Hello D6!

I’m going to start this week with something that has been on many people's minds.

It came up when I met this week with members of the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. That morning we spent a lot of time talking about Proposition A, the City charter amendment that will be on the May ballot. The business owners asked me for my opinion on the measure. The short answer is that I oppose Proposition A.

But I answered their question in two parts. First, my decision to vote in favor of putting the proposition on the May ballot.

That decision was about a fundamental question. Do I believe in the democratic process? The answer is an easy yes.

A group of citizens gathered the required signatures to place the measure on the ballot, that’s the process at work, and I don’t walk away from my core beliefs.

State law mandates that the charter amendment should be placed on the ballot because a group of citizens followed the process. The measure will more than likely be challenged in the courts, and many of the items on the proposition are already in practice by our police department and the district attorney's office. These issues will play themselves out - again, that’s the process.

But it wasn’t a cut-and-dry, easy choice.

There are parts of the charter amendment that I don’t agree with, which brings me to the second part - also a question.

Should people be held accountable for their actions?

My answer is yes, they should, especially when those actions come at a cost to businesses and property owners.

Proposition A would eliminate almost all police cite-and-release discretion in cases of theft up to $750 or vandalism up to $2,500. It sends a message. There is no immediate threat of jail and there’s no incentive for people to stop committing crime.

The police department and the district attorney already use discretion when it comes to these steps. Proposition A eliminates that discretion, it alters the process.

These aren’t the only measures on Proposition A. I am a staunch supporter of a woman’s autonomy over her own body. I believe that police officers often face life-threatening situations where they should have the option to use choke-holds if their life is in danger. And I know that the SAPD and the Bexar County District Attorney have eliminated the practice of no-knock warrants. 

You can click HERE for a detailed explanation of the Proposition A ballot measures.

This was also a week where the City Council began gearing-up for the FY2023 budget process. On Wednesday the Council received a preliminary briefing on the budget  financial policies and potential budget policy issues in preparation for the April 13, 2023 Budget Goal Setting Session.

The policy frameworks are vital to our city's future. Over the last two years many residents from across the city have talked about wanting more police and a detailed plan to contend with the homeless population. 

There have also been requests for stronger fiscal stewardship when it comes to CPS Energy. Consumers want us to hold CPS more accountable, and they want to know what we are going to do with their hard-earned money.  

Another budget concern is affordable housing. It's important to remember the individuals that need help: foster youth, veterans, victims of domestic violence, seniors, those with special needs.   

I’m going to work to see more funding for these groups, in particular our foster youth. The discussion is far from over. There will be an opportunity to chime-in on many other budget items in the weeks to come and I'll keep you up-to-date on the progress in this newsletter.

During Thursday’s Council Session I took time to pay tribute to two San Antonians who have passed away.

Retired Air Force Col. Eugene Derricotte (center in the photo), the last surviving Tuskegee Airman in San Antonio, died at the age of 96. He broke barriers as an aviator and made strides to show African Americans were worthy and skilled combat pilots.  

Col. Derricotte became a leader in many other ways. He was one of the first African American football players at the University of Michigan. And here in San Antonio he was Chief of Oral Surgery at Lackland AFB. Later he became an assistant professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at UT Health Science Center in San Antonio. 

He was born June 14, 1926, in Fostoria, Ohio and graduated from Defiance High School in 1944.  Later he enrolled in the University of Michigan but was drafted soon after. He went to aviation training in a special program for black aviators and graduated in 1946. It was too late for him to fight in World War II, but he is nonetheless considered among the original group of pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen.

Also, this week San Antonio lost Angel Rodríguez-Díaz, a beloved artist who used portraits to shed light and provoke thought on issues like colonialism, the environment and war.  

His work has been showcased in important galleries across the country, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, El Museo del Barrio in New York; the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago; and the San Antonio Museum of Art. Here in San Antonio, though, he is well known for the public art projects he created for the City of San Antonio. 

The iconic metal obelisk on Blanco and Fulton, known as The Beacon, is the proud namesake of the Beacon Hill neighborhood. And he created the Crossroads of Enlightenment, at Blanco and Basse to mirror the smokestacks at the Quarry Market. His creation is a testament to the Mexican-American workers who once worked for the nearby Alamo Quarry.  

Mr. Rodriguez-Diaz's work is profound, and a testament to the importance of funding our public art program. We’ve lost prominent San Antonian artists of late and it is a reminder to celebrate and support our artists today. 

Rodriguez-Diaz was born in Puerto Rico, earned a degree in printmaking from the University of Puerto Rico, and moved to New York in 1978, where he earned a  master’s degree from Hunter College.  He moved to San Antonio in 1995 with longtime partner and fellow artist, Rolando Briseño. His life, his art and his influence on our city’s culture cannot be measured.  

Angel Rodríguez-Díaz and Col. Eugene Derricotte lived their lives as a testament to our city’s rich cultural and military heritage, and to our diversity. 

There were two items on Thursday’s agenda that were especially noteworthy:

A $1.3 million agreement to start the architectural design and master planning for our animal care service veterinary hospital and an overflow and transportation kennel. These will be welcomed additions to our ACS campus and will provide much needed space and treatment for our furry San Antonians. This is an expansion I pushed for since the beginning of this year.  

And during last year’s budget meeting I, along with several of my colleagues, allocated money from our office budgets to help improve the Child Advocates San Antonio building. I’m proud that these funds helped complete $3.4 million for foster youth initiatives. It was rewarding to tour the CASA facilities and see how foster youth can forget their worries and just be kids. 

Thank you to CASA President and CEO Angie White and her team for the dedication and time they have put into helping our foster youth.

And there isn’t a week in D6 without fun, celebration, and community.

Thank you, Lindsey Place HOA for inviting me to your Eggstravaganza celebration. I enjoy seeing the children’s excitement and the community coming together to make this event possible for our little D6ers. Overall, an eggtastic Sunday!

And many lucky winners went home with some great prizes at our D6 Senior Bingo and Resource Fair. I was thrilled to see so many faces, you guys’ rock! Thank you to all our incredible partners, volunteers, and our wonderful seniors for bringing so much positive energy and excitement.

We’re very grateful to our generous sponsors: 

CPS Energy

San Antonio Water System

San Antonio Police Department

Blue Cares SAPOA Outreach

San Antonio Food Bank

The Gonzaba Foundation

I look forward to our next event, the big D6 VIVA FIESTA SENIOR DANCE!

Here are the details:

I'll see you all there with your dancing shoes on!

Council Meetings and Committees

Council B Session
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
2:00PM
City Hall Complex

City Council Goal Setting Session
Wednesday, April 13, 2023
9:00AM
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS MEETINGS THIS WEEK:

• Disability Access Advisory Committee
• Property Tax Help Information Session
• 2023 - 2026 Poet Laureate Investiture Ceremony
• San Antonio Arts Commission
• Learning Session - Proactive Apartment Inspections Program Overview
• Municipal Civil Service Commission Meeting
• City/County Joint Commission on Elderly Affairs Meeting
• Planning Commission
• Building Standards Board
• Property Tax Help Information Session
• Renter Know Your Rights Session w/ TRLA (Spanish-language only)

Community Bulletin Board

The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center will be hosting a Blood Drive event in our District 6 community at Vale Middle School.

Please call, sign up, and donate if you can!

Visit the link, to schedule your appointment: https://biobridgeglobal.org/.../district-6-vale-middle.../

Monday, April 10. 2023 from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Vale Middle School, 2120 N Ellison Dr.

CLICK ON THE FLIER FOR MORE INFORMATION.

CLICK ON THE FLIER FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Monday, April 10: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Cody Library, 11441 Vance Jackson Rd, 78230

Thursday, April 13: 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Second Baptist Church Community Center, 3310 E Commerce St, 78220

Monday, April 17: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Alamodome, 100 Montana St, 78203

Monday, April 24: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Walker Ranch Senior Center, 835 W Rhapsody, 78216

Saturday, May 6: 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lanier High School, 1514 W Cesar E Chavez Blvd, 78207

Monday, May 8: 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
The Tool Yard, 10303 Tool Yard, 78284

San Antonio Metro Health and Bexar County Health Collaborative is surveying the community on their ability to receive healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The community is encouraged take the survey by clicking HERE.

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