D6 Councilmember Points Out Lost Opportunities in Charter Review
Published on August 08, 2024
D6 Councilmember Points Out Lost Opportunities in Charter Review Process
SAN ANTONIO (August 8, 2024) –The City Council approved language for six Charter Amendment propositions that will be included in a ballot for the November election.
The following is Councilmember Melissa Cabello Havrda’s statement from the dais prior to the final vote:
“Thanks to the Charter Review Commission for their tireless efforts.
“I’m going to talk about three things: process, opportunity, and transparency.
“The City Charter belongs to the people of San Antonio. It belongs to the people who work day-in and day-out, raising families, growing businesses, going to school. The charter is a document that should reflect their lives, their hopes and dreams.
“Taxpayer money was spent organizing meetings where the amendments were discussed, where the public was told their concerns and ideas should be voiced. And they did, the public showed up, their voices were clear. But the process did not allow their ideas to be truly considered.
“This process was a missed opportunity.
“And it seems as if the opportunity was willfully missed, because it would have taken very little to listen, to consider, and to acknowledge the people’s voice. The meetings could have been a true discussion – getting public input before the charge was given to the Charter Review Commission could have made all the difference. The City has a robust process for the budget, with meetings in every district, with surveys, with opportunities for input. It’s been done many times, and it’s been done well. But it wasn’t done for the charter review.
“Representative government is clumsy by nature and slow by design. There must be a commitment to transparency if it’s going to work for everyone. We fell short in this process.
“We fell short of our future because the public wasn’t included. We fell short of responsibilities because it’s incumbent on leaders to make difficult decisions. And we fell short as members of this community because San Antonio deserves better.
“None of this is said in opposition to the proposed Charter changes. Some of the revisions are good and worthy, some make the City more nimble in its ability to grow, they give City workers the freedom to participate in local politics like every other San Antonian. Congratulations to City employees whose political freedom is finally being discussed. Thank you AFSCME, Guillermo for your advocacy and your patience especially to the great Linda Chavez Thompson. More to come for city employees, though.
“In the end the voters will decide. The irony is that there will be three months - 12 and ½ weeks to discuss, to consider, to debate these proposed amendments. Today is a starting point for discussion, it’s not “last-minute”. 12 and ½ weeks is not eleventh-hour. There is plenty of time, but with limited ideas. So many folks here today advocate for investment in youth. Thank you, especially Alana Trevino for coming to speak today. But, according to the powers that be, it's too late. Again, we missed an opportunity.
“Last week, I proposed two charter amendments, one to add elected members to the CPS Energy and SAWS boards, and another to change the way the City Attorney is appointed. The goal was trust and accountability. The idea was transparency. The case was made, and the shot was taken; it was done because there was not a public opportunity to do it before, and because there is still plenty of time to discuss new ideas.
“Clearly, when it comes to the people this Council represents, ideas are always germane. Opportunity is always germane. Transparency is always germane to the City’s future. Today, process, opportunity, and transparency were limited.
“Within the narrow scope of what is proposed today there are some valid ideas: City manager pay and terms will help us govern better, as will the change to the City Council terms. My opposition to raising Council compensation is clear.
“The elimination of the Ethics Review Board terms proposal is a good step, as is the modernization of the charter’s language.
“But my opinion regarding individual proposals doesn’t change the fact that we’re discussing amending government processes, and not one of them came from the neighborhoods of this city.
“There was a chance to make the process work for everyone. There was an opportunity to be transparent. And we fell short.”