Message from District 7 Councilman Chris Medina

Dear Friend, It's hard to believe that the summer is almost over. Next week, Jackie and I will be joining many of you in sending our little ones back to school as classes at Northside, San Antonio and Edgewood ISD begin. We want to wish all our children, teachers, staff and administrators in all our local public and private schools much success in the upcoming school year! As our students travel to school by walking, on their bikes or on the school bus, please be mindful of them and of the school safety rules and traffic laws in place to help prevent serious accidents and injuries. Violations can result in costly traffic tickets and fines too. So as you take to the street this week, pay extra attention to where the school zones begin and end, along with giving school buses extra room for wide turns. And remember, stay off of your cell phone in a school zone. The safety of our children depends on each of us doing our part and taking extra care when driving in school zones or around school buses. Below are some safety tips from SafeKids.org that you might find helpful: Top Back to School Safety Tips Slow down and be especially alert in the residential neighborhoods and school zones Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully Watch for children on and near the road in the morning and after school hours Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings. Put down your phone and don't talk or text while driving Reminder for your kids: They should cross the street with an adult until they are at least 10 years old Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks Never run out into the streets or cross in between parked cars Make sure they always walk in front of the bus where the driver can see them Together we can ensure that our back to school season is safe for both kids and drivers. Yours in service, Cris Medina City Councilman