Vanessa Fuentes

"Austin’s values of fairness, inclusion, and opportunity aren’t up for debate, and I won’t stand by while federal officials mischaracterize our commitment to fairness as discrimination. I strongly disagree with the Federal Department of Justice’s investigation, which targets our city’s long-standing commitment to equal opportunity, a core Austin value. Our hiring practices are merit-based, lawful, and designed to hire the best candidates, which is good for everyone. While we build a city government that serves and reflects all Austinites, I’m confident this investigation will only confirm what we already know: We do things the right way, and we’re not afraid to defend it."

The Federal Department of Justice is investigating the City of Austin over what it claims are “race-based employment practices.” Here’s my response:

…And SO much more, all made possible by the relentless efforts of our unions fighting for stronger, more empowered working families. Happy #LaborDay, y’all! 💪🏽

This Labor Day, I’m thankful for:

- Working families
- Unions
- Workplace safety protections
- Child protection labor laws
- Paid parental leave
- Weekends
- Paid time off
- Employee benefits...

Opinion: What It Means to Be Pregnant and Homeless in Austin It’s a daily struggle for safety, dignity, and rest

People need homes now, not later. We can do better. We must do better.

www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2025...

This pregnant mother’s story breaks my heart and should break all of ours. No one should face childbirth on concrete. No baby should enter the world without shelter.

This budget cycle is our chance to fund housing and shelter that truly meets the needs of our community.

✅ In-home visits being scheduled throughout the coming weeks

Real disasters show why this program matters - but it's NOT in the proposed budget for continued funding. When communities are ready to act, we need to be ready to help!

Recent flooding was a wake-up call! Austin's flood insurance pilot program is fielding numerous calls from families they'd previously visited who are NOW ready to get flood insurance.

Program impact so far:
✅ 400+ homes reached in high-risk zones
✅ 750+ preparedness packages distributed

Just received a hard copy of the City of Austin proposed budget! Will be digging in to 1335 pages 🤓🕵🏻‍♀️

Starting this week, renters now have a new tool to keep their landlords accountable.

If your AC isn’t being maintained, call 311 to report a code violation and stay safe.

It’s official y’all: all Austin homes now require working air conditioning!

In a big win for renters, our new policy makes sure every home meets basic cooling standards. As summers get hotter, indoor cooling is no longer a luxury - it's a matter of public health and safety.

Texans are still in disaster recovery from historic floods—and yes, I welcome real recovery help. But this Governor is also pushing an agenda that threatens women’s rights, guts police transparency, and kneecaps local government with tighter tax caps. We see what’s happening.

#txlege

Please have a safe holiday with your friends, family, and loved ones.

So this 4th of July, I’m celebrating - not with blind optimism, but with a clear-eyed commitment to protecting the freedoms that generations have fought and died for - freedoms that we must protect at all costs, together...

And above all, it means being ready to stand up and defend these values whenever they’re under threat...

True patriotism means defending the values that define our country at its best: our diversity, our right to speak out, and our collective pursuit of freedom and justice for all. It means believing that the American dream is big enough for all of us, no matter where we come from or who we are...

These are, objectively, authoritarian ambitions that run opposite to the pure, unapologetic ideals of freedom, justice, and opportunity. But while the threats we face are real, so too is our resolve...

The foundation of our democracy is being intentionally dismantled by President Donald Trump, who threatens to silence dissent, deport U.S. citizens, and use the full force of the federal government to punish anyone who challenges him...

A 4th of July Message from Your Austin Mayor Pro Tem 🇺🇸

Today, during a time of deep reckoning, we honor and celebrate Independence Day. The truth is this: across the country we love and cherish, our constitutional rights are under direct attack...

The final passage of this tax bill will be remembered in the midterms. Republicans talk affordability, then slash working family benefits to cut billionaires a break—while driving the largest federal deficit in U.S. history.

Senate Republicans just passed a bill that will rip healthcare from millions, shut down rural hospitals, gut food assistance, & kill clean energy jobs -all to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

Austinites deserve better. We won’t stop fighting for dignity, care, & climate justice.

The “Big Beautiful Bill” is a disaster for working Austinites:

❌ 10k+ Austinites could lose Medicaid
❌ Cuts to SNAP food assistance
❌ Higher utility bills
❌ No help for housing or childcare
❌ Massive tax breaks for the rich

This isn’t beautiful—it’s brutal.

Austin families deserve better. Our elders built this city - now it’s our turn to build for them.

Let’s get to work. 💪

We’re building an Austin where growing older doesn’t mean getting left behind - where every family has real support, not just thoughts and prayers.

That means more senior centers across our city. Better buses. Fighting scammers. And yes - putting our money where our mouth is with actual funding.

Thank you to renowned Professor Jacqueline Angel for this piece in the Statesman.

Our abuelas deserves better than choosing between rent & medicine. Our neighbors shouldn’t have to choose between work and caring for mom.

Our seniors resolution is just the start.

Madhur Jaffrey, in a yellow beret and dark clothing, stands with her arms crossed next to Zohran Mamdani, who wears a yellow and red patterned shirt, in a grocery store aisle. Headline: Before Politics, Zohran Mamdani Tapped Madhur Jaffrey for His Music Video

Before Zohran Mamdani’s all but certain upset in the Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, he was a young Queens rapper known as Mr. Cardamom. In 2019, the actress and cookbook author Madhur Jaffrey starred in his music video.

Read our 2019 story here: nyti.ms/4lu1Jeg

Area Lawyers Describe Immigrant Kids Without Representation, Refugees Arrested in Court “It shocks the conscience,” attorney says

Area Lawyers Describe Immigrant Kids Without Representation, Refugees Arrested in Court www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-06... via @austinchronicle

Given Tesla’s troubling track record of safety failures, Texas should hit the brakes on Elon Musk's Robotaxis in Austin | Opinion For nearly a decade now, Elon Musk has been hyping Tesla as a leader in self-driving vehicles. In 2015 he told us that “complete autonomy” was about …

It’s time to hit the brakes on Elon Musk's Robotaxis. Full stop. At this stage, they don’t belong on Austin’s streets. From child collisions to a lack of basic safety tech, the risks are real. We deserve better.

Read my full thoughts w/ the Austin-American Statesman: bit.ly/4kgaWG4

It’s budget season at Austin City Hall! Join us for our D2 Budget Town Hall to learn about the budget process, ask questions, and share your priorities.

🗓️ Wed, Jul 30, 5:30–7:30 PM
📍 Uphaus Early Childhood Ctr
🎧 Food & Interpretation provided

RSVP 👉🏽 bit.ly/403oCNp

Donald Trump once again shows that he is a man of his last word.

With his unconstitutional action entangling us in conflict, he has made American families less safe. (1/3)

It is illegal for Donald Trump to drag America into another endless foreign war.

Congress should immediately pass a War Powers Resolution to block Trump from carrying out an unconstitutional war.