Axios San Antonio

September 28, 2026
đź‘‹ Good Monday morning, San Antonio.
🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with "feels like" temps still above 100.
🎂 Happy birthday to our member Anna Briseno!
Today’s newsletter is 1,031 words — a 4-minute read.
1 big scoop: Mayor Jones' security scaled back
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones told Axios she no longer has an overnight security detail, though she declined to say why.
Why it matters: Jones had faced scrutiny for security measures that included city police officers guarding her home overnight — unprecedented for a San Antonio mayor. She said she experiences additional risk as the city's first openly gay mayor and as she has raised questions about a plan to fund a new Spurs arena.
The latest: Jones faced at least three threats to shoot or kill her during her first year in office, according to police documents obtained by Axios through a request under the Texas Public Information Act. One of the cases has not been previously reported.
- But she said that there have been more than three credible threats and that one has popped up every six to seven weeks since she took office in June last year.
What they're saying: "There's lots of data that shows that women, women of color, the LGBTQ community just experience … certainly a lot more online threats and vitriol," Jones said.
- "Not only is it, I think, a tense moment in our country … locally we were having some pretty spirited debates about our city's finances and the future of the city writ large."
Catch up quick: KSAT reported last October that police officers were providing overnight security at Jones' home following a threat against her in August last year. The station called it a unique level of security, citing multiple anonymous sources.
- A security detail typically accompanies mayors while they conduct city business, per KSAT, but not after hours.
Jones declined to provide additional details about the security measures to Axios, aside from saying she no longer has overnight protection.
- She said that she did not request the protection — contradicting previous reports — but that the San Antonio Police Department determines what level of security is needed.
- A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the mayor's security detail.
The big picture: Threats to public officials have been on the rise nationwide in recent years, with 2024 and 2025 both setting new records, per researchers at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
⬇️ Keep reading below
2. What the threats said
Axios requested copies of all incident reports and calls for service related to threats against Jones and received documents detailing the following three incidents.
- In August 2025, a post on X read, "We need to kill the mayor," apparently related to the city's ongoing plans to fund a downtown Spurs arena and Jones' push to slow down the process. "Due to the nature of the threat, Executive Protection detail for [Jones] were also advised," the police report reads.
- This February, another social media post read, "We should be hunting these evil demons and executing them, starting with @Mayor_GOJ," per the police report.
- In April, there were multiple replies on Jones' social media posts "regarding negative views of the LGBTQ community and calling [Jones] a 'tyrant.'" One person replied to Jones' post saying "we will shoot you" with a picture of a shotgun being loaded. "I was advised that [Jones] is taking this as a threat and influencing the conduct or activities of government," the police report reads.
Plus: In May, police said a man made a threat to bomb Jones' office.
Context: Axios requested the same documents for former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's first (2017-2018) and final (2024-2025) years serving as mayor and received no responsive records.
Yes, but: San Antonio police arrested a man in October 2019 for sending threatening messages to the former mayor on Facebook Messenger.
- KSAT reported last year that Nirenberg received temporary police patrols of his home if there was an active threat.
3. Inside the Loop
Camp Mystic proposed selling its property amid its bankruptcy reorganization plan. (Express-News 🔑)
At least 10 police officers shot a man over the weekend after he pointed a shotgun at them, Police Chief Jesse Salame said. The man is in critical condition. (KSAT)
▶️ The nonpartisan Cook Political Report says the 15th and 35th congressional districts in South Texas are increasingly competitive for Democrats. (Cook Political Report)
4. đź‘€ We're bringing mystery dinners to Southtown
Axios Social Club is bringing readers together for dinner in Southtown on Oct. 6.
Why it matters: San Antonio is full of interesting people you haven't met yet. We're making it easier to change that.
How it works: Take a quick quiz, reserve your seat and we'll match you with five fellow locals for dinner at a restaurant we hand-picked.
- Come solo or bring a friend.
- Your restaurant and dinner crew stay a surprise until event day.
- After dinner, all the tables meet up at a surprise after-party.
By the numbers: More than 1,200 Axios readers across the country are already signed up to join us in their Axios Local city on Oct. 6.
If you go: Dinner starts at 6:30pm. Tickets cost $15.99 per person, with food and drinks purchased separately.
The bottom line: Bring a friend — or come make a few new ones.
News for your community
Every day, we work to bring you the local stories, insights and updates that help you stay connected to your community.
📍 Become a member today. Your support helps us continue delivering trusted local reporting and keeps our newsroom focused on the stories that matter most.
Help keep local journalism strong where you live.
5. ✂️ Get your work published
The deadline is Wednesday to submit art or writing for the San Antonio Public Library's Big Read Zine.
Catch up quick: The annual zine features work from the community in several mediums, including doodles and photos.
- The tradition began in 2019, and each edition has a theme. Past zines have focused on strong women heroes and memories of food, for example.
Zoom in: This year's theme is fairytales and folklore. Submissions could include stories about the Donkey Lady Bridge or the South Side Ghost Tracks, for example.
Zoom out: To learn more about zines and how to create your own independently published booklet, head to the next Zine Lab Monthly at the Central Library, 5-7pm Oct. 13.
- Arts and crafts supplies will be provided.
Thanks to our editors Astrid Galván and Bob Gee.
🏙️ Madalyn is spending time with coworkers in Atlanta.
đź‘€ Megan is still spending a good amount of time watching the trailer for that Nathan Fielder-Elizabeth Holmes documentary.
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