Beyond the Bite

City Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda may have evolved over time, but she has remained loyal to the concepts of inclusivity, transparency, and community engagement in her decision-making. She believes that should be the goal for all city leaders to better represent the people of San Antonio. In this episode, Cabello Havrda shares candid experiences regarding the city's charter review process, h...

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Jon Gary Herrera to discuss the transformative impact of San Antonio's advanced rapid transit system. Herrera highlights the stark contrast between the city's transit budget vs the systems in Houston, Dallas and Austin. The conversation delves into the vital role of federal funding and the significance of maintaining an efficien...

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Romanita Matta Barrera to discuss the strategic rebranding and initiatives of greaterSATX, formerly known as the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation. The conversation kicks off with a focus on the organization's 2021 rebranding, which aims to highlight its collaboration with eight regional partners in the San Antonio/Bex...

In this episode of  Beyond the Bite , Host Eddie Aldrete sits down with former City Councilman Clayton Perry to delve into a host of issues facing San Antonio and Perry's personal journey. Perry opens up about a past mistake that was highly embarrassing, reflecting on the incident with an understanding of the subsequent consequences. He shares the lessons learned from it and emphasizes his co...

In this engaging episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Joe Irizarry, Board Chair, and Brett Finley, CEO of the North San Antonio Chamber, to discuss an array of significant topics as the chamber prepares for the upcoming legislative session in 2025. Among the key highlights are the proactive efforts being made in 2024 with interim study committees and advocacy work around t...

In the latest episode of "Beyond the Bite," City Councilwoman Marina Alderete-Gavito highlights the primary concerns of residents, starting with safety and security, as many people feel unsafe due to the growing homeless population. Alderete-Gavito emphasizes the importance of treating the homeless with care and compassion while also addressing the dangers they face living in unsafe conditions. Sh...

In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete is joined by special guest, San Antonio City Councilman Manny Pelaez, to delve into the complexities of promoting economic growth while preserving San Antonio's unique culture and authenticity. Pelaez shares insights on the city's economic development efforts, and extends to topics like business recruitment in Latin America, challenges in di...

In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," political consultant Kelton Morgan delves into the rationale behind the split among San Antonio City Councilmembers over the job performance of City Attorney Andy Segovia. The actions by the "block of five" council members led by Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, exposed a rift between the elected body and city staff. Morgan suggests the frustration at...

In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete delves into the transformative developments at Hemisfair in San Antonio, Texas. Guests Andrés Andújar and Anne Krause share insights about this burgeoning urban oasis, highlighting its role as a central hub in the city’s park system, drawing 600,000 to 700,000 visitors annually. They compare Hemisfair to other major city parks, discussing it...

In this episode, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with friend and colleague, Mark McKinnon to delve into an array of pivotal issues impacting the current political landscape. They kick off by addressing the wider challenges posed by political polarization within society. Their dialogue includes McKinnon's insightful observations from his address at Trinity University's Policymaker Speaker Series, and...

In this episode of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Councilman John Courage, who brings experience and insights into the pressing issues facing our city. Courage unveils his ambitious plan to bolster education by bringing 10,000 volunteers into elementary schools to aid students in critical areas such as reading, writing, and math. Addressing the city’s workforce development pr...

Join us on this journey through the multifaceted challenges and profound transformations taking place in Brownsville, Texas, with Mayor John Cowen. Against the backdrop of water scarcity that impacts regional activities, Mayor Cowen outlines groundbreaking initiatives aimed at sustaining the city's economic growth and technological renaissance. He delves deep into the measures the city is taking t...

In this episode, Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia focuses on the critical issues facing her district and the city of San Antonio. Councilwoman Rocha Garcia candidly shares her experiences and the challenges she faced during her tenure, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Not shying away from personal anecdotes, she recounts the heartbreaking loss of six family members to the virus and how she...

This episode of Beyond the Bite features real estate experts Bryan Glasshagel, Senior Vice President of Zonda Metrostudy, and Paul Basaldua, CEO of Versatera Development. They navigate through the complex dynamics of the residential housing market in San Antonio and Bexar County, deliberating on the influences of fluctuating interest rates and evolving demographic trends.   Glasshagel offers...

In this compelling episode of "Beyond the Bite," host Eddie Aldrete welcomes Precinct 3 Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody, who recently completed his first year in office. Moody reflects on his tenure, discussing his successful advocacy for a 20% homestead tax exemption for the University Health System in Bexar County, and he shares insights on the array of challenges faced, from addressi...

In this groundbreaking episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes the visionary Jim Perschbach, President and CEO of Port San Antonio. Together, they explore the transformative journey of a former air force base into a booming tech innovation hub that is reshaping San Antonio's economic landscape. Perschbach shares the port's strategy of fostering a vibrant ecosystem brimming wit...

As a legislator, mayor and county judge, Nelson Wolff learned a lot along his journey and shares his successes as well as his failures and mistakes. From the creation of The Alamo Promise and the successful courtship of Toyota, he continues to emphasize how fostering job creation is paramount to a robust economy. Amidst a shifting demographic landscape, we explore the implications of declining pop...

In this insightful episode of Beyond the Bite, City Council members Marina Alderete-Gavito and Marc Whyte come together to discuss pressing issues facing San Antonio. Their conversation dives deep into the inefficiencies in government operations, particularly spotlighting animal care services and the challenges posed by dangerous dogs and year-round pet breeding. Despite differing opinions on a CP...

In this episode of 'Beyond the Bite', Eddie Aldrete hosts Leanne King, Anamaria Suescan-Fast, and Larry Mendez to discuss the evolving landscape of office spaces and remote work, along with the challenges and opportunities for employers. They review the practical necessities of adapting office strategies, focusing on the shift towards smaller leases, the complexities of state tax laws, and the inc...

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete is in conversation with Jeff Webster, the newly appointed CEO of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and Katie Harvey, the outgoing board chair who spearheaded the CEO selection process. Jeff shares his plans and objectives as the new CEO, with a focus on supporting the local business community and enhancing economic development in th...

In today's episode, we sit down with San Antonio River Authority board candidate Liza Gonzalez Barratachea, who will take us on a journey through the role and purpose of the River Authority in managing water resources, and the need for public engagement in safeguarding our natural spaces. Liza, born and raised in San Antonio, is a passionate advocate for water policy and has been actively involved...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with award-winning Washington Post journalist, Arelis Hernandez who discusses her coverage of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. Hernandez shares her firsthand experience of receiving the news, rushing to the scene and the challenges she faced in gathering accurate information in the chaos and confusion that ensued. Hernandez also highlights the months...

In part one of this two-part episode of Beyond the Bite, we dive into the fascinating journey of Arelis Hernandez, a San Antonio-based journalist with The Washington Post who covers South Texas politics as well as immigration and border-related issues. She takes us through her path in journalism, to explaining how she landed at the Washington Post, and discusses how an election got her assigned to...

Managing a utility isn't easy, and when you throw in a once in a hundred year winter storm, record breaking heat waves, pandemic supply chain backlogs, inflation, and supply and demand lines that come close to crossing too often, well that makes life a little more challenging. But that's the job Rudy Garza signed up for when he became the permanent CEO for CPS Energy. In this episode, we will hear...

Texas House Bill 2127 is officially called the “Texas Regulatory Consistency Act,” but others know it as the “Stay In Your Lane Bill,” and even the “Death Star Bill.” But as of September 1, 2023, everyone will have to call it the law. On one side of the bill are the job creators and paycheck providers that heavily supported its passage to limit municipalities and counties from rules, ordinances or...