Sorry, another election post – Need Clarification on NIMBY Mayor Candidate

I’m trying to make the best decision for my vote, and I’m currently stuck between Carmen Llanes Pulido and Kirk Watson. I feel that Carmen’s stance on protecting affordability, preventing gentrification, and standing up for marginalized communities aligns more with my values, including her positions on LGBTQ issues. However, I keep seeing her labeled as a NIMBY, and I’m struggling to understand if this label is justified.

In some discussions, I’ve seen her called a NIMBY because she opposes certain density projects, like the HOME ordinances, which would allow for more housing on single-family lots. But from my perspective, her opposition seems to be focused on preventing gentrification and displacement rather than opposing density outright. I haven’t seen specific examples of her blocking projects that could truly help affordability. Instead, it looks like she’s wary of developments that don’t protect existing residents or ensure affordable housing. She also has a lot of strong stances on renter affordability and keeping Austin’s rental market in a more livable range.

I don’t see her stance on anti-gentrification as a complete issue in itself, so I’m looking for more insights or specific examples of how she’s acted as a NIMBY beyond these concerns. I’m open to the (respectful) dialogue! I want to make sure I’m fully informed before casting my vote and if I just need to toss in the towel and vote for ol’ Kirk ?