Bexar Facts Podcast

In the seventh episode, the Bexar Facts team sits down with Paula Gold-Williams to discuss her vision and plan for CPS Energy in San Antonio. From high energy demand and keeping rates low, to the environmental responsibility of energy companies, to the roll of energy in politics...  Christian Archer, Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss all this and more!

About Paula Gold-Williams:

Born & raised in San Antonio, Paula has been working with CPS Energy since 2004. Here she has worked her way up through the company and has donned the title of Chief Financial Officer as well as Treasurer. She was named the President & CEO in 2016. Since then she has worked tirelessly to better serve the community and all of its energy specific needs. She has been named Woman of the Year numerous times by the San Antonio Business Journal, as well as named Thought Leader of the Year by the Energy Thought Summit. She has also won the National Keystone Leadership Award.

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the

playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips. Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show Notes:

(00:47) Introductions 

(01:26) Paula’s Awards

(02:17) CPS Team

(03:00) Initiatives Paula Brought to CPS

(05:05) Bexar Facts Energy Poll

(08:23) CPS on Covid

(10:08) CPS on Covid Responsed/Economic Trajectory

(15:00) Call to end Disconnecting Services

(17:00) Keeping rates low & renewable energy

(23:39) Environmental Politics

(28:07) CPS Rates Adjustment/Advisory Committee/Structure 

(40:22) Concluding Question

Links:

• About Paula Gold-Williams:https://www.cpsenergy.com/en/about-us/who-we-are/senior-leadership.html
• Bexar Facts: https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 
• Bexar Facts CPS Poll: https://www.bexarfacts.org/issue/cps-job/

In the sixth episode, the Bexar Facts team sits down with Eric Cooper to unpack his experience with the San Antonio Food Bank, his personal experience with homelessness in the family, and growing a small organization into a massive movement. Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss all this and more!

About Eric Cooper:

After his parents divorced and he found his dad homeless on the streets, Eric realized the great need for food banks and taking care of the homeless. Since then he has served over twenty years with food banks and has helped provide thousands of homeless people in south Texas with a healthy meal. 

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the

playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips. Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show Notes:

(0:35) Introductions 

(03:07) How the Food Bank supplies for 16 counties

(05:53) Changes Eric Brought to the Food Bank

(10:40) Operational Efficiency

(12:30) Pandemic Effects on Poverty

(22:00) Emergency Strategies

(24:34) Food Bank Footprint

(26:00) Bexar Facts Polls on Homeless Population

(31:00) Erics Magic Wand?

(33:21) Business and food

(34:10) Bexar Facts contribution

(37:14) Conclusion

Links:

• About Eric Cooper:https://safoodbank.org/about-us/our-leadership/

Bexar Facts: https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/

In the fifth episode, the Bexar Facts team sits down with Hope Andrade to unpack several hot topics including the VIA, the Mayor's job initiative, as well as record-high voter turnout and activity. Christian Archer, Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss all this and more!

About Hope Andrade:

Born and raised in San Antonio, Hope Andrade has worn many hats over the years; from serving as the 107th secretary of state, to leading the Texas Transportation Department as well as the Texas Workforce Commission, to becoming the incoming Chair of the Chamber of Commerce… it is clear that Hope cares deeply for the community she has continued to serve in.

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips. Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show Notes:

(0:35) Introductions 

(8:15) Why Hope loves San Antonio

(10:20) Hope’s Perspective on VIA

(16:25) Thoughts on Austin 7.1Billion dollar tax increase for transportation

(18:48) Election turnout and voter activity

(21:47) Voter accessibility

(24:55) If Hope had a magic wand, what would she fix

(32:00) Different parties but the same end goal

(36:56) Campaign to thwart the recall of CPS

(39:35) Plan to get people coming back downtown (economy)

(40:56) Future of the Alamo

(43:40) Hope’s thoughts on Bexar Facts

(44:44) Conclusion

Links:

• About Hope Andrade:https://www.sachamber.org/about-us/leadership/chair-elect/
• Bexar Facts: https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 
• Bexar Facts Poll 4 Results: https://www.bexarfacts.org/category/poll-4-results/

In the fourth episode, the Bexar Facts team sits down with San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg to unpack the implications of newly passed legislation. Christian Archer, Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss the SA Ready to Work Initiative, the VIA, police reform, and more. 

Mayor Nirenberg continues to demonstrate his faith in building San Antonio up, and voters were more than happy to support him and his ideas. 

About Ron Nirenberg:

Mayor Ron Nirenberg was first elected to represent District 8 on the San Antonio City Council in 2013. He was re-elected to a second term as Mayor last year. Over the course of his two terms, he championed smart city and regional planning, inclusive economic development, environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility and governmental accountability. 

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data.

