A weekly podcast that breaks down how politics works, and often doesn't work, in San Antonio. Metro Editor Greg Jefferson and Express-News reporters question politicians and other newsmakers about what they're up to in our name.
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District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez talks with the ENside Politics team about why she wants to ask San Antonio voters in November to reauthorize Pre-K 4 SA for another 20 years. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones again calls for city vote on Spurs arena funding Mayor Jones urges residents to tell City Council to order arena funding election Mayor Jones' push for vote on city's contribution to…
District 8 Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez talks with the ENside Politics team about why she wants to ask San Antonio voters in November to reauthorize Pre-K 4 SA for another 20 years. Note: A few hours after this was recorded Tuesday afternoon, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones announced that she was no longer seeking a citywide vote to reallocate Ready to Work dollars Suggested reading: Mayor Jones…
District 5 Councilwoman Teri Castillo talks with the ENside Politics team about the many hard choices City Council will have to make in next year's budget and what it's like to serve under Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones proposes killing Ready to Work to close budget deficit Mayor Jones asks business community to fund nonprofits that rely on city dollars Hundreds of jobs,…
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about whether City Council has the appetite to cut funding for the San Antonio Botanical Garden and other nonprofits -- or to increase the city's property tax rate. Also, the Bonham Exchange is asking for more time to install legally required fire sprinklers after Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones drops her pledge to help raise money for…
The head of the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo is warning that a conceptual development plan for the East Side could collide with his organization's expansion — and that tax dollars voters OK'd for the rodeo's designs could wind up paying for some of those clashing projects. Reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson discuss. Suggested reading: Rodeo says East Side development plan clashes…
Education reporters Noah Alcala Bach and Sophia Veneziano talk with ENside Politics about which area school districts have come under Texas Education Agency scrutiny and why. Suggested reading: State probes Judson ISD for alleged threats, failure to report child abuse STAAR gains offer lifeline to some S.A. schools at risk of state interventionJudson ISD board OK's budget that nearly slays deficit…
Reporter Liz Teitz and the ENside Politics team discuss the rupture that resulted in City Council postponing a vote on a SAWS rate increase till next fall. Suggested reading: After debate, split City Council delays decision on SAWS rate hike SAWS says it needs to raise rates. It’s hitting resistance at City Hall. City staff to council: Raise SAWS rates — just not by quite as much Sign up here for…
Former San Antonio Mayor and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff talks with reporters Madison Iszler and Molly Smith about the hallmarks of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first year in office, what Ron Nirenberg's administration could look like if he wins the county judge election and tensions over Project Marvel and plans for the Frost Bank Center grounds. Suggested reading: One year in, Mayor Jones remains…
Former City Councilman Manny Pelaez talks with host Greg Jefferson about the freebies council members are offered — and that many of them accept — such as Spurs, concert and gala tickets, not to mention "parking wherever the hell they want." He also weighs in on Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' rocky first year in office and Project Marvel. Suggested reading: Which San Antonio politicians got free Spurs…
The ENside Politics team talks about how President Trump scrambled the race for the GOP nomination in San Antonio-anchored Congressional District 35 and Luz Elena Chapa's razor-thin margin in the Democratic primary for Bexar County district attorney. Suggested reading: Luz Elena Chapa wins tight runoff for Bexar County DA Johnny Garcia to face Carlos De La Cruz for Congressional District 35 Does…
Politics reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about the heated race between Luz Elena Chapa and Jane Davis for the Democratic nomination for Bexar County district attorney, and the blow-up in the Democratic contest in Congressional District 35 between Maureen Galindo and Johnny Garcia. Suggested reading: DA candidates in Democratic runoff clash over experience, case backlog Personal…
Megan Rodriguez chats with fellow Express-News reporters Liz Teitz and Madison Iszler as they dig into a proposed rate hike at SAWS and the controversy surrounding the pitch. Suggested reading: As SAWS mulls rate hike, these City Council members want a shakeup at the utility SAWS seeks rate hikes as City Council weighs cost to residents SAWS says it needs 8% rate hike this year to avoid system…
