Local on the Southside - August 2020

LOCA LCOMMU NI TYNE WS.CO M | VO L . 1, I SSUE 6 | AUG . 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

PG. 06 COMPLETE CALENDAR LIST TO PLAN AHEAD PG. 08

LOCAL LOWDOWN

HAPPENING LOCAL

NEWS BRIEFS AND BUSINESS OPENINGS

EDUCATION NEW KIND OF SCHOOL YEAR; read our stories for details (pgs. 1, 14) SOUTH SAN ANTONIO

LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS COVID-19 forces South Side schools’ classroom delay

LOCAL OPINION

GUEST COMMENTARY

Love thy neighbor PG. 04 | OPINION

SUSAN YERKES Home wreck becomes home-work lesson

PANDEMIC CHANGES THE BALANCE, EDUCATORS SAY

by EDMOND ORTIZ

Three South Side school systems are delaying a large-scale return of students to in-classroom instruction while educators, administrators and families grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although the state ordered schools to physically open for the 2020-2021 academic year after campuses shuttered this spring to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, pupils will learn through remote instruction until after Labor Day. Following that, districts may decide to continue virtual learning, hold in-

classroom sessions or a hybrid of both.

Readjusting plans, state officials in POSTPONED continues on pg. 16

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by GABE FARIAS

AS I SIT HERE and scribe these few words wondering if this is even going to get published due to its controversial nature, I am thinking of one of the most powerful phrases ever uttered: “Love thy neighbor.”

Our South Side is a beautiful place filled with beautiful people, but as it is with the rest of the country and, quite frankly, the world, the divide we now face is unparalleled and most of the division is rooted in stupidity.

The whole “because they are, it means I am” mentality has FARIAS continues on pg. 07

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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

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VISIT US ONLINE TO FIND OUT MORE AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT’S HAPPENING IN YOUR COMMUNITY. EDITOR TH O MAS E DWARDS tedwards@localcommunitynews.com

PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna

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EDITORIAL

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ON THE COVER – San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Pedro Martinez talks July 14 about SAISD’s campus-reopening plans. The district is one of three with South Side campuses that is delaying in-person classroom instruction until after Labor Day due to the novel coronavirus. See the story on pg. 01. Photo by Edmond Ortiz

The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.

True Heroes As the fight against COVID-19 continues, teachers deserve a big thank you for remaining on the front lines to ensure our children’s educational needs are met.

It hasn’t been easy. Students left for Spring Break and then the highly infectious coronavirus hit.

Gov. Greg Abbott closed schools, but said learning had to continue.

In just a matter of days, instructors developed distancelearning programs and paper-lesson pickups, mobilizing in a massive education effort unseen in modern times.

Many went above and beyond to reach out to schoolchildren who weren’t signing on or coming by drop-off sites. They cared enough to chase down absent pupils on weekends, at night — whatever it took to keep kids on task.

Other unsung heroes of COVID-19 are the workers who kept youngsters fed thanks to schoolmeal programs. Many children rely on such services for balanced nutrition not found at home.

The new academic year is upon us, and there are plenty of challenges as the virus lingers.

School districts are delaying in-person instruction and will let families choose between distance learning or attending safely spaced classrooms when doors open again.

No matter what, teachers need the full support of both their school boards and parents to continue doing what they do best — preparing young minds for the future.

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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

Home work 101

by SUSAN YERKES

HOME WORK IS MAKING ME CRAZY. I don’t mean schoolwork, although you might say I’m getting schooled in a new way. My home work is being done on my residence. My teachers are the contractors, painters, carpenters, plumbers and electricians I’ve met in the past few months.

My overhaul started in late spring with a cavalcade of plumbing-related catastrophes. From having to move out, through the mitigation stage to repair and remodeling, I learned more than I ever wanted to know about drying out a home, flooring and painting; even a little bit about drywall.

A major heating-ventilation-air conditioning leak in the middle of the experience launched a whole new series of practical lessons. I’ve learned

about the underpinnings of my home, to the ups and downs of working with contractors. Most of it has been absorbed the hard way. At this point, I feel as though I could write a book called “Everything I Know I Learned From

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Home Work.”

Here are a few things I wish I knew earlier: Painting: I’ve ascertained proper preparation is at least half the job. I’ve also realized latex paint, no matter how good it is, won’t stick to oil-based paint if you don’t prep the surface first – which most likely means sanding or putting on an adhesive primer coat or both. Read the directions on the can. Watch YouTube videos. Listen to the attendant at the paint counter, and then check it out online. If you hire painters, don’t be afraid to ask how they intend to do the job before they start. Different painters have slightly different approaches. And, if somebody tells you they can paint your trim, cabinets and doors with latex without doing one of those things, don’t believe it.

