The Grifter: Location – San Antonio City Hall

Before the San Antonio City Council passed the $3,400,000,000 budget for fiscal year 2023, city staff hosted public council meetings and district town halls.  These were ostensibly to foster public engagement and transparency.

City Manager Erik Walsh stated the proposed budget would “put money back in the pockets of our residents”.  This was a stunningly disingenuous statement for several reasons.

Since the budget grabs almost $53,000,000 dollars more in property taxes than last year (an 8% increase), many residents and small businesses will actually be lighter in the wallet. 

This is especially disconcerting since the city took in $81,000,000 more in combined sales taxes and CPS revenues.  Inflation is no excuse either, since the city (along with all culpable governmental jurisdictions worldwide) contributed to it with their detestable shutdowns and monetary buyoffs.

Mr. Walsh’s proposal for a paltry CPS rebate served as a shiny object to divert attention from this.

Also free from public consideration until the last possible minute was a questionable $800,392 amendment.  This is significant because it benefits an organization that has direct ties to District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez. 

Mr. Pelaez has several apt nicknames, including most recently “homie,” bestowed upon him by his council colleague Teri Castillo (district 5).  The most significant and alarming one however, is “grifter.” 

The Urban Dictionary defines a grifter as “somebody who can influence anybody, anywhere, at any time, into doing whatever they choose to have them do, that will result in the grifter’s personal gain.”

During the September 14th budget work session, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, Councilwomen Phyllis Viagran (district 3), Adriana Rocha Garcia (district 4), and Melissa Cabello Havrda (district 6) joined Councilman Pelaez in transferring approximately $ 800,392 over a 2-year period to Child Advocates San Antonio (CASA).

CASA provides a valuable service to the community; court-appointed volunteer advocates for neglected or abused children. However, we question why the process to distribute a significant amount of money to them was done at the last minute, without transparency and public input. 

It’s important to note that Juanita Pelaez-Prada is the Past Chair and a current board member for CASA. She’s Councilman Pelaez’ sister.  Laura Garza, another CASA board member, is his District and Zoning Director.

He also had another family member receive a funding allocation in the FY 2023 budget.  Marta Pelaez, his mother, is the CEO of the Family Violence Prevention Services (FVPS).  It received $424,587.

Also on the board of FVPS is lobbyist Erin Bley.  Mr. Pelaez directed Rory Diamond, K9s for Warriors CEO, to hire Ms. Bley to snatch $2,250,000 in bond monies from city residents earlier this year.

While Councilman Pelaez recused himself from the vote on the motion to approve the funding for CASA and FVPS, he still exerted considerable influence before the funding motion was put to a vote.  He told those colleagues who gave their funds to CASA that they were “doing the right thing”.  Wink, wink.

All in all, the last-minute addition to include over three quarters of a million dollars in funding commitments for CASA reeks of backroom dealings and cronyism.  

There are a multitude of worthy nonprofits in San Antonio that will never receive a dime in city funding simply because they don’t have such connections.  They likely can’t afford to hire lobbyists who have council members on speed dial.

Recently maligned (we’ll have a statement on that soon) District 1 Councilman Mario Bravo quipped the next day about his mother registering as a city lobbyist.  Until she’s running the pools she suggested that stay open longer, these two days bring into stark contrast who the real problem is at City Hall.

The citizens of San Antonio deserve better.