1 00:00:06,508 --> 00:00:08,342 a fast growing fast moving 2 00:00:08,344 --> 00:00:09,910 community with something new 3 00:00:09,912 --> 00:00:11,278 happening almost every day. 4 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:13,481 That's why each week I go right 5 00:00:13,483 --> 00:00:14,348 to the door with one of the 6 00:00:14,350 --> 00:00:16,050 newsmakers who is driving this 7 00:00:16,052 --> 00:00:18,586 train should throw joining us. 8 00:00:18,588 --> 00:00:20,888 Join us for the conversation a 9 00:00:20,890 --> 00:00:22,223 lively discussion with the 10 00:00:22,225 --> 00:00:24,158 reporters and community leaders 11 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:26,227 about the issues that matter to 12 00:00:26,229 --> 00:00:28,562 us now as we go on the record. 13 00:00:28,564 --> 00:00:38,339 And now Jim forsight Hi I'm Jim 14 00:00:38,341 --> 00:00:40,708 Forsyth and welcome again to on 15 00:00:40,710 --> 00:00:42,443 the record on unrehearsed 16 00:00:42,445 --> 00:00:44,545 discussion of the key issues and 17 00:00:44,547 --> 00:00:46,647 challenges facing us today in 18 00:00:46,649 --> 00:00:47,481 San Antonio. 19 00:00:47,483 --> 00:00:49,283 Our guest today is Doug Melnick. 20 00:00:49,285 --> 00:00:51,285 He is the chief sustainability 21 00:00:51,287 --> 00:00:52,920 officer for the city of San 22 00:00:52,922 --> 00:00:53,220 Antonio. 23 00:00:53,222 --> 00:00:54,422 Doug thank you very much for 24 00:00:54,424 --> 00:00:56,190 joining us today on the record 25 00:00:56,192 --> 00:00:56,757 thank you for having me. 26 00:00:56,759 --> 00:00:58,159 Sustainability is a big 27 00:00:58,161 --> 00:00:58,626 mouthful. 28 00:00:58,628 --> 00:01:00,694 Can you tell us what it is how 29 00:01:00,696 --> 00:01:02,430 it will benefit us and how you 30 00:01:02,432 --> 00:01:04,165 plan on achieving it in the 31 00:01:04,167 --> 00:01:05,666 interests of making a better 32 00:01:05,668 --> 00:01:06,000 city. 33 00:01:06,002 --> 00:01:08,135 And that's one of the challenges 34 00:01:08,137 --> 00:01:09,270 that we have just what the term 35 00:01:09,272 --> 00:01:09,837 sustainability. 36 00:01:09,839 --> 00:01:11,539 It's pretty much a very all 37 00:01:11,541 --> 00:01:13,641 encompassing term and part of 38 00:01:13,643 --> 00:01:14,909 the keys is really defining it 39 00:01:14,911 --> 00:01:15,876 for San Antonio. 40 00:01:15,878 --> 00:01:17,411 And so as I've been here for the 41 00:01:17,413 --> 00:01:19,180 past four years working with 42 00:01:19,182 --> 00:01:20,448 internal departments working 43 00:01:20,450 --> 00:01:22,049 with community stakeholders 44 00:01:22,051 --> 00:01:22,683 working through different 45 00:01:22,685 --> 00:01:24,185 planning processes such as the 46 00:01:24,187 --> 00:01:26,353 SA tomorrow planning process 47 00:01:26,355 --> 00:01:27,988 really trying to pin down on 48 00:01:27,990 --> 00:01:29,657 what our major issues are and 49 00:01:29,659 --> 00:01:30,724 you know I think one of the big 50 00:01:30,726 --> 00:01:31,792 ones is growth. 51 00:01:31,794 --> 00:01:33,494 When we look at adding a million 52 00:01:33,496 --> 00:01:35,629 people by 2040 what does it 53 00:01:35,631 --> 00:01:35,996 mean. 54 00:01:35,998 --> 00:01:37,731 What does it mean for our 55 00:01:37,733 --> 00:01:38,499 roadways. 56 00:01:38,501 --> 00:01:39,834 What does it mean for our air 57 00:01:39,836 --> 00:01:40,301 quality. 58 00:01:40,303 --> 00:01:41,635 What does it mean for 59 00:01:41,637 --> 00:01:43,771 affordability for people being 60 00:01:43,773 --> 00:01:45,172 able to basically live in the 61 00:01:45,174 --> 00:01:46,173 homes that they've lived in for 62 00:01:46,175 --> 00:01:47,641 years or move here and find 63 00:01:47,643 --> 00:01:48,476 someplace to live. 64 00:01:48,478 --> 00:01:50,544 There's some pressing issues 65 00:01:50,546 --> 00:01:51,479 around climate change. 66 00:01:51,481 --> 00:01:53,848 What is our contribution to 67 00:01:53,850 --> 00:01:54,148 that. 68 00:01:54,150 --> 00:01:55,216 How is it going to impact us and 69 00:01:55,218 --> 00:01:55,749 what can we do. 70 00:01:55,751 --> 00:01:57,418 So I think one of the things 71 00:01:57,420 --> 00:01:59,186 we're really trying to translate 72 00:01:59,188 --> 00:02:00,654 sustainability into is what it 73 00:02:00,656 --> 00:02:01,989 means for people's lives. 74 00:02:01,991 --> 00:02:03,657 Now what are the problems with 75 00:02:03,659 --> 00:02:05,192 issues like sustainability is 76 00:02:05,194 --> 00:02:07,461 when the average person hears it 77 00:02:07,463 --> 00:02:09,396 frequently their reaction is 78 00:02:09,398 --> 00:02:11,198 they want to take away my right 79 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:12,600 to do something that I enjoy 80 00:02:12,602 --> 00:02:12,967 doing. 81 00:02:12,969 --> 00:02:14,502 They want to force me to get out 82 00:02:14,504 --> 00:02:14,969 of my car. 83 00:02:14,971 --> 00:02:16,237 They want to make it so I can't 84 00:02:16,239 --> 00:02:18,038 live on two and a half acres in 85 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,107 the outskirts of town that I 86 00:02:20,109 --> 00:02:21,408 have to change my barbecue 87 00:02:21,410 --> 00:02:22,676 patterns or something like that. 88 00:02:22,678 --> 00:02:23,043 Right. 89 00:02:23,045 --> 00:02:24,945 Talk a little bit about what 90 00:02:24,947 --> 00:02:27,214 sustainability really means and 91 00:02:27,216 --> 00:02:28,616 reassurance that you're not here 92 00:02:28,618 --> 00:02:29,917 to essentially take our rights 93 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:30,151 away. 94 00:02:30,153 --> 00:02:31,819 And that's and that's absolutely 95 00:02:31,821 --> 00:02:32,086 key. 96 00:02:32,088 --> 00:02:33,287 It's about the value 97 00:02:33,289 --> 00:02:33,921 proposition. 98 00:02:33,923 --> 00:02:37,558 It's about translating things 99 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,693 that we should be doing because 100 00:02:39,695 --> 00:02:40,828 they have multiple other 101 00:02:40,830 --> 00:02:41,929 benefits other than just 102 00:02:41,931 --> 00:02:42,630 sustainability. 103 00:02:42,632 --> 00:02:45,466 A simple example could be street 104 00:02:45,468 --> 00:02:45,833 trees. 105 00:02:45,835 --> 00:02:47,668 The humble street tree. 106 00:02:47,670 --> 00:02:50,171 Lots of people might not want a 107 00:02:50,173 --> 00:02:50,437 tree. 108 00:02:50,439 --> 00:02:51,839 They might need to drop their 109 00:02:51,841 --> 00:02:53,474 leaves they might drop fruit. 110 00:02:53,476 --> 00:02:55,910 They have to be maintained. 111 00:02:55,912 --> 00:02:57,344 But when we look at their value 112 00:02:57,346 --> 00:02:59,680 in terms of air quality a tree 113 00:02:59,682 --> 00:03:01,148 lined street improves property 114 00:03:01,150 --> 00:03:04,018 values a tree lined streets if 115 00:03:04,020 --> 00:03:06,187 designs well can help reduce 116 00:03:06,189 --> 00:03:07,788 stormwater runoff and reduce 117 00:03:07,790 --> 00:03:08,422 flooding risk. 118 00:03:08,424 --> 00:03:09,890 So I think it's about 119 00:03:09,892 --> 00:03:11,959 translating these things that 120 00:03:11,961 --> 00:03:14,128 may seem like burdens into 121 00:03:14,130 --> 00:03:15,029 benefits for different 122 00:03:15,031 --> 00:03:15,563 stakeholders. 