Hello D6,

I'm going to start this week with an invitation.

I was deeply saddened this week to hear about the passing of Jesse Zuniga Jr.

For twelve years, Jesse served District 6 and the city of San Antonio with unwavering commitment and dedication in his role on the Zoning Board of Adjustments and Building Standards Board. His expertise, professionalism, and passion for improving our community were evident in every decision he made and every action he took. Jesse exemplified his remarkable character and profound sense of responsibility by selflessly serving his community, dedicated to making San Antonio a better place for all.

District 6 has benefited greatly from Jesse's tireless efforts and dedication. His advocacy for the betterment of our neighborhoods, his thoughtful approach to addressing challenges, and his genuine care for the well-being of its residents have left an indelible mark on our district. Jesse's kindness of heart and his willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need have touched the lives of countless individuals, leaving a lasting impression of warmth and compassion.
 

Tuesday was Help America Vote Day, and I did my part to help demystify voting and elections!

I was honored to participate in Youth Do Vote, a nonpartisan, collaborative network of Bexar County high school and college administrators, educators, students, local nonprofits and election judges to help create a new narrative around the election process.

I applaud the work of Youth Do Vote in giving students the opportunity to learn about the operations of voting, working elections and to see first hand the power of civic engagement.

It was a pleasure to attend an informative and insightful luncheon with local experts sharing updates on local projects.

The panelists shared market trends, initiatives related to policy and forecasts that may impact current real estate projects. Exciting times ahead for San Antonio’s real estate and development landscape.

Have a great week!

Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda

           Flavors of D6            

Last year, The District 6 team highlighted several of San Antonio’s hidden gems and fantastic eateries, shedding light on the diverse culinary scene and vibrant cultural spots that make the city truly unique. We want to continue this tradition, opening the door to even more discoveries in the new year, encouraging everyone to explore and embrace our diverse community, support local businesses, and celebrate organizations that make the City of San Antonio home for all!

Your D6 team explored West African cuisines at Ultra Kitchen, located at 7870 Culebra Rd., with restaurant founders Taiwo Ajibade and Oluyemi Fagbamila. The restaurant’s design reflects Taiwo’s personal taste with vibrant accent yellows that complement its modern style.

We started out with an appetizer recommended by Taiwo himself, a Suya and meat pie dish, topped with pepper spices. Delighting our taste buds with a perfect blend of savory and spicy, the suya and meat pie dish set the stage for our next unforgettable meal.

The Jollof fried rice with plantains is a flavorful West African delight offering a balance of both savory and sweet, making it a must-try for anyone. Next on the menu is the Egusi with pounded yam, beef and chicken - an exciting combination that promises to take your taste buds on a journey through the rich and diverse flavors of West Africa.

A special thanks to Taiwo, Oluyemi and their incredible staff for their significant contribution to our city’s diverse culinary scene and providing a unique experience for all to enjoy.

Until next time, San Antonio!

Construction and Maintenance Notices

January 22nd –   February 26th

• Oak Fence @ Rim Rock Trail
• Oak Mill @ Oak Branch
• Oak Branch @ Rim Rock Trail

The work is estimated from 1/22/2024 to 2/26/2024, weather permitting.

February 26th - March 30

• Military Dr W and Democracy
  • Behind Curb, Sidewalk
  • ZAYO Group, Alex Dorgan
  • alex.dorgan@zayo.com
  • (435) 660-1937

March 1st - June 28th

• Military Dr W and Potranco Rd
  • Fiberlichgt, LLC
  • robert.pash.fiberlight.com
  • (435) 687-7836

February 5th – February 16th

• Oxhill Dr. from Topcroft Dr. to Sandwick Dr. 

          The project schedule is estimated from 2/5/2024 to 2/16/2024, weather permitting.

