The City of San Antonio has provided its council members with complimentary tickets to over 40 events at the Alamodome since 2023. Records show that at least 10 council members took advantage of this offer, raising concerns about transparency and ethical standards regarding public officials.
Event Ticket Distribution
After an investigation by El-Balad, it was revealed that the city allocated VIP tickets worth $20,000 for council members to attend the Final Four earlier this year. The tickets to the Alamodome events included concerts and sporting events featuring major artists like Billy Joel, Sting, Guns ‘n’ Roses, and Karol G.
Events Attended by Council Members
- Sukh Kaur (District 1) – Attended 11 events
- Phyllis Viagran (District 3) – Attended 13 events
- Melissa Cabello Havrda (Former District 6) – Attended 23 events, the highest among members
- Teri Castillo (District 5) – Attended 11 events
- Adriana Rocha Garcia (Former District 4) – Attended 10 events
- Jalen McKee-Rodriguez (District 2) – Attended 3 events
- Marina Alderete Gavito (District 7) – Attended 3 events
- Manny Pelaez (Former District 8) – Attended 5 events
- John Courage (Former District 9) – Attended 12 events
- Ron Nirenberg (Former Mayor) – Attended 22 events
Public Sentiment and Ethical Concerns
The provision of complimentary tickets has sparked a debate about ethics and public service. Critics, including James Quintero of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argue that such perks should be reported and disclosed to the public. They raise questions about the benefits constituents receive when council members attend entertainment events.
A city spokesperson stated that complimentary tickets are not considered gifts under the city’s Ethics Code, as they are provided to the venue rather than to individuals. This highlights a potential gray area in transparency for local officials.
Council Members’ Responses
While several council members did not respond to inquiries about how their attendance benefited constituents, some indicated their involvement in local community outreach. Melissa Cabello Havrda mentioned using tickets to promote local culture, while Manny Pelaez stated he invited constituents to events as a way of recognizing their community service.
Conclusion
As of now, it remains unclear whether the benefits of these complimentary tickets align with the expectations of public service. With records indicating that new council members and the newly-elected mayor have not accepted such tickets, the conversation around ethical standards continues to evolve in San Antonio.
