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Texas saw a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2022 and now ranks fifth in the country for hate against Jewish people, according to an audit by the Anti-Defamation League.

Why it matters: The spike in incidents comes as the FBI and human rights groups warn about rising numbers of hate crimes in the U.S., Axios' Russell Contreras writes.

Context: The ADL has tracked reports of antisemitic incidents since 1979. Its latest audit includes criminal and noncriminal acts of antisemitism.

Researchers who track hate crimes say the actual number of incidents was probably higher than reported in 2022.

The big picture: Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. jumped a record 36% in 2022 compared with 2021, according to the ADL audit.

Nationally, 3,697 antisemitic incidents were brought to the ADL's attention in 2022.

Antisemitic harassment rose by 29%, while antisemitic vandalism increased by 51%, the audit said.

Zoom in: States with the most incidents were New York (580), California (518), New Jersey (408), Florida (269) and Texas (211), accounting for 54% of the total incidents.

San Antonio recorded 21 cases in 2022 (the same as 2021), which were categorized as antisemitic incidents, "white supremacist propaganda" or both.

Outlying Bexar County areas accounted for an additional nine incidents, according to ADL. In 2021, that number was two.

Flashback: Last July, San Antonio's Jewish synagogues were on high alert after the FBI identified a "credible threat" against the community. Temple Beth-El, the largest in South Texas, canceled Shabbat services in response.

Lisa Epstein, director of the local Jewish Community Relations Council, tells Axios the faith group was "absolutely rattled" by the threat, but were "very well prepared."

What they're saying: Epstein believes San Antonio is an inclusive city, but recognizes that hate groups throughout Texas are attracting interest via online antisemitism and flyers distributed in neighborhoods.

"It only takes one person to read it — someone who's not familiar with the Jewish community — and to believe the lies and propaganda that they're spreading and the (antisemitic groups) gain a new member."

On Monday, the Jewish Federation of San Antonio joined the national "#StopTheHate" campaign, which mobilizes people — especially non-Jews —  to counter online hate by sharing the 🟦 emoji with a message of support online and to report antisemitism.

Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism

Texas ranks high for states with the most antisemitic incidents.

A police vehicle is parked outside a Jewish synagogue. 

Texas ranks high among states with the most antisemitic incidents. Photo: Andy Jacobsohn/AFP via Getty Images

Texas saw a record number of antisemitic incidents in 2022 and now ranks fifth in the country for hate against Jewish people, according to an audit by the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Anti-Defamation League." data-vars-click-url="https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-to-track-hate/heat-map" data-vars-content-id="1b2d9c11-e3e5-41a2-811c-bbbbc802ae05" data-vars-headline="Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.adl.org/resources/tools-to-track-hate/heat-map" target="_blank">Anti-Defamation League.</a>Why it matters: The spike in incidents comes as the<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" FBI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/13/fbi-hate-crimes-2021-increase" data-vars-content-id="1b2d9c11-e3e5-41a2-811c-bbbbc802ae05" data-vars-headline="Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/13/fbi-hate-crimes-2021-increase" target="_self"> FBI</a> and<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" human rights groups" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/17/antisemitic-hate-crimes-rise-in-major-cities" data-vars-content-id="1b2d9c11-e3e5-41a2-811c-bbbbc802ae05" data-vars-headline="Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/12/17/antisemitic-hate-crimes-rise-in-major-cities" target="_self"> human rights groups</a> warn about rising numbers of hate crimes in the U.S.,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Axios&#x27; Russell Contreras writes." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/23/antisemitism-cases-record-levels-2022-adl" data-vars-content-id="1b2d9c11-e3e5-41a2-811c-bbbbc802ae05" data-vars-headline="Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/23/antisemitism-cases-record-levels-2022-adl" target="_self"> Axios&#x27; Russell Contreras writes.</a>

News

The Valero Texas Open, one of the oldest PGA Tour tournaments, takes place at TPC San Antonio this weekend, but if you'd rather sing instead of staying quiet for swings, you're in luck.

