SOUTH SAN ANTONIO
LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWS LOCA LCOMMU NI TYNE WS.CO M | VO L . 1, I SSUE 8 | O C T. 6-NOV. 3, 2020
CREATIVE
Art in a time of pandemic ARTISTS, GALLERIES, MUSEUMS TURN INNOVATIVE DURING COVID-19 by EDMOND ORTIZ
ELECTION COVERAGE
Southside Independent School District Superintendent Rolando Ramirez welcomed staffers back to school in August. Courtesy photo
FOR THE LATEST ON LOCAL RACES
08
Outbreak hitting school budgets
BASIC ELECTION CHECKLIST
MANY SOUTH SIDE ARTISANS, museums and galleries struggling during the ongoing pandemic are finding creative ways to stay connected with audiences.
by EDMOND ORTIZ
Take local artist Jesus Toro Martinez. Before the outbreak, he showed his works at exhibits in Mexico City, New York City, Austin and elsewhere. He regularly hosted Second
NEW ACADEMIC-YEAR BUDGETS passed by South Side school districts reflect the coronavirus outbreak’s effect on student enrollment and tax revenues.
ARTS continues on pg. 14
The Southside Independent School District adopted a $59.7 million general-fund budget for 2020-2021, with a 3% raise for all employees, and a pay — or step — increase for teachers. Even so, district and campus administrators were asked to cut their department or section budgets. “With this budget, we recognize the value of our staff,” district Chief Financial Officer Stanley Osborne
PG. 22 | EAT LOCAL
SOUTHERLEIGH
Debut set for Brooks
EDUCATION
DECISION 2020 continues on pg. 08
BUDGETS continues on pg. 17
2 STAFF OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
PUBLISHER Jaselle Luna EDITORIAL Editor
Thomas Edwards News Staff
Edmond Ortiz Contributing Writers
Olivier J. Bourgoin, Noi Mahoney, Arthur Schechter and Susan Yerkes ART Designer
E. Fisher Contributing Artist
Jeremiah Teutsch ADVERTISING Senior Media Representatives
Dawn Radick and Joanne Torres
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4204 Gardendale St., Ste. 107, San Antonio, TX 78229 Phone: (210) 338-8842 Fax: (210) 465-9455 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Advertising@localcommunitynews.com STORY IDEAS: tips@localcommunitynews.com OUR OTHER PUBLICATIONS North Central SA: 78204, 78205, 78209, 78210, 78212, 78215 North SA - Stone Oak: 78213, 78216, 78230, 78231, 78232, 78248, 78249, 78258, 78259 Metrocom: 78109, 78148, 78233, 78239, 78108, 78132, 78154, 78266 Reproduction in whole or in part without our permission is prohibited, 2020 Local Community News LLC, all rights reserved.
ON THE COVER – It’s been said the Nov. 3 general election, which includes a presidential contest, is one of the most important in decades. LOCAL Community News turns the spotlight on races affecting the South Side — congressional, state and county, plus San Antonio Independent School District’s record $1.3 billion bond and the city’s referendums to fund workforce development, VIA Metropolitan Transit and Pre-K 4 SA. Coverage begins on pg. 08. Illustration by E. Fisher
The LOCAL Community News editorial board includes Jaselle Luna and Thomas Edwards.
TALK LOCAL
Law and order CALLS TO DEFUND POLICE DEPARTMENTS are not only misguided but radically dangerous. The men and women in blue are enforcers of the peace, with a job more rewarding and more difficult than most can imagine. Sure, there are some bad apples. However, taking livelihoods away from all peace officers for the actions of a few will not usher in a golden age, only undermine their effectiveness. The majority of officers joined to protect and serve. Training on de-escalation, cultural sensitivity and more community policing offer solutions. Meanwhile, the public could also show a little more civility to officers during an encounter, instead of adjudicating from the curb. While reformers with good intentions say defunding the police means shifting financial resources to social, education and anti-poverty programs, we know what the road to hell is paved with. The City Council this budget session wisely did not approve any cuts to the police force. “(Crooks) are going to speed up, they’re going to accelerate” if the police are defunded, warns Brandon Tatum, a Black retired police officer, on his YouTube channel. Taking resources away from departments will lead to layoffs, the hiring of inferior candidates, poor training, fewer patrols and inadequate equipment. The only winners will be the criminals. Send your thoughts on whether to defund police departments to tedwards@localcommunitynews.com.
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OPINION
4
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
Silver linings by SUSAN YERKES
THIS FALL, “back to school” has been anything but back to normal.
From online instruction to masks and distanced classrooms, the pandemic is changing education. Most campuses have reopened to some extent, and progress is likely to continue. But, the going has been tough for parents, teachers, administrators and children. Long-term, several lessons emerged from the Herculean effort in March to keep kids connected to instruction when the novel coronavirus started spreading. some things — for instance, getting public schools online in ways that were long overdue,” a veteran teacher told me. While the mad scramble to get educators and learners linked to digital devices last spring proved a nightmare for many, it brought communities
Today, it seems the storm clouds of COVID-19 may even have some silver linings. The outbreak helped change minds about the importance of distance learning. “It has really forced our hand on
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together in ways only a crisis can. Technological advances, maybe delayed because of extra effort and expense, got fast-tracked. Indeed, virtual learning has some parents feeling more plugged into their children’s education, instructors and institutions. “I do think the digital needs did move education forward, and continue to do so in a short period of time,” said Principal Mary Jewell of Northside Independent School District’s Rudder Middle School. Parents and teachers continue to adapt, although it has been difficult for a few adults. Younger students adjusted the quickest, according to educators. Teachers have emerged as heroes, working overtime and reaching out to students with Zoom conferences and personal help. Most districts have set up resources to assist pupils and parents with digital issues. While there have been plenty of glitches and crashes, over time, connections will improve as technology is more smoothly integrated. Though online events and classes may lack the feel of being there in person, the experience reaches a far wider audience. Local arts institutions sprang into action to develop or refine learning modules, making virtual visits more fun and educational. However, San Antonio still faces a
drastic digital divide. Despite students receiving Chromebooks and other data devices in record time, maintaining connectivity became the elephant in the virtual classroom. The National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s “Worst Connected Cities 2018” found nearly 20% of San Antonio households lacked workable broadband connections. In some areas, up to 25% of learners didn’t reconnect with schools following Spring Break, plus numerous parents were hard to contact, educators said. Nimble solutions helped, such as the cooperation between NISD, the San Antonio Independent School District, the San Antonio Housing Authority and VIA Metropolitan Transit with the dispatch of VIAtrans vans around town providing Wi-Fi hot spots. In the future, a San Antonio Office of Innovation Smart City coordinator told me, special nodes attached to high-tech streetlights, or smart lights, could send wireless communications into underserved areas. Meanwhile, simple steps could make a big difference, such as getting Congress to extend the Federal Communications Commission’s E-rate program for affordable mobile hot spots to cover homes in some areas. For now, though, the best news for many is just getting kids back to school. syerkes@localcommunitynews.com
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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 OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
OCTOBER
PLAN YOUR MONTH WITH OUR CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY.