Sanding: From floors to doors to trim, sanding can produce a massive dust storm. If wood has been painted or glued, the dust may contain harmful toxins. Cover your belongings, cover your face and, if possible, just stay away. If you’re doing the sanding yourself, wear a mask (you probably have one these days) and goggles to protect your eyes. Consider investing in a dustless sander and remember to empty it regularly.

Hardware: Replacing old, paintclogged or rusted hardware may not be as easy as you thought. Think twice before you scrap it. I’ve learned it can take days of research and hundreds of

dollars just to trade out your kitchen cabinet hinges. Even replacing wall plates on outlets can take more time and money than you might imagine.

Hiring: As with painting, prep work is crucial. Do your homework.

Decide what you want. Establish a budget and time frame. Make a list of work you want done, with as much detail as possible. Get more than one bid – ideally, get three for each job.

If the prices differ a lot, make sure you know what’s included in each bid.

Check out recommendations. Spread payments into parts, so if things go south you can cut your losses.

Mistakes happen, and reliable folks will do their best to correct them. But remember the old saying: If you’re in a hole, stop digging.

Acknowledge problems but focus on solutions. I was surprised to learn having work done on your dwelling is considered a major stressor, especially in a pandemic.

Cut yourself some slack. Look for the silver linings. For me, it’s been gratitude for the amazing support of friends and neighbors who stepped up in a thousand ways. Some even shared hard-earned lessons from work on their homes to help put my experience in perspective.

Readers, if you can identify, I’d love to hear about it. Email me your stories, and your own lessons. I still have a lot to learn. syerkes@localcommunitynews.com

One of the most well-respected and award-winning journalists in South Texas, Susan Yerkes pens a column each month for LOCAL Community News. A veteran of newspapers, television, radio and online, she calls San Antonio home.

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HAPPENING

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

AUGUST

PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AUG. 4, 18 & SEPT. 1

AUG. 8 & SEPT. 5

The Rotary Club of San Antonio South normally meets at noon on the second floor of Stinson Municipal Airport, 8535 Mission Road. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, sessions take place via Zoom video conferencing. For updates or cancellations, visit https://portal. clubrunner.ca/8149.

Southtown Arts District First and Second Saturday Markets are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Artisan, 1103A S. Presa St. For updates or cancellations on the free event, email shop@ theartisansatx.com or call 210962-5560.

THROUGH AUG. 7

AUG. 8

The San Antonio Independent School District continues to provide free food to community youth. Available at select campus’ curbsides and various SAISD bus stops. For times and locations, visit https:// www.saisd.net/upload/page/0130/docs/ SAISDSummer2020MealsProgram.pdf.

The Estela Avery Education Center inside Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., is home to traditional healing practices from 1-5 p.m. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// sariverfound.org/events/thepeoples-clinic/.

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AUG. 13

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NETWORKING BREAKFAST The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce holds a networking breakfast from 7:309 a.m. at Don Pedro Mexican Restaurant, 1526 S.W. Military Drive. Cost is $15 for members, $20 for nonmembers. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.southsachamber. org/ or call Jessica Furdock at 210-533-1600.

AUG. 15 & SEPT. 5

YOGA AT THE MISSION Funded by Western National Parks Association and partners at the National Park Service, Mission San José, 701 E. Pyron

Ave., holds a free, one-hour community session at 10 a.m.

Meet outdoors in front of the church. For updates or cancellations, call 210-932-1001.

AUG. 15

MARKETS A farmers’ and artisans’ market opens at 9 a.m. at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. The San Antonio Food Bank Mobile Mercado will be on-site hosting healthy-cooking demos and nutrition-education sessions. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www. missionmarquee.com/EVENTS/ Farmers-Artisan-Markets.

AUG. 17

SAISD BOARD MEETING San Antonio Independent School District trustees meet at 5:30 p.m. at 406 Barrera St. For updates or cancellations, visit www.saisd.net.

AUG. 17

HARLANDALE ISD BOARD MEETING Trustees meet at 6:15 p.m. at STEM Early College High School, 4040 Apollo St. The meeting may be virtual depending on COVID-19 restrictions. For updates or cancellations, visit www. harlandale.net.

HAPPENING continues on pg. 17

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Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. +CMS Star Rating applies to H4590-010-000, which includes AARP® Medicare Advantage SecureHorizons® (HMO) in the state of Texas. This plan is rated 5 out of 5 stars for 2020. You may enroll only once during the Special Enrollment Period (SEP), December 8 – November 30. Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/ area. Limitations and exclusions apply. Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract.

Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll. AARP encourages you to consider your needs when selecting products and does not make specific product recommendations for individuals AARP does not employ or endorse agents, producers or brokers. ©2019 United HealthCare Services, Inc. All rights reserved.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: THE CALENDAR IS CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT SOME EVENTS MAY HAVE BEEN POSTPONED OR CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS. ACCESS TO PUBLIC MEETINGS MAY BE LIMITED OR STREAMING ONLY. CHECK WITH THE LISTED CONTACTS FOR UPDATES.

