Council Member José Velásquez seeks to reframe local representation

As Council Member José Velásquez tackled a wide array of issues in 2024, he has remained focused on the three tenets that guide his work and decision-making: “affordability, accessibility and action.” Pursuing these principles has pushed him to redefine the boundaries of local representation. 

“We really wanted to change the narrative around what representative government can look like,” Velásquez said about building direct community engagement. “I do 15 to 20 one-on-one coffee chats per month with anyone who wants to sign up for them, I do block walking, I do constituent call-back time which means that once every couple weeks I take a couple hours and call folks back who have shared their cases with our office, and we host a community service group. … This is all in an effort to remain as close to the community as possible.” 

The Council member stressed that “communication is paramount,” highlighting it as the cornerstone of his approach to representation. He is focused on a proactive strategy, aiming to engage with constituents and address issues before they escalate, rather than reacting to problems after they arise.

“If you’re only hearing from constituents when there’s already a problem, we are not being proactive,” Velásquez said. “We want to shape policy, rather than just react to it.”

This emphasis on communication has been a defining element of his 2024 achievements, including pivotal additions to the HOME program, strong support for local food trucks and a significant increase in funding for Austin ISD parent support specialists.

To make the HOME initiative more accessible, City Council adopted a series of measures to streamline processes, reduce development costs and improve access to capital for homeowners seeking to build additional units or make critical repairs. The plan also included expanding educational resources and outreach to help residents navigate the complexities of homeownership and avoid displacement, ensuring longtime Austinites can thrive in their communities.

“We need to continue to strike a balance between being pro-housing and anti-displacement,” Velásquez said. 

When it comes to achieving this balance, he said listening sits at the core of his approach to policymaking.

“A lot of times we can get caught up in confirmation bias in City Hall,” he said, emphasizing the importance of rooting decisionmaking in community input. “We have to be out in the community and we have to be listening to folks that are bringing us their issues.”

Velásquez celebrated the increased funding for AISD parent support specialists, highlighting their critical role in the community.

“We’ve chronically been a champion for our parent support specialists at Austin ISD; they are the glue that holds our community to our schools,” Velásquez said, sharing that his office hears from the AISD community weekly. “I went to all AISD schools. I know the role those people play before they were called parent support specialists … and we need to continue to invest in that with the way school funding is going at the Legislature.” 

Velásquez has also been an advocate for food truck businesses, driving efforts to streamline permit processing and increase accessibility for inspections, ensuring a more efficient and supportive environment for local entrepreneurs.

“We know in Austin having a food truck is one of the best and most practical ways for upward mobility,” he said. To support these businesses, the 2024 resolution eliminates the costly and disruptive requirement for food trucks to be towed to a central inspection site, a process that often costs owners valuable business hours. Instead, inspectors will now visit food trucks directly, streamlining operations and enhancing accessibility within the industry.

“This program will help establish more small businesses in Austin and this will help these communities grow because we are removing burdens for business development,” he said.

As 2024 comes to an end, Velásquez has his eye on 2025. 

With the state legislative session on the horizon, he said his office is leaning in to the spirit of proactive engagement and communication.

“We have already begun work on how we are going to ensure that Austin is a safe and welcoming place for everybody and so folks don’t feel terrified in their own homes or going to school or going to work,” he said.

“As far as what we are doing here, I am really excited about the new year,” he said. “We are committed to furthering things we are already working on. We are trying to be more creative about how we are getting things done at City Hall.” 

“I want folks to know they have a champion in this building,” he said.

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Posted In: City Council, District 3