By Joe Camacho
As a child, I sat through numerous community meetings where my father, who was part of a water steering committee, spoke and listened to concerns of community members about water services on the South Side of San Antonio.
As an eight year old, I wasn’t invested in the topics discussed at these meetings. Now, more than twenty years later, I find myself in attendance at these types public forums where very legitimate questions and concerns are expressed by fellow voters and community members.
Getting involved
On March 20, I attended the KSTX Town Hall on the Voting Rights Act.
KSTX’s town halls are “an ongoing series of forums designed to engage the community on a wide range of issues impacting San Antonio.” Free and open to the public, “each town hall forum gathers a panel of thought leaders to share their expertise and spark a solution-based conversation about a particular issue,” according to the station’s website.
Local journalist Charlotte Anne Lucas of NOWCastSA gave me the opportunity to run a camera and assist the team to livestream the event. Livestreaming widens community access; viewers are invited to watch and chat as the event unfolds.
While operating the camera, I was able to follow the discussion from both the community and the panel of guest speakers. I did the same thing just a few days later at the mayor’s United State of the City address.
The discussion
Voting Rights Act panelists included: Dr. Henry Flores, political science professor and dean of Graduate School at St. Mary’s University; Gilbert Garcia, journalist and Plaza de Armas staff writer; State Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio; George Rodriguez, president of the San Antonio Tea Party ; and Attorney Trey Trainor of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons L.L.P. KSTX News Director David Martin Davies moderated.
Although the Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits discriminatory voting practices, Texas’ stance on voter ID law and the recent strikedown of Senate Bill 14 by the U.S. Department of Justice has stirred question and controversy in the local community.
SB14, passed by the Texas House of Representatives March 23, 2011, required a voter to present proof of identification, including a Texas driver’s license or ID card, military ID, passport or Texas concealed handgun license as a valid form of photo identification at any polling place. The entire bill can be read here.
On March 12, the U.S. Department of Justice rejected Texas’ application for preclearance of the Voter ID law which requires voters to present a state issued ID, arguing that a significant number of minorities and elderly in Texas do not hold a state issued ID and that they would be unfairly represented during the upcoming election season.
On March 16, the Texas Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against the Justice Department’s decision and the trial has been set for July 9.
During the KSTX forum, significant time was devoted to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.
The audience sat quietly for the entire hour and a half and were then invited to come to the microphone. They raised questions about their rights and at times passionately expressed their stance on voting issues.
For an analysis of the discussion, read this article by forum participant Gilbert Garcia of Plaza de Armas.
Your City, Your turn to talk
Students are welcome at these events. In fact, some of the best questions that night were asked by students who came together from a local high school. Participants did not skip over or ignore the students. Their questions were answered thoroughly.
Mesquite staffers have been attending more community forums and even taking tours of public utilities. It’s a recent push for us to get off campus, deepen our reporting and create an online pulse for where we live.
KSTX’s popular town halls are a fraction of the city’s opportunities for students to widen their understanding for community and have their voices heard. SA2020/Serve SA and the ongoing Plaza de Armas Readers Forum Series both provide students the opportunity to get off campus and connect with important issues.
The campus’ own faculty speaker series is an important resource as well. For more information, call the office of student engagement and success at 210-784-1329.
Engagement in your communities and participation in these public forums are a great way to increase your awareness and address your concerns.
Be the voice for your community, even if that means organizing these events yourself. The silent majority will thank you.
Texas Public Radio’s next town hall meeting is scheduled for from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Pearl Studio, located at 200 East Grayson Street. The topic has not been announced.
