San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones joined the KSAT Q&A to discuss preparations for incoming severe weather, a proposed San Antonio Water System rate increase, a local hospital’s trauma center plans and the Oct. 5 voter registration deadline.
The mayor said the approaching weather, unlike an extreme weather event a couple of weeks ago, was not a surprise, so the focus is on proactive messaging. She urged residents to stay off the roads, heed alerts and prepare with charged devices, flashlights and batteries. She said CPS Energy and city staff are working to keep communications ahead of the storm.
On the proposed SAWS rate increase, Jones said she will support it. She said some of the system’s pipes are more than 100 years old and that delayed projects should not be delayed further because costs rise over time. Single projects, such as a wastewater treatment plant, can cost more than $200 million, she said. She said the risks of failure include unsafe drinking water and fines from regulators, and that the SAWS team worked to keep the increase as small as possible.
Asked about Methodist Hospital’s push to become a Level II trauma center, the mayor said she sees it as a win for the community. She said Brooke Army Medical Center remains important to the military medical training mission, and that the Southwest Texas Regional Advisory Council (STRAC) is devising an approach that would preserve sufficient throughput for that training while Methodist pursues its certification. She said she does not see negative effects for BAMC based on what is known now.
Jones also encouraged residents to check their voter registration status and said anyone on the suspense list should call Bexar County Elections to correct an address issue rather than wait.
The registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 5. Early voting begins Oct. 19, and Election Day is Nov. 3.
Watch the full interview in the video player above.
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