October 7, 2023 • 46 mins
Have you ever wondered how the rich tapestry of San Antonio's past shapes its present? This episode, we're joined by San Antonio Councilwoman Teri Castillo, a product of San Antonio’s complex history. She’s here to share her family's unique story, dating back 8 generations. We take a deep-dive into the city’s history and the blending of cultures that make up the Mexican American communities. We also address the urgent issue of affordable housing and share touching narratives highlighting the human impact of public housing demolitions.
As we move forward, the discussion navigates through pressing issues such as school closures and housing affordability. Teri shares her journey in supporting her constituents, especially in the heart of District 5. We delve into the potential of community organizing to shape vital policies. We underline the significance of making your voices heard to ensure the representation of our community’s best interests.
Wrapping up our conversation, we analyze the profound impact of housing issues and the role of community. We dissect how absentee landlords and land speculators can disrupt neighborhoods' property values, affecting unhoused individuals' lives. We reflect on Teri's journey from grassroots organizer to City Council, and how her tireless work led to her success.
The discussion takes a turn towards the housing bond, the power of public comment, and the government funding's role in fostering gentrification. We leave you with a challenge to claim your place in public spaces.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
As the cosmos connects the universe, water
connects life.
At the Cosmic Water Podcast,we're exploring the history,
mythology and future of thesacred land known as San Antonio
.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Alright, welcome to Cosmic Water Podcast.
I'm Maureen, I'm Angela andtoday we have Terry Castillo
with us, our CouncilwomanCastillo.
I wanted to start off bytalking about.
So this podcast is about, likethe history of San Antonio, the
(00:44):
far history of San Antonio andhow it's become what it's become
, and one of the conversationsthat Angela and I seem to keep
having is about how like Ididn't learn this until college
about how Mexican Americans andlike Latinos in general all over
, are a mixture of indigenouspeople and colonizers, which
(01:06):
seems obvious when you thinkabout it, but a lot of people
don't see it that way.
Right, and so, with regard tolike history and place and land,
if you could share with us yourfamily history to this land or
wherever they come from.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, so thank you all for having me on this
podcast.
Really exciting to be here.
I am a depending on what sideof the family we're talking
about, right, I have a differenthistory.
For example, my dad's side.
They fled during the MexicanRevolution and found a home in
West Side San Antonio, whereasmy mom's side is eighth
(01:47):
generation San Antonio resident,going way back, so she has more
.
She calls like Chicano roots,right, but also acknowledging
that I didn't know till highschool, community college, right
, that the state of Texas was atone point Mexico and the whole.
You know we didn't cross theborder, the border crossed us.
(02:07):
And so my family history is mydad's side, my grandmother and
my great-grandmother.
They were born here in theUnited States but their parents
were the ones that fled duringthe Mexican Revolution.
And my great-grandparents on mymother's side have lived within
the same neighborhood where Ilive till today, which is really
(02:30):
nice that my uncles live liketwo houses away and it's always
been like that, like a communitywhere it's theos and theos
living right next to each other,and we're very grounded and
rooted in that place, which isthe inner West Side, like off of
Guadalupe and Trinity, and youknow it's not unique.
Many of my neighbors have thesame story and have, you know,
(02:52):
the same family members who liveright next door.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Eight generations, that has.
How far back is that?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't know off the top of my head, but at San
Fernando Cemetery, one which isone of the oldest.
Like I, have family there.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, where's that?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
one.
It's off of Guadalupe, it'snear Guadalupe and Veracruz,
it's one of, like, our West Sidehistoric cemetery and it's yeah
.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Is it close to the creek?
Yep, right, yeah, it's rightthere.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, I didn't know that, so you have roots in the
West Side.
When I first met you, what wasat one of those Fabiola was
putting together those sessions.
It was about housing.
How long had you been likedoing housing?
(03:47):
Because I felt so bad.
Right, I thought that youworked for Esperanza.
I was used to young people,young activists, right, working
for an organization, but youwere working for your neighbors,
like for the community.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, and I remember was with the For Everyone Home
Initiative and I was recentlytalking about that, because I
we're talking about how do weget more folks to come out, and
I was like, well, how I gotplugged into some of this work
was, you know, there was ahousing meeting and they're
offering a gift card and I wasin college and I needed money
and you know there's anincentive.
So you know, like the H-E-Bgift card that was like I
(04:20):
remember that gift card.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I think I got something special for myself
with it.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, you know, and it's just, I lived in that
community, was a member of theHistoric West Side Residence
Association, where we did a lotof tenant work and homeowner
work as well right For folksbeing the pressures of cold
compliance and connecting themto city resources and found
like-minded individuals who werecommitted to our neighbors in
(04:47):
the same way with the HistoricWest Side, which is also, you
know, the Esperanza, are alsomembers because they own
property in the area and theyare the directors from the
neighborhood as well.
So like that's how we just gotconnected and been kind of bound
to the same vision and goals,like since.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It was through that for everyone home meeting.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I think that's what gave that connected me to other
individuals doing similar workin different parts of the city,
right, because sometimes whenyou're in the struggle you think
, wow, like it's just ourcommunity.
But no, right, you get connectedto the Jessica Corredo's and
you know, who was doing similarwork in the East Side and has
challenged displacement, andthen seeing the lens and the
(05:31):
work and the work that Fabiolawas teasing out right through
the community engagement process.
And I recently brought upsomething that I learned from
one of the first sessions Iattended.
We're talking about publichousing demolition and the
housing crisis that we'reexperiencing now, and I remember
this one individual thatFabiola brought in who was
waiting for the bus, I believe,to come into the meeting and he
(05:53):
shared how he lived at the SanJuan Courts that got demolished
and he got relocated to theVictoria Courts or vice versa,
and then the Victoria Courts gotdemolished and now he was at
Haven, right?
So just seeing the lack ofaffordable housing and how it's
being demolished and it'slimited, right, and where else
are people going to go if we'renot rebuilding that permanently
(06:14):
affordable public housing?
So I learned a lot from thestories from individuals who
participated, as well as how itwas facilitated with for
everyone home.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
And that was just one story from somebody at the bus
stop, right, and that's whatfrustrates me the most and you
know that, like anytime I'mshowing up to these city hall
meetings and stuff, it's justabout like, how are we getting
stories and experiences from onthe ground, because otherwise
you guys are totally out oftouch.
And it comes down to literallythe guy at the bus stop and just
(06:46):
asking him his history here inSan Antonio regarding housing,
and that's like, and that's,there's the information that you
need to know like, where do wefix stuff?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, well, yeah, just, and I've brought it up
before.
It just reminds me of how likethe displacement is so
generational.
My mom was displaced fromHemisphere and, yeah, when
Victoria Courts was demolished,so many families.
I remember asking my aunt like,what would Lovako sound like or
look like back in the day inthe 60s and 70s?
(07:17):
And and the first thing shesaid was you would see kids.
You would see kids playing andyou know you would hear kids
playing and but yeah, so did youalso work for Top?
Did you do work with them?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I was a member, but I was in a worker, okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
No, Tyra's like the most grassroots that you can get
.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, because I did some work during that whole
campaign for paid sick leave.
Yeah, and it was because theypaid well.
So, yeah, so we're talkingabout the gift card and
opportunities and stuff likethat.
But like, of course, like itwas easy work for me because you
care about the cause and it'seasy to communicate with others.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
And what I would add about your point right about,
like how there is a disconnectthat exists between, like,
elected officials and community.
I was out block walking on lastFriday and one of the community
members, like why are you outhere if you have, like your
staff?
Well, because I need to see formyself what's going on on the
ground, so I know how to bestlike debate for our needs.
(08:25):
And he's like, hmm, like that'sinteresting because, like, I
like to see for myself where thefailed streets and sidewalks
are, where there's illegaldumping right, and also to talk
to my constituents about whattheir needs and their priorities
are, because it's easy to readtheory and stats, but if you
don't hear the stories behind it, it's just you need both.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I always call it grounded knowledge.
That's what I've been sayinglately.
Yes, the stats, the data.
It's so frustrating that theyalways say that you know, I'm
still organizing with them Sahatenants or opportunity home
tenants, and one of our lastmeetings there was some really
big politician officesrepresented and it was really
(09:13):
frustrating that one of them waslike well, like they're hearing
all these stories directly fromtenants and they're like, well,
if we just had some data tobring to this politician then
that would make it easier.
And like I was like that to mewhen I hear thought it just
means that, like you're notgoing out on the street, like if
you walk into any publichousing building and ask two
(09:35):
people questions, you'll get avery good idea about what's
happening.
And so how do we get that?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And the constituent services stories are like the
raw data right and that shouldbe the driving factor in force.
Behind policy is the peoplethat you represent and their
needs are.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And so if you, as a politician right or elected
representative or governmentofficial, what do you prefer
being called?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I don't know, I don't know.
I always say elected orrepresentative because I
represent my people.
I feel like a politician ismore like they represent
themselves in a way.
I know it has that kind ofconnotation to it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's why I kind of stopped myself.
So as elected representative.
We live in this representativedemocracy, right?
So, as this representative orany representative, like, yeah,
you really don't know how toadvocate for your constituents
unless you're hearing thosestories and that just comes down
to like your heart being in it,like when you hear those
(10:37):
stories.
When I see electedrepresentatives hearing these
stories, you can see the likesort of like brightness in their
eyes or something I'm sure likelike you said with via grande
during that Brackenridge.
Is that how it felt?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
like yeah, that was really nice to see her speak up
about the Brackenridge stuff andand use words like I think she
said infuriating or somethinglike yeah, like that, you know.
