San Antonio
On November 8th, over 75 citizens attended the San Antonio TCEQ Sunset Town Hall to learn about the Sunset process and voice their concerns with the agency responsible for protecting Texas’ health and environment.
The event began with remarks and presentations from panelists, while the majority of the event time was dedicated to residents and organizations statements.State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, the office of State Representative Joe Farias, Sunset Advisory Commission Public Member Lamont Jefferson were all panelists. Annalisa Peace, lead organizer and Executive Director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance(GEAA), was the evening moderator.
Ms. Peace explained the Sunset review process and the important role played by citizens, panelists made brief remarks then the floor open for comments. Over 20 organizations and individuals addressed varying issues with TCEQ to the panel.
The evening’s commentary was far from positive.Residents emphasized inadequate water regulation as major concern with TCEQ. Additionally, attendees stated that TCEQ is not responsive to citizen concerns. According to Ms. Peace, GEAA has spent 7 years submitting recommendations to better protect San Antonio’s water resource, but TCEQ has yet to incorporate any of them into the rules.
Co-sponsors of the San Antonio Town Hall included: Alliance for a Clean Texas(ACT), Bexar Audubon Society, Citizens for the Protection of Cibolo Creek, Great Edwards Aquifer Alliance, Helotes Creek Nature Center, Leagues of Women voters of the San Antonio Area and Comal County, Lone Star and Alamo Groups of the Sierra Club, Southwest Workers Union, State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, State Representative David McQuade Leibowitz, and 350SanAntonio.org.
ACT would like to thank all the panelists, co-sponsors and attendees for making the San Antonio Town Hall an engaging and informative forum for residents of the area.
“Town Hall Meeting to Review TCEQ”, Colin McDonald, San Antonio News Express (November 8, 2010)
Radio Story:
“Group Seeks Input on TCEQ for Sunset Rewiew,” Eileen Pace, Texas Public Radio News (November 11, 2010)
Presentations:
Photos:
2011 ACT Legislative Agenda
ACT's 2011 Legislative Agenda is now available online. In 2011, ACT calls on the Texas Legislature to safeguard our health and our environment by adopting key recommendations in air, clean energy, land, waste & recycling, water and reform of our state government.
