Penny for Your Thoughts: City Invites Residents to Weigh In on Use of Covid-19 Relief Funds

November 25, 2021 - San Antonio

Join the conversation. “We understand that our residents are busy and have many priorities,” said City Manager Erik Walsh (pictured left) on Wednesday. “Meetings like this are a convenient way to hear directly from our community from the comfort of their homes.” Photo: Jade Esteban Estrada.

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Staff Writer | San Antonio Sentinel

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

  • The City of San Antonio will host a virtual telephone town hall meeting to seek community input that will help shape the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds
  • This feedback will be shared with San Antonio City Council during a Dec. 9 briefing

On Nov. 29, the City of San Antonio will host a virtual telephone town hall meeting to seek community input that will help shape the allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This feedback will be shared with San Antonio City Council during a Dec. 9 briefing. City Council will ultimately adopt a plan for the use of these funds in January of 2022. 

Over the past month, the City has held eight in-person town hall meetings for the ARPA.

“[We] have gathered valuable input and ideas from our residents,” said City Manager Erik Walsh, who has sought community feedback from residents about various topics since the beginning of the pandemic. “This telephone town hall meeting is another convenient way to participate.”

The telephone town hall meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 29. Residents can register here to receive a call when it’s time to join the meeting. Registration will close three hours prior to the event. Residents may also watch the meeting live by visiting sanantonio.gov/tvsa, on the City’s Facebook page or watch on television channels: AT&T 99, Grande 20, Spectrum 21, and digital antenna 16.1. 

READ: ICYMI: Man Faces Jail After Allegedly Squeezing Child’s Hamster to Death

Additionally, the City opened an ARPA survey, which will remain open through Dec. 1, 2021. The survey gives residents another opportunity to weigh in on ARPA fund-allocation. City residents can take the survey here.

“We understand that our residents are busy and have many priorities,” said Walsh in a Wednesday statement. “Meetings like this are a convenient way to hear directly from our community from the comfort of their homes. Please join us, ask questions, and let us know what your priorities are for the ARPA funds.” 

More information about the telephone town hall meetings and the time-sensitive survey are available at saspeakup.com. 



Jade Esteban Estrada is a staff writer for the San Antonio Sentinel, where he covers public health and other citywide issues. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @satx_writer