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' chief of staff calling it quits a week after her deputy abruptly stepped down, and why Jones' struggle to keep staff matters. Suggested reading: Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ chief of staff quits one week after deputy leaves Amid outcry, San Antonio council advances mayor's veterans housing proposal…
Education reporters Noah Alcala Bach and Sophia Veneziano talk with host Greg Jefferson about the drastic steps Bexar County's largest school district are taking to make ends meet — such as closing schools and slashing positions — and what's making it harder to keep the lights on. Suggested reading: Judson school district cuts 536 jobs, moves toward balanced budgetInside the charter network that…
Port San Antonio CEO Jim Perschbach discusses his role as head of the mayor's Economic Security Advisory Group with the ENside Politics team -- and air taxis, his lonely quest for the 16th Air Force, the possibility of government funding for a new South Side grocery store and how San Antonio does "economic development." Suggested reading: Port San Antonio teams with Austin firm to develop air taxi…
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith talk with host Greg Jefferson about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' pledge to help one of San Antonio's biggest and oldest gay nightclubs raise money for legally required fire sprinklers, and how it has gone weirdly wrong. Suggested reading: Bonham Exchange says mayor hasn't delivered on $550K fundraising pledge City Council delays creation of Mayor…
Councilman Marc Whyte talks with the ENside Politics team about what's behind a resolution that he and council members Marina Alderete Gavito and Misty Spears are pushing at City Council to commit to hiring 65 police officers next year. Suggested reading: City Council set to square off over police department staffing What mayor, council want in San Antonio’s next police chief City Council majority…
Express-News reporters Liz Teitz and Kelsey Brown talk with host Megan Rodriguez about potential utility rate hikes that officials at CPS Energy and SAWS are mulling — and how the utilities want to use the extra funds if they secure them. Suggested reading: Council members call for outside review of SAWS before rate hike vote City Council, SAWS leaders spar over proposed water rate hikes SAWS says…
Political consultant Laura Barberena talks with the ENside Politics team about what was behind the former San Antonio mayor's landslide victory for the Democratic nomination for Bexar County judge, and a potential fight at City Council over plans to add 65 officers next year. Suggested reading: How did your neighborhood vote in the Nirenberg-Sakai primary? City Council set to square off over…
Recapping the events that led Tony Gonzales to drop his reelection bid with Texas politics reporter Bayliss Wagner, half of the Express-News reporting duo who broke the story of the San Antonio representative’s affair with a former staffer. Wagner and host Megan Rodriguez also talk about the now-unchallenged GOP candidate in District 23, Brandon Herrera a.k.a., The AK Guy. Suggested reading: Tony…
Nirenberg's big win, Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez's big loss and the Democratic runoff for district attorney — host Greg Jefferson and reporters Saul Pink and Molly Smith talk about all of it in a special edition of ENside Politics. Suggested reading: Nirenberg wins Bexar County judge nomination in a landslide Indicted County Court Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez loses reelection bid Bexar DA…
Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez presided over Friday's censure of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones — and he debriefs with the ENside Politics team on this week episode. Suggested reading: San Antonio City Council censures Mayor Jones for ‘unacceptable conduct’ Bonham Exchange to stay open, cut occupancy during fire sprinkler installationJones refuses to step down from committee ahead of upcoming censure…
Political consultant Andrew Solano talks with the ENside Politics team about former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's City Hall track record and whether it'll help him in his bid to unseat Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai. Also: Does it matter that Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is getting along with many of her City Council colleagues? Suggested reading: Why did Ron Nirenberg replace the logo on his Tesla? What is a…
Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai took time out from his Democratic primary fight against former Mayor Ron Nirenberg to talk with ENside Politics about improving the county lock-up, backing a new Spurs arena but not the sports district it would tie together, and why he's campaigning on balanced budgets -- which are required under the Texas constitution. Suggested reading: Should Bexar County build a…
