On the campaign trail, I often heard two things:

One, we’re the seventh largest city in the country — we should act like it. And, two, we need to address the persistent poverty in our community.

I couldn’t agree more. Which is why I continue to believe we need an independent economic analysis that lays out the true costs and benefits to our community of the potential new Spurs arena and the proposed Sports and Entertainment District.

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I’m not going to mince words: the “economic impact analysis” presented to the Council was inadequate and insulting to taxpayers.

The analysis failed to cite its data sources and the assumptions underpinning its assertions and estimates. The presentation amounted to: it’ll be great, trust us.

Well, I’m a “trust but verify” kind of person. Show me the data. Show me how you reached your conclusions. These aren’t tough asks. In fact, they’re exactly the type of questions and data that were presented to the City of Philadelphia — the sixth largest city in the country — last year when they debated building another arena for the 76ers.

CSL also produced the economic analysis for the City of Philadelphia, but the analytical rigor behind what they received and what San Antonio got is night and day.

Philadelphia’s presentation included: a focus on helping the city understand whether they could support two large arenas, an analysis of local market conditions, and an economic and fiscal analysis of the arena, specifically it’s direct economic impact and tax revenue impacts to the city, school district and state.

The people of San Antonio deserve this level of thoughtfulness and analytical rigor. And, the relative poverty of our community and the difficult fiscal environment we’re about to enter demands it. We have the time, and now we need to have the courage to ask the questions. 

Because, while we still don’t know the total cost of the arena or why a $1 billion arena isn’t good enough, and we’re awaiting information from the Spurs about how they intend to guarantee revenues to support the City helping to finance their arena, there are a few things I do know. 

Gina Ortiz Jones addresses supporters after her victory in the runoff election to be San Antonio mayor. Credit: Amber Esparza for the San Antonio Report

I know that if the Spurs won’t accept anything less than a $1.3 billion arena, that means the city could be in for at least $489 million, after the Spurs put in their $500 million, and the county puts in its $311 million maximum. 

I know CPS and SAWS will come to the City Council next year to ask for rate increases. I know we will continue to see the devastating effects of the Reconciliation Bill in our community, especially on those on a fixed income. And, I know the first — yes, there’s more than one — the first bond to help pay for infrastructure related to the Sports and Entertainment District could be in the $220-$250 million range. I know there are 14 projects in our city on the state’s flood infrastructure plan, and if we don’t get any help from the state, we could use that same bond to cover those 14 projects worth $411 million.

Despite what some of my colleagues are stating, nothing needs to be done by August 21 — not a damn thing. Not one of my colleagues has articulated why we need to act by that date. I understand some would like the City Council to move fast on this, but I disagree.

The people deserve our due diligence, and I believe that looks like an independent economic analysis on the potential new Spurs arena, at least as rigorous as what the City of Philadelphia received. Additionally, the people of San Antonio deserve to see an independent economic analysis outlining the costs and benefits of the entire Sports and Entertainment District.

Let’s act like the seventh largest city in the country, and let’s make sure we’re not perpetuating persistent poverty in our city. That requires we ask basic questions — and receive the answers — necessary to justify this generational investment. 

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