San Antonio Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda (D6), who may have eyes on the outgoing mayor’s seat in May, has called for a $100,000 fund that could pay for women to travel for out-of-state abortions.
City Council approved a roughly $500,000 Reproductive Justice Fund last week that did not include funding related to abortions — despite that being part of the intended purpose when the fund was first proposed by Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5) last year in response to state law prohibiting abortions in nearly all circumstances.
In a Friday memo to Mayor Ron Nirenberg — co-signed by Castillo and council members Sukh Kaur (D1), Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (D2) and Phyllis Viagran (D3) — Cabello Havrda said the city failed to “fulfill the original intent of the Reproductive Justice Fund, created to address critical gaps in reproductive healthcare access.”
Typically, council members file a formal council consideration request to put policy discussions on future meeting agendas. Cabello Havrda instead sent a memo, which has not triggered a special meeting nor the formal policy consideration process.
“I concur that the inability to provide downstream direct services was a missed opportunity, and I hope that we can further address their provision,” Nirenberg wrote in his response to Cabello Havrda Monday. “While I personally support the general proposal, I ask that you file a formal Council Consideration Request so that I can place it on the soonest available Governance Committee agenda. The standard policy process should provide us with the answers we need to advance the item.”
On Monday, Cabello Havrda told the San Antonio Report that she intends to file a request, known as a CCR, with the same signatories.
She had hoped that, with the mayor’s support, the second round of funding could be established faster administratively, she said.
“Six one way, half a dozen, the other,” she said. “I’m happy to go through the full process. And you know, honestly, I’m more comfortable with that … because it allows for the different stakeholders to come in and talk.”
In October, Nirenberg signaled support for a separate fund that would pay for transportation for out-of-state abortions, but it’s unclear where that money would or could come from.
The $500,000 fund — which has already drawn a lawsuit against the city from anti-abortion groups — will be spent on other reproductive health services and initiatives, including health care navigation, contraceptives, prenatal support and STI education.
Under the contracts approved Thursday, Empower House SA will receive about $164,000, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of San Antonio will receive $56,000, Latched Support will receive about $99,000 and San Antonio AIDS Foundation will receive $180,000.
“San Antonio’s Reproductive Justice Fund was meant to reflect our community’s priorities—health equity, reproductive autonomy, and access to comprehensive care,” Cabello Havrda said in a statement Monday publicizing the Friday memo. “While the initial allocations provided valuable services, they fell short in addressing abortion travel support, which is critical for those most impacted by Texas’ restrictive reproductive health care laws.”
Nearly all abortions are banned in Texas, with narrow exceptions to save the pregnant person’s life or prevent “substantial impairment of a major bodily function.” About 35,500 Texans traveled for an abortion in 2023, according to abortion advocacy organization Guttmacher Institute.
At least three women have died in Texas due to delayed medical interventions as a result of the ban, according to ProPublica.
Councilman Marc Whyte (D10), the lone conservative on the 11-member council, abstained from voting for the fund because its original intention was to fund travel for abortions. Taxpayer dollars, he argued, should not be used to support abortion access.
It was approved with a 9-0 vote. Councilwoman Marina Alderete Gavito (D7) was absent.
