Commissioner Clay-Flores

Commissioner Clay-Flores wrote the article below that was published in the San Antonio Express-News on July 12, 2022.
 
Clay-Flores: After Uvalde school shooting and migrant deaths tragedies, reflections on hope
 
A cloud of sadness engulfed me at the news of the migrant tragedy on Quintana Road in Precinct 1, in which 53 migrants died after being in the back of a tractor-trailer. First thing the next morning, I went to visit the victims at University Hospital.

While I was there, I learned that the last child patient from the Uvalde shooting was still at University Health Systems, so I asked to visit her as well. As I was visiting with her family, the conversation turned to the upcoming Fourth of July holiday.

She is 10 years old and had been in the hospital for more than a month, not realizing the July Fourth was that coming weekend. She began to cry because her family had planned to see country music artist Kevin Fowler in concert.

While visiting survivors from the migrant tragedy, giving interviews and updates, attending vigils, visiting the site on Quintana Road, and meeting with consulate representatives from various countries, there came something to smile about. My staff began working to get Kevin Fowler to visit the 10-year-old girl before his San Antonio concert. Fortunately, Fowler agreed and visited her July Fourth.

“What an amazing experience it was meeting this sweet little girl! She’s way braver than I could ever be. This whole experience really hit home with me. I have three daughters and I can’t imagine one of my babies going through this. Her parents, Christina and Ruben Zamora, are absolute angels and by her side nonstop,” Fowler posted on Facebook after the visit.

Zamora still has a long road ahead in her healing, as do the other victims of Uvalde and the migrant tragedy.

A teenage boy from among the surviving migrants was still in critical condition at University Hospital when we finally learned his name, age and country of origin. His mother was on her way to San Antonio to see her son.

The 23-year-old woman from Guatemala, who was also at University Hospital for several days, is doing better. Her brother was also finally identified at another hospital.

We mourn for 53 global citizens who died in this migrant tragedy, yet we continue to have hope for the survivors.

I applaud the difficult work of our County employees from the medical examiner’s office who assisted with the victims of the Uvalde shooting and then had to handle the fatalities from the migrant tragedy.

These are humanitarian issues that we must continue to stand up for. We can do so while we serve our small circles of influence. I invite you to join me in fighting against the ills of society and working to improve our community with hope for a better world.

Rebeca Clay-Flores is Bexar County Commissioner for Precinct 1.

Highlights of 2023 Budget

Commissioners Court passed the 2023 budget in September, and here are a few highlights of what was approved.  We increased the operational expenses for the County Elections Office to make voting accessible for all residents along with increasing the number of voting locations throughout Bexar County. As the County continues to grow at a rapid pace, we saw a need for more law enforcement. For this reason, an additional 12 sheriff's deputies and two sergeants were added to patrol our community and reduce response times so our residents can feel safer in their neighborhoods.
 
Commissioner Clay-Flores was a fierce advocate to make sure that $5 million in funding was appropriated for the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum located downtown. She also ensured another $1.5 million to be added to the $5 million that was passed last year for our future Native American Cultural Center, which will be located at Padre Park.  Commissioner Clay-Flores was able to secure $1 million for an additional Bexar County Bibliotech in Precinct 1. This unique all-digital public library should be accessible to all our residents as we shift to this new digital age.
 
The County has made a significant investment in mental health, and Commissioner Clay-Flores continues to spearhead initiatives like working with the Independent School Districts in allocating $20 million in support of providing more social workers and counselors to serve our students.  The Commissioner will continue to fight for our families to ensure that resources are available for them to work against the stigma of mental health.  Overall, a budget of $2.9 billion was passed for our great and growing County. 

National Night Out

National Night Out was on Tuesday, October 4^th.  Commissioner Clay-Flores and her staff divided up Precinct 1 so as to visit as many neighborhood association events as possible.  Neighborhoods throughout the precinct organized events that brought the community together in order to get to know one another while sharing food, fun, laughter, and great music.  Thanks to our partners with the University Health System, we were able to provide free flu vaccinations to the residents of Westwood Square.  The Precinct 1 team attended a total of 13 events and gave away plenty of swag bags, courtesy of our community sponsors.  If you were not able to attend an event this year, make plans for 2023 and help prevent crime by getting to know your neighbors.  

Medical Examiner's Office Recognition - July 15, 2022

The summer of 2022 has been a tough one for our community and our neighbors to the west.  On May 24th, the City of Uvalde experienced the unthinkable when a man took the lives of 19 precious children and two dedicated teachers at Robb Elementary School.  Then the following month in our precinct, a trailer carrying migrants was left in the smoldering heat and 53 lives were lost.  When unforeseen tragedies such as these occur, there are teams of many working to assist like EMS, law enforcement, counselors, elected officials, and so many more.  One team that is often not thought of is the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office. The County employees of this department not only examined and identified all of the victims from the mass shooting in Uvalde, but then a little more than a month later, also examined and identified all of the victims from the migrant tragedy. Though professionals and trained, these couple of months were a heavy load to bear, both emotionally and professionally.

In recognition of these County employees, Judge Nelson Wolff, Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores, and County Manager David Smith, wanted to not only present a plaque, but also brighten the staffs’ day.  As part of the recognition, the San Antonio Spurs donated game tickets to all the Medical Examiner’s staff, and the Spurs Coyote was also present to share some laughter.  This department carried out the difficult task of performing all the necessary autopsies through resiliency and dedication to their profession.  We thank our County employees for their outstanding service and commitment to the residents of Bexar County, the surrounding communities, and to our global citizens. 

Dixie Lee Water Project

Commissioners Court had previously passed funding for the water main project on Dixie Lee, located in the far rural southern part of Precinct 1. This community has had no running water or a main waterline since its development.  We have been working to rectify this problem.  As of now, this project is underway, and the design phase has been completed. The Court has also approved the contract with SAWS, who will manage the construction phase of the waterline project.  According to the SAWS website, the solicitation for the contractor bidding process is now open. 

Due to the record-breaking temperatures we had this summer, we worked with residents and partnered with the San Antonio Food Bank to supply them with bottled water. We are also grateful to Atascosa Rural Water Supply for delivering non-potable water for household needs to them as well.  We are thankful for these partnerships and wanted to acknowledge them for their rapid assistance.

Precinct 1 Staff 

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