So, yeah, that's my district,district three, yeah, and so
yeah, so I was I've never metyou, but I was asking around or
saying hey, we're gonna haveTerry, and everybody's like, oh,
(11:10):
I've met her, I met her.
So I love how accessible youare.
You know, like that's a bigdeal and people feel like, yeah,
we can totally like email heror talk to her.
That's really great.
I wanted to ask from yourposition, how, because my son's
school is being shut down as aISD, highland Park and so is
(11:32):
there still a chance if we Imean so many parents at my
school are organizing, gettingpetitions, going to the meetings
, so is there a chance that wecan change this at all?
Because I just, you know, atthat health symposium the theme
was like what was it that thecity's adopting something about
racism being driving factorbehind sorts of these sort of
(11:55):
things?
And so, like, when I was inhigh school or when I was an
elementary, my parents lived inthe same house off of Hackberry
and Ada.
They lived in the same house.
Yet I went to Bonham Elementary, I went to Charles C Ball, then
I was moved to JaffetElementary, I went to Steel
Elementary you were naming a loton the closure list in the
(12:15):
schools and so that's my pointis like they keep messing with
these kids lives.
Because it really didn't kind ofmess up my education having to
move, even despite my parentsliving in the same house the
whole entire time I was in GT.
It wasn't like you know, I had.
I had the brains, I guess, butlike behavior wise, I was
constantly having to perform orwhatever to make new friends and
(12:38):
being in a new space and thatsort of a thing, yeah, so it
just sucks to see it happeningagain.
And then, historically, blackelementary schools is that?
Speaker 3 (12:47):
right.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Like over in the East Side, are being shut down.
So how can we I mean just withorganizing right- yeah,
absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Our office is a coalition member of the Schools,
our students sister coalition,which is a coalition of students
, teachers, parents, the SanAntonio Alliance, which
represents teachers and staffand personnel, as well as just
wide range of community memberswho organize around 10 different
pillars.
And because of that work, ouroffice has been present in
(13:16):
conversations with thesuperintendents and, of course,
with the coalition membersleading up to this process and
what we've all agree is thatthis is just moving far too fast
and ultimately, while citycouncil doesn't have a vote or
say, I have a responsibility toensure that the best interest of
my constituency is beingrepresented.
And that's why I've gone toschool board meetings and have
(13:36):
been going to the meetings onthe proposed consolidated and
supposed to be closed and we'vehad a ton of walk-ins and calls
regarding like hey, why is thishappening?
How do we stop it?
It's a done deal and Iencourage everyone to attend
those school board meetings andthose school closure meetings
because if we don't speak up, itis a done deal, right.
(13:58):
But if we come together, weorganize and we raise our
concerns.
I believe there's possibilityto reduce the amount of schools
on that list, because it's a tonof schools 19.
And, as you alluded to, wemapped it out, our team and the
majority of them are inred-lined areas.
So you're just perpetuating harmand divestment in these
(14:21):
communities that historicallyhave just been divested and it's
just a vicious cycle and wehave a responsibility to say no,
right.
And then, in my position,supporting my community members
who are asking me to go speak atthe school board meeting and
say this is moving too fast, weneed more time and not these
(14:42):
schools.
So I encourage folks to show upto the meetings.
I believe October 16th there'sa school board meeting where
they're going to discuss theclosures and potentially make
changes with the recommendations, and I think it's important
that community goes andcontinues to express their
concern with schools on the list.
And again.
(15:03):
It's just a process.
In my opinion, that's moved fartoo quick.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I really like Highland Park.
I really love the staff and theteachers there.
My kids are really happy thereand you know I've moved them
around because education is soimportant.
They did go to steal theMontessori, it just wasn't a
good fit.
Then they went to the gatheringplace, which is a great school,
but it was just way too far.
And then at Highland Park youknow they I actually get to know
(15:29):
the families from myneighborhood.
You know I see them walking andfor Halloween they see their
classmates during their.
When they went to their firstCub Scout meeting they saw
people they knew, they saw otherkids that they knew.
And you can't do that if we're.
And then I'm scared to put mykids on a bus, but I mean it's
because they hadn't have to dothat and up until I guess it'll
(15:51):
be in two years when they'llclose, supposedly, highland Park
.
So it's just it's reallyfrustrating but like I'm really
hopeful because of how parentshave already mobilized so
quickly.
Right, because it's happened soquickly.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
So it's hopeful.
Yeah, and there's a wide rangeof reasons why the school and
schools across the country arearguing for closures.
Right is low birth rate, lackof affordable housing, as well
as losing kids to charterschools.
But I think, when we talk aboutwhen it comes to the housing
(16:26):
piece right, for example, wehave a former mayor on the SCIC
school board and a formersecretary of HUD pointed to our
dilapidated housing within oururban core, to the lack of
student enrollment to housing.
It's like, hey, you were themayor for eight years and then
you were the secretary of HUD,right.
So what went wrong?
And how do we get things right?
(16:48):
And how do we pull you in onthe housing affordability
conversation to make sure thatwe are producing deeply
affordable housing, housing thatis intended for families,
because at the same time, wewere incentivizing housing for
efficiencies.
So where are the familiessupposed to live if we're only
creating one bedroom housingstock?
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And I have to give props to the program,
owner-occupied rehab, because myfather's house was flipped with
that program and so otherwisehe would have been in the same
situation as a lot of ourneighbors where they're elderly
now and the major problems withthe house foundation, electrical
plumbing which especiallyelectrical is so important now
(17:31):
that I mean before the house gotflipped during the summer it
was like winter.
We would all just hang out inthe one bedroom that had the
good air conditioner, you know,and just like chill in there.
You got to put foil on yourwindows, you know, like those
sorts of things, just to likestay cool and not be fainting on
your couch or whatever.
(17:52):
So it would be awesome ifprograms like that got like a
huge amount of money where it'snot in a little lottery system
Like our people deserve way morethan a lottery system.
So like I want to advocate forprograms like that because there
are answers, right, they justneed money.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, absolutely Right, and we have the
infrastructure.
We just need to scale it up,because right now it's just like
when we look at the ship that Iknow you helped shape you're
overproducing when it comes tomarket rate and unaffordable
housing.
It's the lower incomes wherewe're just not excelling, but we
need to accelerate the amountof money that we're putting in
(18:36):
those buckets.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I've actually like.
For me it's so hard to evenfocus on the supply because so
much focus already goes on there, and it is important because
otherwise they're going to justlike keep subsidizing all of
these efficiencies and onebedrooms and market rates.
Okay, In my neighborhood theyjust built that 100 labor street
subsidized by Saha.
(18:59):
One of the units is going for$4,000.
Wow, Unlike how, who approvedthis?
and I mean nobody no one, andlike most of the subsidies are
for one bedrooms and yeah, andso, yeah, it's just like the way
that I see housing.
What it comes down to for me issupply and anti-displacement.
(19:22):
And so, since there's alreadyso much focus on supply, to me,
I'm just like how do we preventdisplacement?
Because that part isn't reallygoing to be solved through the
supply.
It's literally not possible tobuild enough that is needed, and
so how do we just focus, for me, on to keep people where
they're at, and that's a hired.
(19:44):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, I think there's a ton of moving pieces and, to
your point, right, for example,we have so many buildings that
are sitting vacant because ofLLCs, absentee landlords and
land speculators, and they'redriving up values while also
driving them down at the sametime for the neighborhoods that
they're in causing these issuesby allowing the property to
(20:06):
deteriorate, only to come in andswoop and put something
unaffordable when the market'sright for them.
So there's just so many movingpieces and what we're finding in
our area is that absenteelandlords and land speculators
are at the root of a ton ofissues that we're experiencing.
Right, and what's frustratingis we have so many unhoused
(20:26):
individuals but so many vacantbuildings.
So, you know, yeah, okay, build, but also, like, housing exists
, but it's being looked at as acommodity, so we're just going
to let it sit there till we cancapture as much money as we can
while folks continue to live onthe street, you know, and are on
the waiting list.
That's nearly it's over.
(20:47):
What it's increased since thepandemic is my understanding.
It's just so many moving pieces, but there's.
There's solutions, right, butwhat it comes down to is just
challenging corruption, right,because folks are afraid of
specific industries because theydonate to campaigns and they
wield power, if you allow themto.
(21:07):
So it's just also consideringthose factors and forces to that
are at play at the same time.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, man, I'm just so glad that I'm City Council,
really, and I don't know I'm soproud of you.
Yeah, because you chose to runduring 2020, right, like a
really challenging time overalland having no experience as like
(21:38):
a politician right yeah, anelected representative, or even
like in those offices right,like for you, it was just like
going from the neighborhood,literally like with your
organizing with your neighbors,into City Hall, right yeah, like
that's how you made that.
And so I'm curious, like I feellike I could ask a bunch of
questions, but I want to ask,like for you, can you think of
(22:02):
like, even just like oneparticular moment where you were
like doing the work of yourneighbors, like it was all
coming together, like everythingthat you had done just sort of
like was coming together andmaking progress, and like what
you envisioned when you firstdecided to run, which must have
been a really difficult decision, right?
Speaker 3 (22:21):
It was in that there were a number of things that led
up to that point, but what kindof what was?
One of the many driving factorswas when we were organizing
around the demolition anddisplacement of Alizan residents
and with the Historic West SideResidence Association, folks
coming to us and saying I'mabout to get evicted or I've
been evicted and helped me,right and let the Sanchez was
(22:46):
also going door to door and wasdoing a lot of the case
management right, despite herlike that, not being her
occupation.