123 00:03:15,565 --> 00:03:16,730 Well let's talk about them the 124 00:03:16,732 --> 00:03:17,798 challenges that we're facing. 125 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:19,200 Let's start first of all with 126 00:03:19,202 --> 00:03:20,234 the fact that we are out of 127 00:03:20,236 --> 00:03:22,136 attainment with the EPA for our 128 00:03:22,138 --> 00:03:22,903 air quality. 129 00:03:22,905 --> 00:03:26,640 How serious is that and how do 130 00:03:26,642 --> 00:03:27,841 you think that we should move 131 00:03:27,843 --> 00:03:29,410 more efficiently to get back 132 00:03:29,412 --> 00:03:30,844 into that compliance 133 00:03:30,846 --> 00:03:33,013 And I think that's a big issue. 134 00:03:33,015 --> 00:03:35,849 I think there's a couple of you 135 00:03:35,851 --> 00:03:38,319 know impacts associated with 136 00:03:38,321 --> 00:03:38,552 that. 137 00:03:38,554 --> 00:03:39,687 I think the most important thing 138 00:03:39,689 --> 00:03:40,588 we need to remember is that the 139 00:03:40,590 --> 00:03:41,956 end of the day the reason why we 140 00:03:41,958 --> 00:03:44,925 have this EPA ozone standard is 141 00:03:44,927 --> 00:03:45,826 it's about public health. 142 00:03:45,828 --> 00:03:50,164 And if if we don't reduce our 143 00:03:50,166 --> 00:03:54,001 ozone ground level ozone numbers 144 00:03:54,003 --> 00:03:55,436 you know it's going to impact 145 00:03:55,438 --> 00:03:56,537 people it's going to impact 146 00:03:56,539 --> 00:03:59,707 people's children's asthma rates 147 00:03:59,709 --> 00:04:01,909 it's going to impact people 148 00:04:01,911 --> 00:04:04,345 having to miss work or school. 149 00:04:04,347 --> 00:04:06,046 So we have to really realize 150 00:04:06,048 --> 00:04:06,313 that. 151 00:04:06,315 --> 00:04:07,848 But at the same time there's 152 00:04:07,850 --> 00:04:09,750 economic impacts with 153 00:04:09,752 --> 00:04:11,852 designation comes regulatory 154 00:04:11,854 --> 00:04:13,921 requirements from the EPA where 155 00:04:13,923 --> 00:04:15,089 we are now is at the lowest 156 00:04:15,091 --> 00:04:16,323 level at marginal. 157 00:04:16,325 --> 00:04:18,459 So we really have sort of 158 00:04:18,461 --> 00:04:19,760 skirted sort of the worst of 159 00:04:19,762 --> 00:04:21,528 those impacts. 160 00:04:21,530 --> 00:04:23,397 However if we don't make the 161 00:04:23,399 --> 00:04:24,398 necessary changes and 162 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:26,300 adjustments quickly we will be 163 00:04:26,302 --> 00:04:28,602 moved up to a higher category. 164 00:04:28,604 --> 00:04:30,838 So I think what we're doing now 165 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:33,207 is really trying to mobilize 166 00:04:33,209 --> 00:04:36,977 know internal departmental 167 00:04:36,979 --> 00:04:39,246 players community partners 168 00:04:39,248 --> 00:04:41,749 community stakeholders business 169 00:04:41,751 --> 00:04:43,450 industry residents 170 00:04:43,452 --> 00:04:45,419 transportation sector and really 171 00:04:45,421 --> 00:04:46,520 start having conversations 172 00:04:46,522 --> 00:04:47,788 around how do we start getting 173 00:04:47,790 --> 00:04:50,024 our handle handle on this and 174 00:04:50,026 --> 00:04:52,126 start making adjustments and how 175 00:04:52,128 --> 00:04:54,161 basically we're we're moving 176 00:04:54,163 --> 00:04:54,828 around the city. 177 00:04:54,830 --> 00:04:57,431 How if there's opportunities to 178 00:04:57,433 --> 00:04:58,799 adjust our business operations 179 00:04:58,801 --> 00:05:01,568 around key ozone days and really 180 00:05:01,570 --> 00:05:02,703 do everything we can to make 181 00:05:02,705 --> 00:05:04,505 sure that we reach attainment as 182 00:05:04,507 --> 00:05:05,239 quickly as possible. 183 00:05:05,241 --> 00:05:07,508 Whenever we run a story about 184 00:05:07,510 --> 00:05:09,076 sustainability or about air 185 00:05:09,078 --> 00:05:10,878 quality problems or anything the 186 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,447 reaction that we get is they 187 00:05:13,449 --> 00:05:15,115 want to get me out of my car and 188 00:05:15,117 --> 00:05:16,317 they want me to take a bus and I 189 00:05:16,319 --> 00:05:17,484 don't want to take a bus. 190 00:05:17,486 --> 00:05:19,286 How do we get over that. 191 00:05:19,288 --> 00:05:20,688 Or is it important to get over. 192 00:05:20,690 --> 00:05:22,089 You know I think we have to look 193 00:05:22,091 --> 00:05:22,790 at everything. 194 00:05:22,792 --> 00:05:25,292 There's not one easy answer or a 195 00:05:25,294 --> 00:05:26,727 solution to air quality. 196 00:05:26,729 --> 00:05:27,961 I think it's a lots of different 197 00:05:27,963 --> 00:05:28,228 things. 198 00:05:28,230 --> 00:05:29,897 And I think when we start 199 00:05:29,899 --> 00:05:31,765 talking about people having to 200 00:05:31,767 --> 00:05:33,767 get out of their vehicles I 201 00:05:33,769 --> 00:05:35,235 think the first question that I 202 00:05:35,237 --> 00:05:37,371 would ask is is the 203 00:05:37,373 --> 00:05:38,939 transportation system and or the 204 00:05:38,941 --> 00:05:40,974 transportation options there to 205 00:05:40,976 --> 00:05:42,109 allow people to make that 206 00:05:42,111 --> 00:05:42,409 decision. 207 00:05:42,411 --> 00:05:43,711 And I know that's a major 208 00:05:43,713 --> 00:05:45,346 initiative of mayor and city 209 00:05:45,348 --> 00:05:47,181 council and different partners 210 00:05:47,183 --> 00:05:48,482 as you know we need to build 211 00:05:48,484 --> 00:05:49,950 that modern transportation 212 00:05:49,952 --> 00:05:51,385 system so people have that 213 00:05:51,387 --> 00:05:51,885 option. 214 00:05:51,887 --> 00:05:54,755 You know at the end of the day 215 00:05:54,757 --> 00:05:58,058 you asking somebody to double 216 00:05:58,060 --> 00:06:01,762 their commute because it's going 217 00:06:01,764 --> 00:06:03,564 to help improve the air the air 218 00:06:03,566 --> 00:06:04,798 quality and our environment 219 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:07,501 while it is a laudable request 220 00:06:07,503 --> 00:06:08,736 it may not be practical. 221 00:06:08,738 --> 00:06:10,604 So I think you know when we 222 00:06:10,606 --> 00:06:12,773 start looking at tackling air 223 00:06:12,775 --> 00:06:13,807 quality it's related to 224 00:06:13,809 --> 00:06:14,942 everything else that's related 225 00:06:14,944 --> 00:06:18,278 to our transportation system our 226 00:06:18,280 --> 00:06:19,313 growth patterns. 227 00:06:19,315 --> 00:06:20,914 And that's why the work of 228 00:06:20,916 --> 00:06:22,516 bridge and Bridget White and the 229 00:06:22,518 --> 00:06:23,717 planning to our department 230 00:06:23,719 --> 00:06:24,752 around looking at regional 231 00:06:24,754 --> 00:06:26,186 center planning and connecting 232 00:06:26,188 --> 00:06:28,088 those regional centers by high 233 00:06:28,090 --> 00:06:31,125 capacity transit we need to make 234 00:06:31,127 --> 00:06:32,626 smart decisions going forward to 235 00:06:32,628 --> 00:06:34,528 provide people the real 236 00:06:34,530 --> 00:06:35,829 opportunity to make different 237 00:06:35,831 --> 00:06:36,196 decisions. 