Lipman, 37, is the former band director at Johnson High School and is making his first run for elected office. He recently completed a masters of public administration at UTSA and operates an instructional coaching business.
Hear from the candidates
The following questions were asked of all City Council candidates.
Please tell voters about yourself.
I have lived in San Antonio since 2007. I lived in Encino Bluff for 11 years and now in Stone Oak for the last 14 months. For 15 years, I served students and families as the high school band director at Johnson High School in District 9. I recently graduated from UTSA with a master’s degree in public administration and an urban and regional planning certificate. Now, I want to serve our community as their voice on San Antonio’s City Council. Currently, I own an instructional coaching business called Bandworx LLC and work as a part-time lecturer in music education at Texas State University. In October of 2022, I was one of 30 music educators nationwide to receive the Music Teachers of Excellence award from the Country Music Association Foundation. In 2016, I was named an H-E-B Outstanding Educator finalist in the “Rising Young Star” category (one of five statewide).
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 serve on the board of the Bands of Claudia Taylor Johnson Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting students in the band programs at Johnson High School, “Tex” Hill Middle School and Tejeda Middle School, all in District 9.
What three issues do you consider to be most pressing for your district and how would you address them?
The residents of District 9 want to feel safe in their neighborhoods and see a reduction in crime. This is addressed through strong support from leadership of our law enforcement to improve morale. SAPD needs additional investment in wages, benefits and liability protection as well as aggressive support for recruiting new officers. Filling vacant positions and providing more officers will help combat crime. We also need to work with neighborhood/property associations to target areas in need of enforcement, and improve neighborhood watch organizations. We need to improve lighting and security at local businesses to reduce property break-ins. Even if it does not manage the district attorney, City Council needs to express an expectation the DA prosecutes criminals and holds them accountable.
District 9 residents also want to see improvements to infrastructure projects in the area, specifically roads, drainage and upgrades to district parks. Road construction projects are disjunct and often fall behind schedule. We need to communicate better with local HOAs/POAs to seek feedback from residents on road/drainage projects and concerns, like the issues happening in the back of Encino Park now with flooding caused by new development in the area.
Whether it’s potholes or faded crosswalks, our residents need an easier way to communicate concerns and see results. We also need to ensure that appropriate speed and school zone safety signs are installed in all areas in D9. We need to look at ways to expand parks in areas in D9 that have grown quickly, specifically along Bulverde Road. Our existing parks need additional parking capacity and playground equipment.
Our residents also want to be sure their power and water stay on and that utility prices remain affordable. We need to ensure that San Antonio does not transition away from coal power before other reliable, cost-effective alternatives are in place.
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?
The Justice Charter would make our community more dangerous and less prosperous. It will decriminalize theft under $750, increasing crime and hurting businesses. It will also mean that criminals do not have to present ID when caught and will be released with a “slap on the wrist.” Per the amendment, the Justice Director would “not have a background in law enforcement.” This is a poor choice for the person charged with managing SAPD and would be ineffective. The proposed charter amendment also uses other issues to “muddy the waters” and attract voters who believe it will legalize abortion and marijuana use. Make no mistake, even if passed, this amendment cannot legalize abortion or marijuana, as Texas state law regulates those. As councilman, I will work to address the police officer shortage and boost the numbers of SAFFE officers in District 9 neighborhoods. I want to strengthen law enforcement, not burn bridges with them, which is what the Justice Charter amendments will do. By connecting SAPD with neighborhood and homeowner associations, we can listen to constituent concerns and work immediately to develop solutions unique to each area, including engaging in more substantial participation in neighborhood watch programs.
How do you feel the city has done at balancing the needs of downtown and the neighborhoods, from bond projects to budget priorities?
District 9 contributes a significant portion of the tax revenue to the city’s budget. We do not consistently see a return on investment in important projects in our district. District 9 residents want a safe and beautiful place to call home. We are not the “new kid on the block” anymore, and many of our neighborhoods are beginning to look worn and tired. The neighborhoods in Brook Hollow and near Churchill High School are well-established. Encino Park is in its 40s, and Stone Oak is in its late 30s. Even many of our newer neighborhoods are over 15 and 20 years old. Our streets and sidewalks show evidence of heavy traffic and use, and the schedule of resurfacing and repaving is scattered at best. We need to coordinate better with HOAs and POAs regarding critical needs in and around their aging neighborhoods. It is very important we invest in our downtown area and all districts in the city. Still, we cannot continue to expect the citizens of District 9 to pay significant taxes without seeing substantial investments in our roads, sidewalks, drainage, traffic signals, safety signs, turn lanes and park improvements.
If elected, how do you plan to solicit input and feedback from residents in your district?
I will solicit feedback through regularly scheduled open community forums in neighborhood associations, visiting senior centers and improving how citizens can communicate with the council offices on social media. Many folks in the district do not use social media, so formal face-to-face meetings announced in community bulletins and newsletters will reach those citizens. We will engage other citizens by improving the social media presence of our district and engaging the youth through the platforms they utilize. We have an abundance of communication tools available, and we must regularly seek feedback from a large body of constituents to address their needs.
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