April 21, 2008
Better Know a Candidate: Ken Weiss
1. The Austin Music Commission is considering reducing the decibel limit under the city noise ordinance. Do you think that the noise ordinance should be changed?
If I’m not mistaken; I believe it is already at 85 decibels now. People need to understand that if they purchase a condo near a live music venue they may have to contend with some noise. I do believe that some compromises can be made for weeknights after 9p.m. or 10p.m. and weekends after 12 midnight. Let’ all sit down, talk, and come to some sort of understanding or agreement.
2. Has the McMansion ordinance been successful? What do you think of City Council's recent decision to reject OCEAN's request to further restrict home sizes on small lots in East Austin?
To some extent I believe it has, however, I have heard of several instances where people have built sometimes up to 5,000 square feet larger homes than their site plan called for. Also, many, many, people are asking for variances on their property east of IH-35. I also believe that we need a few more zoning enforcement officers to make sure people comply with their site plans.
3. Some neighborhood groups have attempted to opt-out of the vertical-mixed-use program for most or all eligible properties in their neighborhood. Would you vote to approve or reject those decisions?
No, I believe a neighborhood should have the say in what developments are built in their neighborhood. If they opt out of VMU, I will support that decision.
4. What should the city government do to promote or discourage suburban development? What about condo/apartment development downtown? What about condo/apartment development in other parts of the city?
I don’t think there is any way to discourage suburban development however; we can promote more town center concepts along with multi model transportation to move those folks living outside of Austin to Austin in order to cut down on vehicular traffic on our streets.
5. Homes near downtown are generally more expensive than homes in the suburbs. Should the city do anything to change that? What?
One thing my Accounting Professor said to me was “land is getting more expensive everyday because they aren’t making any more of it.” As downtown Austin expands, it takes away more and more houses near by so the ones left are more expensive. Is there anything we can do about it? Probably not. If you can imagine for a moment ….it’s Austin and the year is 1850. Congress Avenue is nothing more than a dirt road that stops at the Colorado River. Along the east and west sides of Congress are businesses and homes intermixed as there is no zoning or very little at most, in 1850. As Austin gets more and more people, more and more businesses start building more buildings on Congress and the home owners can’t afford to live next to businesses. So, they sell their homes and move off Congress, several streets away. Ten years later, the same thing happens. Businesses build in the neighborhoods surrounding Congress and the homes disappear and people have to move further out to stay affordable. This has happened tens if not hundreds of times over the past 150 years. If you can imagine a big target placed over Austin with the bulls-eye right over Congress Avenue, you can see how as one area or circle becomes unaffordable, the adjacent circle is now the affordable one until it become unaffordable. The only thing that has changed in the last 150 years is the amount that makes Austin unaffordable. In 1850, two dollars a year property taxes might have been a lot. In 1900, five dollars, in 1950, five hundred dollars and in 2008, it might be 10,000 dollars. Again, it’s all in the eye of the beholder as to what’s affordable to whom in Austin. The same applies to home mortgage payments.
6. Austinites love cars (80% of us drive to work by ourselves), but hate traffic. What would you do to get Austinites to commute differently and/or reduce traffic? How often do you get to work by some method other than driving? What is your alternative method?
I would like revamp CAPMETRO. I believe that one reason that ridership is low is because it takes two or three hours to get to your destination on the bus. No one wants to spend that much time on the bus. I’m proposing that CAPMETRO go to a hub and spoke system. The hub and spoke system is utilized by every major freight company in the world, including FedEx and U.P.S. The hubs would be the current transfer centers located around town. Express buses would be uses solely at direct one stop buses from point A to point B. For example, you would get on an express bus at North lamer and 183 transfer center and ride all the way to the new transfer center at Congress Avenue and Ben White Boulevard. Limited buses would be confined to major roads like Lamar, Burnet Road, Congress, Guadalupe, Springdale Road, Airport Boulevard, and the like. These buses would stop only every 15 or 20 blocks and at those stops are where people could transfer to local buses. The local bus would be the bus making all the stops in a particular area or neighborhood. This route would utilize smaller buses such as a 15, 20 or 25 foot bus or even 15 passenger vans as the case may be rather than a 40 foot bus. These buses would stay strictly in the local neighborhoods. Currently during the campaign, I have been carpooling with my wife to events and forums when practical. However, it’s not always practical due to our schedules. I would however, have to ride my bicycle to city hall as your next council member and would encourage all city employees to either ride a bicycle, walk, or take mass transit to work.
