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.
CPS Energy prepares to ask for another rate hike
The city-owned gas and electric utility will request an increase of its gas and electric base rates by 4.25% from both the CPS Energy Board of Trustees and San Antonio City Council on Nov. 8 - a move it says would raise many customersโ bills by less than $5.
Neighbors along โDead Manโs Curveโ on Northwest Side promised traffic light to stop speeders
Prue Road between Babcock and Bandera roads has been nicknamed โDead Manโs Curveโ because of the high number of traffic crashes along the winding road. Residents who are fed up have been trying to get someone to hear their concerns for two years.
โGlib, smug smileโ: Pelaez lays into business group for supporting bills to curb local control
Following a briefing on the the current legislative session, District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez highlighted the fact that the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce had testified in favor of a pair of bills the city has been fighting.
Rundown apartments now subject to extra inspections
In a near unanimous voice vote Thursday, the San Antonio City Council passed a new โProactive Apartment Inspection Program,โ which stems out of the attention that properties with numerous citations like Seven Oaks Apartments attracted in the summer of 2022.
North Side councilmen leave chambers rather than put marijuana, abortion onto May 6 ballot
Because the proposed charter amendment was the result of a successful petition, the cityโs legal team said the city council had no choice but to put it on the ballot.Even so, three North Side councilmen made sure to leave council chambers rather than help pass it: Councilman Manny Pelaez (D8), Councilman John Courage (D9), and Councilman Clayton Perry (D10).
City council passes resolution supporting abortion access
San Antonioโs resolution does not legalize or decriminalize abortion in San Antonio. However, it does make a policy recommendation against spending city money -- outside of what is โclearly requiredโ by state and federal law -- to catalog, collect or share with other government agencies information on instances of abortion strictly to pursue criminal investigations.
Councilman wants โformalโ cite-and-release program for pot possession; activists want more rolled into it
Though San Antonio already participates in a cite and release program, it wasnโt passed by city council, and District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez says itโs time to โcodify something.โ But with Pelaez submitting his request for a marijuana-only program - just one day after meeting with SA Stands member who want to include several other misdemeanors - the coalition smells a rat.
CPS Energy rate hike coming amid โtrust crisis,โ council warns utility
The utility needs councilโs support to institute a two-pronged approach to raising customersโ bills: a 3.85 percent increase to the base rates and a bump in the fuel adjustment charge. Combined, CPS officials say those changes would raise the average residential customerโs bill by about 3.3 percent - or $5.10 per month.
San Antonio City Council considers international airport expansion plan for โworld-classโ facility
The cityโs director of airports presented city council members with a a new Strategic Development Plan to expand the San Antonio International Airportโs capacity and turn it into a โworld-classโ facility.
โDonโt want to give the Dist. 2 Councilman what he wantsโ: Business groups oppose expanding non-discrimination ordinance
Though theyโre avoiding an all-out offensive, San Antonio business groups are resisting the idea of expanding the cityโs non-discrimination ordinance commonly referred to simply as the NDO.
Stateโs push to teach teens about domestic violence, teen dating falls short, SA councilman says
San Antonio councilman Manny Pelaez is asking that city council consider a request to mandate that any school district or university that takes city funds teach family violence, teen dating, or sex trafficking to students, without the option to opt-out.
City, county offer $32M in incentives for โHuman Performance Campusโ for Spurs
The โHuman Performance Campusโ would contain a new training facility for the team; restaurant, retail, and commercial space; a โhuman performance research institute;โ a 22-acre park; and an outdoor plaza. Bexar County Commissioners have already committed $15 million toward the project, and the San Antonio City Council will vote Thursday on providing $17 million in tax rebates.
San Antonio City Council approves $100 H-E-B gift cards as incentive to get COVID-19 vaccine
City council voted Thursday morning 9-1 to approve $1 million of federal grant dollars to spend on up to 10,000 gift cards that will be given to people who complete their vaccination series at Metro Health vaccination sites.