OCT. 6, 20 & NOV. 3 ROTARY CLUB
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 pandemic, sessions may take place via Zoom conferencing. For updates or cancellations, visit https://portal.clubrunner. ca/8149.
OCT. 8
NETWORKING BREAKFAST The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce holds a networking breakfast from 7:30-9 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.
OCT. 10
READY, SET, GO! The Wounded Warrior Project Mission in Motion, normally at Mission County Park, 6030 Padre Drive, will instead be conducted virtually due to the coronavirus outbreak. Run or walk in the Carry Forward 5K from your treadmill or neighborhood streets and raise money for injured veterans. For registration costs, updates or cancellations, visit https://carryforward. woundedwarriorproject.org/index. cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive. event&eventID=533.
OCT. 10
‘THE PEOPLE’S CLINIC’ The Estela Avery Education Center inside Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St., is home to traditional healing practices from 1-5 p.m.
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.
HAPPENING continues on pg. 20
Smart Investment. Proven Results. In 2012, San Antonio voters made a smart investment by approving a 1/8-cent sales tax to fund Pre-K 4 SA. Eight years later, the program has provided high-quality early childhood education to thousands of kids and has become a model of success. The reauthorization of the funding will be on the November 3 ballot. Your yes vote will ensure the investment made is protected and that this proven program continues the transformational and meaningful progress to thousands more kids and families.
EARLY VOTING: OCT. 13 – OCT. 30
VOTE
YES TO GET KIDS SCHOOL READY
HIGHER KINDERGARTEN READINESS HIGHER TEST SCORES HIGHER SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
NO NEW TAXES ELECTION DAY: NOV. 3
Pol. ad by Keep Pre-K 4 SA, Henry Gonzalez, III, Treasurer, P.O. Box 461234, San Antonio, TX 78246.
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Worrying about paying your water bill doesn’t need to be an added stressor during this time of uncertainty. Your neighbors at the San Antonio Water System want to make sure no family ever has to be disconnected because they can’t pay their bills. Our Uplift program eases the burden of paying your monthly water bill with 14 initiatives to assist customers who need a little help. Learn how SAWS helps ensure your water stays connected during times of emergencies and financial hardship by calling 210-233-CARE(2273) or visiting saws.org/uplift.
8
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
Election Showdown by EDMOND ORTIZ
MAURO GARZA
VS
South Side voters will decide races for the U.S. Senate and House, a tight Texas Senate contest, a new county commissioner, and other Nov. 3 election issues.
U.S. SENATE Incumbent John Cornyn, a Republican with ties to San Antonio, seeks a fourth term to continue advocating for conservative values. His Democratic opponent, MJ Hegar, is a retired Air Force helicopter pilot and teacher.
U.S. SENATE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 20
VS JOHN CORNYN
MJ HEGAR
Republican Mauro Garza, a business owner, challenges Democratic U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro’s bid for a fifth term. Castro, a former state legislator and Stanford University graduate, has worked in public education, health care and the juvenile-justice system. Recently, he was vocal about changes in U.S. Postal Service operations and how they affect mail delivery. Garza served at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, taught in the Alamo Colleges District, and founded two companies. He advocates continuing many policies supported or implemented by President Donald Trump, including stronger border protection.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 28 U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat, and Republican Sandra Whitten, both of Laredo, are facing off. Cuellar practiced and taught law,
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
JOAQUIN CASTRO
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 20 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 28
SANDRA WHITTEN
VS
HENRY CUELLAR
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
served in the state Legislature, and was Texas’ secretary of state before his arrival in 2005 to Congress. He’s anti-border wall, and supports increasing health care access, lowering prescription-drug prices, public school improvements and reforming immigration. Whitten, a self-described constitutional and pro-life Christian conservative, backs a strong military, law enforcement, and limited government.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 35 Jenny Garcia Sharon, R-Austin, opposes U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, a former Texas senator and state Supreme Court justice. Doggett, a 25-year congressman, favors a stronger response to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. He also promotes commonsense gun-safety legislation, affordable health care, pro-family immigration reform, and helping small-business owners. Sharon is pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, pro-border wall, plus supports free-market health care solutions, and school choice.
TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 19 State Rep. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, opposes state Rep. Pete Flores, R-Pleasanton, for a full term.
Flores, former leader of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s lawenforcement division, currently works with the National Association of Conservation Law Enforcement Chiefs. He takes traditionally conservative views on abortion, property and gun owners’ rights, education, taxes, plus veterans’ issues. Gutierrez and his family live in the Mission San José neighborhood. Having represented Texas House District 119 since 2008, he’s campaigning for public school support, increasing affordable health care access, a living wage, workforce equality, pro-environment policies and infrastructure improvements.
TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 118 Republican Adam Salyer challenges first-term state Rep. Leo Pacheco, a Democrat. A lifelong South Sider, Pacheco is an educator working as a human-resource specialist at Palo Alto College. He champions capping senior citizens’ property taxes, more public school funding, expanding access to higher education and affordable health care, improving transportation and veterans’ services, and fighting discrimination. An Army veteran, Salyer is a real estate agent and former Universal City
DECISION 2020
councilman who advocates reforming property taxes and public education, protecting gun owners’ rights and pro-life policies.
TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 119 Business owner Elizabeth “Liz” Campos, a Democrat, vies with Marine Corps veteran George Garza, a Republican, to succeed Roland Gutierrez. A long-standing Southeast Side resident, Campos was a onetime Texas Senate chief of staff. Her priorities include supporting public education, property-tax reform, senior citizens and veterans, solutions to homelessness, investments in jobs, health care, transportation and public safety. Garza, a Southeast Side native, wants to improve senior citizens’ services and care, legalize marijuana and reform education and property taxes.
PRECINCT 1 COUNTY COMMISSIONER Democrat Rebeca “Becky” Clay-Flores and Republican Gabriel Lara are vying to succeed longtime County Commissioner Sergio “Chico” Rodriguez, whom ClayFlores beat in a July primary runoff. A Brackenridge High School graduate, Clay-Flores spent 15 years serving in education and nonprofits, and has worked for the city of San Antonio.
She supports more public school funding, economic redevelopment, property-tax relief, breaking the “school to jail” pipeline, plus improving public safety, physical and mental health and veterans’ services. Lara, a Harlandale High School graduate and Navy veteran, is a retired firefighter/ paramedic who backs road improvements, first responders, quality health care in underserved areas, and helping youth and young adults to develop technical and vocational skills.
SHERIFF Republican Gerald “Gerry” Rickhoff, a former Bexar County clerk, opposes Democrat Javier Salazar’s bid for a second term. Salazar, an ex-San Antonio police officer, has promoted ways the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office seeks to partner with culturally diverse communities. Under his tenure, BCSO has been outfitting deputies with body cameras, and is launching a pilot program to better address mental health-related calls, he said. Rickhoff believes his administrative experience can benefit county jail operations, which came under scrutiny after a series of escapes and legal troubles for some jail guards. He hails from a politically active family that includes a judge and a peace officer.
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 35
TEXAS SENATE DISTRICT 19
VS
VS
JENNY GARCIA SHARON
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
LLOYD DOGGETT
PETE FLORES
9
ROLAND GUTIERREZ
10
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
DECISION 2020
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
ELECTION BASICS
SAISD FLOATS $1.3 BILLION BOND by EDMOND ORTIZ
by EDMOND ORTIZ
SUPPORTERS OF SAN ANTONIO’S oldest public school district in the urban core hope voters will approve $1.3 billion in proposed renovations and technology updates at existing campuses.
The San Antonio Independent School District will float its biggest bond package yet during the Nov. 3 election, and officials say no tax hike will be needed. “To me, it’s not necessarily how big the bond is, it’s about how effectively we could implement this bond,” said trustee Ed Garza, a former San Antonio mayor. The district must demonstrate efficiency in improving aging schools under budget and on time, he added. A residents-led task force recommended upgrading more than 30 schools as part of SAISD’s long-range facilities master plan. The bond issue is twopronged. Proposition A would provide $1.21 billion for refurbishments at 21 campuses where the main buildings have not been fully improved in more than 50 years. Area campuses SAISD has in mind include CAST Med High School and Burnet Middle School. In addition, funds would go toward the final phase to complete fixes at 15 schools, which received partial attention under voter-approved bonds from 2010 or 2016. This list includes Brackenridge High School. The first proposition also would cover security upgrades at all places of learning, and the replacement of obsolete air-conditioning chillers at 30 campuses.
$1.3
BILLION
IN PROPOSED RENOVATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY UPDATES
$1.2
BILLION
FOR REFURBISHMENTS AT
21
CAMPUSES
According to SAISD, half of the 43 schools with the oldest infrastructure in the district’s facilities plan would see renovations of some kind, with the largest campuses getting a complete makeover. “Some would even call it a staggering sum,” task force Cochairman Mario Barrera said of the price tag. “We recognize this as the oldest inner-city school district in San Antonio with 90 buildings, some of which were built way back in the 1800s, that needed this amount of work.” Proposition B, at $90 million, would cover technology upgrades in all schools, including equipping every classroom with high-speed connectivity, audio systems, devices and interactive smart boards. SAISD officials said an approved bond wouldn’t result in a property-tax increase, as projects would be supported by the system’s debt service tax rate and rising appraisals. Find this story and more at www.localcommunitynews.com.
VOTERS DURING THE NOV. 3 general election likely will see a lengthy ballot.
In addition to the presidential battle, there’s a range of congressional, county and state legislative races to consider. Also to be determined are contests and special initiatives delayed from local May elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
HERE ARE A FEW KEY THINGS TO REMEMBER: EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE: 8 A.M. TO 6 P.M. OCT. 13-17; NOON TO 6 P.M. OCT. 18 AND 25; 8 A.M. TO 8 P.M. OCT. 19-24; AND 8 A.M. TO 10 P.M. OCT. 26-30.
Area voting sites include: Collins Garden Library, 200 North Park Blvd; Southside Lions Community Center, 3100 Hiawatha St., Harlandale Civic Center, 115 W. Southcross Blvd.; and the Bexar County Elections Department, 1103 S. Frio St. Voters on Election Day may cast a ballot at any open Bexar County polling
GABRIEL LARA
VS
REBECA “BECKY” CLAY-FLORES
PRECINCT 1 COUNTY COMMISSIONER SHERIFF
GERALD “GERRY” RICKHOFF
VS
JAVIER SALAZAR
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
DECISION 2020
TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 119
TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 118
VS
VS ELIZABETH “LIZ” CAMPOS
GEORGE GARZA
ELECTION BASICS site (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). Oct. 23 is the final day to apply for a mail-in ballot. Any county-registered voter may apply for a mail-in ballot if: 65 years of age or older prior to Nov. 3; sick or disabled; out of the county on Election Day and during the period of early voting by personal appearance; or confined in jail, but eligible to vote. Mail-in ballot applications are available through the Bexar County Elections Department. Call 210-3358683 or visit https://www. bexar.org/1568/ElectionsDepartment for details on other voter information, including Election Day polling sites.
AT THE POLLS VOTERS MUST PRESENT ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: a Texas driver’s license; Texas Election Identification Certificate; Texas ID card; Texas concealed handgun license (issued by Texas
Department of Public Safety); U.S. military ID card containing the person’s photo; U.S. citizenship certificate or naturalization certificate containing the person’s picture; or a U.S. passport.