7. Austin has the potential to be a great biking city and a lot of people bike recreationally, but it is difficult for most people to bike to work. What should the city do to improve the opportunity to bike-commute? Do you own a bike? How often do you ride it to work?
See answer 6. I will encourage city workers to ride, walk, or take mass transit to work. I would consider giving a monetary bonus or time of bonuses for those participating in riding a bike, walking or taking mass transit to work. I believe one of the easiest ways to get people to bike either to or from work would be to allow them either to ride the bus one way and bike the other way. For example, say you don’t have a shower facility at work, maybe ride the bus to work, then ride your bike home, where it won’t matter when you arrive or how sweaty you are. Yes, I owned several bicycles and I owned a bicycle shop for over 13 years. I raced competitively for almost 20 years in BMX. I used to ride everyday to work when I owned my bicycle shop, but now I just ride occasionally.
8. Are you happy with the apparent resolution of the Las Manitas/Marriott controversy? If not, how do you think it should have been handled differently?
It seems as if this one ordinance was past just for this case. Although, Las Manitas is a small business and I would have helped in any way possible, but I sure wouldn’t have given them a $750,000 loan. I do not believe that is fair to other small businesses I Austin. Let’s help all small businesses not just the privileged few. From what I have heard, Las Manitas actually owned the property they were on. I would have thought if this was the case that the funds of the sale of the property would have been more than enough to purchase another site.
9. Do you think Austin is better now than it was 10 years ago? Do you think it will be better 10 years from now than it is now?
No, I believe it was worse today. We have more traffic, more crime, higher taxes, schools that are failing the grade, and more budget spending. I could go on and on but I believe you get my point. I have hope for the future of Austin. I believe that with some of the proposals I am bringing to city hall, we can help make Austin a great place for all too live, work, and play.
Click here to see the responses from other candidates. We haven't heard from Jennifer Gale, Sam Osemene or Ken Vasseau. If you talk to them or see them around, tell them to send us an email!
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Man, you guys should re-title this series, "Better Know a Neighborhood Association Sycophant".
Are any of the candidates pro-growth? Anyone anti-growth but pragmatic? Are any of them aware of how our city works currently?
A hub and spoke system for CapMetro? Brilliant! And so low cost since it's the exact system we have right now! All my problems would be solved if only I could take an express bus that goes about the same speed in traffic as the regular bus, but with fewer stops and requiring more transfers!
Maybe we could fix all of our problems if only the city would stop all this budget spending...
We already have a hub-and-spoke bus system too.
Please, candidates, spare us from talk on how to run the buses better until you really understand how they run today. I'm more than willing to talk to you about it, as are many other people who know what they're talking about.
Are these folks running for City Council or for the board of Cap Metro?
"From what I have heard, Las Manitas actually owned the property they were on."
This seems to be a fairly fundamental misunderstanding (a.k.a. glaring admission) by Mr. Weiss of basic facts on an issue that has been the subject of significant civic discourse and press attention.
Mr. Weiss, you are not ready for prime time.
This is kind of depressing. It would seem as though our CC choices have come down to those who may might the minimal qualifications for a NA position, but clearly they are not at all prepared to make decisions about the city's future. I'm not saying I am either, but I'm smart enough to know that I shouldn't be running for CC. I'm all for taking risks and venturing into something unknown as it may turn out educational, but I'm not sure I want people in CC that are getting an education on how to run a city while they are running it.
His answer on affordable downtown housing makes sense, unlike many of the other candidates. Sure, I'd love to pay $800/month for a deluxe apartment in the sky overlooking town lake two blocks off congress, but it's not going to happen - i'd have to move to a more affordable area in older apartment complexes 3 or 4 miles from downtown. That's not a deal breaker.
