INSIDER
‘Hands off our homes’: Southwest Side residents rally together as city reviews flood prevention plans
Read full article: ‘Hands off our homes’: Southwest Side residents rally together as city reviews flood prevention plansSouthwest Side residents, like Cynthia Vallejo, said they’re fighting for their homes.
‘We’re that anybody’: San Antonio family calls for help to make water connections more accessible
Read full article: ‘We’re that anybody’: San Antonio family calls for help to make water connections more accessibleA Council Consideration Request filed this year could create a pilot program to connect more people to SAWS water and sewer main lines.
City approves committee to change codes for recycling yards in San Antonio
Read full article: City approves committee to change codes for recycling yards in San AntonioThe task force will review and update Chapter 11 on Fire Prevention and Chapter 16 on Licenses and Business Regulations to address used automotive recyclers and metal recycling entities.
Pavilion at Rosedale Park to be renamed in honor of late San Antonio boxer
Read full article: Pavilion at Rosedale Park to be renamed in honor of late San Antonio boxerSan Antonio City City Council on Thursday unanimously approved the renaming of Rosedale Park’s Pavilion 2 to honor the late San Antonio boxer Robert “Pikin” Quiroga.
Coalition calls for reinstatement of now-former president, CEO of Opportunity Home
Read full article: Coalition calls for reinstatement of now-former president, CEO of Opportunity HomeA group of organization leaders and locals have called for the reinstatement of Ed Hinojosa Jr., the now-former president and CEO of Opportunity Home.
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.
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.
Council Consideration Request could create task force to review property, fire codes in San Antonio
Read full article: Council Consideration Request could create task force to review property, fire codes in San AntonioCouncilwoman Teri Castillo said community members from her district have been vocal about safety and health concerns regarding recycling and salvage yards.
San Antonio airport to get 420 pound ‘autonomous security robot’
Read full article: San Antonio airport to get 420 pound ‘autonomous security robot’The San Antonio City Council agreed Thursday to lease a nearly 5′ 5″ tall, 420-pound “autonomous security robot” to patrol a secure area of the San Antonio International Airport to check on alarms set off by opened doors. It’s expected to be deployed within a month.
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."
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.
San Antonio councilwoman says pedestrian-friendly improvements coming to Castroville Road
Read full article: San Antonio councilwoman says pedestrian-friendly improvements coming to Castroville RoadA San Antonio councilwoman says work is being done to make a major road in a West Side neighborhood pedestrian-friendly.
District 5 councilwoman testifies against school voucher bill, says ‘it will impact school funding’
Read full article: District 5 councilwoman testifies against school voucher bill, says ‘it will impact school funding’San Antonio District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo testified against the bill at the Capitol this week. She said, “We’re seeing these closures because of a low birth rate, the role of charter schools and the lack of affordable housing."
Some sparks fly as council finalizes budget, including fund to assist travel for abortion care
Read full article: Some sparks fly as council finalizes budget, including fund to assist travel for abortion careAs the San Antonio City Council spent a second day debating last-minute tweaks to the city budget, a proposal that could help fund trips to out-of-state abortion clinics continued to be a point of contention.
Advocates ask city to help fund out-of-state trips to access legal abortion
Read full article: Advocates ask city to help fund out-of-state trips to access legal abortionA coalition of groups supporting abortion rights has asked the City of San Antonio to set up a new $500,000 “Reproductive Justice Fund."
San Antonio makes breaks and water mandatory - for city contracts only
Read full article: San Antonio makes breaks and water mandatory - for city contracts onlyOn another scorching summer day Thursday, the San Antonio City Council passed a new mandate requiring contractors on city job sites to provide shade, water, and breaks for construction workers.
‘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.
SAPD Chief ‘cautiously optimistic’ on violent crime plan’s progress
Read full article: SAPD Chief ‘cautiously optimistic’ on violent crime plan’s progressThe number of violent street crimes such as murder, robbery, non-family aggravated assault, and deadly conduct with a victim fell citywide in the first four months of 2023, but some of the worst areas for those crimes saw even bigger drops.
VIA Transit looking to develop apartments, retail space at Centro Plaza on West Side
Read full article: VIA Transit looking to develop apartments, retail space at Centro Plaza on West SideFor the first time, VIA Metropolitan Transit is working to develop housing near its bus station, making it San Antonio’s first transit-oriented community.
San Antonio’s new plan to tackle violent crime
Read full article: San Antonio’s new plan to tackle violent crimeSAPD Chief William McManus and the UTSA criminologists who produced the plan did their best to draw a distinction between their approach and that of the Memphis Police unit involved in Tyre Nichols' death.
Southtown street will be designated as Emma Tenayuca Memorial Way to honor civil rights leader
Read full article: Southtown street will be designated as Emma Tenayuca Memorial Way to honor civil rights leaderA section of Cevallos Street from Interstate 35 to Probandt Street will be dubbed Emma Tenayuca Memorial Way in honor of the labor and civil rights leader.
City of San Antonio adding more manpower to curb illegal dumping
Read full article: City of San Antonio adding more manpower to curb illegal dumpingThe City of San Antonio is dealing with an illegal dumping issue that’s so bad it needs to expand its crews just one year after the program’s initial launch.
More police officers and firefighters part of proposed city budget
Read full article: More police officers and firefighters part of proposed city budgetUnder the proposed city budget, SAPD would get 78 new uniform positions for a total of 2,581. Meanwhile, SAFD’s firefighter and EMS positions would rise to 1,795 with the addition of 21 new spots.
