San Antonio is doing fine, but we could be doing much more to ensure the next decade is prosperous for all who live in San Antonio, City Council Member Marc Whyte writes.
San Antonio Express-News file photo
People enjoy the San Antonio River Walk in January 2022. We can simultaneously invest in our future, maintain our unique San Antonio culture, and improve the day-to-day quality of life of our residents, City Council Member Marc Whyte writes.
Mark Mulligan/San Antonio Express News
San Antonio City Council Member Marc Whyte represents District 10.
Andrew J. Whitaker/San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio has everything a great American city needs: talent, culture, location and momentum.
What we lack isn’t potential. It’s a clear, executable plan to turn that potential into lasting prosperity.
Article continues below this ad
My first three years in office have made clear to me that while the city is doing fine, we could be doing so much more to ensure the next decade is prosperous for all who live in San Antonio.
In a recent study ranking the 250 largest cities in terms of future readiness for a prosperous life, San Antonio ranked last among major Texas cities.
Fine isn’t good enough, nor should we ever allow it to be our status quo. It’s time to move up, and a plan called Accelerate SA can get us there.
Much of our future will depend on how we spend our money.
Article continues below this ad
When spending taxpayer dollars, we have two interests that are often in conflict with each other — but don’t need to be.
Every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., I hear from business leaders across this city who are advocating for policies to foster long-term economic development of San Antonio.
The policies we discuss are critical to our city’s future. They involve investing our money in ways that will position the city to attract businesses, create jobs and generate revenue.
Then, from 5 to 8 p.m., I leave City Hall for neighborhood meetings where I hear from residents about problems that need fixing right now: potholes, safety, the cost of living.
Article continues below this ad
These concerns, reflecting day-to-day reality of life in San Antonio, are just as important as any long-term plan.
How we create policy that addresses both the city’s long-term future and our residents’ immediate quality of life will define whether we move San Antonio forward for everyone.
On the economic development front, our local businesses are the job creators and paycheck providers of San Antonio, and effective economic development is about attracting even more of them.
San Antonio has such an advantage as we are centrally located in the most economically prosperous state in the country — just a few hours from Mexico, the United States’ No. 1 trading partner.
Article continues below this ad
We should be a logistics hub, in addition to having shovel-ready tracts of land that can entice businesses from around the globe to invest in San Antonio and generate good-paying jobs for our residents.
San Antonio should also be a place for corporate headquarters, while at the same time expanding the military presence in our city. Cyber, biosciences and aerospace are other industries that, with the right investment, can pay big dividends in terms of future jobs and revenue for our people.
Additionally, we must also keep our Spurs and continue to revitalize our downtown. The new arena and minor league baseball stadium, renovated convention center, new restaurants and hotels, and an expanded airport may seem flashy, but these investments will help keep our young talent at home and attract others to spend their money in San Antonio.
None of these big ideas, however, will matter if City Hall can’t get the basics right.
Article continues below this ad
Our government must be transparent, accountable and focused on delivering results that improve everyday life.
The cost of living is too high, and residents cannot afford more rate hikes, tax increases or added fees. Infrastructure projects drag on far too long. We need local contractors who get the job done on time and on budget.
Most importantly, public safety must come first. San Antonio should set the standard as the safest, cleanest and most neighborhood-friendly city in Texas.
We can simultaneously invest in our future, maintain our unique San Antonio culture, and improve the day-to-day quality of life of our residents.
Article continues below this ad
I’m convinced of it, and Accelerate SA is my plan to get it done.
San Antonio City Council Member Marc Whyte represents District 10.
Have a response? Send us a letter to the editor.