Westside neighborhood leaders call city planning process perplexing and disrespectful
Channel: NOWCastSA
Date: 2018-08-29

Leaders of the Westside Neighborhood Associations Coalition told the mayor, city council members and state representatives that they are being disrespected and treated like “guinea pigs” in the SA Tomorrow Comprehensive Plan process.

“We’ve been doing this for a year and we still have more questions than answers,” said Velma Pena, president of the Westwood Square Neighborhood Association, one of 11 associations in the coalition. “When we’re at (SA Tomorrow) meetings, and we want to ask questions, they (city planners) want to, right away, shut us down. Right away,” she said.
“So this is why it was important for us to get together so you all can hear from us, instead of just the planners,” said Pena. “You all need to hear from the community.”

The two-hour-long Aug. 20 meeting, held in a Pizza Hut on South General McMullen Drive, drew a remarkable array of elected leaders: Mayor Ron Nirenberg, District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño, District 5 Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales, State Rep. Ina Minjarez and State Rep. Justin Rodriguez stayed for the entire time, as did staff members for U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, State Senator Jose Menendez and State Rep. Diego Bernal.