Cities & Counties
Spurs arena, Wolff Stadium and the new Missions ballpark: Where do things stand?
By Edmond Ortiz The beginning of August is accompanied by plenty of public discourse involving funding for the proposed new San Antonio Spurs’ arena, the construction of a new San Antonio Missions’ ballpark, and what should happen with Wolff Stadium once the Missions leave that venue. Project Marvel debate arises Talks among local residents and…
Shavano Park, neighboring counties, agencies aim to make strides on water supply issues
By Edmond Ortiz Shavano Park is enacting a new fee designed to help shore up the town’s water supply. Elsewhere in the San Antonio-area, a handful of local governments and water supply agencies along the Interstate 35 corridor recently secured more than $140 million to support various initiatives meant to protect or improve their water…
November election filing underway in 3 San Antonio suburbs, 3 school districts
By Edmond Ortiz Three San Antonio-area suburbs and three school districts are accepting applications through Aug. 17 for city council and school board elections that will be held Nov. 3. The application period started July 20. The elections scheduled in Converse, Schertz, Windcrest, and East Central, Edgewood and South San Antonio independent school districts will…
Universal City has a place to pay tribute to departed pets
By Edmond Ortiz Pet owners are familiar with the “rainbow bridge,” a concept offered in various written works over the years that describes an other-worldly place where pets go when they die and wait to be reunited with their owners. While pet cemeteries do exist, there are rare instances where members of the public can…
Can Texas communities such as Cibolo find ways to regulate data centers?
By Edmond Ortiz Cibolo is one of the many Texas communities to recently try adopting regulations for data centers, whose proliferation nationwide has sparked neighbors’ worries about environmental impacts. But as the number of data centers increases, local governments, grassroots groups and concerned residents wonder whether they have any true, significant authority to stop such…
Mayor maintains hawkish approach to expenses as 2027 city budget development continues
By Edmond Ortiz When it comes to spending cuts and adjustments in developing San Antonio’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is reiterating her stance that everything is on the table. Where the mayor stands The City Council will conclude a brief summer break and reconvene in August to face what local officials…
Bexar, Comal county leaders pressed for changes at overcrowded jails
By Edmond Ortiz A Bexar County commissioner and grassroots groups are keeping up public pressure on local officials to improve conditions at the Bexar County Jail after another recent death of a detainee, and increasing complaints about overcrowding and mishandling of inmates with medical and mental issues. Meanwhile, Comal County leaders are themselves contending with…
New Braunfels: City looks to 2027 bond; Mayfair plan tweaked
By Edmond Ortiz While New Braunfels’ newly elected mayor has already presided over a few meetings, local leaders are looking to the long-term future and exploring a potential 2027 bond issue. Meanwhile, changes are afoot at one of the area’s biggest, ongoing mixed-use developments. Potential city bond City Council held a July 17 workshop to…
Input sought on voting panel’s report as voter advocates press engagement in face of threats
By Edmond Ortiz San Antonio’s mayor is wanting feedback on a local panel’s recommendations meant to help increase voter participation and civic engagement. The recent unveiling of the panel’s report comes as voting advocacy groups are re-emphasizing the importance of voter engagement against a background of attempts to dismantle legal voter protections. What is happening…
New Braunfels mulls potential changes to downtown paid parking system
By Edmond Ortiz New Braunfels officials expect to wrap up their summer by considering potential changes to the city’s downtown parking system, which could expand free parking for residents, and increase parking fees on out-of-towners. What is happening City Council met July 13 to review the 1-year-old managed pay-to-park system. Interstate Parking runs a program…