San Antonio Food Bank CEO Eric Cooper talks with host Greg Jefferson about why San Antonio remains one of the poorest cities in the country despite education and income improvements. Suggested reading: Thousands could go hungry in San Antonio because of federal shutdown San Antonio ranks third-highest in poverty among major U.S. metro areas San Antonio incomes jump, but still trail nearly all…
City Councilwoman Sukh Kaur talks with the ENside Politics team about the possibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement buying an East Side warehouse for a massive detention center, the search for San Antonio’s next police chief and iconic gay nightclub Bonham Exchange's clash with the city. Suggested reading: Bonham Exchange expected to be shut down, but the club got 5-day reprieve SAPD…
UTSA criminology professor Michael Smith talks with the ENside Politics team about how ICE and Border Patrol agents are trained, how they work with San Antonio police and the call at City Council last week to cut off all interaction with federal immigration authorities. Suggested reading: Commissioner Grant Moody drowned out by boos at City Council meeting on ICE Is ICE going door to door in San…
City Hall reporter Molly Smith talks to county government reporter Saul Pink and business reporter Madison Iszler about fundraising in the county judge's race, why Bexar County hasn't switched the software it uses to manage voter rolls, and where the sports and entertainment district stands. Suggested reading: Nirenberg outraises Sakai but trails in cash ahead of county judge primary Bexar County…
Bryan Gervais, head of UTSA's polling center, talks with City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson about the Ron Nirenberg-Peter Sakai race in the March 3 Democratic primary and the future of public financing for a Spurs arena downtown and Project Marvel. Suggested reading: Project Marvel, Spurs arena firing up the Bexar County judge race Jefferson: People like Ron Nirenberg, but…
District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan talks with City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson about last Thursday's nailbiter - City Council's 6-5 vote to change the city election calendar - as well as Galvan's efforts to potentially regulate data centers and eliminate fares for VIA buses. Suggested reading: San Antonio moves elections from May to November of odd-numbered years Jefferson:…
Gov. Greg Abbott gets the last word on San Antonio's Pride rainbow crosswalk on North Main, and Thursday's City Council vote on moving municipal elections is shaping up to be a test of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' strength -- or a measure of her weakness. City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss. Suggested reading: San Antonio's request to keep rainbow…
City Hall reporter Molly Smith and county government reporter Saul Pink talk to political consultant Andrew Solano about Texas Congressional District 35, the Bexar County judge's race and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to move city elections to November. Suggested reading: Who filed to run in the 2026 elections in San Antonio and Texas? Here are the major candidates Ron Nirenberg launches campaign…
Former Bexar County commissioner Kevin Wolff, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' proposal to move city elections from May to November, her rocky start at City Hall and former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's run against County Judge Peter Sakai in the March Democratic primary. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones wants to move city elections to November to boost…
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' new push for the city to take a tougher approach in talks with the Spurs for tax dollars to build a new arena. Suggested reading: Could Spurs arena infrastructure make next city bond a harder sell? San Antonio quietly slashes final boost for minority- and woman-owned businesses Sign up…
City Hall reporters Madison Iszler and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss what comes after the narrow passage of Bexar County's Prop B, which dedicates up to $311 million in tax revenue to a new Spurs arena. One of the biggest next steps: a big city bond election for infrastructure around the arena site. Suggested reading: Inside Prop B’s win and what it means for Project Marvel’s future…
The retired Bexar County judge and ENside Politics team dissect the Spurs and Rodeo tax elections and discuss why arena proponents had to grind out a narrow win in the Nov. 4 vote. Suggested reading: Spurs get the W: Bexar County voters approve downtown San Antonio basketball arena Voters approve plan to renovate Frost Bank Center, expand rodeo events Election results: Spurs arena, San Antonio…
The East Side councilman talks with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson about why he's opposed to Bexar County tax funding for the Freeman Coliseum grounds and a Spurs arena at Hemisfair. Suggested reading: Downtown Spurs arena campaign raises more than $7M Can a $192M rodeo plan do what the Spurs never did for San Antonio's East Side? Will ‘tourist dollars’ go back to Gov. Abbott if…
