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VOLUME 94 | June 6, 2019
Dear Neighbors,
This week, the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) and Doris Griffin Senior Center held an Elder Fraud Summit to raise awareness about the terrible crime of fraud against seniors.

As much as we’d like to believe it only happens in other cities, the truth is that it takes place in San Antonio just as often as it does anywhere else.

The Express News reported in March on an elderly couple in San Antonio was scammed out of $1 million. The scammers had posed as the couple’s title company and took the money the couple intended to use to purchase a home.

The article went on to note that, in 2018 alone, there were 2 million victims of elder fraud in the U.S. In total, they were scammed out of more than $750 million.

Being scammed isn’t anything to be ashamed of. Offhand, I can think of two friends who’ve been scammed recently, neither of whom are elderly. The difference between them and elderly victims of fraud is that the elderly don’t always report the fraud.

If you’re elderly or caring for someone who is elderly, I’d encourage you visit the Bexar County District Attorney’s website for their Tips on Elder Scam (TOES).

I’m grateful to the Alamo Area Council of Governments and Doris Griffin Senior Center for organizing the event.
Yours in public service,
The Week in Photos
Thank you to KB Homes and Sherwin Williams for the fresh coat of paint at the Gilbert Garza Community Center! Thanks to Monticello Park President Cathy Teague, kids playing at the community center will enjoy renewed surroundings.
Congratulations to the Powell Elementary Student Council on the grand opening of their Little Free Library. The Little Free Library is thanks to the Girl Scout Troupe 300, who wanted to commemorate the Tricentennial by placing 300 Little Free Libraries across the City. This library is #285!
Councilwoman Sandoval joined Sheriff Salazar and District Attorney Gonzales for the Elder Fraud Summit held at Doris Griffin Senior Center. Thank you to the Alamo Area Council of Governments for organizing the event!
Ask Ana Anything
Have a question for Ana? Email it to district7@sanantonio.gov with the subject "Ask Ana Anything".
Ana,

I attended the Bandera Road Community Meeting on April 29 and was disappointed that you didn't present a construction project for the road. Why are we spending all this time talking instead of building?

Thanks,
Baffled on Braun
Dear Baffled,

We need to ease congestion on Bandera Road as quickly as possible. But we also need to ask ourselves: What do we want Bandera Road to look like beyond lanes of traffic?

As we improve Bandera Road, TxDOT and the City of San Antonio will be working together: TxDOT to address the engineering and congestion, and the City to plan what the land along the corridor itself looks and feels like and what benefits it provides to its users.

The April 29 was the first meeting to address the look and feel of the corridor. Later this summer, likely in August, we will have another meeting. This next meeting will focus on the engineering and traffic studies TxDOT is currently conducting along Bandera.

Future public meetings will address both the look and feel of the corridor along with the engineering work and congestion relief options.

I don't believe the decision of whether to have a boulevard or a flyover or something else should be made without consulting you.

This series of meetings are designed to give the public access to the process and an opportunity to share ideas. It will be at least a year before we have design options and a plan that we can take to the State to request funding.
According to the plan, the City will complete the Bandera Road Corridor Plan around the same time that TxDOT has completed developing design options for the roadway.
For more information, check out the City’s webpage or TxDOT's webpage.

Thank you for the question.

Yours in public service,

Ana
Connect with Your Councilmember
Have Coffee with Ana!
Spots are available for upcoming Coffees with Ana! This is an opportunity available each month for District 7 residents to schedule a twenty minute, one-on-one meeting with the Councilwoman.

The next Coffee will be held Saturday, June 15th. There will be no coffee in July.

To make an appointment, call 210-207-0870 or send an email to district7@sanantonio.gov.
District 7 in the News
"... the status of San Antonio women is bad and getting worse. The evidence is clear. They face more violence than counterparts in three other major Texas cities and die at the hands of the men who purport to love them in higher numbers than in Austin, Houston and Dallas."

"The City of San Antonio's Parks & Recreation Department wants you to get outside and smell the roses, without the scent of smoke and tobacco nearby."

"It wasn’t all bad news on Wednesday, as San Antonio City Council was briefed on the high and low points in the recently concluded Texas legislative session, but two losses, in particular, could end up costing the City millions in lost revenue."

