Alison has delivered real results for her constituents and the city:
Improved Public Safety
• More Accountability, More Officers: Led the police contract reform that resulted in greater police accountability, fiscal sustainability, and the hiring of more police officers
• Wildfire Risk Mitigation: Actively pushed to accelerate wildfire prevention efforts, increased the wildfire division’s budget, and secured commitments for a new fire station in the Davenport area
Enhanced our parks system
• Increased investments in city parks and pools in each city budget
• Fought for significant new bond investments for new parks and greenbelts to keep Austin beautiful
• Redirected our hotel occupancy taxes to fund improvements to historic parks and buildings such as Barton Springs, Mayfield Park and the Driscoll House at Laguna Gloria
• Instituted recycling in city parks and greenbelts
Saved money while improving city services
• Worked with staff to create a plan for the city to switch from leasing space to owning space, which is projected to save over $300 million in 30 years and move over $20 million a year from operating costs to capital
• Promoted investments in deferred maintenance to reduce long term costs and keep facilities operational longer, providing critical funding for public safety, parks, and public health facilities
Advanced Economic Opportunity and Security
• Championed increases in the senior and general homestead exemptions
• Helped lead reforms in the water bill refund process for individuals facing unexplained high water bills
• Lowered water utility rates
• Developed public private partnerships to help homeowners remove and replace aging trees in danger of falling on their house
• Advocated for full funding of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and supported new tools and requirements for the development of affordable housing
• Increased strategic investments to prevent and end homelessness
• Increased investments in evidence based and successful long term job training programs
Reformed our Sexual Assault Response System
• Guided new staffing resources to our sex crimes unit, pursued improvements to our DNA testing processes and launched a comprehensive evaluation of our sexual assault system
Combatted climate crisis
• Led Austin’s declaration of a climate emergency and advanced ambitious efforts to make our climate safer
• Increased our renewable energy goals without increasing our utility rates
• Championed the electrification of our citywide transportation infrastructure
• Promoted climate resilience planning and investment as a matter of public health and public safety
Invested in our children
• Championed city budget investments in local public schools including funding for Parent Support Specialists, after school programs and Pre-K classrooms
• Co-founded and led the non-partisan Just Fund It TX (JustFundItTX.org) to advocate for school finance reform at the state level
• Advocated to protect our children by reforming vaping laws and increasing the purchasing age
• Instituted an expedited permitting process and dedicated staffing to facilitate AISD bond projects
• Supported efforts to make it easier to permit and responsibly operate childcare facilities
Focused on keeping Austin moving
• Advanced the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan and supported East-West connectivity, sidewalks, bike lanes, and improvements through the Safe Routes to School program
• Championed creation of transportation impact fees to grow our city responsibly and make developers pay their fair share
• Serves on Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board (CAMPO) and the council mobility committee providing oversight on the implementation of regional and city mobility investments.
Championed Gun Violence Prevention
• Created the gun violence prevention task force and championed other gun safety measures at the city, state and federal levels.
Protected our environment and our water
• Reformed pesticide regulations on city owned land to prevent harm to our water supply and bee population
• Awarded Treefolks’ Urban Forest Hero Award for being a stalwart champion for Austin’s urban forest
• Advanced Water Forward, Austin’s 100-year plan to ensure a sufficient water supply in the future
• Advocated for significant bond funding to purchase water conservation lands and mitigate flooding
• Established an Austin Water Oversight committee to ensure our utility is fiscally and environmentally sustainable
Represented taxpayers against special interests
• Pushed for improved community benefits, transparency, and fiscally responsible choices in large city projects
• Voted to allow everyday Austinites to have a public say in the comprehensive re-write of the Land Development Code (CodeNEXT)
Managed growth responsibly
• Fought for neighborhoods and opposed irresponsible development agreements
• Opposed efforts to upzone land for massive development without responsible planning and infrastructure investments
• Advocated for enforcement of city rules for developments that were approved before she took office such as the Grove
• Increased enforcement resources for short-term-rentals and worked to prevent the state legislature from allowing mini-hotels in our neighborhoods
• Created small business and residential ombuds people in the City’s permitting office and supported departmental reforms and investments to improve the permitting process