Council Meetings and Committees

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS WEEK:

• Zoning Board of Adjustment Meeting
• Arbitration Hearing
• San Antonio Arts Commission: Public Art Committee
• Zoning Commission Meeting
• RiverWalk Capital Improvements Advisory Board Meeting
• Updating the Short Term Rental Ordinance - Task Force Meeting
• Historic and Design Review Commission
• Building Standards Board

Community Bulletin Board

COSA Construction Resource Toolkit

As progress continues in our City so does construction.  I am reaching out to remind you that COSA has a Construction Resource Toolkit to help small businesses impacted by construction in their area.  This guide includes contacts, strategies, and other resources to help small businesses prepare and navigate the construction experience. This Toolkit is available digitally at the links listed below. 

• EDD Programs & Grants page
• Construction Resource Toolkit-ENGLISH
• Construction Resource Toolkit-SPANISH

The Texas Legislature recently enacted HB 114 requiring all school districts to implement mandatory disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) placement for students found in possession of, using, selling, giving, or delivering e-cigarettes or vaping devices on school grounds or at a school-related event.

This alternative school placement, required by law, is made regardless of whether the substance being vaped is a controlled substance or not.

We ask that you discuss this new state law with your child(ren).

Pack your school bag with resources from San Antonio Public Library!

Local libraries offer school resources for students of all ages

The school year is once again upon us, and San Antonio Public Library (SAPL) wants to remind students and their families of the educational resources available at your library year-round. Throughout the year, SAPL is packed with free resources to support children, teens, and adults on their educational journeys.

In addition to a collection of over 2 million items and dozens of free online databases, SAPL offers online tutoring, Wi-Fi, low-cost printing services, and more for all ages. Sign up for a free SAPL card today to kick off the school year and enjoy several services and resources to assist in your educational pursuits. Visit MySAPL.org/CardSignUp or stop by your nearest SAPL location to register.

SAPL’s educational resources include:

Read-alongs

Available at all SAPL Locations

Do you have a young child learning to read or reading English or Spanish for the first time? Read-alongs, print books with built-in audio narration, are available in a range of English and Spanish titles. They are an entertaining, self-guided way to help enhance your little one's literacy skills. To borrow a read-along, visit the read-along shelf at your nearest SAPL location. Introduce children to the pleasure of independent reading and let them embark on a delightful literary journey with read-along stories. To learn more about these selections and to browse them in our collection, visit the children's services section of the SAPL website.

MySAPL App

Download instant access to the San Antonio Public Library collection on your phone or mobile device. The MySAPL app is free, easy, and available for both iOS and Android users — take the library wherever you go!

PrintOnline

Available at all SAPL Locations

PrintOnline is a mobile printing service available to all library cardholders. Get printing in four simple steps:

1. Access the PrintOnline portal
2. Upload documents from home, the office, a coffee shop, or anywhere you have internet access
3. Visit your nearest branch library to print your files
4. Enter your SAPL card number into the print kiosk at your library to finish printing your documents.

Free Indoor & Outdoor Public Wi-Fi

Available at SAPL Locations

You’ll always have the Wi-Fi password at SAPL! Wi-Fi is available at all SAPL locations daily.* Indoor Wi-Fi is available during normal service hours and outdoor Wi-Fi is available from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. every day.

* Locations undergoing building improvements or other projects may have adjusted hours. Details listed at MySAPL.org.

Ask a Librarian
Call (210-207-2500) or chat online (Ask.MySAPL.org)
Librarians are teachers in disguise. They’re available to make book recommendations for your next research project or help with account questions.

Homework Help

Daily | 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Connecting you to Homework Help heroes is what we do. Free online homework help from professional tutors is available in a variety of subjects for students in kindergarten through college. Available 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., seven days a week in English and Spanish. For more information, visit SAPL’s expert help website.

SORA App

SAPL has partnered with every public school district in the area to offer students unlimited access to age-appropriate materials in our digital library even if you don't have a SAPL card. Thanks to the Sora app by OverDrive, San Antonio students at participating schools can easily browse our extensive library. Head over to Sora’s website to see if your school is participating!

FAFSA Assistance   

Monday – Thursday, 1 p.m. - 10 p.m.

