San Antonio Council defies Mayor Jones' policymaking changes
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The City Council voted Thursday to block Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones from unilaterally making updates to the council's policymaking process, handing the new mayor another defeat just three months into her term.
Why it matters: The move is a major escalation in a power struggle between Jones and some councilmembers.
How it works: A Council Consideration Request (CCR) is one of the main ways for councilmembers to make or update policies. A councilmember can file a request with four signatures from their colleagues who agree the council should take up the issue.
- Within two months, it goes to a committee to be initially vetted. From there, councilmembers in another committee shape the policy proposal before it eventually comes before the full City Council for a vote.
Catch up quick: One of Mayor Jones' first moves on the job was to make changes to that CCR process, saying all proposals should first go through top city management and her staff.
- She later suggested proposals in the works before she and other new councilmembers took office were expired and needed to be resubmitted — further angering members.
- A bipartisan group of three councilmembers — Teri Castillo, Marina Alderete Gavito and Marc Whyte — have led the charge against Jones' changes. Freshman Councilmember Misty Spears joined forces with them to force the Thursday vote.
The latest: The updated process passed Thursday explicitly states that a CCR's spot in the policymaking process will not change due to the seating of a new mayor or councilmembers.
- It also says that the CCR process cannot be updated without a vote by the City Council.
What they're saying: "Resident concerns don't start and stop when we get elected and when we get into office," Alderete Gavito said.
The other side: "It wouldn't disregard the work in any way," Jones said of her proposals. "It's meant to reflect the will of this council."
The bottom line: While the policymaking battle is about power, it also has real impacts on the work the City Council can do.