238 00:06:36,198 --> 00:06:37,731 As you mentioned the mayor and 239 00:06:37,733 --> 00:06:38,766 the county judge will have a 240 00:06:38,768 --> 00:06:40,334 major transportation initiative 241 00:06:40,336 --> 00:06:41,769 on the ballot in 2019. 242 00:06:41,771 --> 00:06:43,103 What would you from where you 243 00:06:43,105 --> 00:06:45,205 sit like to see as part of that 244 00:06:45,207 --> 00:06:45,672 initiative. 245 00:06:45,674 --> 00:06:46,907 You know I think at the end of 246 00:06:46,909 --> 00:06:48,609 the day you know we're in the 247 00:06:48,611 --> 00:06:50,844 midst of a major climate 248 00:06:50,846 --> 00:06:52,312 planning initiative called essay 249 00:06:52,314 --> 00:06:55,082 climate ready and you know the 250 00:06:55,084 --> 00:06:57,418 goal of that is twofold It's to 251 00:06:57,420 --> 00:06:59,353 reduce our greenhouse gas 252 00:06:59,355 --> 00:07:00,487 emissions that are contributing 253 00:07:00,489 --> 00:07:03,157 to global climate change and 254 00:07:03,159 --> 00:07:04,091 basically preparing our 255 00:07:04,093 --> 00:07:05,859 community for those impacts when 256 00:07:05,861 --> 00:07:07,461 we start digging into the data 257 00:07:07,463 --> 00:07:08,562 and we start looking at where 258 00:07:08,564 --> 00:07:10,330 those emissions come from you 259 00:07:10,332 --> 00:07:12,032 know from our community side. 260 00:07:12,034 --> 00:07:13,901 You know almost 50 percent come 261 00:07:13,903 --> 00:07:16,437 from buildings and then the 262 00:07:16,439 --> 00:07:18,472 second part is just about 40 263 00:07:18,474 --> 00:07:20,441 percent come from transportation 264 00:07:20,443 --> 00:07:21,408 of that 40 percent. 265 00:07:21,410 --> 00:07:24,645 The majority is from passenger 266 00:07:24,647 --> 00:07:24,978 vehicles. 267 00:07:24,980 --> 00:07:27,748 So I think whatever this 268 00:07:27,750 --> 00:07:29,249 proposal is that's put before 269 00:07:29,251 --> 00:07:33,253 the taxpayers has to provide 270 00:07:33,255 --> 00:07:35,389 those diverse options to give as 271 00:07:35,391 --> 00:07:37,024 many people the ability to take 272 00:07:37,026 --> 00:07:39,493 different modes whether it's 273 00:07:39,495 --> 00:07:40,527 some sort of high capacity 274 00:07:40,529 --> 00:07:42,930 transit whether it's a an 275 00:07:42,932 --> 00:07:46,867 integrated priority bike system 276 00:07:46,869 --> 00:07:48,502 whether it's just a you know 277 00:07:48,504 --> 00:07:50,571 very well connected system of 278 00:07:50,573 --> 00:07:51,004 sidewalks. 279 00:07:51,006 --> 00:07:53,841 We need to make sure that all 280 00:07:53,843 --> 00:07:56,143 users have different choices 281 00:07:56,145 --> 00:07:57,778 other than I just need to rely 282 00:07:57,780 --> 00:07:59,112 on my single occupancy vehicle. 283 00:07:59,114 --> 00:08:00,981 Now people like their single 284 00:08:00,983 --> 00:08:02,850 occupancy vehicles they've grown 285 00:08:02,852 --> 00:08:03,383 up with them. 286 00:08:03,385 --> 00:08:05,419 It's almost a birthright 287 00:08:05,421 --> 00:08:07,254 especially in Texas to be able 288 00:08:07,256 --> 00:08:08,655 to drive to work in your car. 289 00:08:08,657 --> 00:08:10,257 Do you feel that if those 290 00:08:10,259 --> 00:08:12,826 options were available that a 291 00:08:12,828 --> 00:08:14,795 large number of San Antonians 292 00:08:14,797 --> 00:08:16,196 would give up that birthright 293 00:08:16,198 --> 00:08:17,064 and be willing to try 294 00:08:17,066 --> 00:08:17,564 alternatives. 295 00:08:17,566 --> 00:08:20,634 You know it's about options and 296 00:08:20,636 --> 00:08:21,702 being able to take a look at 297 00:08:21,704 --> 00:08:22,903 what they are and evaluate 298 00:08:22,905 --> 00:08:24,137 whether it's better than what 299 00:08:24,139 --> 00:08:25,772 you have now I think you know me 300 00:08:25,774 --> 00:08:26,540 personally. 301 00:08:26,542 --> 00:08:30,210 I would like to think that if 302 00:08:30,212 --> 00:08:31,879 given the option of sitting in 303 00:08:31,881 --> 00:08:34,915 my car in traffic a couple of 304 00:08:34,917 --> 00:08:39,586 times a day with unproductive 305 00:08:39,588 --> 00:08:41,088 time as opposed to if there was 306 00:08:41,090 --> 00:08:42,556 high quality transit there was 307 00:08:42,558 --> 00:08:43,290 going to get me to where I 308 00:08:43,292 --> 00:08:44,391 needed to go faster. 309 00:08:44,393 --> 00:08:46,059 I might make that different 310 00:08:46,061 --> 00:08:46,527 choice. 311 00:08:46,529 --> 00:08:48,829 Now obviously the highways are a 312 00:08:48,831 --> 00:08:49,496 problem now. 313 00:08:49,498 --> 00:08:50,697 We're talking about a million 314 00:08:50,699 --> 00:08:51,932 more people being in this 315 00:08:51,934 --> 00:08:54,034 community in the next 22 years. 316 00:08:54,036 --> 00:08:56,003 Not a whole long time from now. 317 00:08:56,005 --> 00:08:57,304 How could we deal with that. 318 00:08:57,306 --> 00:08:59,439 I mean we continue to be a place 319 00:08:59,441 --> 00:09:01,041 attracting folks from all over 320 00:09:01,043 --> 00:09:02,409 the country continue to be a 321 00:09:02,411 --> 00:09:03,210 magnet city. 322 00:09:03,212 --> 00:09:04,778 But that has its downside. 323 00:09:04,780 --> 00:09:06,413 And much of that falls on you. 324 00:09:06,415 --> 00:09:08,749 What are some of your proposals 325 00:09:08,751 --> 00:09:09,349 to deal with it. 326 00:09:09,351 --> 00:09:10,684 You know I think one of the 327 00:09:10,686 --> 00:09:13,053 things about the work that I do 328 00:09:13,055 --> 00:09:16,423 in sustainability is we walk we 329 00:09:16,425 --> 00:09:17,558 work across departments. 330 00:09:17,560 --> 00:09:20,260 So one of the things that we do 331 00:09:20,262 --> 00:09:22,796 is really try to help facilitate 332 00:09:22,798 --> 00:09:25,098 sort of inter departmental 333 00:09:25,100 --> 00:09:25,499 thinking. 334 00:09:25,501 --> 00:09:27,134 And so the work's already going 335 00:09:27,136 --> 00:09:28,068 on in these departments 336 00:09:28,070 --> 00:09:28,802 particularly when you start 337 00:09:28,804 --> 00:09:29,536 talking about some of these 338 00:09:29,538 --> 00:09:31,838 transportation issues you know 339 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:33,640 building a modern transportation 340 00:09:33,642 --> 00:09:34,641 system is going to take time. 341 00:09:34,643 --> 00:09:37,477 In the interim you know things 342 00:09:37,479 --> 00:09:38,645 that are currently being worked 343 00:09:38,647 --> 00:09:40,614 on by our transportation capital 344 00:09:40,616 --> 00:09:41,982 improvement department is 345 00:09:41,984 --> 00:09:43,383 something called Transportation 346 00:09:43,385 --> 00:09:45,852 demand management working with 347 00:09:45,854 --> 00:09:48,288 major employers to provide as 348 00:09:48,290 --> 00:09:50,691 many opportunities for their 349 00:09:50,693 --> 00:09:51,825 employees to take different 350 00:09:51,827 --> 00:09:52,893 transportation options it could 351 00:09:52,895 --> 00:09:55,295 be incentivizing carpooling. 