INSIDER
East Side councilman’s failed trick to block semi-truck dealership blows up both plans
Read full article: East Side councilman’s failed trick to block semi-truck dealership blows up both plansCouncilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez pushed to annex the property near I-10 and Loop 1604 into the city limits without the zoning Doggett Freightliner was seeking and effectively killed its plans.
Will San Antonio take a harder stance on anti-LGBTQ bills in Austin next year?
Read full article: Will San Antonio take a harder stance on anti-LGBTQ bills in Austin next year?Council members on the Intergovernmental Relations Committee want the city's state legislative priorities to more explicitly include support for the LGBTQ community.
Funding to support East Side, downtown connectivity study inked on City Council agenda
Read full article: Funding to support East Side, downtown connectivity study inked on City Council agendaPlanning efforts to address East Side and downtown connectivity could get a boost in funding support later this week, according to the agenda for Thursday’s San Antonio City Council meeting.
SAPD, Centro plan AI-fueled security camera network downtown
Read full article: SAPD, Centro plan AI-fueled security camera network downtownSan Antonio Police plan to test out a network of city and private security cameras in Downtown San Antonio, which could be monitored around the clock by both police and artificial intelligence.
Proposed horse carriage ban trots on; San Antonio City Council to consider 1-3 year phase-out
Read full article: Proposed horse carriage ban trots on; San Antonio City Council to consider 1-3 year phase-outThe five-member Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted unanimously Monday to ask city staff to develop options for phasing out horse-drawn carriages within one to three years.
San Antonio City Attorney refuses to explain leaking allegations
Read full article: San Antonio City Attorney refuses to explain leaking allegationsLast month, San Antonio City Attorney Andy Segovia accused council members of leaking information on the fire contract negotiations. However, he refused to answer KSAT's questions about what had prompted those accusations.
Councilwoman pulls the reins on proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages
Read full article: Councilwoman pulls the reins on proposal to ban horse-drawn carriagesPhyllis 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.
Horse carriage operators score early victory in face of ban proposal
Read full article: Horse carriage operators score early victory in face of ban proposalThe 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 board’s motion also indicated a desire to specifically keep the carriages downtown.
San Antonio City Manager will have ‘conversation’ with city attorney after council members’ closed-door grievance airing
Read full article: San Antonio City Manager will have ‘conversation’ with city attorney after council members’ closed-door grievance airingLess than week after nearly half the San Antonio City Council called for a meeting to discuss the “fitness” 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 ‘no confidence’ in executive session confidentiality
Read full article: Council members deny leaking info after city attorney says he has ‘no confidence’ in executive session confidentialityCity 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.
Carriage operators say San Antonio needs to hold its horses on proposed ban
Read full article: Carriage operators say San Antonio needs to hold its horses on proposed banThe city council’s 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 haven’t been decided yet, but the vote means the 16-month-old request is still alive.
‘You can’t argue with the numbers’: SAPD say ‘hot spot’ policing strategy helped level off violent crime
Read full article: ‘You can’t argue with the numbers’: SAPD say ‘hot spot’ policing strategy helped level off violent crimeThe San Antonio Police Department and criminologists with the University of Texas at San Antonio say a new “hot spot” policing strategy has helped fight violent crime in the Alamo City.
Scaled-back 18-wheeler parking restrictions pull ahead to full San Antonio City Council
Read full article: Scaled-back 18-wheeler parking restrictions pull ahead to full San Antonio City CouncilA plan to further restrict 18-wheeler street parking in San Antonio is on the road again and headed to the full city council.
Faded MLK mural removed from East side bridge to make way for new art
Read full article: Faded MLK mural removed from East side bridge to make way for new artWorkers took down a popular tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to make way for new artwork. The painting, installed above the N. New Braunfels Avenue bridge in 1997, had become old and faded.