The rest of his answers, well, I think he needed to put more thought into them, especially the music audience. I have a feeling the new condo-dwellers on Red River across from Mohawk and Club de Ville will band together to get those clubs shut down within...three months?
figment, your feeling is wrong - essentially nobody in the newly-built condos downtown is complaining about noise. The people trying to get the music turned down are folks like Jeff Jack in Zilker - people living in single-family houses near areas like Barton Springs; and they've been there for decades.
By new condo dwellers I mean the condos they are building on Red River around 9th or 10th, not the ones over by Whole Foods or by the warehouse district. There aren't very many live music venues west of Congress.
I think figment is right on that one and Grape Ape is right about none of the candidates seeming very confident or ready to lead the city. What I want to know is why you couldn't ask about affordable housing period, not just downtown. Nobody is suggesting that apartments downtown be affordable to low income people, I'd just like to see a cap on rent increases for older apartments or crummy apartments on bus routes.
"Nobody is suggesting that apartments downtown be affordable to low income people, I'd just like to see a cap on rent increases for older apartments or crummy apartments on bus routes."
LoudMouth, in fact, the City IS suggesting that apartments and condos downtown be affordable, and has been for some time. The outright cap on rent increases you propose is likely illegal under current Texas law.
The reason the question is not about affordable housing all over the city is because this is the Austinist -- look at the rest of the questions. I don't think the working poor spend alot of time reading this website or blogging, and the questions reflect that.
mdahmus, with regard to folks trying to get the music turned down, I think those who are most directly impacted and deserve some relief live along South Congress. They have owned homes in the neighborhood for many years, and the South Congress venues came to them, as you know. In fact, one neighbor, tired of the City's footdragging on the matter, successfully had the former Texas Music Cafe declared a public nuisance.
Its time for rational minds to recognize that different parts of town deserve different noise standards, and the Austin Music Commission needs to quit being a publicly-funded industry lapdog, using public meetings to politically organize against the will of citizens. They can spend their own money to do that.
The Red River Flats are apartments, not condos.
That means a slightly different clientele. Anyone worried about noise isn't moving in there.
Plus, the developer is working with the Mohawk to create a sound wall in front of the stage.
Laws can be changed and if a landlord is wanting to raise anyone's rent 200% just because he can, that signifies that law does need to be changed. Don't act like just because things are the way they are now that they have to stay that way.
If you look at all the candidates from place 3 would see that Ken Weiss is the best candidate to vote for out of the three candidates.
He is a good friend of mine and does know about the issues. Please before you make comments about any of the candidates be educated on the issues by going to their web site, going to the forums, and actually meeting the candidates.
You can also call or Ken Weiss through his website @ weissforplace3.com
I don't know many candidates like Ken Weiss who is willing to meet with the average citizen to have lunch or a coffee and talk about the issues here in Austin.
He even responds to emails and phone calls usually with in the same week and if not sooner than that.
All Ken Weiss is asking is that you give him a fair chance to be you candidate for Austin City Council Place 3.
Check the web site out -
weissforplace3.com
Daniella Sneal
Are his answers on his website different than those posted here?
LoudMouth, it's not that I disagree with you, but I just don't see the Texas Legislature embracing rent controls anytime soon. Most people think they should be able to do what they want with their land, open a feed lot next to a hospital, etc. So don't hold your breath.
Daniella, I gave him a fair chance, I read his answers, and he's factually incorrect on one of the most high profile issues to come out of City Hall in a while. I respect him for running, and I've been to the forums (more than I can say for Cid Galindo, who didn't bother to show for 1,000 folks at the Austin Interfaith forum last night). Kudos to the guy for getting out there.
Ok, then what issue is he factually incorrect on?
Have you been to his website have you actually met Ken Weiss?
Have you called to speak with him about you concerns?
Daniella Sneal
"A vote for Ken Weiss is a vote for change and a
vote to return Austin to its glory years." - from his website.
I think this is what we are all worried about most.
To Grape Ape:
Ken Weiss has more issues on his website beside the questions that he answered here.
Ken has never changed his views on the issues since day one and I don't think that any other candidate in Place 3 can say that. Ken say's what he means and doesn't change his story a week later like some candidates do.
I suggest going to his web site to check him out.
weissforplace3.com
From the webiste you can email Ken with questions and concerns and you can also call him to speak with him personally if you would like or set up a meeting to speak with him personally.