Again, it was just like becausewe wanted to take care of each
other.
And, you know, realizing that,you know these are policy
decisions that were happening.
It wasn't just because this isjust how things are, there's
lack of buffers to keep familiesin their homes.
(23:07):
And then there was also thepiece of it was a strategy to
get people out so they coulddemolish it Because if it's, if
there's X amount of vacancieswithin it, they could knock it
down.
So, also recognizing that whenwe were meeting with the David N
Steeve Watch out the time andhe changed his strategy on how
(23:28):
to get people out so went frombogus fines and fees to you know
, you're just not paying yourrent on time.
So when we found how they'retrying to get people out and we
got them to to make changes tothat, they changed their
strategy.
But ultimately it all came upto communities coming together
from all over the city of SanAntonio to get him out.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yes, I think that's what I'm trying to ask and that
makes total sense.
Is that for me, whenever I seethe communities coming together
to make impact like that, itjust like makes me glow, like my
whole heart.
Everything just gets so warm,and so for you will have spent
some of those biggest momentsbesides that, like since then,
since, since then, you, sinceyou've been in City Hall.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Oh yeah.
So a number of things,primarily the housing bond.
So when there was firstconversation about a $250
million housing bond, I was veryskeptical.
I was like this is going to bea handout for market rate
developers and they're justgonna swoop in and capitalize
and we're just going to furthersubsidize that through public
dollars, right?
(24:31):
So I was so skeptical in that Ibelieve I was only one of the
there are two of us that Ididn't say anything on the item
when it came to the housing bondbecause I was like this is just
like it's not gonna work out,right.
And then somehow duringconversation it got reduced from
$250 to $150.
(24:52):
And then it went through thecommittee process and our
appointee, kayla she put inlanguage for public housing and
she was successful by one voteand keep in mind my predecessor
was one of the co-chairs whovoted no and was like I don't
think it's legal for us to findpublic housing.
And by one vote we secured thedeep affordability parameters
and we secured language forpublic housing.
(25:13):
But again, it was justorganizing and working with the
other board members.
But also, you know, now folksare like this is a greatest bond
.
Look at us, we're doing such agreat job, but the fact that you
know by one vote like it couldhave been a whole different bond
was one of those pieces where Iwas like let's go like.
This is why we're here.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's so true.
I feel that tension all of thetime of not of the frustration
and the skepticism, and I'm likewhat's the point in trying to
get into policy?
They're just going to dowhatever they can to make it
benefit you know whoever theywant ultimately anyway.
But I guess I just need to,like you need to write me a
(25:56):
whole book of all of those kindsof successes so that I can
constantly remind myself like,yeah, it does matter, because,
like the mayor's housing policytask force, it was only because
Maria Berio Sabel had put somuch language in there about
participation, communityparticipatory work.
Literally, that word was theonly word I could use against.
Then Veroso, though, in thecity to say you have to go to
(26:21):
the people.
I'm like, look, it says it inhere participatory, you have to
go to the people.
And so it does make adifference.
And sometimes it's hard for meto see that.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Yeah, right, but like , that's the goal and the point.
And I was talking to a friendabout, like, what's power?
Right, and it's like, is ithaving X amount of electeds in
power that aren't alignment, oris it having organized community
?
I'm like, well, to me, if Iit's one or the other, I would
say community, but you need ahybrid right, like you need
someone who's going to be on thedice, to be on the side with
(26:53):
the, the community.
That's also where community isdriving what's being said.
So I think it's a both butright, you can't do it without
community.
Like it just again right, if wedidn't have community members
on the bond, we would have awhole different bond.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You have to have community to help, and you have
to have people like you, eventhough I'm, like reluctant to
say that, and I'm, so you know,grateful that you're there.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
But you do have to have people like you because
hierarchy, hierarchy is justinevitable and so we don't have
people like you up at the top,then they're just good to do
whatever yeah, yeah, it's wild,right, because sometimes we
think about how my predecessoris like pro-demolish public
housing and how I'm the completeopposite of that and thank
(27:37):
goodness.
But like how, if, how she waspushing things that way and
giving everyone the green light.
It's just wild, wild.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
It really is.
I am I.
I hate those types of people somuch when they, when they have
that much power and they justcontinue to do terrible things
like that.
I'm thinking about some people,but I don't want to put you on
the spots, but how do you handle, yeah, how do you handle having
(28:09):
to work with people like that?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
so I'll use a more recent example.
Right, the scoping developmentwithin district 5 that's vacant
building, that via bar, Ibelieve in like 20 and I don't
remember the exact date, but youknow they've been sitting there
with this property allowing itto deteriorate.
And now they have this visionof 50% market rate and just
(28:34):
really expensive housing.
A few units, right, that aresomewhat affordable, but it's
few given the census track thatit's in.
And all this without communityinput and engagement.
And how is this going to impactthe ridership and how does
ridership feel about it?
And it's just working withcommunity on what's your vision.
(28:55):
For example, we're part of acoalition as well in regards to
housing and they had a lot ofquestions around SCOBE and VIA
had cancelled meetings, wasn'tdoing any public input regarding
this project in particular, socommunity took it upon
themselves to host a communityevent.
Right, scobe for the people.
Right, what are the peopleenvisioned here at this project?
And you know gathering storiesfrom there and hearing from
(29:19):
community there and using thatto develop what my goals and
expectations are with thisproject based off of community
coming together.
Nice, so it's like I've.
You know, I've met with mycommunity.
I know what they want, whatthey don't want, and they've
even taken upon themselves toorganize and to come up with
their SCOBE for the people, andit's just ultimately like to
your point, right is going backto community.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Well, I'm just so pleased to hear because that was
a big deal like it's not mydistrict or whatever, but I just
kept hearing about peopleorganizing and feeling so
strongly about it, so it's niceto know there's inside
happenings.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Yeah, and that you get to have those experiences
all the time, because that'swhat like I can't even express.
I love seeing community cometogether and maybe I'm not like
involved enough because I'vebeen so like skeptical, you know
, I've like kind of I've steppedback from a lot of organizing
activism stuff because of allthe challenges, and so I'm so
(30:19):
glad that you get to have thoseexperiences frequently, yeah and
I get it right like it could be.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
It is frustrating when it's just like things
happen and it's just like.
This is not an alignment withcommunity, this is not an
alignment with the goals and thestudies that we've commissioned
, and we're going in a differentdirection.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Then what you said like you guys said, this is what
you're going to do, and thenthey just totally ignore it all.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah, and I think I went to that symposium that
Metro Health had as well and Ifacilitated a conversation on
incarceration and you know itwas a packed room and one of the
attendees was like, why do weallow this to happen?
We know, you know, puttingpeople and locking them up for
low-level crimes is onlycreating more issues in our
(31:07):
communities and it doesn't healanyone, it doesn't put folks
down a different path.
That just perpetuates thesystem.
And you know she was verypassionate in saying like, why
and like we hold the power ascommunity members.
And someone mentioned, you know, like in different countries,
like they've taken it to thestreets, but the system still
continues in that direction.
And I had to, you know, raise myhand and be like you know we
(31:27):
can't ignore the corruption thatexists within governments,
right, and that corruption canlook like a number of things,
but ultimately these folkscontribute to campaigns.
You know, if you don't do whatthey say, they're going to
contribute to someone else, andI think that's what folks are
afraid of.
But also, like, as a community,we have to acknowledge like
that wields so much power and itshouldn't.
(31:50):
And how do we challenge that?
Like we call it out in that youknow you're saying all this
good stuff, like the rhetoric'sperfect, but you're voting a
different way and it needs to becalled out, because that's how
you stop it.
And I believe Maureen saidpublic shaming gets the goods.
Or you just say well, you know,I'm not.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Probably that sounds like you, that sounds like you
me.
That's always my like, actually.
I've thought that a coupletimes in my head.
I'm like what's your solution?
But in my head I'm like justcall him out, like get rid of
him, shame him until they go.
Like I mean really like ifyou're going to do terrible
things, that's how I felt aboutlike Saha recently in the past
(32:31):
year.
I would just show up to everysingle board meeting and be like
, like you guys closed out adaycare center.
How did you allow that tohappen and how are you allowing
the people who did that to keepworking for you?
If you're really going to liketry to work for a community, and
I just kept doing that untilthose people left.
(32:54):
Like, and now you know, now Ifeel like okay, like I do, feel
like they're listening, andthat's the thing I always try to
tell people.
And I wonder I have thisquestion for you then like how
to get community to be able tospeak up at like public comment
and whatnot, because to me, likeit really is powerful.
Like people are like, oh, it'sonly three minutes and they
don't even listen.
(33:14):
Like I love my three minutes,like that is my three minutes to
look the meager in the eye andsay whatever I want and he has
to listen to me, and it doesmake a difference, like those.
That's why I don't even reallydo like activism, organizing
stuff anymore.
I'm like I'll just show up toboard meetings or to you know,
so it doesn't have to be heard,and just speak my peace and I
(33:36):
know that they'll hear it.
So how do you think that'shelpful, first off, and then how
to get more people to see thevalue in that.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah, I think public comment is very impactful, right
, because to what we're talkingabout earlier is those
constituent services stories iswhat drives, or should drive,
the policy and what we do isdepending on, like, I meet with
my constituent services team andwe discuss trends, right?
So how many calls are wereceiving about illegal dumping,
(34:04):
about encampments, about zoning, and then, if there's an item
that comes up relating to thoseissues, we ping them and say,
hey, this item's coming up.