Construction in the Community
In addition to posting construction notices on Nextdoor, we're beginning to include construction notices and updates right here in the District 7 newsletter! Have any questions about a project? Contact us at 210-207-0870 or district7@sanantonio.gov.
Mainland Intersection Improvement Project Ongoing
Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) is currently working to improve the intersection at Mainland and Bandera Road by widening Mainland to add a right-turn lane onto Bandera. The work began this month and is estimated to be complete by the end of the summer, 2019 ( weather permitting).
SA Speak Up
Engaged residents are fundamental to the health of City government. The successful development of policy and implementation of City programs depends on meaningful civic engagement, which engenders trust and accountability between the community and the government that serves it. The City of San Antonio offers many opportunities for residents to provide input on City policies, programs and initiatives.

It's your City. Let's talk!
Announcements
Sign up Bexar County Commissioner Justin Rodriguez's newsletter! Much of City Council District 7 overlaps with Bexar County Precinct 2. Unsure if you're in Commissioner Rodriguez's precinct? Find out here.
June 8: Sustainable Saturday
The West San Antonio Chamber of Commerce invites the community to a Sustainable Saturday educational roundtable on June 8 at 10 a.m. at St Luke's Catholic Church, 4603 Manitou Road. RSVP is required.
City Council voted to amend the City's e-scooter ordinance to prohibit their use on sidewalks, effective June 30, 2019. This is in response to numerous concerns from residents concerned with safety and access for residents with disabilities.
Woodlawn Pool Closed for Maintenance
The Woodlawn Lake Pool will close for maintenance beginning Tuesday, June 4th through June 14th. During this time, patrons are encouraged to use the pool at Joe Ward Community Center. Their schedule follows:

Open Swim
  • Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
  • Saturday & Sunday - 1:00pm to 7:00pm

Lap Swim
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 7:30am to 9:30am

Aqua Aerobics
  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - 8:00 am – 8:45 am
Enjoy easy and convenient downtown parking with new app
The SAPark app can be used for more than 2,500 on-street and off-street parking spaces in downtown San Antonio. Previously, drivers had to pay at a pay station and then display the ticket on their dashboards.

With SAPark, the entire transaction is facilitated on a smartphone and does not require a physical ticket.

To view a how-to video, visit here.

Users can download the free SAPark app form the iTunes App Store and Google Play Store and manage their parking online at sapark.sanantonio.gov.
June: Project Cool 
Since 1997, the City of San Antonio (Human Services, Fire Department) Catholic Charities of San Antonio, Inc., United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and community/corporate partners have coordinated Project Cool to provide heat relief to senior residents 60 years of age and older across the city through donation and free distribution of 20-inch box fans to seniors in need.

Donations of box fans can be dropped off at any San Antonio Fire Station in the city between June and September.

If you would like to request a box fan please call 211.
This Weekend at San Antonio Public Library
Next Wave Technology
Forest Hills Branch Library, 5245 Ingram Road
Monday, June 15
2-5 pm
What is 3D Printing? Join us in learning about the process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model. It's changing the way we produce objects, from tools and toys, to food, and even body parts!
Book Talk
Forest Hills Branch Library, 5245 Ingram Road
Monday, June 24
6 pm
Free books for adults when you sign up for three months of Book Talks. Read 'She Has Her Mother's Laugh' by Carl Zimmer this summer with others!
Mayor's Summer Reading Club: Over The Moon
Any San Antonio Public Library
June 1 - August 3
This summer we are over the Moon in celebration of Apollo 11 and the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing. Registration begins on June 1 and you can register at any public library.
June 8-9: Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights seeks Volunteers for Child Advocate Training
Serve as a child advocate for unaccompanied immigrant children fleeing violence, trafficking, abuse and extreme poverty. Child advocates meet with children while they're detained and throughout deportation proceedings, learn their story over time, and advocate for the child's best interest. Help fight for a child's safety and well-being alongside young center attorneys and social workers.

All volunteers must be 21+ and pass a background check and tuberculosis screening.

For more information contact, Nicole Cooper at ncooper@theyoungcenter.org
June 10: Teen Connection 2019
June 10-August 2: San Antonio Parks & Recreation Summer Youth Program
June 14: Splash Into Swimming Fun at City Pools!
Starting June 14th all City pools will be open!