I don't know very many candidates who have made themselves this accessible to the every day common citizen.
Daniella Sneal
Please see comment number 4, above.
If Las Manitas owned the property and not merely a tenant, they would not be being displaced by their landlord, who wants to redevelop the block with a massive hotel project. Ergo, there would be no controversy. He is factually incorrect, and it begs the question what he thinks the whole Las Manitas episiode was all about.
From what Jennifer Kim stated at several forum's
she stated that they owned the property so then Jennifer Kim is the one who is not factually correct and she is the she voted for this deal to go through. So, there for you current council member has some explain to do.
Daniel Sneal
Daniella, I just returned from an informative view of Mr. Weiss' website. I'm sorry to hear that Mr. Weiss has homeless signs, and I did find the discusion of "supple copier paper" somewhat unique and titillating.
Sorry, I was typing so fast that there are some errors in the pervious post.
From what Jennifer Kim has stated at several forum's - she stated that Las manitas owned the property. Ken got this information from Jennifer Kim herself. He never stated that this was factual information.
So, then Jennifer Kim does not know what she is talking about because she was one of the council members who voted for this.
Daniella Sneal
Grape Ape I am confused with you last post.
Does it mean that you are afraid of change or that you want things to change for the better for Austin.
I just want to make sure I understand where you are going with this comment.
Daniella Sneal
Ken has never changed his views on the issues since day one and I don't think that any other candidate in Place 3 can say that. Ken say's what he means and doesn't change his story a week later like some candidates do.
I certainly wouldn't want someone who can change his mind based on new facts or a greater understanding of the issues to be elected for any office!
What is this guy? A Dick Cheney disciple?
To be fair, I met Ken in front of the Convention Center one evening. He seemed like a very nice guy who appeared to be inordinately concerned about changing street lights from incandescent to CFL bulbs.. but other than that, I didn't get the impression that he was any more (or less) qualified than anyone else.
His statement would seem to imply that he would like to halt the progress of Austin and revert back to the "glory days" - unless there was some period when mass transit and density existed in Austin I think my comment is pretty self explanatory.
"From what Jennifer Kim has stated at several forum's - she stated that Las manitas owned the property. Ken got this information from Jennifer Kim herself. He never stated that this was factual information."
Why wouldn't Ken want to open up a newspaper or use the Internet instead of 2nd hand information from the incumbent that he is challenging?
Cram, what I meant was that he makes an education decision and then doesn't later then vote a differnt way. Ken Weiss open to new ideas and will change is mind if new facts come to the table but what he does not do is state is for an issue promotes the issue and tells voters that he will vote one way and then do something else.
Daniella Sneal
Assuming this is true, it's somewhat bizarre that Mr. Weiss would take the word of the person he hopes to replace as gospel, don't you think?
Why don't you just admit that he is/was factually incorrect, and let's move on.
No, he is not Dick Cheney and you would have know that if you have been to his web site to know what he is all about rather than making your decision on who to vote for because of just one blog post.
I suggest you check out his web site at
weissforplace3.com
The Dick Cheney thing was a joke. A bad joke, but a joke. Har har har.
GrapeApe, see Mr. Weiss' answer to number 5, above. He seems to have a thing for 1850's Austin, perhaps that's the "glory days" he speaks so fondly of.
We've looked at the site, that's why we're still questioning his qualifications.
He never stated that it was a fact he stated that he had hear this information just because you hear something does not mean that it is true.
Where in Ken's answer does it state that he is saying that this is a fact?
No where, and to say that he is stating it as a fact is not true.
We will have to agree to disagree on this matter.
Please email Ken or call Ken if you have any more concerns.
weissforplace3.com
No one said Ken was stating a fact -- we are saying he doesn't KNOW the facts and, apparently, is too lazy/busy/disinterested/afraid of the Internet/whatever to find out the facts.
Instead, he took the word of the very person he is challenging!
Grape Ape - He never stated he wanted to halt the process. He stated he wanted to return Austin to when Austin was doing better (ie. glory years). When Council members actually listened to the public and had public imput on all of the issues not just city council doing what is best for city council and there own "butts."