352 00:09:55,297 --> 00:09:57,230 It could be providing free or 353 00:09:57,232 --> 00:09:59,366 reduced transit passes it could 354 00:09:59,368 --> 00:10:02,135 be allowing remote work or 355 00:10:02,137 --> 00:10:03,971 compressed work weeks so I think 356 00:10:03,973 --> 00:10:05,005 we need to go deep into the 357 00:10:05,007 --> 00:10:07,240 toolbox and figure out what 358 00:10:07,242 --> 00:10:10,277 options we have other priorities 359 00:10:10,279 --> 00:10:11,511 that we have that are sort of 360 00:10:11,513 --> 00:10:13,113 we're beginning to work on is 361 00:10:13,115 --> 00:10:14,748 the whole idea of electrifying 362 00:10:14,750 --> 00:10:18,251 our city in terms of providing 363 00:10:18,253 --> 00:10:19,820 that infrastructure for people 364 00:10:19,822 --> 00:10:22,155 to shift towards more efficient 365 00:10:22,157 --> 00:10:23,090 electric vehicles. 366 00:10:23,092 --> 00:10:24,825 So there's I think there's lots 367 00:10:24,827 --> 00:10:26,059 that we can do now that will 368 00:10:26,061 --> 00:10:28,562 help mitigate some of those 369 00:10:28,564 --> 00:10:30,364 impacts from the exploding 370 00:10:30,366 --> 00:10:30,764 growth. 371 00:10:30,766 --> 00:10:32,432 I think one of the really 372 00:10:32,434 --> 00:10:33,533 important things is really 373 00:10:33,535 --> 00:10:34,968 having a community conversation 374 00:10:34,970 --> 00:10:36,770 around where we really need to 375 00:10:36,772 --> 00:10:41,174 be in the next 15 20 years to to 376 00:10:41,176 --> 00:10:42,409 get ahead of that growth. 377 00:10:42,411 --> 00:10:44,478 To wrap this up I'd like to blue 378 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:45,679 sky a little bit with you. 379 00:10:45,681 --> 00:10:48,048 Let's imagine that this is now 380 00:10:48,050 --> 00:10:49,950 September 26 of 2014. 381 00:10:49,952 --> 00:10:52,719 I walk outside this building on 382 00:10:52,721 --> 00:10:54,655 Broadway just north of downtown. 383 00:10:54,657 --> 00:10:57,624 How will the world icee be 384 00:10:57,626 --> 00:10:58,158 different. 385 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,360 What will I see then that I 386 00:11:00,362 --> 00:11:02,863 won't see now how will my daily 387 00:11:02,865 --> 00:11:03,797 life be different. 388 00:11:03,799 --> 00:11:06,133 How will the mechanics that I 389 00:11:06,135 --> 00:11:08,101 use to navigate my daily life be 390 00:11:08,103 --> 00:11:10,137 different in your opinion in the 391 00:11:10,139 --> 00:11:12,005 interest of sustainability. 392 00:11:12,007 --> 00:11:13,507 How do you see that evolving. 393 00:11:13,509 --> 00:11:15,242 I think one thing that pops into 394 00:11:15,244 --> 00:11:17,244 my head is just as a simple 395 00:11:17,246 --> 00:11:18,378 notion when you walk outside 396 00:11:18,380 --> 00:11:21,848 that door you know you are in a 397 00:11:21,850 --> 00:11:23,283 what is a sustainable city in a 398 00:11:23,285 --> 00:11:25,385 city that embraces that concept. 399 00:11:25,387 --> 00:11:26,453 I think when we go to different 400 00:11:26,455 --> 00:11:28,121 cities across the country and 401 00:11:28,123 --> 00:11:29,756 around the world you get that 402 00:11:29,758 --> 00:11:32,359 vibe that clearly this is a city 403 00:11:32,361 --> 00:11:34,161 that's embrace embracing that 404 00:11:34,163 --> 00:11:34,528 thinking. 405 00:11:34,530 --> 00:11:37,497 I think you see more people on 406 00:11:37,499 --> 00:11:39,332 bikes I think the streets are 407 00:11:39,334 --> 00:11:40,834 going to be more crowded because 408 00:11:40,836 --> 00:11:41,868 there's more people here. 409 00:11:41,870 --> 00:11:43,937 I think you're going to see high 410 00:11:43,939 --> 00:11:45,806 capacity transit going up and 411 00:11:45,808 --> 00:11:46,640 down the streets. 412 00:11:46,642 --> 00:11:49,643 You're going to see more robust 413 00:11:49,645 --> 00:11:51,311 mature street trees and green 414 00:11:51,313 --> 00:11:52,646 infrastructure managing that 415 00:11:52,648 --> 00:11:53,346 stormwater. 416 00:11:53,348 --> 00:11:56,249 You're going to see solar panels 417 00:11:56,251 --> 00:11:57,684 on buildings you can see a smart 418 00:11:57,686 --> 00:11:59,486 city a city that is connected 419 00:11:59,488 --> 00:12:01,288 where you basically take out 420 00:12:01,290 --> 00:12:02,889 whatever smart device you happen 421 00:12:02,891 --> 00:12:03,323 to have. 422 00:12:03,325 --> 00:12:06,460 And it's going to tell you where 423 00:12:06,462 --> 00:12:08,061 you need to go from A to B. 424 00:12:08,063 --> 00:12:09,396 Here's the quickest way that 425 00:12:09,398 --> 00:12:10,163 you're going to do it. 426 00:12:10,165 --> 00:12:15,368 Maybe even smart kiosks around 427 00:12:15,370 --> 00:12:16,269 the city that are telling you 428 00:12:16,271 --> 00:12:18,138 current air quality measurements 429 00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:20,540 or current renewable energy 430 00:12:20,542 --> 00:12:22,442 that's being generated by the 431 00:12:22,444 --> 00:12:23,443 city in real time. 432 00:12:23,445 --> 00:12:24,978 So I think it's a city that's 433 00:12:24,980 --> 00:12:26,113 basically going to be more in 434 00:12:26,115 --> 00:12:28,248 tune with what a sustainable 435 00:12:28,250 --> 00:12:28,682 city is. 436 00:12:28,684 --> 00:12:29,449 Thank you very much. 437 00:12:29,451 --> 00:12:30,550 Sounds like an interesting 438 00:12:30,552 --> 00:12:30,817 future. 439 00:12:30,819 --> 00:12:32,052 Doug Melnick is the chief 440 00:12:32,054 --> 00:12:33,920 sustainability officer for the 441 00:12:33,922 --> 00:12:34,755 city of San Antonio. 442 00:12:34,757 --> 00:12:36,089 Thank you very much for joining 443 00:12:36,091 --> 00:12:37,390 us today on the record. 444 00:12:37,392 --> 00:12:38,425 And stick around the 445 00:12:38,427 --> 00:12:40,160 conversation is coming up next. 446 00:12:40,162 --> 00:12:46,466 And welcome to the conversation. 447 00:12:46,468 --> 00:12:48,101 Let me introduce our all star 448 00:12:48,103 --> 00:12:48,969 panel for today. 449 00:12:48,971 --> 00:12:50,103 I'd like to welcome Brian 450 00:12:50,105 --> 00:12:52,305 Chesnoff who is the metro 451 00:12:52,307 --> 00:12:54,007 columnist for The San Antonio 452 00:12:54,009 --> 00:12:55,642 Express News and also from the 453 00:12:55,644 --> 00:12:57,410 San Antonio Express News senior 454 00:12:57,412 --> 00:12:58,311 reporter Josh Baugh 455 00:12:58,313 --> 00:12:59,746 Thank you both very much for 456 00:12:59,748 --> 00:13:02,149 joining us in a very busy week 457 00:13:02,151 --> 00:13:03,383 here in the conversation. 458 00:13:03,385 --> 00:13:05,952 If I could just ask both of you. 459 00:13:05,954 --> 00:13:08,889 What happened last Thursday 460 00:13:08,891 --> 00:13:11,224 night in what was supposed to be 461 00:13:11,226 --> 00:13:13,293 a town hall meeting to discuss 462 00:13:13,295 --> 00:13:14,628 the three charter amendments 463 00:13:14,630 --> 00:13:15,962 proposed by the firefighters 464 00:13:15,964 --> 00:13:16,296 union. 