Open Swim
• Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday - 4:00pm to 7:00pm
• Saturday & Sunday - 1:00pm to 7:00pm

Lap Swim
• Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday (Friday @ Woodlawn) - 7:30am to 9:30am

Reservations for regional pools have started! 
Book your next event or special occasion at a pool! Contact 210.207.3299

For more information please visit the Parks & Recreation website here .
June 15: Elmendorf Lake Park Pool Grand Opening
June 20: The World's Largest Swimming Lesson
June 22: Citizenship Workshop / Taller de la ciudadania
Citizenship Workshop at South San ISD
10am - 2pm at 5622 Ray Ellison Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78242

The AFL-CIO and American Federation of Teachers are hosting a citizenship workshop on June 22, 2019 from 10am - 2pm at the South San Antonio ISD Administrative Building located at 5622 Ray Ellison Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78242 . For more information please contact: jaguereca@southsanisd.net, afarias@southsanisd.net, or (210) 977-7080.
 
Taller de la ciudadania en South San ISD,
10am - 2pm at 5622 Ray Ellison Blvd., San Antonio, TX 78242 

El sindicatio AFL-CIO y el sindicato de los Maestros estan organizando un taller de la ciudadania en las instalaciones administrativas de South San Antonio ISD ubicado en 5622 Ray Ellison Blvd, San Antonio, TX 78242 a las 10am - 2m. Para informes comuniquese con: jaguereca@southsanisd.net, afarias@southsanisd.net, o llame al (210) 977-7080.
Upcoming Events
Wonder where your District 7 Team is headed next? Join Councilwoman Sandoval and/or District 7 staff at any of the following events!
Stonefield Estates Summer Kick Off
Date: Saturday, June 8
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Stonefield Park, 10111 Stonefield Pl.
Braun Station West Annual Picnic
Date: Saturday, June 8
Time: 4:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Braun Station West Clubhouse, 8630 Tezel Rd.
Election Day for Mayor, City Council Districts 2, 4, and 6
Date: Saturday, June 8
VIA Metropolitan Transit Public Meeting (VIA routes 10, 550, 551)
Date: Monday, June 10
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: AACOG, 8700 Tesoro Dr.
Jefferson Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Monday, June 10
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Jefferson United Methodist Church, 758 Donaldson Ave.
Thunderbird Hills Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 11
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Powell Elementary, 6003 Thunder
Culebra Park Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 11
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: AT&T Building, St. Mary's University, 1 Camino Santa Maria
VIA Metropolitan Transit Public Meeting (VIA routes 3 & 4)
Date: Wednesday, June 12
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: VIA Metro Center, 1021 San Pedro Ave.
VIA Metropolitan Transit Public Meeting (VIA route 25)
Date: Thursday, June 13
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Claude Black Community Center, 2805 E. Commerce St.
French Creek Village Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Thursday, June 13
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: French Creek Village Pool, 9210 John Barrett Dr.
Maverick Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Monday, June 17
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: 427 Concord Pl.
Culebra Park Neighborhood Meeting
Date: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Esparza Elementary School, 5700 Hemphill Dr.
Bond Public Meeting on Heath & Grissom Improvements
Date: Tuesday, June 18
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Prince of Peace Catholic Church, 7893 N. Grissom Road
2019 - 2021 City Council Inauguration
Date: Wednesday, June 19
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: City Council Chambers, 114 W Commerce
Our Office Staff

  • Joseph Bravo
  • Chief of Staff
  • 210.207.2727

  • Lexi Bachran
  • Community Outreach Coordinator
  • 210.207.0875

  • Debbie Dehlinger
  • Super Volunteer
  • 210.207.0870

  • Julio Arroyo
  • Executive Secretary
  • 210.207.7044

  • Bianca Maldonado
  • Chief of Policy & Communications
  • 210.207.0873

  • Matteo Trevino
  • Communications Coordinator
  • 210.207.0872

  • Frank Ramirez IV
  • Zoning & Case Manager
  • 210.207.0874

  • Josh Jaeschke
  • Policy & Case Manager
  • 210.207.0858
Office Hours
Brass Professional Center
4414 Centerview Dr #160

Monday - Friday:
9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Lunch
12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
Maury Maverick Library
8700 Mystic Park

Monday - Friday:
12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.