The reason why Communities Organized for Public Service — known as COPS — was formed in 1974 can be found in its name.
Communities in San Antonio, specifically poor, Mexican American communities on the city’s West Side, were not receiving the public services they deserved. Whatever they did receive was not commensurate to that of the North Side. So, they empowered themselves against the city’s powers that be. They organized and amplified their voice until their concerns were heard.
Now known as COPS/Metro Alliance, the organization remains influential in the community, as seen in its fierce opposition to a proposed downtown Spurs arena. On Sunday, COPS/Metro will hold its 50th anniversary convention at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
The issue that stirred the organization into being in 1974 was deadly flooding on the West Side due to decades of inadequate flooding and drainage infrastructure. The city of San Antonio had been spending bond money allotted for the West and South Sides on the North Side.
Community members confronted the mayor, city manager and City Council, and they won $46 million for drainage…
Throughout the years COPS/Metro has fought for drainage systems, libraries, sidewalks, curbs, repaved streets, parks, senior housing, living wages, job training programs and the closing down of dangerous bars…
COPS was the inspiration for the nationally revered organizer Ernesto Cortés, of San Antonio, who taught COPS leaders how to channel their cold anger at injustice into an organizing method using the tactics of Saul Alinsky and the Industrial Areas Foundation. But Cortés went further, melding religious teaching, especially that of the Catholic Church, to give a spiritual component and defined moral purpose to the organizing.
This organizing method didn’t look for one or two charismatic leaders but operated under the belief that leaders already existed in neighborhoods and parishes, even if they didn’t see themselves as such.
These leaders were housewives, civil service workers, PTA members, priests, nuns and church volunteers. COPS brought out their leadership skills by having them read, thoroughly study and master the issues they were working on. And by having them take the lead and run the meetings they would have with politicians and businesspeople.
COPS/Metro Alliance is political, but without being partisan or endorsing candidates. The organization has always been controversial, not only for the issues it takes on, but also because of its distinctly no-nonsense, get-to-the-point style…
For 50 years, COPS/Metro Alliance has demonstrated what working-class communities can accomplish through organizing, leadership development and church-based activism.
In doing so, COPS/Metro has made San Antonio a better community and reminded us that democracy can work when an engaged citizenry demands that democracy work.
Pausing From the Arena Debate to Praise COPS/Metro on 50 Years of Service, San Antonio Express-News [pdf]