Aug 17, 2026 City Council Special Session

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>> MAYOR JONES: GOOD MORNING. THE TIME IS NOW 9:03 A.M.

ON MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2026, AND THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO SPECIAL SESSION IS CALLED TO ORDER. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE CALL

ROLL. PL. >> CLERK:

MA'AM, WE HAVE A QUORUM. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT. THANK YOU.

I CALLED THIS MEETING TO ASK MY COLLEAGUES TO ALLOW CONSIDER CITY VOTERS TO VOTE ON THE $489 MILLION TO THE ARENA.

MADAM CLERK PLEASE READ THE CAPTION. >> CLERK: AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE EELD ON THE THIRD DAY OF NOVEMBER 2026 TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD ISSUE OR CAUSE OR SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $489 MILLION TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN NBA ARENA IN THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT TO BE SECURED AND REPAID FROM -- WITHIN THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, 3, REVENUE FROM THE HEMISFAIR TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, AND, 4, REVENUE FROM THE

PROJECT FINANCE ZONE NUMBER 2. >> MAYOR JONES: GREAT.

THANK YOU. THERE IS NO STAFF PRESENTATION, SO WE WILL GO STRAIGHT TO PUBLIC COMMENT. I WILL CALL INDIVIDUALS IN THE ORDER THAT THEY'VE SIGNED UP. THE PERSON IS MARTIN GUTIERREZ, JR., HE WILL BE FOLLOWED BY KIMBERLY BRAGMAN.

ALL INDIVIDUALS WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF NINE MINUTES. KIMBERLY AND THEN BENITO -- WE HAVE SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, IF YOU WILL PLEASE LINE UP BEHIND THE SPEAKERS.

GO AHEAD. >> MY NAME IS MARTIN TORRES AND I SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE SAN ANTONIO BOARD OF REALTORS. AT THE AS THE VOICE OF REAL ESTATE IN SOUTH TEXAS WE REPRESENT MORE THAN 14,000 REALTORS, INCLUDING NEARLY 4600 WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE BELIEVE THE CITY SHOULD CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DOWNTOWN ARENA WHICH WILL BE THE ANCHOR FOR VIBRANT SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. FROM A REAL ESTATE PERSPECTIVE, CERTAINTY MATTERS, INVESTMENT FLOWS TO COMMUNITIES WITH A CLEAR VISION AND THE CONFIDENCE TO MOVE THAT VISION FORWARD. THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN, AN ANALYSIS CONDUCTED BY OFFICE OF COUNCILWOMAN SPEARS SHOW THAT MORE THAN 178,000 REGISTERED CITY OF SAN ANTONIO VOTERS VOTED FOR PROP B IN NOVEMBER OF 2025. THEREFORE, WE DO NOT BELIEVE ANOTHER ELECTION IS NECESSARY. TO OUR SAN ANTONIO REALTORS, THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT AN ARENA, IT'S ABOUT ECONOMIC GROWTH. THIS ARENE CAN CAN SERVE AS A CATALYST FOR HOUSING, RETAIL, HOTELS, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SIGNIFICANT AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT THROUGHOUT OUR DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE AND FAIR DEAL THAT PROTECTS THE GENERAL FUND.

THIS IS NOT 489 MILLION THAT CAN SIMPLY MOVE ELSEWHERE, THE FINANCING PACKAGE RELIES ON SPECIFICALLY LEGALLY RESTRICTED REVENUE SOURCES, LEASE PAYMENTS AND REVENUES GENERATED BY NEW DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S NOT 489 MILLION THAT CAN SIMPLY BE REDIRECTED TO CLOSE THE BUDGET DEFICIT OR ADDRESS OTHER CITY PRIORITIES. GROWTH STRENGTHENS CITY SERVICES, WE RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S BUDGET CHALLENGES, THAT'S WHY PRECISELY GROWING OUR TAX BASE AND ATTRACTING PRIVATE INVESTMENT

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ON BEHALF OF THE SAN ANTONIO REALTORS, THE NEARLY 4600 WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WE RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD IN THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. KIMBERLY BRAGMAN,

FOLLOWED BY BENITO ACOVIO. >> GOOD MORNING.

MY NAME IS KIMBERLY BRAGMAN FROM DISTRICT 9, AND I SPEAK IN OPPOSITION TO PLACING THIS ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER. THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAS ALREADY SPOKEN AS PART OF THE COUNTY VOTE IN LAST NOVEMBER, PROPOSITION B, AND SO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD WITH WHAT THE VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE ALREADY APPROVED.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

BENITO AVCOVIO FOLLOWED BY MONICA CRUZ. BENITO ACOVIO.

MONICA CRUZ, FOLLOWED BY JAMES ANDERSON. .

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE NINE MINUTES AND I HAVE TWO

VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL CEDE THEIR MINUTES TO ME. >> MAYOR JONES: THEY

NAMES, PLEASE. >> RUBEN ARCENEGO AND BE -- AND I DO NEED SOME

ASSISTANCE WITH SOME SLIDES. >> MAYOR JONES: LAST NAME

MORALES. OH, 42. >> MAY I BEGIN.

>> MAYOR JONES: PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 10 AND THE REMARKS I'M SHARING THIS MORNING ARE MY OWN AND DO NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OR POSITIONS OF ANY INSTITUTION OF WHICH I'M AFFILIATED WITH.

SO I'LL BEGIN WITH MY FIRST SLIDE. HERE WE HAVE -- WE'RE TALKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE SPURS ARENA COSTS OF $1.3 BILLION.

AND ALTHOUGH MANY OUT THERE HAVE BEEN QUESTIONING WHETHER -- YOU KNOW, IS THIS A REVOTE, ARE WE VOTING AGAIN, WE ALREADY DECIDED. IN MY EYES AND THE EYES OF MANY PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC, I BELIEVE, IS THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT POCKETS AND FUNDING STREAMS FOR PUBLIC TAX DOLLARS. AND WE MADE A DECISION LAST NOVEMBER ON ONE PARTICULAR FUNDING STREAM, AND THAT WAS THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX. THE $489 MILLION REPRESENTS ANOTHER POCKET OF DOLLARS, ANOTHER BANK ACCOUNT FOR TAXPAYERS. I DID NOT VOTE IN NOVEMBER REGARDING THAT. I -- IN NOVEMBER ON PROP B.

SO ALL THE MORE REASON, I THINK, THAT IT'S FAIR TO ASK FOR US TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THIS OTHER FUNDING STREAM, ALL RIGHT.

SO WE -- BASED ON A MEMO, I BELIEVE, THAT CITY MANAGER WALSH SENT TO EACH OF YOU TO, I GUESS, CLEAR UP MISINFORMATION, IT IS THAT -- AS OF LAST WEEK, WE UNDERSTAND THAT VISITOR TAXES WILL BE MAKING UP THE 489 MILLION. VISITOR TAXES, THERE'S MONEY, ACCORDING TO THE MEMO, FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, WHICH I BELIEVE IS FROM THE TIRZ, AND THE OTHER IS FROM THE SPURS, OKAY. AND I MUST SAY, THAT IN THE 10 COMMUNITY CONVERSATION MEETINGS THAT THE SPURS HAD ACROSS THE CITY, WHEN THEY WERE EXPLAINING THE 489 MILLION, ALL THOSE SLIDES HAD WERE THAT IT WAS ONLY PAID BY VISITOR HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES, WHICH IS A HALF TRUTH. NOT FULL TRUTH IN THOSE 10 MEETINGS.

WE ALERTED THEM THAT THERE'S INFORMATION MISSING ON THE 489 MILLION, IT WAS NEVER CORRECTED, SO I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW. THE SECOND SLIDE -- SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS FUNDING STREAMS THAT WE HEARD FROM -- TO CLARIFY.

THE REVENUE FROM VISITORS, THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONE, DOING A LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH AND DIGGING, WE KNOW THAT THE CITY'S HOTEL INDUSTRY HAS STRUGGLED TO FILL ROOMS POSTPANDEMIC. THERE'S A 54% OCCUPANCY RATE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER IN 2025. THIS IS MORE THAN A 9% DECLINE THAN THE SAME PERIOD PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT ROOM NIGHT BOOKINGS WERE DOWN MORE THAN 8% IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2025 COMPARED TO THE SAME QUARTER A YEAR PRIOR.

WE KNOW THAT THE THOUSAND ROOM CONVENTION CENTER WAS CANCELED.

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NOW. THE NEXT SLIDE I HAVE IS REVENUE FROM THE DEVELOPERS AND THE SPURS, THESE ARE THE OTHER TWO THAT WERE OUTLINED IN THE CITY MANAGER'S MEMO. WE HEAR REVENUE FROM THE DEVELOPERS VIA THE TIRZ.

THERE'S STILL DETAILS PENDING AROUND THE TYPE OF DEVELOPMENT THAT'S GOING TO TAKE PLACE. WILL THE DEVELOPMENT CATER TO A CERTAIN SOCIOECONOMIC CLASS? WILL THERE BE AFFORDABLE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS? WE KNOW MANY OF THE WORKERS ARE BEING -- THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRY ARE BEING DISPLACED AS A RESULT OF SOAP WORK FACTORY APARTMENTS BEING DISPLACED AS WE SPEAK IN THE NEXT COMING YEARS AND WILL ATTRACTIONS BE AFFORDABLE TO SA FAMILIES. WE ALSO HEAR REVENUES FROM THE SPURS, DETAILED PENDING THE NONBINDING AGREEMENT AND NEGOTIATIONS ARE STILL PENDING, HOW MUCH WILL THE SPURS PAY US IN RENT AND LEASE AGREEMENTS? WE DON'T KNOW. WILL THE SPURS ASK THE CITY TO PLAY HOME GAMES AWAY LIKE THEY WERE DOING TO THE COUNTY. EVERY TIME THEY PLAY SOMEWHERE ELSE, WE LOSE MONEY. THE WORKERS THAT WORK THERE ARE GONE, WE DON'T GET ANY REVENUE? WILL THEY BE ASKED TO GO PLAY ELSEWHERE? WE'VE GOT TO FIND OUT THIS THING.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A BUILDING -- I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LEASE FOR THE SALE OF THE LAND, I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE REVENUE FOR THE GEOBOND FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT THE BUILDING. WE DON'T HAVE ANY DETAILS ON THE ARCHITECTURAL PLANS. HOW MANY SEATS WILL IT HAVE? IT'S GOING -- WE'RE GOING TO OWN IT. DO YOU ALL KNOW HOW MANY SEATS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE? HAVE THOSE PLANS BEEN ROLLED OUT? WILL WE HAVE FEWER THAN 18,500 SEATS LIKE THE FROST CENTER? LIKELY, YES. WILL THE SEATS COST MORE MONEY? PROBABLY, YES. FORTUNATE MAGAZINE DOCUMENTED ARENA DEALS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN JUNE OF 2026 IN AN ARTICLE AND SAID ALL THE NEW ARENAS HAD FEWER SEATS AND HIGHER PRICES.

RESIDENTS WERE PRICED OUT. IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU? IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? WE HAVE -- WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE BUILDING LOOKS LIKE AND WE'RE MOVING AHEAD WITH CONSEQUENTIAL COST HERE.

SO LAST -- NEXT SLIDE. QUESTIONS REMAIN FOR ME AND FOR MANY RESIDENTS REGARDING THE 489 MILLION, THIS CONTRIBUTION, SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE A SAY. SAN ANTONIO.

WHY? BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO'S ECONOMY RELIES HEAVILY ON TOURISM BUT MANY NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL FACTORS ARE AFFECTING ITS STABILITY. WE SAY NOTHING'S CHANGED IN THE FALL, I VENTURE TO SAY THAT'S WRONG. WE STARTED A WAR IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR.

GAS PRICES HAVE GONE UP, COSTS TO RESIDENTS CONTINUE TO GO UP.

HOW CAN WE SAY THAT THINGS ARE THE SAME? NO.

THEY'RE VERY VOLATILE RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S HITTING THE POCKETS OF RESIDENTS EVERY DAY. BUDGET CUTS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, TOURISM IS GOING DOWN. IT'S TOO FUZZY. HOW CAN WE BE OKAY WITH THIS $489 MILLION CONTRIBUTION? THERE ARE STILL MANY UNKNOWNS, AND THESE REVENUE STREAMS ARE ALL CONNECTED TO THE 489 MILLION. THIS INFORMATION WAS NOT EXPLICITLY EXPLAINED IN ALL THE MEETINGS THAT WE HAD FROM THE SPURS AND THE CITY.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MEETINGS HAPPENING AROUND ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT THEY'RE PRIVATE MEETINGS WITH THE BUSINESS ELITE, WITH THE CHAMBERS.

WE CAN'T EVEN GO IN THOSE MEETINGS UNLESS YOU PAY $200 A TICKET.

WHAT HAS THE CITY DONE TO PROVIDE CLARITY ON HOW THIS IS GOING TO BE PAID FOR? IT'S BEEN MINIMAL. SO -- AND I THINK IT'S -- ACCOUNTABILITY, WHICH I HEAR FROM MANY OF OUR COUNCILMEMBERS HERE, INFORMED CONSENT AND TRANSPARENCY BUILDS TRUST.

THERE'S STILL A LOT OF QUESTIONS IN MANY OF OUR MINDS.

I CAN SAY THAT FOR MYSELF AS A RESIDENT OF D10. SO A VOTE FOR A YES -- SO I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE YES TO ALLOW SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS A VOICE ON THIS

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THERE'S STILL TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING. AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU MAY ALREADY BE HERE WITH YOUR MINDS MADE UP, THAT'S FINE, BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR TODAY WILL PLANT SEEDS IN HOW YOU MOVE FORWARD IN YOUR NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE SPURS OWNERS. SO CRITICAL.

WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY, YES OR NO TO THE AGREEMENT AND THE NEGOTIATIONS AND THE CONTRACTS, MAKE IT PLAIN AND CLEAR FOR EVERYONE TO SEE AND AGREE TO. OKAY. THERE'S STILL RIGHT -- THERE'S STILL TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING. IT'S OUR CITY, IT'S OUR MONEY, AND IT'S OUR VOTE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: JAMES ANDERSON. FOLLOWED BY ED BANUS AND

THEN CHRISTINE DRENNON. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JAMES ANDERSON, I'M CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF BAR LET COCK GENERAL CONTRACTORS. BARTLETT COCKE HAS CALLED SAN ANTONIO HOME FOR THE LAST 59 YEARS AND WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BUILDING OUR COMMUNITY, RAISED OUR FAMILIES, BUILT CAREERS HERE AND WORK ALONGSIDE GENERATIONS OF CONTRACTORS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS. I'M HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF BARTLETT COCKE BUT ALSO I'VE SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER BEING A PART OF SAN ANTONIO'S CONSTRUCTION AC AND BUSINESS COMMUNITIES. WE'VE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME TALKING TO PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR INDUSTRY ABOUT THE ARENA AND THE BROADER INVESTMENT HAPPENING DOWNTOWN, INCLUDING CONTRACTORS, SUBCONTRACTORS, ENGINEERS, SUPPLIERS, EDUCATORS, WORKFORCE AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. THERE'S REAL EXCITEMENT ABOUT WHAT THIS OPPORTUNITY MEANS FOR SAN ANTONIO FOR CONSTRUCTION AND AC COMMUNITY, THISEN VESTMENT MEANS MORE WORK FOR CONTRACTORS, SUPPLIERS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND JOBS AND CAREERS FOR OUR TRADESPEOPLE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONAL. OUR INDUSTRY HAS AN AGING WORKFORCE AND NEEDS THE NEXT GENERATION OF ELECTRICIANS, PLUMBERS, WELDERS, CARPENTERS, EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, SUPERINTENDENTS, PROJECT MANAGERS, ACIALGHTS AND ENGINEERS. -- ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS. PROJECTS OF THIS SCALE CONNECT THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS SCHOOLS, COLLEGES TO REAL CAREERS AND LONG-TERM OPPORTUNITY. BUT THIS POTENTIAL IMPACT GOES WELL BEYOND CONSTRUCTION. SAN ANTONIO HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A GENERATIONAL INVESTMENT IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY AND BUILD MOMENTUM -- BUILD UPON THE MOMENTUM THAT'S ALREADY TAKING PLACE DOWNTOWN.

WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT BEING CONSIDERED DESERVES SCRUTINY, ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONSIDERATION.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT DECISIONS INVOLVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND THEY SHOULD BE TREATED THAT WAY. AT THE SAME TIME, THOSE OF US IN CONSTRUCTION UNDERSTAND SOMETHING VERY PRACTICAL ABOUT PROJECTS OF THIS SCALE: UNCERTAINTY HAS A COST. COMPANIES PLAN FOR YEARS IN ADVANCE, TRADE PARTNERS RESERVE CAPACITY, PEOPLE ARE HIRED AND TRAINED, DESIGN TEAMS GO TO WORK, MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT, DECISIONS ARE MADE. WHEN THE PATH MOVING FORWARD CHANGES, SCHEDULES AND COSTS CHANGE ALONG WITH IT. AND BUSINESSES BECOME MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT COMMITTING THE PEOPLE AND THE RESOURCES AND WILL BEGIN TO LOOK FOR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO PURSUE. WE RESPECT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PUBLIC INPUT AND PROCESS THAT HAS BROUGHT SAN ANTONIO TO THIS POINT, BUT BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS INCLUDING THE RESIDENTS OF SAN ANTONIO HAVE ALREADY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN THE NEW ARENA. OUR HOPE IS THAT SAN ANTONIO CAN NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE, BECAUSE ULTIMATELY AN OPPORTUNITY OF THIS SIZE IS BIGGER THAN JUST THE ARENA. IT'S ABOUT WHAT THE INVESTMENT MEANS FOR SAN ANTONIO. WE BELIEVE DEEPLY --

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS, SIR, FOR THE RECORD. ED BANUS.

ED BANUS. OH, THERE YOU GO. OKAY.

CHRISTINE DREN NONFOLLOWED BY SHARI COMPOSE.

. >> HELLO. UH-OH.

GOOD MORNING. ED BANUS FROM COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.

DEAR CITIZENS, NOT MANY MINUTES FOR THIS. THERE SHOULD BE NO CONFUSION ABOUT WHAT WAS VOTED ON, 15% VOTED AND IT WAS DECIDED, THE 85%

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MAYBE. BY THE WAY, THE FIRST REPORT ABOUT THE RODEO STAND MAKES ME WONDER IF SOMEONE SHOULD REREAD SOMETHING.

MAYBE A NEW PHYSICAL SURVEY. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT THE MONEY. TRILLION -- ABOUT 13 TO $19 REDUCTION A MONTH SO WE CAN PAY OUR BILLS, ALL OF US.

RIGHT NOW THIS COUNTRY'S BORROWING A BILLION A DAY TO 2 BILLION A DAY, MAYBE ADD A BILLION FOR EACH CITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. MAYBE BUILD TWO BIG REALLY, REALLY BIG AI CENTERS. AI WILL NEVER DIE. MONEY PROBLEMS, SOLVED.

EXCUSE ME. JOBS FOR SA, WE NEED A MARSHAL PLAN FOR OUR GRID, SA GRID, WE NEED AN EISENHOWER SA WATER PLANT, WE NEED THE BIGGEST RECYCLING PLANT EVER, BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO GET MESSY, NO MATTER WHAT WE BUILD. WHY DO FOOD BANKS RUN OUT OF FOOD? GOOD LUCK, CITIZENS. GOOD LUCK. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: CHRISTINE DRENNON, FOLLOWED BY SHERRY CAMPOS AND BOBBY

PEREZ. >> GOOD MORNING, RENE GONZALES HAS CONTRIBUTED THREE ADDITIONAL MINUTES TO MAKE IT SIX. WE'RE GOOD? THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS CHRISTINE DRENNON, I LIVE IN DISTRICT ONE.

THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN FATALLY FLAWED SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING, AND BY ASSOCIATION, THE PROJECT IS FLAWED AS WELL. IN APRIL OF 2024, THE SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL REPORTED THAT SAN ANTONIO CITY OFFICIALS HAD BEEN TRYING MIGHTILY TO KEEP SECRET THEIR TALKS WITH THE SPURS ABOUT BUILDING A DOWNTOWN ARENA, AND THAT OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACTS THAT WOULD PENALIZE THEM FOR SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT THE DISCUSSIONS, FOR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THEY'RE CONSIDERING BUILDING A NEW FACILITY IN HEMISFAIR. BY THE SUMMER OF 2024, THE EXPRESS-NEWS REVEALED THAT SINCE '23, OVER 30 NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS HAD BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN SPURS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS -- PROPOSED PROJECT THAT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WAS BEING CALLED PROJECT MARVEL. AS THE MEDIA BROUGHT THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, ACCUSATIONS BEGAN TO FLY. WE SOON LEARNED THAT THE CITY AND BEXAR COUNTY WERE FIGHTING OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS BY OUR VARIOUS MEDIA ENTITIES SEEKING INFORMATION, AND IT GETS BETTER.

THE CITY THEN WENT TO STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL KEN PAXTON FOR PERMISSION NOT TO RELEASE THE NAMES OF THE CONTENT OF THE NDAS TO THE PUBLIC, TO US. THEY DIDN'T WANT US TO KNOW WHY SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING WE'VE BEEN LEFT OUT IN THE DARK AND TOLD TO TRUST.

THE PROCESS HAS BEEN FATALLY FLAWED SINCE THE BEGINNING.

AT THE TIME CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT WHITE FROM DISTRICT COUNCIL 10 EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION WITH THE SECRECY SURROUNDING THE DISCUSSIONS. HE WAS FOLLOWED BY CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT NUMBER 3 VIAGRAN, WHO AGREED THAT WE WERE BEING LEFT OUT AND WE NEED MORE INFORMATION TO TAKE BACK TO THE PUBLIC. SINCE THOSE FIRST DAYS, THERE CONTINUES TO BE NO PUBLIC INFORMATION, NO FORMAL COMMENT, NO OPPORTUNITY FOR COORDINATED INPUT, YET HERE WE ARE.

IN FACT, THE OLD COUNCIL MIGHT EVEN BE PROUD THAT WE'VE CONTINUED THE OLD WAYS, LEAVE THE PUBLIC OUT OF ALL DECISION MAKING, CONVINCE US THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST INTEREST AT HEART, TWIST WORDS AROUND -- AUDIO] -- FOR WITH PFZ FUNDS AND ASSUME WE'LL BELIEVE.

AS AN EDUCATOR, THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, SO THE RUMORS AND MISSTATEMENTS CONTINUE TO FLY. MY FAVORITE THAT THE ENTIRE PROJECT WOULD BE PAID FOR WITH STATE SALES TAX DOLLARS, GIVE ME A BREAK. EVEN YOU KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE, BUT ONE OF YOU WAS ON KSAT12 LAST WEEK SAYING EXACTLY THAT. YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED. THE PROCESS SHOULD BE FATALLY FLAWED SINCE THE

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PASS THIS BALLOT LANGUAGE AND THEN USE THE NEXT THREE MONTHS TO ENSURE THAT WE VOTE YES; THAT WE SUPPORT YOU. HOW? BY NEGOTIATING THE BEST DEAL IN NBA HISTORY, A MODEL FOR FUTURE NEGOTIATIONS IN OTHER CITIES, A DEAL FAVORABLE TO THE TEAM AND TO US.

