Cities & Counties
San Antonio council seeks policy, code changes to counter migrant detention centers
By Edmond Ortiz Acknowledging that they cannot keep the federal government from setting up migrant detention centers inside city limits, San Antonio’s elected leaders said March 5 they hope to impose policy and code changes to protect local residents while such structures are operational. What is happening City Council voted 8-2 to pass a resolution…
Park, bike lane improvement projects noted in San Antonio, Boerne
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio is moving forward with two separate recreational projects meant to boost a East Side neighborhood and Woodlawn Park area. Meanwhile, Boerne officials said they are making progress with the Northside Community Park improvement initiative. East San Antonio San Antonio City Council approved a March 5 meeting consent agenda item that…
Nirenberg’s defeat of Sakai in county judge race headlines area primaries
By Edmond Ortiz A former San Antonio mayor upsetting Bexar County’s top elected leader was one of the key outcomes in the local March 3 Democratic and Republican primaries. What you should know According to Bexar County Elections Department, 22% of the county’s registered voters cast a ballot in this year’s Democratic or Republican party…
March 3 is Election Day for party primary voters in Texas
By Edmond Ortiz Texas voters will head to the polls March 3 as state Democrats and Republicans determine which candidates of theirs they would like to see advance to the Nov. 3 general midterm elections. Locally, GOP and Democratic primary voters will consider several contested races for San Antonio-area Congressional and state legislative posts as…
New Braunfels wants to improve its downtown parking experience
By Edmond Ortiz New Braunfels officials are exploring how best local residents and downtown merchants could benefit more from the city’s fledgling managed downtown parking program. A parking system overview Council was briefed Feb. 23 on the city’s 6-month-old downtown managed parking program, which has gotten mixed reviews from New Braunfels residents and affected business…
San Antonio council votes 8-1 to formally censure mayor
By Edmond Ortiz Eight San Antonio City Council members voted Feb. 27 to officially censure Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones for violating the city’s code of conduct and workplace anti-harassment policy. What you should know The reprimand comes less than one month after a widely reported Feb. 5 argument between Jones and District 1 Councilmember Sukh…
Boerne proceeds with designs for new animal shelter, police dispatch center
By Edmond Ortiz The city of Boerne is partnering with onr architectural company on two separate projects that will yield a new municipal animal shelter and a new police dispatch area. New animal shelter Boerne City Council on Feb. 24 passed consent agenda items covering the two projects. Council authorized city staff to execute a…
News Briefs (Feb. 25): VIA says no to free fares; Selma to build public safety training center; Leon Valley OKs monument site, sustainability pledge
By Edmond Ortiz A decision by San Antonio’s mass transit agency to not pursue a free-fare program highlights this round of news briefs. Elsewhere, Selma is getting ready to build a fire and police emergency training complex, and Leon Valley has both finalized a location for a public veterans’ monument, and opted to continue a…
Converse seeks to fill City Council vacancy
By Edmond Ortiz Eligible Converse residents interested in joining the City Council have until 5 p.m. March 9 to apply for a vacant council position. Sylvia Meyer, who had been elected to Place 4 council seat in 2022 and re-elected in 2024, recently departed her council post. Whomever is appointed to replace Meyer will fill…
City Council to vote on censuring the mayor Feb. 27
By Edmond Ortiz Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones will face a censure vote Feb. 27 from City Council for allegedly violating the city’s code of conduct. Following a two-hour closed session discussion Feb. 23, the council proceeded to schedule the censure vote. That meeting begins at 10 a.m. Five council members sent a memo to city…