Gallegos Reid is a first-time City Council candidate and a native San Antonian. She is a journalist and public school teacher who graduated from Southern Methodist University.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am a born-and-raised, third-generation San Antonian, District 3 homeowner and property taxpayer. I am a certified, veteran public school teacher of 15 years. In 2019, I received a national teaching award, the Rising Star, from the Journalism Education Association. I am an Emmy-nominated journalist who has worked for every network. I started my career with the Spurs as the first and only ball girl in NBA history. I parlayed that into positions with the San Antonio Express-News and KMOL (now WOAI). I pursue excellence in all my endeavors, and want to do the same for my city. As a private citizen, I partnered with five other neighbors and our SAFFE Officer Torres to disband a homeless encampment of 45 tents along Westfall. This emboldened my belief that we not only deserve change, we can be the change – together, one home, one block at a time.
List any previous experience in government or participation on local boards, commissions, or neighborhood associations.
I was elected to the North East Independent School District DEIC board. I am also a member of the Highland Park Neighborhood Association. This is my first campaign for elected office.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
Public safety, crime and homelessness. I include strays, drainage and streets. Our city recently grieved when two loose dogs tragically killed a man, mauled his wife, and bit the neighbor and fireman who tried to help. We need stringent punishment for owners who neglect their pets, and whose pets harm people.
When streets are neglected and drainage is blocked, this interrupts the smooth flow of cars, first responder vehicles, and endangers pedestrians, runners, cyclists and homes.
We hear gunfire nightly. We are told that SAPD invested over $800,000 in a radar system to track shots fired. However, we are told they cannot pursue criminal charges without seeing the gun fired or having shells for evidence. Our security cameras show teens attempting to break into homes and vehicles. We know the south and southeast sides have high crime. We must have adequate, visible SAPD patrol.
We need to care for our homeless in a dignified and compassionate way. I want to provide a facility for the homeless to shower, sleep, be fed, and detox (if needed) then work for the city by day doing maintenance, trash pick up or caring for pets in the shelters. They could accrue a wage and eventually be transitioned into a permanent job and subsidized housing, like Section 8. I learned that SAMMinistries has open beds because some homeless do not meet their criteria of being drug-free. We need a separate shelter where the homeless can come to detox in a safe space off the streets, take showers, and be fed. Once they are clear minded, we can transition them to the other facility and prep them for day jobs.
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 do not support this amendment. It is a government overreach. We need our elected officials focused on creating policies that they can impact and enforce. Creating a Justice Director who would not need law enforcement or a legal background, is redundant; we have a district attorney and his staff to determine prosecution and seek justice already. No-knock warrants, and police chokeholds were banned in 2014. Decriminalizing theft and shoplifting up to $750 would damage small businesses, some of which are still dealing with negative impacts of COVID-19. I cannot even imagine what theft and graffiti could do to private property if this were to pass. Since 2019, the district attorney has declined to prosecute marijuana cases in amounts less than 1 ounce. Once this is pulled apart, with each issue standing alone, redundancy is apparent, and certain issues are outside the City Council’s scope of power. Expanding cite-and-release cannot happen; District 3 has seen a significant increase of crime since its inception. We have wasted money, time and energy fighting moot propositions instead of focusing on fighting crime, lowering taxes, and repairing city infrastructure.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
I can certainly advocate for downtown being a priority, as we are a tourist destination. However, that focus must include District 3. We should be a shining beacon, a destination for tourists to walk along the river, marvel at the missions and enjoy our restaurants. Instead, our streets are in disrepair, some do not include sidewalks, and others are blocked by homeless camps, debris and packs of stray dogs.
My friends in Villa Coronado were told they would receive a 2017-22 bond for $8 million for improvements along Roosevelt Avenue southbound from U.S. Highway 90 to Southeast Loop 410. Without notice or explanation, it was cut. When neighbors pressed, they were told it would be on the bond in 2022-27. Twelve million dollars was allocated then reduced in scope to VFW Blvd, near Mission San Jose, to Harding Boulevard. This neglects a significant portion of our district, including several existing residential communities, new builds, and schools. This stretch of Roosevelt is in dire need of traffic lights, sidewalks, bike lanes and drainage for public safety. Further neglecting it is a slap in the face of residents.
In March, I attended a bond meeting at Bode Park, where we were told we would receive $300,000 to share with another D3 park facility. City designers and architects were prepared to showcase their plans for a new public bathroom. We, the neighbors, did not vote for that and were not asked for input. The next hour included every neighbor present voicing opposition to the public restroom as our park has become a haven for drug use among the homeless.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
I want to be accessible to my neighbors. I will return calls, schedule meetings and respond to emails. I will not only send a newsletter, as communication goes two ways. I will have weekly office hours for residents to have walk-in sessions with me so that I can hear from as many residents as I can. I also want to schedule that block of time later in the evenings so residents don’t have to rush over to my office. I envision a committee of neighbors from all the areas of the district that meet with me and share their concerns about what comes before the dais and happenings in their areas. I live in D3; I shop here, eat out here; visit my friends and family here. I am visible in my community.