Data: How much money San Antonio mayoral, city council candidates have raised and spent for May 1 election
With several crowded races on the ballot โ more than 80 candidates are running for 11 seats โ hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions and expenditures have run through local campaigns.
San Antonio City Council approves vaccine registry for ages 65+
SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio seniors will soon be able to sign up for a vaccine registry, which could make it easier for them to get an appointment. The San Antonio City Council members present voted unanimously Wednesday afternoon. AdIt could take three to four weeks to develop and open up the registry, Bridger said, which the city will develop with Health Access San Antonio (HASA), a local, health information organization. So Courage, along with District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, called for a special city council meeting to address it again. โOnce ready, the registry will make it significantly easier for residents 65 years and older to obtain a vaccine appointment.โ
โDead Manโs Curveโ: Northwest Side homeowners want deadly Prue Road segment fixed
SAN ANTONIO โ Northwest Side homeowners living on Prue Road are concerned about the increasing number of crashes on a segment of the road called โDead Manโs Curveโ and asking the city to find a solution to slow down drivers. Robert and Belinda Hughes say five vehicles have crashed into their backyard fence in 20 years. โMost recently, it has been occurring more frequently this last year, about a month and a half apart,โ Robert said. โEverybody takes that curve like theyโre speed racing because itโs such a winding road. โAlthough some of the long-term solutions may take time to develop, we will continue to coordinate between the City departments and neighbors.
โSan Antonio is not a home for bigots:โ City, county leaders show support for Asian community after ramen shop vandalism
SAN ANTONIO โ Community leaders stood united Thursday in a press conference outside the Bexar County Courthouse to condemn racist graffiti found on the windows of a Northwest Side ramen shop. On Sunday, Noodle Tree owner Mike Nguyen went to the ramen shop to find racist graffiti that read, โno masks,โ โramen noodle flu,โ and other derogatory remarks. AdโItโs important that the people of San Antonio know that this is not who we are,โ Gonzales said. Others who spoke up for the Asian community in San Antonio included San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Police Chief William McManus, and Councilman Manny Pelaez. The support was appreciated by members of the Asian community, like Christina Lew, the president of the San Antonio chapter for the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
โOur community deserves answersโ: Committee to investigate winter storm preparedness, response in San Antonio
A Park Policeman patrols along the River Walk as snow falls, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)SAN ANTONIO โ San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg on Tuesday announced the formation of a committee that will look into why the city and utility companies were not better prepared for their response to a winter storm that paralyzed the city for a week. Rice Jr.: RetiredNirenberg said while he wants a prompt and comprehensive effort by the committee, he wants members to be thorough in their work. The mayor asked that City Manager Erik Walsh provide support to the committee with appropriate city staff that will coordinate with CPS Energy and San Antonio Water System, and to include any experts or stakeholders as necessary. AdThe announcement comes one day after the CPS Energy Board of Trustees voted Monday for a review and audit of CPS Energy, which the utility president and CEO, Paula Gold-Williams said Tuesday she โabsolutely welcomesโ and โ(is) ready to participate.โRelated Stories:
What weve gotten so far is headaches: Councilman, residents frustrated over delays in De Zavala Road Project
SAN ANTONIO Frustrations are building over the unfinished De Zavala Road Project. Rose said she is sometimes stuck in her neighborhood and has to navigate through miles of construction. Sacha Pokharel said the combination of heavy rain and road work has her worried. Im just here stuck because Im scared to go, scared to leave, Pokharel said. What weve gotten so far is headaches, and quite honestly, its unacceptable, Pelaez said.
San Antonio City Council declares racism a public health crisis
However, it includes various commitments to pursue racial equity, like reviewing policies and procedures to eliminate racial bias and working with historically marginalized communities to find solutions for health equity issues. The resolution resulted from a merger of drafts supported by District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, with input from the city's Office of Equity and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District's Office of Health Equity. The document references various challenges people of color face, including worse health outcomes and harder economic circumstances in Bexar County. That section had been added upon District Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran's request after an Aug. 7 Community Health and Equity Committee meeting. At current, public health is slated to receive $19.3 million in the upcoming budget.
