Mayor Jones jumps in on news conference by business leaders supporting Project Marvel
Mayor Jones jumps in on news conference by business leaders supporting Project Marvel
Business leaders planned to make a stand to push Project Marvel forward Wednesday morning, but were surprised by the sudden appearance of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones at a news conference.
Project Marvel has been a hot topic across the city with a divide between the mayor and City Council members to make the Spurs arena and sports district a reality.
14 businesses and organizations across San Antonio had originally planned to be in front of City Hall at 9 a.m. Wednesday to show support for Project Marvel. The goal behind the news conference was to push for a positive City Council vote on their negotiated term sheet with the Spurs.
Mayor Jones unexpectedly showed up at the press conference and began talking with Spurs Jesus and business leaders about the contentious issue of Project Marvel and the potential for a new arena. She was not scheduled to be a speaker at the news conference.
Jones is pushing City Council to vote Thursday to pause the project's process until an independent economic impact study is done. She says the strategic pause will end up better for the deal in the long run.
"I want a deal, that is why I am working so hard for it. If we do the things that I am asking for, more data for the people and more public engagement, people will vote for this in November," Mayor Jones said at the podium of the news conference. "Fewer people will support it if they feel like they do not have all the data and are getting this rammed through."
Business leaders later responded to her asking for a delay in the process, saying it would be even more expensive down the line if they waited.
“Our downtown post COVID hasn’t fully recovered and I think this is an opportunity to create a new renaissance for the next 50-100 years,” said Pete Cortez of the La Familia Cortez Restaurants.
The Spurs would contribute $500 million initially for the sports arena. The city could be on hook for $498 million, which could come fom bonds and repaid through Spurs lease payments and revenue from further development. In November, residents will vote on a venue tax increase to be put on the ballot. The venue tax increase would be for hotels and rental cars.
Two votes are planned at City Hall Thursday, one to put a pause on Project Marvel and the other is to keep the ball rolling. The City Council meeting starts at 9 a.m. Thursday.
See some of Mayor Jones' remarks at the Wednesday new conference below:
