BREAKING NEWS
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.
Fire contract controversy fizzles out with closed-door discussion
Read full article: Fire contract controversy fizzles out with closed-door discussionFollowing a week of back-and-forth discussions over transparency, leaks, and the fitness of the city attorney, San Antonio City Council members ended up discussing the stalled contract negotiations behind closed doors, just as nearly half of them had already asked.
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.
After using ‘nuclear’ option, San Antonio council members get their meetings on fire contract, city attorney suitability
Read full article: After using ‘nuclear’ option, San Antonio council members get their meetings on fire contract, city attorney suitabilityFollowing a public blow-up that included calling to possibly oust the city attorney, some San Antonio City Council members will get the meetings they’ve been demanding.
San Antonio City Council in revolt; nearly half of members want to consider forcing out city attorney
Read full article: San Antonio City Council in revolt; nearly half of members want to consider forcing out city attorneyThe day after they say the city attorney tried to partially block their demand for a special meeting, five San Antonio City Council members are demanding another meeting - this time to discuss whether he is fit for the job.
SAPD releases DWI arrest video of Marc Whyte on day councilman is suspended from committee assignments
Read full article: SAPD releases DWI arrest video of Marc Whyte on day councilman is suspended from committee assignmentsSan Antonio City Councilmember Marc Whyte was suspended from his committee assignments on Thursday, the same day the San Antonio Police Department released video of his recent DWI arrest.
San Antonio joins Houston’s lawsuit against Texas over new law curbing local authority
Read full article: San Antonio joins Houston’s lawsuit against Texas over new law curbing local authorityThe city’s lawsuit challenges the validity of House Bill 2127, which would prevent cities like San Antonio from making or enforcing local laws on issues like evictions, employment benefits, or a host of other subjects.
City Attorney: San Antonio won’t take ordinances off the books in face of sweeping preemption bill
Read full article: City Attorney: San Antonio won’t take ordinances off the books in face of sweeping preemption billA bill that would prevent cities from passing laws on evictions, labor issues, and numerous other areas, is on Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. With no clear answers on what is or isn't allowed, San Antonio's city attorney said the city will continue to enforce all its ordinances.
Voters in 6 Texas cities have tried decriminalizing pot - how did they fare?
Read full article: Voters in 6 Texas cities have tried decriminalizing pot - how did they fare?San Antonio's Proposition A won't be the first attempt to decriminalize marijuana locally. Six other Texas cities have overwhelmingly passed ballot initiatives with similar language, though the results have varied greatly.
SA Justice Charter supporters call city attorney’s comments on ballot initiative “unethical”
Read full article: SA Justice Charter supporters call city attorney’s comments on ballot initiative “unethical”Supporters of a San Antonio ballot initiative meant to decriminalize marijuana possession and abortion in the Alamo City say the city attorney’s public warnings about its enforceability are “unethical” and “immoral.”
North Side councilmen leave chambers rather than put marijuana, abortion onto May 6 ballot
Read full article: North Side councilmen leave chambers rather than put marijuana, abortion onto May 6 ballotBecause the proposed charter amendment was the result of a successful petition, the city’s 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).
Marijuana, abortion make San Antonio May ballot, but city attorney says ‘decriminalization’ efforts aren’t enforceable
Read full article: Marijuana, abortion make San Antonio May ballot, but city attorney says ‘decriminalization’ efforts aren’t enforceableThe "San Antonio Justice Charter" has enough signatures to get on the ballot, but will it matter? The City Attorney claims most of the proposed changes aren't legal, and the city wouldn't try to enforce them, even if they were to pass.
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 settles lawsuit for $466K over 2013 death of man in SAPD custody
Read full article: City settles lawsuit for $466K over 2013 death of man in SAPD custodyThe City of San Antonio has settled a seven-year-old lawsuit of a man who died as police handcuffed him and held him down on the side of a busy highway in April 2013.
City Council to review draft of new council district map Wednesday
Read full article: City Council to review draft of new council district map WednesdayAn advisory committee made up of council appointees has created the first draft of a new council district map, based on the 2020 U.S. Census numbers. Under the proposal, nine out of 10 districts would have their boundaries shifted.
Judge dismisses lawsuit that sought to have McManus removed as police chief
Read full article: Judge dismisses lawsuit that sought to have McManus removed as police chiefA Bexar County judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed early this year that sought to have San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus removed from his position.
How did body cam video of a fatal police shooting fall through the cracks?
Read full article: How did body cam video of a fatal police shooting fall through the cracks?For two years, Hannah Westall's family was told there was no body camera footage existed of her March 2019 shooting. Homicide investigators and the Bexar County District Attorney's Office appeared to believe that, too. But now its sudden appearance has reopened the shooting investigation.
