SAN ANTONIO – During her annual “Vision for San Antonio” speech before North Side business leaders, Mayor Ivy Taylor said one of her top priorities was the new proposed police contract approved last week by the San Antonio Police Officers Association.
Taylor said the city of San Antonio didn’t get everything it wanted in the contract that was approved by 70 percent of the police union.
“Given that one-third of police officers voted against the agreement, I’d suspect they’d say the same thing,” Taylor said.
Ahead of the City Council vote Sept. 1, the mayor said she expects a lot of talk about what isn’t in the mediated settlement.
“Look to hear more from me soon on the specifics on how we can move forward there,” Taylor said.
A coalition of protestors is among those who’ve raised concerns about the Police Department’s disciplinary procedures, saying there is a lack of transparency and accountability.
Taylor told the packed house, “Believe me when I tell you that I share those concerns and know how critical they are in our community.”
Taylor said given the spike in violence and talk of a decline in race relations, candid dialogue is needed, especially in neighborhoods in which violent crime puts residents at risk.
The mayor addressed the difficult issue as she described how she envisions San Antonio’s future as a more globally competitive city.
“Our first opportunity is our upcoming budget, as well as the 2017 bond, where we’ll be able to invest $850 million for infrastructure projects,” Taylor said.
The mayor said with a million more residents predicted by 2040, the time to prepare is now.
She said San Antonio already is seeing thousands of new jobs being created in high-demand industries such as information technology, financial services, health care, manufacturing, design and construction, and logistics.
“We don’t necessarily have the workforce ready with the skills to fill those jobs,” Taylor said.
Taylor said such initiatives as San Antonio Works and San Antonio Tomorrow will help to create a city “where everyone has a chance to prosper.”