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

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FARIAS continues from pg. 01

completely obliterated friendships, families and communities.

My friend who wears a MAGA 2020 hat — Make America Great Again, the slogan popularized by President Donald Trump — has to be an “alt-right,” putbabies-in-cages, hater-of-free-speech racist.

Or my friend who is a lifelong liberal has to be a Marxist, socialist, Americahating, anti-police snowflake.

The bottom line is we all have friends on both sides of the aisle. Lifelong friends you may not agree with politically or socially, but could have gone to your wedding, been there when a family member passed away, or at your side when you most needed a friend.

My big question to you is this: Is it all worth it?

I ask knowing what we face are real and important life-changing issues that necessitate strong and thorough debate.

Are these ideological differences worth throwing away friendships and family relationships lasting a lifetime?

To some it still may. Your heart, and sometimes the passion you have, may supersede what has taken place over decades of goodwill, laughter and great memories.

For that I still don’t judge. What I will ask, as this soapbox is about to burst under my 6-foot-1-inch, 260-pound frame, is before you make a rash decision, do me a favor.

Sit back and take a moment to close your eyes and think of a good memory you shared with this person.

I’m not talking about the rando you picked up on social media as a “friend” you’ve never met. I am talking about the person who has been in your life in a meaningful way, and ask yourself – is all this worth it?

I recently made a life-altering decision to step away from an organization I have passionately been a part of for over 20 years because of the ideologies of some of its employees.

Although the owners of this group, for whom I mostly disagree with socially and politically, are great friends of mine, I made this decision to keep their love and friendship.

This may sound a little odd, but rather than argue and continue to quarrel some more, I would rather just walk away knowing down the road those same folks who have been there for me in my life will be there for me in the days ahead.

We as South Siders are kindhearted and beautiful at our core. We have our beliefs, both politically and socially. We just should not let those beliefs ruin friendships and families.

Please … #LoveThyNeighbor.

Gabe Farias is a longtime South Side resident, family man, active in his community, and chief operations officer at Kellum Physician Partners.

Columnist Gabe Farias says in these disruptive times, we should embrace the lesson of tolerance found in the Bible and other sacred texts. File photo

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LOWDOWN AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

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ALAMO FARMS, 200 Chihuahua St., is a farm-totable meat market where customers pick the animal to be processed. Advertising “farm-fresh products,” a notice on the website states, “We work with local family-owned farms in Texas to bring 100% natural and free-range live poultry and livestock to our establishment in the heart of San Antonio.” The halal-certified business sells live hens, roosters, guinea hens, ducks, rabbits, pigeons, quail, turkeys, lamb, goats and cows. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday. For more, call 210-998-2800 or visit alamofarms.com. (See story on page 18)

DECO PIZZERIA, 2402 S.E. Military Drive at Brooks, announced the popular eatery featuring pizza, calzones, sandwiches, wings and more is still coming to the former Air Force base, with the debut anticipated in the fall. The original

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LOWDOWN SPOTLIGHT

DECO PIZZERIA COMING TO 2402 S.E. MILITARY DRIVE

is in a 1930s-era gas station at 1815 Fredericksburg Road; a second launched in August 2018 at 2026 Babcock Road, Suite 107. The new spot will feature a look similar to the eclectic appearance of the South Texas Medical Center location on Babcock. For more, visit decopizza.com.

IN OTHER NEWS:

MORE THAN 10% OF REGISTERED VOTERS turned out to cast a ballot in the July 14 primary runoffs, exceeding officials’ expectations even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Area Democratic voters tapped attorney and state Rep. Roland Gutierrez to take on Republican state Rep. Pete Flores for the state Senate District 19 seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Gutierrez received 16,640 total votes against attorney Xochil Pena Rodriguez’s 14,940 votes. Business owner Elizabeth “Liz” Campos won 56% of the vote against former District 3 City Councilwoman Jennifer Ramos to claim the state House District 119

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

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Democratic primary. Campos will meet Republican George Garza on Nov. 3. Jenny Garcia Sharon beat “Guillermo” William Hayward in the GOP primary for Congressional District 35. Sharon advances to challenge Democratic Rep. Lloyd Doggett. Mauro Garza beat Gary Allen in the GOP primary for Congressional District 20, and will challenge Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, in the general election. Rebeca “Becky” Clay-Flores upset longtime Precinct 1 County Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez in the Democratic primary, collecting 61.8% of the vote. Clay-Flores will face Republican Gabriel Lara on Nov. 3. John Austin received 66% to upset incumbent Cynthia Brehm for the County Republican Party chair’s position.