The electorate must practice social distancing and wear a mask when casting an inperson ballot. Hand sanitizer is available. The new electronic voting machines use ExpressVote, which enables a voter to print a ballot card and verify choices.
MORE INFORMATION League of Women Voters of Texas (https://my.lwv. org/texas/electioninformation) provides nonpartisan election information.
MOVE Texas (https:// movetexas.org) works to empower mainly young people through civic education, leadership development, and information on voter mobilization and issue advocacy.
LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
ADAM SALYER
11
LEO PACHECO
WORKFORCE, VIA, PRE-K 4 SA FUNDING ON BALLOT by EDMOND ORTIZ
A CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSAL to shift funding from aquifer protection and parks to San Antonio workforce development and then transit services is on the ballot Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, voters will also be asked to consider reauthorizing a 1/8-cent sales tax to maintain the Pre-K 4 SA program. All of the initiatives revolve around funding fueled by sales-tax revenue. San Antonio officials are asking the electorate to redirect a 1/8-cent sales tax, which currently pays for linear creekway development and Edwards Aquifer protections, to four years of workforce training in the wake of COVID-19 job displacements. The city wants to get dibs on new yearly income to fund job and education initiatives, or about $154 million for economic recovery. After the city takes its one-time share of funds, VIA Metropolitan Transit would then inherit a portion of the dedicated revenue stream to help support a long-range plan to enhance public-transit improvements. A $180 million cap voters set 20 years ago on using the sales tax for aquifer and park protection expires in the spring or summer of 2021, leaving about $38.5
million annually for the city and municipal bus company. The city would use the sales tax through December 2025 to train about 40,000 inhabitants seeking jobs with better pay, officials said. Then, if OK’d by the electorate, a handoff from the city to VIA on Jan. 1, 2026, through the Advanced Transportation District would use its new funding to improve transportation systems. City leaders originally worried a separate VIA sales-tax proposal would get lost on a lengthy Nov. 3 ballot and stressed that funding COVID-19 pandemic recovery must stay a top priority. However, following discussions with VIA officials, San Antonio gave the transit service’s BALLOT continues on pg. 17
LOWDOWN
12
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT WHAT’S NEW IN THE COMMUNITY FROM OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS TO NEWS TIDBITS.
Open and Opening Soon
SOUTHERLEIGH HAUTE SOUTH, Brooks, is currently projected for an opening date of late 2020 or early 2021. Chef Jeff Balfour will debut what is billed as a high-end seafood spot where the former Brooks Air Force Base Officers’ Club was located. In the same area, Balfour is poised to launch his second brewery, Southerleigh Brewing Co., where the Air Force chapel once stood. For more, visit www.southerleigh. com/location/southerleigh-haute-south/. (See story on page 18)
IN OTHER NEWS:
THE SAN ANTONIO VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR CLINIC recently held a groundbreaking for its Mission Surgery Center, 601 E. Amber St. The full-service ambulatory facility is scheduled to open next spring. Founded by vascular
Business law firm serving San Antonio and the surrounding area
surgeon Lyssa Ochoa, it will be the only Medicare-accredited ambulatory-surgery center south of downtown, according to Ochoa. “Our mission is to reduce the number of diabetic amputations in our community, so the primary goal of this new surgery center is to be a resource for community surgeons to develop an amputation-prevention center of excellence,” the physician added. The establishment also will offer orthopedics, eye surgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, cardiology and pain management.
THE BROOKS COMMUNITY WILL SOON DIRECTLY CONNECT TO THE San Antonio River Mission Reach linear park through a new hike-and-bike trail. Construction is underway on an extension of the Greenline linear park at the former Air Force base. Located at its southern end, the extension,
LOWDOWN SPOTLIGHT
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expected to be 1,200-feet long and linking to existing walking trails along the river, will feature a 10-foot-wide mixed-use pathway, a 43-foot-long tunnel underneath the Union Pacific Railroad, landscaping, drainage structures and shaded congregation areas. The finished product will form more than 15 miles of walking, jogging and biking trails stretching from the historic missions through downtown, Pearl and Brackenridge Park. The $1.4 million project has an estimated completion date of fall 2021.
STONEWALL-FLANDERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TRACI SMITH — with a bit of improvisation — recently continued a 24-year tradition of sharing LOWDOWN continues on pg. 21
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ARTS continues from pg. 01
Saturday Artwalk activities in his Lone Star Art Space studio, which provided a main source of revenue. “We would see about 500 to 1,500 individuals on any given Second Saturday event,” Martinez said. “It was alive and hopping with live music, a DJ, and lots of art goods made locally.” The coronavirus crisis, however, prompted the closure of nonessential businesses and venues, plus restrictions of large public gatherings, for weeks or months on end. To give the creative community a helping hand, the city authorized $2.6 million in federal relief funds for local nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists. District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño has proposed creating an Art WORKS program, suggesting the city boost its public-art investment by collaborating with builders to possibly accommodate public art at new developments. Treviño said public art could enhance a community’s culture and economy. According to the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, more than 60% of these individuals nationwide have become unemployed, and nearly 100% endured lost income. “Whether in the form of murals, sculpture or functional art, (art’s) existence in public places adds vibrancy to cities and strengthens community bonds,” Treviño said. “Public art also provides jobs.” Artists and their associations may benefit from other relief efforts, including a Facebook page encouraging support for local artisans: www.facebook.com/groups/ supportartistsinsanantonio. Martinez said times are rough for creative outlets.