We aim to level the playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips. Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show Notes:

(0:47) Introductions 

(6:25) Poll results about the Mayor 

(8:10) SA Ready to Work Plan

(20:55) Mayor’s role in VIA  

(36:40) Police Accountability & Reform 

(43:00) Mayor’s thoughts on San Antonio

• If you could magically change one thing in San Antonio, what would it be?
• What do you love about this City?

(49:00) Brief thoughts on Reimagined Alamo Plan

(50:35) Conclusion

Links:

• About Mayor Nirenberg: https://www.sanantonio.gov/mayor 
• Bexar Facts: https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 
• Bexar Facts Poll 4 Results: https://www.bexarfacts.org/category/poll-4-results/ 

In this third episode, the Bexar Facts team discusses the issues shaping the greater San Antonio area with their guests Dr. Laura Barbarena, Tom Marks, Jonathan Delmer, and Jorge Urby. Today’s conversation is a bipartisan discussion of the issues facing Bexar County and San Antonio.

These four guests join host Christian Archer to dive into the most pressing issues on the ballot and how to make San Antonio better for all who call it home. This episode focuses on the importance of voting and the following ballot initiatives: PreK4SA, VIA/ATD, and Jobs/Workforce/Higher Ed.

About Dr. Laura Barbarena:

Dr. Barbarena originally from Austin, she is a Democrat, and owner of VIVA Politics, a communication consultant, specializing in messaging and media strategies She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a film production degree, then joined a Latino advertising, Gutierrez & Associates in Albuquerque - the Hispanic agency of record for the DNC and the Clinton/Gore ’96 campaign. Dr. Barbarena served as the creative director, producing all the TV, newspaper and radio for Hispanic outreach. She has worked on several presidential races, as well as local ones to include Joe Gonzalez, for the DA seat, State Rep. Ina Minjarez's initial campaign, Manny Pelaez, Rebecca Viagran, Leticia Van de Putte and Senator José Menéndez and is currently working on the Yes for Transit campaign.

About Tom Marks:

Tom Marks is a Republican strategist, Founder of Fleur De Lis Political Consulting. He is the son of an Air Force Colonel, born in Alexandria but grew up in Brownsville, moving to SA in 1988. Tom became a leader and mainstay among local and regional Republican candidates running campaigns for a number of City Council races, County races, in Bexar County along with 50 other Texas Counties for the Republican Party of Texas Victory effort in 2008. Tom has managed several large school district bonds (SAISD, NEISD, ACCD), for our favorite Speaker of the Texas House from San Antonio, Joe Straus, Commissioner Kevin Wolff, almost all the Council District 9 candidates and is currently working for the Trish DeBerry Campaign. He has even worked for a Democrat! Serving as CM for Ina Minjarez.

About Jonathan Delmer:

Jonathan is a San Antonio native. He is the President of the Alamo Strategic Group and a former City Council District 10 Candidate. He is a grassroots leader, he served as President of his neighborhood association and is currently representing his district on the Board of Adjustments. Jonathan has worked on many local Republican campaigns from District Attorney, to Sheriff to State Representative – he has also worked with Clayton Perry for City Council Dist. 10. He is currently working on the Yes for Transit campaign.

About Jorge Urby:

Jorge Urby is from Del Rio and is the Founder & CEO of the GLIDER Group, a strategy, PR, creative, production, public affairs. He went to Texas State and got his MPA from American University, he has worked in local, state and national races. Jorge has worked with both Castro brothers, and most recently advised presidential hopefuls Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke and is currently working on the SA Ready to Work Campaign

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the

playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips. Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show notes:

(0:40) Introductions (special guests: )

(12:25) Voter turnout for early polling

(18:20) Mail-in ballots

(32:45) Polling and Pre-K 4 SA

(40:09) Public Transportation

(47:00) The three ballot initiatives: education, transit, and workforce development

(51:11) If you could wave a magic wand at the end of this pandemic, how would you make San Antonio better?

(57:20) Rapid-fire questions: 

1. Will we have a new president? 
2. Will the Democrats take back the Texas house?

(1:01:20) Conclusion

Links:

• Bexar Facts-https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/
• Bexar Facts Poll 4- https://www.bexarfacts.org/category/poll-4-results/

In this second episode the Bexar Facts team discusses the issues shaping the greater San Antonio area with their guest, Honorable Nelson Wolff. Judge Wolff candidly shares his views on early voting, handling of the pandemic, and the top three ills plaguing San Antonio. He shares incredible insight into the effects and challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the jail system and how they have overcome the poor decisions of leaders. Judge Wolff is a wealth of insight and inspiration to the residents of San Antonio.

About Judge Nelson Wolff:

Judge Nelson William Wolff is a Democratic politician from San Antonio, Texas. He represented Bexar County in the Texas House of Representatives from 1971 to 1973 and then the Texas Senate from 1973 to 1975.

He has managed to transform healthcare, the criminal justice system, and is now taking on public health reform. He has also authored five books in his spare time.

Learn more about Judge Wolff at: judgenelsonwolff.com

About Bexar Facts:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips.

Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show notes:

(0:03) Introductions (special guest Honorable Nelson Wolff)

(4:12) Bibliotec success and impacts

(6:15) Thoughts on how we move our economy forward safely through the pandemic

(9:10) Addressing the crisis within the jail system

(12:10) Bexar county strong program

(15:32) Effects of COVID-19

(16:50) How do we fix our politics?

(22:25) The mission of Bexar Facts

(23:45) Three biggest ills of San Antonio

(26:25) Early and mail-in voting access

(29:15) Opinions on ballot initiatives

(35:03) What is next for Judge Nelson Wolff?

(37:00) Reaction to more women on the court

(40:00) Conclusion

Links:

• Bexar Facts-https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 
• Bexar Facts Poll 4- https://www.bexarfacts.org/category/poll-4-results/
• Bibliotech- https://bexarbibliotech.org/  

In this first episode Christian Archer, Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss the issues shaping the greater San Antonio area with their first podcast guest, Speaker Joseph Straus. 

About Joe Straus:

Joseph Richard Straus III is an American politician who served as the Speaker of the Text House of Representatives from 2009 to 2019. He is a Republican and represented District 121, which comprises northeastern Bexar County, including part of San Antonio, Texas, and several surrounding communities from his first election to the House in 2005 until his retirement in 2019. Straus was first elected Speaker on January 13, 2009. In October 2017, Straus announced that he would not seek re-election in 2018.

Learn more about Speaker Straus at www.joestraus.org

Recap:

At Bexar Facts, we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. We gather and share fact-based data on the issues, attitudes, and trends shaping the greater San Antonio area. With the Bexar Facts podcast we breathe life into our data. We aim to level the playing field by producing real conversations, with real people and bringing scientific data directly to your fingertips.

Bexar Facts, your trusted local source for community data.

Show notes:

(0:43) Introductions (special guest Speaker Joseph Straus)
(3:00) Discuss Bexar Facts
(5:18) Thoughts on social distancing and the pandemic
(10:15) How to reignite the economy
(13:30) Frontline workers
(15:38) Systemic concerns
(19:20) Ballot initiatives 
(30:44) How do we fix our broken system?
(34:55) Expanding polling programs
(38:00) What’s next for Speaker Strauss
(41:00) What would you (Speaker Strauss) like to see us test?
(44:44) Conclusion

Links:

Bexar Facts-https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 

Early Matters-http://earlymattersdallas.org/

KSAT-https://www.ksat.com/?fbclid=IwAR1vHrj7D7fs5qjC7A-XqC5PAXsDhYSqWjDoW3YL18ZjpxWJeKJCjsWyscw 

SA Report-https://sanantonioreport.org/?fbclid=IwAR2-f_Vfr84akhnFaw3wYZIqxD8uf_be8DMI14Ew

Welcome to Bexar Facts Podcast! In this introductory episode Christian Archer, Demonte Alexander, and Liza Barratachea discuss the issues shaping the greater San Antonio area. We get to know them and their political backgrounds a little more and what issues are important to them. They discuss the ideas behind Bexar Facts and the ideas shaping the future. 

Recap:

At Bexar Facts we amplify the voice of the people to shape the future of our community. Hopefully the work we are doing will have a huge impact on our community for the next several decades. Stay tuned for more polls, podcasts and discussions coming up. 

Show notes:

(0:00) Welcome to episode 1! 

(1:11) Introductions

(2:44) The reason behind Bexar Facts

(5:10) Kinder and polling

(7:09) Our goal

(9:20) Ideas and communications

(11:40) A quick story about our first baseline poll and the pandemic 

(13:00) Bipartisanship 

(15:26) Examples

(20:24) Media outlets

(23:48) Where we are now and where we started

(27:18) A November snapshot

(28:35) Why San Antonio

(46:05) Shaping the future

(53:40) Conclusion

Links:

Rice Kinder-https://kinder.rice.edu/?fbclid=IwAR1sNH3zFj-cqu6f_QaJY8bqAmgnG9qqzdKeGjMURf3rv4CZfM-WZ0ZCLsA 

Pollster-Dave Metz, FM3-https://fm3research.com/team/david-metz/

KSAT-https://www.ksat.com/?fbclid=IwAR1vHrj7D7fs5qjC7A-XqC5PAXsDhYSqWjDoW3YL18ZjpxWJeKJCjsWyscw 

SA Report-https://sanantonioreport.org/?fbclid=IwAR2-f_Vfr84akhnFaw3wYZIqxD8uf_be8DMI14EwXhhaV6UiDpbUgzCJex8 

Bexar Facts-https://www.bexarfacts.org/about/ 

Bexar Facts IG-https://www.instagram.com/bexarfacts210/
Bexar Facts TW-https://twitter.com/BexarFacts
Bexar Facts FB-https://www.facebook.com/bexarfacts210 

Learn what Bexar Facts Podcast has to offer!