COPS/Metro leaders Adrian Castro and Sonia Rodriguez make their case against spending any tax dollars on a new Spurs. Their bottom line in a conversation with reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson: billionaire team investors would benefit, not taxpayers. Suggested reading: What to know about early voting in San Antonio Spurs arena proposition faces ‘uphill battle,’ UTSA poll shows Spurs…
Bobby Perez, Spurs Sports & Entertainment's general counsel, talks public financing for a downtown arena and addresses relocation fears in a wide-ranging conversation with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson. Suggested reading: How the Spurs and arena opponents are making their pitches to voters Spurs pump nearly $2 million into downtown arena campaign UTSA president lends support to…
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' ups and downs since taking office in June -- her strained relationship with some City Council members, how she's doing on her agenda and the losing votes she's racked up so far. Suggested reading: Ethics board will rule tonight on mayor's push for Democratic convention Mayor floats raising…
San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport talks with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson about the $192 million tax proposition on the Nov. 4 ballot and the huge rodeo expansion plan it would pay for. Suggested reading: As Spurs eye downtown arena, county asks voters to help pay the bill Spurs launch campaign to convince voters to say yes to arena money Voters to see Spurs…
Pollster Brannon Miller, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss the campaign for tax dollars for a Spurs arena, why Gov. Greg Abbott has spooked big-name Democratic challengers and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first 100 days. Suggested reading: Why Texas Democrats aren't lining up to take on Greg Abbott in the midterms Sources: Ron Nirenberg weighing run for governor or county…
City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith join host Greg Jefferson to talk about the confusion that is the city's new animal abandonment law, the on and on and ongoing fight between Mayor Jones and City Council, and Ron Nirenberg's political future. Suggested reading: Confusion follows passage of San Antonio's animal abandonment law The battle between Mayor Jones and City Council over…
City Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson talk about an ordinance to penalize the abandonment of unwanted pets, council members' tense relationship with Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, and more. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones renews fight with City Council members over policymaking City Council members force pet abandonment vote that Mayor Jones…
District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about the opposition to public financing for a Spurs arena, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' hard-edged tactics and what comes next for Project Marvel. Suggested reading: Could there be two Spurs arena elections? Mayor Jones floats the possibility. Mayor Jones crashes pro-Project Marvel rally ahead of decisive…
Political consultant Laura Barberena, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss the highs and lows of Jones' handling of a looming vote on a Spurs arena and her push to unilaterally change how City Council makes policy. Suggested reading: Clashing with Council: Inside Mayor Jones’ rocky first two months at City Hall Spurs arena showdown: San Antonio council to vote on term sheet…
The West Side councilwoman thinks a city-ordered economic analysis of Project Marvel is tainted — the consultant is owned by a company whose main backer is Spurs investor Sixth Street Partners — and has to be redone before the City Council decides whether to make a deal with the NBA franchise and Bexar County. Suggested reading: Mayor wants to pause Project Marvel plans — but City Council majority…
Political consultant Andrew Solano, reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to drive a harder bargain with the Spurs. Also, will the team's commitment to spend $500M on arena construction make public financing to pay the rest of the bill an easier sell at the polls? Suggested reading: Watch: Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez arrested on DWI charge…
Political consultant Laura Barberena, City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first month in office and her apparent love of rules. Suggested reading: Mayor: Losses from feared Army command merger could be ‘negligible’ Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones names new chief of staff U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro may run for Senate. Will it be a crowded race? Sign up…
Tech reporter Brandon Lingle and host Greg Jefferson discuss Port San Antonio's plan to land the Air Force cyber command, the Air Force One debacle in San Antonio and SpaceX's new company town in South Texas. Suggested reading: Boeing can't hire, keep enough mechanics for Air Force One work in San Antonio Starbase lockdown: SpaceX city blocks public roads, raising legal questions Port San Antonio…
