> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.albanyscanner.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Albany council candidates clash over housing, taxes - URL: https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/09/01/city/albany-council-candidates-clash-housing-taxes/ - Published: 2026-09-01T14:59:34.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-01T17:34:20.000Z - Description: Two candidates defended their work. Others questioned their record. - Author: Emilie Raguso - Tags: City, Election 2026, Elections, Housing, Business, Golden Gate Fields, #articles ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/b5/b0/b5b0b7ec-798c-4cb6-ab42-472b59c05589/content/images/2026/09/albany-council.jpg) From left, in ballot order: Robin López, Katherine Enos, Jon Destin, Aaron Tiedemann and Chris McDaniels. **López photo: Denny Khamphanthong. Enos image: forum screen grab, no headshot provided. Other photos via each campaign.* [Albany City Council](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/albany-city-council/) candidates found plenty to disagree on at an election forum Thursday, from housing and small business to [Golden Gate Fields](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/golden-gate-fields/). The Albany Democratic Club [hosted the forum](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/13/city/albany-democratic-club-candidate-forum-aug-27/) online, giving candidates a minute to answer each question about key issues facing the city. City finances prompted the sharpest divide, with challengers Jon Destin and Chris McDaniels arguing that Albany should have done more to prepare for the racetrack's closure rather than turning to new taxes in November. Incumbent Robin López and former council member Aaron Tiedemann pushed back, pointing to efforts already underway to shore up city finances. [Five candidates](https://www.albanyca.gov/Government/Election-Information/Candidates-for-General-Municipal-Election-2026?ref=albanyscanner.com) are vying for two City Council seats in November. In ballot order, they are Robin López, Katherine Enos, Jon Destin, Aaron Tiedemann and Chris McDaniels. López is seeking re-election, while Tiedemann, who served on council from 2020-24, is seeking to return after falling short in his 2024 re-election bid. Thursday's forum also featured candidates for four seats on the [Board of Education](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/board-of-education/). Albany Scanner will cover that race in a separate story. ## Election 2026: Albany council candidates talk housing Housing emerged as a central issue, with council candidates differing on how to encourage development. [Jon Destin](https://jondestin.com/?ref=albanyscanner.com) said Albany needs to focus on getting housing built, not just approving permits, as the city works toward a state housing target of 1,100 new homes by 2031. "We're nowhere near close," he said. "If we don't achieve this, then the state is going to take over. And they're going to be telling us how to run it. And I know we don't want that." Destin emphasized the need for stronger relationships with developers and builders, and ensuring city staff has the resources to be responsive. Robin López and Aaron Tiedemann, who are [campaigning together](https://www.albanyforward.org/?ref=albanyscanner.com), said the city is already making strides in housing production. Tiedemann described housing as his No. 1 issue, adding: "It's what I work in in my day job." He said "everybody in the Bay Area" and beyond is struggling to meet California's [ambitious housing targets](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/11/city/albany-bowl-housing-stalled/). "We're not going to get taken over by the state if we fail to meet those," said Tiedemann, "but it will mean that people won't be able to afford to live here." Tiedemann said it's up to Albany to "create the conditions that will create housing in the long run" — from speeding up the process to allowing for more density, including on [Solano Avenue](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/solano-avenue/). López said he has a proven track record around affordable housing, and said he was on the City Council when [Verana Hill](https://www.sahahomes.org/property/verana-hill/?ref=albanyscanner.com), a 62-unit development at 755 Cleveland Ave., "came to fruition." "Sixty-two units, though, does not solve the problem," he said. López said market conditions are causing the current building slowdown, which limits how much council members can do to encourage growth. "We are very much well aware of where the housing is likely to happen," he said. "It's just a matter of when the developers choose to make that happen." [Katherine Enos](https://katherineforcouncil.com/?ref=albanyscanner.com) called for a mix of housing types to give people more choices, including single-family homes, apartments and low-income housing, "using whatever land is available." "I think it's important to really talk to people in the community to see what kind of housing they'd like to see," Enos said, rather than letting the process be driven by "people who profit off of construction." [Chris McDaniels](https://chris4albany.com/?ref=albanyscanner.com) said he had seen new low-income housing built next to the freeway and been surprised to learn how much each unit cost. He said Albany should pay more attention to project costs, especially for joint developments, and find ways to lighten the tax burden for people moving into the city. ## Candidates split on support for small business Differences among the candidates became more pronounced on the subject of supporting small business. "I think we're doing it, in large part," Tiedemann said. He said he'd seen Albany's section of [Solano Avenue](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/solano-avenue/) make a strong comeback in his lifetime, from a sleepy district to "one of the most successful commercial corridors in the Bay Area." He said city staff already provide "a fantastic support system," getting to know local businesses and helping connect them with grants for unexpected emergencies and building repairs. Destin said he disagreed with Tiedemann's rosy take, particularly as a small business owner since 2009. "When I talk to business owners around town, I think we could actually do a