AND I CHALLENGE YOU TO IMAGINE A DEAL, AND MAYBE WHICH THE CITY CONTRIBUTES 100, OR 150 MILLION, RATHER THAN 489.

THEN THE MONEY GENERATED IN THE TIRZ COULD GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND, AND INSTEAD OF JUST PAYING BACK BONDS. THAT IS A LOST OPPORTUNITY. A DEAL THAT THE CITY, THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY ARE PROUD OF AND OWN BECAUSE ALL WERE INCLUDED, A DEAL THAT WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND BECAUSE WE WORKED TOGETHER. PASS THIS LANGUAGE AND THEN LET'S WORK TOGETHER SO THAT WE WILL VOTE YES.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: SHERRY CAMPOS.

OKAY. BOBBY PEREZ, FOLLOWED BY LIBERTY SWIFT, AND THEN

R.C. BUFORD. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, BOBBY PEREZ, THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS WILL BE SPEAKING AS A GROUP TODAY, AND FOR YOUR RECORD, IT'S BOBBY PEREZ, DANNY FORTEN BERRY, SEAN ELLIOTT, LIBERTY SWIFT

AND R.C. BUFORD. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME TOGETHER.

FOR THE PAST YEARS, WE'VE WORKED WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WITH THE BEXAR COUNTY AND THIS COMMUNITY. WE'VE LISTENED AND WE'VE WORKED THROUGH HARDIES CUSHIONS. WE'VE ALL MADE COMMITMENTS TO EACH OTHER FOR THE FUTURE OF ALL SAN ANTONIANS.

LAST NOVEMBER, THE VOICES OF SAN ANTONIO AND BEXAR COUNTY WERE HEARD, THEY GAVE US DIRECTION. INVEST IN A DOWNTOWN HOME FOR THE SPURS AND FOR THE FUTURE OF SAN ANTONIO. THE PURPOSE OF THAT NOVEMBER ELECTION STATUTE WAS -- THAT WAS PASSED BY THE SAN ANTONIO VOTERS KEEP VISITOR DOLLARS IN SAN ANTONIO. THESE DOLLARS CAN'T BE USED FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, WE'VE SEEN WHAT THE SPURS GENERATE FOR SAN ANTONIO. JUST THIS PAST SUMMER DURING THE NBA PLAYOFFS, THE SPURS GENERATED $165 MILLION THAT WERE SPENT IN OUR COMMUNITY.

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, DOWNTOWN CAME ALIVE. THE SPURS AND OUR DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS ARE COMMITTING MORE THAN $2 BILLION TO THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS COVERING ALL COSTS OVERRUNS ON THE ARENA.

THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY, SAN ANTONIO SPURS PLAYERS HAVE INVESTED RIGHT ALONGSIDE US IN OUR COMMUNITY. THINK GEORGE GER VIN AND THE GEORGE GER VIN ACADEMY. THINK DAVID ROBINSON AND THE CARVER ACADEMY. PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS WORK WHEN EVERYONE CAN TRUST THE PROCESS AND RELY ON THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE MAKE

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THERE WILL BE MORE QUESTIONS. THERE WILL BE MORE HARHARD DISCUSSIONS AND MORE DECISIONS. WE'RE READY TO GO TO WORK, WE BELIEVE IN SAN ANTONIO, AND WE'RE READY TO KEEP BUILDING THIS COMMUNITY TOGETHER. THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO PASS THIS TO

SEAN ELLIOTT, PLEASE. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBERS.

I'M SEAN ELLIOTT. I'M HONORED TO BE HERE TODAY WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MESSAGE THAN THE LAST TIME I STOOD BEFORE YOU.

AND THAT'S SIMPLY THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS WHO HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS HOURS STUDYING THIS DEAL, THIS PROJECT. THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE TOUGH QUESTIONS, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND MOVE FORWARD. MAKING DECISIONS LIKE THIS AREN'T EASY.

I UNDERSTAND THAT. AND THEY SHOULDN'T BE EASY.

WHEN YOU'RE MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE CITY THAT YOU LOVE, THERE SHOULD BE DEBATE. THERE SHOULD BE SCRUTINY, THERE SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABILITY. BUT THE TIME ALSO COMES WHEN LEADERSHIP REQUIRES VISION AND THE COURAGE TO ACT ON IT.

I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT TO THE EVOLUTION OF THIS CITY FOR NEARLY FOUR DECADES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT WHERE SAN ANTONIO'S HEADED. WE ALL GOT A GLIMPSE INTO THAT FUTURE JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. NO ONE EXPECTED OUR YOUNG SPURS BALL CLUB TO MAKE A RUN ALL THE WAY TO THE NBA FINALS, BUT THEY EPITOMIZED THE SPIRIT OF THE CITY. THEY WERE TOUGH, THEY PLAYED WITH GRIT AND HEART, THEY BELIEVED IN EACH OTHER AND THEY DEFIED THE ODDS. YOU COULD FEEL THAT EVERYWHERE.

THE CITY CAME ALONG RIGHT WITH OUR GUYS. EVERYTHING WAS PACKED.

PEP RALLIES, DOWNTOWN WATCH PARTIES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, BARS -- THIS CITY. KIDS WERE WEARING SPURS JERSEYS AND SO WERE THEIR PARENTS. AND EVERYWHERE YOU WENT, EVERYBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT OUR TEAM, OUR SAN ANTONIO SPURS. SO NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR COMPLACENCY. NOW IS THE TIME TO BUILD ON THAT ENERGY, THRIVING DOWNTOWN, REAL OPPORTUNITY TO REVITALIZE THE EAST SIDE.

HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, SMALL BUSINESSES FILLED WITH PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER NOT JUST FOR SPURS GAMES, BUT FOR CONCERTS, CONVENTIONS, BIG-TIME SPORTING EVENTS LIKE COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND COLLEGE BALL GAMES.

THAT'S RIGHT THERE WITHIN OUR REACH. GREAT CITIES AND GREAT COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS BELIEVE IN WHAT THEY'RE BUILDING.

THEY EMBRACE OPPORTUNITY AND THEY MOVE FORWARD. THAT'S WHY I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS THAT ARE STANDING BEHIND THIS PROJECT, THANK YOU FOR REALIZING WHAT THIS REPRESENTS FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND HONORING THE VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY SHOWED UP AND VOTED. AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING AN ORGANIZATION THAT HAS PROUDLY WORN SAN ANTONIO ACROSS ITS CHEST AND REPRESENTED THIS CITY ACROSS THE WORLD FOR OVER 50 YEARS.

I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION, YOUR COMMITMENT, YOUR PASSION, AND ESPECIALLY YOUR SERVICE TO THIS CITY. BUT LET'S KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. LET'S CONTINUE TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD TOGETHER. THANK YOU, AND GO SPURS

GO!! >> MAYOR JONES: MATTEO LOPEZ.

[00:35:01]

>> THANK YOU, MAYOR JONES AND CITY COUNCIL. MY OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

I HAVE BEEN A DOWNTOWN AMBASSADOR FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW, AND IT'S BEEN THE PRIVILEGE OF MY LIFE. IT IS THE PRIVILEGE, BECAUSE WHEN MY BROTHER AND I, WE WERE LIVING AT THE ROBERT LEE APARTMENTS JUST UP THE ROAD FROM HERE, OUR MOTHER WAS AN AMBASSADOR, AND TO BE TWO KIDS BACK THEN, DOWNTOWN IS ONE BIG THEME PARK. WE USED TO SNEAK IN SNACKS AT THE AMC THEATERS, WE USED TO -- I USED TO WALK THE LOT OF WHAT IS NOW THE FROST TOWER TO GET TO THE DOLLAR GENERAL ON THE OTHER SIDE. AND AS PAINFUL AS IT IS TO SAY, THE FIRST NIGHT THAT I WAS HOMELESS MYSELF, I SLEPT DOWNTOWN AT THE CORNERS OF ALAMO AND NUEVA RIGHT THERE AT THE PARK. AND I SLEPT THERE BECAUSE HEMISFAIR IS WHERE SAN ANTONIO MEETS, IT'S WHERE I TRULY FELT SAFE.

AND THE AMBASSADORS ARE ASKED -- THEY'RE GIVEN SO MANY AMAZING CHALLENGES AS THEY GO OUT THERE AND THEY'RE CLEANING DUTIES, HELPING THE PEOPLE, THE TOURISTS, THE LOCALS, THE HOMELESS, EVERYONE. AND IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES, THEY HAVE STRUGGLED WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION, WITH FINANCIAL BURDEN, WITH ALL KINDS OF THESE TERRIBLE -- AUDIO] -- UP TO OUR FACES AND THEY SAID NO, YOU'RE THE BURDEN.

YOU ARE A WASTE OF MONEY. YOU DON'T DESERVE A SECOND CHANCE. YOU NEED TO JUST GET LOST.

AND WHEN I'M CONFRONTED WITH THAT, I THINK A LOT ABOUT RONALD DAVIS.

RONALD DAVIS WAS JUST ANOTHER BUM OUT THERE IN THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN CHICAGO AND HE DIED IN THE DEAD OF WINTER WHEN I WAS JUST STARTING OUT AS AN AMBASSADOR MYSELF. AND WHAT HE TOLD US WAS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MY CLOTHES LOOK LIKE, IF THERE'S A HOLE IN MY STOMACH, I'M NOT A BUM.

I'M A HUMAN BEING. AND I TRY TO INSTILL IT IN OUR AMBASSADORS THAT THE BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME BECAUSE A POEM IS NEVER ACTUALLY FINISHED.

IT JUST STOPS MOVING. AND AS WE BUILD OUR CITIES UP, LET US THINK THAT WE ARE BUILDING FOREVER. AND IF THAT MEANS -- IF IT'S JUST ONE ARENA OR JUST ONE HOUSE, IF IT'S JUST ONE BALLPARK AND ONE NEW GROCERY STORE, THE AMBASSADORS BELONG IN SAN ANTONIO.

THE AMBASSADORS ARE THE CITY. WE ARE THE FRONT LINES, WE ARE THE SMILING FRIENDS, THE SMILING FACES WITH A BROOM IN ONE HAND AND A BOTTLE OF WATER IN THE OTHER. AND IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT CAN UNITE THIS COUNCIL TOGETHER, WHATEVER SIDE OF THE AISLE YOU STAND ON, IT IS TO STAND UP FOR THE WORKING CLASS, IT'S TO STAND UP FOR THE SMILING FACES, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT MAKE THIS CITY GREAT. AND I HOPE THE BEST DAYS ARE YET TO COME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

BRETT FINLEY. FOLLOWED BY GRACIELA SANCHEZ AND THEN LETICIA

VELA. >> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR. WE'LL BE HAVING LOUISE RODRIGUEZ, KEVIN DENNON AND JESSICA PALACIOS ALSO CONTRIBUTING COMMENTS FOR THE SPEAKERS LIST. WE HAVE CAPTURED THREE NAMES.

>> MAYOR JONES: YOU HAVE NINE MINUTES. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS LOUISE RODRIGUEZ.

I HAVE THE PRINCH AND SERVING -- PRIVILEGE SERVING AS -- AUDIO] -- THE SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AND TODAY I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF A COALITION THAT COMES TOGETHER TO HELP SAN ANTONIO MOVE FORWARD. BEHIND ME WE HAVE LEADERS FROM THESE RESPECTED ORGANIZATIONS THAT INCLUDE THE SOUTH TEXAS BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP, THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, GREATER SA TX, METRO SA CHAMBER AND YOUR SAN ANTONIO HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. OUR MESSAGE THIS MORNING, IT'S SIMPLE.

THE VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN AND MOMENTUM MATTERS. THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT REPRESENTS MORE THAN AN ARENA, IT REPRESENTS AN OPPAN THAT STRENGTHEN OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, ATTRACT INVESTMENT, EXPAND TOURISM, CREATE JOBS AND CONTINUE POSITIONING SAN ANTONIO AS A DESTINATION FOR BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT AND MAJOR EVENTS. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY VALUES CERTAINTY, INVESTORS VALUE CONSISTENCY. COMMUNITIES BENEFIT WHEN LEADERS FOLLOW THROUGH ON COMMITMENTS AND CONTINUE BUILDING ON THE MOMENTUM ON THEIR -- ALREADY UNDERWAY. WE RECOGNIZE AND APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY.

[00:40:01]

WHEN WE CONTINUE MOVING SAN ANTONIO FORWARD WHILE REMAINING ACCOUNTABLE, TRANSPARENT AND COMMITTED TO DELIVERING RESULTS, SAN ANTONIO WINS.

OUR COALITION, OUR ORGANIZATIONS STAND READY TO CONTINUE PARTNERING WITH THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS TO ENSURE THIS PROJECT BENEFITS OUR BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY, FOR SO MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO COME. I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF Y'ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND SERVICE AND TIN VESTMENT OF YOUR INPUT YOU HAVE PUT IN COMING TO THESE DECISIONS. WE STAND BEHIND AND ARE READY TO MOVE SAN ANTONIO FORWARD WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR CITY MANAGER, OUR COUNCILMEMBER AND OUR MAYOR.

IT GIVES ME GREAT JOY TO INTRODUCE KEVIN TO CLOSE US OUT.

>> THANK YOU, LOUISE. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL.

IT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, BUT I REALLY DO APPRECIATE YOUR SERVICE TO THIS COMMUNITY. IT'S A HARD JOB THAT YOU HAVE.

I RECOGNIZE IT. AND WE HAVE DEMOCRACY IN ACTION THIS MORNING.

WE CAN HEAR IT, AND WE CAN SEE IT. SAN ANTONIO IN MY JUDGMENT IS AT A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN ITS HISTORY.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN DOWNTOWN, STRNG THEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGANIZATIONS, PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS THAT CARES OBVIOUSLY, DEEPLY ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY, THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS. BUT AS WE CONSIDER THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE MUST REMEMBER WHO WE ARE DOING THIS FOR.

WE ARE DOING IT FOR EVERYONE IN SAN ANTONIO, EVERYONE WHO CALLS SAN ANTONIO HOME. I CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE CHALLENGES FACING OUR RESIDENTS ON EVERY PART OF OUR CITY. I'VE SAID THAT MANY TIMES TO MANY OF YOU. I ALSO BELIEVE WE MUST INVEST IN THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND WE CAN DO BOTH. THE SPURS HAVE BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY PARTNER. THIS PROJECT OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN, ENCOURAGE ADDITIONAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT, CREATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND POSITION OUR CITY FOR THE FUTURE.

WE DID NOT ARRIVE AT THIS -- THE FINANCING DECISION NOW IS BEFORE YOU. THIS IS THE KIND OF DECISION MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCILS COMMONLY MAKE ALL OVER THIS STATE.

REVENUE BACKING FINANCING IS REGULARLY APPROVED BY GOVERNING BODIES WITHOUT A SEPARATE PUBLIC ELECTION. AND IMPORTANTLY, THE BONDS WOULD BE REPAID THROUGH REVENUES INCLUDING SPURS' LEASE PAYMENTS, GROUND LEASES, NEW DEVELOPMENT AT THE HEMISFAIR, ALONG WITH STATE, HOTEL RELATED REVENUES CAPTURED THROUGH THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONE NOT EXISTING GENERAL FUND BUDGET DOLLARS. THAT DISTINCTION, IN MY JUDGMENT, MATTERS AND SHOULD BE UPHELD. WE CAN PROTECT FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL CITY SERVICES, WHICH I STRONGLY SUPPORT, AND INVEST IN THE ECONOMIC GROWTH THAT HELPS PAY FOR THE INVESTMENT ITSELF.

NOW ON BEHALF OF THE GREATER SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS HERE THIS MORNING, I RESPECTFULLY ASK YOU TO MOVE FORWARD. THE VOTERS DID THEIR JOB, WE ASK YOU TO DO YOUR PART, SCRUTINIZE THE AGREEMENT, PROTECT THE TAXPAYERS, AND MOVE OUR CITY FORWARD FOR EVERYONE WHO CALLS SAN ANTONIO HOME.

NOW OUR GENERATION AND ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS TO FOLLOW US.

THANK YOU, AND GOD BLESS EACH ONE OF YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. GRACIELA SANCHEZ, FOLLOWED BY LETICIA VELA

AND SUSAN STRONG. >> HI I AM GETTING THREE MINUTES FROM CAT DELL GADIA AND GLORIA RAMIREZ AS WELL. IF YOU WANT TO RAISE YOUR

HAND. . >> MAYOR JONES: CAT

DELGADIA. >> AND GLORIA RAMIREZ. >> MAYOR JONES: 35.

AND 29. THANK YOU. NINE MINUTES, MA'AM.

>> GOOD MORNING, MAYOR JONES AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL, INCLUDING MY OWN, TERI CASTILLO. MY NAME IS GRACIELA SANCHEZ.

I AM A LIFELONG SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT, A WEST SIDE RESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CITY WIDE ORGANIZATION ESPARANZA PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTER TURNING 40 NEXT YEAR. I WANT TO BEGIN WITH SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TODAY TO VOTE FOR THE ARENA, WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU TODAY TO VOTE AGAINST THE ARENA.

[00:45:05]

IN RESPONSE, WE ARE TOLD TWO THINGS: FIRST, THE PEOPLE ALREADY VOTED.

YES, THEY DID. IN NOVEMBER 2025, BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS VOTED ON THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION TO A NEW SPURS ARENA.

WE RESPECT THAT VOTE. WE'RE NOT ASKING ANYONE TO UNDO IT, BUT THAT WAS A VOTE OF BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS ON THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE COUNTY SHOULD CONTRIBUTE $311 MILLION TO FINANCE THE COLISEUM AND THE ARENA. WHAT WE ARE ASKING IS TO ALLOW SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS TO VOTE ON WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD CONTRIBUTE $489 MILLION TO THE ARENA. THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

COUNTY VOTERS ANSWERED THE COUNTY QUESTION. NOW LET SAN ANTONIO VOTERS ANSWER THE CITY QUESTION. THE SECOND RESPONSE TO THE CALL FOR A CITY VOTE IS -- LEASE PAYMENTS, THE PFZ DEVELOPMENT REVENUES AND OTHER DESIGNATED SOURCES. BUT THIS ARGUMENT IS INSULTING.

PROPONENTS OF THE ARENA HOPE THAT THE NEW REVENUES WILL BE ENOUGH TO FUND MOST OF THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION, BUT THIS IS JUST A HOPE.

IF OR WHEN THE NEW REVENUES FALL SHORT, THE CITY WILL STILL BE OBLIGATED TO PAY THE $489 MILLION, AND THIS FINANCIAL COMMITMENT IS A PUBLIC RESOURCE THAT OTHERWISE COULD BE USED TO FUND OTHER PUBLIC NEEDS. LET'S NOT FORGET -- LET'S NOT FORGET HOW JUST RECENTLY WE HAD TO RESCUE THE GRAND HYATT DURING COVID WHEN THEY COULDN'T PAY US BACK. AND THERE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES. WHAT PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE BEING COMMITTED? WE'RE HEARING $250 MILLION OF THE $440 MILLION FOR NEXT YEAR'S 2027 BOND. THAT'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND ONLY LEAVES US 190 MILLION TO FINANCE STREETS, PARKS, HOUSING, DRAINAGE FOR THE REST OF THE NINE DISTRICTS. AND THEN THERE'S THE $60 MILLION TIRZ FUNDS FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ TO PURCHASE THE LAND WHERE THE ARENA COULD BE CONSTRUCTED. THESE FUNDS COULD RETURN BUT INSTEAD WILL FUND THE BILLIONAIRES AND MULTIBILLIONAIRES. WEDNESDAY WE HAVE A MEETING BUT IF YOU GO TO THE AGENDA, IT DOESN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE ARENA OR THE SPURS. LET'S TALK ABOUT LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, MR. WALSH.

FOR HOW LONG, WHAT RISK ARE WE ASSUMING? WHAT OTHER CHOICES ARE WE MAKING WHEN WE DEDICATE THESE RESOURCES HERE? THOSE ARE LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS. AND VOTERS ARE CAPABLE OF ANSWERING THEM.

WE ARE ALSO TOLD THAT SAN ANTONIO ISSUES REVENUE BONDS WITHOUT ELECTIONS ALL THE TIME. THAT'S TRUE. WE FINANCE OUR AIRPORT, WE FINANCE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMS, WE FINANCE ESSENTIAL PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE. BUT HERE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CITY PARTICIPATION IN AN ARENA WHOSE PRINCIPLE 10 A10ATE WILL BE A PRIVATELY OWNED SPORTS FRANCHISE.

BUT WHEN IT'S THIS LARGE, WHY IS ASKING THE PUBLIC TO VOTE UNREASONABLE? IS TIMING MATTERS, TOO. OUR CITY'S CONFRONTING DIFFICULT BUDGET CHOICES AND NEIGHBORHOODS LIKE THE WEST SIDE HAVE HEARD THE SAME ANSWER FOR GENERATIONS, SAME THING WITH THE EAST SIDE. AND THE SOUTH SIDE.

WAIT FOR THE SIDEWALK. WAIT FOR THE DRAINAGE, WAIT FOR THE STREET, WAIT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WAIT FOR THE PARK AND THE TREES AND THE SWIMMING POOLS IN THE PARK, WAIT ANOTHER BOND CYCLE. WAIT ANOTHER GENERATION.

SO WHEN GOVERNMENT DEMONSTRATES EXTRAORDINARY CREATIVITY IN ASSEMBLING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE WEST SIDE AND THE EAST SIDE AND THE SOUTH SIDE AND THE NORTH SIDE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO ASK HARD QUESTIONS. THIS IS NOT ANTISPURS,

[00:50:06]

THIS IS RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP. WHY RESPOND TO CONSTITUENTS WHO HAVE -- RATHER THAN MORE? SOME OF YOU MAY BELIEVE THIS ARENA IS A GREAT INVESTMENT. MAKE THE CASE. BUT LET YOUR CONSTITUENTS DECIDE THE CITY QUESTION. SAN ANTONIO HAS A DEEP MEXICAN-AMERICAN VOTING RIGHTS TRADITION, WILLIE VELASQUEZ AND THE SOUTHWEST VOTER REGISTRATION EDUCATION PROJECT TAUGHT -- FOUGHT TO EXPAND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION. THOUSANDS OF CHICANOS, BLACKS AND PROGRESSIVE WHITE ALLIES ALSO FOUGHT FOR GREATER PARTICIPATION AND TO END THE PRACTICE OF HAVING IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT DECISIONS MADE BY A FEW CITY OFFI OFFICIALS COLLUDING WITH DEVELOPERS, BANKERS, ENGINEERS, ALL OF THEM MEETING BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE DONE WITH ELECTIONS AND POLICIES DECIDED BY THE GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE, POR FAVOR, HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST HONOR OUR CORE COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY.

THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR COMMITMENT TO DEMOCRACY BY ALLOWING YOUR CONSTITUENTS TO VOTE, AND LET US PUT LAST NOVEMBER IN PERSPECTIVE WITHOUT DISRESPECTING ANYONE WHO PARTICIPATED. EVERY VOTE COUNTED, THE COUNTY RESULTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED BUT NOVEMBER 2026 IS A FEDERAL MIDTERM ELECTION WHEN MANY MORE VOTERS, HISTORICALLY, PARTICIPATE. THE QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER LAST YEAR'S VOTES COUNTED. OF COURSE THEY DID. THE QUESTION IS, WHY SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF ALLOWING MANY MORE SAN ANTONIANS TO PARTICIPATE THIS NOVEMBER. THIS ISSUE HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO OFTEN DISAGREE. I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME. THAT TELLS US SOMETHING. THIS IS BIGGER THAN LEFT AND RIGHT, BUT IT IS MORE ABOUT WHO'S AT THE TOP AND WHO'S AT THE BOTTOM, RICH AND POOR. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OPPOSE THE SPURS TO SUPPORT DEMOCRACY. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OPPOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO OPPOSE PROJECT MARVEL TO BELIEVE A COMMITMENT THIS LARGE DESERVES A PUBLIC VOTE. SO I WANT TO CLOSE BY SPEAKING TO EVERY MEMBER OF COUNCIL. YOU MAY SUPPORT PROJECT MARVEL, YOU MAY OPPOSE IT, YOU MAY STILL BE UNDECIDED, BUT DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT. PUT THE QUESTION BEFORE US. MAKE YOUR CASE, RESPOND TO THE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS YOU'VE BEEN RAISING FOR OVER A YEAR. EXPLAIN THE FINANCING, EXPLAIN THE BENEFITS, EXPLAIN THE RISKS. GIVE PEOPLE THE FACTS AND THEN TRUST THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO. TRUST US ENOUGH TO LISTEN AND TO VOTE. THE COUNTY VOTE ANSWERED THE COUNTY QUESTION, NOW LET SAN ANTONIANS THE CITY QUESTION.

SAN ANTONIO VOTE. OUR CITY, OUR DOLLARS, OUR VOTE.

MUCHAS >> MAYOR JONES: LETICIA VELA FOLLOWED BY (SAYING

NAME). >> GOOD MORNING. I HAVE AN ADDITIONAL THREE

MINUTES FROM SANDRA MARTINEZ MARTINEZ. >> MAYOR JONES: NUMBER 27,

THANK YOU. SIX MINUTES, PLEASE. >> THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS LETICIA VELA. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 6, WHICH APPARENTLY MY COUNCIL PERSON WASN'T INTERESTED IN WHAT -- HER CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO SAY SAY.

WHERE IS SHE? I'M SORRY, I'M DISTRICT 7, SORRY.

[LAUGHTER]. SEVEN, SEVEN, NOT SIX. SEVEN, I KNEW THE FACE! I JUST CONFUSED THE NUMBER BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU, I AM EXHAUSTED.

I AM EXHAUSTED BY THIS. I AM DISAFFECTED BY THIS BODY, NOT YOU SPECIFICALLY, IT'S YEARS OF THIS BODY OF CITY COUNCIL WHO HAS NOT REPRESENTED THE NEEDS OF SAN SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTSS. ONLY THE NEEDS OF THOSE IN PAIR.

SO LET ME KIND OF MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT I CAME HERE WITH TODAY.

OKAY. SO I WENT AFTER THE COUNTY VOTE, I WENT TO THE VISION SESSION AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE UNIVERSITY. YOU SAY WE UNDERSTAND THIS

[00:55:02]

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HEMISFAIR. THAT'S THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AND I SAID REALLY? I DIDN'T KNOW THAT? DO PEOPLE KNOW THAT? DO YOU KNOW THAT? SO THEN THE MODERATOR OF OUR GROUP, THE MODERATOR, TELLS US THAT HERE'S THE ARENA. THIS IS WHERE THE ARENA IS.

AND SHE POINTS TO THE ALAMODOME. AND I SAID REALLY? I DIDN'T KNOW THE ARENA WAS GOING TO BE AT THE SITE OF THE ALAMODOME.

AND ONE OF THE SPURS PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, EXPLAINED THAT, NO NO, IT WAS NOT AT THE ALAMODOME, IT WAS NOW GOING TO BE ON THE RUBBLE OF THE TEXAS INSTITUTE OF CULTURES.

SO YOU ALL ARE MAKING AN ARGUMENT TODAY THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS.

NOBODY KNOWS! NOBODY KNOWS! SO THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROCESS THAT YOU ALL SAY HAS BEEN FAIR AND INCLUSIVE OF US, THE RESIDENTSS.

SO NOW I'M GOING TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE. COME WITH ME.

SO IN 2002 WE HAD HERE -- SO I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE SPURS PLAYED AT THE HEMISFAIR ARENA. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR THE -- WHAT WAS IT, THE SBC, THE AT&T, THE FROST BANK AND THE ALAMODOME. SO IN MY LIFETIME THIS IS WHAT I'VE EXPERIENCED. MAYBE SOME OF YOU WEREN'T EVEN HERE THEN, BUT THIS IS WHERE I'M SPEAKING, I'M SPEAKING FROM LEGITIMATE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING LIVED IN THIS CITY AND DEALT WITH THESE ISSUES TIME AFTER TIME TIME.

SO I'M MOVING NOW TO AN ISSUE THAT WAS CALLED PGA VILLAGE.

IT WAS FROM 2000 TO 2002 AND IT WAS GOING TO BE BUILT OVER ON BULVERDE ROAD UP ON THE NORTHSIDE. AND WE WERE TOLD THIS IS GOING TO GIVE US ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IT'S GOING TO GIVE THE CITY -- IT'S GOING TO MAKE US A WORLD CLASS CITY WAS THE BIG SAYING BACK THEN. SO I DID A STUDY OF -- THIS IS MY RAND MCNALLY SCHOLARS PROGRAM RESEARCH THAT I DID, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES, EXACTLY. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

BILLIONAIRES. WE HAVE VOTING RIGHTS, CASE, COURT CASE THAT WE FOUGHT IN THAT ONE ALSO. SO ALL THE SAME ELEMENTS, YOU'RE WILLING TO LOOK AT THIS TO LOOK AT MY RESEARCH AT THAT TIME. I DID A LOT OF INTERVIEWS AND PEOPLE ARE LIKE ME, EXHAUSTED AND DISAFFECTED BY THIS COUNCIL -- BY THE BODY OF THIS COUNCIL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, NEVER LISTENING. I'M GOING TO END WITH THIS BECAUSE I'M NOT COHERENT, BUT I'M GOING TO READ SOMETHING.

AND THIS IS FROM MARIA, DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS. AND THIS WAS EXPLAIN TO YOU WHY THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN FROM 20082 TO TODAY. ONE DAY I MADE A LIST, DRAWING ON MY EXPERIENCES IN CITY HALL. I COUNTED THE BIG DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS, BANKERS, REALTOR REALTORS, CONSTRUCTION MAGNETS, MEDIA MOGULS, ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS REPRESENTING THE BUSINESSES THAT WANTED TO LOCATE OVER THE AQUIFER. THIS WAS WATER ISSUES. AND OTHER MAJOR BUSINESS LEADERS. THESE WERE THE INDIVIDUALS IN TOWN WHO WIELDED THE POWER IN CITY HALL TO DETERMINE WHEN, HOW AND WHERE OUR CITY WOULD INVEST MAJOR RESOURCES. THAT DAY I COUNTED 17 PEOPLE PEOPLE.

THEY ALL HAPPENED TO BE MEN AND THEY WERE ALL WHITE. SO INSTEAD OF USING THE TERMS ESTABLISHMENT OR BUSINESS ELITE, I STARTED -- I CALLED THEM THE 17 WHITE MEN WHO RUINED OUR CITY. WE'RE STILL THERE, HAVEN'T GONE ANYWHERE.

[APPLAUSE]. >> MAYOR JONES: SUSAN STRA STRAWN, FOLLOWED BY AARON

[01:00:05]

AND THEN JANE. >> THANK YOU. MAYOR.

I HAVE WITH ME JANE AND [INDISCERNIBLE] HERE. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU HAVE

NINE MINUTES, MA'AM. >> THANK YOU, COUNCIL, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE HERE, REALLY APPRECIATE IT, AND THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR CALLING THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE. THE CITY IS DIVIDED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS CITY DIVIDED LIKE THIS. PEOPLE ARE ONLINE, THROWING MUD AT EACH OTHER LEFT AND RIGHT. PEOPLE ARE ON THE STREET. AND THE REASON IS NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THIS DEAL IS ABOUT. THE SPURS SAY ONE THING, THE CITY MANAGER SAYS SOMETHING ELSE, THE COUNTY JUDGE IS NOW SAYING SOMETHING ELSE.

AND WE CAN'T DECIDE. WE DON'T KNOW -- WE DON'T AGREE ON WHAT THE COUNTY VOTE WAS ABOUT EVIDENTLY. WE DON'T AGREE ABOUT WHAT THE WHAT SOURCES AND USES OF THE $89 MILLION IN CITY FUNDING CAN OR CANNOT DO.

WE DON'T HAVE -- WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE OTHER COSTS, THE 60 MILLION FOR THE LAND, THE 250 MILLION FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE COST OF SERVICES FOR THE DISTRICT THAT WILL BE PAYING NO TAXES TO THE CITY.

AND LASTLY, JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WE CALL INTO QUESTION WHAT IS THE WHOLE STATUS OF THE DEAL? APPARENTLY ACCORDING TO JUDGE SICAI WE ALREADY HAVE A DEAL THAT'S ENFORCEABLE ON PAIN OF LITIGATION, WHICH AS I THINK WE'RE HERE TODAY BECAUSE MR. SOCIA THINKS WE STILL HAVE ROOM TO NEGOTIATE AND VOTE.

LET ME START WITH THE COUNTY VOTE. HERE HEARD A LOT FROM PEOPLE PEOPLE, I SEE IT ONLINE, WE'VE ALREADY VOTED, RESPECT THE VOTE, BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU WHAT I SAW THAT WE NOTED ABOUT. AND I BROUGHT IT HERE TODAY.

IT'S A HOTEL TAX PAID BY TOURISTS AND VISITORS, NOT SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES.

WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT, INCREASE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO A MAXIMUM RATE OF TWO PERCENT. NO TO THE TO SAN ANTONIO HOMEOWNERS OR RENTERS, ZERO.

THE ARENA WILL NOT BE -- WILL BE FUNDED BY VISITOR TAXES.

SORRY, CAN I SEE THAT ONE BACK AGAIN? AND THIS ONE, IT SAYS ARE YOU STAYING IN A SAN ANTONIO HOTEL? NO? HOWDY NEIGHBOR, YOU PAY ZERO ZERO. THIS ONE SAYS OUR TAX BILL IS ZERO. SEE THE BALLOT LANGUAGE FOR YOURSELF, WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT FOR PROP B, TO INCREASE THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX TO A MAXIMUM RATE OF TWO PERCENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE RATHER THAN VENUE PROJECT.

SO WE HAD -- I HAVE MANY MORE OF THESE AT HOME. I DIDN'T BRING THEM ALL TODAY, YOU'LL BE GLAD ABOUT THAT, BUT THIS IS -- THE SPURS SPENT EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS TO TELL US WHAT WAS ON THE BALLOT AND WHAT WE WERE VOTING ON.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE BELIEVED THEM. [APPLAUSE].

A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THINK THAT WE VOTED ON THE WHOLE PROJECT AND NOT SIMPLY 311. SO HOW CAN WE SIT HERE TODAY AND SAY WE ALREADY VOTED? AND I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION WHAT NELSON WOLF SAID ABOUT THIS WHEN RAISING OUR PROPERTY TAXES TO RAISE OR DEBT AND RAISING PROPERTY TAXES FOR THE GENERAL FUND. HE SAID IT'S HARD TO ASK FOR A PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BECAUSE THE WHOLE ARGUMENT DURING THE SPURS ARENA CAMPAIGN IS THAT WE'RE NOT USING LOCAL PROPERTY TAXES TO PAY FOR THIS. WASN'T EXACTLY THE TRUTH AS WE ARE NOW FINDING OUT. SO THAT WAS HIM ON JUNE 16TH ON INSIDE POLITICS OF THIS YEAR. SO CONFUSION ABOUT THE VOTE, WHAT WAS THE VOTE ABOUT, NOT ABOUT THE CITY FUNDING. AND WE ALSO HAVE CONFUSION, A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT THE SOURCES AND USES OF CITY FUNDING, THE 489 MILLION SPECIFICALLY.

THE CITY HAS SAID IT'S ABOUT THE GROUND LEASES, THE GROUND LEASES AND 48% MIGHT BE THE STATE HOTEL TAX. THE SPURS HAVE SAID REPEATEDLY THAT IT'S ONLY THE STATE HOTEL TAX. THERE'S NO TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE FUNDS COULD SUBSTITUTE FOR. THEY SAY IT CAN'T BE STREETS STREETS, CAN'T BE ANYTHING ELSE, ONLY THE ARENA. SO THIS IS FROM THE CITY, IT LISTS ALL THE PARTS THAT GO INTO THE 489, ONLY 48%. THIS IS THE LETTER THAT MR. MR. BUFORD WROTE, WHICH SAYS THE CITY CONTRIBUTION COMES FROM VISITOR-BASED REVENUE COLLECTED AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT IS LEGALLY RESTRICTED TO VENUES AND TOURISM RELATED PROJECTS.

[01:05:01]

IT COULD BE USED TO FINISH TOWER PARK THAT HEMISFAIR WANTS TO ASK FOR $37 MILLION OF BOND MONEY, PROPERTY TAX BOND. THE PFC COULD GO TO THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT FROM THE SPURS. AND HERE'S THE SLIDE THAT MY FRIEND MONICA CRUZ REFERRED TO EARLIER. THIS WAS DISPLAYED AT THE SPURS PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS. BEXAR COUNTY VOTERS APPROVED 300 MILLION, YES, 300 MILLION, YES, ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTELY.

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO FACILITATES 489 MILLION IN STATE OF TEXAS HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAXES WHICH ARE PAID BY HOTEL VISITORS. THERE'S NOTHING ON THAT SLIDE ABOUT THE TIRZ, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT GROUND LEASES, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT RENT. IT'S ONLY ABOUT THE HOTEL TAX BECAUSE THAT LIED OF THE AISLE WANTS -- THAT SIDE OF THE AISLE WANTS EVERYONE TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WHOLE THING IS BEING PAID BY VISITOR TAXES, AND I'LL TELLING YOU ONLINE A LOT, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO DO BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE OF THIS.

I ATTENDED THE SECOND MEETING, I BROUGHT THIS SLIDE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FACILITATEOR OF THAT MEETING, AND HE SAID HE WOULD RELAY THAT ON THE SPURS. THIS SLIDE WAS TAKEN I BELIEVE AT THE FOURTH MEETING AND THIS SLIDE CONTINUED TO BE DISPLAYED AT EVERY MEETING AFTER.

DESPITE BEING TOLD THAT THIS SLIDE WAS ONLY, AS MONICA SAID, A HALF-TRUTH, AND I MIGHT CHARACTERIZE IT AS A 48% TRUTH. SO WE CONTINUE TO HEAR THAT TODAY, THAT THE PFC CAN'T DO TO ANYTHING ELSE. COULD LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TIRZ AND AGAIN WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION IF WE GO BACK A COUPLE OF SHEETS TO THE CITY'S PRESENTATION. THE CITY SAYS THAT THE TIRZ THAT WILL GO TO FUND THE ARENA INCLUDES TAXES FROM EXISTING DEVELOPMENT. THE SPURS HAVE SAID IT'S ONLY FROM THE SPURS DEVELOPMENT. BOBBY PEREZ SAID IN OCTOBER OCTOBER 6 OF 2025, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING TAXES IN THE TIRZ WILL BE THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS SPURS. SO LET'S TAKE THAT TRUE, BUT IT ISN'T TRUE AT THE MOMENT.

THE TIRZ ALSO INCLUDES OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPERS THAT ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE SPURS.

THE SSL CONSULTANT SAID THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN DEVELOPING ALL AROUND THIS DISTRICT. IF TRUE THE CITY COSTS WILL BE VERY HIGH FOR POLICING THIS DISTRICT, PROVIDING FIRE, PROVIDING STREET MAINTENANCE, PROVIDING SANITATION, AND IT WILL COLLECT NO TAXES FROM ANY OF THESE DEVELOPERS REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT THE MONEY IS COMING FROM THE SPURS. SO AGAIN, MY POINT HERE IS NOT TO DEBATE THE FACTS, BUT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENT FACTS COMING FROM DIFFERENT PEOPLE TO THIS DAY AND THERE'S NOT BEEN ANY CLARIFICATION IN THE PUBLIC'S MIND OF WHERE THIS MONEY IS COMING FROM AND WHAT ARE THE OPPORTUNITY COSTS AND WHAT ARE THE DIRECT COSTS OF THIS PROJECT PROJECT.

SO AS I SAID, THERE'S AN ADDITIONAL 310 MILLION IN CITY CONTRIBUTIONS, PLUS THE COST OF SERVICES FOR THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN THAT 489 MILLION 489 MILLION. THE 60 MILLION FOR THE LAND PURCHASE FROM THE MIDTOWN TIRZ UNDENIABLY THAT MONEY COULD GO BACK INTO THE GENERAL FUND.

THERE'S $18 MILLION IN CASH SITTING THERE ACCORDING TO THE LATEST COMPTROLLER REPORT. THAT COULD GO A WAY FOR ALLEVIATING THE NEED FOR A TAX HIKE. THE 250 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE UNDENIABLY REPAID BY PROPERTY TAX IS NOW TIM ESTIMATED TO BE OVER HALF OF OUR BOND CAPACITY.

NELSON WOLFF ALSO HAD THIS TO SAY. IF YOU HAD A BOND MISSION OF WITHIN 700 MILLION AND TAKING 250 MILLION FOR ONE PROJECT, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME UPSET PEOPLE. THAT'S TOO MUCH IN ONE PLACE SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL WORK OUT DIFFERENT WAYS OF FUNDING IT. [BUZZER].

SO IN CONCLUSION, I ASK YOU TO ALLOW A VOTE BECAUSE A VOTE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE FACTS OUT IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC AND TO REACH SOME SORT OF CONSENSUS OVER WHAT THE FACTS ARE. THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE].

>> MAYOR JONES: ARAN MEREZ MEREZ, FOLLOWED BY MARTHA AND THEN BRETT COLE.

>> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS ARAN.

MY THOUGHTS ARE MY OWN. I DON'T REPRESENT ANYONE. WHY EXPECT YOU TO REMEMBER THIS, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY HERE LAST YEAR AND I SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE TIRZ.

[01:10:03]

THE SENSATION THAT ALL OF THIS HAS GIVEN ME IS THAT IN PARTICULAR THE MAYOR WISHES THAT THIS PROJECT WOULD JUST GO AWAY, THAT SOMETHING WOULD KILL IT, AN ELECTION, AN ECONOMIC STUDY, SO SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO MANAGE IT, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE VOTERS DECIDED AND THEY APPROVED THE INVESTMENT.

THE SENSATION THAT I GET FROM THE MAYOR IS SHE CAN'T COVER IT AND THAT'S WHY SHE WANTS THIS PRONG TO DIE BECAUSE THEY KNOWS SHE CAN'T GET THE BEST POSSIBLE DEAL, SHE KNOWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE DETAILS SHE'S NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE MOST OF IT. SHE CAN'T CONTROL HER OWN OFFICE STAFF.

HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO EXPECT DA SHE CAN HANDLE THE MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT IN THETIZE HISTORY. I UNDERSTAND IT'S DIFFICULT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SORTS OF INVESTMENTS ARE GOING TO BE HARD. BUT THAT'S WHEN GOVERNMENT SHOULD STEP IN AND BE AMBITIOUS AND PROVIDE PROJECTS AND PLANS TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, ENERGIZE THE CITY, PROVIDE DISABILITY AND JOBS.

>> MAYOR JONES: ORDER, PLEASE, LET'S BE RESPECTFUL. THESE>> THESE PROJECTS ARE HOW GET THE HEMISFAIR, IT'S HOW WE GOT THE SPURS. THOSE THINGS TRANSFORMED OUR CITY AND THAT'S ALL I'M ASKING FOR IS FOR YOU TO BE BOLD AND COURAGEOUS AND AMBITIOUS AND HELP US TRANSFORM OUR CITY. AND I ACTUALLY THINK EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A LOT OF BOO BOOING, I SPEAK FOR A LOT OF SAN ANTONIANS WHEN I SAY THAT THERE IS AN ELECTION THAT I -- WE WOULD LIKE TO GET A DO-OVER ON, AND IT'S

THE ELECTION OF THE MAYOR. [BOSBOBOOS]. >> MAYOR JONES: MARTHA SPI SPINKS. DE TCOLE. I MAY BE MY PRONOUNCING YOUR

NAME. >> HELLO COUNCIL. I OWN A SMALL RETAIL BUSINESS IN DISTRICT 10 WHERE WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR 11TH YEAR IN BUSINESS.

WHEN FORMER COUNCILMAN CAME TO DO THE RIBBON CUTTING AT OUR NEW AUSTIN HIGHWAY LOCATION WE WERE VISITING AND HE TOLD US A GOOD COMPROMISE IS WHEN BOTH SIDES ARE NOT HAPPY. WITH THE ARENA DEAL WE DON'T HAVE A COMPROMISE.

EVERYONE LOVES THE SPURS. OUR FAMILY IS NO EXCEPTION. OUR HOUSE HOLLERED AND CHEERS WITH EVERY WINNING BASKET AND MORE IN THE MORNING AFTER THE CLOSE LOSSES. THE IMMENSE VALUE THEY BRING TO THEIR SAN ANTONIO HOME IS UNDENYIABLE. YOU CAN WANT A FAIR DEAL FOR SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS, BOTH THINGS CAN BE TRUE. PROJECT MARVEL'S COST IS TOO GREAT.

THIS WAS NOT A TRANSPARENTLY AND INCLUSIVE INCLUSIVELY NEGOT DEAL AND AS A RESULT CLEARLY IT HAS LEFT OUR CITIZENRY TORN IN HALF. RECENTLY ON A RADIO SHOW OUR CURRENT D10 COUNCILMAN SAYS THE 489-MILLION-DOLLAR MAY NOT HELP MY BUSINESS, BUT IT WILL HELP THE CITY IN THE LONG RUN. WHERE IS SAN ANTONIO AND VOICE FOR BUSINESSES IN OUR DISTRICT? SURE, OUT OF TOWN VISITORS MAY HELP MY BUSINESS, AN ARENA REPLACING AN ARENA WE ALREADY HAVE WITH LESS SEATS IS NOT BRINGING ANY MORE CITIES TO TOWN. PFZ MONEY COULD INSTEAD BE PRIORITIZED FOR EXPANDING THE CONVENTION CENTER WHICH WOULD MY MORE VISITORS TO TOWN WHO ARE IN TOWN LONG ENOUGH TO DISCOVER OTHER AREAS TO EXPLORE AND SPEND MONEY. RESPECTFULLY, I ASK EACH OF YOU, EACH OF YOU, LET'S STRIKE A FAIR COMPROMISE BY LETTING SAN ANTONIO CITIZENS CITIZENS' NOISES BE HEARD BY GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE. DO THE RIGHT THING, LET SAN

ANTONIANS VOTE. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

PRISCILLA. SIR, YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES. >> GOOD MORNING.

[01:15:15]

FIRST I WANT TO MENTION THAT ANOTHER TOPIC IS THAT THE TEXAS CONSTITUTION STATES THAT IN REGARDS TO TAKING LAND, PUBLIC USE DOES NOT INCLUDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR ENHANCEMENT OF TAX REVENUE. HEMISFAIR LAND WAS PRIMARILY LAND CONDEMNED AND TAKEN OR ACQUIRED OF PUBLIC USE OF THE 1968 FAIR.

