Cities & Counties
Land trust, recognition boost hopes of preserving affordable West Side housing
By Edmond Ortiz Affordable housing advocates are pushing two separate yet vital measures meant to deter further gentrification on San Antonio’s traditional West Side. Community land trust approved City Council on Sept. 3 designated Esperanza Community Land Trust, which is designed to help preserve a handful of existing West Side homes toward ensuring affordable rental…
Pledge of specialized zone funds for Spurs arena site raises questions about zone’s use, city’s priorities
By Edmond Ortiz City Council is scheduled Sept. 10 to consider allocating nearly $116 million in specific use taxing income to buy land to accommodate a new San Antonio Spurs arena. But committing revenue from the downtown-area tax zone has sparked a larger conversation about the adequate use of such zone monies, and the priorities…
Live Oak voters to fill council vacancy, mull city charter amendments
By Edmond Ortiz Two Live Oak residents have filed to run in a special Nov. 3 election for a chance to fill a City Council vacancy that was created by a sitting council member’s death. In that same election, Live Oak voters will decide the fate of proposed city charter changes. Council voted Aug. 11…
City Council readies to confirm Jesse Salame as permanent police chief
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh announced Sept. 2 the appointment of Assistant Police Chief Jesse Salame as the city’s next permanent police chief. City Council is expected to confirm the appointment Sept. 10, as Salame succeeds longtime Chief William McManus, who is retiring from public law enforcement effective Sept. 30. What…
Helotes may not accommodate telecom facilities in residential areas
By Edmond Ortiz Helotes officials are not favoring a proposal to possibly open up residential districts to the installation of telecommunications facilities. What is happening City Council met Aug. 27 to discuss the idea of amending Helotes’ code of ordinances to consider the placement of telecommunications structures within a residential neighborhood through a specific use…
A look at proposed county budgets in the San Antonio area
By Edmond Ortiz Taking a queue from many city governments and school districts, officials in Bexar County and neighboring counties say they want to follow a stick-to-the-basics approach in developing their respective Fiscal Year 2027 budgets. In most instances, leaders in Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe and Kendall counties are striving to stave off a property tax…
Robots are coming to Universal City – to help shore up public walkability
By Edmond Ortiz Universal City is deploying a squad of robots built and programmed to patrol key corridors to help upkeep safe pedestrian pathways. What is happening According to a city announcement, the city is partnering with Oregon-based company Daxbot, which creates what it calls “people-centric autonomous robots” that enhance communities. Daxbot offers two kinds…
Balcones Heights mayor arrested for assault
By Edmond Ortiz Balcones Heights Mayor Johnny Rodriguez was arrested Aug. 26 after an assault that allegedly occurred during a tension-filled Aug. 24 City Council meeting. What you should know Balcones Heights Community Relations Manager Roy Martinez confirmed that Rodriguez was arrested by Bexar County Pct. 2 Constable Leticia Vasquez on a misdemeanor warrant for…
Kendall County to end partnership with Flock Safety over privacy worries
By Edmond Ortiz Kendall County commissioners unanimously voted Aug. 25 to not renew an agreement with Flock Safety Group, echoing residents’ concerns that the company’s technology could be abused, and considered a breach of people’s privacy. What you should know Kendall County and Flock’s partnership originally began last fall, launching a one-year term of service…
Comfort nonprofit receives $2K grant meant to boost tourism of Hill Country town
By Edmond Ortiz Visit Comfort TX recently received a $2,000 grant designed to help support the nonprofit’s efforts toward publicizing the Kendall County town as a hidden gem of a Hill Country destination. What is happening The grant was extended by the Texas Heritage Trails Program, part of the Texas Historical Commission. THTP encourages communities,…