San Antonio City Council members want concrete plans to keep aquifer protection funding flowing
San Antonio Amid questions over how a proposed sales tax-funded workforce development program would operate, San Antonio City Council members remain concerned about the fate of a popular aquifer protection program. Some also raised the issue of what would happen to the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. The 1/8 cent that the city is considering for the workforce development program currently funds Linear Creekway Parks and the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program. "I'm going to support a ballot initiative on one condition -- and that is that I get trustworthy and concrete assurances that our Edwards Aquifer protection will continue to protect the Edwards Aquifer," Pelaez said. Voters first approved using sales tax money for aquifer protection in May 2000 and have approved similar taxes three times since then, most recently in 2015.
Council members raise fists in solidarity with police reform advocates
San Antonio Almost all of the San Antonio City Council members raised fists in solidarity with police reform advocates at a meeting Thursday. And city council, I am calling on you to raise a fist or take a knee if you stand in solidarity with us today.Almost all of the council members could be seen raising their fists during the the moment of silence. If you truly cared and wanted to make a change, you would put together some things that would make a change now, impact now, Pharoah Clark told council members. The council members were considering a resolution outlining priorities for discussions with the San Antonio Police Officer Association for the next union contract. Some of the speakers criticized the council for the upcoming break, though council members and the mayor said that doesnt mean they are going anywhere.
Council members talk police reform, including shifting money, amid ongoing protests
San Antonio As protesters continue to call for police reform, San Antonio City Council members are indicating they have a mind to listen to them. Council members shared their thoughts for changing the San Antonio Police Department during a virtual briefing Wednesday by Chief William McManus and city staff on police-community relations and current policies and procedures. City staff said they do. Officer disciplineMeanwhile, a presentation by Manus and city staff heavily featured the current investigation and disciplinary process for officer misconduct. If theyre not, we get police officers back on the department that need to be fired, McManus told council members.
Speakers urge San Antonio City Council to โdefund the policeโ during budget discussions
SAN ANTONIO โ Chants of โBlack Lives Matter" echoed throughout City Council Chambers on Thursday morning as protesters demanded Mayor Ron Nirenberg and council members take action on police funding. Protesters filled council chambers as council members approached a vote on an ordinance amending the Fiscal Year 2020 annual operating budget, which had been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. WATCH: San Antonio City Council, Mayor Ron Nirenberg to vote on $191M โrecovery and resiliencyโ plan, budget adjustmentsThursdayโs demonstration is the latest in San Antonio that has protested the death of George Floyd, which has sparked turbulent protests around the world against racial injustice. Speakers urged council members to โdefund the policeโ and later shouted over them as they made remarks. Iโm not going nowhere.โ"We never in a million years expected to fight terrorism in our own damn city" A lot of emotion at city council today as #blacklivesmatter supporters gathered to urge council to "defund the police," often shouting over council members.
San Antonio City Council votes to put Pre-K 4 SA tax on May ballot
SAN ANTONIO โ Voters in San Antonio will have a chance to choose whether to continue providing sales tax dollars to Pre-K 4 SA, which would effectively decide if the free prekindergarten program will be able to continue. The San Antonio City Council voted 8-1 on Thursday to order an election on whether to extend the 1/8 cent sales tax for eight more years. Bexar Facts results show support for Pre-K 4 SA ahead of City Council voteMany council members indicated their support for the program from the dais. More than three-quarters of the programโs funding comes from the sales tax revenue. Without the tax money, Pre-K 4 SA CEO Sarah Baray said the education program would not be able to continue in its current form.
LEADING S.A: District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez on topics from domestic violence to development, preserving natural resources
SAN ANTONIO โ The Alamo City is growing -- more businesses, more people, and itโs expanding, especially on the Northwest side. And weโve been doing close to nothing,โ Councilman Pelaez said. Another tough issue Councilman Pelaez wants to focus on is gun violence. And well, thatโs the equivalent of driving from here to New York,โ Councilman Pelaez said. Itโs inevitable,โ Councilman Pelaez said.