Work on the rainbow coloured sidewalk in San Antonio’s Pleasure District is now underway, despite the fact that there’s been no formal council vote on the undertaking.
Metropolis officers confirmed that work on the primary part of the sidewalk celebrating town’s LGBTQ+ nightlife district on the intersection of North Essential Avenue and Evergreen Avenue started over the weekend. The undertaking, which additionally included eradicating the rainbow-colored crosswalk banished by order of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, is predicted to price taxpayers $170,000.
By way of e-mail, metropolis spokesman Brian Chasnoff stated the funding for the undertaking got here from the Fiscal Yr 2026 funds, in addition to “Process Order contracts authorised by Metropolis Council in 2024 and 2025.”
Opponents of the sidewalk’s set up, together with Pleasure San Antonio and the Texas Conservative Liberty Discussion board (TCLF), argued in a lawsuit that the undertaking and its subsequent funding ought to have been put to a public dialogue and metropolis council vote.
District 9 Councilwoman Misty Spears and District 10 Councilman Marc Whyte, the 2 conservatives on the dais, echoed these issues in a joint assertion earlier this month.
Nonetheless, District 1 Councilwoman Sukh Kaur — who spearheaded the undertaking at the side of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, town’s first brazenly LGBTQ+ mayor — informed the Texas Tribune late final week that the upgrades didn’t want council approval due to the realm’s designation as a cultural heritage district.
The Categorical-Information beforehand reported that the choice whether or not to maneuver ahead with the sidewalk undertaking rested with Metropolis Supervisor Erik Walsh.
Even so, TCLF San Antonio President Joe Garza, in a Monday night time assertion eFacebook declared that “the struggle is just not over” and that his group is planning to “escalate this difficulty additional.”
“This difficulty is just not about opposition to any neighborhood,” Garza wrote. “It’s about authorities conduct. Public sidewalks are shared civic areas, and choices involving taxpayer {dollars} and political or ideological expression have to be made brazenly and with public enter.”
Keep tuned.
Subscribe to SA Present newsletters.
Comply with us: Apple Information | Google Information | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Fb | Twitter | Or join our RSS Feed
Associated Tales
The elimination was ordered by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. Town is saving round items of the crosswalk for historic preservation.
The rainbow sidewalks are set to be put in instantly and in addition will embody the trans flag.
Town filed an exemption request for the Rainbow Crosswalk in November with the Texas Division of Transportation.