“Now, everything has stopped. My art studio is closed to the public,” he said. “Art patrons and friends call in and set up an appointment to come by to see me or my art.” The spread of COVID-19 has suspended monthly First Fridays in Southtown and Second Saturdays in the Lone Star neighborhood. In addition, special occasions such as Fiesta and Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival are canceled this year. Artists are developing different ways to express themselves and market their creations. Martinez has resorted to virtual showings and much self-promoting. “For now, my 2020 exhibit calendar is canceled or postponed,” he said. “Every day I say thanks be to God for having another day as a gift of being alive without COVID-19.” Martinez is reeling since his Parisbased art dealer, one of his biggest patrons, died from the virus. “They were selling my smaller paintings to tourists on a regular basis. Today, I rely on hope that soon we will all be back together again, doing the things we all love,” he added. Museums and galleries, too, have adjusted to a “new normal.” Area institutions such as the San Antonio Museum of Art, Briscoe Western Art Museum, and the nonprofit Blue Star Contemporary all installed safety and cleaning protocols to accommodate a limited number of visitors. Still, most special events and regular public activities at these venues have been postponed or canceled. Briscoe personnel experienced layoffs. When Blue Star closed its Southtown gallery to the public,
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
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SAY Sí board member Kelly Kljajic donates toward the Southtown art organization’s art-kit supply drive for elementary and middle school families. SAY Sí plans to make the drive an annual event. Courtesy photo
staffers kept patrons and other audiences engaged with digital material featuring art-making lesson plans, “The Artist’s Digest” video interviews, virtual exhibit walkthroughs, and an online artists’ resource center, plus more opportunities. “Thanks to this content, we have seen an increase in activity on our social-media accounts, thus continuing a relationship and dialogue with our community,” Blue Star Executive Director Mary Heathcott said. When the studio reopened to guests in early June, it waived admission fees in lieu of donations. Blue Star also went a different route to organize its Red Dot Art Sale, an annual major fundraiser. The sale/exhibit, which began Sept. 23, features a virtual augmented reality experience enabling users to feel like they’re inside the gallery. Viewers also can remotely browse
artwork for sale. “Due to the nature of the pandemic and the rise in cases in San Antonio, we have not been able to enjoy the same attendance numbers as in past summers,” Heathcott said. “However, we remain committed to our community and know we will continue to be a safe space for our community and an important part of San Antonio’s creative community in the years to come.” Similar to Blue Star, SAY Sí went virtual with one of its fundraisers, the Small Scale event, where more than 150 creations were auctioned online. SAY Sí also has given back to the neighborhood, accepting art supplies and monetary donations to help distribute free art kits to local schoolchildren and their families. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com. LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
GOVERNMENT
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
City budget reflects COVID19’s ‘new normal’
VIAGRAN ASKS FOR SAPD REFORMS by EDMOND ORTIZ
THOUGH THE PANDEMIC forced cuts to the city budget, San Antonio managed to reinstate money for roads and community services while increasing police funding.
The latter has drawn fire from law-enforcement reform advocates. District 3 Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran is happy about the street, drainage and sidewalk allotment the South Side will see during Fiscal Year 2021. “We’ve made so much progress. We need to continue that,” she said. San Antonio’s new $2.9 billion budget will not result in any layoffs, though a hiring freeze is in place and there are no pay hikes. Police
received a 5% pay hike as mandated by a contract with the city. Reductions were made in various departments to accommodate
Congress Avenue will see upgrades in the new San Antonio budget. Courtesy photo/Google Street View
COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives, and shortfalls in tourist- and convention-related revenue streams hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak. The budget has three components — the general fund, restricted funds and the capital budget. The overall budget is $4.4 million less than last fiscal year, with the city facing a revenue shortfall of $127 million primarily due to the pandemic. Community services including libraries, youth programs and senior services will not see any significant alterations. In addition, the city is returning more than $40 million in street maintenance deferred in the 2020 budget this past spring after absorbing a financial hit due
to the worldwide outbreak. Altogether, San Antonio’s new budget allocates $102 million on road repairs citywide, including Congress Avenue between South Flores and Curtis streets, and $18 million on sidewalk upgrades across the municipality. San Antonio’s 2021 balance sheet also has a combined $61 million for affordable housing, mental health and drug treatment, and homelessness initiatives, including 11 new outreach teams — one for each council district and downtown. Viagran is also delighted the city will support expanding her Healthy Corner Stores Initiative, where South Side convenience stores offer fresh, affordable produce. However, the new ledger disappointed residents who sought to reduce the Police Department’s funding in the wake of protests against social injustice and unnecessary force. Instead, the police force allocation grows by 1.7%. Viagran applauded the amount, which includes more money on violence prevention, but insisted the department enhance its mental assessment for officers. “We need, on a more frequent basis, to be able to help assess if (officers) have domestic-violence tendencies and if they have racist tendencies,” she added. District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales commended city staff for crafting a balanced budget, which has no negative “impact on the services that the community always expects.” Find this story and more at www.localcommunitynews.com.
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
BUDGETS continues from pg. 01
said. “In these tough times, we’ve got people on the front lines.” SISD is upping its total property-tax rate to $1.41 per $100 valuation from $1.40 last year. The district projects student enrollment will have steady to slower growth. General-fund revenues are projected at $60.6 million. The district faces a decision regarding proposed improvements to existing campuses after canceling a $64 million bond issue previously scheduled for the Nov. 3 general election. SISD officials expressed concern over increasing uncertainty caused by COVID19’s impact to revenue streams. The Harlandale Independent School District’s new general-fund budget projects $141.9 million in revenues and $145.3 million in expenses. Harlandale dipped into its fund balance to address the shortfall. HISD, too, must confront unknowns created by the crisis. Last school year, the school system provided a 4% general pay increase based on the range midpoint. “However, the current pandemic situation has resulted in uncertainty in future funding,” a budget executive summary reads. Harlandale expects student enrollment to stay put or modestly decrease from 2019-2020, when 12,068 students were registered districtwide. According to HISD officials, the new budget includes $470,000 in a step pay hike for teachers, but only this school year. In addition, HISD reorganized departments and eliminated vacant positions to streamline its budget. Harlandale dropped its total propertytax rate from $1.49 to $1.42 per $100 valuation. The San Antonio Independent School District’s $498 million general-fund