THE MORE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL SHOULD BE TO UPHOLD THAT PUBLIC USE, WHICH IS NOT DONE WITH THE G GSA LAND DEVELOPMENT. ALSO THERE'S A HISTORY OF AVOIDING A PUBLIC VOTE IN ORDER TO DEVELOP IN THE CASE OF THE 68 APARTMENTS BUILT ON PARKLAND. THE CITY LEGALLY COMPLIED BECAUSE THE STATE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE RULE TEMPORARILY TO AVOID A VOTE, BUT DID WE MORALLY COMPLY? BACK TO WHY WE ARE HERE. I DON'T MEAN EX-TA ESSENTIALLY OR BECAUSE OF THE AGENDA ITEM TODAY, BUT WHY ARE YOU ON THE DAIS AT THIS TIME AND WHY AM I AT THIS MICROPHONE RATHER THAN MY JOB TODAY? AN ENGINEERING WAY TO SOLVE PROBLEMS IS CALLED FIVE WHY WHY'S. THE POINT IS TO KEEP ASKING WHY UNTIL YOU FIND THE ROOT CAUSE. FOR EXAMPLE, ME, WHY DID I KNOW ABOUT THIS FUNDING ISSUE? BECAUSE OF THE NO PROJECT MARVEL GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT. WHY DID I KNOW ABOUT THAT MOVEMENT? BECAUSE A FELLOW STEERING COMMITTEE TOLD ME ABOUT IT. IT WAS I PART OF TIER 1, BECAUSE I WAS PART OF THE ZONING CASES AND AFTER THEY EDUCATEED EDUCATEED EDUCATEED AND ASSISTED ME THEY ASKED ME TO JOIN.

PEOPLE SAY YOU CAN'T STOP A REZONING IF YOUR COUNCILWOMAN IS FOR IT.

SO WHY DID I KEEP BEING INTERESTED IN THE CASE? BECAUSE MY NEIGHBORS' VOICES WERE NOT BEING HEARD. SORRY. DORRIS SAID TO US WE'LL HELP HELP, BUT WE NEVER WIN. BY WE, SHE MEANT HER AND OTHER SECOND GENERATION HOMEOWNERS WHOSE PARENTS WERE WORKING CLASS HISPANIC PROPERTY OWNERS IN OUR SECTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD THAT USED TO LITERALLY BE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS, BETWEEN TRACKS THAT FED FORT SAM HOUSTON. SO WHY AM I HERE TODAY? BECAUSE I WANTED TO GET ENGAGED WITH WORKINGS OF THE CITY BECAUSE I WANTED THE VOICES OF THOSE NOT REGULARLY CONNECTED TO GOVERNANCE OF THE CITY TO BE HEARD. WHY IS EACH OF YOU HERE? SO ASK YOURSELF WHY ARE YOU HERE? I ASSUME SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ASKING YOURSELVES WHY, THE ANSWER WOULD BE CARING FOR OTHER PEOPLE. IT IS COMMON FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY KNOW YOU OF COURSE TO DOUBT YOUR SINCERITY.

GREAT TRUST FOR POLITICIAN'S -- POLITICIANS ARE THERE BECAUSE ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. I DON'T KNOW THAT ALL OF YOU CARE, I REALLY DON'T, SO I'M ASKING YOU TO ASK YOURSELF WHY YOU CARE? WHY? REALLY AT AN EARLY AGE OR LATE AGE, YOU STARTED TO CARE ABOUT GOVERNANCE.

SO THINK ABOUT TO BEFORE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

WHY WERE YOU INVOLVED? WHY DID YOU FOLLOW THE ISSUES? DID YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER THAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST? DID YOU SEE SOMEONE WHO WASN'T BEING SERVED PROPERLY BY THE GOVERNMENT? DID YOU SEE INEQUITY OR UNFAIRNESS? WHO WAS THAT PERSON OR GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU COULD PUT A FACE TO THAT IS THE ORIGIN OF THE STORY OF WHY YOU ARE HERE TODAY AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. THINK OF YOURSELF BACK THEN AND THINK OF TELLING THOSE PEOPLE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO SERVE ABOUT TODAY. TELL THEM IS THE LARGEST CITY FUNDING FOR A SINGLE FACILITY EVER EVEN ADJUSTED FOR TODAY'S DOLLARS. HOW WOULD YOU TELL THEM THE LEGAL FACTS ARE THAT CITIZENS DON'T HAVE TO VOTE? HOW WOULD YOU TELL THEM THAT THOSE PEOPLE THAT INSPIRED YOU, WOULD THEY AGREE THAT YOU ARE SMART AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE ALL THE VOTERS A CHOICE? WOULD THEY SAY IT'S OKAY THAT WE ALREADY HAD A DIFFERENT VOTE ABOUT LESS MONEY ON THE SAME PROJECT? WOULD THEY SAY IT'S OKAY IF THE PROMISED VOTE ON THE BOND ISN'T REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE THE TERM SHEET IS COMPROMISED BEFORE THAT BECAUSE OF PESKY PROJECT-SPECIFIC INFRASTRUCTURE. IT JUST SOUNDS PROBLEMATIC TO THE CITY ATTORNEY.

WOULD THOSE THAT INSPIRED YOU SAY IT'S OKAY IF VOTERS DIDN'T GET TO VOTE ON THIS THIS -- THAT THEY DIDN'T GET TO VOTE ON WHAT THEY REALLY THINK THEY VOTED ON.

THEY SAY THAT THE AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T UNDERSTAND THESE BIG FUNDING DEALS? WOULD THEY SAY IT WAS OKAY TO DENY VOTERS A CHOICE ON HEMISFAIR PARKLAND.

SO IF IT'S OKAY THEN, IT'S OKAY NOW. WE HAVE A NEIGHBORHOOD

[01:20:04]

I COULD NEVER GO BACK AND TELL DORA THAT I THOUGHT PEOPLE SHOULDN'T GET A VOTE.

IT WOULD JUST BE WRONG, NORMALLY WRONG. NO -- MORALLY WRONG.

NO MATTER HOW YOU VOTE TODAY PEOPLE WILL THANK YOU. THINK ABOUT YOUR MENTORS, THE PEOPLE YOU CARED ABOUT WHEN YOU STARTED DOWN THIS PATH, THAT GOT YOU HERE

TODAY. WOULD THEY THANK YOU? >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

REBECCA FLORES, FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN AND VELMA. REBECCA FLORES?

>>

>> IT SHOULD BE NINE MINUTES TOTAL. >> MORNING, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, FRIENDS AND FELLOW SAN ANTONIANS WHO ARE HERE TODAY AND WATCHING ONLINE.

I'M BACK HERE AGAIN AND I THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU AGAIN REPRESENTING MYSELF. MY NAME IS KATHY VAIL, I AM A D1 HOMEOWNER IN THE RIDGE RIDGEVIEW NEIGHBORHOOD LIVING ON MY CHILDHOOD STREET IN A WORKING CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD BUILT IN 1955. I LOVE MY NEIGHBORS AND THE RIDGEVIEW COMMUNITY.

I BEGAN PAYING ATTENTION TO PROJECT MARVEL TWO ENTIRE YEARS AGO WHEN DR. CHRISTINE DR. CHRISTINE'S OP EDD WAS PUBLISHED IN THE PAPER, DOWNTOWN MECA CUTS THE COMMUNITY. THAT WAS TWO YEARS AGO. I AM DEEPLY ROOTED IN CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND VOTEER PARTICIPATION. I SERVED ON THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON VOTING AND I AM THE VICE-CHAIR OF THE BEXAR COUNTY ELECTIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HELPING PRECINCT 2. I REGISTER VOTERS AND I WORK ELECTIONS. I WANT TO BEGIN BY THANKING MAYOR JONES FOR CREATING THE MAYOR'S COMMISSION ON VOTING AND INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE.

THESE WERE EIGHT WEEKS OF DEMANDING WORK THAT RESULTED IN OUR 56 PAGE REPORT RELEASED LAST MONTH. EVERY VOICE, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD, A BOLD VISION FOR CIVIC PARTICIPATION AND VOTING IN SAN ANTONIO. OUR WORK HAS BEEN APPLAUDED THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE EDITORIAL BY THE EXPRESS NEWS ON JULY 15TH. SUCH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS A NOBLE GOAL AND SHOULD BE SUPPORTED. THE FEWER BARRIERS TO VOTING THE BETTER. I'M VERY PROUD OF THE WORK WE DID.

AND A LITTLE MORE OF THAT POSITIVE CIVIC ENERGY AND INSPIRATION WOULD BE VERY MUCH WELCOME RIGHT NOW TO REPLACE THE RANCOR AND DIVISION RIPPING THROUGH OUR CITY. I WELCOME IT AND I OFFER MY WORK AND EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TO ASSIST IN THAT EFFORT. WHY? BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF SAN SAN ANTONIO DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON A DOWNTOWN MOG OF THIS MAGNITUDE, NOT BECAUSE WE'RE AGAINST THE SPURS, WE'RE NOT NOT. NOT BECAUSE WE'RE AGAINST DOWNTOWN.

WE'RE NOT. NOT BECAUSE WE'RE AGAINST FINANCIAL INVESTMENT.

WE'RE NOT. AND CERTAINLY NOT BECAUSE WE ARE AGAINST OR AFRAID OF TRANSFORMATION. WE ARE NOT. WE ARE ADVOCATEING FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN 2026 BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSFORMATIONAL INVESTMENT AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WILL EXPERIENCE EITHER THE WIN SUCCESS OR THE FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES DESERVE A DIRECT VOTE AND A DECISION. I ATTENDED ALL FIVE OF MAYOR JONES' LISTENING SESSIONS. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE IN THE ROOM WHO CAN RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY THEY WERE THERE FOR ALL FIVE SESSIONS? I LISTENED CAREFULLY.

I TALKED WITH PEOPLE I DIDN'T KNOW. I HEARD ARGUMENTS ON BOTH SIDES. IT WAS EXCELLENT CIVIC ENGAGE:.

I HEARD FISCAL CONSERVATIVES STAND UP PRIMARILY IN D9 AND D10 AND THIS IS WHAT THEY

[01:25:05]

KEEP GOING. SO I REFORM PERPLEXED. I REMAIN PERPLEXED TODAY.

IF THIS IS SUCH A TRANSFORMATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR SAN ANTONIO, WHY ARE SO MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS DETERMINED TO PREVENT SAN SAN ANTONIO FROM VOTING? THAT QUESTION DESERVES AN HONEST ANSWER, WHO BEARS THE FINANCIAL RISK.

UNDER THE PROPOSED FINANCING STRUCTURE, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO WOULD ISSUE UP TO 489 MILLION REVENUE BONDS FOR THE ARENA CONSTRUCTION. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THESE BONDS WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE SPURS ARENA RENT, GROUND RENT FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT, HEMISFAIR TIRZ REVENUE AND PROJECT FINANCE REVENUES.

LET'S BE VERY CLEAR: THE CITY ISSUES THE BONDS AND THE CITY ASSUMES THE DEBT.

AND SOME OF THOSE REVENUES DEPEND ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND HOTEL ACTIVITY AND PROJECTIONS EXISTING DECADES INTO THE FUTURE.

THE PROPOSED TERM SHEET CONTAINS OBLIGATION AND GUARANTEES ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN REVENUES AND THE 1.4 BILLION PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.

BUT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY THE SAME AS IF IT SAID IF PROJECTED REVENUES DON'T MATERIALIZE, THE SPURS WILL MAKE THE SAN ANTONIO WHOLE FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF DEBT SERVICE. THOSE ARE TWO VERY DIFFERENT PROPOSITIONS.

WE'VE HEARD THAT SAN ANTONIO HAS ISSUED REVENUE BONDS WITHOUT REQUIRING A PUBLIC VOTE. ABSOLUTELY TRUE. BUT THE CONTEXT MATTERS.

THERE'S A PROFOUND DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FINANCING A PUBLIC UTILITY, A WATER SYSTEM, AIRPORT AND ISSUING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PUBLIC DEBT CONNECTED TO A PROJECT WITH ENORMOUS PRIVATE BENEFITS FOR MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES. THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS TODAY TO TAXPAYERS.

AND IT SHOULD MATTER TO ANYONE WHO CALLS THEMSELVES A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, INCLUDING COUNCIL MEMBERS SITTING ON THIS DAIS. I'VE LISTENED TO CONCERNS FROM PEOPLE ACROSS THE SPECTRUM, LIBERALS ARE CONCERNED, FISCAL CONSERVATIVES ARE CONCERNED, NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVISTS ARE CONCERNED, PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE SPURS ARE CONCERNED, AND I LOVE THE SPURS. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A SPURS GAME BECAUSE THEY COULD NEVER AFFORD TO BUY A TICKET ARE CONCERNED. WHY? BECAUSE THE PROJECT IS VERY COMPLEX, IT HAS NOT BEEN WELL EXPLAINED AND NOW IT BRINGS TOGETHER PEOPLE WHO DO NOT ORDINARILY AGREE ON VERY MUCH. THE QUESTION IS DO YOU LOVE THE SPURS? I DO. I STILL HAVE MY ROW 4 TICKET STUB FROM THE 1976 GAME WHEN THE FRANCHISE STARTED PLAYING AT THE OLD CONVENTION CENTER WITH THE ICE MAN. THE QUESTION ISN'T WHETHER WE WANT A DOWNTOWN TO EXCEED EXCEED. OF COURSE WE DO.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE I SPEAK FOR TODAY COME FROM GENERATIONAL SAN ANTONIO FAMILIES WHO HELPED BUILD THIS CITY WITH MUSCLE, SWEAT AND GRIT.

WHO PAYS, WHO BENEFITS, WHO PAIRS RISKS AND WHO GETS TO DECIDE? NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO TODAY SAN ANTONIO CONFRONTED ANOTHER FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION ABOUT POLITICAL POWER. IT WAS NOVEMBER 1977 WHEN SAN ANTONIO VOTERS APPROVED THE HISTORIC MOVE FROM AN AT AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL SYSTEM TO SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICTS.

IT PASSED BY LESS THAN THREE PERCENT OF THE VOTE AND IT WAS NOT INEVITABLE.

NOTHING WAS GIVEN TO THE BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES IN THIS TOWN IN THE 1970S FIGHTING FOR REPRESENTATION AGAINST AN ANGLO DOMINANT GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE.

PEOPLE WHO HAD VERY LITTLE DEDICATED THEMSELVES. THEY REGISTERED VOTERS, THEY ORGANIZED, THEY WENT DOOR TO DOOR. THEY HELD [INDISCERNIBLE].

THEY FOUGHT LIKE HELL FOR POLITICAL REPRESENTATION? WHY DO I KNOW THIS? BECAUSE MY FATHER WAS ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, MEETINGS WERE HELD IN MY HOME BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE YOU SEE ON THIS DISPLAY RIGHT NOW. I LIVED THAT AS A CHILD AND IT'S ENGRAINED WHO WHO I AM. THEY UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING FUNDAMENTAL.

NO ONE WAS EVER GOING TO FIND THEM ANYTHING. IF THEY WERE TO WIN IT WAS GOING TO BE AT THE BALLOT BOX. THEY BELIEVED IN WILLIE'S VISION THAT IT IS MEANINGLESS UNLESS ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE HELD RESPONSIBLE. DID MY REPRESENTATIVE LISTEN TO ME? DID THEY EXPLAIN THE DECISION? ALL OF THAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY. SO WHEN PEOPLE SAY WE ALREADY ELECTED YOU TO OFFICE TO MAKE DECISIONS, I RESPECTFULLY RESPOND YOU WERE ELECTED TO REPRESENT US

[01:30:02]

TODAY I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO LET US VOTE AND WE WILL ACCEPT THE RESULT AND MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THAT IS DEMOCRACY. THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO WHOSE VOICES I STAND FOR TODAY ARE NOT THE ON OBSTACLE TO FUTURE.

WE ARE THE FUTURE OF SAN SAN ANTONIO. WE STANDPOINT IN SOLIDARITY ASKING FOR SOMETHING BETTER. GIVE US A BETTER DEAL. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. SANDRA MARTINEZ. TRICIA, FOLLOWED BY

STEPHANIE AND THEN LETICIA. >> HELLO. GOOD MORNING, MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL. WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORS THIS MORNING ALREADY, SO A LOT OF FACTS AND STATISTICS. I'M HERE TO MAKE AN EMOTIONAL PLEA. I'M A FOURTH GENERATION SAN ANTONIAN.

I HAVE BEEN A LIFELONG SPURS FAN. I'M A D8 RESIDENT.

I'VE OWNED MY HOME THERE FOR 20 YEARS. I LOVE MY SPURS MORE THAN ANYTHING AND THIS IS NOT A FIGHT ABOUT THE SPURS. THIS IS AN ARGUMENT ABOUT DEMOCRACY. THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW IN SAN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. I WAS PLEASED TO JOIN A COALITION OF CONCERNED CITIZENS. LIKE KATHY STATED, FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, DEMOCRAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER. THIS IS NOT ABOUT POLITICS ANYMORE, THIS IS ABOUT REPRESENTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT Y'ALL, BUT I SAW A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE AT THE LISTENING SESSIONS THAT THE MAYOR WAS HOLDING, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THE FOLKS ON THE DAIS DAIS, AT LEAST AT THE SESSIONS I WAS AT. SO WHEN I HEAR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SAY THAT THEIR RESIDENTSS WANT TO JUST GO ALONG AND GET ALONG AND THEY DON'T WANT TO VOTE, I THINK THAT'S DISINGENEROUS AND DISHONEST AND I FEEL DIS DISRESPECTED HONESTLY.

I FEEL VERY DISRESPECTED AT THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY ON THIS DEAL FROM THE GIT-GO.

I'M LIKE KATHY, I LEARNED ABOUT THIS TWO YEARS AGO AND I'VE BEEN WANTING INFORMATION FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. AND WHEN I SEE THINGS KIND OF FLOATING AROUND AND THERE'S ALL THIS MIS MISINFORMATION, THERE'S A REASON THAT WE HAVE A LACK OF TRUST IN OUR GOVERNMENT IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2026 AND IT'S BECAUSE WE ELECT PEOPLE AND WE WANT THEM TO REPRESENT OUR VALUES, AND WHEN WE TRY TO COMMUNICATE THOSE VALUES AND WISHES AND THEN WE GET SUPPRESSED AND TOLD, WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER VOTE, AND IT'S NOT ANOTHER VOTE.

WE NEVER VOTED ON THE CITY MONEY, WE VOTED ON THE COUNTY MONEY.

SO THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL SITUATION I THINK FOR A LOT OF FOLKS AND I WOULD LIKE DEMOCRACY TO WORK AS IT SHOULD WHERE THE PEOPLE'S VOICE IS HEARD AND LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE THEY MAY. WE SHOULDN'T BE AFRAID TO VOTE.

IF IT'S SUCH A GOOD DEAL, LET'S VOTE. LET'S SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TODAY. >> MAYOR JONES: STEPHANIE,

FOLLOWED BY LETICIA AND THEN MOLLY. >> GOOD MORNING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS CITY COUNCILS. MY NAME IS STEF MY, PROUD RESIDENT AND CEO OF THE ORGANIZATION OF DEVELOPMENT FOR SAN ANTONIO.

OUR COMMUNITY BUILDERS. SAN ANTONIO SHOULD NOT PUT THE BRAKES ON ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUR CITY HAS SEEN IN DECADES DECADES. THE PUBLIC HAS ALREADY PARTICIPATED IN THE BROADER ARENA FUNDING DECISION. THE FINANCING STRUCTURE IS ESTABLISHED AND THE APPROPRIATE ROLE NOW IS TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXECUTION, NOT INTRODUCE ANOTHER LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY UNCERTAINTY. SAN ANTONIO VOTERS HAVE ALREADY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE BROADER PUBLIC INVESTMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SPURS ARENA AND WE BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO RESPECT THAT DECISION AND MOVE FORWARD. THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS A TRANSFORMAL EFFORT FOR OUR CITY, ATTRACT BUSINESSES BUSINESSES, ATTRACT PUBLIC INVESTMENT AND CREATE THOUSAND OF JOBS. IT CAN STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWN AND GENERATE ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT BENEFITS SAN SAN ANTONIO FOR YEARS TO

[01:35:03]

THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. LETICIA, MOLLY AND REBECCA.

>> HI, MY NAME IS LETICIA SANCHEZ AND HIGH PRESSURE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE NORTHSIDE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION WHO ARE TAXPAYERS AND BELIEVE IN THE ECONOMIC PROCESS. A LARGE NUMBER OF WHOM CANNOT BE HERE TODAY BECAUSE THEY MUST BE WORKING. THEY'RE AT WORK RIGHT NOW. WE COME HERE UNITED AS NEIGHBORS, FAMILIES AND LIFELONG SAN ANTONIANS SAN ANTO DEMAND THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL GIVES US THE RIGHT TO VOTE ON THE 489 MILLION THE CITY WANTS TO HAND OVER FOR A NEW SPURS ARENA. THIS IS OUR CITY, OUR MONEY AND OUR FUTURE.

DECISIONS AT THIS SCALE MUST BELONG TO THE PEOPLE, NOT BACK ROOM DEALS, POLITICAL INSIDEERS OR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS ALONE. WE BUILT THIS CITY WITH OUR LABOR, OUR CULTURE, AND OUR LOVE FOR COMMUNITY. NOW WE'RE STANDING TOGETHER TO SAY LOUD AND CLEAR PUT IT ON THE BALLOT AND LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE.

WE'VE HEARD FROM THOSE WHO WANT TO PUSH THIS DEAL THROUGH, INCLUDING CITY COUNCILMEMBERS, THAT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED ON THIS ISSUE. BUT WE HAVEN'T.

THIS IS CITY FUNDING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT. AT A TIME WHEN OUR CITY IS EXPERIENCING A BUDGET DEFICIT AND MANY OF OUR WORKING CLASS RESIDENTSS ARE STRUGGLEING TO FEED THEIR FAMILIES AND KEEP THEIR UTILITIES ON, CITY STAFF AND BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS ARE PUSHING TO SUPPORT A PROJECT THAT WILL LIFT OUR RESIDENTSS R OUT OF POVERTY. HOW CAN WE TALK ABOUT FUNDING THIS PROJECT WHEN WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT MANY CITY SERVICES WILL BE CUT BACK DUE TO BUDGET.

WHY DO OUR RESIDENTSS CONTINUE TO GO WITHOUT WHILE THE WEALTHY CONTINUE TO HAVE MORE? TODAY WE'RE HERE TO ASK OUR CITY COUNCIL WHAT IS THE OBJECTION TO ALLOWING TAXPAYERS TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE THAT WILL IMPACT THEM? THIS HAS BEEN A PROJECT PLAN BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAT RESIDENTSS DID NOT KNOW ABOUT UNTIL DEALS HAD BEEN MADE AND NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS HAD BEEN SIGNED.

WE ARE NOW DEMANDING THAT WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SAY ON THIS ISSUE AND HOW WE SPEND OUR CITY FUNDS. AND I WANTED TO ALSO MENTION FOR ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT THIS IS NOT TAXPAYER MONEY, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH BECAUSE YOU MUST LEARN HOW CITY FUNDING OPERATES AND NOT JUST BELIEVE POSTCARDS THAT ARE SENT TO US THAT THE SPURS' COMPANY SENDS TO US. WE ASK THAT OUR CITY COUNCIL PROVIDE US WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A DEMOCRATIC PROCESS AND VOTE YES. AND REMEMBER, WE ALSO WILL BE VOTING FOR MAYOR, SO ANY OF YOU ASPIREING TO BECOME THE NEXT MAYOR, WE'RE WATCHING YOU.

THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: MOLLY. MOLLY.

FOLLOWED BYILY BY BY REBECCA. >> I'M HERE. THAT WAS ME OUTSIDE.

I HAD TO LET GO. I GOT MY ANGER OUT JUST NOW BUT I HAD TO COME BACK IN BECAUSE MY HEALTH IS NOT AS GOOD AS IT USED TO BE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU THREE, FOUR, WHATEVER, ARE AFRAID TO LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THEIR VOTE.

ARE YOU SCARED BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO ARE NOW MORE INFORMED ABOUT YOUR

[01:40:01]

IT WAS OUTRAGEOUS. PEOPLE WERE PAYING ME DOUBLE TO NOT CANCEL THEIR RIDES BECAUSE THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS RIDES WERE LIKE CANCEL CANCELING THE FARES.

HOW UGLY IS SAN ANTONIO? HOW UGLY TO CANCEL FARES JUST BECAUSE THEY WERE WEARING A KNICKS JERSEY. THEY'RE JUST AS PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT THERE TO LISTEN TO THE RESIDENTSS WHEN SHE HAD HER TOWN HALL MEETINGS. IT'S JUST UGLY.

IT'S JUST AS UGLY AS Y'ALL TAKING AWAY THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO VOTE.

JUST REMEMBER ONE THING: YOU TAKE THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO VOTE AND YOU BASICALLY KILL YOUR POLITICAL ASPIRATIONS BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WILL, WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T GET ELECTED AGAIN IN ANY OFFICE.

THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE REALLY GOT TO SAY IS THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE A POLITICAL CAREER IF YOU VOTE THE WRONG WAY TODAY. GIVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE. GIVE THE PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

YOU ALL NEED TO JUST GIVE THE RIGHT TO THE PEOPLE TO VOTE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT. WHAT ABOUT DEMOCRACY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND ABOUT THAT? WHAT ABOUT -- PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

PEOPLE HAVE DIED FOR THAT RIGHT TO VOTE AND NOW HERE YOU ARE TAKING IT AWAY FROM THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTSS? OKAY.

IT IS NOT THE SAME THING AS THE COUNTY ELECTION. I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE YOU FACTS. Y'ALL HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED. AND MISSY SPEARS, ALL THOSE RATE HIKES AND THE PROPERTY TAXES, COME ON, EDUCATE YOURSELF: YOU KNOW WHY THAT'S ALL HAPPENING BECAUSE KNOW YOU VOTED ON THE COUNTY LEVEL TO PAY FOR SOMETHING WE CAN'T. WE CAN'T PAY FOR THAT. SO NOW THAT THE PEOPLE OF SAN ANTONIO ARE INFORMED, LET THEM VOTE. LET THEM HAVE AN EDUCATEED, WELL INFORMED RIGHT TO VOTE. DON'T TAKE AWAY THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE AND THEN YOU WILL

LOSE YOUR POLITICAL CAREER. >> MAYOR JONES: REBECCA, FOLDED BY MARY AND THEN

MATTHEW. >> GOOD MORNING. >> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM,

PLEASE PUT THE MICROPHONE CLOSER TO YOU. >> IS THAT BETTER? I GUESS WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT ME UP HERE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS CITY MY WHOLE LIFE AND MY PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, FOR GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS BACK IN THIS

AREA -- >> MAYOR JONES: MA'AM, YOU HAVE TO BE A LITTLE CLOSER

TO THE MICROPHONE. >> WHAT I WANT YOU TO LOOK AT IS THIS FUZZY-HAIRED LITTLE KID WHO GREW UP IN SAN ANTONIO IN THE 50S, WONDERING WHY EVEN AS A SMALL CHILD AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LOOKING AT YOUR PHONES INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING TO YOU, I WONDER WHY AS A SMALL CHILD LIVING WHERE I DID, WHERE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO LIVE ON THE WESTSIDE OF THE TOWN WHERE EVERY SPRING THE SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE BEING WASHED AWAY FROM THE FLOODS IN THE 50S AND IT WAS PREDICTABLE PREDICTABLE. EVERY YEAR WE KNEW THOSE KIDS WERE GOING TO GET DROWN DROWNED ON THE WAY TO SCHOOL SCHOOL.

WE KNEW THAT. AND THE ONLY THING THAT CHANGED THAT, FRANKLY, WAS KATHLEEN VAILS GROUP, HER FATHER, WHO PEOPLE WHO WORKED HAD SINGLE MEMBER DISTRICT FINALLY THAT SAVED THOSE CHILDREN WHO, FRANKLY, ARE STILL DYING NOW BECAUSE THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE NEED IN SAN ANTONIO IS NOT THERE.

NOW, THIS CONVERSATION WE'RE HAVING IS NOT ABOUT THE SPURS.

WE LOVE THE SPURS. EVERYBODY LOVES THE SPURS. YOU CAN'T HELP BUT LOVE THE SPURS. THEY ARE LOVEABLE. AND THEY BELONG TO US.

AND WE ARE LIKE THE THIRD POOREST CITY IN THE COUNTRY AND WE'VE GOT THIS -- AND WE'VE GOT THIS TEAM THAT WE CAN BE SO PROUD OF. IT ALMOST BREAKS OUR HEARTS, AND WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE THEM. BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE? IT'S LIKE BEING THE KID IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO'S

[01:45:04]

THREATENING US AND QUIT EXTORTING US. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

MA'AM. >> AND QUIT OWING US TWO AND A HALF MILLION DOLLARS THAT NOBODY WANTS TO ASK THEM TO PAY US BACK BECAUSE WE'RE AFRAID.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MA'AM, THANK YOU, MA'AM. MA'AM, IF YOU HAVE PREPARED

REMARKS YOU CAN PROVIDE THEM FOR THE RECORD. >> AND THANK YOU, MA'AM.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO, I WANT TO THANK YOU, MA'AM. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU,

MA'AM. MARY. >> GOOD MORNING, CITY COUNCIL. FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU.

WHY ARE YOU AFRAID TO LET US VOTE? ONE QUESTION.

SECOND QUESTION, DO YOU KNOW THE PHRASE CALLED VOTEER SUPPRESSION? HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THAT? I NEVER THOUGHT ON CITY COUNCIL THAT I WOULD BE SAYING THIS TO YOU. AND I RESPECTFULLY SAY IT. MY NAME IS MARY, I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND I AM A RETIRED HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND I'M ALSO HERE BECAUSE, LIKE THOUSANDS OF EAR NEIGHBORS, OTHS NEIGHBORS, I WANT OUR CITY TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE. AND NOT ONE THAT PLACES THE INTEREST OF BILLIONAIRE DEVELOPERS AHEAD OF WORKING CLASS FAMILIES.

I WANT A CITY GOVERNMENT THAT FUNCTIONS WITH TRANSPARENCY AND NOT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF DEVELOPER DEVELOPERS.

OUR COUNTY HELD AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER 2025 AFTER A MASSIVE PROPAGANDA OF OVER $9 MILLION BY THE SS AND E CORPORATION, OWNERS OF THE SPURS, THAT WAS FULL OF LIES AND DECEPTION, AND HIDDEN FACTS CONCERNING THE TOTAL DEBT THAT WE CITY AND COUNTY TAXPAYERS WOULD BE ACQUIRING FOR A TERM OF 30 YEARS. FURTHERMORE, THAT VOTE WAS ONLY ON THE COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION OF 311 MILLION TO BILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS. IT WAS NOT ON THE PROPOSED GIVEAWAY OF 489 MILLION OF CITY FUNDS. MANY FACTUAL DETAILS WERE KEPT HIDDEN UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTIONS ELECTIO. IN OTHER SIMPLE WORDS, THE DEVELOPERS AND SOME OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE CITY MANAGER USED DECEPTION TO HAVE COUNTY TAXPAYERS VOTING YES LAST NOVEMBER. FOR EXAMPLE, THE NOVEMBER BALLOT DID NOT MENTION THAT THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROPOSED ARENA PLUS ALL THE OTHER COSTS TO THE TAXPAYERS -- INFRASTRUCTURE OVER $1 BILLION. THAT'S WHAT IT WOULD HAVE COST OR IT WILL COST THE TAXPAYERS. THE BALLOT DID NOT MENTION OUR CITY TAXPAYERS WOULD GIVE AWAY 489 MILLION FOR THE PROPOSED ARENA WITHOUT REVENUE SHARING OR EVEN A GUARANTEE BY THE SSE OF LIVING WAGE JOBS FOR PEOPLE.

I HAVE A LOT TO SAY, BUT I HAVE TO GO. I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU, VOTE

SUPPRESSION, REMEMBER THAT. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU, MA'AM.

>> WHEN YOU VOTE TODAY REMEMBER ABOUT VOTE SUPPRESSION.

>> MAYOR JONES: YOU CAN SUBMIT THE REST OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THE RECORD IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO. THANK YOU. MATTHEW, FOLLOWED BY MARY, AND THEN CINDY. MATTHEW HAS LEFT. OKAY.

[01:50:02]

MARY. >>

>>

SHE TRIED TO MAKE IT. >> MAYOR JONES: YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES, MA'AM.

MARY HAD TO BE HERE TO GIVE YOU HER TIME. SIX MINUTES.

>> MY NAME IS CINDY. I LIVE IN DISTRICT 9 AND I'M HERE BECAUSE I EXPECT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON $489 MILLION OF CITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARENA OR AN ARENA AND I FEEL THAT WHEN WE VOTED IN 2025 THERE WAS A LOT OF MISINFORMATION, A LOT OF HALF INFORMATION INCLUDING THAT IT WAS A VERY GOOD DEAL.

AND HERE'S THE DEAL OF WHAT WE GOT INCLUDING THE LAND, $160 MILLION OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT IN THIS. AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A CITY OR NBA TEAM IN THIS COUNTRY WHO GOT A BETTER DEAL THAN THE NEGOTIATORS OF THE CITY.

I BELIEVE THIS IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER, NOT A GREAT DEAL.

AND I BELIEVE THAT A BETTER DEAL COULD BE HAD, MUCH BETTER DEAL, AND THAT IS WHY I EXPECT THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE, BUT I UNDERSTAND IT IS YOUR DECISION AND YOUR LEGACY TO TELL ME WHETHER I CAN VOTE OR NOT. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A VOTE NEXT MAY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT VOTE AND THAT WILL HAVE A SEPARATE BALLOT ITEM FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ARENA BECAUSE TEXAS LAW SAYS EACH SINGLE SPECIFIC PURPOSE FOR WHICH DEBT OBLIGATIONS REQUIRING VOTEER APPROVAL ARE TO BE ISSUED MUST BE PRINTED ON THE BALLOT AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION.

BUT THIS IS SEPARATE ISSUE AS STATED IN THE -- IN -- NOT IN THE AGREEMENT SPECIFICALLY LAID OUT. IT WAS LAID OUT IN JUNE OF 2025 WHEN CITY STAFF PRESENTED TO CITY COUNCIL THAT A PROPOSITION SHOULD BE PUT ON THE 2025 BALLOT IN NOVEMBER TO PAY FOR THIS SEPARATELY, AND THAT DIED PROBABLY BECAUSE THE SPURS SAID, HEY, WE'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY TO TELL PEOPLE IT'S FREE.

WE DON'T WANT A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLAR BILL ON THE BALLOT.

IT'S A SEPARATE PROPOSITION. IT WILL BE VOTED AS A SEPARATE PROPOSITION.

IT'S NOT A LOCAL ISSUE AND I AM NOT ACCEPTING THAT SOME ATTORNEY WITH A BARITONE VOICE CAN SAY THIS IS VERY COMPLICATED. IT IS VERY CLEAR IN TEXAS TITLE IX, CHAPTER 1251, SECTION 1251502 BALLOT FORM AND IT LAYS IT OUT AS I READ IT. IT'S THAT SIMPLE, IT'S NOT COMPLEX.

>> BECAUSE WE CAN VOTE ON EACH SPECIFIC PURPOSE, WE WANT TO KNOW THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT IF YYOU HAVE A BFZ AND YOU WANT -- PFZ AND YOU WANT 45% OF IT TO PAY FOR THE ARENA, NOW UP TO 250 MILLION OFF A VERY DIMINISHED BOND, AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS FOR THE ARENA OR FOR THE ALAMODOME, IT CAN BE PAID FOR WITH PFZ DOLLARS, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE CITY PETITIONED FOR. IT SAYS YOU CAN DO IT WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, THE ARENA, THE DOME AND ANY RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE A RAMP BETWEEN COMMERCE AND MONTANA NORTH TO I-37, A BRIDGE ACROSS I-37, A PARKING GARAGE WITH I-37 ACCESS AND AN INTERCHANGE AT CESAR CHAVEZ IN TANDEM WITH TXDOT.

THOSE THINGS WERE ON YOUR LIST FOR YOUR SPECIAL PROJECT AND SHOULD BE ON THE BALLOT. NOW, YOU SAY ON THE BALLOT, THE BALLOT ITEM ALSO HAS TO HAVE THE COST. DO WE LOSE THAT MONEY IF WE VOTE IT DOWN? NO, WE DON'T LOSE THAT BORROWING POWER AND IT CAN BE PUT ON A LATER BALLOT BECAUSE THE BORROWING POWER IS STILL THERE, CAN BE PUT ON A LATER BALLOT TO USE FOR SOMETHING THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT. THE OTHER THING IS, OTHER CITIES HAVE FOUGHT VERY HARD THAT IF SOMETHING GOES ON THE BALLOT, THAT THE PEOPLE VOTE DOWN, YOU HAVE TO WAIT 3 THREE YEARS BEFORE YOU CAN TRY IT AGAIN.

AND THE OTHER THING IS -- THE PEOPLE ARE FIGHTING IS, YOU CAN'T JUST TURN

[01:55:03]

>> MAYOR JONES: ROBERT SHELBY. ROBERT SHELBY, FOLLOWED

BY ANTONIO DIAZ AND THEN DIANA FLORES URIAGES. >> MAYOR AND COUNCILMEMBERS, I'M ROBERT SHELBY, I PAID PROPERTY TAXES IN DISTRICT ONE WHERE I LIVE. I HAVE SOME -- AUDIO] -- FIVE YEARS, THIS POLITICAL REQUEST BY THE MAYOR IS UNNECESSARY. THE MAYOR'S REPEATED MISINFORMATION OF A CITY CONTRIBUTION TO THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS FRUSTRATING.

THE CITY CONTRIBUTION IS A GOOD CREDIT RATING OF THE CITY TO SELL THE BONDS FOR THE DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT FINANCE.

THANK YOU, MR. WALSH. THE BONDS ARE TO BE SECURED AND REPAID FROM, NUMBER ONE, OPERATING RENT FROM THE SPURS LEASE OF THE ARENA.

2, GROUND RENT FROM THE CITY'S GROUND LEASE OF THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN THE SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. 3, REVENUE FROM THE HEMISFAIR TAX INCREMENT REINCEST. ZONE, AND, 4, REVENUE FROM PROJECT FINANCE ZONE NUMBER 2. THE ONLY PROPERTY TAX WILL BE THE INCREASE IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUE BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN THE PROPERTY VALUE TO THE BUILDING OF THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. IF THERE IS NO BUILDING, THEN NO TAX INCREASE.

THE REVENUE STAYS THE SAME. I AM TOLD IT'S 75% OF THE VOTES LAST NOVEMBER CAME FROM CITY RESIDENTS. THOSE RESIDENTS FAVORED A PROPOSITION BY 52%. SEVEN OF THE 10 COUNCIL DISTRICTS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSITION. SAVE THE MILLION DOLLARS THE ELECTION WOULD COST AND USE IT TO COVER A SMALL PORTION OF THE BUDGET SHORTAGE FOR NEXT YEAR. TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THE SHORT-TERM AND NOT REALIZING THE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF DEVELOPING THE NEW SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT. SPURS' NEW ARENA COULD GENERATE MORE VALUE THAN THE SHORT-TERM COST OF BUILDING THE ARENA AND DISTRICT. ALTHOUGH THE SPURS HAVE GOOD ROOTS IN SAN ANTONIO, WHEN THE LEASE WITH THE COUNTY IS UP, THEY COULD LEAVE IF A BIG OFFER COMES TO MOVE TO ANOTHER CITY. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ANTONIO DIAZ.

FOLLOWED BY DIANA FLORES URRIEGAS. AND THEN ARICELLI HERRERA.

>> FIRST OFF, I HAVE TO SAY ONE THING. THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT WE ALREADY VOTED. WE DIDN'T ALREADY VOTE. THAT WAS THE COUNTY VOTE, WHICH INCLUDES CONVERSE AND LEON VALLEY AND BALCONES HEIGHT.

THEY ARE NOT CITY RESIDENTS. SO WE AS CITY RESIDENTS HAVE NOT ACTUALLY VOTED. WE VOTED AS COUNTY RESIDENTS, SO LET'S BE CLEAR. RIGHT OFF, IT STARTS WITH A LIE, THAT WE ALREADY VOTED. NO, WE DIDN'T. WE WERE INCLUDED IN THE WHOLE COUNTY VOTE. SO THE COUNTY -- THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE PAYING WHAT WE PAY AS CITY RESIDENTS. WE'RE THE STAKEHOLDERS OF OUR CITY, OAFN THOUGH, YES, WE'RE ALSO STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COUNTY. BUT COUNTY RESIDENTS, OTHER LITTLE TOWNS AROUND US THAT ARE IN BEXAR COUNTY ARE NOT STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. WE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO VOTE, PERIOD.

VOTE. ALLOW THE PEOPLE A VOTE. YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO VOTE RIGHT NOW WHETHER WE GET TO VOTE OR NOT. WE WILL VOTE YOU OUT.

YES, I POINTED AT YOU. YOU VOTED AGAINST VETERANS AND YOU VOLTED

AGAINST -- >> MAYOR JONES: LET'S BE RESPECTFUL.

LET'S BE RESPECTFUL. >> YEAH. YOU HAD A GUY THAT WASN'T VERY RESPECTFUL TO YOU, MAYOR, JUST A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

NOW, LET'S BE CLEAR. WE HAVE NOT VOTED, EVEN THOUGH THE ELECTION PERIOD WAS CHANGED FROM MAY TO NOVEMBER OF ODD YEARS, SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTED IN NOVEMBER LIKE EVERYONE ELSE. WE USED TO VOTE -- THE MUNICIPALITY USED TO VOTE ONLY IN MAY AND IT WAS VERY CLEAR IT WAS A CITY

[02:00:03]

NO, WE DIDN'T VOTE. UNDERSTAND THAT. UNDERSTAND, WE HAVE NOT VOTED. YOUR VOTERS, THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR YOU, HAVE NOT ACTUALLY VOTED ON THIS ISSUE. GOT THAT CLEAR? SO, AGAIN, NOW, ALL THIS ABOUT THE SPURS, THIS WILL BE THEIR THIRD ARENA. AND THE SAME LANGUAGE JARGON WAS TALKED ABOUT HOW IT WAS GOING TO IMPROVE THIS AND MORE MONEY FOR DOWNTOWN AND ALL THIS, AND YET MOST OF THE DOWNTOWN HOTELS SIT HALF EMPTY SINCE 2019, TILL TODAY. SO WHERE IS THE GUARANTEE THAT IT'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR ITSELF NOW? THIS IS THE THIRD ARENA, IF IT'S BUILT FOR THEM. THE THIRD. AND THE SAME LANGUAGE SAID OVER AND OVER, HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD BRING, HOW MANY JOBS IT WOULD BRING AND SO FORTH, YET NOTHING FOR THE EAST SIDE.

NOTHING FOR THE EAST SIDE, NEVER. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARICELI -- I'M SORRY,

DIANA FLORES URRIEGAS. >> SHE WANTS TO GIVE ME HER MINUTES, SO I'LL

CONTINUE WITH MY RANT. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. >> BUT, AGAIN, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK, TIME AND TIME AGAIN, OF HOW MUCH ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THIS WILL BRING TO SAN ANTONIANS, TO CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND YET WE'VE SEEN LARGE GROUPS COME AND STAND BY HERE AND I'D LIKE TO EVEN ASK THEM IF THEY EVEN LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO. WE THAT ACTUALLY LIVE IN SAN ANTONIO -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT GENERATION -- MY PEOPLE ARE INDIGENOUS TO THIS AREA, SO WE GO BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS, TALKING ABOUT WHO'S LIVED HERE. AND WE'RE THE ONES THAT GREW UP IN THE SOUTH SIDE AND WEST SIDE, EAST SIDE WITH NOTHING, JUST PROMISES.

AND WHEN IT USED TO BE A SINGLE VOTER DISTRICT, IT WAS -- BUT WHEN IT WAS A CITYWIDE ELECTION THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR OWN DISTRICT REPRESENTATION, IT WAS EVEN WORSE FOR US. THE GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE WAS MENTIONED, IT WAS TERRIBLE. BUT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT WE'RE NOT -- WHEN I SEE THE CITY COUNCIL, IT'S LIKE IT WAS THE SPIRITS OF THE OLD CITY COUNCIL PEOPLE WERE STILL SITTING THERE, BECAUSE WE GET THE SAME THING, GET THE SAME THING. NOTHING.

EVERYONE JUST VOTES FOR THE DIFFERENT CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, FOR THE DIFFERENT DEVELOPERS, FOR THE DIFFERENT BANKERS, FOR ALL THE MONEY INTERESTS THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR CITY THAT NEVER ACTUALLY OFFER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO THE CITY PEOPLE, TO US, THE ONES THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SIDEWALKS, LIGHTING, SO FORTH. ALL THIS THAT WE NEVER GET. ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S PROMISED TO US.

WE REMAIN DISENFRANCHISED. AND IF YOU GUYS, LADIES, DECIDE THAT ONLY YOU GET TO VOTE ON THIS ISSUE, THEN WE'LL REMAIN DISENFRANCHISED BECAUSE WE DON'T EVEN GET TO VOTE AS THE STAKEHOLDERS OF SAN ANTONIO, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE, WELL, YET WE SEE WHAT'S GOING ON NATIONWIDE, POLITICALLY, AND HOW ADVERSE OUR PEOPLE ARE TREATED, TO GO OUT AS IF WE'RE NONHUMAN BECAUSE WE'RE LABELED AS ILLEGALS, SO MAYBE JUST BECAUSE OF OUR BROWN SKIN HERE IN SAN ANTONIO, EVEN THOUGH SAN ANTONIO IS OUR CITY, WE'RE TREATED AS IF WE DON'T -- WE DON'T COUNT, WE DON'T MATTER. SO THAT'S WHY WE DON'T GET A VOTE AS CITY RESIDENTS AND GET TREATED AS IF THOSE 311 MILLION THAT ALL COUNTY RESIDENTS VOTED -- US, DON'T SUPPRESS US. 10 SECONDS. I JUST WANT TO SAY VOTE YES ON ALLOWING YOUR CITIZENS, YOUR REGISTERED VOTERS, TO VOTE ON THIS

ISSUE. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

ARICELI HERRERA, FOLLOWED BY STEVEN PRICE AND THEN JOSE GALLEGOS.

