Hundreds turn out for Mayor Taylor @ St. Philip's College, 7-31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-R: Director of Selective Service Larry Romo & SA Mayor Ivy Taylor, supporters

San Antonio Tea Party claims victory on the Street Car battle

You have made a difference!  Many signed the petition to put a vote for or against the streetcars on the November ballot and many went further, circulating petitions, gathering signatures and compiling them.  Guess what?  The City of San Antonio blinked:

Jeff Judson, who represents the SATP in the Streetcar Vote Coalition said "Today may have been a victory on the streetcar battle.  However it is unclear if it is a short term or long term victory.  The Streetcar Vote Coalition leadership has not had a chance to meet and determine a course of action. We are consulting with our attorney and will know more today."
Congratulations, Patriots!  No matter the outcome, you made a difference. So did our leader, Allen Tharp, when he stepped up to become part of the Halbig case, another success story for citizen activism.   

Yours in Liberty,
Tom Shumaker
VP, CommunicationSan Antonio Tea Party

Judicial candidate Barbie Scharf-Zeldes Birthday, 8-2

Message from District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenberg on Streetcar

On Monday, City Council and Mayor Ivy Taylor, along with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, halted participation in the VIA streetcar project. I believe this the right move for San Antonio.

Since the debate about streetcars began almost three years ago, I have expressed concern that the project did not address the critical transportation challenges we face today nor in the future. Simply put, our chief transportation concerns in any corner of this city are congestion and the dwindling sources of local, state, and federal funding to build and maintain infrastructure. At this critical point in San Antonio's history, we need a long term, comprehensive, innovative plan for transportation that addresses these issues. Streetcar did not do that, and I'm glad our city and county officials recognize that no such project will proceed without a public vote.

As with water in our region, comprehensive planning is vital to match limited resources with seemingly unlimited need: According to the state demographer, San Antonio's population will increase by 1.1 million in the next 25 years, bringing with it an estimated 500 thousand more vehicles, air quality issues, and roadway maintenance challenges. The status quo will no longer work, and neither will a piecemeal approach to transit reform. Therefore, I'm pleased to report on the commitment made today by Bexar County and the City of San Antonio to begin a planning effort and, once assembled, bring a big-picture transportation plan to the public for voter approval.

In addition, I agree with Mayor Taylor’s call for a Charter Commission to examine changes needed in city governance. Any changes made should be binding, and they should advance our entire city’s vision of transparent, accountable government that operates in concert with our Texas State Constitution. I look forward to working with Mayor Taylor, my colleagues, and our neighbors on crafting a long term transportation vision for San Antonio.

Sincerely,
 

Mega Job Fair//Monster/mySA.com/SA Express-News, 8-5

Leticia Van de Putte for Lt. Governor, Wendy Davis for Governor

NW Democrats new Campaign Offices on Babcock opening, 8-2

Come and see it

 

New Offices for New & Grander Campaign Work

 and bring your shower offerings  to keep the volunteers busy

 

Suggestions for supplies needed to keep us working:

Paper, Office Depot Gift Cards, Scotch Tape, & Dispensers,
Toner HP 05X, Eraser Boards, Office Max gift cards,
bottled water, roll of stamps, 5x8 legal pads,
Staple gift cards, HEB gift cards, pencils, dry eraser cleaners

 

Northwest Democrats Campaign Office

5809 Babcock (at Huebner)
Between LaFitness & Dollar Store

 

Saturday, August 2  2-4 p.m. 

"Just a Thought" Column continues in La Prensa of SA, 7-27

Just a Thought: Mayor-HUD Secretary
By Steve Walker

It is now official by a Senate vote of 71-26 that Mayor Julian Castro is now the newest Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary to serve in the Obama Administration.

Following in the footsteps of Henry Cisneros, the first modern day Hispanic San Antonio Mayor, he will be in charge of revitalizing many public housing developments and continue the trend set before him to achieve the nation’s highest rate of home ownership to date.

If he follows HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros lead, he will work in more than two hundred cities spread over the fifty states to achieve that goal. With nearly two and a half years left in Obama’s Administration, many believe he will match Cisneros’ accomplishments to move this country forward. It is also rumored he may be considered for the Vice Presidential ticket in 2016. If that happens it is a story for another column.

Both Castro and Cisneros have much in common with their Westside roots. Mayor Cisneros and wife former Councilwoman Mary Alice not only continue to live in the Westside, but headquarter their non-profit “American Sunrise” from that side of town.

Mayor Castro and his wife, Erica, and daughter, Carina live in the Westside as does his mother, Rosie.

When it comes to leadership, many in San Antonio tend to miss the great success stories from the West Side that contribute to our fair city.  Castro is a Jefferson High School graduate while Cisneros is a Central Catholic graduate. As one who taught on the Westside to include Memorial High School and St. Mary’s University, I know the great potential that emanates from there.

