, including immigrant neighbors, deserve to feel safe in our District 1 neighborhoods.

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS

  • In this critical time for our City to show leadership in the face of escalating attacks on our neighbors’ livelihoods and rights, Misael will ensure the City uses its power to safeguard and support our neighbors, our right to protest, and our dignity. Our communities deserve supportive services, transparency regarding collaboration with ICE, and leaders that stand up to state overreach.

  • In the name of fiscal responsibility and a commitment to real public safety outcomes, the City must put the brakes on the ever-increasing police budget, and instead creatively divert funds to evidence-based solutions that are proven to prevent violence, including community violence interventions, harm reduction, and equipped alternative responders in cases of emergency.

FAST, ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT

District 1 deserves safe, fast, reliable transit. In District 1, we can reduce transportation costs, increase opportunity, and connect neighborhoods.

  • We have the opportunity to expand rapid bus service, improve frequency and reliability, invest in safer sidewalks, shade, and protected bike lanes so D1 becomes a true hub for accessible, reliable transit.

  • Let’s invest in community-informed transportation options that connect neighborhoods, rather than dividing them.

For decades, transit projects have displaced Black and Brown communities in the name of “progress.” Transit solutions that prioritize equity and access will benefit us all.

  • Invest in urban agriculture, food co-ops, and community-led food distribution programs so working families can access healthy, affordable food.

  • Prioritize tree planting, stormwater upgrades, and green infrastructure in heat-vulnerable and historically underserved neighborhoods.

  • Protect and expand neighborhood parks in District 1 so every family has safe access to green space.

  • Fund community-operated cooling centers and resilience hubs that keep residents safe during extreme heat and climate emergencies.

East Austin has fewer trees, more heat, and aging infrastructure. Climate change is already here and frontline communities feel it first. We must plan effectively and collaborate authentically with community partners for a healthy, green, and climate resilient District 1.

HEALTHY, GREEN COMMUNITIES

CULTIVATE & CELEBRATE CULTURE

  • We can preserve historic homes and expand protections for Black historic districts. Offer funding for longtime East Austin residents to support repairs, stabilization, small business loans, and generational wealth retention.

  • East Austin’s culture lives in its restaurants, music venues, art spaces, and neighborhood businesses. In this district, Misael regularly experiences world-class musicians, eats at some of the best restaurants in the city, and supports the small businesses that make D1 the heart of Austin. Yet these artists and business owners are consistently under-supported by City officials. We must offer stabilization funds for legacy businesses facing rising rents., create financial tools and technical assistance for long-standing community businesses, ensure HOT tax dollars go toward local arts and music programming, and more.

  • One of my main goals is to make District 1 a destination for arts and culture, without displacing the people who make it vibrant.

    • Expand funding for the African American Cultural District.

    • Expand cultural district funding tied to arts, music, and entertainment programming.

    • Direct HOT tax allocations toward programs that center historically Black and Brown communities.

    • Build a cultural grant program that prioritizes East Austin artists, cultural workers, and community-led initiatives.

  • We must require meaningful community engagement before major developments are approved. Development should reflect the will of the community, not just the interests of developers.

  • Culture needs places to grow. We must cultivate a Black revival of East Austin rooted in ownership, dignity, and opportunity. Let’s update and expand the Millennium Youth Complex into a modernized space for families and kids in East Austin. We have the opportunity to nurture and invest in community events, music, and cultural festivals in D1.

District 1 is the cultural heart of Austin. Black working class communities built the vibrant culture that made Austin what it is today. Through cultivation, rather than neglect, we can make District 1 a place where the people who create the world-class art, music, and culture Austin is known for can afford to live here. Growth should not erase our history. We can build a thriving future that honors our past.

We must cultivate a Black revival of East Austin. Not as nostalgia, but as a thriving and economically empowered community.