Austin News

Vanessa Fuentes, a candidate for the open seat on Austin City Council in District 2, supports police budget cuts, a repeal of the ban on homeless camping and favors the $7 billion transit plan.

"I'm a Progressive Democrat running for Austin City Council District 2 to make change work for us. In a rapidly growing city, I want to extend Austin’s promise of a more livable community by ensuring that it is affordable, sustainable, and accountable to ALL who live here," Fuentes said on her campaign website.

Fuentes' work experience, as outlined on her site, includes six years as a community organizer focusing on passing health policy on the state, local and federal levels for a nonprofit company. She also worked two years on criminal justice reform and constituent relations in state government, one year as a community organizer for communities to vote through Democratic campaigns and six years on public policies at the American Heart Association, Community Impact reported.

As Austin's has experienced a crime increase, Fuentes has indicated she supports budget cuts to the police department, as previously reported.

Fuentes signed the “no cash from cops” pledge and vowed to turn down contributions from the Fraternal Order of Police. 

“Elected officials have a responsibility to hold police accountable for the ongoing violence and abuses of power against Black people,” says the website of the organization pushing candidates to take the pledge. "In doing so, they 'must act independently from police unions and others determined to stand in the way of common sense solutions that keep communities safe."

Fuentes agreed with City Council’s decision last year to stop ticketing homeless people camping on the streets. She indicated at the time that the city failed to have additional support ready for the homeless when lifting the camping ban.

“I would have insisted that we had firm timelines with clear accountability measures to go along with major investments in helping our unhoused neighbors,” she told the Austin Statesman, which also endorsed her. 

The camping ban repeal went into effect July 1, 2019.

The $7 billion transit plan on today's ballot is supported by Fuentes even as others believe it is too expensive.

“Transformative change is one step closer to being on the ballot this November,” Fuentes posted on Facebook. “Austin City Council is moving forward with an 8.75% tax rate election to build out Cap Metro’s Project Connect. Best part: the proposal includes $300 million for a transit-supportive anti-displacement program, helping Austinites stay in their homes.”