ATA issued a candidate questionnaire to all candidates running in the November 2022 general election. All questions were the same for Mayor, City Council, County Clerk and County Judge. Responses have not been edited. View all responses here.
Ryan Alter – City Council District 5
As we head into the 4th year of Covid-19, what learnings have you taken from the pandemic and how will you apply those to your policies and community outreach moving forward?
COVID-19 taught us a lot as a community, but more than anything, it put a magnifying glass on issues already experienced throughout Austin. When it was time to distribute PPE or the early vaccinations, once again, the Western parts of the city had much less trouble than the Eastern portions getting access. We must be intentional about reaching out to underserved areas both when policies are being crafted and when they’re implemented. If we have not learned by now that we are not doing a good enough job serving all our communities equitably, then we have not been paying attention.
How will you work with City leadership to provide a housing plan for unhoused residents?
We have not done enough to help our unhoused neighbors. We need a more robust effort that addresses this challenge at the scale that is needed. At the heart of this issue are human beings who deserve to have a bed to sleep in, a roof over their head, and a place to call home.
The city does have a big plan to create thousands of units for the unhoused, with a large portion of those being critical permanent supportive housing. I would like to see us execute this plan on time or early and remember that this plan does not solve the problem. We have to make sustained investments in permanent housing beyond Finding Home ATX, and I would advocate for such in our future budgets. We should also establish regional stabilization hubs that provide a safe space to live and receive necessary services like physical and mental health, transportation, sanitation, and case working, which will then serve as the bridge to the housing we have in the pipeline. Lastly, it is crucial that we invest in smart programs like rental assistance and legal aid that will keep people in their homes.
How will you work with City leadership to support marginalized communities in Austin?
The past two years have been an example enough of how Austin fails the marginalized. As the City proposes solutions to our most pressing problems, we can’t simply craft one-size-fits-all solutions. Local policy impacts everyone, but it disproportionately impacts those most reliant on City services, lower income Austinites, and the unhoused. We have to look at our City’s problems through the lens of the marginalized, and make sure that not only are community organizations at the table as we make decisions, but that actual representatives of marginalized communities have seats at the table, as well. I will always be a vocal advocate in ensuring that the City takes every opportunity to intentionally seek out the perspectives of the most impacted, and the most underrepresented.
Homeowners and renters experienced enormous increases in Travis County Property Taxes in 2022. How will you address Austin’s ongoing housing shortage and displacement issues?
We need to create housing opportunities for everyone everywhere. That’s why I proposed my “Housing Now” Plan this fall. For too long, our Council has failed to plan for Austin’s growth and it is hurting us. It hurts the renter whose rent goes up hundreds of dollars every year. It hurts retirees trying to stay in their home, but forced to pay more and more in property taxes every year. It hurts anyone dreaming of ever buying a house in Austin that is more than a shoe box or over an hour away from where they need to go every day.
But just as our Council’s failure to plan for our growth caused this problem, a new Council can set us on the path to fixing it. It’s time we stopped using policies designed for what Austin looked like before I was born. We should be asking, “What do we want Austin to look like decades from now?” and design rules and policies that align with that vision.
That’s exactly what I’ve done in this campaign. I am the only candidate in this race with a housing plan, “Housing Now”, which will create real housing opportunities for everyone everywhere. We need more options than just scraping a lot and building a large expensive mansion, and my plan will make that a reality.
I know we can make Austin more affordable, because I’ve done it. I started a small family business that built attainable missing middle housing right here in Austin that is within reach of everyday teachers, laborers, paramedics, and public servants. We have the power to make Austin more affordable if we choose leaders with the experience to get it done. I am that candidate.
As our community continues to rely on virtual spaces, how should the City address the digital divide? What steps would you take to bridge that divide?
Austin has a unique opportunity to lead the country in bridging the digital divide for communities of people that have historically lacked equitable access to tech, or lacked the broadband infrastructure to properly take advantage of technology. I believe the City needs to build more strategic and cooperative partnerships with the tech industry, especially the Austin Tech Alliance, to find out how Austin can improve services for our underserved communities. I believe the more work done intentionally on this issue, we will build more trust in parts of the City that have fairly lost faith in our City government.
What are your thoughts on the City of Austin using cryptocurrency (AustinCoin)?
I do not know enough about this issue and would like to learn more. If the City ever does decide to accept this form of payment, I will want to be sure that there is minimal risk for any lost value.
How can the City better work with Austin’s tech community to bring innovative approaches to civic challenges?
I am a bridge builder, both in my personal life and in professional life. I believe the City of Austin can be, but more importantly, should be a national leader in finding innovative solutions to the problems we face, so many of which are 20th century problems that we can’t seem to dig our way out of. The tech community of Austin is filled with brilliant and caring people, at all levels, and I believe the more we do to engage brilliant and caring people, the more we can accomplish together for the people that truly depend on City Council to solve problems.
For more information visit www.ryanforatx.com