SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is once again raising questions about the proposed downtown sports and entertainment district dubbed “Project Marvel.”
In a memo posted on social media to the San Antonio City Council, Jones welcomed a discussion about having San Antonio residents vote on the city’s $489 million contribution toward a new downtown San Antonio Spurs arena on the November ballot.
Jones said the economic environment in San Antonio has shifted since Bexar County voters approved the county’s share of the arena funding in last November’s election.
“Our city is facing an affordability crisis which is made more difficult by the persistent poverty in our community,” she said in the memo. “This requires we demonstrate a ruthless level of fiscal responsibility and allow our community greater agency to decide how their money is spent.”
The mayor cited a $158 million budget deficit, downtown infrastructure bond issues, property taxes and the Spurs’ choice to not entertain a revenue-sharing agreement as reasons for the proposed re-vote on the city’s contribution.
Jones also stated that city voters should have the opportunity to vote on the city’s share, not just the county’s.
“City voters will pay twice towards the proposed arena, as they will contribute to the County’s $311 million contribution and the City’s $489 million contribution, for a total of $800 million plus the to-be-determined infrastructure bond costs. Since they pay twice, City voters deserve to vote twice,” Jones said.
The deadline to add a new proposition to the November ballot is Aug. 17.
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