DO WE HAVE THE INTERPRETER. YOU HAVE SIX MINUTES,

[02:05:10]

MA'AM. >> GOOD MORNING. I AM AN EMPLOYEE AND I'VE SAID IT MANY TIMES, SOME OF YOU KNOW ME, I CLEAN HOUSES.

BUT I'VE NEVER TOLD YOU I'VE EVEN CLEANED THE SPURS ARENA GROUNDS.

AND I KEEP BEING IN THE SAME SITUATION, POOR. THE BIL -- EVERY BUSINESS THAT MAKES MONEY OUT OF IT, I HAVE NOT MADE A CENT OUT OF IT.

I'M SORRY? BUT THE SPURS ARENA, ALL THE PEOPLE LIKE ME, THEY KEEP CLEANING THOSE GROUNDS WITH MISERABLE --

>> MAYOR JONES: SIR, I'M GOING TO -- >> INTERPRETER: YES, OF

COURSE. >> AND THOSE PEOPLE, THEY KEEP TALKING ABOUT BRINGING THEIR BUSINESS, AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE MAKING MONEY KNOWING HOW TO -- THEY'RE GOING TO BRING ABOUT MORE MONEY TO SAN ANTONIO. BUT THEY'VE NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT US, THE LITTLE PEOPLE, THAT ARE CLEANING THE GROUNDS, THAT ARE COOKING, THAT ARE MAKING THOSE TYPE OF SERVICES. THEY NEVER TALKED ABOUT OUR SALARIES.

AND THE -- YES, THE SITUATION HAS BEEN THAT I HAVE KEPT ON WORKING ALL MY LIFE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF THE SAME SITUATION. I AM POOR AND I KEEP -- I HAPPEN TO BE UNABLE TO RETIRE BECAUSE OF THE MISERABLE WAGES THAT I'M MAKING.

AND IN ORDER TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR ME, I HAVE TO EP:KEEP ON WORKING.

SO WHERE IS THE MONEY THAT THE SPURS ARE MAKING, WHERE IS THE MONEY THAT ALL THE BUSINESS OWNERS ARE MAKING? IT HAS JUST PASSED ME BY. THE SITUATION IS THAT I REPRESENT THE -- ALL THE HARD-WORKING EMPLOYEES FROM THE AREAS, WORKING FOR THE SPURS, WORKING FOR THOSE BUSINESSES, BUT WHAT HAS ALL THAT BROUGHT TO US? NO BENEFITS WHATSOEVER, SO WHAT -- WHERE IS THAT MONEY GOING? WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF IT BECAUSE WE KEEP BEING POOR.

SO WHERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE? THEY DON'T EVEN CARE.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN H HEARING OUR VOICES RIGHT NOW.

THEY DON'T GIVE A DOLLAR ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AND WHERE ARE THEY RIGHT NOW? WHERE ARE THEY? WHERE ARE OUR WAGES?

[02:10:32]

SO WHAT AM I GETTING OUT OF IT? WHAT ARE WE GETTING OUT OF IT, THE POOR PEOPLE? PLEASE GIVE US JUSTICE. GIVE US THE WAGES THAT WE

DESERVE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING YET. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. >> I AM FROM DISTRICT

NUMBER 10. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY. STEVEN PRICE.

STEVEN PRICE? OKAY. JOSE GALLEGOS FOLLOWED BY ROBERT LIEJA, MAX PERILLA WILL BE FOLLOWED -- JOSE GALLEGOS? OKAY. ROBERT LIEJA. MAX PERILLA? SORRY? SIR, ARE YOU JOSE IN THE BACK? WHO'S JOSE? YOUR NAME IN THE BACK WITH THE HAT?

>> I'M A SPURS SEASON TICKET HOLDER, AND MY ONLY QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS IS WHY ARE YOU AFRAID OF DEMOCRACY? THAT'S THE ONLY THING WE'RE ASKING HERE, ALL THE OTHER INFORMATION THAT YOU'RE GETTING TODAY IS IMPORTANT, BUT MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, WHY ARE YOU AFRAID OF

DEMOCRACY? THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: YOUR

NAME, SIR? >> MADAM MAYOR, MY NAME IS JOSE GALLEGOS.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. >> I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE, PROUD WEST SIDER. GROWING UP IN SAN ANTONIO, I ALWAYS WONDERED WHY THERE WAS A DIVIDE BETWEEN THE POWERFUL AND THE POWERLESS. WHERE THE CITY WAS CONTROLLED BY THE OLIGARCHY OF A FEW BUSINESS DEVELOPERS AND A GROUP OF POLITICIANS UNDER THE NAME OF THE GOOD GOVERNMENT LEAGUE. WE DID NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DECISION-MAKING THAT CONTR CONTROLLED -- PART OF A TRANSFORMATION THAT OCCURRED THANKS TO THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT DECIDED AND FORCED SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICT ELECTIONS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. AT THAT TIME, I FELT THAT THINGS WERE GOING TO CHANGE. WE WERE GOING TO HAVE REPRESENTATION BY DISTRICT LEADERS AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES THAT SOUGHT AND RESPECTED THE WISHES OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS. 50 YEARS LATER, IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE GONE BACKWARDS. I ASK WHERE ARE OUR

[02:15:07]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

ROBERT LIEJA? ROBERT LIEJA. OKAY.

ALBERT CAMPBELL, FOLLOWED BY JOSE SALAL. >> MY NAME IS ALBERT CAMPBELL, I'M FROM DISTRICT FIVE. I JUST WANT TO SEE THAT WE'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THIS FOR MANY YEARS, EVEN FROM 1990, THAT WE NEEDED THE ALAMODOME. EVERY TIME THE SPURS CRY THAT THEY NEED A NEW FACILITY, THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO BENDS THEIR KNEES AND GIVES THEM WHAT THEY WANT. WHEN HAS IT EVER BENEFIT FOR THE CITIZENS? THAT'S THE SAME THING WITH THE OTHER ONE IN THE EAST SIDE, THE FROST BANK, THAT IT WAS GOING TO DEVELOP AND IT WAS GOING TO DO EVERYTHING FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD. AND IT NEVER CAME TRUE. WE ALWAYS GET LIES.

WHITE WASHED FOR THE MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES AND THE DEVELOPERS AND THE REALTORS ALWAYS CRY ABOUT NEW BUSINESSES COMING IN. IT NEVER DOES. THEY ALWAYS GREASE THE WHEEL AND YOU GIVE US HALF TRUTH. WE -- I AM A VETERAN AND OUR SOLDIERS DIE OVER SEAS AND ALL THAT FOR US TO HAVE FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY, AND YOU'RE TAKING IT AWAY? THAT'S SHAMEFUL.

EVEN FOR THEM.

KNOW WHEN I SPEAK, I SPEAK THE TRUTH AND I RARELY COME HERE.

MAYOR, YOU EVEN SAID THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND TODAY IS YOUR CHANCE TO KEEP THAT WORD. BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE DESPICABLE WHEN SOMEBODY LIES TO GET IN THEIR SEATS.

BECAUSE WE NEED OUR MONEY TO GO AND FLOW THROUGH CLEAN HANDS AND FOR THE CITIZENS TO HAVE SOME KIND OF RETURN, BECAUSE ALL THAT MONEY CAN BE USED FOR OTHER SPECIFIC THINGS THAT WE NEED. YOU TRY -- I KNOW YOUR JOB IS HARD AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THERE'S ALMOST 150 MILLION DEFICIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT? WHY DON'T YOU FIGURE THAT OUT FIRST INSTEAD OF GIVING US -- GIVING AWAY 489 MILLION? DO WHAT YOU PROMISED YOUR CONSTITUENTS, THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO, THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO PUT YOU IN THE SEATS AND WE THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER TO REMOVE YOU.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT YOU WILL DO WHAT IS RIGHT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. JOSE SALAL? SILLER. THANK YOU. AND THEN THE FINAL

SPEAKER WILL BE JACK FINGER. >> MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL, LAST TIME I WAS IN THIS BUILDING THIS WAS STILL A LUBY'S

[02:20:04]

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH MONEY WHO CAN BUY OR PURCHASE A NEW ARENA.

WHAT I CHALLENGE THE -- I'M CHALLENGING THE SPURS ORGANIZATION TO BE A GOOD CORPORATE CITIZEN, CALL YOUR COUNCILPERSON, ASK THEM TO PUT IT TO A VOTE. THAT WOULD MAKE YOU A REAL PART OF SAN ANTONIO, NOT JUST ON GAME NIGHT. SO I'M A PROUD MEMBER OF DISTRICT FIVE, OR A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. AND SO MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED SINCE 1977 WHEN THE 10-1 DISTRICT PLAN CAME INTO PLACE.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE COUNCIL HAS GOTTEN BLOATED AND UNRESPONSIVE, SO ALL OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY NEED TO SEARCH YOUR CONSCIOUS AND VOTE YES TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE OUR RIGHT TO VOTE, AND LET THAT -- LET THE CHIPS FALL WHERE -- AUDIO] -- SIDEBARS, NO SECRET MEETINGS IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT.

MY PARENTS BELONGED TO COPS, COMMUNITIES ORGANIZED FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, AND ANY TIME A PERSON WANTED TO HAVE A SIDEBAR, THEY SAID NO.

WE'RE DOING IT OUT HERE IN THE OPEN WHERE EVERYONE CAN SEE AND HEAR WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW.

SO I CHALLENGE ALL OF Y'ALL TO GROW A PAIR, GET SOME INTEGRITY, FIGHT FOR YOUR CITIZENS, AND GIVE US THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER IS JACK FINGER. PLEASE. JACK FINGER, YOU HAVE

THREE MINUTES, SIR. >> MADAM MAYOR AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SAN ANTONIO CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME IS JACK M.

FINGER, YOU KNOW, MA MADAM MAYOR, THEY SAY A STOPPED CLOCK IS RIGHT TWICE A DAY. YEAH, IT ACTUALLY WORKS. YOU CAN SEE IT.

THERE IT IS. IT WORKS. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT A MONUMENTAL OCCASION IS OCCURRING TODAY. GINA ORTIZ JONES AND JACK FINGER ACTUALLY AGREE ON SOMETHING. YEAH.

YEAH. FOR REAL, Y'ALL ARE -- Y'ALL ARE FOR TRANSPARENCY, ARE YOU NOT? I MEAN, YOU CAMPAIGNED ON IT. YOU ARE FOR DEBATE THAT THE ELECTION WOULD BRING, ARE YOU NOT? AREN'T YOU? YEAH.

YOU'RE GOING TO SAY, WELL, IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF TAXPAYER MONEY FOR ANOTHER ELECTION. OH, COME ON? WHAT'S A FEW MILLION BUCKS WHEN I SEE Y'ALL PASSING BOONDOGGLES HERE EVERY WEEK.

YEAH. BUT YOU'RE SAYING, WELL, WE NEED ACTI VOTED ON THIS. NO, THAT WAS A COUNTY-LEVEL ELECTION AND THIS IS A CITY-LEVEL ELECTION. THERE ARE MAJOR FACTORS HERE.

SOME THINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED HERE. THE HOTEL IS OFF THE TABLE, MEANING WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE HOTEL/MOTEL TAXES ANYMORE. MEANING WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE GOING TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR THIS THING. OTHER FACTORS, THE LAND BRIDGE IS NO LONGER ON THE TABLE, AT LEAST NOT CONCRETELY. WHAT OTHER THINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON THE TABLE BETWEEN NOW AND THIS NOVEMBER THAT WERE ON THE TABLE LAST NOVEMBER? BIG CHANGES HERE. YES, WE WANT A CHANCE TO DEBATE THE STUFF, WHAT'S REALLY GOING ON HERE. NOW, THE -- AND THE SPURS, THE GOODY GOODY SPURS THAT YOU -- WE LOVE SO MUCH, IT WAS BACK IN,

[02:25:06]

WHEN THE ALAMODOME WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, WE GAVE THEM AN AT&T CENTER.

YEAH. WHOOPIE, AND NOW WHAT DO THEY WANT? THEY WANT ANOTHER ARENA. WHERE? JUST INCHES AWARE FROM WHERE THE HEMISFAIR ARENA WAS. YES.

NO, I'M SORRY, THIS DOESN'T CUT IT. THANK YOU.

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. THAT WAS THE FINAL SPEAKER. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND HAS SPOKEN. THERE'S A MOTION TO ORDER THE ELECTION SO WE MAY BEGIN COUNCIL DISCUSSION. NOW MOVE ON TO COUNCIL DISCUSSION. COUNCI COUNCILMEMBER KOWR IS

RECOGNIZED. >> KAUR: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

TODAY IS THE START OF SCHOOL FOR MANY KIDS, SOME OF THEM STARTED LAST WEEK, AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, I DID WAKE UP AT 7:30 THIS MORNING TO WISH MY NEPHEW A GOOD FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MOST OF MY RESIDENTS ARE FOCUSED ON TODAY, IS MAKING SURE THAT THEIR KIDS HAVE A GREAT, HEALTHY DAY AT SCHOOL WHERE THEY'RE LEARNING AND THEY'RE SAFE. THIS SUMMER, WE SPENT TIME WITH PUBLIC WORKS TRYING TO AJ US OUR SCHOOL ZONE SIGNAGE, SO SCHOOL ZONES, AS THE WAY THEY'RE WRITTEN IN OUR CODE, CAN ONLY OCCUR AT A CROSSWALK.

SO IF THE SCHOOL ZONE IS HALFWAY THROUGH THE SCHOOL, YOU COULD BE DRIVING DOWN GRAYSON AND NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE SPEEDING BECAUSE THERE ARE KIDS CROSSING AND THERE'S NO SCHOOL ZONE SIGNAGE.

SO WE SPENT OUR SUMMER ADVOCATING FOR SIX SCHOOLS TO HAVE SCHOOL ZONES ACROSS THE NEIGHBORHOOD SO FOLKS WOULD DRIVE SLOWER SO KIDS COULD CROSS. THAT'S WHAT MY RESIDENTS WANT ME TO BE FOCUSING ON. RIGHT NOW I'M HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF DEJA VU BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THIS ROOM WAS FILLED EXACTLY THE SAME WAY TWO SIDES, AUGUST 21ST, LAST YEAR, WHEN WE WERE LITIGATING THIS EXACT SAME DISCUSSION. AND NOTHING HAS CHANGED. ACTUALLY ABOUT THIS DEAL, THE ONLY THING HAS CHANGED, LIKE I MENTIONED THE OTHER DAY, IS THAT THE SPURS MADE IT TO THE FINALS, WHICH NOBODY ACTUALLY THOUGHT OF.

BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, WE KNEW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT AN ARENA DEAL, WE ALWAYS KNEW THIS WAS A CITY/COUNTY/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP.

THERE WAS NEVER TWO WAYS ABOUT THAT. THE NUMBER DIDN'T EVEN CHANGE BY A DOLLAR. IT'S STILL 489 MILLION. SO IF THAT NUMBER HAD CHANGED, I COULD UNDERSTAND WHY WE MIGHT HAVE -- NEED TO GO BACK TO REVOTE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT -- WE'RE DISCUSSING ABOUT TODAY IS A REVOTE.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY -- >>

>> KAUR: AT THE END OF THE DAY, I AM LISTENING TO MY RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THE CITY -- I AM LISTENING TO MY RESIDENTS BECAUSE MY RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT ONE, 53% OF THEM, VOTED YES ON THIS DEAL.

AND LIKE I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, I -- >> MAYOR JONES: ORDER,

PLEASE. >> KAUR: LIKE I MENTIONED LAST WEEK, I AM A RESIDENT OF THE CITY, AND I AM ALSO A RESIDENT OF BEXAR COUNTY.

SO WHEN I AM GOING TO THE BALLOT AND VOTING, I AM VOTING FOR SAISD, I'M VOTING FOR THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, AND I'M VOTING FOR BEXAR COUNTY AND ALAMO COLLEGES, THAT'S WHERE MY PROPERTY TAX DOLLARS GO TO.

THOSE ARE ALL OF THE ENTITIES IN WHICH I VOTE FOR.

SO SAYING THAT WE'VE ALREADY VOTED AS A COUNTY AND HAVEN'T VOTED AS A CITY IS ACTUALLY DISINGENUOUS.

MY COLLEAGUES TODAY ARE MAKING THE DECISION BECAUSE THEY'RE -- > I KNOW SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE MAKING THE DECISION BECAUSE THEIR DISTRICTS DID NOT SUPPORT. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ONE CITY. AND IT IS OUR JOB TO COME TOGETHER UNITED WITH WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED ON. AND I UNDERSTAND THAT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.

TRUST ME, IF I COULD GO BACK AND DO A REVOTE ON THE PRESIDENT, I WOULD LOVE TO, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. WE ARE A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY, AND BACK IN MAY OF 2025 WHEN I WAS ELECTED TO THIS SEAT, THERE WERE QUESTIONS AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PANELS THAT SAID WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT DOWNTOWN? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON MARVEL? AND MY DISTRICT ONE RESIDENTS STILL ELECTED ME TO SIT IN THIS CHAIR. SO YOU ARE RIGHT, YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING UP HERE IS BASED ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE. AND MY RESIDENTS CHOSE ME TO MAKE DECISIONS THAT ARE THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL OF OUR CITY RESIDENTS. THAT IS WHY UNANIMOUSLY WE SAT UP HERE IN JUNE AND VOTED FOR A TOYOTA DEAL THAT WAS $122 MILLION OF INCENTIVES. THAT'S ACTUALLY $88 MILLION OF TAXES THAT

[02:30:01]

BALLOT. WHY DIDN'T WE HAVE THAT DISCUSSION THEN? BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE KNOW THAT DEAL'S BRINGING US JOBS, IT'S BRINGING US ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS THE SAME SITUATION HERE.

SO WE JUST CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH DEALS WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE BALLOT. ESPECIALLY GIVEN, WE'VE ALREADY HAD AN ELECTION ON THIS ONE. SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHEN I WAS ELECTED THAT I WAS GOING TO FOCUS ON MOST WAS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. AND LAST WEEK, WE WERE ABLE TO SUPPORT A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT'S GOING TO OVERSEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT. ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE THINGS THAT I HEAR ABOUT ALL THE TIME IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND I AM COMMITTED TO PUTTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON THE PARKLAND SO THAT OUR WORKERS CAN WORK AT THE STADIUM, ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE THAT WE'VE INVESTED IN AND LIVE THERE, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY DESERVE.

I'M COMMITTED TO WORKING WITH MY COLLEAGUES TO DETERMINE WHAT'S THE BEST USAGE OF THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT DOLLARS? HOW CAN WE REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE LIVES OF THOSE KIDS THAT ARE STARTING SCHOOL THIS WEEK? THAT IS WHAT I WAS ELECTED TO DO, AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO FOCUS ON. BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT CUTTING MONEY FROM OUR BUDGET FOR THE SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, AND AT THE SAME TIME SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO CUT THAT MONEY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND PUT ANOTHER VOTE ON THE BALLOT FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS ALREADY BEEN LITIGATED. SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO FOCUSING ON THE WORK THAT I KNOW MY RESIDENTS WANT ME TO ADVOCATE FOR. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS PUBLICLY, BECAUSE I SNEED SOME OF Y'ALL ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THIS ROOM SUPPORT, WE ARE GOING TO BE WORKING ON A CYCLE TRACK DOWNTOWN FOCUSING ON MICROMOBILITY AND MULTIMODAL ACCESS IN DOWNTOWN, SO WOULD LOVE TO HAVE Y'ALL'S SUPPORT IN MAKING SURE THAT WORK GOES FORWARD, BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE ONE CITY, AND I HOPE MY COLLEAGUES WILL UNDERSTAND THAT WE STAY UNITED AND MOVE TOGETHER FORWARD TOGETHER.

THANKS, MAYOR. . >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ?

>> MCKEE-RODRIGUEZ: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THERE IS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION HERE TODAY, AND SO IF YOU ALL WILL INDULGE ME I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BE IN THIS SPACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SO IF WE CAN TAKE A DEEP BREATH IN AND OUT. LET'S TAKE IN AND ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER'S HUMANITY, THINGS DO NOT HAVE TO BE AS INTENSE OR AS HOSTILE AS THEY'VE BEEN. THIS IS -- FOR EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM, IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S BEEN HOSTILE UP HERE OR IT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS AND YOU'RE WONDERING WHY IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF US JUST CANNOT GET ALONG, THAT'S REFLEX TICH OF WHERE WE ARE AS A COMMUNITY. THE SAME KIND OF ARGUMENTS AND FIGHTS THAT YOU ARE HAVING WITH ONE ANOTHER, WE'RE HAVING UP HERE IN PUBLIC. AND WE COULD ALL DO BETTER.

AND SO LET'S NOT CALL EACH OTHER LIARS, LET'S NOT SIMPLIFY EACH OTHER'S VOTES AND LET'S NOT MAKE ACCUSATIONS OF ONE ANOTHER.

WE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES TODAY THAT LEADERSHIP REQUIRES VISION, IT REQUIRES DIFFICULT DECISIONS, AND SOMETIMES IT REQUIRES YOU TO LOOK AT THE NICE, SHINY PROJECT THAT YOU WANT SO BAD THAT COULD TELL A STORY OF A CITY WITH A VIBRANT AND THRIVING FACADE, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT PROJECT AND REALIZE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO GET US ANY CLOSER TO ADDRESSING OUR DEEPEST WOES, SO THAT WE MAY ACTUALLY BECOME THAT THRIVING CITY. IT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LOOKING GOOD AND BEING GOOD. WE HAVE A POPULATION THAT IS STRUGGLING TO AFFORD HOUSING, MAKING DIFFICULT DECISIONS BETWEEN RENT, UTILITY, MEDICAL BILLS AND GROCERIES. WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO LIVE HOPPING BETWEEN MOTELS, WHO WILL BE PAYING INTO THE CREATION OF THIS ARENA WITHOUT EVER BEING ABLE TO PUT MONEY ASIDE FOR THEIR OWN HOUSING.

PEOPLE WHO WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO AFFORD TICKETS TO A SPURS GAME OR TO PARK DOWNTOWN. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO TWO THINGS: WE CAN INVEST IN THOSE BEAUTIFUL, SHINY PROJECTS, WE NEED THEM. AND WE CAN ALSO RECOGNIZE WHEN THOSE PROJECTS WILL ULTIMATELY CONFLICT WITH OUR ABILITY TO ADDRESS LARGER ISSUES. BY REDIRECTING AND REORIENTING THE WORK OF OUR STAFF AROUND THIS PROJECT, WE ARE SAFEGUARDING -- AUDIO] -- CREATION OF A DOWNTOWN SPORTS DISTRICT WHILE CUTTING OVER 100 POSITIONS ELSEWHERE. THAT'S 100 LESS GOOD-PAYING JOBS IN OUR CITY AND REAL PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THAT DECISION.

WE'RE MAKING CUTS TO OUR LIBRARIES, TO OUR SENIOR NUTRITION CENTERS, TO NONPROFITS, AND THEN CUTTING ENTIRE DEPARTMENTS.

WE ARE GOING TO BE SACRIFICING DRAINAGE AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS IN OUR BOND BECAUSE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS ARENA.

