Gutierrez, an artist, was a candidate for San Antonio mayor in 2021. She unsuccessfully sought the District 2 City Council seat in 2019.
Hear from the candidate
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
Texas born and raised, I moved to San Antonio in 1983 to attend UTSA, graduating with a political Science degree and minoring in fine art. Raised in Brownsville in a working family, daughter of a beautician and school principal, my family roots are deep in history for both Texas and Mexico. I have always sought interesting opportunities while studying at UTSA, taking internships as an elementary school teacher aide, congressional aide and in the television art department and production. After graduating, I became an elementary computer teacher. After a brief time in education, my art career supported me for 25-plus years.
Do you have any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions or neighborhood associations? Have you run for elected office before?
I interned for Congressman Albert Bustamante. I served on the Building Planning Commission of Timberwood Park. Member of the Conservation Society of San Antonio. Helped fund raise for the Brackenridge Park Conservancy. Helped raise funds for the Ecumenical Center. Member of the Eastside Planning Commission. Former Government Hill Alliance Neighborhood Association. InfuseSa.org board member. I have run for District 2 City Council in 2019 and in the mayoral race in 2021.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Crime: All categories of crime have escalated and become more violent as assaults have increased. Ring videos of crimes will be documented and used to inform residents of crimes in their immediate area. Help identify offenders and provide SAFFE team with current information.
Housing: Housing in San Antonio is a political football that does not address the needs of real people — neither current residents, future residents nor legacy families. Demolition of usable affordable housing stock is pushed on legacy residents as their taxes rise on land they will never personally redevelop. Current housing is unaffordable for a majority of San Antonio residents. Developer incentives to build more housing without providing taxes for city services causes higher tax burden for current neighbors. Non-incentivized housing could be provided for resident homeowners for a reasonable price if the building process was not delayed by excessive city code scrutiny and delays in inspections/approvals.
Livability: That means not being chased down by a mean dog. Not hearing random gunshots at all hours. Roadways free of racers. Services allowing residents to age in place and senior housing of compatible residents in more residential settings. Single story homes in their neighborhoods where they raised their families. Realistic transportation and energy policy. A tighter budget for city funding the emphasizes safety and livability for all people.
Do you support the proposed city charter amendment, known as Proposition A or the Justice Charter, that would bar certain policing tactics, decriminalize abortion and low-level marijuana possession and create a city justice director to oversee criminal justice policy? Why or why not?
I believe your body, your business. The government does not need to tell you what to do or not to do — when to travel, where you can go, what you can eat or what you must buy. Marijuana, alcohol and cough medicine are all dangerous when you are in public. Decriminalization is left to our elected state officials, not local charters. The decriminalization of property crimes, simple assaults and general mayhem will result in larger crimes being reported after the situation escalates. A large portion of minority-owned businesses will not survive the repeated property crime and theft. We do not need a Justice Director, and on a whole Prop A is a no go.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
Big failure. The predatory practice of taking the extra money that an increased valuation at the old tax rate has accelerated the cultural disappearance and flavor of our neighborhoods. Gentrification has put milk-carton houses in intact older period neighborhoods. The new streets are less drivable, less delivery-friendly and closed off to many first responder vehicles. Unspent bond monies as far back as 2017 are now inadequate to fund the projects that they paid for. Thirty street projects have cones and barricades preventing neighborhood shopping or resident access only on crew assigned to the multiple stalled projects.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
My number is on my card right now. This cell is in my purse. I will have a staff with my philosophy that will give good customer service. They will answer questions or find the answer with a return call. What a concept: Government for the people by the people. More meet and greets on all quadrants of the district. Zoom into neighborhood meetings when possible.
