Jo Anna Cordoza, Candidate for District 2

Home  ============ Citizens Defending Freedom vs. AISD Lawsuit ============== Taxpayers' Funds at Risk ============ April 15, 2024 Newsletter ============= Arlington City CouncilGrades ============= AISD Board Grades ============ April 8, 2024 Newsletter =========== April 1, 2024 Newsletter ============ March 25, 2024 Newsletter ============ March 18, 2024 Newsletter ============ ================D1  Jacob Franklin, Candidate for ===District1=== Tim Goss, Candidate for ===District1=== Mauricio Galante, Candidate for ===District1=== ================D2  Raul Gonzalez, District2 ============= ================D6  Long Pham, District6 ============= ================D7  Bowie Hogg, District7 ============== Chris "Dobi" Dobson, Candidate for ===District7=== ================  Jim Ross, Mayor ============= Helen Moise, District1 ============= Nikkie Hunter, District3 ============= Andrew Piel, District4 ============= Rebecca Boxall, District5 =============  Barbara Odom-Wesley, District8 ============= ================P1  Sarah McMurrough, AISDPlace1 ============= ================P2  Kendall Orr, Candidate for ==AISDPlace2== Melody Fowler, AISDPlace2 ============= ================P3  Larry Mike, Candidate for ==AISDPlace3== Kathi Arocha, Candidate for ==AISDPlace3== April Williams Moore, Candidate for ==AISDPlace3== ================  Aaron Reich, AISDPlace3 ============= David Wilbanks, AISDPlace4 ============= Justin Chapa, AISDPlace5 ============= Brooklyn Richardson, AISDPlace6 ============= Leanne Haynes, AISDPlace7 ============= Fact Sheet - November 8, 2022 Election ============ ++++++++++++  ============= Kennedale Observer Homepage =========== Kennedale City CouncilGrades ========== Kennedale Observer - Latest Newsletter ============ Prior to That Newsletter ============== ================M  Jan Joplin, Kennedale Mayor ============ Brad Horton, Candidate for Kennedale Mayor ============= ===============P2  Matthew Dyer, Candidate for Kennedale Place 2 =========== Ebony Berry, Candidate for Place 2 =========== Thelma Kobeck, Candidate for Place 2 =========== ===============P4  Bryant Griffith, Kennedale Place 4 ============= Chris Gary, Candidate for Place 4 =========== =================  David Glover, Kennedale Place 1 ============== Ken Michels, Kennedale Place 3 ============== Jeff Nevarez, Kennedale Place 5 ============== Kennedale City Council Compare ========== 1083 Bowman Springs Road Kennedale ============ What to Know About the Texas Raceway Project ================ Kennedale Financial Reports ============== Kennedale P&Z agenda ============== Kennedale City Council Agenda ============== Kennedale EDC agenda ==============



1. Term Limits Committee – please respond by August 27, 2020

A Term Limits Advisory Committee was named and fast tracked recommendations to the city council with four meetings, and over 13 hours, between July 14 – July 28. Do you have an opinion of this whole situation? Do you have an opinion of the outcome?

This committee is yet another example of City Hall shutting out the voices of Arlington. Why has the Committee been fast tracked so much that the members did not receive their review packets until the night before, members were cut short, and meetings ended abruptly? As I've been talking with neighborhoods across District 2, it's clear that the voice of Arlington was overwhelmingly clear at the ballot box in favor of term limits with the language on the ballot. Our city leaders should be supporting the decision of the voters, not what's best for their political interests.

 

 2. Sales Tax – please respond by September 3, 2020

This November's ballot includes a measure to increase the sales tax another ¼ cent to 8.25%. Would you have voted to put this on the ballot? Why or why not? How do you plan to vote on this issue? Why?