WE ARE REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE'RE DOING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING CUTTING THE NUMBER OF PAVEMENT PARKING PROJECTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AND THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH WE DO THEM, BUT WE'RE PRIORITIZING TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THIS SAME ARENA. SO BELIEVING THIS PROJECT IS NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL OF OUR CITY'S FUTURE IS NOT A LACK OF VISION. MANY OF US HAVE A VISION

[02:35:03]

EVERYONE WOULD BE SAFE AND WANT FOR NOTHING. EVERYONE COULD HAVE PARTICIPATED IN THE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING WITHOUT SACRIFICING THEIR NEEDS IN ORDER TO DO SO. WE ALL HAVE A VISION.

A NEW ARENA MAY NOT BE A CORNERSTONE OF MY VISION FOR THIS CITY, BUT I'VE HEARD THAT VISION, MY VISION, ECHOED BY MY CONSTITUENTS TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND RIGHT NOW, WE'RE PREPARING TO CUT SERVICES THAT GET US CLOSER TO THAT VISION WHILE BUILDING OF RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUSED AROUND AN ARENA. I'VE HEARD THAT MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY -- CONCERNING, EVEN WITHOUT A PUBLIC VOTE TODAY, WE COULD, AS A COUNCIL, VOTE NO. WE COULD JUST -- WE COULD END THIS ENTIRE PROJECT.

WHEN THE CONTRACT COMES BEFORE US, WE COULD ABSOLUTELY VOTE NO.

AND SO I -- I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT NO ONE BELIEVES THAT A DEAL IS DONE BEFORE A CONTRACT IS SIGNED. THAT IS -- THAT WOULD BE ASHAME. THAT WOULD BE GOVERNMENT MALPRACTICE.

THAT WOULD BE POOR BUSINESS. ALL WE HAVE IS AN UNENFORCEABLE TERM SHEET. THERE IS NO CERTAINTY UNTIL ERIK HAS BEEN GIVEN THE OFFICIAL GO AHEAD TO SIGN THAT CONTRACT.

AND A SECOND VOTE DOES NOT REMOVE CERTAINTY, BUT IT MIGHT GET US A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO IT. I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS A DESIRE FOR AN ACTIVATED BRIGHT, TOURIST-FILLED DOWNTOWN, I'VE HEARD THAT NOT JUST FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, BUT FROM A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, AND HUMBLY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO AND START ACTIVATING THE VACANT BUILDINGS THAT YOU OR YOUR CLIENTS MAY OWN DOWNTOWN AND ACROSS OUR CITY.

I HATE TO BELIEVE THE DEVELOPERS WOULD RATHER LET THESE PROPERTIES SIT VACANT BLIGHTING OUR COMMUNITY THAN DEVELOP HOUSING THAT IS AFFORDABLE, AND THEN WOULD RATHER CALL THE POLICE WHEN HOMELESS PEOPLE FINALLY MAKE USE OF THESE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.

I HATE TO BELIEVE THAT THAT'S TRUE. I BELIEVE WE ALL WANT AN ACTIVE, VIBRANT DOWNTOWN, AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT COULD BE TAKEN TODAY INCLUDING ACTIVATION OF THESE SPACES THAT ARE OWNED BY MANY OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING THIS ARENA CALLING FOR A VIBRANT DOWNTOWN.

I ALSO BELIEVE IF WE SUPPORT A SECOND VOTE, WE'RE NOT LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY. A MAJORITY OF ACTIVE VOTERS IN DISTRICT TWO AND THOSE HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME REMAIN IN HEAVY OPPOSITION OF THIS FUNDING, ESPECIALLY AS THE SPURS ARE DIVESTING FROM THE EAST SIDE.

AND ESPECIALLY AS THEY'RE NOW BEING SOLD COMPETING VISIONS FOR THE FROST BANK CENTER WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEANINGFUL ENGAGE, AND I WANT TO SHARE THAT I AM OFFENDED BY THE NOTION THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW A GOOD DEAL OR WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A REVITALIZED EAST SIDE AS WE HEARD EARLIER.

THE EAST SIDE IS GETTING THE HORRIBLE END OF THIS DEAL.

AND SO ATTEND OF THE DAY, I SUPPORT A VOTE BECAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED, THE IMPLICATION ON TAXPAYERS IS MUCH GREATER NOW THAN IT WAS, EVEN IF IT IS NOT DIRECTLY THE PFZ AND THE TIRZ OR THOSE TAX DOLLARS, THERE ARE TAX DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING FUNNELED INTO THIS DEAL, THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE EAST SIDE ARE EVEN GREATER NOW. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS FINANCIAL STRUCTURE DOES NOT LEGALLY NECESSITATE A VOTE, BUT THAT IS NOT A GOOD ENOUGH REASON TO DENY AN OPPORTUNITY, ESPECIALLY WHEN A PROJECT REACHES THIS LEVEL OF INTEREST AND WHEN THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE ISSUE HAVE GROWN AS IS THE CASE HERE. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING

THIS ITEM TODAY, MAYOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. ARE THERE ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON THIS ITEM? OKAY. NO ONE ELSE HAS SIGNED UP. YOU DID SIGN UP. OKAY.

COUNCILWOMAN MEZA GONZALEZ. WHO ELSE HAS SIGNED UP, PLEASE DO SO. ARE THEY REGISTERING ON THE SYSTEM? THEY ARE NOW. OKAY. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. >> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE BEING HERE TODAY. I THINK AS A COUNCIL, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ELECTED TO DO THE HARD WORK OF SEEING THAT THE PROJECTS OUR RESIDENTS SUPPORT ARE CARRIED OUT EFFICIENTLY, TRANSPARENTLY, AND WITHOUT DELAY.

JUST AS IMPORTANT, I THINK WE WERE ALSO ELECTED TO RESPECT OUR RESIDENTS' VOICES WHEN THEY SPEAK AT THE BALLOT BOX AND TO TRUST THEIR JUDGMENT. I THINK THAT'S WHAT IS AT STAKE TODAY.

I REALLY DO WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT THIS MONEY IS AND ISN'T, BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF INFORMATION OUT THERE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS --

[02:40:06]

>> [OFFMIC] >> WALSH: JUST CLARIFYING BECAUSE THERE A NUMBER OF

TIRZ. >> GONZALEZ: THERE'S A NUMBER OF TIRZ, YOU'RE

RIGHT. >> WALSH: SO RIGHT NOW IN THAT PORTION OF HEMISFAIR PARK THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THERE IS NO VALUE -- THERE IS NO TAXABLE VALUE. UNDER THE CONTEMPLATED -- OR UNDER THE TERM SHEET, AND ULTIMATELY FURTHER CONVERSATIONS DEPENDING ON THE COUNCIL'S DISCUSSION TODAY, THE TAXABLE VALUE IS CREATED BY THE SPURS AND THEIR DEVELOPER PARTNERS. AND SO THAT VALUE IS BEING COMMITTED IN ORDER TO GENERATE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ARENA.

SO RIGHT NOW, THERE'S NOTHING TO TRANSFER TO THE GENERAL FUND.

AND -- AND IF THERE WAS A SCENARIO WHERE THE SPURS AND THEIR DEVELOPER PARTNERS COMMITTED TO TAXABLE VALUE AND WE TRANSFERRED IT TO THE GENERAL FUND, THERE WOULD BE NO DEAL AND WE'D BE BACK TO NO VALUE.

SO I WOULDN'T -- THE SHORT ANSWER IS NO, THERE ISN'T THE ABILITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE UNDER THAT SCENARIO, THERE'S NO TERM SHEET -- THERE'S NO AGREEMENT AND THERE'S NO DEVELOPMENT OF THAT AREA.

>> GONZALEZ: THANK YOU. AND SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A SHORTFALL ON

THE TIRZ OR THE PFZ? ELIZABE >> ELLIOTT: GOOD MORNING, MAYOR AND COUNCIL. TROY ELLIOTT. FIRST OF ALL, YOU'VE HEARD BEN AND I UP HERE AT THE DAIS SEVERAL TIMES.

WHENEVER WER WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR BOND ISSUES WE'RE MODERATELY CONSERVATIVE. WE'RE ALL INTENDING TO OUTPERFORM OUR ESTIMATES. BEYOND THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT A REVENUE BOND SUCH AS THIS, THERE'S GOING TO BE CERTAIN CONTINGENCIES IN PLACE AND LEVERS THAT WE HAVE TO PULL. WE JUST DID THE AIRPORT DEAL, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE DEBT SERVICE RESERVES IN PLACE, WE HAVE COVERAGE IN PLACE, SO TO THE ECK TENT THAT THE PFZ REVENUES OR SOME OF THESE OTHER REVENUES THAT DON'T COME IN THAT ARE OUTSIDE THE GUARANTEED REVENUE BY THE SPURS, WE HAVE THOSE DIFFERENT LEVERS THAT WE CAN PULL.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MENTION IS THAT AS A REVENUE BOND, THIS IS SECURED BY THE PLEDGES, THE REVENUE PLEDGES THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TODAY AND THOSE ARE LEGALLY PLEDGED, THE GENERAL FUND WOULD NOT BE ON THE HOOK FOR ANYTHING OUTSIDE OF THOSE REVENUE BONDS FOR THE REVENUE BLEJS.

PLEDGES. AND LASTLY WHAT I THINK I WOULD SAY, AND I THINK YOU'VE HEARD BEN UP HERE BEFORE -- BENCHMARKS AND MEASURES THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT HAPPEN IN ADVANCE BEFORE WE ISSUE THOSE BONDS IN TERMS OF THE GUARANTEED DEVELOPMENT, MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S A NOTICE TO PROCEED, THAT DEVELOPMENT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ON THE GROUND, THAT THE CERTAIN FINANCIAL MEASURES OR BENCHMARKS THAT WE'RE RELYING ON, THAT WE'RE MEETING THOSE, SUCH AS THE STATE REVENUE FROM THE PFZ. BASED ON OUR ESTIMATE THE FIRST TWO YEARS ARE SUPPOSED TO PRODUCE ABOUT 2.5 OR $2.7 MILLION, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THOSE MARKS. SO SEVERAL THINGS WE'LL EVALUATE BEFORE WE EVEN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE REVENUE BONDS.

>> GONZALEZ: OKAY. AND SO ESSENTIALLY, DOES THAT EQUATE TO THE LANGUAGE AND THE TERM SHEET THAT TALKS ABOUT THE COST OVERRUNS?

WHERE DOES THAT COME IN. >> ELLIOTT: SO IN TERMS OF THE COST OVERRUNS AND THE TERM SHEET, WE EACH HAVE OUR SPECIFIC SHARE. WE HAVE 500 MILLION FROM THE SPURS. IN THE EVENT THAT THE -- IN THE EVENT THAT THE COST FOR THE ARENA EXCEED THE $1.3 BILLION, THEN THEY WOULDN'T ABSORB ANY

COST IN EXCESS OF THAT AMOUNT. >> GONZALEZ: OKAY.

[02:45:03]

I THINK, YOU KNOW, REVENUE-SUPPORTED FINANCING IS A RUE TEEB THAT OUR CITY PERFORMS ALL THE TIME WITHOUT SENDING EACH ONE OF THESE TO THE BALLOT. WE RECENTLY SUPPORTED $1.4 BILLION IN REVENUE BONDS FOR SAWS ABOUT NINE MONTHS AGO. THAT STAYED ON CONSENT.

WE DIDN'T EVEN PULL THAT FOR ANY SORT OF DISCUSSION.

AND I THINK TO CARVE OUT THIS ONE DEAL WOULD BE INCONSISTENT WITH HOW WE, AS A CITY, FINANCE HOW WE BUILD. I THINK IT'S MY -- THIS IS MY JOB. THIS IS MY JOB AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER FOR DISTRICT EIGHT REPRESENTING 150,000 PEOPLE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SAN ANTONIO. IT'S MY JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT WE OVERSEE THIS AGREEMENT, TO DRIVE THE HARDEST BARGAIN WE CAN FOR OUR TAXPAYERS AND TO HOLD THE SPURS TO EVERY PROMISE THAT THEY MADE. THAT IS THE WORK AHEAD OF US, AND THAT IS A WORK THAT MY RESIDENTS EXPECT ME TO DO.

SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON -- THE MAIN QUESTIONS I'VE HEARD AS FAR AS JUST WHETHER IT'S THE TIRZ OR PFZ AND REVENUE BONDS, I REALLY DO THINK WE NEED TO BE COMING FROM THE SAME SET OF FACTS, RIGHT? WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T THIS PROJECT? I DON'T THINK THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. THAT CONCERNS ME WHEN I MEET WITH MY HOAS AND THERE'S JUST BASIC CONFUSION ON SOME OF THESE ITEMS THAT I DON'T THINK SHOULD EXIST, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUE EDUCATING MY COMMUNITY, MY DISTRICT ON WHAT THIS PROJECT IS, WHETHER -- ON THE FINANCING SIDE, ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SIDE.

EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING I CAN DO, SO THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CASTILLO?

>> CASTILLO: WELL AS THE RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME BY OUR FIELD OFFICE TO EXPRESS THEIR POSITION AND ASK THEIR QUESTIONS REGARDING THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE WITH PROJECT MARVEL AND THE SPURS ARENA IN AND OF ITSELF.

SO IT'S BEEN A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS AND -- IN AUDIO] -- THAT HAVE EXPRESSED THAT THE DECISION THAT MY TEAM AND I MAKE TODAY IS ONE THAT THEY TRUST NO MATTER THE OUTCOME.

BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID FROM THE INCEPTION OF PROJECT MARVEL, MY POSITION HAS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE PUBLIC MONEY FOR PUBLIC GOOD.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS INRAIN A CITY THAT HAS THE THIRD HIGHEST POVERTY RATE AND ONE IN FIVE FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LINE THAT CORPORATE TO BILLIONAIRES IS UNCONSCIONABLE. WE SHOULD INVEST OUR RESOURCES WITH STAFF TIME OR PUBLIC INVESTMENT TO THE DOLLARS THAT WE'RE INTENTIONAL WITH THE IMPACT AND WHERE WE SEE THAT RETURN.

NOW WE KNOW THAT PUBLICLY FUNDED SPORTS ARENA RARELY DELIVER ON PROMISES MADE TO CITIES -- LAND -- WITH THAT BEING SAID, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT, AGAIN, RIGHT, I'M HEARING A LOT OF CONVOLUTING IN TERMS OF PROJECT MARVEL AND THE SPORTS ARENA.

THE SPORTS ARENA IS ONE COMPONENT OF PROJECT MARVEL, SO, AGAIN, I'M HEARING CONCERNS ABOUT WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CONVENTION CENTER AT SOME OF THE SPURS MEETING, THAT'S BECAUSE THE ARENA IS ONE COMPONENT OF PROJECT MARVEL. AND THAT'S WHY YOU MIGHT NOT BE HEARING THE OTHER COMPONENTS BECAUSE THE SPURS DON'T OWN THE CONVENTION CENTER OR THE CITY-OWNED PARKING LOT, THE SAWS FACTOR AND SO ON AND SO FORTH. TO THE POINT OF MY COLLEAGUES, I BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN CONVOLUTING INFORMATION WHICH ERODES PUBLIC TRUST. I WANT TO COMMEND MY COLLEAGUE WHO FILED A COUNCIL CONSIDERATION REQUEST IN DECEMBER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS TO ADDRESS INFORMATION RATHER THAN WAIT UNTIL THERE'S PUBLIC PRESSURE SAYING WHY HAVE WE NOT CONVENED AROUND PROJECT MARVEL AND THE SPORTS ARENA. AND THE PUBLIC, WE KNOW WE OWE THOSE CONVERSATIONS, SO TO THE COUNCILWOMAN'S POINT OF DISTRICT ONE, GRATEFUL THAT WE ARE GOING TO INITIATE THOSE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE OVERDUE. YOU KNOW, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD THE FORTUNE OF BEING BORN AND RAISED IN THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO, I'M TALKING TONE TO THE BONE, AND CALLING SAN ANTONIO HOMIE ENTIRE LIFE, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS ARE ENGRAINED IN THE IDENTITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND THEIR PHILANTHROPY AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS CITY SHOULD NOT BE DISCREDITED OR MINIMIZED.

AND I BELIEVE THAT BOTH OF THOSE VIEWS CAN EXIST AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT? THAT WE ARE FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT AND WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPACT OF THE SPURS ORGANIZATION AND HOW THEY DO SERVE AS A MODEL ORGANIZATION WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NBA. BUT THE CONVERSATION AND THE DECISION THAT I HAVE TO MAKE TODAY HAS TO BE BASED IN REALITY. THE REALITY THAT SENSE THE CONVERSATION, WHETHER IT'S THE MOU OR PROJECT MARVEL, THAT THE MAJORITY OF THIS COUNCIL INTENDS TO MOVE FORWARD. THE REALITY THAT WE ARE FACING A BUDGET DEFICIT AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND, AGAIN, HIGHLIGHTING

[02:50:02]

AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS INFORMATION THAT THE CONSULTANT IS RESEARCHING AND WILL PRESENT TO COUNCIL, BUT THOSE ARE THE TWO REALITIES THAT I HAVE TO NAVIGATE THIS CONVERSATION WITH.

SO, AGAIN, WITH THOSE REALITIES IN MIND, THE REALITY THAT THIS IS GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THE OUTCOME TODAY ISN'T GOING TO BE WHAT MOST OF THE FOLKS HERE AND COMMUNITY ARE ASKING FOR, I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO ASK, HOW CAN WE ENSURE THAT THIS IS AN IMPACTFUL DEAL FOR SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS? HOW CAN I ENSURE THAT I'M BEING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIBLE STEWARD OF PUBLIC DOLLARS ON BEHALF OF MY CONSTITUENTS AS THIS MOVES ALONG, BECAUSE THIS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE ALONG, WHETHER IT'S -- AGAIN, RIGHT, THE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY DELIVER WITH THIS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD.

SO, AGAIN, WHILE I SUPPORT SAN ANTONIO'S RIGHT TO VOTE AND -- $489 MILLION CANNOT BE USED TO ADDRESS OUR BUDGET DEFICIT.

THOSE DOLLARS FROM THE PFZ CANNOT BE USED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS BEYOND THE FOOTPRINT THAT WAS APPLIED FOR THE PFZ ZONE, SO, AGAIN, I DO BELIEVE THERE'S A LOT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, A LOT OF TEACHINGS THAT ARE WARRANTED AND NEEDED, BUT I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO MOVE WHETHER I SUPPORT IT OR NOT.

BUT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CONTINUE TO ASK THE SPURS TO INCREASE THEIR COMMUNITY BENEFITS CONTRIBUTION, TO CONTINUE TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS HAVE A RIGHT TO ORGANIZE, WHETHER WHETHER IT'S THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS AT THE SITE AND/OR THE USHERS WITHIN THE FACTOR. THE FACILITY. I DO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WILL NOT BE GOING TO THE VOTERS, AND I WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT, BUT I HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ASK FOR MORE BECAUSE SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS DESERVE MORE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN ALDARETE

GAVITO. >> GAVITO: THANK YOU. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TODAY ACTUALLY, YOU ALL MENTIONED A LOT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, SO I JUST WANT TO ECHO SOME OF THOSE POINTS.

AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS FOR AND AGAINST.

JAMES ANDERSON -- THERE YOU ARE -- WITH BARTLETT COCKE YOU SAID THAT UNCERTAINTY HAS A COST. IT CERTAINLY DOES. THE UNCERTAINTY THAT WE'RE SEEING WITH THIS VOTE, THE UNCERTAINTY WITH BUSINESSES NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR PLANS NOT BEING ABLE TO BE MADE, IT NEEDS TO STOP. I WOULD ALSO SAY THE NEGATIVE HEADLINES COMING OUT OF THE CITY, THEY ALSO NEED TO STOP. SOMEONE MENTIONED -- I DON'T KNOW IT MAY HAVE BEEN URC, THAT MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO USE THE MOMENTUM GAINED FROM LAST NOVEMBER, AND I DO THINK THAT THEY'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. WE HAVE -- WHILE SAN ANTONIO HAS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES, WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF THINGS GOING FOR US.

AND SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, VOTERS MADE THEIR VOICE HEARD.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THE SPURS WINNING, WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS GOING FOR US, WE NEED TO BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT AND USING THAT POSITIVE ENERGY TO OUR ADVANTAGE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS R.C. OR SEAN ELLIOTT MENTIONED THAT PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP WORK WHEN THERE'S TRUST, AND THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

BECAUSE AS PARTNERS, US AS A CITY, THE COUNTY, THE RODEO, THE SPURS, WE HAVE TO HAVE TRUST IN EACH OTHER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

AND -- LEADERSHIP REQUIRES A VISION AND THE ABILITY TO ACT ON IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I AM LOCKING ARMS WITH A MAJORITY OF MY COLLEAGUES TODAY TO DO JUST THAT. WE NEED TO ACT ON THIS AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD. KEVIN, YOU MENTIONED THAT WE MUST INVEST IN THE ECONOMIC FUTURE OF OUR CITY. AND MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES AND CITY AND COUNTY VOTERS AGREE WITH THAT. AND WE MADE OUR VOICE HEARD IN NOVEMBER. WHEN WE WENT TO THE BALLOT BOX, THERE WAS -- MANY OF US, AS MY COLLEAGUE COUNCILWOMAN KAUR MENTIONED, A CITY OF SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS, WE ARE ALSO RESIDENTS OF BEXAR COUNTY.

WE MADE OUR VOICES HEARD. GRASES SEE ELLA, YOU MENTIONED TO TRUST THE PEOPLE. AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING, BY TRUSTING AND RESPECTING THEIR VOICE AND THEIR VOTE THAT THEY MADE LAST NOVEMBER. NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE LIKED THE RESULTS, BUT AT SOME POINT, YOU HAVE TO COUNT A WIN IS A WIN OR A

[02:55:01]

COMMENTS. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER GALVAN IN. >> GALVAN: THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU TO ALL THE PUBLIC SPEAKERS THAT WERE HERE TODAY, NO MATTER YOUR POSITION, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL COMING IN TO CITY COUNCIL TO SET US KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ON THIS CONVERSATION. I ALSO APPRECIATE ALL THE DISTRICT SIX RESIDENT WHOSE REACHED OUT TO OUR OFFICE OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION ASKING MORE QUESTIONS, PREVOTE, POSTVOTE, IN NOVEMBER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON NEXT, WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS, HOW TO BE INVOLVED AND ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS, TO ALL THE FOLKS WHO SHOWED UP TO THE SPURS COMMUNITY CONVERSATION AT THE FOOD BANK A MONTH AGO, REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY REACHING OUT TO OUR OFFICE AND STAYING ENGAGED IN THIS CONVERSATION. I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE TOO LONG HERE. I WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR ON A FEW THINGS ON THIS TOPIC. ONE -- TWO, I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF STADIUMS AND NEITHER ARE ECONOMISTS, AND A MAJORITY OF DISTRICT SIX RESIDENTS SHARED THOSE FEELINGS DURING LAST YEAR'S VOTE ON THE PROP B CONVERSATION AND THEY ALSO SHARED THOSE CONVERSATIONS ON CULEBRA AND MARBACH DURING THE FINALS. I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I WAS THERE DURING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS. I SAID THEN DURING THE CONVERSATION IN AUGUST AND DURING THE TIME OF ELECTION AND CONTINUE TO SAY IT NOW, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS ON THIS CONVERSATION, NO MATTER WHATP HAS TODAY AUDIO] -- I'M FOCUSED ON ENSURING THE PROJECT TRULY DELIVERS TO OUR WORKING FAMILIES AND WITH THE BEST WAY IT CAN. I HAVE MY OWN HOLDUPS ON THIS PROJECT, MADE THOSE VERY CLEAR TO THE SPURS ORGANIZATION AND MANY FOLKS IN THIS ROOM AND MY OWN HOLDUPS ON THE CLEAR ECONOMIC CONVERSATION OR THEORY ON THIS, BUT IT SHOULD BE OUR FOCUS GOING FORWARD, RIGHT? BEYOND THIS POINT, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THIS DEAL, THIS LARGE PUBLIC VENTURE, PUBLIC/PRIVATE VENTURE THAT WE'RE ENSURING THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS, WHETHER THEY'RE FROM TIRZ OR HOTEL TAX, WHATEVER IT MAY BE, ARE USED IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE TO DELIVER FOR WORKING FAMILIES AND GOOD LABOR PRACTICES ON SITE, ON DELIVERING TO MAKING SURE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO UTILIZE THE SPACE, NO MATTER THE INCOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, AND MICK SURE THAT THIS SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY SUPPORTS OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO ON THIS COUNCIL. I HOPE IT'S OUR FOCUS GOING FORWARD, I KNOW IT WILL BE MINE, AND I WILL BE SUPPORTING TODAY'S

ITEM. THANK YOU, MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE, PLEASE.

