Community groups and labor unions gathered to oppose the Spurs arena plan, advocating for investments in education, housing, and transportation.
SAN ANTONIO — Several community groups and labor unions gathered on Monday to voice their opposition to Project Marvel, the plan to build a Spurs arena and entertainment district in the downtown area.
The groups include “The Schools Our Students Deserve Coalition,” which includes the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel Local 67, LiUNA Local 1095, Texas Organizing Project (TOP), Our Schools San Antonio, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). It also included several labor unions from the San Antonio area.
Last week, San Antonio City Council approved the financial framework for the $1.3 billion Spurs arena – a central Project Marvel component. The council accepted the “term sheet,” which calls for the city to pay up to $489 million for a new arena, the county $311 million and the Spurs half a million dollars (as well as cost overruns). But that agreement depends on Bexar County voters approving a venue tax election on Nov. 4 that would pave the way for the county’s contribution.
The groups gathered at City Hall Monday morning said in a press release ahead of the event that “a huge investment in Project Marvel should come with an equal investment in public education, public transportation, affordable housing, and should create strong union jobs.”
“As a member of TOP’s housing campaign, I’ll tell you the thing we truly need is massive investment in more quality, truly affordable housing all across the city,” Tia Gibson of Texas Organizing Project said.
“This Labor Day, we ask that if Project Marvel moves forward, it also includes sensible worker protections, revenue sharing with SAISD, the creation of good union jobs, and a long-term investment into the working people of the community giving way to generational change,” Matthew Gonzales, President/Business Manager of Laborers Local 1095, said.
City leaders have been careful to say that San Antonio residents are not expected to be paying for the project. The $489 million from the city is expected be paid for via the issuance of bonds repaid through future Spurs lease payments, allocation of incremental property tax growth over time in the area and Project Finance Zone dollars. If approved in the Nov. 4 election the $311 million from the county’s venue tax would apply to hotels and rental cars, which are paid by tourists and visitors for the most part.