I know you had some thoughtslike we want to invite you to
come in, your parking will bevalidated, and just letting them
know what's going through theprocess.
But at the same time, you knowthe agenda is often posted two
(34:24):
days before the meeting andfolks have like responsibilities
and they can't always make it,but we try our best to let them
know, hey, this item's coming up.
We can walk you through signingup for public comment and just
being a resource and then alsoletting them know that it is
impactful because for ourcommunities we just haven't been
listened to and then we haven'tbeen respected.
(34:48):
So I understand the erosion anddistrust with the political
process.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Particularly on the West side.
I remember saying a few yearsago, maybe even like six years
ago, when I was organizing withSoapworks and I started to see
where it came from Portland andsaw how gentrification happened
there and I was like I can seeit as it's about to happen here
too.
And even then I remember sayingto Jessica I was like I feel
(35:14):
like it's the West side, I feellike the West side is going to
stop it.
They just have that I don'tknow power, right, and there is
historically that power therewith, like I mean, I guess Emma
Teneyuka came from the West side, right, and then there was all
of the drainage issues in the20s, 50s yeah, I don't know, I
(35:35):
don't even know countless otherstories like amazing people who
come out of the West side andchange things, and so, yeah, now
that you're there and actuallygentrification isn't really
hitting the West side as hard asit could be right.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
I agree right In that we as a city council, we've
shifted the direction where weput our money and what's our
priority.
I'm grateful that, while wedon't always agree, my
colleagues, when it comes tohousing, we are now set on like
those ship goals and how do wemeet those needs.
But again, elections happen,bodies change and it could
(36:15):
easily go another directionquickly.
So I think we're doing as bestas we can and that's what's
helping stay off like vastdisplacement.
But no doubt right, folks withcapital are scooping up property
, they're land speculating andthose interests are there.
And now it's a conversationabout are we going to use public
(36:37):
dollars to incentivize andaccelerate?
Absolutely not right.
Yeah, but again, there'sindividuals where that's like
their jam and that's how theywant to do things.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Yes, that's what you had said, that, because I spoke
at the equity forum, at thehousing session, and Angela had
said that that was what you hadgotten out of.
What me and Rebecca had spokenon was that gentrification is
government funded right, and soif you have somebody in there
who's not allowing thegovernment to put all of those
(37:08):
funds into the community, thenit can't happen as quickly.
But when we have the governmentgiving money to private sectors
to redevelop and develop orgentrify these areas, then it's
(37:29):
government facilitated, it's ourown government displacing
people.
Isn't that like what it comesdown to?
Speaker 3 (37:36):
Yeah right, and folks always say or lectids always
say, or politicians.
I'll say we're like, oh, thisphenomenon of gentrification.
We don't know how to stop it orsay it.
I was like we do.
You know, it just takespolitical will and you know, to
change things a bit.
An example of that is Iremember when we were coming up
with our our legislative agendapriorities and I wanted to
(38:00):
ensure that public housing was apriority, and I remember being
told well, this person sits onthe housing committee and
they're a Republican.
And I was like, ok, right, so Ireached out to that Republican
and took him to the Cassianosand to the Alizans and then he
earmarked $2 million for publichousing, despite this person
being a Republican.
But he went and offered, like,show me the properties you want
(38:25):
me to tour.
We went and then he ensuredthat he put money towards public
housing.
So it's just very frustratingbecause there are individuals
who are willing to support andinvest but sometimes, when it
comes to institutions andstructures, that's just not
their priority.
But going back to what you askedabout, what's something where I
(38:46):
was very proud of is with thislast budget.
We worked with Cassiano tenantsand cops Metro in Opportunity
Home to create a opportunityhome maintenance fund, minor
maintenance fund, because wehave folks like James Hamilton
who's been coming to City Hallsaying this elevator has been
broken.
We have tenants saying I'mliving with mold, but also
(39:08):
acknowledging the reality thatpublic housing is severely
underfunded and they just aren'tbeing allocated the funds
necessary to do minormaintenance and of course, it's
all intentional by the federalgovernment in my opinion.
But that $1 million fund is thefirst public housing fund in
the state of Texas for cities togive money.
(39:28):
Yeah, that was just recent,wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah, so it's $1 million.
It's a drop in the bucket, butit's a start towards something
greater.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
The rent relief policy started as $1 million.
It was just $1 million to gotowards it and then that created
I do know how much money.
It ultimately went through thatpolicy.
So much, that was because of thework we did Overseeing, we're
like OK, we got $1 million, whatare we going to do with it?
(39:58):
We got to take it to the people, collect the right data, not
just whatever, but how do wetalk to the people and make sure
that the data represents whatthey're going through?
I mean, we did so much work onthat policy and then, once COVID
hit and the federal governmentwas able to just push so much
through San Antonio specifically, yeah, I wonder how much money
(40:23):
it was ultimately.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
A ton, especially because I know CARES funding and
ARPA money went through thereas well.
So, like so much, where?
Speaker 2 (40:33):
other cities and states and counties were failing
, the federal government wouldjust push it into San Antonio
because we had that program.
I mean, they all got it fromhere and it's just like, yeah,
that's another example of just.
I'm like what's the point indoing any policy work?
They just mess up everything.
But it's like that wasliterally millions of dollars
that came into San Antoniobecause of that, despite a lot
(40:56):
of landlords abusing that policy.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
I really appreciate your love for history.
I think that's where your powerseems to come from too, because
you do see these things as notas a individual gentrification
oh, it's just happening here, orwhatever.
It's actually a historicalthing that's been happening.
And then, plus, you have yourown family history.
(41:23):
That can be so grounding tohave, and then you appreciate
the individual story because youappreciate history.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
But yeah, I know I'm just so happy that we have you
on City Council and it reallygives me a lot more hope than I
tend to have.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
And I will say right again sometimes, when you're the
only one advocating forspecific things, it's kind of
like I'm yelling at a wall.
But then I hear a communitysaying, no, this is what we need
.
And it's grounding to me,because sometimes it's just like
I'm the only one that thinks weshouldn't be investing in a
market rate period and justpieces like that.
(42:05):
It's just like I'm literallythe only one up here Like this
stinks.
But I know that there'scommunity that has the same
vision and values as well.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Maria had said before .
Maria Beriozabel had said thatso many times she was the only
no vote and what her officewould do is put a huge banner on
her door at City Hall that hadlike big no that's crazy Any
time that that happens.
Yeah, she in her book, oh yeah.
I had got it from you.
(42:34):
Her book right.
Because what I loved about that,this one part, I think I say
it's like any time I have ameeting with a politician or an
elected representative either.
I loved Maria's book when shespoke about she used her office
as a space for community toorganize within.
(42:54):
That hit me so hard.
When I read that and I just sayit all, repeat it all the time
I'm like what else are you doingNot to you?
I know that you know, but whenI bring it up to others I'm just
like what else are you doingthere Except trying to get your
community involved and choicesthat impact them?
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Yeah, and Rachel on our team and Taylor who used to
be with us.
They had proposed to me what wenow call office to the people,
right, and essentially we'll beout in the field rather than the
field office.
So that way folks who don'tknow we exist, don't know where
we're at, don't know what a citycouncil member is or our role,
(43:38):
but if we go to their doors andtalk to them and introduce
ourselves, they will.
So that's another piece thatwe've done, to like we've
convened.
But then we also make it apriority to go to the doors.
That's really, really importantbecause we have our own
community and we're not onlygoing to have our own community,
but we're also going to haveour own community and we're
going to have the people whowill be there to help out.
We'll have our own communityand we're going to have the
(44:01):
people who will be there to helpus and our community priority
to go to the doors.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
That's amazing, and has that brought some of your
constituents to speak up?
Speaker 3 (44:13):
Yes, yes, and it's something that I'm really proud
of, because this past budgetmeeting we saw increase in
attendance and there were newfaces but their faces that we
met at the doors and encouragedto come out Nice.
So it was great.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Love that.
Yeah, I mean, door to door isseriously the best way is to do
that soapwork.
Literally like any weekend, Ididn't have my kids, I would
just be knocking on myneighbor's doors there's 380
units there and sometimes peoplewould just sort of be like,
well, what are we going to do?
We're getting displaced,they're going to kick us out,
there's nothing that we can do,and I'll just sit there and talk
(44:46):
to them and just continue totalk to them and explain it, and
at the end they'd be like, yeah, I hear you.
So if we all come together andwe do that, then we speak up and
then they'll listen.
I'm like, yes, exactly, andit's just the best feeling ever
to see people who didn't thinkthat they even could, didn't
know how it wasn't even itdidn't even cross their mind,
(45:07):
recognized.
I'm like, oh, I do have a voice, especially when supported,
especially when, by the way,supported by a councilwoman.
Speaker 4 (45:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Amazing.
Any other questions Concerns?
Speaker 4 (45:28):
comments.
I want to know the cheese mitts.
Let's go over there.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
Yeah, that was all the questions I had.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
SAISD hit that up.
Yeah, Thank you In.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
October 16th I believe it's a school board
meeting, so I want to encourageparents, community members, to
come out, because these arepublic spaces and they belong to
the people and the peopleshould have a say in what
happens to the schools.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
Yes, public money for public spaces.
I feel like that's what I'mgetting out of, a lot of what
I'm getting out of thisconversation, personally,
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Well, thank you, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you, tyra.
I know that you got called outinto executive session, so I
appreciate you showing up anyway.
Yeah, thanks, tyra.
