Ali Ramos
Challenger for Amarillo City Council, Place 4
Ramos/Photo by Campaign
Question: What is your age?
Answer: 33
Q: How long have you lived in Amarillo?
A: 33 years minus 6 months when I moved to Los Angeles, CA.
Q: What is your educational background?
A: Columbia School of Social Work: Master's Degree in Social Work
West Texas A&M University: Bachelor's Degree in Social Work
Amarillo College: Transferred credits in Graphic Design and Psychology
Q: What is your occupation?
A: Social Worker / Graphic Designer
Q: If you are a business owner, please list the business or businesses that you own.
A: N/A
Q: Please list any civic boards or commissions (non-profit, government, union, political, etc.) on which you have served as a board member or equivalent.
A: Current:
NASW Panhandle NLIC Representative
Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities Vice Chair
NMD United Board Member
AATAG Board Member
Past:
NASW TX BSW Board Member
Q: If your campaign has any online campaign resources where voters can learn more about you, such as social media accounts or a website, please list them below.
A: aliforamarillo.com
facebook.com/aliforamarillo
Q: Why did you decide to run for this office in 2021?
A: I was born and raised in Amarillo and have a passion for the people of this city. Growing up here has connected me with some of the brightest and most passionate individuals that I have ever met. I decided to run for city council so that I could put my social work degree to good use while advocating for others. Being an admin on Facebook’s Panhandle Mutual Aid group has shown me what can truly happen when our community sticks together. If people were hungry, they were fed. If people were without clothes, they were dressed. The needs were and are vast, and the loving spirit of the Panhandle community has been exponentially increased in the last year. As a city council member, it would not be just about my own interests, but for the needs of the people. It’s not about me. It’s about the health and prosperity of the entire city.
Q: If elected, what will be your top three priorities in office?
A: 1. Remaining transparent and authentic in decision making tasks
2. Actively listening and engaging with constituents
3. North and East side neighborhood revitalization efforts
Q: What is your opinion on taxpayer-funded lobbying? Please explain.
A: Citizens in Amarillo are paying for Austin-based lobbyists to speak on behalf of this city. I believe that the city leaders in Amarillo need to rely on each other to be the voices that Amarillo needs, and to go to the legislative sessions themselves. City council members are elected to make sure that the concerns in the city are heard. If that is not feasible, then there should be a limit proposed to funding lobbyists.
Q: Do you support moving municipal elections to November of even-numbered years? Please explain.
A: I do support moving municipal elections to even-numbered years. Local elections often seem unimportant to voters due to the smaller scale, but the city’s elected officials are the ones who are making decisions that affect everyday life. I believe that there would be a larger voter turnout if state and federal elections were taking place.
Q: Do you support single-member districts for City Council representation? Please explain.
A: I do support single-member districts in Amarillo along with adding two at-large seats. This will ensure that there is geographical representation throughout all of Amarillo. By adding on two at-large representatives, this will give the constituents three elected officials that they would be able to contact with questions and concerns. All representatives need to be held accountable to ensure that Amarillo remains a strong and balanced city.
Q: In what cases would you support efforts to raise property taxes? Please explain.
A: The first thing we will do is get rid of irrelevant and irresponsible government spending. Raising taxes will be the last resort in all decisions. Our citizens are already paying enough taxes and I don’t think we are seeing a return in our investment. To better the city, tough choices will have to be made, but will always be with the communities’ best interests in mind.
Q: In the 2020 general election, did you support or oppose Proposition A ($275 million Amarillo Civic Center and downtown projects bond)? Please explain.
A: I voted no on Proposition A during the November 2020 election. I do support the building/renovation of the Civic Center in the future. I do not support the original or current plan. The Amarillo Plan, drawn up by Inspire Amarillo, requires a $115 million bond - 15.9% city property tax increase with an 8,500-seat arena. There’s an expansion that’s possible to add 2,000 seats. We currently have 4,879 seats. Lubbock has 15,098 seats and OKC has 18,203 seats. There is no logical reason why Amarillo would draw in artists or events when nearby cities have larger arenas.
Amarillo has a diverse population with many different tastes in music. I am in full support of empowering Amarillo’s art and music scene, but I do not believe that the current plan will bring the variety of artists / events that Inspire Amarillo is hoping to provide. The Hodgetown Stadium can hold 6,631 people which would be a great location to hold events other than baseball to bring in revenue so that a more solid, concrete plan can be devised. After the dust of COVID settles, that is.
Q: What is an issue you believe has gone overlooked in your race and how will you address it if elected?
A: Creating and building up communities for the low-income families and largely abandoned areas of the city. Not just with half-hearted initiatives, but full-on conviction to elevate these communities - ranging from updating the parks/activities/centers from the North and East sides of Amarillo, to having the leaders, police, citizens actually engaging with and listening to one another.
Q: Why are you the best candidate for voters to support for this position?
A: I have been entangled in politics since I was born. A disabled friend of mine once told me, “I didn’t choose politics. Politics chose me.” I always check my mail with a twinge of apprehension to see if I receive a letter that day that says I’m denied life sustaining services due to policy changes. Will I continue to get my supplies? My personal care assistant services? My insurance? I’ve had these things cancelled several times, and it always takes several grueling appeals to continue to keep programs that I depend on for survival.
This has given me the ability to adapt to societal pressures and gives me a unique perspective on being a civil servant. I do have to juggle the intricacies of living with a disability and managing my life as an adult who is interdependent with the government to survive. I take pride in showing others how to successfully navigate a system that was not made for people with disabilities as well as continuing to advocate for individuals who are also intertwined with governmental injustices.