Urban is Core - Austin Super Forum: Sam Osemene

City Life

2. What is the city's role in creating jobs?

The role of the city in economic growth is to give businesses incentives to invest. These incentives include but not limited to tax cuts, reforming the city code, deregulation and partnering with business community in job creation.

3. What should the city do to address conflicts between music lovers and neighborhood residents? Should the city implement any recommendations of the Live Music Task Force that have not already been implemented?

Austin is the music capital of the world and we must keep it that way. I understand sometimes Downtown residents are concerned about the noise and tarffic in Downtown area. We must work together in developing an agreeable solution to this issue. There are many people who want the stiff enforcement of the noise ordinance. I will suggest conveying a meeting between the residents and club owners. The city must implement the noise ordinance that has not been implemented.

4. What role do you think public art plays in the creation of the built environment? Do you consider public art an important part of urban development? If so, what are some ways to include and finance art in development?

Art not only generates revenue for the city but it also brings people together. Art is life. We must encourage our artists to be part of the community. Public art is part of urban development. The art industry, especially , SXSW generates about $180 million dollars to the local economy. One of the ways to finance the art industry is to use some of the money and invest it into the art industry. I will also recommend providing health insurance to some of the artists in this city. Since they are integral part of the city , we should set up a fund to pay for the health benefits. Many of our artists are struggling to make ends meet. The city has to support and promote them.

5. Sixth Street is arguably Austin's best-known brand, a National Registered Historic District, and the gateway between the Waller Creek District and the heart of downtown. Sixth Street is also primarily a nightlife district - crowded most nights, but quiet during the day. Are those in conflict? How should Sixth Street change?

There is no conflict. One of the ways to improve it is to encourage business owners to play live music during business hours.

6. The Waller Creek revitalization project could dramatically improve a sizable portion of downtown. As it stands today, which aspects of the plan are you for and which are you against?

The Waller Creek Project was well intended. But the original master plan has changed many times. I'm against the city using its Eminent Domain power to confiscate private property. I understand business owners along the Red River corridor are not happy with Council Member Cole's idea of forcing them to move. I also fear if we implement the current plan as being proposed, the entertainment district may not be the same again. If the goal is to control erosion, I support that. But if the goal is to reclaim private property and hand it over to lobbyists, I strongly oppose it. We must be encouraging business owners to invest instead of using every means to displace them.

Transportation

7. Access to downtown is difficult, and bound to become more difficult, due to congestion on our highways and arterial streets. What strategies would you support to make it easier for people to get downtown? How should those strategies be funded?

This is one of the reasons I support public transportation. If we have a good transportation system, it would discourage people from driving their cars into the Downtown area. Another idea is to ban cars from entering into the Downtown area. Access to Downtown would have to be public transportation only. We can also make an exception to delivery trucks. I also support making Austin a walkable and bicycle friendly city in the world.

8. Part of the Envision Central Texas "Vision"; is more transportation choices, including transit options such as commuter rail, light rail, and rapid bus. Will you support planning for and implementing transportation choices, both as connectors of towns and activity centers and as a tool to guide future land-use? Do you support the streetcar system proposed as part of the Downtown Plan?

I support Commuter Rail, buses, bicycle and streetcars in Downtown area.

9. Bicycles are a cheap, effective way to meet many of our transportation, environmental and fitness goals. What are three things the City should do to encourage biking? Are you a cyclist? If so, how do you use your bike?

The city has to build more bicycle lanes, bicycle lanes must not be shut down during construction projects and the city can sponsor “Tour De Austin” every year in order to increase ridership and awareness.

10. Most Austin residents pay about $5 a month for a transportation user fee on their utility bill to support transportation projects, but automobile projects get far more funding than bicycle projects. Would you support allowing bicyclists to opt for their user fee to go toward bike projects?

Absolutely.

11. The Great Streets program has shown promise on many streets downtown, but other streets have not seen any improvements years after implementation of the program. How should we speed up progress improving the walkability of Austin's streets?

This is one of the reasons I'm a candidate for Place 6. I will support more money for the construction and improvement of our roads. I will not vote to cut the budget of the Transportation Department. I will partner with the community in making sure the improvement we need is finally achieved. This is why we need a new leader.

Parks

12. What are the elements of great urban parks? How should the City, or the City and private-sector partners, create and maintain quality parks and open space downtown and around transit centers?

One of the elements is security. We have to make sure our parks are safe by giving the the EMS, APD and Fire Department all the tools they need .Another element is making sure there are water fountains that work and construction of an event center people can lease from the city for special events like weddings and parties.

13. In light of tight budgets, how can the City conserve, restore, and improve our parks and fulfill long-standing objectives like the Boardwalk Trail at Lady Bird Lake?

We must give people incentives to conserve and restore our parks.

Crime

14. Do you think Art Acevedo has done a good job so far as Police Chief? What changes do you think should be made to the ways Austin deals with crime?

I think the Police Chief has done a fantastic job so far. Though I disagree with him on the blood draw plan which I think is against the law. I think we must encourage police officers to live in community they serve. This will help reduce crime . Neighborhood policing is one of the keys of reducing crime. I also believe we need to give APD the resources it needs to fight crime.

15. Many downtown businesses and visitors complain about panhandling. Should steps be taken to curb panhandling? Would you support adjusting current panhandling ordinances?

Apparently the panhandling Ordinance has not worked. I proposed moving the ARCH and Salvation Army out of Downtown area. The city can partner with the private sector in building a facility for the homeless and invest in recovery programs that will help those with drug issues.

Urban Development

16. Will Wynn estimated that 80% of the taxes generated by downtown are used to subsidize city services and maintenance in other parts of the city. Should more of the property taxes generated downtown be used to help downtown? How would you improve city services and maintenance services downtown?

I believe in the Robin Hood plan we have now. What is good for Downtown is good for the whole city.

17. If you agree that sprawl is not a desirable development pattern and that a strong core is necessary for a strong city, what are some ways you would discourage sprawl, but encourage urban density and good urban design?

We need a comprehensive planning structure for the city. I proposed having one single plan for the whole city . The City Council has to address the planning issues collectively instead of individually. If we have a well defined city plan, it will reduce conflict and confusion.

18. There have been problems implementing some neighborhood plans. What will you do to ensure consistent and fair implementation of the comprehensive plan? How would you engage the public in the development of a comprehensive plan?

I strongly support having a neighborhood plan before the comprehensive plan. My fear with the comprehensive plan is the fact that lobbyists will make up the committee. I suggest having a Neighborhood Plan and from these Neighborhood Plans, we can derive our comprehensive Plan.

19. Most social services in Austin are concentrated downtown. How are the social service providers, their clients, downtown businesses, our community and visitors affected by the location of these services downtown? Would you change the existing conditions?

I will listen to the experts on this and make an informed decision on this issue.

20. Are you committed to the concept of nodal (also referred to as activity centers) growth, as an alternative to sprawl development, as found in the Envision Central Texas "Vision"; and the CAMPO 2035 Draft Growth Concept?

I'm open to this plan and would support getting the community involved. Any plan the city comes up with, we have to include everybody.

21. Do you think tearing down an existing 100-unit apartment complex and replacing it with a 200-unit complex increases or decreases overall housing costs? What other relevant effects does this type of redevelopment have?

I strongly believe in supply and demand. If the need is there and the market dictates that, why not. This will help the city address the issue of lack of affordable housing. The City has to encourage the private sector to invest more in the housing market in order to reduce prices and promote competition.

22. Do you think Austin is better now than it was 10 years ago? Do you think it will be better in 10 years than it is now?

Absolutely. Forward ever. Backward never.