Driving the news: From '80s hits to Disney sing-alongs, there's plenty to jam out to this weekend.

🌹 The Industry nightclub is marking the 28th anniversary of Selena's death with a tribute Friday starting at 9pm.

🇲🇽 Oye, mi amor! Maná's "México Lindo Y Querido" tour stops at the AT&T Center on Saturday at 8pm.

Haven't bought your tickets yet? Ticketmaster has some available.

🎸 If you "just can't get enough" of live music, Depeche Mode will be at the AT&T Center on Sunday at 7pm.

⛸️ Mega hits "Frozen" and "Encanto" will combine for "Disney on Ice" at the Alamodome. Showtimes are available throughout the weekend.

🫰🏻 Head to Mission Marquee Plaza on Saturday at 6pm to celebrate local talent like Andrea "Vocab" Sanderson and Carmen Tafolla and music at Viva Poesia, a free event kicking off National Poetry Month.

5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend: Concerts, Disney and more

Illustration of a cassette tape with the tape unspooling to spell weekend. 

A cassette with the tape unspooled to spell weekend. 

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Valero Texas Open" data-vars-click-url="https://valerotexasopen.com/general-admission/" data-vars-content-id="918dbf67-2ad3-4e40-9f77-968dfdb56694" data-vars-headline="5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend: Concerts, Disney and more" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://valerotexasopen.com/general-admission/" target="_blank">The Valero Texas Open</a>, one of the oldest PGA Tour tournaments, takes place at TPC San Antonio this weekend, but if you&#x27;d rather sing instead of staying quiet for swings, you&#x27;re in luck.Driving the news: From &#x27;80s hits to Disney sing-alongs, there&#x27;s plenty to jam out to this weekend.

Things to Do

Chef John Russ of Clementine could be named Best Chef in Texas by the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.

Why it matters: San Antonians have been nominees in the past, but a local chef or restaurant has never won a James Beard award, which carries national prestige.

Driving the news: The nominees, whittled down from the semifinalists, were announced Wednesday. Russ is one of five Texas chefs vying for the title.

Context: Clementine, which opened in the Castle Hills neighborhood in 2018, is a laid-back restaurant with a globally inspired menu.

The kitchen serves everything from ricotta cavatelli to spätzle to Texas beef.

Zoom out: Ernest Servantes and David Kirkland of Burnt Bean Co. in Seguin — about 40 minutes east of San Antonio — are also nominated for the Best Chef award.

What they're saying: "This recognition is a true testament to the tireless efforts of the entire Clementine team in creating exceptional dining experiences for every one of our guests," Russ tells Axios. 

What's next: Winners will be announced on June 5 at the 32nd annual James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.

San Antonio chef nominated for a James Beard award

It would be the San Antonio's first James Beard win.

Illustration of a first place ribbon with a gold plate at the center.

Clementine Chef John Russ is one of five Texas chefs nominated for the award. Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios

Chef John Russ of Clementine could be named Best Chef in Texas by the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.Why it matters: San Antonians have been nominees in the past, but a local chef or restaurant has never won a James Beard award, which carries national prestige.

Food and Drink

Downtown will have a Chick-fil-A location by the end of the week.

Driving the news: The restaurant at 106 E. Houston St. opens Thursday.

The intrigue: The location includes a drive-thru, a rarity for downtown, which will start at an entrance off Soledad Street and wind through the Rand Parking Garage.

The parking garage and drive-thru will have separate entrances and flows of traffic.

Flashback: In March 2019, the City Council voted against opening a Chick-fil-A at the San Antonio Airport. Then-District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño said his decision was based on the Atlanta-based chain's "legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior.”

In July 2019, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill, informally known as the "Save Chick-fil-A law," to stop local governments from taking "adverse actions" against businesses based on their religious beliefs.

The new location is walking distance from City Hall.

Yes, but: In November 2019, Chick-fil-A announced it would no longer give money to organizations with a history of anti-LGBTQ behavior and shifted its philanthropic focus to groups supporting education, homelessness and hunger relief.

