SAN ANTONIO, TX — Yesterday the SA Stands coalition learned that Councilman Manny Pelaez filed a Council Consideration Request (CCR) for an incomplete cite and release program, one that would ONLY cover some marijuana misdemeanor cases. He did this after meeting with SA Stands leaders and hearing about our comprehensive cite and release proposed ordinance.
For the past four years, the SA Stands coalition has led a campaign that is holistic and puts the best version of a cite and release ordinance forward. Our proposed cite and release ordinance is not just about giving an opportunity to those individuals that are caught with marijuana possession, it includes all citation-eligible offenses under the Texas Penal Code.
SA Stand’s goal has always been to significantly reduce non-mandatory and costly arrests in communities who are largely impacted by overpolicing. Our proposed ordinance also includes language to ensure data transparency and oversight of the SA Police Department.
“Councilman Pelaez made a calculated move to undercut years of work by the community- including his own constituents- on cite and release. We are also gravely disappointed in Councilman Courage for supporting Pelaez’s watered down version of cite and release. Courage gave his own commitment to support our CCR just this fall. San Antonio deserves a comprehensive cite and release ordinance,” stated Ananda Tomas, a member of the SA Stands coalition.
SA Stands has received more than 500 petition supporters for our proposed version of cite and release, engaged hundreds more community members via webinars and community meetings, and produced numerous resources to educate the community about the positive outcomes of cite and release. We also surveyed council leaders during elections and got their commitment to support our cite and release ordinance, including Councilman Pelaez’s commitment of support.
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SA Stands is a strong non-partisan collaborative in the city of San Antonio and Bexar County that works through organized campaigns, advocacy efforts, community education, and direct action, to mobilize against any laws and efforts that criminalize, incarcerate, deport and divide our communities. For more information visit sastands.org
ACT 4 SA is a member of the SA Stands collaborative and helps advocate and organize for these initiatives.