>> WHYTE: THANKS, MAYOR. THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION THAT I'VE HAD IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS IS, MARC, WHAT'S GOING ON, DIDN'T WE DO THIS? ARE WE MOVING FORWARD OR NOT? AND MY HOPE AND MY EXPECTATION IS THAT TODAY THE ONE MESSAGE THAT WILL COME -- -- THIS PROJECT IS NOT ABOUT THE GAMES THAT ARE PLAYED ON THE COURT.

IT'S ABOUT CREATING A PROJECT THAT BENEFITS ALL OF SAN ANTONIO FOR YEARS TO COME. IT'S ABOUT BEING GOOD PARTNERS WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS, THE PREEMINENT NBA ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD. IT'S ABOUT TAKING OUR CITY, OUR CULTURE, OUR WAY OF LIFE, AND ENHANCING IT IN A WAY THAT EVERY SAN ANTONIO RESIDENT CAN BE PROUD OF. LAST YEAR FOR THREE MONTHS THIS COMMUNITY DEBATED THIS ITEM IN ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE CITY, COUNTLESS TOWN HALL MEETINGS, AND WE DIDN'T JUST DISCUSS THE $311 MILLION THAT WOULD BE CONTRIBUTED BY THE COUNTY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE ENTIRE FINANCING STRUCTURE OF THIS ARENA.

AND AFTER THOSE THREE MONTHS OF DEBATE, AFTER ALL OF THOSE MEETINGS, THE CITIZENS WENT TO THE POLLS AND THEY SAID YES, MOVE THE ARENA PROJECT

FORWARD. >> MENTION HOW PROUD I AM OF THIS CITY COUNCIL. EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL TAKES THIS VOTE TODAY EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY.

EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COUNCIL HAS CONSIDERED THIS ITEM EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AS THEY DID LAST YEAR WHEN THEY WERE CONSIDERING THE ARENA DEAL AS A WHOLE. COUNCIL WILL SPEAK TODAY, AND, AGAIN, COUNCIL'S DECISION, IT IS MY BELIEF, THAT THIS DECISION TODAY WILL BE TO MOVE THIS PROJECT FORWARD WITHOUT DELAY. THANKS, MAYOR.

[03:00:04]

>> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU FOR THAT, COUNCILMEMBER WHYTE.

JUST A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WHILE THERE WAS DISCUSSION FOR THREE MONTHS, THE CITY COUNCIL WAS NOT ACTUALLY PROVIDED THE NUMBER, THE FINAL NUMBER, $489 MILLION PER AN E-MAIL FROM THE CITY MANAGER AS OF AUGUST 12TH, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THAT NUMBER.

OKAY. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT NUMBER.

>> WHYTE: MAYOR -- MAYOR. >> MAYOR JONES: NO, WHEN YOU SAID WHAT YOU JUST SAID, I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, THE E-MAILS ARE ALL VERY CLEAR ABOUT WHEN WE HAD THE INFORMATION AND THE EXACT NUMBER AND WHEN WE DID NOT HAVE THAT. I WANT TA TO BE CLEAR.

COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS. >> VIAGRAN: POINT OF ORDER, DID COUNCILMAN WHYTE'S TIME RUN OUT? DOES HE HAVE TIME FOR REBUTTAL.

>> MAYOR JONES: IF YOU'D LIKE TO, GO AHEAD. >> WHYTE: EARLIER TODAY ONE OF THE CITIZENS TO BE HEARD PUT UP DOCUMENTS ON THE SCREEN WHERE IT WAS DISCUSSED LAST YEAR ABOUT HOW THIS ARENA WAS GOING TO BE FUNDED.

SO WHILE THE EXACT DATE THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO AS TO WHEN THE 489 WAS PRESENTED OR NOT, WHAT WE DO KNOW IS THE 489 WAS PRESENTED WELL BEFORE THAT NOVEMBER VOTE. AND SO THE CITIZENS OF SAN ANTONIO KNEW THAT IT WAS 311 FROM THE COUNTY, 500 FROM THE SPURS, AND 489 FROM THE CITY.

SO LET'S NOT SIT UP HERE TODAY AND TRY TO REWRITE HISTORY.

AND, AGAIN, FEED MORE MISINFORMATION INTO THE COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT EVERYBODY WAS TOLD LAST YEAR. FOR MONTHS WE TALKED

ABOUT THAT FUNDING STRUCTURE. >> MAYOR JONES: I WAS SIMPLY CLARIFYING WHEN YOU SPOKE TO VOTERS WITH THE ACTUAL NUMBER.

YOU SPOKE TO THEM AFTER YOU SIGNED UP THE COMMUNITY FOR $489 MILLION, NOT BEFORE. THAT'S CLEAR.

COUNCILMEMBER SPEARS? >> SPEARS: THANK YOU, MAYOR.

THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE SPURS ENTERED THIS PROCESS TOGETHER.

THE TERM SHEET CONTEMPLATED ALL THREE PARTIES AND ESTABLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD. A TERM SHEET IS NOT A FINAL CONTRACT, IT IS NONBINDING, BUT NONBINDING DOES NOT MEAN MEANINGLESS. WE AGREED TO A FRAMEWORK IN GOOD FAITH, AND OTHER PARTIES TOOK SIGNIFICANT ACTIONS AND RELIANCE ON THAT GOOD FAITH.

THE COUNTY ACTED, THE SPURS ACTED, AND THE VOTERS ACTED.

HAD THE CITY NOT AGREED TO THAT FRAMEWORK WITH THE COUNTY HAVE MOVED FORWARD WITH ITS VENUE TAX ELECTION WHEN IT DID? THAT MATTERS. OUR DECISIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES BEYOND THIS DAIS. LITIGATION COSTS MONEY, DEFENDING THE CITY COSTS MONEY AND IF THE CITY ULTIMATELY INCURS LIABILITY, THAT COSTS MONEY, TOO. THOSE COSTS ULTIMATELY AFFECT PUBLIC RESOURCES DIRECTLY. THE PUBLIC UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS PROPOSAL WAS PART OF A LARGER PROJECT INVOLVING THE CITY, THE COUNTY AND THE SPURS.

WE HELD TOWN HALLS AND INFORMATION SESSIONS, THE FRAMEWORK AND FINANCING WERE PUBLICLY DISCUSSED. AND VOTERS HEARD FROM SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS. THIS WAS NOT A SECRET VOTE.

AND VOTERS WERE NOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT WAS AT STAKE.

SAN ANTONIO RESIDENTS KNEW THEY WERE VOTING ON THE FUTURE OF THE SPURS ARENA PROJECT AND THE ENTIRE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT, INCLUDING THE PUBLICLY DISCLOSED CITY AND COUNTY COMMITMENTS. THE VOTERS SPOKE CLEARLY ON PROPOSITION B. SUGGESTING THAT VOTERS SIMPLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE VOTING ON DISCOUNTS BOTH THEIR INTELLIGENCE AND THEIR VOICE. WHAT WE CANNOT KEEP ASKING PEOPLE TO VOTE IN ORDER TO GET A DIFFERENT RESULT. DEMOCRACY MEANS RESPECTING THE OUTCOME EVEN IF YOU DISAGREE WITH IT.

THE NEXT STEP IS WHAT IT WAS ALWAYS SUPPOSED TO BE, NEGOTIATE THE FINAL TERMS AND REACH A DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT. IF CHANGES ARE NECESSARY, THOSE CHANGES WILL BE NEGOTIATED AND AGREED UPON BY THE PARTIES.

I WILL NOT TREAT A GOOD-FAITH COMMITMENT AS THOUGH IT MEANT NOTHING SIMPLY BECAUSE THE FINAL CONTRACT HAS NOT YET BEEN EXECUTED.

THERE'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE CITY'S FINANCING AND THE COUNTY'S FINANCING. THE COUNTY'S FUNDING MECHANISM REQUIRED AN ELECTION ON ITS OWN VENUE TAX. THE CITY'S PROPOSED CONTRIBUTION RELIES ON STATE-AUTHORIZED HOT REVENUES AND REVENUED GENERATED THROUGH GROUND LEASES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT.

WE SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT ESTABLISHING A PRECEDENT THAT EVERY SIGNIFICANT REVENUE BOND DECISION REQUIRES ANOTHER ELECTION SIMPLY BECAUSE THE DOLLAR AMOUNT IS LARGE. AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, WE ROUTINELY MAKE DECISIONS INVOLVING SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC RESOURCES.

[03:05:02]

THE NUMBER ISN'T THE POINT. OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS.

AND WE CANNOT IGNORE THE ELECTION THAT ALREADY OCCURRED.

CITY RESIDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THAT ELECTION IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS AND CITY RESIDENTS SUPPORTED THE DISTRICT PROPOSITION.

THEY HEARD THE ARGUMENTS, THEY SAW THE CAMPAIGNS, THEN THEY WENT TO THE POLLS. MY TEAM LOOKED AT THE DATA, NEARLY 250,000 BEXAR COUNTY RESIDENTS VOTED ON PROPOSITION B, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE COUNTY'S $311 MILLION CONTRIBUTION AND ALLOWED THE PUBLICLY PRESENTED ARENA PLAN TO MOVE FORWARD. OF THE 248,658 BALLOTS CAST, 178,176, WHICH IS EQUAL TO 72%, CAME FROM REGISTERED VOTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COUNCIL DISTRICT. MY OWN DISTRICT PASSED THE PROPOSITION WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE AT 56.2% AND THE HIGHEST CITY TURNOUT AT 26.46%.

THESE VOTES MATTER. THESE VOTES COUNT. OUR RESPONSIBILITY NOW IS TO MAKE THE FINAL AGREEMENT AS STRONG AS POSSIBLE FOR SAN ANTONIO. THAT IS WHY WE FORMED AN ADVISORY BOARD TO INFORM HOW COMMUNITY BENEFIT DOLLARS WILL BE USED. IT'S ALSO WHY WE HIRED A STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGER TO ENSURE THE TERMS ARE MET AND THE DEVELOPMENT MOVES FORWARD AS PROMISED. I THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS INVESTMENT CAN PRODUCE FOR OUR ENTIRE CITY. CONNECTING THIS INVESTMENT TO EVERYTHING THAT ALREADY MAKES THIS CITY EXTRAORDINARY, THE ALAMO, THE RIVERWALK, OUR MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS, OUR MILITARY BASES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR CULTURE AND THE WELCOMING CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.

JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, A STRONGER CONVENTION BUSINESS, THE ABILITY TO COMPETE FOR MAJOR EMPLOYERS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS, ENTERTAINMENT AND PUBLIC SPACES THAT REMAIN ACTIVE WHETHER THE SPURS ARE PLAYING THAT NIGHT OR NOT. I WANT ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT REACHES BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS DISTRICT AND CREATES PUNT THROUGHOUT ALL OF -- OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT ALL OF SAN ANTONIO.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO BUILD THEIR FUTURES HERE.

THAT IS THE SAN ANTONIO I WANT US WORKING TOWARD. WE NEED TO BE PRECISE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CITY'S INVESTMENT. IF THESE PARTICULAR REVENUE SOURCES ARE LEGALLY RESTRICTED, WALKING AWAY FROM THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MEAN THOSE SAME DOLLARS SUDDENLY BECOME AVAILABLE TO OTHER GENERAL CITY PRIORITIES. THE PUBLIC MUST UNDERSTAND THIS DISTINCTION. I ALSO WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE TONE OF THIS CONVERSATION. THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH CONFUSION, MISINFORMATION AND NEGATIVITY AROUND THIS PROJECT.

SAN ANTONIANS DESERVE BETTER. THEY, IN FACT, ALREADY ASKED FOR IT. THEY ARE -- THERE ARE STILL TERMS TO NEGOTIATE, BUT I WILL NOT PRETEND THAT THE COMMITMENTS ALREADY MADE, THE ACTIONS TAKEN AND RELIANCE UPON THEM OR THE VOTES ALREADY CAST SIMPLY DID NOT HAPPEN. MY RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROTECT SAN ANTONIO'S INTEREST WHILE PURSUING THE OPPORTUNITIES IN FRONT OF US.

I WANT THE STRONGEST AGREEMENT POSSIBLE, I WANT TO SEE WHAT THIS INVESTMENT CAN BRING TO OUR CITY. EVERY E-MAIL, PHONE CALL AND TEXT I RECEIVED ABOUT THIS MATTERS TO ME, AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, I AM LISTENING TO MY DISTRICT, AND I -- AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND MY VOTE

TODAY WILL REFLECT THAT. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER MUNGIA? >> MUNGIA: THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST WANT TO SAY, START OFF BY SAYING THAT YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY BE PRO SPURS AND YOU CAN BE THE PRO ARENA AND YOU CAN SAY YES TO WANTING A PUBLIC VOTE ON A CITY'S FINANCIAL LEVER FOR THIS DEAL. I DON'T THINK IT'S A REPEAT OF ANOTHER VOTE.

I THINK VOTERS WERE AWARE THAT THERE ARE THREE IMPORTANT LEVERS INTO THIS DEAL, ONE BEING, OF COURSE, PRIVATE FUNDING BY THE SPURS, ONE BEING THE COUNTY, WHICH, YES, DID REQUIRE A PUBLIC VOTE, AND, THIRD, THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION, WHICH DOESN'T REQUIRE A VOTE, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS CERTAINLY WORTH IT, BASED ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT. I WILL ALSO SAY, TOO, I THINK EVERY TIME THE SPURS HAVE BEEN ON THE BALLOT, THE PEOPLE SUPPORT THEM.

WHETHER IT'S BEEN THE COUNTY VOTE OR IN THE PAST FOR THE ALAMODOME, PEOPLE HAVE COME OUT AND SAID THEY SUPPORT -- REPRESENT A PART OF MILITARY DRIVE AND I WAS OUT THERE IN THAT SPIRIT

[03:10:03]

IT'S BEEN THERE FOR MANY YEARS, I THINK WE'RE GREAT PARTNERS TO EACH OTHER OVER THE 30 YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME THINGS I HAVE TO CONSIDER, AND CERTAINLY, I'VE BEEN TOLD AND REMINDED IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS THAT I DID VOTE FOR THE TERM SHEET AND, OF COURSE, I THINK IT'S OKAY TO SUPPORT THAT AND TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC VOTE TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE OKAY WITH THE CITY'S LEVER. I HAVE ALSO REMINDED FOLKS WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE IN MY ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 3RD, WE HAD ABOUT 5,000 VOTERS COME OUT. NO RUNOFF, BUT THAT WAS A LOT OF WORK TO GET VOTERS OUT THERE TO THAT NUMBER. AND WHEN PROPS A AND B WENT ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER, THERE WERE 10,000 VOTERS THAT CAME OUT. THAT'S AN 80% INCREASE IN THE TURNOUT.

AND WHILE DISTRICT FOUR DID SUPPORT IT 51 TO 49%, YOU HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATED PEOPLE TO GET OUT AND VOTE ON THIS ISSUE.

EVEN MORE SO THAN THEIR COUNCILMEMBER WHO MAKES A LOT OF DECISIONS FOR THEM, RIGHT, AND SO I HAVE TO K KNOWLEDGE THAT, RIGHT? I THINK PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WERE HUNGRY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS ELECTION AND ULTIMATELY, YES, APPROVED IT. I HAD A GREAT MEETING WITH THE SPURS THE OTHER DAY, THEY LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS FOR THE ALAMODOME, AND THEY SAID THAT THE NUMBER ONE DISTRICT THAT FOLKS COMING FROM TO GO TO THE ALAMODOME IS DISTRICT SIX, WHICH WAS A SURPRISE TO ME. AND NUMBER 2 WAS DISTRICT FOUR, A BIG SURPRISE TO ME, TOO. SO, YOU KNOW, MY RESIDENTS, WHILE WE LIVE FAR AWAY FROM THERE, WE TRAVEL AND WE GET THERE TO SUPPORT AND SEE THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN. AND SO I THINK ALLOWING FOLKS TO SAY YES TO IT IS NOT A BAD THING TO DO. THIS VOTE ISN'T ABOUT SUPPORTING SOMEBODY'S INITIATIVE. I'VE HEARD THAT MANY TIMES.

WELL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S SOMEONE'S WRONG ABOUT X, Y AND Z AND YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT. AND ULTIMATELY, MY VOTE IS FOR ME TO GO TO MY RESIDENTS AND DEFEND. I'M NOT UP HERE TO DEFEND MY VOTE TO ANY ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES OR ANYBODY WHO'S MET WITH ME OTHER THAN D4 RESIDENTS.

I THINK ABOUT GOING TO MY ASSOCIATIONS, KEEP SOUTH SIDE PROUD, MRS. OLVERA, I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW, HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, AND I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT I WILL FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT EXPLAINING TO THEM ON HOW I VOTED. I VOTED FOR THE TERM SHEET, I HAD TO DEFEND THAT. I'VE MET WITH SEVERAL OF YOU WHO WERE AGAINST IT AND HAD TOUGH CONVERSATIONS, BUT I SAT THERE AND EXPLAINED MYSELF TO YOU. AND I JUST SIMPLY CANNOT EXPLAIN TO MY FOLKS IN MY OWN WAY THAT I WOULD BE AGAINST A PUBLIC PARTICIPATION VOTE FOR THIS. SO I WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS TODAY.

I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF TODAY'S GOING TO BE, AND TO COUNCILWOMAN CASTILLO'S POINT, THERE'S A LOT OF WORK STILL HAS TO BE DONE FOR THIS. THIS IS NOT THE END-ALL BE-ALL, I THINK ULTIMATELY WE WILL REACH A GREAT DEAL WITH THE SPURS, WE'LL HAVE THEM HERE FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS. IT'S A LARGE INVESTMENT FOR THE CITY. WHEN YOU WERE OUT THERE AND YOU SAW EVERYBODY CELEBRATING THE WINS THAT THEY HAD, YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IT MATTERS TO THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO AND HOW VITAL IT IS TO KEEP THEM HERE FOR AS LONG AS WE CAN. SO WITH THAT, I BEAL SUPPORTING THE ITEM

TODAY. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK

YOU. COUNCILMEMBER VIAGRAN? >> VIAGRAN: THANK YOU.

I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THAT CAME THIS MORNING. I APPRECIATE ALL THOSE WHO RECOGNIZE THE WORK, THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY DEPARTMENT HAS DONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. AND THAT EACH WEEK, EVEN THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH, WE MOVED FORWARD ON REVENUE BONDS VERY SIMILAR TO THIS ONE, $1 BILLION.

WE ARE A CITY THAT SITS ON A $4.4 BILLION BUDGET, WE HAVE INVESTMENT COMING IN AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST HEADQUARTERS HERE.

THAT IS THE TALE OF OUR CITY. I THINK WHAT THIS VOTE MEANS TO ME TODAY, WHICH IN TERMS OF -- THE RHETORIC IS VERY DIFFICULT, IS THAT THERE WANTS TO BE A CHANGE, THAT THEY WANT TO VOTE ON BIG ITEMS. THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS OR EFFECTIVE

[03:15:02]

DISTRICT THREE DIDN'T GET ANY LISTENING SESSIONS. DISTRICT THREE DOESN'T PAY PROPERTY TAXES LIKE DISTRICT SIX, 7, 8, 9 AND 10.

SO I WILL NOT HAVE SOMEONE SAY THAT IF YOU VOTE AND THE MARGIN ISN'T LARGE ENOUGH, YOUR VOTE DOESN'T COUNT. THIS IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE. IF WE ARE GOING TO START TO SAY -- AUDIO] -- SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER VOTE. THE SAN ANTONIO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER VOTE.

-- WE HAD PUT TWO ITEMS ON THE BALLOT AND ONE SAYS CITY OF SAN ANTONIO VOTES THIS AND BEXAR COUNTY, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE SAME 52%.

WE NEED TO GOVERN. THE STATE HAS SET ASIDE WHAT WE DID, WE DID SIGN A TERM SHEET, LIABILITY IS AN OPTION FOR THE PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE PUT FORWARD AND THE MESSAGE I WANT TO SEND TODAY TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS THAT SAN ANTONIO IS CONSISTENT AND SAN ANTONIO IS A

RESPECTABLE NEGOTIATOR. THANK YOU. >> MAYOR JONES: THANK YOU.

WOULD ANYONE ELSE LIKE TO SPEAK ON THE SECOND ROUND? OKAY. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE CAPTION AGAIN.

>> CLERK: ITEM 1 IS AN ORDINANCE ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON THE THIRD DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2026, TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD ISSUE OR CAUSE OR SUPPORT THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $489 MILLION TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THE CONSTRUCTIONS OF AN NBA ARENA IN THE PROPOSED DOWNTOWN SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT TO BE SECURED AND REPAID FROM, 1, OPERATING RENT FROM THE SPURS LEASE OF THE ARENA, 2, GROUND RENT FROM CITY'S GROUND LEASE OF THE CITY-OWNED PROPERTY WITHIN THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT; 3, REVENUE FROM THE HEMISFAIR TAX INCREMENT REINVESTMENT ZONE, AND, 4, REVENUE

FROM THE PROJECT FINANCE ZONE NUMBER 2. >> MAYOR JONES: OKAY.

THANK YOU. A REMINDER FOR MY COLLEAGUES, A YES MEANS THE CITY VOTERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ON THE CITY'S $489 MILLION CONTRIBUTION VIA A NOVEMBER VOTE LATER THIS YEAR.

A NO MEANS THE CITY'S VOTERS WILL NOT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON THE CITY'S $489 MILLION CONTRIBUTION. PLEASE VOTE.

OKAY. THE MOTION FAILS. THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS NOW 12:20 P.M. AND THE MEETING IS --

>> FOLKS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. THEY NEED TO SEE IT.

DID YOU SEE THAT? OKAY. YOU'LL -- YEAH, THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IT, THOUGH. OKAY. SO THERE BEING NO FURTHER -- THEY WILL -- ONE SECOND. ONE SECOND.

THEY WILL SHOW THIS. OKAY. THEY WILL SHOW IT.

THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS NOW 12:21 P.M. AND THE MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.