All righty, that's a wrap.
As the cosmos connects the universe, water
connects life.
At the Cosmic Water Podcast,we're exploring the history,
mythology and future of thesacred land known as San Antonio
.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Alright, welcome to Cosmic Water Podcast.
I'm Maureen, I'm Angela andtoday we have Terry Castillo
with us, our CouncilwomanCastillo.
I wanted to start off bytalking about.
So this podcast is about, likethe history of San Antonio, the
(00:44):
far history of San Antonio andhow it's become what it's become
, and one of the conversationsthat Angela and I seem to keep
having is about how like Ididn't learn this until college
about how Mexican Americans andlike Latinos in general all over
, are a mixture of indigenouspeople and colonizers, which
(01:06):
seems obvious when you thinkabout it, but a lot of people
don't see it that way.
Right, and so, with regard tolike history and place and land,
if you could share with us yourfamily history to this land or
wherever they come from.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, so thank you all for having me on this
podcast.
Really exciting to be here.
I am a depending on what sideof the family we're talking
about, right, I have a differenthistory.
For example, my dad's side.
They fled during the MexicanRevolution and found a home in
West Side San Antonio, whereasmy mom's side is eighth
(01:47):
generation San Antonio resident,going way back, so she has more
.
She calls like Chicano roots,right, but also acknowledging
that I didn't know till highschool, community college, right
, that the state of Texas was atone point Mexico and the whole.
You know we didn't cross theborder, the border crossed us.
(02:07):
And so my family history is mydad's side, my grandmother and
my great-grandmother.
They were born here in theUnited States but their parents
were the ones that fled duringthe Mexican Revolution.
And my great-grandparents on mymother's side have lived within
the same neighborhood where Ilive till today, which is really
(02:30):
nice that my uncles live liketwo houses away and it's always
been like that, like a communitywhere it's theos and theos
living right next to each other,and we're very grounded and
rooted in that place, which isthe inner West Side, like off of
Guadalupe and Trinity, and youknow it's not unique.
Many of my neighbors have thesame story and have, you know,
(02:52):
the same family members who liveright next door.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
Eight generations, that has.
How far back is that?
Speaker 3 (03:03):
I don't know off the top of my head, but at San
Fernando Cemetery, one which isone of the oldest.
Like I, have family there.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Yeah, where's that?
Speaker 3 (03:10):
one.
It's off of Guadalupe, it'snear Guadalupe and Veracruz,
it's one of, like, our West Sidehistoric cemetery and it's yeah
.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
Is it close to the creek?
Yep, right, yeah, it's rightthere.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Well, I didn't know that, so you have roots in the
West Side.
When I first met you, what wasat one of those Fabiola was
putting together those sessions.
It was about housing.
How long had you been likedoing housing?
(03:47):
Because I felt so bad.
Right, I thought that youworked for Esperanza.
I was used to young people,young activists, right, working
for an organization, but youwere working for your neighbors,
like for the community.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yeah, and I remember was with the For Everyone Home
Initiative and I was recentlytalking about that, because I
we're talking about how do weget more folks to come out, and
I was like, well, how I gotplugged into some of this work
was, you know, there was ahousing meeting and they're
offering a gift card and I wasin college and I needed money
and you know there's anincentive.
So you know, like the H-E-Bgift card that was like I
(04:20):
remember that gift card.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
I think I got something special for myself
with it.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, you know, and it's just, I lived in that
community, was a member of theHistoric West Side Residence
Association, where we did a lotof tenant work and homeowner
work as well right For folksbeing the pressures of cold
compliance and connecting themto city resources and found
like-minded individuals who werecommitted to our neighbors in
(04:47):
the same way with the HistoricWest Side, which is also, you
know, the Esperanza, are alsomembers because they own
property in the area and theyare the directors from the
neighborhood as well.
So like that's how we just gotconnected and been kind of bound
to the same vision and goals,like since.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
It was through that for everyone home meeting.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I think that's what gave that connected me to other
individuals doing similar workin different parts of the city,
right, because sometimes whenyou're in the struggle you think
, wow, like it's just ourcommunity.
But no, right, you get connectedto the Jessica Corredo's and
you know, who was doing similarwork in the East Side and has
challenged displacement, andthen seeing the lens and the
(05:31):
work and the work that Fabiolawas teasing out right through
the community engagement process.
And I recently brought upsomething that I learned from
one of the first sessions Iattended.
We're talking about publichousing demolition and the
housing crisis that we'reexperiencing now, and I remember
this one individual thatFabiola brought in who was
waiting for the bus, I believe,to come into the meeting and he
(05:53):
shared how he lived at the SanJuan Courts that got demolished
and he got relocated to theVictoria Courts or vice versa,
and then the Victoria Courts gotdemolished and now he was at
Haven, right?
So just seeing the lack ofaffordable housing and how it's
being demolished and it'slimited, right, and where else
are people going to go if we'renot rebuilding that permanently
(06:14):
affordable public housing?
So I learned a lot from thestories from individuals who
participated, as well as how itwas facilitated with for
everyone home.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
And that was just one story from somebody at the bus
stop, right, and that's whatfrustrates me the most and you
know that, like anytime I'mshowing up to these city hall
meetings and stuff, it's justabout like, how are we getting
stories and experiences from onthe ground, because otherwise
you guys are totally out oftouch.
And it comes down to literallythe guy at the bus stop and just
(06:46):
asking him his history here inSan Antonio regarding housing,
and that's like, and that's,there's the information that you
need to know like, where do wefix stuff?
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, well, yeah, just, and I've brought it up
before.
It just reminds me of how likethe displacement is so
generational.
My mom was displaced fromHemisphere and, yeah, when
Victoria Courts was demolished,so many families.
I remember asking my aunt like,what would Lovako sound like or
look like back in the day inthe 60s and 70s?
(07:17):
And and the first thing shesaid was you would see kids.
You would see kids playing andyou know you would hear kids
playing and but yeah, so did youalso work for Top?
Did you do work with them?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
I was a member, but I was in a worker, okay, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
No, Tyra's like the most grassroots that you can get
.
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Yeah, because I did some work during that whole
campaign for paid sick leave.
Yeah, and it was because theypaid well.
So, yeah, so we're talkingabout the gift card and
opportunities and stuff likethat.
But like, of course, like itwas easy work for me because you
care about the cause and it'seasy to communicate with others.
Speaker 3 (08:04):
And what I would add about your point right about,
like how there is a disconnectthat exists between, like,
elected officials and community.
I was out block walking on lastFriday and one of the community
members, like why are you outhere if you have, like your
staff?
Well, because I need to see formyself what's going on on the
ground, so I know how to bestlike debate for our needs.
(08:25):
And he's like, hmm, like that'sinteresting because, like, I
like to see for myself where thefailed streets and sidewalks
are, where there's illegaldumping right, and also to talk
to my constituents about whattheir needs and their priorities
are, because it's easy to readtheory and stats, but if you
don't hear the stories behind it, it's just you need both.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I always call it grounded knowledge.
That's what I've been sayinglately.
Yes, the stats, the data.
It's so frustrating that theyalways say that you know, I'm
still organizing with them Sahatenants or opportunity home
tenants, and one of our lastmeetings there was some really
big politician officesrepresented and it was really
(09:13):
frustrating that one of them waslike well, like they're hearing
all these stories directly fromtenants and they're like, well,
if we just had some data tobring to this politician then
that would make it easier.
And like I was like that to mewhen I hear thought it just
means that, like you're notgoing out on the street, like if
you walk into any publichousing building and ask two
(09:35):
people questions, you'll get avery good idea about what's
happening.
And so how do we get that?
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And the constituent services stories are like the
raw data right and that shouldbe the driving factor in force.
Behind policy is the peoplethat you represent and their
needs are.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
And so if you, as a politician right or elected
representative or governmentofficial, what do you prefer
being called?
Speaker 3 (10:01):
I don't know, I don't know.
I always say elected orrepresentative because I
represent my people.
I feel like a politician ismore like they represent
themselves in a way.
I know it has that kind ofconnotation to it.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
That's why I kind of stopped myself.
So as elected representative.
We live in this representativedemocracy, right?
So, as this representative orany representative, like, yeah,
you really don't know how toadvocate for your constituents
unless you're hearing thosestories and that just comes down
to like your heart being in it,like when you hear those
(10:37):
stories.
When I see electedrepresentatives hearing these
stories, you can see the likesort of like brightness in their
eyes or something I'm sure likelike you said with via grande
during that Brackenridge.
Is that how it felt?
Speaker 4 (10:50):
like yeah, that was really nice to see her speak up
about the Brackenridge stuff andand use words like I think she
said infuriating or somethinglike yeah, like that, you know.
So, yeah, that's my district,district three, yeah, and so
yeah, so I was I've never metyou, but I was asking around or
saying hey, we're gonna haveTerry, and everybody's like, oh,
(11:10):
I've met her, I met her.
So I love how accessible youare.
You know, like that's a bigdeal and people feel like, yeah,
we can totally like email heror talk to her.
That's really great.
I wanted to ask from yourposition, how, because my son's
school is being shut down as aISD, highland Park and so is
(11:32):
there still a chance if we Imean so many parents at my
school are organizing, gettingpetitions, going to the meetings
, so is there a chance that wecan change this at all?
Because I just, you know, atthat health symposium the theme
was like what was it that thecity's adopting something about
racism being driving factorbehind sorts of these sort of
(11:55):
things?
And so, like, when I was inhigh school or when I was an
elementary, my parents lived inthe same house off of Hackberry
and Ada.
