THE PLATFORM

Austin is too expensive. To meet this moment, we need bold and experienced leadership for an Austin that is affordable, safe, and protects the rights of all our neighbors. Misael will lower costs, make sure City Hall is working for you – not corporate lobbyists or far-right billionaires, stand up to state attacks on Austin communities, and use his experience with housing affordability and local policy solutions across the board to get real results for everyday Austinites.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY

  • Homeownership is one of the strongest tools for generational stability and wealth, but it has been out of reach for too many Austinites that call District 1 home. Having served as chair of the Blackland Community Development Corporation, Misael knows what it takes to create truly affordable homeownership opportunities in District 1 neighborhoods where major barriers include expensive land and high property taxes.

    Misael will bring his experience as an affordable developer to City Hall, championing the strategies that make homeownership accessible for working people, including collaboration and investment to scale up the successes of Community Development Corporations (CDCs) and Community Land Trusts. These strategies work for District 1 due to a special tax status and innovative land trust model that addresses the primary barriers to affordable homeownership. Misael will direct increased City funding to CDCs already doing this effective work on the ground in District 1, like the Blackland Community Development Corporation. Finally, by expanding access to technical assistance and training for trusted community-based partners, Misael will scale-up community land trusts throughout District 1 neighborhoods so that non-profits and neighbors can keep their communities affordable by preserving and building truly affordable homes.

    Misael also knows from experience that affordable developers in Austin face fees and costly time constraints that come along with the permitting process. Misael will streamline permitting for affordable developers producing truly affordable homes for middle to low income families looking to rent or own and work to ensure that development projects receiving public funds or incentives include truly affordable homeownership opportunities. Finally, Misael’s office will host workshops in District 1 for prospective homeowners to plan for homeownership and learn about options through the City of Austin, including the City’s Community Land Trust, and non-profit partners that offer no down payment and lower-than-average interest rates to first-time homebuyers.

  • Many Austinites wonder where our property taxes are going and want to see results, especially when it comes to affordability and homelessness. A recent internal audit showed that in 40% of cases, a needs assessment was not done before hiring a contractor, and in over 70% of cases there was no review of contractor performance. This problem isn’t new; Misael was proud to speak out in 2024 alongside a coalition that stopped a costly and unnecessary contract with a consultant that had a track-record of unethical and wasteful business practices. Misael will require performance reporting for every major contract brought before Council and use his budget committee assignments to redirect funding toward proven government service providers, while strengthening coordination with Travis County, AISD, and other local partners to maximize impact. By strategically and transparently investing in evidence-backed solutions that are proven to work, rather than spending millions on consultants and contracts, Misael will make sure your tax money is working for you.

    Having personally supported elders in his neighborhood to navigate exemptions and existing assistance programs, Misael understands the impact of high property taxes on low- & middle- income Austinites. Misael will prioritize property tax relief by bringing together public and philanthropic partners to scale-up funding for local organizations that provide tax assistance to homeowners burdened with high property taxes that put their generational wealth at risk, and the District 1 office will spearhead public outreach to ensure that District 1 residents are informed of all existing public and non-profit resources to navigate tax exemptions and assistance.

    With his background in affordable housing development, Misael knows that intentional development decisions can stabilize property taxes while bad deals can lead to land speculation, triggering rising costs for surrounding homeowners, renters, and local business owners. Misael will put community engagement and affordability first to ensure that development decisions prioritize affordability and stabilize property taxes, rather than causing sudden tax spikes and traumatic displacement for East Austin residents and businesses.

  • Misael has been a leading voice for housing development policy that truly benefits homeowners and renters, not outside investors. Misael proudly organized the coalition that won an “Equity/Anti-Displacement Overlay” resolution, requiring transparency on the results of “HOME.” The resulting City-commissioned report found that the new City-approved entitlements for development in Single-Family neighborhoods (“HOME”) have overwhelmingly been utilized by private investment companies – and not by homeowners – in census tracts impacted by displacement. Misael was an early advocate for establishing creative financing options for homeowners, such as forgivable loans, and will propose an Affordable Financing Access resolution so that Austin homeowners, not just private investors, can take advantage of their right to build the affordable units Austin needs and secure their generational wealth.

    Unfortunately, the pattern of disproportionate investor-driven development in neighborhoods undergoing displacement holds true for the City’s controversial development incentive program (known until recently as “Density Bonus 90”). This policy came under serious public scrutiny for giving incentives to private developers that target some of Austin’s most affordable apartments for unaffordable redevelopment. Misael organized with District 1 neighbors and tenants at Acacia Cliffs apartments who fought to protect their housing when their 290 deeply affordable apartments were put at risk, raising the alarm on the policy’s lack of critical protections for existing affordable apartments. Misael will fight to fix housing development programs that give incentives to private developers while offering little affordability and protect Austin’s most affordable apartments by requiring that private developers replace any affordable units impacted at the same rental rate. Instead of accelerating investment-driven displacement, Misael will push Council to follow-through on the creation of the Housing Preservation Fund, a resolution won by Acacia Cliffs tenants and housing advocates including Misael in 2025, so that the City, non-profit, and affordable development partners can compete to buy at-risk affordable apartments before private investors do.

KEEP AUSTIN SCHOOLS INDEPENDENT

From educating our young people to providing jobs throughout our community, our public schools contribute to making Austin a safe, inclusive, and affordable place to live. The threat of a districtwide takeover by the state risks them away, depriving us of a voice and vote in the future of our schools. If that happens, City Hall must stand ready to speak up for our schools.

The City of Austin maintains a long history of partnership with AISD, including funding the Communities In Schools program—which places support specialists on campuses to assist families—and executing strategic land leases that bolster the district’s budget during fiscal deficits. The City has also partnered with the district on the development of public parkland to create greater community access to green spaces.

Misael pledges to support expansion of these city-district partnerships and take a proactive role on the City Council to promote student success and protect essential community services.

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS

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.

  • 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.

People protesting against I-35 expansion, holding signs with messages like 'Stop I-35 Expansion' and 'More Lanes = More Traffic'. A man is speaking at a podium with a 'Stop I-35 Expansion' sign, and a camera is recording the event.

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.

A man with a beard and dark hair standing in front of a wall with oval black-framed portraits of historical figures, all black-and-white sketches, hanging on a patterned wallpapered wall.

East Austin deserves a restoration rooted in its Black history and centered on economic empowerment and opportunity

Campaign sign for Missel Ramos, running for Austin City Council, District 1.
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