Multiple Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott, called for Brehm to resign in June after she claimed the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police was a staged event meant to spark protests against President Donald Trump and the GOP. Kathryn Brown got 69% of the vote versus Mike Ramirez in the Democratic primary for County Precinct 4 constable. Monica Alcantara received 52% versus Grace Rose Gonzales to retain her position as County Democratic Party chair.

HARLANDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL HAS WELCOMED Juan Hinojosa as the new principal for the 2020-21 school year, according to the Harlandale Independent School District.

Hinojosa has more than 20 years of experience in education. His most recent position was assistant principal at Harlandale High School. He previously worked as an instructor at Texas A&M University-San Antonio and as an athletic coordinator and

LOWDOWN

9

head football coach at McCollum High School.

SOUTH SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT TRUSTEES approved the hiring of athletic coaches for West Campus and South San high schools during the June 25 board meeting.

“It is a remarkable and thrilling night to be a part of the rebuilding of the West Campus Athletic Department,” said Superintendent Marc Puig. At West Campus High School, Leandro Gonzales is the new head football coach, plus Casey Garcia and Amado Luis were picked to lead boys’ and girls’ basketball, respectively. Phil Barron was also tabbed the latest head football coach at South San High School.

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-SAN ANTONIO OFFICIALLY JOINED the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics on July 1 to launch its athletic program during the 2020-2021 school year, officials said. TAMU-San Antonio will be part of the 12-member Red River Athletic Conference. Pending coronavirus concerns, the Jaguars are scheduled to begin with men’s and women’s soccer, softball and men’s golf.

COMPASS ROSE PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECENTLY FINALIZED A LONG-TERM LEASE for the expansion of its Legacy campus at Brooks, formerly Brooks City-Base. The institution will begin relocating to 70,000 square feet of space at 3300 Sidney Brooks Drive in the fall. As a Texas Education Agency-authorized public charter school network, Compass Rose opened in 2017. Today, the place of learning has 350 students in grades six through nine. The new educational site will LOWDOWN continues on pg. 17 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM

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REFORM

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

South Side District 3 councilwoman wants SAPD revamp CONCERNS RAISED OVER DIVERSITY ON THE FORCE, POLICE CONTRACT, RECRUITING

by EDMOND ORTIZ

Black Lives Matter protesters march through the streets of downtown and the near-South Side in early June. Photo courtesy of Ryan Vestil/HRV Images

A SOUTH SIDE COUNCILWOMAN is among those calling for reforms at the San Antonio Police Department as widespread protests decry authoritarian brutality and unequal justice.

City politicos — among them District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran — seek new ways to engage the public and address racial prejudice, as well as examine how lawenforcement agencies serve communities.

Leaders at City Hall including Viagran are asking SAPD to further diversify its uniformed patrols, retool recruiting criteria and upgrade sensitivity training.

Officials also proposed zero tolerance for sworn personnel where domestic violence

is concerned, and creating more resources so officers can get help if they are stressed mentally or have witnessed a colleague displaying discrimination.

Viagran said, “We just need to do a better job of keeping each other in check and ensuring everybody that we’re each other’s keeper.”

District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales recommended rethinking the Police Department’s hiring and promotional practices.

“If we’re looking for real reform, there has to be a change in the way the (police) leadership works,” she added.

But activists must wait for City Hall to take the next steps. Before considering a resolution, the council in August will review the city’s draft Fiscal Year 2021 budget.

Meanwhile, protesters railing against what they say is systematic racism among police, as well as other societal ills, made their presence known on the South Side in June.

Nearly 40 demonstrators marched down South Flores Street, from Moore’s Feed & Seed Store to R&J Saloon, calling for defunding or reforming SAPD. Participants also opposed socioeconomic segregation, disproportionate imprisonment of people of color, and detention centers and tactics along the U.S.-Mexican border.

“I’m brown and my family members deserve to live,” Selina Marroquin told supporters at R&J Saloon.

Since late May, San Antonio and other cities nationwide have experienced numerous demonstrations following the death of Houston native George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, at the hands of Minneapolis police after officers were called to investigate allegations of a counterfeit bill.

Most rallies and marches back the Black Lives Matter movement, and denounce the killing of African Americans by law-enforcement officers over the years.

Activists are demanding Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales reopen cases of Marquise Jones, Charles Roundtree and Antronie Scott, who

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

all died during encounters with peace officers. Gonzales has rebuffed the requests.

Some also are tackling issues such as violence against women, LGBTQ discrimination, and statues and symbols seen as representing white supremacy.

As for the latter, the city removed a Christopher Columbus statue from a downtown park. The likeness, a donation from the Christopher Columbus Italian Society, was taken down after District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño and the society arrived at an agreement to give the carving back to the group.

The park’s name, which honors the explorer, is changing to Piazza Italia Park.