budget includes $3 million-plus in proposed incentives for high-performing teachers in high-needs areas. SAISD is also continuing a $500 longevity stipend for all employees who’ve completed their 15th year of tenure. The 2020-2021 financial plan assumes student enrollment will only slightly move from 48,500 in the last academic cycle to 48,547. SAISD’s tax rate of $1.53 per $100 valuation is unchanged. Trustee Steve Lecholop suggested district administrators start the budgeting process earlier in the school year, and adding transparency for easier access to data. “We are doing really good things (in the district) and I want people to know, and not have to dig around the website and a large amount of documents to see that,” he said. The district is asking voters to approve a $1.3 billion bond in the Nov. 3 election. Find this story and more at www. localcommunitynews.com. BALLOT continues from pg. 11
proposal its blessings, and opted to place on the same ballot the initiative that shares the wealth. “With (voters’) support, we can help deliver dramatic improvements not only to the transit and mobility systems that keep San Antonio moving, but to the lives of the now over 2 million residents — and counting — who live and work here, and rely on us to move people, every day,” VIA Board Chairwoman Hope Andrade said. That does not mean the aquifer is being left high and dry, officials said. City Council voted 9-2 Sept. 17 to continue the aquifer-protection program instead of letting it lapse. Over a 10-year period, the city’s Municipal Facilities Corp. will spend $100 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
EDUCATION/DECISION 2020
million in debt, available cash and revenue collected from the San Antonio Water System to maintain the program. The funding mechanism begins in Fiscal Year 2023. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the pandemic has upended the city’s finances, but proceeding with this alternative would extend a program that has saved more than 160,000 acres of aquifer recharge land from development. “Change can be disconcerting, but the realities we face force us to accept it,” he added. District 10 councilmen Clayton Perry and District 1 Roberto Treviño dissented. Saying the pandemic demands even more immediate action, Perry and Treviño said the city could wait until after the Nov. 3 elections to explore the issue and
17
develop a strategic plan for future aquifer protection. As of press time, the city had not found replacement funding for trailways. Bexar County initially agreed to take on the trail system, but County Manager David Smith suggested the county hold off until they get a better look at the ongoing pandemic and its effect on property-tax revenues next year. Meanwhile, voters are asked to give the city’s preschool program another eight years. Since its inception in 2012, Pre-K 4 SA has provided more than 25,000 local children with access to prekindergarten education. Backers of Pre-K 4 SA say the program helps prepare young children for a quality grade-school experience, and that it will benefit local workforce development. 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
TECHNOLOGY
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
Smarter lights to brighten Brooks TECHNOLOGY DOES MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE ILLUMINATION by SUSAN YERKES
SOME SOUTH SIDE streetlights are getting smarter.
In late September, cutting-edge technology came to a few carefully chosen CPS Energy streetlamps around Brooks. As one of San Antonio’s designated innovation zones, the vicinity welcomes “SmartSA,” a pilot-program partnership between the city and CPS Energy. “Smart” in this sense means connected to networks, which can be controlled or monitored remotely, through Wi-Fi or fiber-
optic cables. Smart fixtures are a prominent feature of the “Internet of Things,” or IoT, one of urban planning’s hot new concepts.
CPS Energy crews are putting up so-called ‘smart’ streetlights in each of the city’s three innovation zones — including Brooks — as part of a pilot program. The lights are part of a network that can monitor air quality and flooding. Photo by Vincent McDonald
The program is starting on a small scale, with various sensors installed on just 15 streetlights in each of the city’s three innovation zones — Brooks, downtown and the South Texas Medical Center. “Brooks is a great location for an innovation zone,” said Brooks Director of Property Development Marques Mitchell. “It’s a natural
proving ground for technology that can roll out later.” Mitchell said discussions on where to places the test lights at the former Air Force base started in early September. Crews installed the lights Sept. 23 on Research Plaza between South New Braunfels Avenue and Inner Circle Road. The lights offer more than just illumination with indicators for air temperature and quality, noise detection, a smart-parking component and flood control. The latter feature is important for Brooks, which has some flood-prone areas, Mitchell said. “If we could have a floodcontrol module on the pole and be able to communicate that information to our residents in real time, it could be very helpful,” he said. Jonathan Tijerina, CPS Energy senior director for business and economic development, said the gear is designed to “enable new efficiencies.” “The three innovation zones each have their own characteristics. Brooks in particular is looking at expansion, transportation needs, and a little bit of flooding issues in some areas,” Tijerina said, noting the city held workshops and developed case studies for different uses. The city’s Office of Innovation has been configuring the tests, brainstorming with other city departments and surveying residents and businesspeople in the innovation zones about what
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
19
Are you struggling because of COVID-19? HELP IS AVAILABLE.
Smart streetlights (inset) do more than just provide beneficial illumination at night. As part of a network, they provide reams of data to help with city planning and services. Courtesy photo
applications are most useful. Itron, a global networking company serving cities and utilities, will install the pilot project free of charge. Information will be analyzed for effectiveness to determine what comes next. “CPS Energy is replacing a lot of their streetlights with new energyefficient LED lights that are remotely controllable – that was kind of the foundation for the program,” said Smart City Coordinator Emily Royall. “This could help us look at the city from a new lens, to collect and evaluate useful data, and see ways to retrofit our community with innovations that citizens can use.” There are other perks to sensors on smart streetlights, she added. They can alert authorities to heat islands, a serious problem where lots of asphalt radiates thermals. Solutions can then be planned, such as planting trees or using different paving, Royall
said. “Air quality is another issue, and some of the sensors measure carbon dioxide and more elements in the air to see where that is worst. Some sensors collect noise-pollution data, others can be used to map rainfall and flooding,” she added. According to Royall, the city and San Antonio River Authority are collaborating on a flood-prediction model, and stats from a rainfall-gauge instrument that can help calibrate high-water projections. “We are always looking for ways to integrate new technology into the grid, and we’ve been working on smart streetlights for a couple of years,” said Richard Medina, vice president of grid transformation and engineering at CPS Energy. “We manage over 120,000 streetlights in San Antonio. Without technology, we have to rely STREETLIGHTS continues on pg. 21 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
HAPPENING continues from pg. 06
OCT. 10 & NOV. 7
CALLING ALL ART FANS Southtown Arts District First and Second Saturday Markets take place at The Artisan, 1103A S. Presa St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For updates or cancellations on the free event, email shop@theartisansatx.com or call 210962-5560.
OCT. 12
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.
Drive, will host free Zumba classes from 9-9:45 a.m. Bring a water bottle and towel. For updates or cancellations, visit www.livebrooks.com.
OCT. 15
A POETIC MOMENT
SOUTHSIDE ISD BOARD MEETING Trustees normally meet at 6 p.m. at 1460 Martinez Losoya Road. For updates or cancellations, visit https:// southsideisd.org/.
