San Antonio District 1 City Councilman Roberto Treviño has conceded the election to his challenger, Mario Bravo.
Treviño posted his concession on Twitter. "I extend my sincerest congratulations to my opponent, Mario Bravo," he said in a statement posted on his Twitter page. "The responsibilities that come with this role are no small feat. I wish them the best of luck in their time as a city council member. The work must continue and be a reflection of the needs for our community," said Treviño.
"Since my 2014 appointment, I have worked tirelessly for the communities in District 1. I have had the great pleasure of working with the neighborhoods and creating policies that have not only impacted my district, but San Antonio. The work that was done over the course of the past 6 and a half years has been nothing shy of remarkable. From the very beginning with the Under 1 Roof program, I knew that the need for housing and infrastructure support was immense. During my tenure on City Council, I have found and advocated as an ally for those who have felt left in the shadows in our society. I have dedicated my time in office to ensure that District 1 was a place that was inclusive and empowered everyone to feel seen. Representation is important. I am proud to have worked with the LGBTQIA+ community, Undocumented residents, Arts and Culture, Small Businesses, Homeless community, and so many more.
"This last year was unforeseen. The impacts of this pandemic placed life changing strains on so many San Antonians. The hardships of this crisis were the effects of issues unresolved prior to the pandemic-- housing, job security, health disparities, digital access, financial stability-- none of these areas were created by this pandemic; they were just amplified. My entire office and I dedicated every hour of every day to responding to the needs of our community. We worked to find funding that was added into the Emergency Housing Assistance Program that would allow for folks affected to have a line of support to keep them housed and safe. We fought to cure rent payments, advocated for opportunities that supported renters and landlords, placed the call to action for utility companies to place a moratorium on shut offs at the beginning of the lockdown, included utility payment assistance as part of the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, submitted Council Consideration Requests that proposed the opportunity to allocate funds for Food and Beverage workers and developed a policy for Artists to be included in infrastructure design. I looked for innovative opportunities that would allow those left with growing financial burdens the option to use their skill sets to work or be provided relief until they could return to work.
"I am sad that my time on City Council is coming to a close; However, I leave this position proud of the efforts made to ensure a true social safety net was offered. I am proud of my team-- Jay, Justin, Jed, Christine, Sakeena, Tracy, Lawson, Denise, Sydell, and Jaime. We all gave our hearts to our community. Their dedication to helping others is a representation of the selfless spirits they each possess. Thank you all. To the neighborhoods of District 1, thank you. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes; for including me in your celebrations and allowing me to be there for you in your times of struggle. I value each and every one of you. Although my presence in the community will look different, I will continue to be a friend and proud community partner for District 1."
Photo: City of San Antonio