Top Priority

Hug said he is concerned about the deterioration of neighborhoods in his district. He said he recently introduced an ordinance that would strengthen prohibitions on junk cars and other vehicles parked in yards and allow the city to hire more code enforcement inspectors.

Adams said residents feel disconnected from City Hall, and they question how their tax dollars are used. He would hold town halls, push for a user-friendly online platform for citizen comments and promote audits of city departments. He also said he would advocate for planning boards to include representatives from historically underrepresented communities.

Ayala said crime is a big problem and he would push to hire more police officers. He also said the district needs more jobs and that he would work to recruit more businesses to invest in the area.

Renteria said economic issues are the most pressing. He would push to increase the number of people eligible for free Metro bus passes and establish a public health program that includes child care and preventative health care.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF)

On Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, Renteria said he would require a significant portion of funds be set aside to address the shortage of affordable housing. 

Adams said he would limit TIF to revitalize blighted areas and push for strict performance benchmarks. If a project doesn’t deliver, incentives should be revisited, he said. 

Hug said TIF can be a valuable tool in addressing affordable housing issues. He said he recently asked the mayor to consider a way to use TIF for new single-family homes east of 72nd Street.

Ayala said he doesn’t believe in TIF, saying that politicians aren’t good real estate developers.

Major projects and council’s relationship with mayor

Ayala said he opposes all of the recently approved major projects in the city such as the streetcar because they are too expensive and should be left to the private sector.

Adams said many voters are worried about the long-term debt implications and potential tax burden of some of those projects, which have largely flowed from Mayor Jean Stothert. He said he would work with the Mayor’s Office to track spending, outline construction timelines and ensure that promised community benefits are realized.

Hug said any projects that require a long-term financial commitment should be voted on by the public. 

Renteria said the city charter should be amended to add more council members to deal with high-profile projects.

Housing

To help increase the amount of affordable housing, Renteria said the city should become a competitor in the low-cost housing market and offer services to those living near city-managed properties. He also supports hiring more housing inspectors.

Hug said he supported a bill in the Nebraska Legislature that would allow cities to take control of any property that is not being repaired and then allow new owners to make the repairs. He said out-of-town landlords should be required to post a significant bond that can be used for repairs. Hug also said he’s working on two ordinances that would be limited to east of 72nd Street: a sales tax rebate for the materials used in construction of new houses; and a waiver for all permit fees for any new single-family home under a specific dollar amount. 

Adams said he would consider licensing requirements for landlords who rent out their properties, and allowing for the licenses to be revoked for persistent violations. He said he would support daily fines for unresolved tenant issues, with the money going to a trust that could be used for maintenance needs or services, including legal aid for tenant arbitration. Affordable housing also should be included in all TIF agreements, Adams said.

Ayala said the affordable housing issue is fixable only by the government getting out of the way, saying that lower taxes and fewer regulations will create more affordable housing.