OCT. 17 & NOV. 7
SCHOOL’S OUT
YOGA AT THE MISSION
Students in Southside and San Antonio independent school districts receive a day off from classes. For updates or cancellations, visit www.saisd.net or https://southsideisd.org/.
Funded by Western National Parks Association and partners at the National Park Service, Mission San José, 701 E. Pyron Ave., will host a free, one-hour community session at 10 a.m. Meet outdoors in front of the church or inside the granary during inclement weather. For updates or cancellations, call 210932-1001.
OCT. 13, 19 & NOV. 2 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.
OCT. 15
HURD FAREWELL The South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce discusses the future of the Texas 23rd Congressional District and says farewell to outgoing Rep. Will Hurd at a socially distanced gathering in Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Brooks Hotel & Spa, 7610 S. New Braunfels Ave. Registration is 11:30 a.m.; program and lunch begins at noon. Individual seats cost $50 for members, otherwise $60. For updates, visit http://members.southsachamber. org/events/details/the-future-of-d23-afarewell-luncheon-to-rep-will-hurd-4099.
OCT. 15
OCT. 17
FARMERS MARKET A farmers’ and artisans’ market begins 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.
OCT. 19
HARLANDALE ISD BOARD Trustees meet at 6:15 p.m. at Gilbert Elementary School, 931 E. Southcross Blvd., but if COVID-19 restrictions are in place, the session will be virtual. For updates or cancellations, visit www. harlandale.net.
STROKE SUPPORT
OCT. 24
A stroke support group meets from 2-3 p.m. at Southwest General Hospital,
The Greenline, 2532 Sidney Brooks
ZUMBA AT THE GREENLINE
OCT. 30
San Antonio Poet Laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson teams up with Agarita for a 7:30 p.m. socially distanced outdoor performance at Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. Enjoy the mix of words and music. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.agarita.org/.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER
COMMUNITY EVENTS AT MISSION MARQUEE PLAZA San Antonio’s World Heritage Office, celebrating, promoting and connecting the community with great opportunities, has free fun for family and friends. Experience culture, art, education and more on the historic grounds of Mission Marquee Plaza, 3100 Roosevelt Ave. Also, the outdoor film series continues with Halloween-themed showings of “Hocus Pocus” (Oct. 15) and “Beetlejuice” (Oct. 17). Movies begin 15 minutes after sundown. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Finally, there will be a Día de los Muertos celebration beginning at 2 p.m. Nov. 1. Enjoy the activities, which include a movie after dark. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www. missionmarquee.com/EVENTS/ Cultural-Community-Events.
WEDNESDAYS GOOD VIBES
The Good Kind Southtown, 1127 S. St. Mary’s St., hosts “Wednesday Vibes in the Garden.” Enjoy music, yard games and more from 6-10 p.m. For updates or cancellations, visit https://eatgoodkind.com/.
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. Focus on the fundamentals of yoga and mindfulness 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.
ONGOING
FREE SCHOOL MEALS Under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, Harlandale Independent School District is offering nutrition at no cost to enrolled HISD students during the 2020-2021 academic year. For updates or cancellations, call Marcos Rodriguez at 210-989-4252 or email Marcos.rodriguez@harlandale. net. Also, qualifying campuses in the San Antonio Independent School District serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price and paid student meals. For updates or cancellations, call 210-554-2290.
ONGOING
GOODWILL PICKUPS Goodwill Industries offers donation pickup services for large amounts of clothing, household items and furniture at Bexar County residences. For updates or cancellations, call 210-271-8881 or fill out pickup forms at https://www. goodwillsa.org/donate/home-pickup.
ELSEWHERE IN SAN ANTONIO
OCT. 23 BOO!
“Haunted River, Jr.,” hosted by the
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
Shops at Rivercenter, 849 E. Commerce St., is a free, kid-oriented Halloween party from 6-9 p.m. Little ghouls and goblins can enjoy trick-or-treat activities including a bounce house, deejay, face painting and more. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www. thesanantonioriverwalk.com/events/ haunted-river-jr/.
OCTOBER
WHAT A PERFORMANCE! Shows are returning to the Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St. Acts include Alamo City Jazz Series: Everette Harp & Tim Bowman (Oct. 11) and Entre Nos 2020 Live Tour (Oct. 16). For more including times, tickets, updates or cancellations, visit https://www.majesticempire.com/ mobile/calendar.
OCTOBER
SCARY MOVIES Get ready for Halloween with fright flicks. St. Paul Square at Sunset Station, 1174 E. Commerce St., will show free, outdoor films including “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die” (Oct. 7); “Carnival of Souls” (Oct. 14); “The Terror” (Oct. 21); and “Night of the Living Dead” (Oct. 28). Screenings begin at dusk. Bring chairs to the physically distanced events. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www.slabcinema.com/ free-outdoor-films/st-paul-square-sunsetstation.
OCTOBER
THE SHOW MUST GO ON Despite the coronavirus outbreak, The Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., will host performers including The Black Jacket Symphony Presents Led Zeppelin IV (Oct. 17) and Heather McMahan (Oct. 24). For more including show times, ticket costs, updates or cancellations, visit https://www. theaztectheatre.com/.
THROUGH JAN. 17 ART EXHIBIT
Briscoe Western Art Museum, 210 W. Market St., presents “Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art.” See the collection of work by tribal artists. During the COVID-19 pandemic, health and safety protocols are enforced. For updates or cancellations, visit https://www. briscoemuseum.org.
SUBMITTING EVENTS: Email all the details along with your contact information two months in advance to tips@ localcommunitynews.com. LOWDOWN continues from pg. 12
ice-cream cake with her staff to celebrate the end of the first week of school at the Harlandale Independent School District campus. Due to challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, Smith treated her employees and their families to drinks and mozzarella sticks from a local Sonic Drive-In. “As the first week of school (virtual) wraps up, we hope this will be a good way to show our staff how much we appreciate them and how proud we are of all their hard work,” she said.
