Politics

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg heads to U.S. Conference of Mayors

Photo illustration of San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg  with lines radiating from him.

Photo Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Rick Kern/Getty Images

Mayor Ron Nirenberg is headed to Ohio to hobnob with fellow municipal leaders and chat about solutions to a variety of civic concerns.

What's happening: The annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting opens Friday in Columbus and runs through Monday.

Megan Stringer
Jun 1, 2023 - News

Violent crime in San Antonio drops since "hot spot" policing began

Illustration of a security camera topped with police car lights

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Violent crime in San Antonio has decreased since the police department began a new "hot spot" strategy this year, but it may be too soon to say whether the policing plan affected the drop. 

Catch up fast: In January, police launched the hot spot strategy, part of a plan developed by the University of Texas at San Antonio to reduce violent crime.

Megan Stringer
May 26, 2023 - Election

San Antonio City Council District 7 runoff election heating up

Illustration of a pattern of shapes and checkmarks.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Two candidates with similar platforms — one with hefty fundraising support and another who says he's building a grassroots campaign — are vying for an open District 7 seat on the City Council.

Driving the news: Early voting in the nonpartisan election begins Tuesday and runs through June 6. Find a polling place online. Election Day is June 10.

Megan Stringer
May 25, 2023 - Election

San Antonio City Council District 1 runoff election: What to know

Illustration of a pattern of shapes and checkmarks.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Voters in District 1, across the North Side and downtown, will soon choose whether they want to be represented on the City Council by incumbent Mario Bravo or political newcomer Sukh Kaur, an education consultant.

  • Kaur says she can offer change and improve relationships to get things done, but Bravo, who's seeking a second term, says that would only introduce a new learning curve.
Megan Stringer
May 10, 2023 - Politics

Cities worry bill in Texas Legislature threatens local laws

Illustration of a row of standing gavels set up and toppling like dominoes

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

A bill that officials in San Antonio and other Texas cities worry would dismantle many local regulations is quickly making its way through the Texas Legislature.

Driving the news: The Senate could vote on House Bill 2127 any time. It passed the House last month, and a Senate committee approved the bill last week. Its passage in the Senate would send it to Gov. Greg Abbott, who supports it.

How Proposition A was defeated in San Antonio election

Illustration of a "no" symbol being made in a ballot.

Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios

After advertisements claimed San Antonio would fall siege to criminals, voters definitively rejected Proposition A, a sweeping ballot question that sought to reform a range of local criminal justice policies.

  • It represents a turning point from two years ago when voters narrowly rejected a police reform ballot measure.

Key takeaways: San Antonio City Council election results

Illustration of a pattern of shapes and checkmarks.

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

San Antonio City Council incumbents won re-election by wide margins Saturday night — except embattled District 1 Councilmember Mario Bravo, who was forced into a runoff by challenger Sukh Kaur.

Driving the news: Election results show two of 11 races heading to a runoff on June 10.

San Antonio's Proposition A defeated in decisive vote

Illustration of a ballot balancing on a finger.

Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios

Voters decisively rejected Proposition A, the sweeping criminal justice reform question in San Antonio, in an about-face from a police reform ballot measure two years ago.

  • About 72% of voters cast their ballot against it, vote tallies showed as of 10pm Saturday.
  • The charter amendment performed slightly better among election day voters than early voters, but that didn't change the overall picture.
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