On Monday morning, various groups of labor organizers held a protest to oppose Project Marvel — a multibillion-dollar initiative that is designed to reshape the City of San Antonio’s future. Creating a constant debate between the benefits for the citizens, and the city as a whole. The spokespeople ranged from educators, hospitality workers and non-profit organizations with a shared idea on the steps of city hall.
Beginning the protest was Alejandra Lopez, President of the San Antonio Alliance, who stressed the concern for community members to be considered in the project.
“I think our message here today is that if there’s gonna be public funding for sports and entertainment complex, we should also talk about funding other critical areas that are working family needs in San Antonio, like public education, affordable housing, that kind of thing,” Lopez said.
A meeting was held last Thursday to discuss a term sheet for Project Marvel, where Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones requested to hold off considering the funding deal, to receive an independent economic impact report that was rejected.
Only two of the council members were present: District 5’s Teri Castillo and District 6’s Ric Galvan.
“Making sure we deliver economic development that means investing in our workers directly, we want to make sure this opportunity is for everyone. There’s a chance that it can. We just need to make the right investments there,” Galvan said.
Galvan expressed support for a group benefit agreement along with the concern many shared throughout the protest with the issue of money.
“I’ve had a lot of conversations about what kind of funding can go where, some of the pieces from the venue tax can only go to the stadium. My concern is why does the city and county have to be on the hook for this,” Galvan said..
Texas Organizing Project, a non-profit organization that empowers Black and Latino communities, spoke out against Project Marvel. TOP’s President Cia Gibson expressed her concerns with the project.
“Our main concerns about the project is that we’re not getting what we’re due, but basically, what they’re doing is just spending money and not really being accountable for it,” Gibson said. “Economically, it’s going to affect them whole-heartedly, so we have to have some hard contracts, like it has to be on writing or it shouldn’t be done.”
With no final decision for Project Marvel, the City of San Antonio and its residents will continue to see how the development and discussion of the plan will continue on to make it a fair deal for all those affected.