San Antonio set to receive nearly $3 million in funding to address East Side, downtown connectivity
Read full article: San Antonio set to receive nearly $3 million in funding to address East Side, downtown connectivitySan Antonio is poised to receive nearly $3 million in funding to begin drafting a study addressing connectivity between the East Side and downtown.
Council member files request to develop income-based pet deposit assistance program for San Antonio renters
Read full article: Council member files request to develop income-based pet deposit assistance program for San Antonio rentersDignowity Hill resident Vanessa Acosta said the City of San Antonio needs a long-term solution for animal overpopulation. District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is proposing a new plan.
San Antonio City Council passes new code of conduct; questions raised about enforcement
Read full article: San Antonio City Council passes new code of conduct; questions raised about enforcementLess 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, it’s debatable if the code would even apply to all three incidents, and the enforcement measures included in the code are all largely symbolic.
San Antonio councilmembers vote to censure District 10′s Marc Whyte after DWI arrest
Read full article: San Antonio councilmembers vote to censure District 10′s Marc Whyte after DWI arrestWhyte asked his fellow councilmembers to pass the censure; others spoke about holding council to a higher standard
Protesters shut down San Antonio City Council meeting after proposal to support Israel-Hamas ceasefire rescinded
Read full article: Protesters shut down San Antonio City Council meeting after proposal to support Israel-Hamas ceasefire rescindedActivists carried signs reading “Free Palestine;” Councilmembers McKee-Rodriguez, Castillo left with fists in air in support
San Antonio city council won’t take up resolution on Israel-Hamas ceasefire after councilman pulls his support
Read full article: San Antonio city council won’t take up resolution on Israel-Hamas ceasefire after councilman pulls his supportMayor Ron Nirenberg says "the special meeting will not be scheduled now that the request lacks the required support."
Could women- and minority-owned businesses lose their advantage on certain city contracts?
Read full article: Could women- and minority-owned businesses lose their advantage on certain city contracts?Rather than getting additional points in the scoring process for non-low-bid contracts, city staff say all small businesses should get the same leg up over larger companies.
City Council approves CPS Energy rate hike; increase to take effect in February
Read full article: City Council approves CPS Energy rate hike; increase to take effect in FebruaryThe San Antonio City Council voted 8-3 Thursday morning for the second increase in two years of CPS Energy’s 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.
Anti-abortion groups sue San Antonio over “reproductive justice fund”
Read full article: Anti-abortion groups sue San Antonio over “reproductive justice fund”The city allocated $500,000 to establish the fund, but has not yet said how that money will be used. The lawsuit asks a judge to block the money from going to groups that pay for out-of-state abortions.
‘A middle finger’: San Antonio councilman blasts staff rejection of crime prevention office plan
Read full article: ‘A middle finger’: San Antonio councilman blasts staff rejection of crime prevention office planNearly 20 months after the East Side councilman submitted a request to consider the creation of a brand-new “Office of Crime and Recidivism Prevention,” a top city executive had told him and the other committee members that such an office was unnecessary.
City Council passes $3.7B budget, including new fund that could help cover travel to out-of-state abortion clinics
Read full article: City Council passes $3.7B budget, including new fund that could help cover travel to out-of-state abortion clinicsThe city council passed the $3.7 billion spending plan for fiscal year 2024 Thursday morning in a 10-0-1 vote. It will take effect Oct. 1 at the beginning of the 2024 fiscal year.
‘Air of compromise’: Abortion travel fund, mental health teams among proposed city budget tweaks
Read full article: ‘Air of compromise’: Abortion travel fund, mental health teams among proposed city budget tweaksExpanding 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.
Man attacked in his own yard by neighbor’s dogs on Northeast Side
Read full article: Man attacked in his own yard by neighbor’s dogs on Northeast SideThe man was outside smoking a cigarette in the 9500 block of Heidelberg Street when someone at his neighbor’s home let two dogs out into the yard. The dogs crossed a fence, ran to the man and attacked him, police said.
