So what happens next?

How can we help shape Austin’s future without a District 7 City Council seat?

Earlier this summer, I began my campaign for Austin City Council hoping I could amplify the voices of the underrepresented members within the community. Young adults, renters, and those living in areas far from the center of this city do not receive their fair share of respect and attention down at City Hall. As I’ve mentioned again and again during this race, over 40% of D7 adults are younger than 35 and over 50% rent their homes. From the beginning, we knew this campaign was facing an uphill battle against an incumbent with strong ties to the local political machine and we knew our core group of supporters would be more difficult to contact and convince to vote in a down-ballot race. We raised a fraction of the funds raised by our opponent, but I’m proud of the dialog we created and even prouder to have fought for what is right: for every individual to be considered as we plan for Austin’s future.

In the most recent polls leading up to the election, the D7 race had the highest number of undecided voters. Less than half of voters were prepared to support my opponent’s platform. While her ability to fund direct mail pieces and gain endorsements likely helped her to win this November, this fact must not be forgotten. Ultimately, her campaign chose to use fear to motivate D7 voters to turn out against drastic change to their neighborhoods. As I learned from engaging with the community, most D7 residents take a moderate position on land use issues. Unsurprisingly, they do not wish to see condo towers go up in the middle of single family neighborhoods, but they do not fear all change and wish to see Austin grow in a responsible way. They believe it is reasonable to grow along corridors where transit is available and to allow their neighbors to build small rental units to help offset rising property taxes. None of us wish to see single family zoning wiped off the map, but know we must plan for the continued growth of this city.

Earlier this year, a young renter asked Leslie Pool what she planned to do to help renters over the next four years. Pool responded by indicating that we might add density along corridors through the CodeNEXT process. More housing means more options for people struggling with rising rent prices. Pool then urged that young renter and others to become involved and speak up on the topic as Council makes decisions on future changes in the city.

In a closed-door endorsement meeting with the Austin Chronicle, I asked Leslie Pool why she wouldn’t make efforts to listen to the voices of the over 40% of the residents that are under the age of 35 or those that rent. Her engagement strategy had been to attend neighborhood association meetings, but those groups do not participate in meetings on a regular basis. She rationalized her actions by saying that 60% of the residents are over 35 and 60% is most of the district. I, of course, disagreed. Every voice should matter. It is not right to pretend that these groups do not exist because they do not attend meetings or vote in large numbers, and we must not allow for it to continue.

I believe Leslie Pool will listen to us. I know she loves this city and wants to be a popular and well-loved councilwoman. I hope she will adjust her community engagement strategy to take a more proactive approach to understanding the issues of the over 90% of us that are unable to attend meetings and follow the minutia of the code process. It is time for us to play by her rules and make our voices louder by joining neighborhood advocacy groups in larger numbers. There are a number of different advocacy groups that are more accessible, and with more participation, they will have a louder voice.

I know Leslie Pool shares my disappointment that Trump’s campaign of fear and negativity could defeat Hillary Clinton this election. This country has elected a president that wants to “protect” us from our immigrant neighbors, deny the rights of other often marginalized groups like LGBT, and has made deplorable statements against women. It’s frustrating that he won, especially with the help of women and minorities that he has marginalized in the past, but he did win. As we move forward into 2017, I hope President-elect Trump is able to treat us all with the respect we deserve.

I sincerely hope Leslie Pool will spend some time reflecting on what she’s protecting our neighborhoods from as she fights against housing in this city. I also hope that she will reflect on who will benefit from her campaign promises and if it’s right to leave out so many in great need during an affordability crisis in the city.

I think Hillary Clinton’s message from earlier today sums up my current feelings quite nicely.

This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what’s right is worth it. -Hillary Clinton

To those of you who felt less than enthusiastic about your choices for D7, believe in the importance of making every voice heard, or want to continue ­to champion the goals of this campaign, please consider the following:

JOIN Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN). It’s free to join this inclusive neighborhood organization and the membership votes on resolutions online (no meeting requirement!).

Friends of Austin Neighborhoods (FAN). It’s free to join this inclusive neighborhood organization and the membership votes on resolutions online (no meeting requirement!). FOLLOW the great work being done by Desegregate ATX, Austin for Integrated Schools, and AURA.

the great work being done by Desegregate ATX, Austin for Integrated Schools, and AURA. ASK for change. Whether you believe we should have an in-district office north of 183 or wish to have web-based townhall meetings on Reddit, send your ideas over to the D7 office (district7@austintexas.gov). If neighborhood association meetings won’t work for you, let them know what will.

Please join me. It will be worth it.