Community members gathered near the Davis Scott YMCA on Friday to demand transparency about the extended closure.
SAN ANTONIO — A place of refuge for generations has been shuttered since January and the people who depend on it for health and safety want to know when the doors will open again.
About 50 people gathered near the Davis Scott YMCA on Iowa Street on Friday to meet with leaders of the non-profit organization and demand transparency about the extended closure.
The facility has been closed since the city-owned building failed inspections.
Club officials said there are significant, long-term problems with the building’s mechanical systems like heating and air conditioning.
“The problem started out in October when we were still using the pool and it got to the point where the water was so cold it would almost chill your soul,” said long-time member Ethel Washington, who uses the club to keep her diabetes in check. “But we still had dedicated members who needed that exercise and they were still coming until they decided in December that they were gonna close it down completely.”
Others agree, more problems came to light when inspectors showed up. Washington said it is long past the time for transparent answers to be provided.
“There was no transparency. We would speak with managers and basically all they said was, ‘Well, there’s no update,'” Washington said.
Washington said seniors are not the only group that benefits and she worries about the welfare of young families.
“It benefits the whole community. We have parents that bring their kids here for summer camp so you know, if you don’t have it up and running, where are they going to go?” Washington said. “I was a young kid when I started coming here.
Long-time member Patty Reyes echoed her concerns.
“My grandkids come here but now with it being closed, they have to go to another Y to do their summer camps and to have the after school programs so that has hurt us quite a bit,” Reyes said.
Andre Underwood told the crowd “We get a membership here because it’s convenient and the thing about it is, again, minority sides of town? This is what happens!”
Underwood said wealthier parts of town rarely suffer from long-term neglect like this.
“If it’s 50-year-old equipment, why were we not pro-active instead of reactive?” he said.
For a person on a fixed income, Underwood said the expense without the benefits is a slap.
With applause from the crowd, Underwood added, “Y’all are still charging me every month! I am on a fixed income and I can’t even come to the Y I have a membership at!”
Providing a bit of history, Ernest Qadimasil told the crowd about times not so long ago when African Americans were denied access to the clubs outright and Davis Scott was developed specifically to address the needs of the community.
“It was quite a while before that dream was realized so I am saying to you, we believe in you, we believe in the Parks & Recreation Director and our leadership but we are watching!” Qadimasil said. “We are mindful of the fact that we have been greatly and gravely disappointed!”
YMCA CEO Louis Lopez apologized for the long delay and promised both short and long-term solutions.
“We’re not going anywhere. We’re going to continue to invest. We’re going to continue to work with the city to make sure that you have a place that you feel is equitable and one that you deserve,” Lopez said.
Speaking affectionately, YMCA board member and current Juvenile Judge Cruz Shaw told the crowd he misses his days as a City Council representative when he had more regular contact with senior citizens.
“I miss the amount of love and effort and the pride you all take in this community!” Shaw said. “You don’t see this all throughout San Antonio.”
Shaw said he joined the board of the group to ensure the future of the east-side iconic resource.
“We are not going to let the Davis Scott YMCA crumble! It’s going to be one of the best YMCA’s we have in San Antonio” Cruz said to enthusiastic applause. “You all have paid for the success for folks like me to move forward. Your sacrifices allowed us to achieve our goals and I will not let you be here in the heat and work out in the sun.”
“Tell your friends and families we are working diligently to make sure these doors open for you all and for the kids in this community,” Shaw said. “Let’s do an uprising for the positive and let folks know this place will reopen and it will be better than ever.”
Lopez told the members they have an email notification system and anyone who wants regular updates on the progress of the work can add their name.
“We’re going to try to send out emails every two weeks to stay on top of the progress,” Lopez said.
Washington seemed satisfied with what she heard.
“Mr. Lopez told us that they rented a boiler. They have a one-year contract. This boiler will allow them to open up and start running. Now they gave us a date of August to be open.”
Reyes called the club a life-saver.
“The reason why I come here is three years ago I had a brain aneurysm and it left me paralyzed and without the Y, I would not be here walking and talking. Because of the physical therapy, it took me to come into the pool and to walk and to exercise to get myself back and going again,” Reyes said. “I love my YMCA family here and it is a family.”
While they wait for the repair work to be completed, arrangements have been made for services to be provided at both the Antioch Sports Complex and St. Philip’s College, which are nearby.
More information about the process can be found on the group’s website.