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Your District 7 Newsletter
VOLUME 46 | June 22, 2018
Dear Neighbors,
Yesterday, the City Council moved forward on recommendations from the Ethics Review Board and Municipal campaign Finance Task Force to increase transparency and accountability at City Hall.

Going forward, those entities seeking City support for affordable housing developments, lobbying for a zoning change, and seeking revenue bonds from the Housing Trust Finance Corporation will need to disclose campaign contributions made to council members.

The Council rejected the recommendation to raise the campaign contribution limit from $500 to $750. I have to say: I’m glad. Keeping the $500 limit in place keeps our elections competitive and our government representative.

Additionally, I’m proud to report the Council’s Governance Committee heard my request for the City to review and improve its public participation efforts. It is crucial we ensure meaningful input by members of our community. 

As part of the effort to improve public participation, city staff will consider improvements to Citizens To Be Heard, find ways to connect engaged residents to their areas of interest, and establish city-wide standards for public participation.

Lastly, the Governance Committee moved forward with the request I signed onto calling for a study of how the property tax appraisal system affects San Antonio residents. The next steps are to select a consulting group to conduct the study.
Yours in public service,
Mayor's Housing Policy Task Force
The Mayor's Housing Policy Task Force presented their recommendations to the City Council. You can view the recommendations, along with the rest of the Task Force's presentation, here. The video of their presentation will be available within the next week. Their previous presentations are available for view here.
The Week in Photos
Councilwoman Sandoval joined residents for "Conversations with the Councilwoman" this past Saturday at Pericos Mexican Restaurant on Bandera Road. Over 30 residents attended to discuss code compliance, ethics reform, and neighborhood safety. The next Conversation with the Councilwoman will be held in August.
Councilwoman Sandoval and her colleagues met King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on their recent visit to San Antonio. The royal couple visited San Antonio to honor the City's Tricentennial and its relationship with Spain.
The City Council's Governance Committee heard Councilwoman Sandoval's request for the City to improve its public participation this past Wednesday. The Governance Committee decided to move forward with the request and will begin planning how to improve how Citizens To Be Heard and other community input processes are conducted with the ultimate goal of ensuring the City offers residents meaningful participation opportunities.
We celebrated the International Day of Yoga yesterday with two free yoga classes. These young residents stuck around after the class at O.P. Schnabel Park to talk to Councilwoman Sandoval about her experience in education and government.
Councilwoman Sandoval toured CPS Energy's headquarters. She is joined by, from left to right, John Bonnin, Cris Eugster and Frank Almaraz. Thank you all for sharing information on CPS Energy's operations and efforts!
The District 7 Appointee to the City's Veteran Affairs Commission, Ramon Gonzales, facilitated two safeTALK trainings this past Monday. The safeTALK training teaches individuals how to recognize when others are struggling with suicidal thoughts and when it is appropriate to intervene. Thank you, Ramon, for your continued service to our community.
Ask Ana Anything
One of the ways Councilwoman Sandoval wants to give you the answers you need about city government is through "Ask Ana Anything", a recurring part of the weekly District 7 newsletter. Have a question for Ana? Email it to district7@sanantonio.gov with the subject line "Ask Ana Anything".
Dear Ana,

What’s been going with the Mayor’s Housing Task Force? I remember seeing a section about it in last week’s newsletter, but couldn’t make it to the meeting on Wednesday. What’s the latest?

Thanks,
House-It-Going?
Dear House,

It’s been nine months since the Mayor’s Housing Policy Task Force began the process of crafting a comprehensive and compassionate approach to San Antonio’s housing challenges. 

Throughout these past months, I’ve had countless conversations with District 7 residents about rising property values, new development, and the increasing cost of housing in San Antonio. Each of these conversations underscored the importance of the task force’s mission, which is why I was excited to hear their preliminary recommendations at yesterday’s City Council meeting. Let me tell you: there were no half measures.

As part of their work, the Task Force found that 165,000 households across the City are cost-burdened, meaning that they spend over a third of their income on housing. The residents in these households are our teachers, nurses, young professionals, and City employees. We have to make sure that our City remains affordable to all as it grows, where residents aren’t priced out of safe and affordable housing and enjoy the dignity we are all entitled to.

What the City does next will define our future approach to housing affordability, preservation of neighborhood character, and gentrification and displacement. You can count on me to push for the City to adopt the most effective policies possible.

To view the presentation the Task Force made to City Council, visit here.

Thank you for your question.


Yours in public service,

Ana E. Sandoval
Connect with Your Councilmember
Upcoming Office Events
Coffee with Ana and
Community Conversations with the Councilwoman
The next Coffee with Ana and Conversations with the Councilwoman will take place in August. We will announce the dates in this newsletter in July.

If you have any questions, call 210-207-0870 or send an email with the subject line to district7@sanantonio.gov.
Councilwoman in the News
"'Now more than ever, it’s critical that San Antonio achieve an accurate population count and secure adequate federal resources for our growing needs,' [said Councilwoman Sandoval]."