College preparation just got a little bit easier! Brought to you by Brainfuse, FAFSA tutors are available for live assistance Monday through Thursday, 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Visit SAPL’s featured services page for details.

Database Access
Looking for the August 1973 issue of National Geographic for a research project? Need access to over 60 years of articles about rock music? From Aardvarks to ZZ Top, San Antonio Public Library is your doorway to over 170 online databases, including popular news databases like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. Some databases are library-use only, so visit your nearest SAPL location for these resources. To get started visit our database guide.

For more information on Back-to-School resources provided by SAPL, visit our guide.

Animal Care Services Extends Shelter Hours to Encourage Lifesaving

 San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) has expanded shelter hours to give would-be adopters, fosters, and rescue partners more opportunities to help pets in need. The municipal shelter will be open two additional hours, with adoptions and other services now available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend hours remain unchanged, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The $25 special adoption rate continues through the end of July. This special rate applies to dog, cat, puppy, and kitten adoptions. 

Fosters Desperately Needed to Help Local Pets in Need

 San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) and local animal welfare partners have been flooded with pets in need, including dozens of puppies and kittens. Fosters are urgently needed to provide temporary care for pets as they become adoption ready. Foster applications are available via the following links:

• Animal Care Services at: www.saacs.info/foster
• San Antonio Pets Alive! at: www.sanantoniopetsalive.org/programs/foster
• Animal Defense League at: www.adltexas.org/foster-application/

Fosters will receive food and other supplies for their temporary pets including medical care and vaccinations. Interested residents should check with the program of their choice for additional resources. 

Always dispose of pesticides properly

Pesticides and herbicides can be a convenient way to protect plants from pests and weeds. But when used or discarded incorrectly, these chemicals pose great risks not only to our ecosystem and wildlife, but also to our water, soil, air and human health.

The best way to avoid the perils of pesticides and herbicides is to stop using them altogether. But if you must use them:

• Always carefully read the product label and follow the disposal instructions exactly.
• Only purchase what you need and use it until it’s gone to avoid leftovers.
• Never discard these items in your trash bin for regular collection.  
• Don’t ever pour them down sink drains, toilets or storm drains.

Pesticides and herbicides must be disposed properly at a household hazardous waste site. For a schedule of monthly drop-off events, visit sa.gov/swmd.

A higher-paying career is now within your reach. San Antonio’s unprecedented Ready to Work program offers tuition assistance for education and job training.

Career coaches are with you from start to finish to evaluate what you need now to get started, guide you through career planning and get you enrolled to begin your path to securing a quality, higher-paying job.

No other program offers more support to ensure participants reach success. If you are ready for a change, take advantage of this opportunity now.

There are three easy ways to learn more and apply:

      1. Online: Visit readytoworksa.com

      2. Phone: Call 3-1-1 and ask for Ready to Work

          3. In Person: Visit Alamo Colleges District, Project Quest, Restore Education or Workforce Solutions Alamo

Animal Care Services joins Daisy Cares to feed hungry pets in San Antonio 

Pet food donations sought as holidays near and needs increase   

The San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) team is joining Daisy Cares, a local non-profit, to host a holiday pet food drive that will help both organizations support pet parents in need by filling their pet pantries.    

Bags of dog and puppy food are especially needed in addition to other new or gently used pet items. All donations will be divided between the Daisy Cares pet food pantry and the SAACS Community Animal Support and Assistance (CASA) program, which uses a case management approach to assist pet parents in need with food, humane care support, and veterinary resources.   

Residents can bring pet food donations through the end of November to Animal Care Services during regular business hours. SAACS is located at 4710 State Highway 151 and is open on weekdays from 1 - 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends (except on City holidays). All donations are tax-deductible.

CPS energy has launched an updated webpage with information to help keep customers safe in the event of an outage: www.cpsenergy.com/prepare and in Spanish www.cpsenergy.com/preparar.

Customers are also encouraged to update their emergency contact information with CPS in case of an emergency.

For more information visit http://cpsenergy.com