Report: Differences between gay and straight spouses disappear after legalization of gay marriage
Same-sex spouses were typically younger and were more likely to be employed than those in opposite-sex marriages, although many of those differences disappeared after the legalization of gay marriage in 2015.
Councilwoman pulls the reins on proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages
Phyllis Viagran (D3) helped spearhead a council consideration request (CCR) in November 2022, asking city staff to develop a plan to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages. But as the idea finally moves forward, though, she appears to be changing her tune.
Why is a San Antonio councilman putting up anti-panhandling signs?
โPanhandling. Itโs OK to say NO,โ state the signs on Wurzbach Road, Huebner Road, De Zavala Road, and La Cantera Parkway. The signs feature a crossed-out image of money changing hands over a plea to donate to local charities instead.
San Antonio mental health response program in middle of rapid expansion
After a heavily-lauded start, city leaders were quick to clamor for a rapid expansion of the SA CORE program. The three-member teams already provide citywide coverage, and around-the-clock coverage is a little more than a month away.
Horse carriage operators score early victory in face of ban proposal
The eight members of the 11-person Transportation Advisory Board who were present Wednesday voted unanimously to recommend city council consider keeping horse-drawn carriages in San Antonio. The boardโs motion also indicated a desire to specifically keep the carriages downtown.
Council members want more โequityโ in senior assistance program to prevent code violations
Districts 2, 3, 4, and 5 - which comprise most of the cityโs East, South, and West Sides - are already through the $10,000 set aside for each of their residents. Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran (D3) even added another $5,000 of her district's discretionary funds to stretch it further.
Fire contract controversy fizzles out with closed-door discussion
Following a week of back-and-forth discussions over transparency, leaks, and the fitness of the city attorney, San Antonio City Council members ended up discussing the stalled contract negotiations behind closed doors, just as nearly half of them had already asked.
San Antonio City Manager will have โconversationโ with city attorney after council membersโ closed-door grievance airing
Less than week after nearly half the San Antonio City Council called for a meeting to discuss the โfitnessโ of the city attorney, they got a chance to air their grievances behind closed doors.
Council members deny leaking info after city attorney says he has โno confidenceโ in executive session confidentiality
City Attorney Andy Segovia all but accused council members of leaking information on the fire contract negotiations. Four of the five council members calling for a discussion on his suitability for the job denied their offices were behind it.
San Antonio City Council in revolt; nearly half of members want to consider forcing out city attorney
The day after they say the city attorney tried to partially block their demand for a special meeting, five San Antonio City Council members are demanding another meeting - this time to discuss whether he is fit for the job.
San Antonio council members flout mayor, demand meeting on stalled fire contract talks
After Mayor Ron Nirenberg refused to allow a discussion behind closed doors of the ongoing fire contract negotiations, half the city council joined together to force his hand. But it's not clear if they will get the meeting they want.
Carriage operators say San Antonio needs to hold its horses on proposed ban
The city councilโs Governance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to send a proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages over to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration. The specifics havenโt been decided yet, but the vote means the 16-month-old request is still alive.
โYou canโt argue with the numbersโ: SAPD say โhot spotโ policing strategy helped level off violent crime
The San Antonio Police Department and criminologists with the University of Texas at San Antonio say a new โhot spotโ policing strategy has helped fight violent crime in the Alamo City.
San Antonio on track for more than 1,000 homeless camp cleanups this year
There have already been 520 cleanups in San Antonio between October 2023 through March 2024, and the cityโs director of human services estimates that could reach โprobably 1,000 to 1,100โณ by the end of the 2024 fiscal year.
Reserved spots, discount pricing teased as perks of parking privatization at San Antonio International Airport
City officials say the parking contractor will be able to better manage the airportโs two parking garages and three surface lots to maximize revenue. The contractor will offer options, like reserving spaces in advance and offer discounted prices.
San Antonio fire union president says contract talks should be departure from past acrimony
The new head of the San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association hopes its battles with the City of San Antonio are behind them. The union hopes to make up lost ground on firefighter pay when contract negotiations start Thursday.
Jobs program executive had prostitution-related activities arrest shortly before being hired by City of SA, records show
Information recently uncovered by KSAT about the head of the City of San Antonioโs high-profile job training program is raising questions about the cityโs vetting and hiring process. And, so far, top city officials arenโt agreeing to answer those questions on camera.
Tree replanting program proposed for Oak Wilt-afflicted San Antonio neighborhoods
Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito (D7) has asked the city to consider a program to help replace infected oaks with other native trees after they have been removed. It would apply to trees on both public and private land.
San Antonio City Council passes new code of conduct; questions raised about enforcement
Less than three weeks after issuing its third formal reprimand to a council member in the past 15 months, the city council voted 8-2 to adopt a new code of conduct. However, itโs debatable if the code would even apply to all three incidents, and the enforcement measures included in the code are all largely symbolic.
City council pay, more council districts: commission begins 6-month process considering charter changes
How much to pay San Antonio city council members, whether to add more council districts, and independent redistricting could all end up on San Antonio votersโ ballots next year. But it will depend first on what a 15-members citizen commission decides over the next six months.
City Council approves CPS Energy rate hike; increase to take effect in February
The San Antonio City Council voted 8-3 Thursday morning for the second increase in two years of CPS Energyโs gas and electric rates. This latest rate hike is expected to cost the average residential customer an additional $4.45 per month after it takes effect in February 2024.
CPS Energy board approves rate increase; council to vote Thursday
The board voted 5-0 to approve the proposed increase of 4.25% to the base rates, raising the average customerโs monthly bill by $4.45. The city-owned utility still needs the approval of the San Antonio City Council, which meets on Dec. 7.
โGrave oversightโ: San Antonio childcare center slams plans for low-barrier homeless shelter next door
Just days after San Antonio City Council members approved a $15.9 million plan to use a downtown hotel as a 200-room, low-barrier homeless shelter, the childcare center next door says it is โoutraged.โ
โA middle fingerโ: San Antonio councilman blasts staff rejection of crime prevention office plan
Nearly 20 months after the East Side councilman submitted a request to consider the creation of a brand-new โOffice of Crime and Recidivism Prevention,โ a top city executive had told him and the other committee members that such an office was unnecessary.
Some sparks fly as council finalizes budget, including fund to assist travel for abortion care
As the San Antonio City Council spent a second day debating last-minute tweaks to the city budget, a proposal that could help fund trips to out-of-state abortion clinics continued to be a point of contention.
โAir of compromiseโ: Abortion travel fund, mental health teams among proposed city budget tweaks
Expanding a popular mental health team, creating a fund to help cover travel to out-of-state abortion clinics, and giving more money for Animal Care Services were among the most high-profile changes council members discussed making to the budget - largely favorably.
Feral hog trapping contract up for San Antonio City Council vote
The invasive, nuisance species have been spotted at the City of San Antonioโs southernmost park, the Medina River Natural Area. And the Parks and Recreation Department says there has been evidence of the pigs at other city properties, such as Friedrich Wilderness Park and the Greenway Trail System.
San Antonio joins Houstonโs lawsuit against Texas over new law curbing local authority
The cityโs lawsuit challenges the validity of House Bill 2127, which would prevent cities like San Antonio from making or enforcing local laws on issues like evictions, employment benefits, or a host of other subjects.