Scroll to the questions in the District 6 Candidate Forum, then click on the link to jump to that spot in the video with the candidates’ answer.
The District 6 Candidate Forum was hosted by the Westside Neighborhood Associations Coalition on April 10, 2021. Watch the entire video here: https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5222
Participating candidates in ballot order: Incumbent Mellisa Cabello Havrda, Chris Baecker and Robert Hernandez. Not participating: Irina Rudolph and Robert Walker
Candidate Opening Statements:
Chris Baecker: https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=305
Mellisa Cabello Havrda: https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=436
Robert Hernandez: https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=557
1. How would you bring health awareness and promote business and nutritional benefits to District 6?
Chris Baecker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=657
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=732
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=826
2. Recently homeless camps are spreading out to the Westside. What would you do to stop encampments and provide shelter for the homeless?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=910
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=992
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1064
3. Currently some of the neighborhood needs are senior/community/center/library. Will you reach out to neighboring council members to accomplish common consistent goals, especially at or near council borders, specifically District 5, to make these projects a reality? Our community has little or no access to reading and learning materials. Are you open to working with school districts or other organizations to open a community library?
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1118
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1183
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1263
4. How will you create more greenway trails and parks?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1349
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1399
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1465
5. What are your short and long term goals for the neighborhood District 6 and city?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1572
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1639
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1719
6. What are your top three budget priorities?
Robert Hernandezhttps://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1792
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1861
7. We do not have enough public transportation needs options in our neighborhood. Our current bus routes do not meet the community's needs, what would you do to meet the community's needs?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1937
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=1986
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2056
8. If you received a Covid recovery grant to use for the district in any way you want to, what would you do with it and why?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2132
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2192
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2272
9. District 6 is growing at a rapid pace and is the fastest growing city council district. What would you do to try to keep neighborhoods together during the next redistricting coming up in the next year or two?
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2446
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2561
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2635
10. How would you reduce crime in our neighborhood so the residents will feel safe?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2706
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2787
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2864
11. Do you support the proposition on the ballot regarding police reforms and accountability in the run?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=2948
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3017
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3087
12. How would you improve infrastructure and sidewalks and streets?
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3179
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3235
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3326
13. How would you address food deserts in District 6?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3428
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3502
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3574
14. What are your plans for as seniors as far as transportation, food supplies and centers?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3654
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3715
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3803
15. How would you support and communicate in emergency situations in general with residents who have no internet access?
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3886
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=3952
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4023
16. In what way would you implement and commit to work with neighborhood association coalition and other communities so that the residents voices playa key part in policy making decisions made about their community and ensure transparency in communication, will you personally as a public elected official commit to meet with members of the westside neighborhood association coalition within the first 30 days and on a quarterly basis?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4148
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4211
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4296
17. What makes you a qualified candidate for district 6?
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4377
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4432
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4508
18. There are not enough retail and public centers in District 6 westside of San Antonio, How would you bring more resources into our neighborhood where currently there are few, how would you support economic development in our neighborhood?
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4632
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4703
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4781
19. Currently there are no vaccine sites in the near westside District 6, how would you, what would you do to bring a vaccine site to our neighborhood and support those that don’t have reliable transportation to big vaccine centers?
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4870
Mellissa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=4945
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5014
Candidate closing statements
Chris Beacker https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5093
Mellisa Cabello Havrda https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5147
Robert Hernandez https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5192
Closing statement from the Coalition
https://youtu.be/tdcG0gqgz3s?t=5303