They lived in the same house.
Yet I went to Bonham Elementary, I went to Charles C Ball, then
I was moved to JaffetElementary, I went to Steel
Elementary you were naming a loton the closure list in the
(12:15):
schools and so that's my pointis like they keep messing with
these kids lives.
Because it really didn't kind ofmess up my education having to
move, even despite my parentsliving in the same house the
whole entire time I was in GT.
It wasn't like you know, I had.
I had the brains, I guess, butlike behavior wise, I was
constantly having to perform orwhatever to make new friends and
(12:38):
being in a new space and thatsort of a thing, yeah, so it
just sucks to see it happeningagain.
And then, historically, blackelementary schools is that?
Speaker 3 (12:47):
right.
Speaker 4 (12:47):
Like over in the East Side, are being shut down.
So how can we I mean just withorganizing right- yeah,
absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
Our office is a coalition member of the Schools,
our students sister coalition,which is a coalition of students
, teachers, parents, the SanAntonio Alliance, which
represents teachers and staffand personnel, as well as just
wide range of community memberswho organize around 10 different
pillars.
And because of that work, ouroffice has been present in
(13:16):
conversations with thesuperintendents and, of course,
with the coalition membersleading up to this process and
what we've all agree is thatthis is just moving far too fast
and ultimately, while citycouncil doesn't have a vote or
say, I have a responsibility toensure that the best interest of
my constituency is beingrepresented.
And that's why I've gone toschool board meetings and have
(13:36):
been going to the meetings onthe proposed consolidated and
supposed to be closed and we'vehad a ton of walk-ins and calls
regarding like hey, why is thishappening?
How do we stop it?
It's a done deal and Iencourage everyone to attend
those school board meetings andthose school closure meetings
because if we don't speak up, itis a done deal, right.
(13:58):
But if we come together, weorganize and we raise our
concerns.
I believe there's possibilityto reduce the amount of schools
on that list, because it's a tonof schools 19.
And, as you alluded to, wemapped it out, our team and the
majority of them are inred-lined areas.
So you're just perpetuating harmand divestment in these
(14:21):
communities that historicallyhave just been divested and it's
just a vicious cycle and wehave a responsibility to say no,
right.
And then, in my position,supporting my community members
who are asking me to go speak atthe school board meeting and
say this is moving too fast, weneed more time and not these
(14:42):
schools.
So I encourage folks to show upto the meetings.
I believe October 16th there'sa school board meeting where
they're going to discuss theclosures and potentially make
changes with the recommendations, and I think it's important
that community goes andcontinues to express their
concern with schools on the list.
And again.
(15:03):
It's just a process.
In my opinion, that's moved fartoo quick.
Speaker 4 (15:08):
I really like Highland Park.
I really love the staff and theteachers there.
My kids are really happy thereand you know I've moved them
around because education is soimportant.
They did go to steal theMontessori, it just wasn't a
good fit.
Then they went to the gatheringplace, which is a great school,
but it was just way too far.
And then at Highland Park youknow they I actually get to know
(15:29):
the families from myneighborhood.
You know I see them walking andfor Halloween they see their
classmates during their.
When they went to their firstCub Scout meeting they saw
people they knew, they saw otherkids that they knew.
And you can't do that if we're.
And then I'm scared to put mykids on a bus, but I mean it's
because they hadn't have to dothat and up until I guess it'll
(15:51):
be in two years when they'llclose, supposedly, highland Park
.
So it's just it's reallyfrustrating but like I'm really
hopeful because of how parentshave already mobilized so
quickly.
Right, because it's happened soquickly.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
So it's hopeful.
Yeah, and there's a wide rangeof reasons why the school and
schools across the country arearguing for closures.
Right is low birth rate, lackof affordable housing, as well
as losing kids to charterschools.
But I think, when we talk aboutwhen it comes to the housing
(16:26):
piece right, for example, wehave a former mayor on the SCIC
school board and a formersecretary of HUD pointed to our
dilapidated housing within oururban core, to the lack of
student enrollment to housing.
It's like, hey, you were themayor for eight years and then
you were the secretary of HUD,right.
So what went wrong?
And how do we get things right?
(16:48):
And how do we pull you in onthe housing affordability
conversation to make sure thatwe are producing deeply
affordable housing, housing thatis intended for families,
because at the same time, wewere incentivizing housing for
efficiencies.
So where are the familiessupposed to live if we're only
creating one bedroom housingstock?
Speaker 4 (17:07):
And I have to give props to the program,
owner-occupied rehab, because myfather's house was flipped with
that program and so otherwisehe would have been in the same
situation as a lot of ourneighbors where they're elderly
now and the major problems withthe house foundation, electrical
plumbing which especiallyelectrical is so important now
(17:31):
that I mean before the house gotflipped during the summer it
was like winter.
We would all just hang out inthe one bedroom that had the
good air conditioner, you know,and just like chill in there.
You got to put foil on yourwindows, you know, like those
sorts of things, just to likestay cool and not be fainting on
your couch or whatever.
(17:52):
So it would be awesome ifprograms like that got like a
huge amount of money where it'snot in a little lottery system
Like our people deserve way morethan a lottery system.
So like I want to advocate forprograms like that because there
are answers, right, they justneed money.
Speaker 3 (18:13):
Yeah, absolutely Right, and we have the
infrastructure.
We just need to scale it up,because right now it's just like
when we look at the ship that Iknow you helped shape you're
overproducing when it comes tomarket rate and unaffordable
housing.
It's the lower incomes wherewe're just not excelling, but we
need to accelerate the amountof money that we're putting in
(18:36):
those buckets.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
I've actually like.
For me it's so hard to evenfocus on the supply because so
much focus already goes on there, and it is important because
otherwise they're going to justlike keep subsidizing all of
these efficiencies and onebedrooms and market rates.
Okay, In my neighborhood theyjust built that 100 labor street
subsidized by Saha.
(18:59):
One of the units is going for$4,000.
Wow, Unlike how, who approvedthis?
and I mean nobody no one, andlike most of the subsidies are
for one bedrooms and yeah, andso, yeah, it's just like the way
that I see housing.
What it comes down to for me issupply and anti-displacement.
(19:22):
And so, since there's alreadyso much focus on supply, to me,
I'm just like how do we preventdisplacement?
Because that part isn't reallygoing to be solved through the
supply.
It's literally not possible tobuild enough that is needed, and
so how do we just focus, for me, on to keep people where
they're at, and that's a hired.
(19:44):
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (19:46):
Yeah, I think there's a ton of moving pieces and, to
your point, right, for example,we have so many buildings that
are sitting vacant because ofLLCs, absentee landlords and
land speculators, and they'redriving up values while also
driving them down at the sametime for the neighborhoods that
they're in causing these issuesby allowing the property to
(20:06):
deteriorate, only to come in andswoop and put something
unaffordable when the market'sright for them.
So there's just so many movingpieces and what we're finding in
our area is that absenteelandlords and land speculators
are at the root of a ton ofissues that we're experiencing.
Right, and what's frustratingis we have so many unhoused
(20:26):
individuals but so many vacantbuildings.
So, you know, yeah, okay, build, but also, like, housing exists
, but it's being looked at as acommodity, so we're just going
to let it sit there till we cancapture as much money as we can
while folks continue to live onthe street, you know, and are on
the waiting list.
That's nearly it's over.
(20:47):
What it's increased since thepandemic is my understanding.
It's just so many moving pieces, but there's.
There's solutions, right, butwhat it comes down to is just
challenging corruption, right,because folks are afraid of
specific industries because theydonate to campaigns and they
wield power, if you allow themto.
(21:07):
So it's just also consideringthose factors and forces to that
are at play at the same time.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, man, I'm just so glad that I'm City Council,
really, and I don't know I'm soproud of you.
Yeah, because you chose to runduring 2020, right, like a
really challenging time overalland having no experience as like
(21:38):
a politician right yeah, anelected representative, or even
like in those offices right,like for you, it was just like
going from the neighborhood,literally like with your
organizing with your neighbors,into City Hall, right yeah, like
that's how you made that.
And so I'm curious, like I feellike I could ask a bunch of
questions, but I want to ask,like for you, can you think of
(22:02):
like, even just like oneparticular moment where you were
like doing the work of yourneighbors, like it was all
coming together, like everythingthat you had done just sort of
like was coming together andmaking progress, and like what
you envisioned when you firstdecided to run, which must have
been a really difficult decision, right?
Speaker 3 (22:21):
It was in that there were a number of things that led
up to that point, but what kindof what was?
One of the many driving factorswas when we were organizing
around the demolition anddisplacement of Alizan residents
and with the Historic West SideResidence Association, folks
coming to us and saying I'mabout to get evicted or I've
been evicted and helped me,right and let the Sanchez was
(22:46):
also going door to door and wasdoing a lot of the case
management right, despite herlike that, not being her
occupation.
Again, it was just like becausewe wanted to take care of each
other.
And, you know, realizing that,you know these are policy
decisions that were happening.
It wasn't just because this isjust how things are, there's
lack of buffers to keep familiesin their homes.
(23:07):
And then there was also thepiece of it was a strategy to
get people out so they coulddemolish it Because if it's, if
there's X amount of vacancieswithin it, they could knock it
down.
So, also recognizing that whenwe were meeting with the David N
Steeve Watch out the time andhe changed his strategy on how
(23:28):
to get people out so went frombogus fines and fees to you know
, you're just not paying yourrent on time.
So when we found how they'retrying to get people out and we
got them to to make changes tothat, they changed their
strategy.