I would have voted to put this issue on the ballot IF an exploratory effort conducted among community stakeholders found broad support for the sales tax increase. Unfortunately, the lack of transparency and accountability at City Hall have raised many questions on who will control the funds and on what they will be spent. Add an economically devastating pandemic to years of tax increases from skyrocketing property values and a sales tax increase will only result in a deeper financial hit to homeowners. My family and I plan to vote no on this measure. As your City Councilwoman I will use my business development experience to expand Arlington’s commercial property tax base by attracting new businesses and storefronts and diversify the city’s mix of businesses to lessen our reliance on tourism.

 

3. Density – please respond by September 10, 2020

How do you feel about changing commercially zoned properties to multi-family zoned properties? What if the area already contains many, many apartments such as southeast Arlington in the Hwy 360 corridor? How do you feel about RMU (Regional Mixed Use) zoning and its potential 100 units/acre?

Expanding and diversifying our commercial property tax base is the best strategy to shift the property tax burden off of Arlington homeowners’ shoulders. Local residents and business owners have made it clear to me during the campaign that their voices and opinions are not being included in City Hall’s tax reform conversation. My first priority is including ALL of the community stakeholders and neighborhood voters in the reform conversation to evaluate the economic conditions of the area with an eye towards reinvigorating existing shopping areas, guarding against overcrowding schools, avoiding further traffic congestion on our already crumbling roads, and preventing additional burdens on our first responders. I'll use the community input to advance a smart growth strategy at City Hall. Additionally, we must consider COVID-19’s negative impact on development projects and an increase in sublease spaces rented at sub-market rates due to telecommuting. The city council will have to look at RMU zoning very carefully to prevent a sudden glut of half empty commercial buildings negatively impacting our neighborhoods.

 

4. Transportation – please respond by September 17, 2020

Via's December 2019 contract renewal has increased the geographical coverage area to 41% (and is available to 49% of the population). Meanwhile, the contract is paid 53% by Arlington taxpayers, 31% by Federal Grant, and 16% by the people taking the rides. Is this fair to the taxpayers, most of whom are not covered, but are paying 53%? How do you plan to vote on future funding? What is your solution? [the staff report: https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/481268/Staff_Report_-___MF__RK__-_FINAL.pdf].

I have long supported expanding VIA across Arlington. Those needing and paying for the service frequently do not even have access. Lack of reliable transportation in all parts of the city is one of Arlington’s worst disparities.  This shows Arlington’s need to bring community leaders, residents, and local businesses to discuss the condition of our roads, traffic, and need for better cross-town mobility. As councilwoman, I will work to expand VIA citywide and support securing alternate funding sources, such as sponsorship opportunities and partnerships with businesses to offset the burden on Arlington taxpayers and maximize ridership.

 

5. Communications – please respond by September 24, 2020

If a constituent e-mails you a question or comment on an issue where you disagree and asks you for a response, will you respond to the constituent? Why or why not?

Yes, as an elected official you are in office to represent ALL of the constituents whether you agree with them or not on a certain issue. Upon being elected it’s important to me to see issues from every angle, so I’ll seek input from every perspective to ensure our residents are being heard and the best solution is found.

 

6. Issue – please respond by October 1, 2020

What is the most important issue the city council is facing? Why?

Arlington's most pressing issue is the economic impact of the pandemic on the city budget and a potential long term recovery tied to the availability of a vaccine. The pandemic has exposed vulnerabilities with the city's current business model of heavy reliance on tourism. I will bring my 36 years of experience as an Arlington resident and business/development/marketing experience to attract new storefronts, invigorate shopping centers, diversify our economic sales tax generators, expand our commercial tax base, and provide much needed tax relief to Arlington homeowners. My diverse business experience will allow me to work on complex budgets without impacting core services residents depend on. We need to work with city staff to look for solutions to be more efficient and productive in city departments, without affecting the quality of core services to residents. I will also ask for research on new technology and innovations available to streamline processes, look at best practices from other cities, and look for unconventional partners to share the cost burden and save tax dollars. I will also fight for all city expenditures to go to priorities that will have a direct and positive impact on resident's quality of life, instead of luxury projects.