An ensemble of labor organizers in San Antonio met Monday morning in opposition to Project Marvel, the city’s planned sports and entertainment district at Hemisfair.
From hospitality workers to educators, several speakers outlined the group’s shared concern for the project on the steps of city hall in downtown San Antonio.
“It is unacceptable to spend hundreds of millions of public dollars on a new stadium, while underpaid teachers spend their own money preparing classrooms for the working class students of our urban core,” the groups said in a joint statement.
The full Monday morning press conference can be seen in the video player below.
Alejandra Lopez, president of the San Antonio Alliance, pointed to mounting concerns around poverty, underfunded schools and a lack of affordable housing when she described issues pertinent to the groups present.
“We workers call for a robust community benefits agreement for Project Marvel,” Lopez said. “For a commitment to public investment, and more than sports and entertainment, in the working people who are the lifeblood of our city.”
At least two city council members were present, including District 5’s Teri Castillo and District 6’s Ric Galvan.
“What we have today are a series of labor unions that have built the City of San Antonio,” Castillo said.
The District 5 council member said the groups wants to see job generation that uplifts the community, safer work standards and livable wages that keep up with the rising cost of living.
Galvan, who expressed support for the group’s benefits agreement, pointed to city council’s recent approval of the funding deal for the estimated $1.3 billion Spurs arena.
Galvan, Castillo, interim District 2 Councilman Leo Castillo and Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones voted for a now-failed strategic pause on the funding deal last month.
The Labor Day press conference came days after one of the project’s key architects, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston, announced her retirement from her work with the city.
On Nov. 4, Bexar County voters will consider a raise to the hotel portion of the county’s venue tax to 2%, which could help funnel up to $311 million toward the arena.
In July, Spurs Sports & Entertainment (SS&E) investors and partners committed at least $1 billion towards the arena and the surrounding district.
A portion of SS&E’s draft $60 million community incentives package includes a proposal to underwrite a new policy targeting early childhood education and child care challenges in San Antonio.
More Project Marvel-related coverage on KSAT:
- Key city official in Project Marvel plans to retire from City of San Antonio
- Council approves term sheet, shoots down Mayor Jones’ request for ‘strategic pause’ on Spurs funding deal
- Venue tax hike for new Spurs arena goes to Bexar County voters in November
- San Antonio Spurs commit at least $1 billion to develop downtown sports and entertainment district, including new arena
