José Velásquez promises to deliver access to D3 residents
Friday, December 23, 2022 by
Nina Hernandez The overarching theme of 2022 for the residents of District 3 was access, according to newly elected City Council Member José Velásquez.
Outgoing Council Member Pio Renteria served the central eastside district for eight years and hit his term limit. After a general election with six candidates, Velásquez and community advocate Daniela Silva competed in the December runoff. The heavily endorsed Velásquez won a race that was closer than expected.
That’s because the residents of District 3 were engaged and ready to be heard, Velásquez said.
“I think people were starved for representation,” Velásquez told the Austin Monitor. “And being that it was going to be an open seat and there was no incumbent, people had good options for that energy.”
The marketing strategist and East Austin native said many of his conversations in the community centered around accessibility. Voters told Velásquez that they wanted a Council member who was visible in the community, who listens to concerns and criticism and who even in disagreement will show up and hear people out.
“I told folks, if that’s what you’re looking for in a representative, then that’s exactly what you’ll have, because I do that now without the salary.”
Access has been the focus as Velásquez builds out his City Hall staff. His new chief of staff, Lizette Melendez, has ties to the community in District 3, and he recently announced his constituent liaison, Dora Anguiano, who was an East Austin resident for 23 years.
On housing and Land Development Code reform, Velásquez said Council needs to sit down and work out a path ahead. But he expressed concern that discussions about affordable housing lack an equity context that he plans to bring to future discussions.
“We also need to make sure we are building in other parts of the city also, and not just districts 1, 2 and 3,” he said. “Because that’s part of the problem and that is helping exacerbate the displacement.”
With regard to the news last month that the vision for Project Connect could be substantially changed going forward due to inflation, Velásquez said it was his understanding that the plans had been finalized and the process was moving forward.
“If that’s the case, it doesn’t sound like we’re in the thick of getting this done,” he said.
This turn of events is indicative of the problems the city has had historically in tackling big problems, he said, and that lack of follow-through creates an unequal system.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to run for Council,” he said. “We talk a lot about equity and proudly calling ourselves the blue island in a sea of red, and I think our values and our policies are not reflecting that right now.”
Expanding access to pre-K was a central part of Velásquez’s campaign. He is happy to report that the idea is taking hold within the District 3 community and said to expect an announcement on that in the coming year.
“I’m excited that we were the only campaign that put pre-K front and center,” he said. “If we’re able to start our kids earlier, they have a better chance at success in life. But also it helps our working parents out and helps them out with child care costs.”
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