In addition, council members expressed concern after SAPD used rubber bullets, tear gas and more to squelch May 30 and June 2 downtown unrest and vandalism during protests.

“Civic engagement is crucial to our democracy, and community voices are particularly important as we develop policies related to public-safety procedures,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said.

Reformers propose revamping the collective bargaining agreement between the city and the San Antonio Police Officers Association, saying it complicates disciplining or firing rogue officers.

The same advocates also asked SAPD to adopt a ban on choke holds and other use-of-force policies recommended by the nationwide 8 Can’t Wait campaign.

In some quarters, activists urge police departments to defund or outright disband.

Police Chief William McManus said the union contract, which expires in 2021, could be improved.

But defunding or disbanding SAPD is “a little bit unrealistic,” he has said.

“It’s something that the council would have to take into consideration,” the chief added.

REFORM

11

Regarding the 8 Can’t Wait measures, McManus said, “I am the police chief and I have authority to make those changes, but I would not make them in a vacuum.”

SAPOA President Mike Helle denounced Floyd’s killing, but said it’s unfair to paint all police as loose cannons, racists or unaccountable to the law.

Helle also disputes assertions the current contract prevents more aggressive discipline against controversial officers.

In a letter to Nirenberg, he said it’s “not the union’s job to protect members from the consequences of illegal or wrongful conduct.”

Some critics feel part of the $479 million the municipality spends on police yearly should be reallocated to programs to reduce poverty and domestic violence, and expand mental health care.

On June 25, the council considered a resolution where the city would pledge to close disciplinary loopholes in the next police pact, enhance transparency and accountability for the force, and seek a “comprehensive and holistic investment” in public safety.

The U.S. House of Representatives in June passed sweeping Justice in Policing Act reforms, which face an uncertain future in the U.S. Senate.

“Recent killings have made all the more important asserting that Black Lives Matter and responding in a meaningful way to wrongdoing,” U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, said in a statement.

Organizers noted they’re just getting started.

“We must keep putting pressure on our elected officials for change to happen,” the Young Ambitious Activists group posted on its Facebook page.

Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.

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TRANSPORTATION

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

VIA plan for the South Side will be shaped by funding

by TRAVIS E. POLING

SAN ANTONIO’S MASS-TRANSIT SYSTEM has big plans for the South Side and greater connectivity for much of the area it serves.

On the wish list are Brooks and Madla transit center on-demand services to the front door and greater frequency for key bus routes.

“We want to have a more robust system to get people to jobs, job training and medical services,” said VIA Metropolitan Transit CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt. “By car, it takes 45 minutes to get to 90% of the jobs in Bexar County. Forty-five minutes from the South Side on a bus gets riders to 10% of the jobs.”

It all comes down to money.

VIA officials said they need a reliable stream of revenue from sales taxes, federal grants, city government contributions and ridership to issue bonds that would make these service improvements reality in the years to come.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg and many on the City Council initially supported a Nov. 3 ballot initiative that would redirect a one-eighth-cent sales tax from a long-standing land acquisition program over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone and linear park development to beef up VIA’s budget for multimodal transportation

improvements.

The funding for aquifer protection will come from other nontax sources in the future, according to officials.

When the city’s economy was slammed by business closures and layoffs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, city leaders changed their tune and called for the portion of sales tax sought by VIA to be used for job training and other programs to help get local workers back on their feet.

VIA’s board responded by calling for a referendum on the November ballot to get voter approval for the tax to fund transportation projects.

In mid-July, the city and VIA reached a compromise and are now working on language for the

WE WANT TO HAVE A MORE ROBUST SYSTEM.” JEFFREY C. ARNDT, VIA METROPOLITAN TRANSIT PRESIDENT/CEO

VIA Metropolitan Transit and the city have reached a deal to put a proposed tax on the ballot Nov. 3 that will be used first by the city to fund pandemic-related job training and recovery, then taken over by the transportation utility to beef up services, including South Side locations such as the Books Transit Center. Courtesy photo

ballot asking voters to give the city’s COVID-19 long-term relief plan a set amount of revenue from the tax and then switching it permanently to increase VIA’s funding.

“I think timing is the biggest issue on this,” said District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran in an interview shortly before the compromise was reached. “The city investment in VIA (from the city budget) will let them maintain service. But more and more small businesses are closing, there’s more unemployment and more jobs are changing.”

Viagran said she knows the South

Side is much in need of more frequency along the routes, fewer stops and fewer transfers to get more people to schools, shopping and jobs more quickly and supports a long-term solution for VIA after some immediate economic needs are met.

“I think mass transit is obviously important, but when I look at my constituency, they are looking for jobs. They are looking for help with their housing. They are looking for help if they own a small business,” Viagran said. “That’s where my TAX continues on pg. 19

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EDUCATION

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

Schools’ free meals aid South Side residents

by ERIC MORENO

CAUGHT BETWEEN COVID-19 and early campus closures, South Side school districts rallied to ensure students still could get free, nutritious meals instead of going hungry.