465 00:13:16,298 --> 00:13:18,632 And what does that tell us about 466 00:13:18,634 --> 00:13:19,766 where we stand about the 467 00:13:19,768 --> 00:13:21,701 dynamics and potential future of 468 00:13:21,703 --> 00:13:23,403 this very very divisive issue. 469 00:13:23,405 --> 00:13:24,704 Well I mean I think that you 470 00:13:24,706 --> 00:13:26,473 know there's a town hall meeting 471 00:13:26,475 --> 00:13:27,707 that was scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 472 00:13:27,709 --> 00:13:28,408 on Thursday night. 473 00:13:28,410 --> 00:13:29,810 It was supposed to feature mayor 474 00:13:29,812 --> 00:13:31,912 run near Breard union President 475 00:13:31,914 --> 00:13:33,680 Chris Steel and Frank Garza who 476 00:13:33,682 --> 00:13:35,282 is a municipal law expert and 477 00:13:35,284 --> 00:13:35,649 attorney. 478 00:13:35,651 --> 00:13:37,651 People had already started to go 479 00:13:37,653 --> 00:13:39,519 into the facility at UTSA 480 00:13:39,521 --> 00:13:42,122 downtown campus in preparation 481 00:13:42,124 --> 00:13:44,491 for this town hall to take place 482 00:13:44,493 --> 00:13:46,960 and about two hours before the 483 00:13:46,962 --> 00:13:48,428 event was supposed to kick off 484 00:13:48,430 --> 00:13:49,896 Chris Steele told the moderator 485 00:13:49,898 --> 00:13:52,098 through an associate that he was 486 00:13:52,100 --> 00:13:53,133 not going to show up and they're 487 00:13:53,135 --> 00:13:54,134 going try to send somebody in 488 00:13:54,136 --> 00:13:54,668 his stead. 489 00:13:54,670 --> 00:13:57,270 And at that point the mayor 490 00:13:57,272 --> 00:13:59,139 declined to participate as well 491 00:13:59,141 --> 00:14:01,308 because the whole town hall 492 00:14:01,310 --> 00:14:02,809 event that was sponsored by UTSA 493 00:14:02,811 --> 00:14:04,477 and the Santin Express News had 494 00:14:04,479 --> 00:14:06,279 been billed as a debate between 495 00:14:06,281 --> 00:14:07,547 Chris Steele and Ron Nuremburg. 496 00:14:07,549 --> 00:14:09,449 So why would the mayor Brian 497 00:14:09,451 --> 00:14:12,319 miss an opportunity to speak to 498 00:14:12,321 --> 00:14:14,454 an engage group about why he 499 00:14:14,456 --> 00:14:15,622 thinks these charter amendments 500 00:14:15,624 --> 00:14:16,256 should be defeated. 501 00:14:16,258 --> 00:14:17,691 Well I think it highlighted the 502 00:14:17,693 --> 00:14:19,025 fact that Christie is the one 503 00:14:19,027 --> 00:14:21,728 who bailed out and sabotaged the 504 00:14:21,730 --> 00:14:23,096 entire debate himself. 505 00:14:23,098 --> 00:14:25,565 There's a there's a term that 506 00:14:25,567 --> 00:14:27,934 was coined after what went down 507 00:14:27,936 --> 00:14:30,770 in the 2016 presidential 508 00:14:30,772 --> 00:14:32,439 election with Russian 509 00:14:32,441 --> 00:14:34,040 interference in the back 510 00:14:34,042 --> 00:14:37,110 campaign discourse saboteurs and 511 00:14:37,112 --> 00:14:38,378 I think that Chris Steele 512 00:14:38,380 --> 00:14:40,547 embodies that he is not 513 00:14:40,549 --> 00:14:43,116 interested in having an honest 514 00:14:43,118 --> 00:14:44,317 discussion about these 515 00:14:44,319 --> 00:14:46,253 amendments that his own union 516 00:14:46,255 --> 00:14:47,020 has proposed. 517 00:14:47,022 --> 00:14:49,990 Instead he is playing dirty 518 00:14:49,992 --> 00:14:50,323 tricks. 519 00:14:50,325 --> 00:14:52,959 He is he he's trying to short 520 00:14:52,961 --> 00:14:54,895 circuit an honest debate about 521 00:14:54,897 --> 00:14:55,829 what these amendments would 522 00:14:55,831 --> 00:14:56,429 actually do. 523 00:14:56,431 --> 00:14:58,365 I think what was kind of amazing 524 00:14:58,367 --> 00:15:00,133 about the situation was that you 525 00:15:00,135 --> 00:15:01,434 know I think both sides probably 526 00:15:01,436 --> 00:15:02,702 attempted to pack the house 527 00:15:02,704 --> 00:15:03,403 there's a limited number of 528 00:15:03,405 --> 00:15:04,337 seating there prepare for 529 00:15:04,339 --> 00:15:05,171 overflow seating. 530 00:15:05,173 --> 00:15:10,443 And and you know the pro charter 531 00:15:10,445 --> 00:15:12,212 amendment people who were there 532 00:15:12,214 --> 00:15:13,480 began chanting Where's the 533 00:15:13,482 --> 00:15:13,980 mayor. 534 00:15:13,982 --> 00:15:16,316 There's a retired firefighter 535 00:15:16,318 --> 00:15:17,684 who's very active in the 536 00:15:17,686 --> 00:15:18,518 campaign for the charter 537 00:15:18,520 --> 00:15:19,286 amendments he went on to 538 00:15:19,288 --> 00:15:21,988 Facebook Live and was was 539 00:15:21,990 --> 00:15:24,157 casting the episode as being 540 00:15:24,159 --> 00:15:25,191 that the mayor didn't show up 541 00:15:25,193 --> 00:15:27,460 because the union had Renette 542 00:15:27,462 --> 00:15:29,129 King available to debate. 543 00:15:29,131 --> 00:15:32,232 And so there was just two 544 00:15:32,234 --> 00:15:35,135 completely opposite narratives 545 00:15:35,137 --> 00:15:36,636 of what actually took place in 546 00:15:36,638 --> 00:15:39,339 the end the fire union and its 547 00:15:39,341 --> 00:15:41,007 allies were pushing this idea 548 00:15:41,009 --> 00:15:42,609 that the mayor bailed and that 549 00:15:42,611 --> 00:15:43,977 it wasn't Chris Steele who 550 00:15:43,979 --> 00:15:44,911 walked away from it from the 551 00:15:44,913 --> 00:15:45,378 beginning. 552 00:15:45,380 --> 00:15:47,414 Now Brian the point that the 553 00:15:47,416 --> 00:15:49,416 fire union made was that the 554 00:15:49,418 --> 00:15:51,117 fire union gathered the petition 555 00:15:51,119 --> 00:15:52,419 signatures to get this on the 556 00:15:52,421 --> 00:15:52,819 ballot. 557 00:15:52,821 --> 00:15:54,421 But now that it's on the ballot 558 00:15:54,423 --> 00:15:55,722 now that it's being endorsed by 559 00:15:55,724 --> 00:15:57,924 some entities their argument is 560 00:15:57,926 --> 00:15:59,659 that it's now no longer a 561 00:15:59,661 --> 00:16:00,727 firefighter's issue. 562 00:16:00,729 --> 00:16:03,196 It's now the approved by 563 00:16:03,198 --> 00:16:05,332 Citizens Committee which Ms King 564 00:16:05,334 --> 00:16:05,999 represented. 565 00:16:06,001 --> 00:16:08,935 So it's not right to cast 566 00:16:08,937 --> 00:16:10,770 aspersions on Chief Steele for 567 00:16:10,772 --> 00:16:11,838 not showing up at the debate 568 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:13,340 because he's done his job. 569 00:16:13,342 --> 00:16:14,741 He's heading off to Baton to 570 00:16:14,743 --> 00:16:15,442 somebody else. 571 00:16:15,444 --> 00:16:16,977 It was just clearly a dirty 572 00:16:16,979 --> 00:16:19,045 trick to bail out two hours 573 00:16:19,047 --> 00:16:20,847 before the debate started. 574 00:16:20,849 --> 00:16:22,949 It was I believe it was a 575 00:16:22,951 --> 00:16:24,985 deliberate effort to throw it 576 00:16:24,987 --> 00:16:26,553 into chaos and try to flip the 577 00:16:26,555 --> 00:16:29,189 script and just so chaos and 578 00:16:29,191 --> 00:16:29,589 division. 579 00:16:29,591 --> 00:16:31,391 So where does that lead us Josh. 580 00:16:31,393 --> 00:16:33,460 Well that's a good question. 