Jose is an immigration and criminal defense attorney. 

Jose "Chito" Vela, III is currently serving as a council member for Austin City Council.  He ran for the Texas House of Representatives in 2016, but did not win. 

Candidate website

Supports adding more parks and green spaces, especially in District 4 neighborhoods that lack them.

Supports adding more parks and green spaces. 

Believes in addressing homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health crises by utilizing existing public resources before seeking additional funding or resources.

Believes in addressing homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health crises by using existing public resources before seeking additional funding or resources.

- Supports adding more parks and green spaces. 
- Believes in addressing homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health crises by using existing public resources before seeking additional funding or resources.

Public Services

Believes police should focus on "violent and dangerous crimes."

Supports Austin’s criminal justice reform efforts, including decriminalizing marijuana, improving police accountability, and adding mental health as an option when calling 911.

- Believes police should focus on "violent and dangerous crimes."
- Supports Austin’s criminal justice reform efforts, including decriminalizing marijuana, improving police accountability, and adding mental health as an option when calling 911.

Public Safety

Believes the Fayette coal power plant must be shut down to help slow climate change.

Believes the Fayette coal power plant must be shut down to "slow climate change."

Believes preserving Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer is crucial.

- Believes the Fayette coal power plant must be shut down to "slow climate change."
- Believes preserving Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer is crucial.

Energy & the Environment

Supports modernizing Austin's transportation system by creating corridors that prioritize walking, biking, and public transportation.

Supports investing in bike lanes and sidewalks to promote less polluting, healthier transportation.

Supports investing in bike lanes and sidewalks.

- Supports modernizing Austin's transportation system by creating corridors that prioritize walking, biking, and public transportation.
- Supports investing in bike lanes and sidewalks.

Transportation & Infrastructure

Supports establishing reasonably priced housing options for middle- and low-income residents, emphasizing alternative housing types like townhomes, row houses, duplexes, fourplexes, and condominiums to create flexible and less expensive options, particularly for first-time homebuyers.

Supports establishing alternative housing types such as townhomes, row houses, duplexes, fourplexes, and condominiums.

Believes in lowering housing costs and investing in infrastructure, schools, reliable energy, and accountable public safety.

Supports lowering housing costs and investing in infrastructure, schools, reliable energy, and accountable public safety.

- Supports establishing alternative housing types such as townhomes, row houses, duplexes, fourplexes, and condominiums.
- Supports lowering housing costs and investing in infrastructure, schools, reliable energy, and accountable public safety.

Housing & Urban Development

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Jose "Chito" Vela, III

Jose "Chito" Vela, III is an immigration and criminal defense attorney. 

Jose "Chito" Vela, III is currently serving as a Council Member and has been appointed to the City of Austin Planning Commission. 

Believes Austin’s parks, creeks, and natural areas are "an important part of our identity."

Supports well-funded and accessible neighborhood libraries, parks, and pools to ensure equitable recreational opportunities.

Supports local musicians, artists, venues, and festivals.

Supports adding more parks and green spaces, especially in District 4. 

- Supports adding more parks and green spaces, especially in District 4. 
- Believes in addressing homelessness, drug abuse, and mental health crises by utilizing existing public resources before seeking additional funding or resources.

Believes in enhancing the city's emergency response systems.

Believes effective and accountable public safety are a priority.

The candidate's website says, "Pol Adv paid for by Jose "Chito" Vela for Austin City Council. Laura Stromberg Hoke, Treasurer. This campaign has not agreed to comply with the contribution and expenditure limits of the Austin Fair Campaign Chapter."

Believes the February 2021 "big freeze" was a "huge wake-up call" for energy policy.

Believes it is essential to take action to protect ourselves from the effects of global warming.

Believes the Fayette coal power plant must be shut down.

- Believes the Fayette coal power plant must be shut down.
- Believes preserving Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer is crucial.

Believes safer streets and roads for vehicles and pedestrians are needed to address the increasing death toll on Austin roadways.

Believes that failing infrastructure leads to deadly consequences, citing an example of "temperatures plummeted, our infrastructure failed, and hundreds died."

As a Planning Commissioner, fought for more housing for working and middle-class families.

As Board Chair of the Workers' Defense Project, advocated for fair wages and safe working conditions for construction and farm workers.

Believes Austin must be a "welcoming city for low- and middle-income families," saying "many of our working-class neighbors are getting priced out of their homes. Even middle-class people are struggling to buy a home in Austin. This trend cannot continue."

- Supports establishing alternative housing types such as townhomes, row houses, duplexes, fourplexes, and condominiums.
- Believes in lowering housing costs and investing in infrastructure, schools, reliable energy, and accountable public safety.

As of September 12, 2024, Jose "Chito" Vela, III’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jose "Chito" Vela, III is an immigration and criminal defense attorney. He has served as Board Chair for the Workers' Defense Project and as an appointee to the City of Austin Planning Commission.

Jose "Chito" Vela, III is currently serving as a Council Member and has been appointed to the City of Austin Planning Commission. He previously served as Board Chair for the Workers' Defense Project.

- City council members collaborate to create and enforce city policies, including legislation on essential services like police, fire, parks, libraries, and utilities.
- They work alongside the mayor to manage city departments, including transportation and parks and recreation.
- Council members can be elected to represent specific districts or the entire city at-large.
- The structure of city councils, including the number of members, their terms, term limits, and partisanship, differs by county.

Passes laws and regulations for your city.