MARLENA SENTER RECENTLY WAS NAMED 2019-2020 “School Bus Driver of the Year” in the Harlandale Independent School District. Annually, peers, supervisors and administrators nominate drivers based on five criteria: leadership, attitude, perseverance, technical skills, plus student and parent relationships. Senter has worked at HISD for 22 years. LOWDOWN continues on pg. 23 LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
HAPPENING/LOWDOWN/STREETLIGHTS
STREETLIGHTS continues from pg. 19
on people calling us to tell us a light is out. As the old lights fail, we replace them with the new technology. I think about 70% of our lights are LED now. I believe Brooks has a lot of the newer ones we put in when they were reconstructing streets in there.” CPS Energy will gather information on operating the lights themselves; San Antonio will manage the other data, he added. LED lighting and smart grids are the environmentally friendly, energy-efficient wave of the future, as cities from San Diego, California, to Schenectady, New York, have found, officials said. But in some areas, adding
21
monitoring sensors, including cameras and recording devices, have privacy advocates urging restraint. The American Civil Liberties Union’s nationwide Community Control Over Police Surveillance campaign is focused on pressuring municipalities to build public oversight into decisions about smartcity technologies. Invasion of privacy won’t happen in San Antonio, Royall said; don’t expect facial recognition or license-plate readers, either. “All the data we will collect is environmental, not invasive. What’s important is making useful data available to the community,” she said. Find this story at www. localcommunitynews.com.
Exciting News!
Landmark Cancer Center has officially become part of 21st Century Oncology & GenesisCare. We are joining forces to increase access to global expertise and the latest technology, so together we can achieve the best possible outomes for our patients. CANCER CARE CLOSE TO HOME
Dr. Kimberly Stewart, Radiation Oncologist
Dr. Trevor Lim, Radiation Oncologist
Locations: Brooks City Base and Live Oak
Call (210) 981-3051 for more information or visit www.21co.com
22 EAT
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
LEARN ABOUT THE NEWEST NEIGHBORHOOD PLACES FOR BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER.
Restaurant heads south to Brooks by OLIVIER J. BOURGOIN
THE SOUTHERLEIGH RESTAURANT franchise is coming to Brooks, either in late 2020 or early 2021, according to projections.
South Side residents and others will get to taste the culinary creations of chef/owner Jeff Balfour, who launched the original Southerleigh Fine Food & Brewery in 2015 at Pearl. The Southerleigh Hospitality Group opened a new Southerleigh Haute South is coming to Brooks and will occupy the site of the former air base’s Officers’ Club, allowing patrons to enjoy nature and fresh air. Courtesy illustration
STATE FARM® Great Coverage From a Good Neighbor.
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3103 SE Military Drive Suite 102, San Antonio (Across From Brooks City Base In Front Of Home Depot)
210-333-1030
Southerleigh Haute South will serve high-end seafood.
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eatery at The Rim Sept. 30, to be followed by the site at Brooks. Originally, the Brooks location was going to be called Southerleigh Coast & Comfort, but now will be named Southerleigh Haute South instead. The Brooks restaurant is being billed as a highend seafood spot, to be located in what used to be the Officers’ Club at the former Brooks Air Force Base. At the same location, Balfour is poised to open his second brewery, Southerleigh Brewing Co., where the former Air Force chapel once stood. The architect, Alvaro González-Guerra Gómez, a Guadalajara, Mexico, native, studied in Spain. A principal in the architectural firm Gomez Vazquez International, he and his family have been San Antonians since 2008. Gómez thinks diners will love the new South Side eatery, which he described as a “great outdoor space” with large shade trees. “What we aim to do is to provide an experience for the patrons, that will trigger a positive emotional response for them in the moment, so that they have a desire to come back,” he said. He added, “The brewery is going to be a focal point of the project and we’re excited about it.” Find this EAT Local at www.localcommunitynews.com.
OCT. 6 - NOV. 3, 2020
L O CA L C O M M U N I T Y N E W S
LOWDOWN
Independent School District raised more than any San Antonio teacher in support of the Communities in Schools Stuff the Bus school-supply drive. The educator collected $2,191.25 to benefit elementary school students citywide. She also won KXXM-FM radio’s Toss the Teacher Challenge, and was awarded with a skydiving experience and $1,000 for her classroom at the start of the academic year, officials said.
THE PORT SAN ANTONIO BOARD approved construction plans for a 130,000-square-foot innovation center, including a 2,500-seat technology arena that can be LOWDOWN continues from pg. 21
ON AUG. 23, THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT RECEIVED 100 “Stop the Bleed” kits. The University Health System Foundation and Valero Energy recently raised $540,000 to donate a total of 750 kits to Bexar County school districts. In 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 496, which requires schools to train staff and students on techniques capable of stopping blood loss and saving lives.
COUNCILWOMAN REBECCA VIAGRAN redirected $145,000 from her District 3 budget to the Emergency Assistance fund to help residents struggling to pay rent or needing other aid during the COVID-19 outbreak. “As the pandemic prolongs and the federal eviction moratorium expired, I saw a need, and wanted to take action to assist families dealing with financial burdens that have risen as a result of the public health
and economic crisis,” Viagran said.
TVPA PARTNERS, A DALLASBASED DEVELOPER, is restoring Palo Alto Villas, a South Side townhouse development sitting vacant for nearly a decade, officials said. Containing 36 fourplex buildings with 44 units, Palo Alto Villas — previously called Tundra Town Home Village — is at 18495 Texas 16 South. Originally envisioned as a neighborhood for employees at the Toyota Texas manufacturing plant, TVPA Partners, which purchased the development in 2017, plans to build more townhomes, and could someday create a 500-unit apartment complex nearby. The existing dwellings will be ready for occupancy this fall, officials said. Uriah Real Estate is the brokerage firm marketing Palo Alto Villas.
LEAL MIDDLE SCHOOL COACH MARGIE GARCIA in the Harlandale LOCALCOMMUNITYNEWS.COM
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configured for various functions, from corporate-education activities and conferences to concerts and esports tournaments. The facility also will be the permanent home of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology, and contain a research and development lab, classrooms and meeting places, gaming space and food hall. A loan will fund the $60 million project. Revenues generated from building usage will go toward repayment. Slated for completion in early 2022, Sundt Construction is the lead contractor, with RVK Architects as the designer. Find LOCAL Lowdown at www. localcommunitynews.com.
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