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Some of those programs continue into August, and remain vitally important for learners’ well-being, officials said.

“I think it would be fair to say that these meals are the only nutritious meals some of our students get on certain days,” said Janie Ramirez, director of child nutrition at the Southside Independent School District.

According to the nonprofit Feeding Texas, 20% of children in the state experience hunger. Governmentsubsidized meal programs administered by school districts are often the only dishes many youngsters get daily.

With campuses shuttering in spring to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, area districts — among them Harlandale, San Antonio and Southside — began free, summer-meal programs early.

Like most “regular” public school fare, financing from state and federal agencies supports the food servings offered by educational districts.

While each varies slightly, almost all – including HISD, SAISD, and SISD – receive a mix of funding from Texas and U.S. departments of agriculture.

“Seamless Summer Nutrition Program” through the Texas Department of Agriculture specifically supports both SAISD and SISD. “The (summer meals the district provides) are funded based on the number of meals we send,” said Mariana Veraza, an HISD spokeswoman. “It is funded by

the federal government through the National School Lunch Program. We get reimbursed for the number of meals we distribute.”

Starting in June, HISD provided breakfast and lunch to students at 23 institutions, including Harlandale and McCollum high schools, Tejeda Academy, Terrell Wells Middle School, plus Adams and Gillette elementary schools.

Weekdays from June 15-July 16, students ages 18 and younger (regardless of enrollment in summer school or proof of eligibility) received no-cost, healthy food. Adults could also purchase $2.50 breakfasts and $4 lunches.

Similarly, SAISD began free meals to pupils starting May 29 and running through Aug. 7. The servings are at curbside locations across the district, plus select area bus stops.

Breakfast and lunch distribution is Tuesdays and Thursdays at Edison High School, Longfellow Middle School and Schenck Elementary School.

Bus-stop locations include Highland Park Elementary School and Ogden Academy.

SAISD meals are also free for those 18 and younger, plus to learners under

21 who continue enrollment, and also those who are identified as disabled through a specialeducation program.

No application is needed.

“Our child-nutrition programs received dual funding much like other districts,” said Laura Short, an SAISD spokeswoman.

SISD started its meal program almost immediately after Gov. Greg Abbott called for campus closures, with service available March 16-July 31.

Breakfast servings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays ranged from cereal and kolaches to doughnuts with fruit juice, milk or water; lunch options included chicken nuggets, pizza or pulledpork tacos.

Fare was offered to students 18 and younger at Pearce Elementary School and campuses with accelerating campus education, or ACE, programs.

“The summer-meal program is not open for adults, but all young adults 18 and younger qualify for the meals free to all,” Ramirez said.

For some families, locating free summer meals can prove difficult.

The nonprofit No Kid Hungry has a free texting service to help families find no-cost meals – including those at school districts.

Parents and caregivers can text “FOOD” (or “COMIDA” for Spanish speakers) to 877-877 to see all the nearby options.

Meal programs for students are scheduled to resume with the new academic year.

Find this story and more at www.localcommunitynews.com.

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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

EDUCATION

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

POSTPONED continues from pg. 01

July said campuses could delay August openings until Sept. 8, though the Texas State Teachers Association and many parents say classes shouldn’t resume until the pandemic eases.

San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Medical Director Dr. Junda Woo also issued a health directive that keeps public and private school classrooms shuttered and prohibits extracurricular pursuits until after Sept. 7.

On-campus, face-to-face learning could be further postponed depending on COVID-19 cases, Woo said.

“We recognize the importance of reopening schools,” Woo said in a prepared release. “This directive considers the higher risk for spread

of COVID-19 in schools due to their confined spaces, and the challenge for children in following social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Reopening will happen in phases, based on COVID-19 metrics.”

Faced by the prospect of more students learning remotely, the state has earmarked $200 million in funding to boost internet access for pupils.

The Texas Education Agency, which OK’d implementing exclusive e-learning for the fall semester’s first four weeks, also indicated districts could add four additional weeks, or until October.

TEA also issued health guidelines for public schools, saying social distancing, self-screening for symptoms and other measures will help ensure a safe environment for the eventual return of

students to class.

School systems prohibiting in-person instruction based on local health directives won’t lose state funding, leaders said.

Southside Independent School District, which starts Aug. 17, will provide 100% remote instruction until Labor Day weekend, at the earliest, officials noted.

“Parents should be the deciders of their children’s education,” Superintendent Rolando Ramirez said.

San Antonio Independent School District is resetting its first day of learning from Aug. 10 to Aug. 17.

SAISD officials said this gives parents and students time to evaluate how to proceed with lessons after Labor Day. “This also allows us to train every staff person on our safety procedures,” Superintendent Pedro Martinez added.