"'It’d be discompassionate to pretend like [displacement and homelessness is] not happening in our community,' Councilwoman Ana Sandoval (D7) said, pausing as tears ran down her face. 'It’s our job as leaders to ask ourselves how we can help.'"

"'Even if we went straight into an ordinance we would need to do some of these additional steps to make it happen,' Sandoval said. 'I think ReWorksSA is a great first step. If for some reason we find that this doesn’t help everyone recycle, we can consider additional steps.'"

Neighbor of the Week: SAPD SAFFE Officer Vincent Cano
What does a product of Longfellow and Jefferson choose for a career? Becoming a city council representative? Well, yes---or in this case, a 19 year member of the San Antonio police force and a seven year member of SAFFE, who feels honored to have been nominated for the program by his police peers. And his current assignment keeps him close to his roots as it stretches from I10 to West Avenue, Culebra to 36th, and Bandera to Culebra.

From working with the Feds on high risk assignments to making presentations to school kids, Officer Cano loves his work and notes his method of always viewing a suspect as if he or she were a relative of his; however, he says that doesn’t mean he gives any slack.

A family man who loves to be involved with his kids states that two adjectives that describe him are hard-working and honest. We are very glad to have Vincent Cano as our neighbor—and SAFFE officer!
Share Your Thoughts
NHSD seeks community input regarding boundaries, bylaws, and minimum expectations of registered Neighborhood Associations. The current policy was last updated in 2011, and outlines requirements and procedures for registration, updates, and removal. Policy revisions are anticipated to be presented to City Council in Fall 2018, following extensive public outreach.
Announcements
Boys & Girls Clubs: An Opportunity to Support Youth in District 7
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Antonio invites you to be a Reading Sidekick at Madison Elementary, located in City Council District 7. 

Reading Sidekicks will assist pairs of students as they read books appropriate to their reading level. Sidekicks will read with students, help them with unknown words, ask questions, and assist them with completing reading logs.

What: Volunteer to help kids in District 7 reduce Summer Learning Loss

When: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:30 – 1:30 through August 3rd. You do not have to volunteer every day, but repeat volunteerism is encouraged.

Where: Madison Elementary, 2900 W. Woodlawn Ave. 78228

How: Call or email Louis Perez at 210-436-0686 Ext. 2009 or lperez@begreatsa.org. 

Why: One hour of your day could help rising 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders improve their reading level this summer!
San Antonio Public Library: 50 Free Digital Magazine Subscriptions Now Available with Your San Antonio Public Library Card
San Antonio Public Library is now offering free access to 50 of the most popular national magazines. Digital issues of the magazines are available to San Antonio Public Library card holders on any internet enabled mobile device through the Libby or OverDrive apps automatically, with no waiting and no holds.  

Bexar County residents can sign up for a free San Antonio Public Library card in person at any one of 30 library locations or digitally using a mobile phone number with the Libby app from OverDrive. Visit mysapl.org or call 210-207-2500 for more information and a map of all 30 San Antonio Public Library locations. 

The San Antonio Public Library continues to adopt new and innovative ways of providing resources to the community. Visit mysapl.org/digital for more information about the Digital Library at the San Antonio Public Library.
San Antonio International Airport: Concessionaires Job Fair
The San Antonio International Airport presents a Concessions Job Fair on Tuesday, June 26 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Norris Conference Center (618 NW Loop 410, Suite 207). It is free and open to the public.

Requirements:
  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must bring current driver's license or ID
  • Must be authorized to work in the US
  • Come prepared with resume on hand

For more information: Adriann Corazzini, 210-254-9160, info@aguillon-associates.com
311: Get to Know 311!
You're invited to learn more about 311 and how to access city services from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm this June 30 at the Forest Hills Library (5245 Ingram Rd). All are welcome to join. To RSVP or request more informatin, please email 311CustomerService@sanantonio.gov
Upcoming Events
To view more events, visit the calendar on the Your District 7 website here.
Adventures in Library Land: Mayor's Summer Reading Club Sign Up
Date: June 22
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Forest Hills Branch Library (5245 Ingram Road)
Adventures in Library Land: Mayor's Summer Reading Club Sign Up
Date: June 23
Time: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Location: Forest Hills Branch Library (5245 Ingram Road)
Councilwoman Sandoval Joins Mayor Nirenberg for Facebook Live
Date: June 27
Time: 9:00 PM
Community Input Meeting: Bond Funding for Nani Falcone Park
Date: June 28
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Maverick Library (8700 Mystic Park)
*Councilwoman Sandoval will be in attendance.*
Getting to Know 311
Date: June 30
Time: 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location: Forest Hills Library (5245 Ingram Road)
July 4th at Woodlawn Lake Park
Date: July 4
Location: Woodlawn Lake Park (1103 Cincinnati Ave)
*Councilwoman Sandoval will be in attendance.*
VetStrong Grand Opening
Date: July 7
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: VetStrong (1735 Babcock Road)
*Councilwoman Sandoval will be in attendance.*
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  • Chief of Constituent Services & Administration
  • 210.207.2727



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