581 00:16:33,462 --> 00:16:34,861 I don't think anybody knows the 582 00:16:34,863 --> 00:16:35,195 answer. 583 00:16:35,197 --> 00:16:35,962 There are other news 584 00:16:35,964 --> 00:16:36,997 organizations that are 585 00:16:36,999 --> 00:16:38,231 attempting to put together 586 00:16:38,233 --> 00:16:39,799 debates between Chris Steele and 587 00:16:39,801 --> 00:16:40,533 Ron Nierenberg. 588 00:16:40,535 --> 00:16:42,969 And whether that actually 589 00:16:42,971 --> 00:16:45,038 happens I think is unknown. 590 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,608 I'm not sure that the the go 591 00:16:48,610 --> 00:16:50,643 vote no campaign or run 592 00:16:50,645 --> 00:16:52,312 Nierenberg are interested in 593 00:16:52,314 --> 00:16:53,213 debating that. 594 00:16:53,215 --> 00:16:56,349 King RanIt forget her or what 595 00:16:56,351 --> 00:16:57,117 her last name is now. 596 00:16:57,119 --> 00:16:59,319 But she's you know a former 597 00:16:59,321 --> 00:17:00,920 district 10 candidate she had 598 00:17:00,922 --> 00:17:02,622 run for commissioners court. 599 00:17:02,624 --> 00:17:04,290 You and I have been I think 600 00:17:04,292 --> 00:17:06,192 virtually every press conference 601 00:17:06,194 --> 00:17:07,127 that's been held by the fire 602 00:17:07,129 --> 00:17:08,328 unions since this campaign 603 00:17:08,330 --> 00:17:09,362 kicked off in the spring. 604 00:17:09,364 --> 00:17:11,965 And I think we can recall seeing 605 00:17:11,967 --> 00:17:14,134 RadNet and many of those press 606 00:17:14,136 --> 00:17:15,268 conferences but never once has 607 00:17:15,270 --> 00:17:16,836 she been thrust out to the 608 00:17:16,838 --> 00:17:18,304 lectern and asked to speak on 609 00:17:18,306 --> 00:17:20,440 behalf of this group to a tee. 610 00:17:20,442 --> 00:17:21,875 It has been Chris Steele 611 00:17:21,877 --> 00:17:23,777 speaking on behalf of the Union 612 00:17:23,779 --> 00:17:25,378 and on behalf of the campaign 613 00:17:25,380 --> 00:17:26,546 San Antonio first campaign. 614 00:17:26,548 --> 00:17:29,582 Nobody in that association has 615 00:17:29,584 --> 00:17:30,483 ever been willing to go on the 616 00:17:30,485 --> 00:17:32,218 record and make any kind of 617 00:17:32,220 --> 00:17:33,486 statements regarding any of this 618 00:17:33,488 --> 00:17:35,088 stuff other than Chris Steele. 619 00:17:35,090 --> 00:17:37,390 And so you know it's fine to 620 00:17:37,392 --> 00:17:38,258 have a spokesman. 621 00:17:38,260 --> 00:17:39,726 And there's nothing wrong. 622 00:17:39,728 --> 00:17:41,194 Nobody's suggesting that you 623 00:17:41,196 --> 00:17:42,562 shouldn't have a spokesman but 624 00:17:42,564 --> 00:17:45,298 it was a very abrupt moment 625 00:17:45,300 --> 00:17:47,067 where she was rushed into the 626 00:17:47,069 --> 00:17:48,468 union is still arguing that this 627 00:17:48,470 --> 00:17:50,503 is a firefighters campaign. 628 00:17:50,505 --> 00:17:52,205 At the bare County Democratic 629 00:17:52,207 --> 00:17:53,006 headquarters where they 630 00:17:53,008 --> 00:17:55,575 announced just last week that 631 00:17:55,577 --> 00:17:57,544 the party had endorsed 632 00:17:57,546 --> 00:17:59,112 supporting the amendments. 633 00:17:59,114 --> 00:18:00,814 They framed it in that manner. 634 00:18:00,816 --> 00:18:03,283 They said the firefighters are 635 00:18:03,285 --> 00:18:04,984 heroes and do this for the 636 00:18:04,986 --> 00:18:05,585 firefighters. 637 00:18:05,587 --> 00:18:06,686 They're clearly playing the 638 00:18:06,688 --> 00:18:07,387 firefighter card. 639 00:18:07,389 --> 00:18:08,388 Firefighters being 640 00:18:08,390 --> 00:18:09,956 overwhelmingly the most 641 00:18:09,958 --> 00:18:11,524 universally popular city 642 00:18:11,526 --> 00:18:11,958 employees. 643 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:14,727 Obviously the three proposals 644 00:18:14,729 --> 00:18:15,728 that will be on the ballot in 645 00:18:15,730 --> 00:18:16,229 November. 646 00:18:16,231 --> 00:18:18,431 One of them would cut the salary 647 00:18:18,433 --> 00:18:20,533 of a future city manager not the 648 00:18:20,535 --> 00:18:21,501 current city manager. 649 00:18:21,503 --> 00:18:23,903 The second one would allow 650 00:18:23,905 --> 00:18:26,039 referenda on what city council 651 00:18:26,041 --> 00:18:27,607 does and the third is a very 652 00:18:27,609 --> 00:18:29,342 narrowly worded proposal that 653 00:18:29,344 --> 00:18:31,077 would require disputes between 654 00:18:31,079 --> 00:18:32,212 the union and the city to be 655 00:18:32,214 --> 00:18:33,413 settled by binding arbitration. 656 00:18:33,415 --> 00:18:35,215 Now Josh you say you've done 657 00:18:35,217 --> 00:18:36,382 reporting that indicates that 658 00:18:36,384 --> 00:18:38,985 maybe that key second one is not 659 00:18:38,987 --> 00:18:39,986 what a lot of people think it 660 00:18:39,988 --> 00:18:40,220 is. 661 00:18:40,222 --> 00:18:44,557 Yes so the charter is has got 662 00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:46,092 multiple elements to it. 663 00:18:46,094 --> 00:18:48,094 It's a voter approved document. 664 00:18:48,096 --> 00:18:50,163 That's the kind of guiding 665 00:18:50,165 --> 00:18:51,297 document for the city. 666 00:18:51,299 --> 00:18:53,666 And it outlines exactly what you 667 00:18:53,668 --> 00:18:55,468 need to do for referendum for 668 00:18:55,470 --> 00:18:56,870 unissued and for recall. 669 00:18:56,872 --> 00:18:58,104 And what's interesting about 670 00:18:58,106 --> 00:18:59,672 this campaign is it is attacking 671 00:18:59,674 --> 00:19:01,174 the referendum only and so 672 00:19:01,176 --> 00:19:02,675 whether it wants to do is reduce 673 00:19:02,677 --> 00:19:04,344 the threshold for signatures 674 00:19:04,346 --> 00:19:05,478 expand the amount of time that 675 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:07,347 you have to collect signatures 676 00:19:07,349 --> 00:19:08,948 specifically to overturn actions 677 00:19:08,950 --> 00:19:09,749 that are taken by the City 678 00:19:09,751 --> 00:19:10,216 Council. 679 00:19:10,218 --> 00:19:11,384 But they're not addressing 680 00:19:11,386 --> 00:19:12,652 initiative which is what the 681 00:19:12,654 --> 00:19:13,920 Texas Organizing Project 682 00:19:13,922 --> 00:19:16,689 recently used to put the paid 683 00:19:16,691 --> 00:19:18,658 sick sick leave in front of the 684 00:19:18,660 --> 00:19:19,192 city council. 685 00:19:19,194 --> 00:19:21,361 So if this charter men were to 686 00:19:21,363 --> 00:19:23,096 pass it would address referendum 687 00:19:23,098 --> 00:19:23,530 only. 688 00:19:23,532 --> 00:19:25,465 And so if you want to overturn a 689 00:19:25,467 --> 00:19:27,000 tax rate or an appropriation 690 00:19:27,002 --> 00:19:28,801 made by the council you could go 691 00:19:28,803 --> 00:19:32,071 to a megachurch and get your 692 00:19:32,073 --> 00:19:34,407 20000 signatures in a matter of 693 00:19:34,409 --> 00:19:36,276 a couple of services but if you 694 00:19:36,278 --> 00:19:38,478 wanted to initiate something 695 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:39,879 like paid sick leave you would 696 00:19:39,881 --> 00:19:40,847 still have to go collect. 