Harlandale Independent School District trustees bumped opening day from Aug. 5 to Aug. 24.

HISD was seeking “the approval of additional guidance from state and local authorities in order to proceed with what we deem necessary to decrease the spread of COVID-19, such as 100% virtual instruction from everyone in the district,” Superintendent Gerardo Soto said.

New Frontiers Public Schools’ South Presa Street campus will offer both at-home or on-campus education.

“These options will also prepare us to shift from face-to-face to remote and/or vice versa as local COVID-19 conditions change,” Superintendent Alfredo Segura Jr. said.

Attendees at IDEA Public Schools on South Flores Street can also choose either curriculum, switching back and forth as needed.

Alamo Colleges District sites, including Palo Alto College, will provide mostly distance instruction, except for designated career and

technical education, plus select arts and science courses.

Several Texas school districts suspended or shortened off-season strength and conditioning programs after coaches and students either tested positive for the strain of novel coronavirus or said they’d been exposed to an infected individual.

A coalition of local teachers, parents, scholars and grassroots activists wrote state leaders asking for remote-only lessons, and to keep students out for at least two months.

“In our assessment, the minimum criteria for reopening schools have not been met, and Bexar County public schools cannot be reopened safely under these conditions,” stated a July 14 letter.

SAISD, HISD and SISD are represented in the alliance.

“Regardless of the date, no school must reopen until the pandemic has clearly begun to subside and strict safety standards are in place for that campus,” TSTA President Noel Candelaria stated.

Meanwhile, school systems are adopting budgets, revamping instructional calendars and addressing more routine matters.

SAISD trustees approved a $498 million financial plan, and officials expressed confidence the current crisis would have little to no effect on the projected student enrollment of 48,547.

The district also revised its calendar to include 15 additional days as a contingency for COVID-19 outbreaks.

At deadline, HISD and SISD hadn’t finalized 2020-2021 budgets.

Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

HAPPENING continues from pg. 06

AUG. 18

STROKE SUPPORT A stroke support group meets from 2-3 p.m. at Southwest General Hospital, Classroom A, 7400 Barlite Blvd. The group aims to help stroke survivors, their families and caregivers. For updates or cancellations, and to RSVP, call 1-877-215-9355.

AUG. 20

SOUTHSIDE ISD BOARD MEETING Trustees meet at 6 p.m. at 1460 Martinez Losoya Road. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// southsideisd.org/.

AUGUST

SCHOOL STARTS The 2020-2021 academic year begins Aug. 24 in the Harlandale Independent School District; Aug. 17 in the San Antonio Independent School District; and Aug. 17 in the Southside Independent School District. For classroom status, updates and cancellations, visit the institution’s website.

SUNDAYS

YOGA CLASS Due to the coronavirus pandemic, free sessions, normally 10-11 a.m. at Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., will be conducted online during the outbreak. Focus on the fundamentals of yoga with a practice designed for all levels. For more and to participate live at 10 a.m., visit https://www.facebook. com/MobileOm, or any time after on Mobile Om’s YouTube channel.

THROUGH AUGUST CULINARIA

Culinaria expands its biannual “Summer Restaurant Weeks”

extravaganza to include dineout and to-go options at local eateries. For participants, updates or cancellations, visit https:// culinariasa.org/.

SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@localcommunitynews.com.

LOWDOWN continues from pg. 09

accommodate more than 1,500 pupils from kindergarteners to 12thgraders.

THREE NONPROFITS WITH SOUTH SIDE TIES RECENTLY RECEIVED DONATIONS. The Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio, Meals on Wheels, and the San Antonio Independent School District Foundation got $12,500 apiece from Brooks Gives Back, which is the community-centric organization supporting Brooks, formerly known as Brooks CityBase. “Each of these organizations has identified special projects and opportunities for this funding that will make a significant impact on the South Side,” said Brooks Gives Back Vice Chairwoman Lorraine Pulido.

NEW ARTWORK IS COMING TO Mission San José. Sandra Gonzalez has been selected to create a tricentennial mural, which will bring attention to the Spanish church founded in 1720

by Friar Antonio Margil de Jesús. It will be painted at the Visitor Center this summer, then attached to an exterior wall and unveiled in the fall.

The project is a partnership with Luminaria: Arts in San Antonio and the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Service. Gonzalez is a Corpus Christi-based muralist and painter.

LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM

17

HAPPENING/LOWDOWN

JEANNETTE FLORES WESTBROOK, WHO GREW UP ON THE SOUTH SIDE, has retired from Broadway Bank after a 46-year career, officials announced. She began her career as a teller in 1974 and rose through the ranks, retiring as senior vice president and community reinvestment manager. She developed the bank’s community reinvestment program, mentor programs and established Care Corps, the employee volunteer program known for its community service. She served on numerous boards and earned awards, most recently being named the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s “Champion of Change Award” in 2019.

