Metropolis Council Member Vanessa Fuentes stepped right into a slightly busy first time period in workplace – this yr, an unprecedented winter storm took Travis County abruptly and the pandemic continued to surge regardless of hopes for Covid-19’s retreat. However Fuentes, who now represents Southeast Austin’s District 2, took the problem head-on.
“No quantity of preparation can put together you as soon as you are taking workplace,” Fuentes stated. “However what I realized actually shortly is that I’ve an awesome group … they perceive the wants of our group they usually lead with service in thoughts. I’ve at all times had the motto, you’re solely pretty much as good as your group.”
The main target of Fuentes’ first yr on Council was large, together with guaranteeing an equitable vaccine response, preventing for financial justice and enhancing childhood schooling. She stated every single day she seems like she’s making a distinction.
“Being able to make an precise, tangible influence in somebody’s day-to-day life is what it’s all about,” Fuentes stated. “That’s what makes me so proud to have this honor to function a councilwoman.”
Her background in well being advocacy and group organizing has influenced the position she has taken on in Council. “We need to guarantee that the native authorities is open, accessible and clear to all, and … maintain the system accountable if wanted.”
This philosophy got here into play with Fuentes’ pandemic response. The Del Valle space has struggled with the virus, so she labored exhausting to make sure the town’s Covid-19 response was serving all group members equally.
Along with organizing pop-up vaccine clinics, her workplace established a static vaccine web site for group members who won’t have web entry. When considerations had been raised about disproportionate Covid-19 and vaccination charges, she joined her colleagues in issuing a resolution calling for an equitable and simply vaccine response.
“Definitely public well being is on the intersection of the whole lot that we do,” Fuentes stated. “Not solely after we discuss well being disparities or catastrophe response, but in addition after we take a look at financial restoration. For me it’s at all times vital to have public well being and well being fairness on the forefront of our coverage positions as a result of they’re so interconnected.”
Nonetheless, her district’s Covid-19 vaccination charge isn’t fairly the place she would love it to be. Engaged on rising vaccination charges and selling booster pictures will stay a precedence getting into the brand new yr.
Fuentes has mobilized group well being employees in her district to assist obtain this aim; she was in a position to allocate cash to rent and prepare new well being employees in addition to contract with current group organizations that have already got boots on the bottom. The blended assist will go towards working the well being clinics in addition to public schooling efforts. As soon as the pandemic subsides, the group well being employees will help with different public well being points like persistent sickness, which afflicts communities of colour at greater charges, Fuentes stated. “That’s why it’s so vital to put this infrastructure.”
By means of the American Rescue Plan fund allocation course of, Metropolis Council allotted $11 million to little one care and early childhood schooling. As a part of that, Fuentes championed a $750,000 funding in Del Valle Impartial College District. Now, the folks of Del Valle have access to free dual-language pre-Ok for 4-year-olds.
“The influence that that has had on households in South Austin is simply unbelievable. Ladies have now been in a position to return to the workforce as a result of they now have little one care choices for his or her households,” Fuentes stated. “However this was a long-standing disparity; when it comes to the college districts, Del Valle ISD had been (traditionally) underinvested in.”
Fuentes can also be pleased with a brand new coverage that permits any youth in Travis County to acquire a free Austin library card, which beforehand price $120 for residents exterior the town limits. The hassle makes entry to studying and studying accessible for kids of all earnings ranges.
When folks ask Fuentes how she likes her new job, she says sure, completely.
“Each single day is so completely different,” she stated. “I can go from one assembly speaking about easy methods to relocate alligators (who inhabited an area park pond), to speaking about public security, then having a constituent case. The subject material is simply fascinating. However on the coronary heart of it’s problem-solving. And that’s actually what we’re doing.”
The Austin Monitor’s work is made doable by donations from the group. Although our reporting covers donors every so often, we’re cautious to maintain enterprise and editorial efforts separate whereas sustaining transparency. A whole listing of donors is on the market here, and our code of ethics is defined here.
Posted In: City Council
Do you want this story?
There are such a lot of vital tales we do not get to write down. As a nonprofit journalism supply, each contributed greenback helps us present you extra protection. Do your half by donating to the nonprofit that funds the Monitor.
