ENside Politics

District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan talks with City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson about last Thursday's nailbiter - City Council's 6-5 vote to change the city election calendar - as well as Galvan's efforts to potentially regulate data centers and eliminate fares for VIA buses. Suggested reading: San Antonio moves elections from May to November of odd-numbered years Jefferson: Her...

Gov. Greg Abbott gets the last word on San Antonio's Pride rainbow crosswalk on North Main, and Thursday's City Council vote on moving municipal elections is shaping up to be a test of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' strength -- or a measure of her weakness. City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss. Suggested reading: San Antonio's request to keep rainbow crosswa...

City Hall reporter Molly Smith and county government reporter Saul Pink talk to political consultant Andrew Solano about Texas Congressional District 35, the Bexar County judge's race and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to move city elections to November. Suggested reading: Who filed to run in the 2026 elections in San Antonio and Texas? Here are the major candidates Ron Nirenberg launches campaign f...

Former Bexar County commissioner Kevin Wolff, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' proposal to move city elections from May to November, her rocky start at City Hall and former Mayor Ron Nirenberg's run against County Judge Peter Sakai in the March Democratic primary. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones wants to move city elections to November to boost turnou...

City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' new push for the city to take a tougher approach in talks with the Spurs for tax dollars to build a new arena. Suggested reading: Could Spurs arena infrastructure make next city bond a harder sell? San Antonio quietly slashes final boost for minority- and woman-owned businesses Sign up he...

City Hall reporters Madison Iszler and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss what comes after the narrow passage of Bexar County's Prop B, which dedicates up to $311 million in tax revenue to a new Spurs arena. One of the biggest next steps: a big city bond election for infrastructure around the arena site. Suggested reading: Inside Prop B’s win and what it means for Project Marvel’s future...

The retired Bexar County judge and ENside Politics team dissect the Spurs and Rodeo tax elections and discuss why arena proponents had to grind out a narrow win in the Nov. 4 vote. Suggested reading: Spurs get the W: Bexar County voters approve downtown San Antonio basketball arena Voters approve plan to renovate Frost Bank Center, expand rodeo events Election results: Spurs arena, San Antonio rod...

The East Side councilman talks with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson about why he's opposed to Bexar County tax funding for the Freeman Coliseum grounds and a Spurs arena at Hemisfair. Suggested reading: Downtown Spurs arena campaign raises more than $7M Can a $192M rodeo plan do what the Spurs never did for San Antonio's East Side? Will ‘tourist dollars’ go back to Gov. Abbott if S...

COPS/Metro leaders Adrian Castro and Sonia Rodriguez make their case against spending any tax dollars on a new Spurs. Their bottom line in a conversation with reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson: billionaire team investors would benefit, not taxpayers. Suggested reading: What to know about early voting in San Antonio Spurs arena proposition faces ‘uphill battle,’ UTSA poll shows Spurs are...

Bobby Perez, Spurs Sports & Entertainment's general counsel, talks public financing for a downtown arena and addresses relocation fears in a wide-ranging conversation with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson. Suggested reading: How the Spurs and arena opponents are making their pitches to voters Spurs pump nearly $2 million into downtown arena campaign UTSA president lends support to P...

City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' ups and downs since taking office in June -- her strained relationship with some City Council members, how she's doing on her agenda and the losing votes she's racked up so far. Suggested reading: Ethics board will rule tonight on mayor's push for Democratic convention Mayor floats raising S...

San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport talks with reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson about the $192 million tax proposition on the Nov. 4 ballot and the huge rodeo expansion plan it would pay for. Suggested reading: As Spurs eye downtown arena, county asks voters to help pay the bill Spurs launch campaign to convince voters to say yes to arena money Voters to see Spurs aren...

Pollster Brannon Miller, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss the campaign for tax dollars for a Spurs arena, why Gov. Greg Abbott has spooked big-name Democratic challengers and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first 100 days. Suggested reading: Why Texas Democrats aren't lining up to take on Greg Abbott in the midterms Sources: Ron Nirenberg weighing run for governor or county j...

