SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor was sworn into office Wednesday, becoming the first elected African-American mayor in the city's history.
Taylor raised her right hand and took the oath of office along with District 7 Councilman Cris Medina around 11:30 a.m.
The swearing-in ceremony followed a canvass of the votes from the June 13 runoff election.
"I think for our city it's tremendous that we've made such a great statement that here in San Antonio, anyone can be anyone and achieve anything if they just work hard," Taylor said. "Sometimes it is a little frustrating that in 2015, we're still talking about firsts, but I do look at it as an opportunity to inspire young people who may feel that their options in life are limited. I hope that when they turn on the news today and they see me getting sworn in, that will make them feel like they can do anything or be anything."
After a long election battle, she summed up her emotions with one word: "Relief," she laughed. "Relief is the main feeling right now. Excitement too. There's a lot of work to do."
Taylor said she's already gotten started on some of that work.
"I got started immediately, related to the police contract negotiations," she said. "I called the police union chief right after the election and I met with him last week. I understand that the union has agreed to a series of meetings starting on July 10."
She said she is also putting the discussion about ride-share companies Uber and Lyft back on the table.
"We've always wanted them to be here in our city," she said. "We know they provide additional transportation options, so I met with some Uber representatives when I was in California this past weekend. As long as they know my priority is rider safety, we're trying to determine what the path forward is."
Taylor also gave a positive update on Google Fiber. She said the deal is still moving forward and she expects to make an exciting announcement in a few months.
"I'm confident that we will become a Fiber city," she said.
Thursday is the new council's first work and budget planning session, where they'll discuss issues like property tax relief and living wages. Friday is a team-building day.
Taylor, who defeated former state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte in the runoff, was appointed mayor by City Council in July 2014 after former Mayor Julian Castro left office to become Housing and Urban Development secretary.