COPS/Metro is proud to claim a victory for our community by ensuring community benefits are now part of the partially tax-funded Downtown Missions Stadium project, thus creating a fairer deal for San Antonio residents.
“When we look at this experience, we are keenly aware that doors were opened, conference rooms were made available and seats were placed at the table for billionaires, millionaires and developers,” said leader Father Jimmy Drennan, referring to Missions investors, such as Weston Urban co-founder Graham Weston, a one-time billionaire.
“We expect to be included in the upcoming discussions for the Spurs arena, and we will have the first seats at the table,” Drennan added.
COPS/Metro has been in negotiations with elected officials, city council members, city staff, Weston Urban, SAISD officials, institutional leaders, community leaders, and local residents. Read our complete statement, including details of specific benefits leveraged, at bottom.
Downtown SA Missions Stadium Deal Gets City Council Approval, KSAT [pdf]
San Antonio City Council Approves Ballpark Framework Despite Outcry From Soon to be Displaced Tenants, Texas Public Radio [pdf]
Done Deal, City Council OKs Public Financing for Missions Ballpark, Despite Backlash of Planned Apartment Closure, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]
San Antonio Approves Baseball Stadium Plan and $500,000 Relocation Package, San Antonio Report [pdf]
Op-Ed: Who Pays for the Missions Stadium, and Who Benefits?, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]
We’ve done our research.
On August 29th at San Antonio City Hall, COPS/Metro leaders put forward the community benefits and systems of accountability that should be part of this deal.
We are pleased to announce that these conversations have led to our demands being reflected in the MOU, which was voted on at the City Council A session on Thursday, September 12th.
These include:
- A commitment to assist Soap Factory residents with relocation support to a developer-owned apartment complex or other options of their choosing;
- Provision of $2500 per apartment to compensate for additional expenses related directly to the relocation;
- Assurance that the City Manager’s Office and the City Council will monitor and report on the relocation process regularly;
- Provide evidence of compliance with city requirements regarding living wages for workers in the stadium complex.
Yesterday, we received word that the developers are putting up $250,000.00 to be matched by the city for a total of $500,000 to fund the $2500 allocation for costs
This is not enough for every resident, but it is a good beginning.
We will continue to monitor the status of that fund to ensure that, as promised, sufficient funds are available for every resident.
COPS/Metro