City council passes resolution supporting abortion access
Read full article: City council passes resolution supporting abortion accessSan Antonio’s 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 “clearly required” by state and federal law -- to catalog, collect or share with other government agencies information on instances of abortion strictly to pursue criminal investigations.
City Council to take up resolution supporting abortion access
Read full article: City Council to take up resolution supporting abortion accessThe proposed resolution would make a policy recommendation to not use city funds -- outside of what is “clearly required” by state and federal law -- to catalog, collect, or share with other government agencies information on instances of abortion strictly to pursue criminal investigations.
Watch live: San Antonio mayor, council members propose resolution on abortion rights
Read full article: Watch live: San Antonio mayor, council members propose resolution on abortion rightsThe proposed resolution states, “People have a basic human right to medical services and treatment, including abortion.”
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.
Volunteer work for a lower property tax bill?
Read full article: Volunteer work for a lower property tax bill?A West Side councilwoman wants senior homeowners to be able to get a break on their property tax bills if they help organize library books, assist with classes at community centers, or do other volunteer work for the City of San Antonio.
SAFD tracking upward trend in fires across city; District 5 sees the largest spike
Read full article: SAFD tracking upward trend in fires across city; District 5 sees the largest spikeSan Antonio firefighters are tracking some alarming numbers of structure fires across the city, but most concerning is District 5.
Family of man killed in a crash with SAPD officer pushing for safety on the West Side
Read full article: Family of man killed in a crash with SAPD officer pushing for safety on the West SideThe family of Feliciano Lionel Jimenez is pushing for increased safety measures along West Commerce Street at Northwest 39th Street nearly two months after his death.
San Antonio’s 5-year, $1.2 billion bond program goes to the voters
Read full article: San Antonio’s 5-year, $1.2 billion bond program goes to the votersCity council approved the final, $1.2 billion list of bond projects Thursday, including: money for affordable housing, expanding the city’s greenway trail system, repairing failed streets, and building fire and police stations. It now goes to voters for approval during the May 7 election.
SAHA asks community to ‘Reimagine Alazan’ for its master plan
Read full article: SAHA asks community to ‘Reimagine Alazan’ for its master planDerailed primarily by public outcry, instead of a public-private partnership, the San Antonio Housing Authority is asking the community to “Reimagine Alazan,” a master plan for the city’s oldest and most historic housing project.
Metro Health, City of San Antonio open COVID-19 testing center on West Side
Read full article: Metro Health, City of San Antonio open COVID-19 testing center on West SideThe doors of the Sonny Melendrez Community Center on the city’s West Side opened Wednesday to the public as a COVID-19 testing site.
San Antonio displaces families, demolishes homes more than other major Texas cities combined, report says
Read full article: San Antonio displaces families, demolishes homes more than other major Texas cities combined, report saysSan Antonio is more aggressive than all of the major Texas cities combined when it comes to displacing families and demolishing their homes due to code violations, according to a new report from the University of Texas Austin School of Law.
Council members push for more drainage funding in 2022 bond
Read full article: Council members push for more drainage funding in 2022 bondWith $3.1 billion in flood control and drainage needs to be addressed throughout the city, several council members want a larger share of the $1.2 billion bond program put toward that end.
First draft of 2022 bond program heavy on basics: streets, sidewalks, bridges, drainage
Read full article: First draft of 2022 bond program heavy on basics: streets, sidewalks, bridges, drainageThe first version of San Antonio’s record $1.2 billion 2022 bond program contains big investments on basic infrastructure, money to build out the city’s greenway trails system, and an allotment for a new area - housing.
Rent assistance programs could slow evictions after SCOTUS ends moratorium
Read full article: Rent assistance programs could slow evictions after SCOTUS ends moratoriumWith a U.S. Supreme Court decision putting an end to a federal moratorium on evictions, San Antonio officials hope rental assistance programs could help lessen what some have feared could be a wave of new evictions.
City leaders say emergency rental assistance still available despite eviction moratorium ending
Read full article: City leaders say emergency rental assistance still available despite eviction moratorium endingCity leaders are reassuring people there are still emergency housing assistance funds left in San Antonio.
WATCH LIVE: Coverage of 2021 inauguration events for Mayor Nirenberg, new and current council
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Coverage of 2021 inauguration events for Mayor Nirenberg, new and current councilMayor Ron Nirenberg and current and newly elected city council members will be honored during inauguration events on Tuesday.
Runoff Election Results: San Antonio City Council
Read full article: Runoff Election Results: San Antonio City CouncilWith all the votes counted, the following candidates have been declared winners in Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 9, respectively: Mario Bravo, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Phyllis Viagran, Teri Castillo and John Courage.
Castillo, Lopez in runoff to be new face of District 5 in San Antonio
Read full article: Castillo, Lopez in runoff to be new face of District 5 in San AntonioCurrent Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales is completing her final, fourth term in office, leaving her seat open. Teri Castillo and Rudy Lopez finished at the head of an 11-way race to replace Gonzales in the May 6 municipal election with 2,077 and 991 votes, respectively.
Teri Castillo, Rudy Lopez move to runoff election for San Antonio City Council District 5
Read full article: Teri Castillo, Rudy Lopez move to runoff election for San Antonio City Council District 5Incumbent Councilmember Shirley Gonzales has hit the limit of four two-year terms and will not be on the ballot.