As Mayor, Cisneros worked to rebuild the city's economic base, recruited convention business, attracted high tech industries, increased the level of tourism, and worked to bring more jobs to San Antonio.

Mayor Castro has done the same on his Mayor’s watch addressing the economy, increasing tourism and the like to include his initiative to fund a program for Pre-K students which is in full swing and jump started his 2020 program in 2010 a community wide visioning effort.

It generated a list of goals created by the people of San Antonio based on their collective vision for San Antonio in the year 2020. SA2020 then became a nonprofit organization tasked with turning that vision into a reality

 

While Cisneros served three terms as Mayor from 1975-1981, and HUD Secretary from 1993-1997 under President Bill Clinton, Castro is in his 3^rd term which he will not complete, 10 months shy of the term due to his promotion to HUD Secretary. Both previously served on the city council for a number of terms before becoming Mayor. Castro was elected to the council at age 26 while Cisneros was elected at the age of 27. Up until then Cisneros was the youngest Councilman elected.

Castro also gained national attention in 2012 when he was the first Hispanic to deliver the keynote address at a Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.

One other similarity between the two Mayors is that Mayor Castro, along with his twin brother Congressman Joaquin Castro attended Harvard Law School while Mayor Cisneros attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard receiving a Master’s Degree in Public Administration.

Mayor Cisneros was 46 when he became HUD Secretary while Mayor Castro will be a month shy of 40 when he takes office. San Antonio can be proud of both our native sons who serve to make not only the country proud but San Antonio as well.

Always, I write “Just a Thought.”

Steve Walker is a Vietnam Veteran, former Journalist and Justice of the Peace.

108 year old WWII Veteran Lucy coffee @ War Memorial, 7-26

   

L-R:108 year old WWII Vet and San Antonio resident Lucy Coffee, US Public Health Service Choir, crowd,  WWII Vet former Senator Bob Dole, Selective Service Director & San Antonian Larry Romo, photos by Larry Romo earlier today

Celebrate with NSide as we honor Inspire Award Winners, 7-30

SAAHJ presents Scholarship & Awards Gala @ Marriott, 8-8

Friday, August 8th @ Marriott Rivercenter, 101 Bowie Street @ 7 p.m. with MC ABC News Reporter Jim Avila, honoring ABC Correspondent John Quinones, former Mayor Henry Cisneros & Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez.

The best news of all is that your $125 ticket will help fund SAAHJ's plan to award $30,000 in scholarships that night.

The San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists (SAAHJ) will honor San Antonio-born filmmaker Robert Rodriguez with its first-ever Corazón de Oro Award during its 16^th annual Scholarship & Awards Gala on Friday, Aug. 8th, 2014, at the Marriott Rivercenter, 101 Bowie St.

Spanish for “heart of gold,” the Corazón de Oro Award was created to highlight the accomplishments of Latino leaders — in San Antonio and beyond — who have excelled in their fields and have helped bring attention to the significant contributions of U.S. Latinos to the nation’s arts and culture, politics, education, government, philanthropy and other fields. With more than 30 films to his credit, including “El Mariachi,” “Spy Kids” and “Machete,” as well as the establishment of his El Rey Network, Rodriguez has distinguished himself while helping young filmmakers through his philanthropic work.

“We’re thrilled to have Robert Rodriguez join us, as he’s worked to tell Latino stories on an international scale through film, while never forgetting his Texas roots,” SAAHJ President Francisco Vara-Orta said. “He helps us set the bar high for our inaugural Corazón de Oro Award.”

Joining Rodriguez will be two previously announced honorees — longtime ABC News correspondent John Quinoñes, who will receive the Henry Guerra Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Journalism; and former San Antonio Mayor and Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros, who will receive SAAHJ’s Community Service Award. ABC News Senior National Correspondent Jim Avila will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies.

Rodriguez will be honored during SAAHJ’s annual Scholarship & Awards Gala, which this year will be an official event of the 30th annual National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Conference, which will bring Latino journalists from across the country to San Antonio. At the event, SAAHJ will award $30,000 in scholarships to its newest class of scholars.

For sponsorship opportunities, please call Melissa Aguillon at (210) 394-6098.

Few more pix from election of Ivy Taylor as Mayor fo SA, 7-22

  

 

Mayor Ivy Taylor taking oath from City Clerk Leticia Vacek,  Gracie Acuna & JoAnn Ramon, former SAISD Board Member Mary Esther Bernal & Chris Alderete, Councilman Rey Saldana with City Mgr. Sheryl Sculley, former Mayor Julian Castro with City Mgr. Sheryl Sculley, Hispanic chamber CEO Ramiro Cavazos  with Louie Barrios, former Democratic Party Chair Choco Meza with her granddaughter, Emma, Gerald Lee with former Councilman Chip Haass