A proposal to ban horse-drawn carriages in downtown San Antonio, a longtime tourist attraction, is dividing residents.

Why it matters: Supporters of a ban say horse-drawn carriages are outdated and inhumane, particularly in an increasingly hot city.

• But carriage operators say the horses have access to pastures and are well cared for, and banning them puts the animals and their livelihoods at risk.

Catch up quick: District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran filed a proposal in November 2022 to ban horse-drawn carriage rides and transition to electric carriages and pedicabs.

• There was immediate backlash from carriage companies.

The latest: Four of the five carriage company operators told the San Antonio Police Department they are open to using electric carriages if the city offers financial support to help obtain them.

• They have asked for about five years to transition the industry.

What they're saying: "I know that with change comes great challenges, but we also have a great opportunity to facilitate something new, special and memorable in our city that both relieves traffic congestion and creates a special experience that everyone, both local families and tourists, can enjoy," McKee-Rodriguez said yesterday.

State of play: A city survey that closed last week received over 50,000 responses.

• About 52% of respondents supported a ban and transition, while 48% said the city should continue with horse-drawn carriages downtown or make changes to hours and locations.

Context: The city has issued permits for horse-drawn carriages since 1865.

• Five companies in the city are permitted for 25 horse-drawn carriages total.

What's next: City staff will develop one-, two- and three-year plans to phase out horse-drawn carriages to provide options to councilmembers, after the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee gave the go-ahead yesterday.

• The full City Council will be briefed on the options this fall.

🔊 Tell us: Do you think the city should continue to allow horse-drawn carriages downtown? Why or why not?

• Hit reply to this email, and we may share your thoughts in an upcoming newsletter.

Zoom out

A new baseball entertainment complex is coming to The Rim in San Antonio.

Why it matters: Home Run Dugout says it has reinvented the typical batting cage to be an immersive gaming experience for all ages and skill levels.

The big picture: The company opened its first full-scale location in Katy, outside Houston, in 2023. There is another location in Round Rock.

Zoom in: Known as the Topgolf of baseball, Home Run Dugout will cover over 65,000 square feet at The Rim and come with a full-service restaurant and three new bars. There will be more than 30 Batting Bays.

• It will include a Biergarten Baseball mini-field, which can be reserved for private events. The field in Katy is designed for games like Wiffle ball and kickball.

How it works: The company's Batting Bay is similar to a batting cage — but without the cage or the actual baseball.

• Customers instead hit a soft ball that shoots up from the ground using a soft-toss pitching machine.

What they're saying: "We're confident that a little friendly competition is the best way to bring people together over drinks, laughter and home runs," co-founder and CEO Tyler Bambrick said in a statement.

What's next: Construction is slated to begin in 2025. An opening date has not been announced.

Tell a sporty friend

🔇 San Antonio's newest metal bar, Torche, is closing after less than three weeks in business. City officials said it wasn't properly zoned to have live music on its patio. (SA Current)

🏨 Philanthropist Gordon Hartman is adding an accessible hotel for people with disabilities near the Morgan's Wonderland theme park in Northeast San Antonio. (SA Business Journal 🔒)

🏖️ USAA's CEO will retire in the first half of 2025. (Express-News 🔒)

🗳️ Republicans are making gains with Latino voters in big cities. (Texas Tribune)

Honeybees have made a big comeback since the colony collapse crisis of the early 2000s. Now, these tiny creatures are the fastest-growing type of livestock in the country.

• In Texas, the number of colonies grew 59.9% in five years, from 5,591 in 2017 to 8,939 in 2022, per data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Why it matters: The high hive losses a couple of decades ago led to fears that the domesticated western honeybee, a key part of the world's food system, was headed for widespread population collapse from pesticides, climate change and invasive mites.

Zoom in: A dozen years ago, Texas lawmakers approved tax breaks for keeping bees on at least five acres.

Go deeper: U.S. bee farms are increasing

Worthy of your time: How a chance meeting helped Texas become the nation's top beekeeping state