Councilman proposes program to make homeownership more accessible, affordable for teachers in San Antonio
Read full article: Councilman proposes program to make homeownership more accessible, affordable for teachers in San AntonioDistrict 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez is working to make homeownership more accessible and affordable for teachers and school personnel and has filed a Council Consideration Request to establish a program with that goal in mind.
Leading SA: District 2, 10 City Councilmen discuss budget priorities, new initiatives underway
Read full article: Leading SA: District 2, 10 City Councilmen discuss budget priorities, new initiatives underwayDistrict 2 City Councilman Malen McKee-Rodriguez and District 10 City Councilman Marc Whyte joined Leading SA to discuss current council initiatives and planning for the budget.
East Side reacts to possible San Antonio Spurs move away from AT&T Center
Read full article: East Side reacts to possible San Antonio Spurs move away from AT&T CenterWith a possible downtown move being discussed by the San Antonio Spurs and the City of San Antonio, East Side residents and businesses have mixed opinions.
What we know about 3 San Antonio police officers charged with murder in death of Melissa Perez
Read full article: What we know about 3 San Antonio police officers charged with murder in death of Melissa PerezSAPD Chief William McManus said Friday night the officers didn’t follow department training or policy and “used deadly force, which was not reasonable given all the circumstances as we now understand them.”
‘Tempers are easily flared’: City council members respond to rise in gun violence across San Antonio
Read full article: ‘Tempers are easily flared’: City council members respond to rise in gun violence across San AntonioFrom gun lock giveaways to getting more awareness in neighborhoods, many city leaders are looking for any possible solution to the problem.
Pride on the Eastside Festival provides community with HIV educational awareness, resources
Read full article: Pride on the Eastside Festival provides community with HIV educational awareness, resourcesPart of Pride Month is having difficult conversations about LGBTQ+ issues and replacing negative stigmas with educational awareness. The Pride on the Eastside Festival did just that in a fun and empowering way on Saturday.
Plan to expand city non-discrimination ordinance scaled back
Read full article: Plan to expand city non-discrimination ordinance scaled backNearly a full year after Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez proposed expanding the city's NDO to include private employers and increasing penalties for violations, the measures are conspicuously absent from city staff recommendations for updating the ordinance.
MLK Commission asks city to triple its contribution
Read full article: MLK Commission asks city to triple its contributionWhile the current budget proposal for the city in FY 2023 would provide $100,000 to the commission, its members want council members to approve $300,000 when the vote on the final version.
City council still divided on how to spend $50M of CPS windfall
Read full article: City council still divided on how to spend $50M of CPS windfallThe hot temperatures and higher natural gas costs have been pushing up power bills, which increases CPS Energy revenues in turn and the amount the utility passes on to the city. While city staff has proposed giving $50 million back to CPS customers - mostly through bill credits averaging $31 for residential customers- city council members haven’t all signed on to the idea..
City Council adopts new district map under a new redistricting process
Read full article: City Council adopts new district map under a new redistricting processMore than 39,000 San Antonio residents are now in a new city council district after the 10 present members of the city council unanimously adopted a new council district map Thursday.
SAPD wants to add up to 50 more officers; East and West Side council members against it
Read full article: SAPD wants to add up to 50 more officers; East and West Side council members against itCouncilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and Councilwoman Teri Castillo were the only dissenting council members in a 7-2 vote on whether to pursue a grant of up to $6.25 million through the U.S. Department of Justice, which would help pay for up to 50 new police officer positions. The pair of freshman council members, who represent the East and West Sides respectively, raised concerns about whether adding officers would help reduce crime and about the increase to SAPD’s budget that would results from it.
District 2 councilman wants his half of ‘Brack’ back in redistricting plan
Read full article: District 2 councilman wants his half of ‘Brack’ back in redistricting planBrackenridge Park is currently split between District 1 and District 2 along East Mulberry Avenue, but the proposed map would place it entirely within District 1 by removing the only two precincts in the district that are fully to the west of Broadway Avenue.