lot better," he said, suggesting a one-stop "concierge" system at City Hall where business owners could ask questions and offer feedback. He said the city should "look beyond Solano Avenue" to San Pablo Avenue and elsewhere to ensure all businesses get support. McDaniels agreed that the city could do more, particularly given the current economic climate. "We already know that businesses are suffering right now and going through a lot of changes," he said. McDaniels proposed regular town hall meetings with local businesses to better understand what they need from the city. "Sometimes, in politics, we lose the idea that we work for the people that we serve," he said. Enos said businesses should have a greater voice in decisions affecting commercial corridors, including potential changes to [bike lanes on Solano Avenue](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/07/08/city/albany-protected-bike-lane-solano-ave-first-look/). She said Solano must stay walkable, and have the right curbs for disabled access, along with "adequate parking, of course." Enos said [revising the business license structure](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/12/city/albany-2026-november-election-ballot-measures/) — on the ballot this fall as Measure R — "may not be the best thing for encouraging business." López, meanwhile, said [Measure R](https://www.albanyca.gov/files/assets/city/v/2/city-clerk/documents/elections/2026-election/ballot-measures/city-attorney-impartial-analysis/4-general-business-license-tax-measure-november-3-2026-election-c1.pdf?ref=albanyscanner.com) "could help alleviate stress and strain" some business owners in Albany experience by basing the tax on flat rates or gross receipts rather than employee count. López described himself as a "major supporter" of Albany businesses, checking in with them often to answer questions and stay engaged. ## Racetrack revenues become a flashpoint The future of [Golden Gate Fields](https://www.albanyscanner.com/topic/golden-gate-fields/) — and the millions in tax revenue tied to the property — exposed a deeper divide among the City Council candidates. In March, tax-exempt nonprofit [Trust for Public Land](https://www.tpl.org/?ref=berkeleyscanner.com) said it would buy the former racetrack and turn it over to the East Bay Regional Park District [for use as a park](https://www.ebparks.org/projects/future-planning/future-golden-gate-fields-park?ref=albanyscanner.com). If the $175 million deal goes through, the property would become tax-exempt, eliminating a significant source of revenue for the city and school district. Enos said she'd like to hold a town hall on the subject to learn about community priorities. She said one solution to bridge a possible budget gap and address an ongoing structural deficit could involve identifying service cuts people would support. In general, however, potential service cuts did not appear to have much support. López said Albany had already felt racetrack revenue losses "years ago," as business slowed and the track eventually closed. Tiedemann agreed that tax revenue "had been dwindling." López and Tiedemann said [measures on the November ballot](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/12/city/albany-2026-november-election-ballot-measures/) could help recoup the losses, including [$1.1 million in annual racetrack revenue](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/30/city/golden-gate-fields-park-plan-vote/#golden-gate-fields-tax-impacts-would-be-significant) the city now uses for emergency medical services, streets and storm drains, and the library. Tiedemann said he'd already helped increase city revenue by negotiating a deal with UC Berkeley — in the form of a $6 million payment over 10 years — to support core services, including a new fire engine. "We have a history of dealing with this problem," he added. If the park deal goes through, the school district will need to find ways to fill a similar gap, Tiedemann said. McDaniels and Destin both said Albany should have done more before turning to new tax measures. "I'm very disappointed in the situation that we're in with Golden Gate Fields," McDaniels said. He said officials should have planned more strategically and found other ways to increase revenue. "We knew that they were leaving," said McDaniels. "We should have been seriously thinking about: How do we replace those dollars to prevent having the residents or the businesses help us cover that cost?" "I would say ditto on that," said Destin. "I feel like there has really not been much proactivity." In one of the more pointed moments of the night, he observed: "I'm surprised. You would think we live in two different Albanys." "All of a sudden, it's like we discover that this is possibly going to be sold and now what do we do? What we do is we tax everybody," Destin continued. He pledged to "look under every rock," should he win office, to find creative revenue solutions beyond new taxes. "It just comes down to judgment," he said later. "Who do we want to be making those calls and …. is it just kind of looking at the easy way out?" When it was his turn to speak, López pushed back, saying all five sitting City Council members support [the measures on the fall ballot](https://www.albanyscanner.com/2026/08/12/city/albany-2026-november-election-ballot-measures/). "We did the work and explored those creative options," López said. He and Tiedemann both emphasized the tax exemptions that are baked into the measures for low-income residents and qualifying homeowners — which his opponents had not mentioned. "I think it's important for folks to be aware of that, especially if folks are running for City Council: to know what the current council has been laboring through," López said. "No ballot measure is created in a day." [**Allyson Aleksey**](https://www.albanyscanner.com/author/allyson-aleksey/) **contributed reporting to this story.** ## Watch: Albany Democratic Club election forum *What are your top questions for candidates? Share them in the comments or* [*send us a tip*](https://www.albanyscanner.com/tips/)*.* **CORRECTION: Aaron Tiedemann was on the Albany City Council from 2020-24 but is not on council now. This story has been fixed.** ## Sign up for Albany Scanner Stories for an informed community Get updates Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.