Where is Councilman Bravo? The Migrant Resource Center is Calling.

By Jon Melendez (photos by Jon Melendez and Jason Pena)

On June 23^rd, the San Antonio City Council voted on Agenda Item #29 during its A Session.  It received unanimous support from the mayor and the council, with the exception of District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval.  In an emerging pattern of late, the esteemed councilwoman was absent. 

This agenda item stood up the Migrant Resource Center (MRC) a couple of weeks later, on July 7^th.  This facility, formerly owned by CPS Energy, is located at 7000 San Pedro Avenue, inside Councilman Mario Bravo’s District 1.  Our community is more than 100 days into its existence, enough time to have seen a few things of concern. 

For one, the homeless population in the area has increased.

Residents in nearby neighborhoods have received knocks on their doors at all hours of the day from immigrants re-located to the MRC.  They ask for money, food, clothes, and other supplies to help them on their journey to the interior of the United States.  Businesses in the immediate area have made accommodations for this new population, only to experience a surge in pollution, loitering, and vandalism.

In all this commotion, it’s fair to ask where is Councilman Bravo? 

He was recently suspended from all committee assignments due to an angry outburst directed at Councilwoman Sandoval during the vote on the city budget.  By removing Councilman Bravo from these committees, Mayor Ron Nirenberg has limited the councilman’s capacity to serve, leaving the district’s residents ill-represented during this mass influx. 

At a Shearer Hills Ridgeview Neighborhood Association Meeting in late July, Councilman Bravo received loud boos from its members due to the many problems emanating from the MRC.  He responded “That’s okay, I’m a big boy.  I signed up for this.” 

Councilman Bravo should use what power he has to bring to light this important issue, and at least attempt to have this facility shut down.  He can scold a female colleague, yet he refuses to utter a word in protest when thousands upon thousands of migrants from Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, etc. are pouring into his district. 

In this time of uncertainty, we need real leadership.  What say you Councilman Bravo?