After retreating from the bond process, Texas Biomed gets $10 million for infrastructure through ARPA
Read full article: After retreating from the bond process, Texas Biomed gets $10 million for infrastructure through ARPADespite vocal opposition from animal rights activists and others, city council voted Thursday to give $10 million to Texas Biomedical Research Institute for infrastructure improvements at its campus.
‘I’m not anticipating changing anybody’s mind’: CPS Energy CEO says outreach on rate hike is about ‘education’
Read full article: ‘I’m not anticipating changing anybody’s mind’: CPS Energy CEO says outreach on rate hike is about ‘education’As CPS Energy pushes for city council approval of a new rate hike, the utility’s interim CEO doesn’t expect to win over many of its customers.
Nicki Minaj endorses SA city councilman after he wished her ‘happy birthday’ during session
Read full article: Nicki Minaj endorses SA city councilman after he wished her ‘happy birthday’ during sessionThe queen of rap, Nicki Minaj, is showing some love on social media for a San Antonio city councilman after he wished her a belated happy birthday this week during a council session.
‘Don’t want to give the Dist. 2 Councilman what he wants’: Business groups oppose expanding non-discrimination ordinance
Read full article: ‘Don’t want to give the Dist. 2 Councilman what he wants’: Business groups oppose expanding non-discrimination ordinanceThough they’re avoiding an all-out offensive, San Antonio business groups are resisting the idea of expanding the city’s non-discrimination ordinance commonly referred to simply as the NDO.
San Antonio council members push to expand non-discrimination ordinance to private businesses
Read full article: San Antonio council members push to expand non-discrimination ordinance to private businessesAt least six San Antonio city council members say it’s time to expand the city’s non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) to include private businesses.
WATCH LIVE: City Council members file request to expand San Antonio’s non-discrimination ordinance
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: City Council members file request to expand San Antonio’s non-discrimination ordinanceThree San Antonio City Council members want to expand San Antonio’s non-disclosure ordinance.
SA City Council approves $17M in tax rebates for Spurs training facility and larger ‘Human Performance Campus’
Read full article: SA City Council approves $17M in tax rebates for Spurs training facility and larger ‘Human Performance Campus’The City of San Antonio is officially kicking in public dollars towards the Spurs Sports & Entertainment-led $510.8 million “Human Performance Campus” near La Cantera, bringing the total of local, public incentives up to $32 million.
Addressing poor or failing streets to be a top priority in San Antonio budget discussions
Read full article: Addressing poor or failing streets to be a top priority in San Antonio budget discussionsWhen San Antonio City Council members return from their break next month, the top issue on their agenda will be the city budget. Fixing roads and streets will be part of the discussion.
Jalen McKee-Rodriguez becomes first openly gay man elected to San Antonio City Council
Read full article: Jalen McKee-Rodriguez becomes first openly gay man elected to San Antonio City CouncilJalen McKee-Rodriguez defeated incumbent Jada Andrews-Sullivan in the race for District 2 runoff on Saturday night, becoming the first openly gay man to be elected to the San Antonio City Council.
What to know about Saturday’s election: 5 San Antonio City Council races will be decided in runoff
Read full article: What to know about Saturday’s election: 5 San Antonio City Council races will be decided in runoffThe districts up for grabs in Saturday’s runoff are 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9. Find information on candidates, voting locations and districts.
District 2 runoff election heating up with endorsements, alleged homophobia
Read full article: District 2 runoff election heating up with endorsements, alleged homophobiaJalen McKee-Rodriguez tweeted on Tuesday that, “There are pastors and church leaders telling their congregants that a vote for me is a sin... and the Councilwoman is enabling that rhetoric and behavior because she benefits from it.”
Incumbent Andrews-Sullivan faces host of challengers in District 2 council race
Read full article: Incumbent Andrews-Sullivan faces host of challengers in District 2 council raceComing off of her first term, District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan has 11 challengers looking to unseat her, more than twice as many as any other incumbent, with the exception of the always crowded mayor’s race.