City paralegal’s mistakes contributed to building burning down, records show
Read full article: City paralegal’s mistakes contributed to building burning down, records showRosales’ termination paperwork states that she failed to file an initial response to a lawsuit filed against the city, forcing the deadline to be extended. Notably, it identified as the opposing party a completely different person from an entirely separate lawsuit,” the termination paperwork states. City court officials, much like last year, were vague on what, if any, discipline Munguia will face. City officials released information late last year about two incidents involving Munguia and a third incident involving Munguia earlier this year. Like the first complaint, records show city court administrators acknowledged the incident, but officials did not say if Munguia was disciplined for it.
Paxton files suit to have McManus removed as chief over 2017 immigrant release incident
Read full article: Paxton files suit to have McManus removed as chief over 2017 immigrant release incidentSAN ANTONIO – A lawsuit filed in Bexar County district court last month by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton calls for San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus to be removed from office over his handling of a 2017 immigrant release incident. On Tuesday, a Defenders investigation revealed the city has already spent more than $2.75 million defending McManus and SAPD as it fights a sanctuary cities lawsuit filed by Paxton over the same 2017 incident. The suit claims McManus limited the enforcement of federal immigration laws in December 2017, when he made the decision to release 12 suspected undocumented immigrants found inside a tractor-trailer on the East Side, instead of handing them over to federal immigration officials. San Antonio City Attorney Andy Segovia (left) and SAPD Chief William McManus (right). RELATED: Texas AG alleges San Antonio mayor told staff to not contact ICE, flouting SB 4 law
City of San Antonio has spent $2.75 million defending SAPD in sanctuary cities lawsuit, records show
Read full article: City of San Antonio has spent $2.75 million defending SAPD in sanctuary cities lawsuit, records showSAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio has now spent more than $2.75 million in outside attorney fees to fight a sanctuary cities lawsuit filed by the state against Chief William McManus, the police department and the city, records obtained by KSAT 12 Defenders show. The filing claims high-ranking city officials were told “the Mayor does not want ICE called,” and that Nirenberg later described their release without being handed over to federal immigration officials as a “Christmas gift” for their families. City officials have repeatedly refused in recent months to make Segovia available for an interview about the suit. AdDepositions were still being gathered as recently as early this month, court records confirm. AdNichols was given probation in the case in May 2019, according to court records.
Some City Council members worry about consequences of proposed charter amendment
Read full article: Some City Council members worry about consequences of proposed charter amendmentSAN ANTONIO – A proposal to amend the city charter in the upcoming May election has some council members worried about unintended consequences. City staff presented a proposed charter amendment during Wednesday’s council meeting that would allow more flexibility in how the city uses bond dollars, including for affordable housing projects. Segovia told council members the proposed amendment would not affect their ability to have input on what bond projects eventually go to the voters. A 2018 Charter Review Commission previously considered changing the charter language surrounding the use of bond dollars, at Nirenberg’s request. AdBecause charter amendment elections may only be held every two years, the May 1 election is the first chance to revise the city charter since the Nov. 6, 2018 election.
Texas AG alleges San Antonio mayor told staff to not contact ICE, flouting SB 4 law
Read full article: Texas AG alleges San Antonio mayor told staff to not contact ICE, flouting SB 4 lawSAN ANTONIO – San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg for the first time has been implicated by the Texas Attorney General in an ongoing “sanctuary cities” lawsuit that accuses the city of flouting a state law that requires local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The claims were made in an amended petition filed late last year and the city attorney has denied them. Essentially, SB4 prohibits a policy, pattern, or practice of interfering with enforcement of immigration law, and does not allow orders to police officers not to comply with federal immigration officers’ reasonable requests for assistance or cooperation. The City allowed the immigrants to leave police headquarters after they were questioned because the City had no authority to hold them. Despite AG Paxton’s claims, no federal law enforcement authorities have complained about the City and its handling of the smuggling incident at issue.
WATCH: Leaders discuss changes to San Antonio, Bexar County ‘Stay Home, Work Safe’ orders
Read full article: WATCH: Leaders discuss changes to San Antonio, Bexar County ‘Stay Home, Work Safe’ ordersNewsletter recipients can click here to access the video. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff updated the community about the local response to COVID-19 in their daily briefing Wednesday night. Here are a few of the highlights:Nirenberg reported 1,326 COVID-19 cases and 46 deaths in Bexar County , as of Wednesday. Read more about the orders by clicking hereWolff said the updated orders still require residents to stay home unless they are engaging in outdoor activities or obtaining or providing essential/reopened services. Read San Antonio’s updated executive order below.
City parks to be closed over Easter weekend, officials say
Read full article: City parks to be closed over Easter weekend, officials saySAN ANTONIO – Update 4/3/20San Antonio city leaders officially announced on Friday that city parks would be closed to the public on Easter weekend. Update 4/2/20:City leaders said Thursday that city parks will be closed to the public on Easter weekend. “Right now we’re looking at closing all the city parks on Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend, starting midnight on Friday, all the parks will be closed. Easter camping is a long-standing tradition in San Antonio when the city usually lifts the curfew at parks for three nights leading up to Easter Sunday. Now, the city is looking to close the parks entirely over Easter weekend to keep people from holding celebrations and gatherings.