District 2 residents want safety, street improvements included in budget

Community voices opinion in first public meeting about proposed 2017 budget

SAN ANTONIO – More safety and street improvements are just a couple of the things community members in District 2 say are most important to them when it comes to the 2017 city budget.

The proposed budget was released last week, and serves as a rough draft until it is finalized Sept. 15. Monday night was the first of several meetings at which the public will have a chance to give their opinions before the budget is set in stone.

Aubrey Lewis was born and raised on the East Side and said the recent crime spike is the worst he's seen.

"There's a lot of concern about safety over here on the East Side. We'd like to see a lot more police patrols," Lewis said.

As president of the Denver Heights Neighborhood Association, Lewis said he wants his voice heard before the city's 2017 budget is finalized. he is happy to hear that the current budget proposal includes 32 new police officers, but that's not the only safety addition he wants. 

"We've got to have some additional street lighting in our community, because a lot of these streets you turn down at night, and it's complete darkness. When you've got a dark area, it just invites crime," he said. 

His last request for the budget was one he shared with many others. The Department of Transportation and Capital Improvements took an informal survey at Monday's meet and greet, asking the public which services are most important to them. Street maintenance and sidewalks got the most votes.

"You've got a lot of areas [on the East Side] that they don't have sidewalks, or the sidewalks are deteriorating. There's a lot of areas you don't have curbing. Many of the streets need to be regraded. It's bad," Lewis said.

Longtime East Side resident Joseph Oubre's main hope is for continued city funding for specific economic development programs.

"Project Quest was recognized by the White House as a premier job training program. They train for jobs that exist in industry in the city. It was already partially funded by the city last budget year. We've asked that Project Quest be funded at $2.2 million in budget year 2017," Oubre said.

He also wants the living wage raised to $14 an hour.

"About a year ago, the decision was made to increase living wage. People are having a difficult time living on the wages that they have," he said.

It's at $13 an hour now since last year's increase. Though there is a longer-term plan to raise the living wage to $15 an hour for city and county employees, the proposed 2017 budget does not list another increase.

There will be several more public meetings before the budget is finalized:

Tuesday, Aug. 23

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center

8400 N.W. Military Hwy 

Thursday, Aug. 25

5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Tool Yard 

10303 Tool Yard

Monday, Aug. 29 

5:30-7:30 p.m.

Normoyle Community and Senior Center

700 Culberson Ave.

Thursday, Sept. 1 

5:30-7:30 p.m.

South Side Lions Community Center

3100 Hiawatha Street


About the Author:

Courtney Friedman anchors KSAT’s weekend evening shows and reports during the week. Her ongoing Loving in Fear series confronts Bexar County’s domestic violence epidemic. She joined KSAT in 2014 and is proud to call the SA and South Texas community home. She came to San Antonio from KYTX CBS 19 in Tyler, where she also anchored & reported.