697 00:19:40,849 --> 00:19:42,348 At this point sixty nine 698 00:19:42,350 --> 00:19:43,850 thousand five hundred signatures 699 00:19:43,852 --> 00:19:46,186 in a 40 day window which is what 700 00:19:46,188 --> 00:19:46,786 top did. 701 00:19:46,788 --> 00:19:47,954 And they actually collected 100 702 00:19:47,956 --> 00:19:49,656 44000 signatures which a lot of 703 00:19:49,658 --> 00:19:51,691 people point to saying that the 704 00:19:51,693 --> 00:19:54,627 charter works as it exists that 705 00:19:54,629 --> 00:19:57,430 if there's true community desire 706 00:19:57,432 --> 00:19:59,399 for an initiative that there's 707 00:19:59,401 --> 00:20:00,433 the wherewithal to gather those 708 00:20:00,435 --> 00:20:01,801 signatures so that kind of pokes 709 00:20:01,803 --> 00:20:03,069 a hole in the whole 710 00:20:03,071 --> 00:20:04,771 firefighter's proposal that this 711 00:20:04,773 --> 00:20:07,173 is giving power to the citizenry 712 00:20:07,175 --> 00:20:08,374 that this is empowering the 713 00:20:08,376 --> 00:20:08,741 public. 714 00:20:08,743 --> 00:20:11,044 It is not necessarily doing that 715 00:20:11,046 --> 00:20:11,277 is it. 716 00:20:11,279 --> 00:20:13,379 Well that's probably a question 717 00:20:13,381 --> 00:20:15,014 for Christine but I think it's 718 00:20:15,016 --> 00:20:16,950 putting the hands of power in 719 00:20:16,952 --> 00:20:18,351 the hands of a small smaller 720 00:20:18,353 --> 00:20:20,119 group of people obviously as one 721 00:20:20,121 --> 00:20:20,954 then it does. 722 00:20:20,956 --> 00:20:23,289 And so you got to ask yourself 723 00:20:23,291 --> 00:20:24,290 they say give the power back to 724 00:20:24,292 --> 00:20:26,759 the people but which people you 725 00:20:26,761 --> 00:20:29,562 know who exactly and if it's 726 00:20:29,564 --> 00:20:31,497 that small amount of signatures 727 00:20:31,499 --> 00:20:32,699 that are required that just 728 00:20:32,701 --> 00:20:34,133 lends itself to special 729 00:20:34,135 --> 00:20:35,835 interests becoming more 730 00:20:35,837 --> 00:20:36,236 powerful. 731 00:20:36,238 --> 00:20:37,670 Obviously if you're a special 732 00:20:37,672 --> 00:20:39,739 interest and they pass something 733 00:20:39,741 --> 00:20:41,040 you don't like it's a lot easier 734 00:20:41,042 --> 00:20:42,442 for an organization to come up 735 00:20:42,444 --> 00:20:43,943 with signatures in a heartbeat 736 00:20:43,945 --> 00:20:45,311 than it is for the people. 737 00:20:45,313 --> 00:20:46,312 I mean a lot of people would 738 00:20:46,314 --> 00:20:47,714 know where to begin to collect 739 00:20:47,716 --> 00:20:50,149 20000 which money can can do it 740 00:20:50,151 --> 00:20:51,784 very quickly as the fire union 741 00:20:51,786 --> 00:20:52,352 demonstrated. 742 00:20:52,354 --> 00:20:54,320 And I think it's also you know 743 00:20:54,322 --> 00:20:55,488 it's important to note that it's 744 00:20:55,490 --> 00:20:57,857 not just the actual act of 745 00:20:57,859 --> 00:20:59,459 collecting signatures and 746 00:20:59,461 --> 00:21:01,361 holding a referendum vote but 747 00:21:01,363 --> 00:21:02,528 the threat of it as well. 748 00:21:02,530 --> 00:21:04,230 I think that you can come in and 749 00:21:04,232 --> 00:21:05,865 if you a powerful special 750 00:21:05,867 --> 00:21:08,768 interest you can quietly work. 751 00:21:08,770 --> 00:21:10,703 City Hall offices and explain 752 00:21:10,705 --> 00:21:12,238 you know if you don't do x y and 753 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,507 z we will go out and in a matter 754 00:21:14,509 --> 00:21:16,709 of you know a couple of days you 755 00:21:16,711 --> 00:21:18,478 know and use a paid paid people 756 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:19,779 to go get signatures and we'll 757 00:21:19,781 --> 00:21:22,382 overturn the project that you're 758 00:21:22,384 --> 00:21:23,082 most proud of. 759 00:21:23,084 --> 00:21:24,384 Brian you've done interesting 760 00:21:24,386 --> 00:21:25,952 reporting on how this campaign 761 00:21:25,954 --> 00:21:27,387 is being waged while the mayor 762 00:21:27,389 --> 00:21:29,822 is talking about Bond Ratings 763 00:21:29,824 --> 00:21:31,357 and Standard and Poors and 764 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:32,392 something that a lot of people 765 00:21:32,394 --> 00:21:33,459 probably don't really 766 00:21:33,461 --> 00:21:34,127 understand. 767 00:21:34,129 --> 00:21:36,396 The supporters of these three 768 00:21:36,398 --> 00:21:37,397 proposals are doing 769 00:21:37,399 --> 00:21:38,298 microtargeting. 770 00:21:38,300 --> 00:21:40,166 They're using Mimis. 771 00:21:40,168 --> 00:21:41,934 They're kind of dumbing down the 772 00:21:41,936 --> 00:21:43,770 argument can you talk about how 773 00:21:43,772 --> 00:21:45,038 that's working and how effective 774 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:45,838 you think that'll be. 775 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:46,572 Sure. 776 00:21:46,574 --> 00:21:48,708 I mean I brought up the 2016 777 00:21:48,710 --> 00:21:49,776 presidential election. 778 00:21:49,778 --> 00:21:51,577 One thing the fire union is 779 00:21:51,579 --> 00:21:53,946 doing is attempting to stoke 780 00:21:53,948 --> 00:21:55,348 divisions online with these 781 00:21:55,350 --> 00:21:56,983 these means for example the 782 00:21:56,985 --> 00:21:58,318 issue of the cenotaph being 783 00:21:58,320 --> 00:21:59,519 moved outside of the footprint 784 00:21:59,521 --> 00:22:00,887 of the Alamo is a hot button 785 00:22:00,889 --> 00:22:02,088 issue for conservatives. 786 00:22:02,090 --> 00:22:03,790 And if you look there are 787 00:22:03,792 --> 00:22:06,659 injecting that issue into this 788 00:22:06,661 --> 00:22:08,227 even though nothing whatsoever 789 00:22:08,229 --> 00:22:09,128 and this would have anything to 790 00:22:09,130 --> 00:22:09,829 do with the Senate. 791 00:22:09,831 --> 00:22:11,130 Well I guess you could they 792 00:22:11,132 --> 00:22:13,166 might argue that this is the 793 00:22:13,168 --> 00:22:15,234 city City Hall City Council run 794 00:22:15,236 --> 00:22:16,703 a muck and doing things that the 795 00:22:16,705 --> 00:22:17,837 people don't want them to do. 796 00:22:17,839 --> 00:22:18,971 That would probably be their 797 00:22:18,973 --> 00:22:19,372 argument. 798 00:22:19,374 --> 00:22:22,241 But on the flip side you know 799 00:22:22,243 --> 00:22:24,077 yes it does take a lot longer to 800 00:22:24,079 --> 00:22:26,212 explain to folks how these 801 00:22:26,214 --> 00:22:28,915 abstract concepts will affect 802 00:22:28,917 --> 00:22:31,517 them personally if that is what 803 00:22:31,519 --> 00:22:32,385 the govt. 804 00:22:32,387 --> 00:22:34,320 No campaign has begun to do 805 00:22:34,322 --> 00:22:36,823 actually this week they began 806 00:22:36,825 --> 00:22:40,326 microtargeting individuals by 807 00:22:40,328 --> 00:22:41,694 geography by the neighborhoods 808 00:22:41,696 --> 00:22:42,295 they live in. 809 00:22:42,297 --> 00:22:44,664 And they're sending out ads that 810 00:22:44,666 --> 00:22:46,199 these these folks receive that 811 00:22:46,201 --> 00:22:48,534 would attempt to explain very 812 00:22:48,536 --> 00:22:51,537 simply for example in Beacon 813 00:22:51,539 --> 00:22:52,872 Hill the folks who live in 814 00:22:52,874 --> 00:22:54,340 Beacon Hill are concerned about 815 00:22:54,342 --> 00:22:55,575 and concurrent development 816 00:22:55,577 --> 00:22:56,976 popping up in their residential 817 00:22:56,978 --> 00:22:57,477 neighborhood. 