bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Mayor Ron Nirenberg as he prepares to leave office after serving eight years as mayor and a total of twelve years in San Antonio’s city government. 

Bob and Mayor Nirenberg review major initiatives, including the expansion of Pre-K 4 SA, the $1.2 billion municipal bond dedicating unprecedented resources to affordable housing, and the launch of the Ready to Work workforce development pr...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the transformation underway at Brooks—formerly Brooks City Base—on San Antonio’s Southeast Side. Over the past decade, Brooks has shifted from a dormant military installation to a growing center for business, education, healthcare, and residential development. We explore the decisions and investments that brought this revitalization to life and what it means for the future of the South Side...

This weekend on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to San Antonio’s mayoral runoff as Bob Rivard sits down with candidate Rolando Pablos for a focused conversation on city governance, economic growth, and the future of San Antonio. 

With early voting underway Tuesday and the race narrowed to two candidates, this episode offers a timely look at the decision facing local voters.

Bob and Rolando discuss the central issues shaping t...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard sits down with Sarah Dingivan, outgoing CEO of the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA), and Gregory Zlotnick, board member for SALSA and faculty at St. Mary’s University School of Law. Together, they discuss the organization’s mission to bridge the gap in civil legal services for San Antonians with limited means—at a time when demand has never been higher.

The conversation ex...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute—better known as Texas Biomed—in San Antonio’s scientific community, the rapidly changing landscape of research funding, and the challenges of combating misinformation in an era of political division.

Host Bob Rivard is joined by Dr. Larry Schlesinger, president and CEO of Texas Biomed, for a conversation that touches on Dr. Schlesinger’s pe...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we bring you a special live-recorded conversation with world-renowned behavioral economist and ad executive Rory Sutherland, hosted at the Geekdom Event Center in downtown San Antonio.

Known for his provocative ideas on creativity, design, and human behavior, Rory joins host Bob Rivard for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking dialogue about how cities like San Antonio can unlock their potential—not by ...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s fourteen-year effort to build a more equitable early childhood education system—an undertaking rooted in the city’s fight against generational poverty. Host Bob Rivard traces the origins of Pre-K 4 SA, from its formation by a blue-ribbon task force under then-Mayor Julián Castro, to the launch of universal pre-K centers across the city, and its ongoing impact on young children...

We conclude our April series of conversations with San Antonio’s leading mayoral candidates as Bob sits down with Rolando Pablos—a businessman, attorney, and former republican Texas Secretary of State—to discuss his campaign, priorities, and vision for the city.

Pablos shares his personal and professional background, shaped by his experience as an immigrant and his decades of public and private sector lead...

We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor. Bob is joined by District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez, an attorney with deep roots in both public service and economic development, as he seeks to become the next mayor of San Antonio.

In a wide-ranging conversation, Pelaez shares his personal story as the son of Colombian immigrants and his longstanding commitment to is...

We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor ahead of the May 3 election. Bob welcomes Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former Undersecretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, for a wide-ranging conversation about her bid to lead the city.

Ortiz Jones discusses her personal journey from growing up on the Far West Side to her national security w...

In this bigcitysmalltown episode, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shares her personal background growing up on the West Side, her legal and public service career, and her early influences—including time spent working under former mayors Ed Garza and Lila Cockrell. The conversation covers key challenges facing the city, from the crowded mayoral ballot and the influx of outside campaign money, to major d...

In this episode, Bob continues our coverage of San Antonio’s crowded mayoral race with Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia of District 4.

A professor of marketing at Our Lady of the Lake University and former president of the San Antonio Housing Trust, Rocha Garcia shares her journey from growing up on the city’s West and South Sides to her leadership on the city council.

They discuss her...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into San Antonio's dynamic political landscape as our city prepares for its first mayoral race without an incumbent in sixteen years. With Mayor Ron Nirenberg's term concluding, the upcoming election on May 3 stands as a significant moment in the city's history, marking both the end of an era and the beginning of potential change.

Our guest, Beto Altam...

This week’s Last Word delves into the ominous impact of President Trump’s tariffs on San Antonio and Texas. As the trade war with Canada and Mexico intensifies, the city braces for economic repercussions. Politicians have transformed tariffs into weapons of political retribution, overshadowing San Antonio’s success in advanced manufacturing and global trade.

Bob examines the economic fallout as San Antonio...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we explore the vibrant culinary landscape of San Antonio, with a spotlight on one of the city's longstanding culinary institutions, Biga on the Banks. Celebrating its 25th anniversary at its iconic location on the Riverwalk, Biga on the Banks stands as a testament to culinary excellence and perseverance in a competitive industry.

Bob sits down with Bruce Auden, renowned ...

This week's Last Word dives into the ongoing battle between local and state government in Texas, focusing on San Antonio's fight to retain control over its financial future. With Republican lawmakers seeking to tighten their grip on predominantly Democratic cities, proposals like requiring a two-thirds majority for bond approvals loom large, threatening to stall essential capital projects.

Bob un...

This week on bigcitysmalltown we delve into the evolving landscape of homelessness support and services in San Antonio. As Kim Jeffries, the CEO of Haven for Hope, prepares to depart her role to take on the establishment of a comprehensive homeless shelter in Las Vegas, she joins host Bob Rivard to reflect on her journey in the San Antonio nonprofit sector.

Kim's tenure at Haven for Hope offers a uniq...

This week’s Last Word addresses a pressing local decision San Antonio faces amidst national upheaval. With jobs at risk due to political chaos in Washington, city leaders are contemplating hiring displaced federal workers. While the intention is noble, the reality presents tough choices—maintain fiscal discipline or succumb to political theater by expanding the city payroll unsustainably.

Bob analyzes the ...