But ultimately it all came upto communities coming together
from all over the city of SanAntonio to get him out.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yes, I think that's what I'm trying to ask and that
makes total sense.
Is that for me, whenever I seethe communities coming together
to make impact like that, itjust like makes me glow, like my
whole heart.
Everything just gets so warm,and so for you will have spent
some of those biggest momentsbesides that, like since then,
since, since then, you, sinceyou've been in City Hall.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Oh yeah.
So a number of things,primarily the housing bond.
So when there was firstconversation about a $250
million housing bond, I was veryskeptical.
I was like this is going to bea handout for market rate
developers and they're justgonna swoop in and capitalize
and we're just going to furthersubsidize that through public
dollars, right?
(24:31):
So I was so skeptical in that Ibelieve I was only one of the
there are two of us that Ididn't say anything on the item
when it came to the housing bondbecause I was like this is just
like it's not gonna work out,right.
And then somehow duringconversation it got reduced from
$250 to $150.
(24:52):
And then it went through thecommittee process and our
appointee, kayla she put inlanguage for public housing and
she was successful by one voteand keep in mind my predecessor
was one of the co-chairs whovoted no and was like I don't
think it's legal for us to findpublic housing.
And by one vote we secured thedeep affordability parameters
and we secured language forpublic housing.
(25:13):
But again, it was justorganizing and working with the
other board members.
But also, you know, now folksare like this is a greatest bond
.
Look at us, we're doing such agreat job, but the fact that you
know by one vote like it couldhave been a whole different bond
was one of those pieces where Iwas like let's go like.
This is why we're here.
Speaker 2 (25:33):
That's so true.
I feel that tension all of thetime of not of the frustration
and the skepticism, and I'm likewhat's the point in trying to
get into policy?
They're just going to dowhatever they can to make it
benefit you know whoever theywant ultimately anyway.
But I guess I just need to,like you need to write me a
(25:56):
whole book of all of those kindsof successes so that I can
constantly remind myself like,yeah, it does matter, because,
like the mayor's housing policytask force, it was only because
Maria Berio Sabel had put somuch language in there about
participation, communityparticipatory work.
Literally, that word was theonly word I could use against.
Then Veroso, though, in thecity to say you have to go to
(26:21):
the people.
I'm like, look, it says it inhere participatory, you have to
go to the people.
And so it does make adifference.
And sometimes it's hard for meto see that.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Yeah, right, but like , that's the goal and the point.
And I was talking to a friendabout, like, what's power?
Right, and it's like, is ithaving X amount of electeds in
power that aren't alignment, oris it having organized community
?
I'm like, well, to me, if Iit's one or the other, I would
say community, but you need ahybrid right, like you need
someone who's going to be on thedice, to be on the side with
(26:53):
the, the community.
That's also where community isdriving what's being said.
So I think it's a both butright, you can't do it without
community.
Like it just again right, if wedidn't have community members
on the bond, we would have awhole different bond.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
You have to have community to help, and you have
to have people like you, eventhough I'm, like reluctant to
say that, and I'm, so you know,grateful that you're there.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
But you do have to have people like you because
hierarchy, hierarchy is justinevitable and so we don't have
people like you up at the top,then they're just good to do
whatever yeah, yeah, it's wild,right, because sometimes we
think about how my predecessoris like pro-demolish public
housing and how I'm the completeopposite of that and thank
(27:37):
goodness.
But like how, if, how she waspushing things that way and
giving everyone the green light.
It's just wild, wild.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
It really is.
I am I.
I hate those types of people somuch when they, when they have
that much power and they justcontinue to do terrible things
like that.
I'm thinking about some people,but I don't want to put you on
the spots, but how do you handle, yeah, how do you handle having
(28:09):
to work with people like that?
Speaker 3 (28:11):
so I'll use a more recent example.
Right, the scoping developmentwithin district 5 that's vacant
building, that via bar, Ibelieve in like 20 and I don't
remember the exact date, but youknow they've been sitting there
with this property allowing itto deteriorate.
And now they have this visionof 50% market rate and just
(28:34):
really expensive housing.
A few units, right, that aresomewhat affordable, but it's
few given the census track thatit's in.
And all this without communityinput and engagement.
And how is this going to impactthe ridership and how does
ridership feel about it?
And it's just working withcommunity on what's your vision.
(28:55):
For example, we're part of acoalition as well in regards to
housing and they had a lot ofquestions around SCOBE and VIA
had cancelled meetings, wasn'tdoing any public input regarding
this project in particular, socommunity took it upon
themselves to host a communityevent.
Right, scobe for the people.
Right, what are the peopleenvisioned here at this project?
And you know gathering storiesfrom there and hearing from
(29:19):
community there and using thatto develop what my goals and
expectations are with thisproject based off of community
coming together.
Nice, so it's like I've.
You know, I've met with mycommunity.
I know what they want, whatthey don't want, and they've
even taken upon themselves toorganize and to come up with
their SCOBE for the people, andit's just ultimately like to
your point, right is going backto community.
Speaker 4 (29:43):
Well, I'm just so pleased to hear because that was
a big deal like it's not mydistrict or whatever, but I just
kept hearing about peopleorganizing and feeling so
strongly about it, so it's niceto know there's inside
happenings.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Yeah, and that you get to have those experiences
all the time, because that'swhat like I can't even express.
I love seeing community cometogether and maybe I'm not like
involved enough because I'vebeen so like skeptical, you know
, I've like kind of I've steppedback from a lot of organizing
activism stuff because of allthe challenges, and so I'm so
(30:19):
glad that you get to have thoseexperiences frequently, yeah and
I get it right like it could be.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
It is frustrating when it's just like things
happen and it's just like.
This is not an alignment withcommunity, this is not an
alignment with the goals and thestudies that we've commissioned
, and we're going in a differentdirection.
Speaker 2 (30:38):
Then what you said like you guys said, this is what
you're going to do, and thenthey just totally ignore it all.
Speaker 3 (30:45):
Yeah, and I think I went to that symposium that
Metro Health had as well and Ifacilitated a conversation on
incarceration and you know itwas a packed room and one of the
attendees was like, why do weallow this to happen?
We know, you know, puttingpeople and locking them up for
low-level crimes is onlycreating more issues in our
(31:07):
communities and it doesn't healanyone, it doesn't put folks
down a different path.
That just perpetuates thesystem.
And you know she was verypassionate in saying like, why
and like we hold the power ascommunity members.
And someone mentioned, you know, like in different countries,
like they've taken it to thestreets, but the system still
continues in that direction.
And I had to, you know, raise myhand and be like you know we
(31:27):
can't ignore the corruption thatexists within governments,
right, and that corruption canlook like a number of things,
but ultimately these folkscontribute to campaigns.
You know, if you don't do whatthey say, they're going to
contribute to someone else, andI think that's what folks are
afraid of.
But also, like, as a community,we have to acknowledge like
that wields so much power and itshouldn't.
(31:50):
And how do we challenge that?
Like we call it out in that youknow you're saying all this
good stuff, like the rhetoric'sperfect, but you're voting a
different way and it needs to becalled out, because that's how
you stop it.
And I believe Maureen saidpublic shaming gets the goods.
Or you just say well, you know,I'm not.
Speaker 2 (32:09):
Probably that sounds like you, that sounds like you
me.
That's always my like, actually.
I've thought that a coupletimes in my head.
I'm like what's your solution?
But in my head I'm like justcall him out, like get rid of
him, shame him until they go.
Like I mean really like ifyou're going to do terrible
things, that's how I felt aboutlike Saha recently in the past
(32:31):
year.
I would just show up to everysingle board meeting and be like
, like you guys closed out adaycare center.
How did you allow that tohappen and how are you allowing
the people who did that to keepworking for you?
If you're really going to liketry to work for a community, and
I just kept doing that untilthose people left.
(32:54):
Like, and now you know, now Ifeel like okay, like I do, feel
like they're listening, andthat's the thing I always try to
tell people.
And I wonder I have thisquestion for you then like how
to get community to be able tospeak up at like public comment
and whatnot, because to me, likeit really is powerful.
Like people are like, oh, it'sonly three minutes and they
don't even listen.
(33:14):
Like I love my three minutes,like that is my three minutes to
look the meager in the eye andsay whatever I want and he has
to listen to me, and it doesmake a difference, like those.
That's why I don't even reallydo like activism, organizing
stuff anymore.
I'm like I'll just show up toboard meetings or to you know,
so it doesn't have to be heard,and just speak my peace and I
(33:36):
know that they'll hear it.
So how do you think that'shelpful, first off, and then how
to get more people to see thevalue in that.
Speaker 3 (33:44):
Yeah, I think public comment is very impactful, right
, because to what we're talkingabout earlier is those
constituent services stories iswhat drives, or should drive,
the policy and what we do isdepending on, like, I meet with
my constituent services team andwe discuss trends, right?
So how many calls are wereceiving about illegal dumping,
(34:04):
about encampments, about zoning, and then, if there's an item
that comes up relating to thoseissues, we ping them and say,
hey, this item's coming up.
I know you had some thoughtslike we want to invite you to
come in, your parking will bevalidated, and just letting them
know what's going through theprocess.
But at the same time, you knowthe agenda is often posted two
(34:24):
days before the meeting andfolks have like responsibilities
and they can't always make it,but we try our best to let them
know, hey, this item's coming up.
We can walk you through signingup for public comment and just
being a resource and then alsoletting them know that it is
impactful because for ourcommunities we just haven't been
listened to and then we haven'tbeen respected.