818 00:22:57,479 --> 00:23:00,179 The argument there would be this 819 00:23:00,181 --> 00:23:02,448 would allow developers with 820 00:23:02,450 --> 00:23:05,284 money to collect signatures and 821 00:23:05,286 --> 00:23:07,220 you know create a referendum on 822 00:23:07,222 --> 00:23:08,287 a zoning change. 823 00:23:08,289 --> 00:23:10,723 So Josh let me start with you. 824 00:23:10,725 --> 00:23:12,759 How do you see this playing out 825 00:23:12,761 --> 00:23:15,128 over the next six weeks and 826 00:23:15,130 --> 00:23:16,596 let's look in our crystal ball 827 00:23:16,598 --> 00:23:17,764 and see if we can determine what 828 00:23:17,766 --> 00:23:18,931 we think the outcome of this 829 00:23:18,933 --> 00:23:19,265 will be. 830 00:23:19,267 --> 00:23:19,932 Let me start with you. 831 00:23:19,934 --> 00:23:22,301 Well I think that that's the big 832 00:23:22,303 --> 00:23:23,536 question that we will have an 833 00:23:23,538 --> 00:23:25,037 answer to until November 6th. 834 00:23:25,039 --> 00:23:27,907 It feels like you have spent a 835 00:23:27,909 --> 00:23:29,509 lot of time talking to both 836 00:23:29,511 --> 00:23:30,676 opponents and proponents of the 837 00:23:30,678 --> 00:23:32,645 charter amendments and it feels 838 00:23:32,647 --> 00:23:33,746 like there is a little bit more 839 00:23:33,748 --> 00:23:35,181 organization on the GO Vote No 840 00:23:35,183 --> 00:23:37,150 campaign right now than the 841 00:23:37,152 --> 00:23:38,718 supporting campaign run by the 842 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:39,519 firefighters union. 843 00:23:39,521 --> 00:23:43,055 There seems to be a growing 844 00:23:43,057 --> 00:23:44,690 groundswell of support and 845 00:23:44,692 --> 00:23:46,359 understanding about the about 846 00:23:46,361 --> 00:23:48,761 the campaign to shoot these 847 00:23:48,763 --> 00:23:49,562 amendments down. 848 00:23:49,564 --> 00:23:53,433 And I think you know Chris 849 00:23:53,435 --> 00:23:55,168 Steele kind of slipping away 850 00:23:55,170 --> 00:23:57,970 from the public view may be a 851 00:23:57,972 --> 00:23:59,872 sea change moment for how this 852 00:23:59,874 --> 00:24:01,107 stuff plays out over the next 853 00:24:01,109 --> 00:24:01,707 couple of months. 854 00:24:01,709 --> 00:24:03,009 Brian how do you see this 855 00:24:03,011 --> 00:24:03,509 playing out. 856 00:24:03,511 --> 00:24:06,679 Well I've been pretty skeptical 857 00:24:06,681 --> 00:24:09,682 about defeating these these 858 00:24:09,684 --> 00:24:11,818 proposals just because you know 859 00:24:11,820 --> 00:24:13,586 the firefighters have been 860 00:24:13,588 --> 00:24:13,986 savvy. 861 00:24:13,988 --> 00:24:15,688 The fire union I would I should 862 00:24:15,690 --> 00:24:17,323 say has been quite savvy they 863 00:24:17,325 --> 00:24:18,758 know that for example the city 864 00:24:18,760 --> 00:24:20,493 manager poll is very low in this 865 00:24:20,495 --> 00:24:21,928 city they've been she's been 866 00:24:21,930 --> 00:24:23,563 hammered for years by not only 867 00:24:23,565 --> 00:24:24,730 the fire union but the police 868 00:24:24,732 --> 00:24:27,300 union over her salary and of 869 00:24:27,302 --> 00:24:28,668 course they're tying the city 870 00:24:28,670 --> 00:24:30,336 manager salary into this entire 871 00:24:30,338 --> 00:24:31,604 campaign even though it wouldn't 872 00:24:31,606 --> 00:24:33,239 actually affect the current city 873 00:24:33,241 --> 00:24:34,707 manager and only affect future 874 00:24:34,709 --> 00:24:35,374 city managers. 875 00:24:35,376 --> 00:24:37,543 So I think they've been they've 876 00:24:37,545 --> 00:24:39,745 been politically savvy and I 877 00:24:39,747 --> 00:24:42,215 would say you know I think 878 00:24:42,217 --> 00:24:42,882 there's still a lot of 879 00:24:42,884 --> 00:24:44,851 uncertainty and a lot of fear on 880 00:24:44,853 --> 00:24:46,519 the part of folks who realize 881 00:24:46,521 --> 00:24:47,687 how destructive these amendments 882 00:24:47,689 --> 00:24:49,422 would be that they actually 883 00:24:49,424 --> 00:24:50,089 might pass. 884 00:24:50,091 --> 00:24:53,259 So where is a fiery union 885 00:24:53,261 --> 00:24:53,893 president Steele 886 00:24:53,895 --> 00:24:55,495 Why do you think that he's not 887 00:24:55,497 --> 00:24:57,797 willing to show up on shows like 888 00:24:57,799 --> 00:24:59,499 this one up here at debates. 889 00:24:59,501 --> 00:25:02,702 What is his end game in this. 890 00:25:02,704 --> 00:25:06,038 Do you think you know he's he's 891 00:25:06,040 --> 00:25:08,074 kind of lit the fuse of a 892 00:25:08,076 --> 00:25:10,243 ticking time bomb dropped it and 893 00:25:10,245 --> 00:25:10,810 run away. 894 00:25:10,812 --> 00:25:15,147 And my experience has been that 895 00:25:15,149 --> 00:25:16,449 in the times that we've had an 896 00:25:16,451 --> 00:25:18,784 opportunity to ask him questions 897 00:25:18,786 --> 00:25:20,786 that he he has issues that he 898 00:25:20,788 --> 00:25:22,355 wants to say he wants to put his 899 00:25:22,357 --> 00:25:23,923 his perspective on things out 900 00:25:23,925 --> 00:25:24,924 and then he's he's not 901 00:25:24,926 --> 00:25:27,426 particularly receptive to 902 00:25:27,428 --> 00:25:29,495 detailed questions and asking 903 00:25:29,497 --> 00:25:31,330 for kind of factual rebuttals. 904 00:25:31,332 --> 00:25:33,599 And I think that if you put them 905 00:25:33,601 --> 00:25:35,334 on a TV show put them on stage 906 00:25:35,336 --> 00:25:38,437 at Town Hall where where he 907 00:25:38,439 --> 00:25:39,972 isn't in control of when it 908 00:25:39,974 --> 00:25:41,874 starts and when it stops then 909 00:25:41,876 --> 00:25:43,543 he's forced to answer those 910 00:25:43,545 --> 00:25:44,744 questions and I think that's a 911 00:25:44,746 --> 00:25:45,778 position he probably doesn't 912 00:25:45,780 --> 00:25:46,279 want to be in. 913 00:25:46,281 --> 00:25:47,613 Thank you very much Josh Baugh 914 00:25:47,615 --> 00:25:49,615 is the senior reporter from the 915 00:25:49,617 --> 00:25:51,050 San Antonio Express News Brian 916 00:25:51,052 --> 00:25:53,252 Chazov the metro columnist for 917 00:25:53,254 --> 00:25:54,820 The San Antonio Express News. 918 00:25:54,822 --> 00:25:56,422 This is certainly an issue 919 00:25:56,424 --> 00:25:57,857 that's not going away until as 920 00:25:57,859 --> 00:25:59,191 you mentioned November 6 that 921 00:25:59,193 --> 00:26:00,860 we'll probably be talking about 922 00:26:00,862 --> 00:26:01,527 it after that. 923 00:26:01,529 --> 00:26:02,962 Thank you very much and please 924 00:26:02,964 --> 00:26:04,564 join us next time for on the 925 00:26:04,566 --> 00:26:04,864 record.