I guess you did not look at the whole web site because you would have seen from his issues posted that he wants to make Austin a better place for all to live, work and play. He wants to fix the problems not just use bandages to fix problems in Austin.
weissforplace3.com
He did not take her word for it because he did look it up and I was there when he looked it up!
Second of all if you did call and speak with Ken Weiss you can ask him for yourself about his qualifications!
But it is sad to say that you will probably not do this!
Why not set up a meeting to speak with him in person and ask him all the questions you want?
You say you are educated about all the candidates then get educated on Ken Weiss by actually getting to speak with him personally not just reading his web site.
weissforplace3.com
Daniella Sneal
I like that Ken used to own a bicycle shop in Austin and is enthusiastic about supporting Austin's skateboarders and BMXers.
Seth
Thanks Seth and Ken and his wife Janna will be riding in the next political ride which is on May 2nd and he would like to meet you their or meet for lunch or just something to drink if you can.
either email him or call him
the web site has this information
weissforplace3.com
Spread the word vote for Ken Weiss Austin City Council place 3!
Daniella Sneal
Oh I read the site and I read where he's pro-Toll Road and sprawl and wants to freeze property taxes for seniors on a fixed income, but apparently those on fixed incomces that are not seniors can try to get by another way. And VMU/density, yeah, I'm sure everyone agrees that you should be able to with your property what you want, but when someone else wants to do something with theirs you don't like you should have the right to shut it down (sw). Gotta love those transportations ideas...wait, isn't his idea exactly what we're doing now? And as others have pointed out, missing the boat on the Las Manitas issue is just absurd for anyone who thinks they belong in city politics. I'm going to venture a guess that my dog knows more about that then he does based on his response.
Btw, how is it that someone can say they are from Austin when they were born in Florida and lived half their life in Pflugerville?
Besides that, the site itself shows what kind of politician he is. It opens with a statement downgrading the opponent. Confident politicians with good ideas should be abel to start with "Hi, I'm so and so and here are my great ideas..." Coming out right out of the box talking about how horrible an opponent is; is well, horrible.
Austinist, don't be fooled!
"Gekco789" is not a really gekco, nor even a correctly-spelled gecko-- it's actually Jennifer Kim-- a conceit designed to make the honorable Ken Weiss seem wee-tah-did.
Although, the literal meaning of "Ken Weiss" is "Handsome White." ...How can you go wrong there? His name is literally the inversion of Black is Beautiful.
Man, you guys are cracking me up!
Oh, thank God for people who make me laugh, I love it when people make my day!
Daniella Sneal
Grape Ape - What political experience have you had?
Have you run for a public office?
Well, until you have you can't critcize
any of the 12 candidates running for City Council! Yes, I am talking about the 12 people who have the guts to put their name and life
on the line to serve there community! Out of the many people here in Austin only 12 are running for City Council, and that is a shame!
So, what have to done with your life?
Candidates for Austin City Council
Ken Weiss
Randi Shade
Jennifer Kim
Cid Galindo
Larua Morrison
Jennifer Gale
Robin Cravey
Ken Vasseau
Samuel Osemene
Lee Leffingwell
Jason Meeker
Allen Demling
Till you walk a mile in there shoes, then you can't say anything!
By: Daniella Sneal
Oh Grape Ape you make me laugh so hard when you state that Ken is pro - toll!
It is so sad, when people like you have nothing better to do than put other people down!
Just remember what comes around goes around!
Oh, thanks for the laughs!!
Daniella Sneal
Oh no, not the almighty "Have you run for a public office?" argument!
That's like when musicians respond to a bad album review with "You've never ever been in a band!"
Ha.
Also, from Ken's very own website: "Ken doesn't oppose toll roads".
I wouldn't go so far as to say he is "pro-toll road", but he's clearly not AGAINST them either.
Actually no I haven't run for public office. I clearly stated above I do not have the experience and wish that those who also don't have the experience to stay away as well. Like I said, trying something new is great, I just don't want people learning on the job while they make decisions that impact my daily life and the city I live in negative or inexperienced ways. Apparently Ken's supporter's are anti-1st amendment as well? Why is it you have so much of an issue with people voicing their opinions publicly?
Oh yeah and as for putting others down, I wasn't putting him down, just reiterating some of the factual information from his website. Besides Kettle, why are you putting all of us down?