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Hello D6,
This week was about offering and listening to ideas.
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I’ll start with the news that almost everyone’s been talking about. The City Council approved CPS Energy’s requested 4.25% rate increase.
My vote, at the end of a long discussion, was in favor of reliability and affordability. It was a vote to secure a sound foundation for growth.
Since we started talking about a possible rate change, my clear and stated intention was to put reliability and affordability first. But the intent also made a point of generating and considering ideas to move reliability and affordability forward.
Last month, I proposed returning 2% of the 14% that CPS Energy transfers every year to the City’s general budget. My idea was to use that 2% to strengthen our local power grid and reduce the rate increase that was coming.
That proposal evolved into a collaborative agreement to use surplus CPS Energy funds for reliability.
During the council discussion regarding the rate increase, another idea was proposed. The second idea would return one percent of the CPS Energy transfer and would require the City and CPS Energy to tighten their budget belts to find the rest of the needed funds.
I voted in favor of the second proposal because it followed the spirit of my original revenue transfer idea. But a majority of the Council rejected that second proposal.
I’ve long maintained that we can't simply say no to a proposal without offering an alternative idea. I offered one, voted to approve a second one, and in the end, recognized the need to improve our electrical grid and our city.
Given all of those things, the rate change was the right decision for our city’s security and future. I voted yes to approve the 4.25% CPS Energy rate change.
The Council’s decision will have an effect on generations to come, who will thrive in the conditions that a reliable local power grid creates.
But the change will also have an effect on the most economically vulnerable rate payers. It is an effect that deserves serious consideration, and the Council should work towards finding ideas that will strengthen CPS Energy’s low-income support programs.
The council will discuss those programs in the early part of the coming year, and I am looking forward to finding ways to improve the lives of the most economically challenged families in our city.
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This week's discussion of the City’s Small Business Economic Development Advocacy (SBEDA) program will also have a deep effect.
City staff briefed the Council on proposed changes to the program that will, in effect, eliminate race and gender-conscious scoring for the City’s discretionary prime contracts.
Staff explained that because prime contracts to women and minority-owned businesses have increased, the race and gender-conscious scoring should be eliminated.
I disagreed.
I believe that with this recommendation, we’re going in the wrong direction. We should be supporting the process that brought us to the point where small, women, and minority-owned businesses are thriving, not eliminating it.
There’s an old saying that says “if it ain’t broken, don’t fix it.” SBEDA isn’t broken; it’s working, and we shouldn’t be taking a foot off the pedal while the race is still on.
In fact, I believe we should be expanding the list. We should be adding LGBTQ-owned businesses, and People with Disabilities-owned businesses.
SBEDA shouldn’t be considered in isolation. It’s one of many tools that the city uses to reduce poverty and improve the lives of the most economically vulnerable families.
The changes will be coming up for a Council vote early next year, and I intend to press my case.
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A special privilege and responsibility that comes with being a member of the City Council is serving as Mayor Pro-Tem.
In San Antonio, the honor is rotated among the members of the Council, and this week I was sworn in for an 11-week term as Mayor Pro-Tem.
 
This means that I fill in for the Mayor whenever he is absent from his official duties. I look forward to serving our San Antonio community.
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During this week's regular Council meeting, I took a special moment to celebrate the life of Dr. Leonard Lawrence. Dr. Lawrence was a pillar of our community for many decades. He passed away on November 23rd.
Dr. Lawrence’s family joined us as I celebrated his illustrious life.
Dr. Lawrence was born in 1937, in Indianapolis, Indiana. He joined the Air Force in 1963, where he was a general medical officer. It was during his time in the Air Force that he began to see kids who had emotional problems, and that sparked his interest in mental health.
He was the first Air Force medical officer who worked specifically in child psychology. He spent nine years of active duty at Wilford Hall and was then offered a faculty position at the newly developing University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio.
He spent 33 years on faculty at what is now the UT Health Science Center. He was the Dean of Students for 24 of those 33 years.
He served as Clinical Director of the Protestant Children's Home, one of three orphanages in San Antonio that were segregated by race and ethnicity. There was an orphanage for Black Children, one for Latino children, and another for Anglo kids. The Protestant Children's Home eventually became the first Children's Psychiatric Hospital in the state.
It turns out, though, that Dr. Lawrence was just getting started.
He was President of the National Medical Association, which was a black physicians’ organization that was formed at a time when black physicians were excluded from the American Medical Association.
He was President and Chairman of the Board of United Way - the City of San Antonio just finished their 2023 giving campaign, and it’s an honor to recognize the innovation that he brought to the organization. Dr. Lawrence was and was the driving force behind a key change in the way United Way organizes their donation and gifting protocols.
He was Chair of the Board of KLRN-TV. Chair of the Texas Youth Commission, which oversees all the juvenile correctional facilities in the state of Texas. He spent 14 years on that board, appointed and reappointed by Governor’s Richards, Bush, and Perry.
He was also Chair of the San Antonio Area Foundation.
We, as a community, are indebted to Dr. Lawrence for his generous energy, spirit, and leadership. We’re proud he chose to call San Antonio home, and we thank the Lawrence family for sharing him with us.
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My gratitude also goes out to the San Antonio Police Officers Association (SAPOA) and Valero Blue Santa for your generous gifts and toys and a bed for a wonderful and deserving family in District 6. You warm our hearts!
 
 
I was especially moved by this family because they explained their little girl had never had her own bed. Christmas is a time for togetherness, and I felt very close to this family after delivering what they needed most. It wasn’t toys; it wasn’t even clothing; it was a bed for their little girl.
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The holiday season was filled with cheer at the Lindsey Place HOA event!
 
Thank you for hosting the Winter Dance celebration with Santa, kids face painting, gift exchange, and more!
 
You make our community a great place to live!
 
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One of my favorite events of the year is the D6 Holiday Dance.
 
The San Antonio Food Bank Valero Room was filled with dancing elves from District 6 and from around the city.
 
Our Holiday Dance opened with the wonderful SAPD Blue Line Choir followed by a surprise visit from The Grinch! I was overjoyed with the excitement of all who joined us.
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Have a great week!
Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda
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Construction and Maintenance Notices
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FIBER OPTIC INSTALLATION PROJECTS
 5950 Les Harrison Dr. - Great Northwest from 8/14/2023 to 12/24/2023
9203 Ridge Grove St - Great Northwest from 08/28/2023 to 12/29/2023.
10603 Culebra Rd - Mtn View from 08/28/2023 to 12/29/2023.
7543 Grissom Rd - Lindsey Pl, Misty Oaks from 08/24/2023 to 12/24/2023.
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Council Meetings and Committees
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Council Briefing Room
Tuesday, December 12, 2023
9:00 AM
Municipal Plaza Building
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BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS WEEK:
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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.
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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).
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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:
- Access the PrintOnline portal
- Upload documents from home, the office, a coffee shop, or anywhere you have internet access
- Visit your nearest branch library to print your files
- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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City of San Antonio, Council District 6
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Constituent Office
5800 Old Highway 90/Enrique M.
Barrera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78227
Office Line: 210.207.3749
City Hall Office
P.O. Box 839966
San Antonio, TX 78283
Office Line: 210.207.7065
Fax Line: 210.207.8760
EMAIL: district6@sanantonio.gov
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