We have been inundated with negative stories of partisan politics at the national and state levels of government. Online comments are harsh with each side shouting at the other, with phrases that would make no mother proud. As a conservative sitting on what has been called the “most progressive Council” in San Antonio history, I am concerned that our city will further divide itself on party lines and lose sight of what’s important.
As City Council resumes its regular meetings this week, I hope my colleagues and I can maintain the spirit of nonpartisanship.
Being a conservative at the local level means I am concerned about passing a fiscally responsible budget and funding basic services, such as streets and public safety, above everything else. It means I want the funding to match the needs, and if there’s anything left, incorporate some of the wants as well.
As a conservative Council member, I do support progress; however, I reject the notion that progress is now reserved as a political label. Progress can be found on a district-by-district, or even neighborhood-by-neighborhood, basis.
To residents near the Royal Ridge neighborhood in District 10, progress means securing the funding to improve the intersection at Randolph Boulevard and Weidner Road and reducing the number of traffic accidents. To Larry Johnson, a resident and writer who has been blind since birth, progress means having ADA-accessible equipment at the Northeast Senior Center and smart crosswalks that make pedestrian safety a priority.
Progress is at the heart of every Council member – it’s why we run. We campaign on a new vision and hope for the opportunity to reach that goal. However, viewing City government through a blue or red lens can skew both the message and the messenger, and continuing this practice would be a mistake.
It is City Council’s job to represent its neighbors and be their voice in matters of City government. Not one district is 100% liberal or 100% conservative, which means we as Council members will upset someone in the district along the line. Speaking only for myself, I am not interested in bringing divisive issues for Council to consider under the notion of progress – dividing us further is not progress.
Progress today is listening to the opposite side. Progress is resisting vitriol and looking for the similarities, not the differences. San Antonio does not need to replicate the patterns of our federal and state governments.
As City Council resumes its regular meetings this week, I hope we keep that top of mind. Together, I believe we can work to create meaningful, responsible improvements to our city.
Which issues do you consider divisive? How do you decide whether an issue is divisive?
How does one make progress without addressing divisive issues?
So right Councilman Perry! As a Democratic Liberal born and raised in Texas I’ve felt for over a decade now that Progress is definitely not limited to one ideology – namely the massive Republican stronghold that strangles every conceivable action in Austin. Thank God we now have San Antonio’s “Most Progressive Council.” I look eagerly toward the future and am glad to hear that you “support progress” as well.
It’s nice of him to state that districts aren’t 100% liberal or conservative, but he struck a decidedly different tone during the election when talking about Ezra Johnson to the San Antonio Express News on 5/27/17:
“District 10 is a conservative district,” Perry said. “I really think his liberal history will be an issue for many of those voters.”
I’m pretty sure he would not have written this piece if there happened to be a lone progressive on a council full of conservatives.
Bravo, Councilman! One has to think that there are at least some issues that everyone in the city can agree upon. Thank you for trying to emphasize those rather than issues that divide us.
You are spot on, Councilman, that the city should remain the beacon of nonpartisan getting-it-done that’s it’s been for many years, and I applaud you for that. I also agree with you that “Progress” should not be a word co-opted by one party; in that spirit, I also hope you agree that “freedom,” “liberty,” and “patriot,” and all their variants, are not the sole domain of those leaning conservative. I look forward to this council being a state- and nation-wide example for non/bi-partisan innovation, cooperation (amongst spirited and respectful debate, of course), results and growth for our great city.
As for me, progress means, nice, clean, well marked, safe, bicycle lanes that cyclists can ride on and not feel threatened from a motorist not paying attention of where they’re driving.
Is he talking about the Travis Park statue?
Turns out I was right. Perry was talking about the Travis Park statue.