(34:48):
So I understand the erosion anddistrust with the political
process.
Speaker 2 (34:54):
Particularly on the West side.
I remember saying a few yearsago, maybe even like six years
ago, when I was organizing withSoapworks and I started to see
where it came from Portland andsaw how gentrification happened
there and I was like I can seeit as it's about to happen here
too.
And even then I remember sayingto Jessica I was like I feel
(35:14):
like it's the West side, I feellike the West side is going to
stop it.
They just have that I don'tknow power, right, and there is
historically that power therewith, like I mean, I guess Emma
Teneyuka came from the West side, right, and then there was all
of the drainage issues in the20s, 50s yeah, I don't know, I
(35:35):
don't even know countless otherstories like amazing people who
come out of the West side andchange things, and so, yeah, now
that you're there and actuallygentrification isn't really
hitting the West side as hard asit could be right.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
I agree right In that we as a city council, we've
shifted the direction where weput our money and what's our
priority.
I'm grateful that, while wedon't always agree, my
colleagues, when it comes tohousing, we are now set on like
those ship goals and how do wemeet those needs.
But again, elections happen,bodies change and it could
(36:15):
easily go another directionquickly.
So I think we're doing as bestas we can and that's what's
helping stay off like vastdisplacement.
But no doubt right, folks withcapital are scooping up property
, they're land speculating andthose interests are there.
And now it's a conversationabout are we going to use public
(36:37):
dollars to incentivize andaccelerate?
Absolutely not right.
Yeah, but again, there'sindividuals where that's like
their jam and that's how theywant to do things.
Speaker 2 (36:45):
Yes, that's what you had said, that, because I spoke
at the equity forum, at thehousing session, and Angela had
said that that was what you hadgotten out of.
What me and Rebecca had spokenon was that gentrification is
government funded right, and soif you have somebody in there
who's not allowing thegovernment to put all of those
(37:08):
funds into the community, thenit can't happen as quickly.
But when we have the governmentgiving money to private sectors
to redevelop and develop orgentrify these areas, then it's
(37:29):
government facilitated, it's ourown government displacing
people.
Isn't that like what it comesdown to?
Speaker 3 (37:36):
Yeah right, and folks always say or lectids always
say, or politicians.
I'll say we're like, oh, thisphenomenon of gentrification.
We don't know how to stop it orsay it.
I was like we do.
You know, it just takespolitical will and you know, to
change things a bit.
An example of that is Iremember when we were coming up
with our our legislative agendapriorities and I wanted to
(38:00):
ensure that public housing was apriority, and I remember being
told well, this person sits onthe housing committee and
they're a Republican.
And I was like, ok, right, so Ireached out to that Republican
and took him to the Cassianosand to the Alizans and then he
earmarked $2 million for publichousing, despite this person
being a Republican.
But he went and offered, like,show me the properties you want
(38:25):
me to tour.
We went and then he ensuredthat he put money towards public
housing.
So it's just very frustratingbecause there are individuals
who are willing to support andinvest but sometimes, when it
comes to institutions andstructures, that's just not
their priority.
But going back to what you askedabout, what's something where I
(38:46):
was very proud of is with thislast budget.
We worked with Cassiano tenantsand cops Metro in Opportunity
Home to create a opportunityhome maintenance fund, minor
maintenance fund, because wehave folks like James Hamilton
who's been coming to City Hallsaying this elevator has been
broken.
We have tenants saying I'mliving with mold, but also
(39:08):
acknowledging the reality thatpublic housing is severely
underfunded and they just aren'tbeing allocated the funds
necessary to do minormaintenance and of course, it's
all intentional by the federalgovernment in my opinion.
But that $1 million fund is thefirst public housing fund in
the state of Texas for cities togive money.
(39:28):
Yeah, that was just recent,wasn't it?
Yeah, yeah, so it's $1 million.
It's a drop in the bucket, butit's a start towards something
greater.
Speaker 2 (39:37):
The rent relief policy started as $1 million.
It was just $1 million to gotowards it and then that created
I do know how much money.
It ultimately went through thatpolicy.
So much, that was because of thework we did Overseeing, we're
like OK, we got $1 million, whatare we going to do with it?
(39:58):
We got to take it to the people, collect the right data, not
just whatever, but how do wetalk to the people and make sure
that the data represents whatthey're going through?
I mean, we did so much work onthat policy and then, once COVID
hit and the federal governmentwas able to just push so much
through San Antonio specifically, yeah, I wonder how much money
(40:23):
it was ultimately.
Speaker 3 (40:25):
A ton, especially because I know CARES funding and
ARPA money went through thereas well.
So, like so much, where?
Speaker 2 (40:33):
other cities and states and counties were failing
, the federal government wouldjust push it into San Antonio
because we had that program.
I mean, they all got it fromhere and it's just like, yeah,
that's another example of just.
I'm like what's the point indoing any policy work?
They just mess up everything.
But it's like that wasliterally millions of dollars
that came into San Antoniobecause of that, despite a lot
(40:56):
of landlords abusing that policy.
Speaker 4 (41:01):
I really appreciate your love for history.
I think that's where your powerseems to come from too, because
you do see these things as notas a individual gentrification
oh, it's just happening here, orwhatever.
It's actually a historicalthing that's been happening.
And then, plus, you have yourown family history.
(41:23):
That can be so grounding tohave, and then you appreciate
the individual story because youappreciate history.
Speaker 2 (41:32):
But yeah, I know I'm just so happy that we have you
on City Council and it reallygives me a lot more hope than I
tend to have.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
And I will say right again sometimes, when you're the
only one advocating forspecific things, it's kind of
like I'm yelling at a wall.
But then I hear a communitysaying, no, this is what we need
.
And it's grounding to me,because sometimes it's just like
I'm the only one that thinks weshouldn't be investing in a
market rate period and justpieces like that.
(42:05):
It's just like I'm literallythe only one up here Like this
stinks.
But I know that there'scommunity that has the same
vision and values as well.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
Maria had said before .
Maria Beriozabel had said thatso many times she was the only
no vote and what her officewould do is put a huge banner on
her door at City Hall that hadlike big no that's crazy Any
time that that happens.
Yeah, she in her book, oh yeah.
I had got it from you.
(42:34):
Her book right.
Because what I loved about that,this one part, I think I say
it's like any time I have ameeting with a politician or an
elected representative either.
I loved Maria's book when shespoke about she used her office
as a space for community toorganize within.
(42:54):
That hit me so hard.
When I read that and I just sayit all, repeat it all the time
I'm like what else are you doingNot to you?
I know that you know, but whenI bring it up to others I'm just
like what else are you doingthere Except trying to get your
community involved and choicesthat impact them?
Speaker 3 (43:16):
Yeah, and Rachel on our team and Taylor who used to
be with us.
They had proposed to me what wenow call office to the people,
right, and essentially we'll beout in the field rather than the
field office.
So that way folks who don'tknow we exist, don't know where
we're at, don't know what a citycouncil member is or our role,
(43:38):
but if we go to their doors andtalk to them and introduce
ourselves, they will.
So that's another piece thatwe've done, to like we've
convened.
But then we also make it apriority to go to the doors.
That's really, really importantbecause we have our own
community and we're not onlygoing to have our own community,
but we're also going to haveour own community and we're
going to have the people whowill be there to help out.
We'll have our own communityand we're going to have the
(44:01):
people who will be there to helpus and our community priority
to go to the doors.
Speaker 2 (44:05):
That's amazing, and has that brought some of your
constituents to speak up?
Speaker 3 (44:13):
Yes, yes, and it's something that I'm really proud
of, because this past budgetmeeting we saw increase in
attendance and there were newfaces but their faces that we
met at the doors and encouragedto come out Nice.
So it was great.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
Love that.
Yeah, I mean, door to door isseriously the best way is to do
that soapwork.
Literally like any weekend, Ididn't have my kids, I would
just be knocking on myneighbor's doors there's 380
units there and sometimes peoplewould just sort of be like,
well, what are we going to do?
We're getting displaced,they're going to kick us out,
there's nothing that we can do,and I'll just sit there and talk
(44:46):
to them and just continue totalk to them and explain it, and
at the end they'd be like, yeah, I hear you.
So if we all come together andwe do that, then we speak up and
then they'll listen.
I'm like, yes, exactly, andit's just the best feeling ever
to see people who didn't thinkthat they even could, didn't
know how it wasn't even itdidn't even cross their mind,
(45:07):
recognized.
I'm like, oh, I do have a voice, especially when supported,
especially when, by the way,supported by a councilwoman.
Speaker 4 (45:16):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:17):
Amazing.
Any other questions Concerns?
Speaker 4 (45:28):
comments.
I want to know the cheese mitts.
Let's go over there.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
Yeah, that was all the questions I had.
Speaker 4 (45:39):
SAISD hit that up.
Yeah, Thank you In.
Speaker 3 (45:43):
October 16th I believe it's a school board
meeting, so I want to encourageparents, community members, to
come out, because these arepublic spaces and they belong to
the people and the peopleshould have a say in what
happens to the schools.
Speaker 2 (45:55):
Yes, public money for public spaces.
I feel like that's what I'mgetting out of, a lot of what
I'm getting out of thisconversation, personally,
Awesome.
Speaker 3 (46:05):
Well, thank you, I appreciate your time.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
Thank you.
Yeah, thank you, tyra.
I know that you got called outinto executive session, so I
appreciate you showing up anyway.
Yeah, thanks, tyra.
All righty, that's a wrap.
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