City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith join host Greg Jefferson to talk about the confusion that is the city's new animal abandonment law, the on and on and ongoing fight between Mayor Jones and City Council, and Ron Nirenberg's political future. Suggested reading: Confusion follows passage of San Antonio's animal abandonment law The battle between Mayor Jones and City Council over po...

City Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito, City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson talk about an ordinance to penalize the abandonment of unwanted pets, council members' tense relationship with Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, and more. Suggested reading: Mayor Jones renews fight with City Council members over policymaking City Council members force pet abandonment vote that Mayor Jones s...

District 4 Councilman Edward Mungia, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson talk about the opposition to public financing for a Spurs arena, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' hard-edged tactics and what comes next for Project Marvel. Suggested reading: Could there be two Spurs arena elections? Mayor Jones floats the possibility. Mayor Jones crashes pro-Project Marvel rally ahead of decisive...

Political consultant Laura Barberena, reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss the highs and lows of Jones' handling of a looming vote on a Spurs arena and her push to unilaterally change how City Council makes policy. Suggested reading: Clashing with Council: Inside Mayor Jones’ rocky first two months at City Hall Spurs arena showdown: San Antonio council to vote on term sheet thi...

The West Side councilwoman thinks a city-ordered economic analysis of Project Marvel is tainted — the consultant is owned by a company whose main backer is Spurs investor Sixth Street Partners — and has to be redone before the City Council decides whether to make a deal with the NBA franchise and Bexar County. Suggested reading: Mayor wants to pause Project Marvel plans — but City Council majority...

Political consultant Andrew Solano, reporter Madison Iszler and host Greg Jefferson talk about Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' push to drive a harder bargain with the  Spurs. Also, will the team's commitment to spend $500M on arena construction make public financing to pay the rest of the bill an easier sell at the polls? Suggested reading: Watch: Councilwoman Ivalis Meza Gonzalez arrested on DWI charge S...

Political consultant Laura Barberena, City Hall reporter Megan Rodriguez and host Greg Jefferson discuss Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' first month in office and her apparent love of rules. Suggested reading: Mayor: Losses from feared Army command merger could be ‘negligible’ Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones names new chief of staff U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro may run for Senate. Will it be a crowded race? Sign up he...

Tech reporter Brandon Lingle and host Greg Jefferson discuss Port San Antonio's plan to land the Air Force cyber command, the Air Force One debacle in San Antonio and SpaceX's new company town in South Texas. Suggested reading: Boeing can't hire, keep enough mechanics for Air Force One work in San Antonio Starbase lockdown: SpaceX city blocks public roads, raising legal questions Port San Antonio...

Democratic pollster Brannon Miller, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and host Greg Jefferson discuss next year's race for the U.S. Senate, the upcoming campaign for public dollars for a Spurs arena, and more. Suggested reading: County moves forward with arena plan, despite lack of Spurs details Once Texas GOP’s ‘weak link,’ Attorney General Ken Paxton is growing more popular and powerful Despite lat...

Bexar County Commissioner Just in Rodriguez talks with host Greg Jefferson and reporters Madison Iszler and Brooke Park about the likelihood of a November venue tax election, political jockeying at the Bexar County Courthouse, and more. Suggested reading: County moves forward with arena plan, despite lack of Spurs details County tax election for Spurs arena won't happen without more information Di...

Host Greg Jefferson and City Hall reporters Megan Rodriguez and Molly Smith discuss how Jones skated past Rolando Pablos on election night and the several big problems she'll have to confront as soon as she takes office — including a $31 million budget deficit. Suggested reading: Mayor-elect Gina Ortiz Jones spends post-election morning with Mayor Nirenberg Galvan, Meza Gonzalez and Spears win Dis...

Host Greg Jefferson, City Hall reporter Molly Smith and Andrew Solano, campaign manager for Beto Altamirano, discuss the Gina Ortiz Jones campaign's missteps, why Altamirano (who placed third in the May 3 mayor's race) hasn't made an endorsement in the race, and more. Suggested reading: Gina Ortiz Jones, Rolando Pablos head to June 7 mayoral runoff Pablos attacks Jones on use of her middle name; s...