Find LOCAL Lowdown at www. localcommunitynews.com.

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EAT

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

Fresh is the philosophy at Alamo Farms

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FOLKS LOOKING FOR FRESH PROTEIN might consider a South Side market where they can pick the animals to be processed for mealtimes.

HOURS ARE CURRENT AS OF PRESS TIME, BUT CHECK WITH THE BUSINESS FOR UPDATES.

Opened June 16, Alamo Farms, 200 Chihuahua St., offers everything old-fashioned, traditional butcher shops once did, while respecting current health and safety regulations, the owners said.

Alamo Farms at 200 Chihuahua St. is a new meat market on the South Side where farm-totable freshness is practiced, the owners say. Photos by Olivier J. Bourgoin

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It’s also halal-certified, meaning food is prepared according to Islamic dietary law.

At Alamo Farms, everything occurs in front of patrons, according to the proprietors.

Originally from Yemen, co-owner Abobaker “Abo” Mused and his family have been in the meatpurveying business for more than two decades.

“Everything we do here is 100% transparent and subject to multiple on-site (Department of Agriculture) inspections,” Mused said. He added, “There’s no shady stuff going on behind closed doors.

You can actually see the healthy animals roaming around, and if you like, you can point to the one you want and we will butcher it for you on-site.”

The market doesn’t sell any wild or exotic meat, only USDA-approved poultry and livestock, he added.

“It’s just a question of honesty versus hypocrisy,” Mused said. “Would you rather get your meat in a Styrofoam tray from a big store without having to think about where it came from, or would you prefer to get it fresh from our farm to your kitchen, harvested that day?”

Five different government agencies scrutinize the operation, the co-proprietor said.

“But, ultimately, I want our customers to do their own inspections of our entire facilities – all day, every day,” he added.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Find this EAT Local at www.localcommunitynews. com.

AUG. 4 - SEPT. 1, 2020

TRANSPORTATION

L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S

TAX continues from pg. 12

$250 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET

RIDER FEES COVER ONLY ABOUT

8%

OF THE COSTS.

THE ONE-HALF-CENT SALES TAX PROVIDES

77%, 12% AND

priorities are right now. We need some sort of hybrid, something creative, something we can do together as a community.”

The additional sales tax, if voters approve it, would put about $18 million a year more in VIA’s coffers, Arndt said.

Among the things those additional dollars could help pay for is an expansion of the VIA Link program, including connections from the Madla and Brooks transit centers.

VIA Link, which operates in a designated area of the Northeast Side, provides an on-call service from a transit center directly to a job or medical appointment within a few miles radius.

Arndt said he also would like to have the budget for more VIA Primo routes that have high frequency and fewer stops. One unfunded route on the wish list is a link from the Zarzamora route to the Texas A&M University-San Antonio campus and to the area where Toyota and associated parts manufacturers are located.

For Al Arreola Jr., president of the South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, the onslaught of COVID-19 put years of planning and input by stakeholders in improved public transportation by the wayside.

“That’s all just a drop in the bucket now,” he said. “Now it’s all just literally sitting on a shelf.”

The buses are important for the environment, to connect walkable areas of the city, to connect housing areas to business clusters and “we need those buses to get downtown, period,” Arreolla said.

He believes better frequency on bus routes between downtown and

the South Side also will help bring tourists, who often don’t rent cars when staying downtown, to visit attractions in the culturally rich part of the city.

The chamber of commerce, he said, would support any ballot initiative that includes long-term funding for VIA. More than 40 years ago, the Legislature created a sales-tax increment that could be dedicated to public transportation up to 1 cent on the dollar. Most of the state’s large metro areas opted to give their mass-transit authorities the full amount.

San Antonio allocated only half that amount.

VIA has been “chronically

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underfunded” for four decades and forced to stretch dollars as much as possible to bridge the gap between where the workers live and where the jobs are located, Arndt said.

Because the federal government has designated the San AntonioNew Braunfels Metropolitan Statistical Area, or MSA, as a “large urban” area, VIA receives subsidies for some of their capital costs such as new buses. What that doesn’t pay for is the cost of the driver, maintenance, clearing out the coin box, insurance and more, Arndt said.

Of the $250 million annual budget, rider fees cover only about 8% of the costs. The one-half-cent

19

sales tax provides 77%, and 12% comes from federal subsidies. The remainder, about $10 million, comes from the city, but is subject to annual approval.

As positive cases for the new coronavirus surged in the spring, and then came back in summer, the city said it was reducing its contribution to VIA by $3 million.

VIA also got a $93 million line of credit from the federal government through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to help cover the additional cost of outfitting the buses for safety from the coronavirus and maintenance such as disinfecting regularly.

Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com.

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