"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.