Mayoral and Council
Candidate Questionnaire
2014 City of Austin Municipal Election
Responses Due:
11:59 pm on Austin 21, 2014
Send Responses to:
Ted Siff: ted@parkplacepubs.com and
Candidate info and Point of Contact:
Candidate Name: Greg Casar
Staffer: John Lawler
Email: greg@casarforcouncil.com
Phone: Casar: 512-962-8708--- Lawler: 832-860-5311
Austin Environmental Democrats Candidate Questionnaire – 2014 City of Austin Municipal Election
1) Are you a member of AED? If yes, since approximately when?
Yes- I came to my first meeting in February of 2013 and attended four meetings
that year. I renewed my membership a couple of months ago.
2) Name and explain your top three (3) environmental priorities and solutions.
Please include:
 Examples of where it has been done, if applicable.
 How you would implement the solutions in Austin.
A) Water conservation is one of our most pressing needs in Austin. One of my top
priorities will be to push for water conservation with the goal of maintaining or
preferably decreasing overall water consumption for the city despite population
growth. However, we in the environmental community have become well aware
of the conflict within Austin Water between selling water as a commodity and the
need to be a responsible steward of our water resources. We will face great
environmental and fiscal consequences if we exhaust our share of the Colorado
River water supply, and must make conservation our top priority.
To achieve this, Council must take a more active and firm role at the utility. We
need a change in accountability and standards for conservation within the utility
to make sure our utility works toward the long-term goals of the people of Austin.
As such, my first environmental proposal will be to create a special committee of
the Council to provide the needed attention to Austin Water.
My next two priorities are part of a longer-term plan to expand the environmental
mission and the environmental community in Austin. District 4 is a largely workingclass area without a traditionally strong environmental community. Under the 10-1
system, environmental policies will fall in priority if we do not ensure our
environmental priorities are paired with economic justice issues.
B) We urgently must address climate change as a city. One of my top priorities will
be to significantly expand the City’s weatherization programs and solar energy
generation (both distributed & central). Small investments in home weatherization
& repair can yield large savings in energy, which benefits us all by lowering
emissions & lowering overall energy purchased for peak hours, and directly
benefits low-to-moderate income folks with lower bills. A successful expansion of
the weatherization & home repair program would include those renting and
owning their homes. We’ve got models to learn from: Austin Energy has
Page 1 of 4
Austin Environmental Democrats Candidate Questionnaire – 2014 City of Austin Municipal Election
completed case studies on our program through federal stimulus money, and
Houston recently expanded their weatherization effort in East Houston.
Solar installation along with weatherization programs should be tied to
apprenticeships for those in District 4 and other low-opportunity areas. Creating
sustainable jobs out of our renewable energy efforts and energy efficiency
programs can get more people connected to the environmental movement.
C) It’s hard for neighbors to appreciate the environment when we’re surrounded by
concrete and asphalt. According to the City Demographer, District 4 has the
fewest park acres of any district, even though we have the highest population
density and one of the highest proportions of renters in multi-family units with
little yard space – people who need access to parks the most. Parks also
function as important common space to build community. Bartholomew Park, in
the southeast corner of District 4 – is home to Austin’s historic, first integrated
pool in the city – and the renovations to that park have shown incredible success
in bringing our community together. I want to enhance quality of life and build
appreciation for green space and broaden environmental awareness by utilizing
land acquisition funds to purchase, develop, and maintain more park space in
District 4. We should continue working with AISD to open up playground space to
the public when not in use by the schools.
3) Have you actively worked on environmental issues/projects in the past? If
so, please describe the issue/project and your role. Please limit your
response to no more than your top three (3) projects.
I worked with Austin Energy Green Building to create social equity points in their
rating systems for buildings, to meet the international standards that
sustainability should be measured along three E’s: Environment, Economy, and
Equity. Now, AEGB gives green buildings better ratings if they treat their workers
equitably and safely.
I also worked closely with the Laborers’ International Union to bring the first
Spanish-language construction training school to Austin, to create pathways for
low wage people to learn green building practices in new market. The green
economy has the potential to create good jobs while improving the environment
and broadening environmental awareness.
I strongly supported the Sierra Club in recent work to update building codes in
2013, providing testimony and organizational support, and supported policies on
Page 2 of 4
Austin Environmental Democrats Candidate Questionnaire – 2014 City of Austin Municipal Election
Travis County’s economic development task force that incentivized LEED
construction standards.
4) Of the projects listed above, which project are you most proud of working
on?
A resident of my district, Christian Hurtado, has spent the last decade since he
graduated from high school in mostly dead end jobs, making around $8.00/hour.
He took some time off to get his certification from the Laborers’ training school,
which I mentioned above. Now, Christian is working to rehabilitate older buildings
Downtown. He’s making nearly twice as much as in his work; he’s now a vocal
advocate at Council for the creation of more green jobs; and his daily work
involves recycling old building materials and making our Downtown area more
modern & energy efficient. I’m proud that the policy and grassroots work I’ve
started will result in the long run in many more stories like Christian’s.
5) What is your guiding philosophy in balancing growth/development with
environmental protection?
It’s not a zero sum game; environmental protection is good for our quality of life
and has proven to be beneficial to Austin’s economy. Our environmental quality
has been one of the best drivers of our economy—look no further than Barton
Springs for an example. New development should be concentrated in less
environmentally sensitive areas, and we should seek to curtail sprawl whenever
possible. The voices of our community are critical for ensuring the new housing
we need is built where it respects current residents and the environment.
I also believe that protecting water quality and air quality are citywide
responsibilities, regardless of which Council district you’re elected from. For
example, although District 4 does not fall within the SOS recharge or contributing
zones, I will work hard to achieve the goals of the SOS ordinance, and I think that
means we should enforce the current rules well, while also working to achieve
compliance (or as close as we can get to it) with grandfathered projects.
6) What is your stance regarding urban rail?
My personal decision is to not vote for the rail. While I certainly support rail transit, our city leaders have
not successfully implemented a comprehensive plan around preserving affordability in Austin, and
therefore I’ve chosen not to vote for the bond. Many people have worked very hard to put this rail
Page 3 of 4
Austin Environmental Democrats Candidate Questionnaire – 2014 City of Austin Municipal Election
proposal together, but it’s clear that the community at large & in District 4 remains too divided despite all
that work. The fact of the matter is, the voters will decide the rail election in November. As a mass transit
supporter myself, if this rail election passes, I will be dedicated from day one on building community trust,
so that we can pass the second and third and fourth lines of the rail, to ensure we have as successful of a
rail system as possible. If the bonds do not pass, then I believe the proposed route, with some possible
modification, is prime for improved bus service. A possible Bus Rapit Transit line would improve our
area’s traffic problems, because folks from District 4 ride the bus, and it’s a more affordable option
available for the current riders, now, and would take cars off the road. Then, we can begin a more robust
conversation about pairing affordability with new transit investments.
7) What is your stance on the building of SH 45 SW?
I’m against it. This is an expensive project over a very environmentally sensitive area. I
would like to see alternative plans presented to alleviate traffic in this area that would have
less environmental impact. In high traffic areas, we will not begin to relieve congestion with
road investments unless we also use all the other tools at our disposal-- buses, pedestrian and
bike infrastructure, and strategies such as staggered work hours and more telecommuting.
8) What committees of council and/or regional planning organizations would
you like to serve on if elected and why?
I think with the new Council we should rethink our committees. I would like to
serve on a new committee on Water in addition to those on Austin Energy and
Public Health & Human Services.
9) Did you vote in the Democratic Party primary this spring?
Yes
Page 4 of 4