What they're saying: First-time Chick-fil-A franchisee Jamie Williams, who is originally from Houston, said in a statement that he's "thrilled" to open the location downtown.

“I hope to create meaningful connections by serving others and leading with love, and I look forward to making an impact on this community and my team," he said.

What's next: In honor of the opening, Chick-fil-A will donate $25,000 to Feeding America, the hunger relief network that includes the San Antonio Food Bank.

The chain is also giving a year's worth of food to 100 residents the company identified as "local heroes."

What we're watching: Whether the new Chick-fil-A location will become popular with City Council offices despite the 2019 vote.

Downtown San Antonio's Chick-fil-A opens this week

The new downtown Chick-fil-A has a drive-thru.

Sidewalk view of the new Chick-fil-A location on Houston. 

Storefront of the city's newest Chick-fil-A. Photo: Courtesy of Chick-fil-A

Downtown will have a Chick-fil-A location by the end of the week.Driving the news: The restaurant at 106 E. Houston St. opens Thursday.

The rate of Black homeownership in San Antonio increased by nearly 4 percentage points during the pandemic, according to a new analysis of data from Zillow and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.

Why it matters: The increase could be an early sign that programs designed to make homeownership more accessible like down payment assistance are "starting to make a mark," Nicole Bachaud, a senior economist at Zillow, told Axios' Emma Hurt.

The big picture: However, the local Black homeownership rate remained about 24% less than white households in 2021, according to Zillow.

Though the gap remains, it's narrower in San Antonio compared with other major Texas cities.

Between the lines: Throughout the pandemic, homes owned by Black San Antonians had the highest home value appreciation (39%) out of all homeowners. But Bachaud noted that likely reflects the fact that Black home values are lower than average, and lower-priced homes have been in high demand.

The average Black-owned home in San Antonio is worth about $1,791 less than the overall average, per Zillow. For context, Black-owned homes across the country are, on average, worth $48,617 less than all others.

The city's military population and veteran loans, as well as a generally low cost of living, could encourage higher rates of Black homeownership, according to Bobby Blount, chair of the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund.

Yes, but: Nearly one-third of Black Bexar County households are "cost burdened" or paying too much for housing, per the State of the African American Community in San Antonio and Bexar County report, released in 2022.

What they're saying: Blount tells Axios that homeownership was a central theme of the report.

"We realized how critical home ownership was because that's going to determine education, environmental conditions, but it also determines equity to be able to get a business loan," Blount tells Axios.

Blount is also concerned about the impacts the rapid gentrification of the East Side will have on Black homeowners there.

San Antonio's Black homeownership got a bump during the pandemic

But gaps remain despite the recent gains.

A chart of metros with the largest increases in Black home ownership rates from 2019 to 2021. 

The rate of Black homeownership in San Antonio increased by nearly 4 percentage points during the pandemic, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new analysis" data-vars-click-url="https://zillow.mediaroom.com/2023-02-27-Homes-owned-by-Black-families-appreciated-the-fastest-during-the-pandemic?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://zillow.mediaroom.com/2023-02-27-Homes-owned-by-Black-families-appreciated-the-fastest-during-the-pandemic?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=sendto_localnewslettertest&amp;stream=top" target="_blank">new analysis</a> of data from Zillow and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act.Why it matters: The increase could be an early sign that programs designed to make homeownership more accessible like down payment assistance are &quot;starting to make a mark,&quot; Nicole Bachaud, a senior economist at Zillow, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="told Axios&#x27; Emma Hurt" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/03/17/why-atlantas-black-owned-homeownership-rate-jumped-during-covid" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/atlanta/2023/03/17/why-atlantas-black-owned-homeownership-rate-jumped-during-covid" target="_self">told Axios&#x27; Emma Hurt</a>.

Madalyn Mendoza

Featured stories

San Antonio's Black homeownership got a bump during the pandemic

5 things to do in San Antonio this weekend: Concerts, Disney and more

San Antonio chef nominated for a James Beard award

Texas ranks fifth among states for antisemitism

Downtown San Antonio's Chick-fil-A opens this week