SAN ANTONIO – Four years ago, Sergio Calderon opened Panchos and Gringo's in Dignowity Hill. Since he’s started serving up hot meals in the East Side community, he said he has seen parts of the area change for the better.
"The corner of Hackberry and Houston used to be really bad, and it's been cleaned up," he said. "The corner of Nolan and New Braunfels was pretty bad also, and it's been cleaned up."
After a summer of numerous East Side shootings, more than six in the month of June alone, Mayor Ivy Taylor has put together a council on police and community relations that is tasked with actions including communication within and among the community about policing, public safety and transparency.
"They've been stretched thin," said Liz Franklin, a Dignowity Hill resident. "We have a lot of issues over here that we want to address, just like every other neighborhood."
Franklin said her hope for the council is to improve relationships, conversations and dialogue with the San Antonio Police Department.
"I think San Antonio is setting the pace on conversations that absolutely need to take place in 2016,” she said.
Although Calderon said he has an excellent relationship with police already, he's glad to see the city making more efforts to improve relations.
"Step by step, I think we can help each other and help the police also to clean up the city," Calderon said.
The first meeting for the council on police and community relations happened Wednesday night at San Houston High School.