Diego Bernal District 1 Name as it will appear on ballot: Current employment (if retired, please describe your previous

career): 50-word bio: 50 word reason for becoming a candidate in this election:
1) Could the Citys recent ethics reforms be better enforced, especially in terms of conflicts of interest? Absolutely. Not only do we- myself included- need to be hyper-vigilant, we also need regular trainings and refreshers for Council and City staff. 2) Whats your opinion on encouraging economic develop ment and civic programming via public/private partnerships, especially where public land, such as Hemisfair Park, is concerned? Public/private partnerships have their place. Some projects are so big or have such lengthy timelines that getting private participation or investment can be a good thing. I think its also safe to say that the City isnt an expert at everything, so turning to people or companies with expertise in certain areas is not necessarily out of bounds, nor should it be. That said, we must approach these relationships cautiously and maintain the lions share of control of the terms. 3) Should the city establish an independent police monitor to better oversee the San Antonio Police Department? Why or why not? No Answer 4) Do you support the way the health department currently regulates food trucks? If not, how could the regulations be changed to better serve San Antonians? In some ways yes, in others, no. We are currently looking at the regulations and I hope to streamline them to make operations fairer for the mobile truck vendors. For example, we have significant grease-dispensation regulations, and yet I recently learned that the City did not uphold its end of the bargain in terms of facilities for grease disposal. How can we expect them to comply if we make compliance impossible? Its maddening. Im working on it. 5) How can the City support sustainable transportation options?

I think the Citys investment in public transportation, which includes B-Cycle, is apparent. Were really turning the corner in this regard. Even so, clearly we need to do more and will. From an infrastructure point of view I know sidewalks and bike lanes are at the forefront of many Council members minds as we approach the next budget. 6) What value do you think the arts bring to San Antonio? In what ways can the City support local arts organizations and individual artists?

Art is invaluable to a city, ours especially. San Antonio has an arts talent pool that is second-tonone. We need to support our local artists by making sure they are included, in a meaningful way, in every art offering we have. For whatever reason, I feel like the City is hesitant to pull the trigger on having the arts be a 24/7 component of our identity. Were close, but not there. I have seen first-hand how the arts bring our city together, and along with that they act as an economic catalyst and boom. Let me put this delicately: we have to move away from touristy, gauche, fauxculture, and highlight the real, true art and talent we have here. Si nce I started I believe weve a decent job; we can do better. We will. 7) Is it important for the City to strengthen its non-discrimination ordinances to protect LGBT citizens? Why or why not? Yes. Its the right thing to do, and were doing it. People are people- its that simple. 8) Is Animal Care Services doing enough to increase its live-release rate? Is ACS' public-private partnership model is working? If not, what else could be done? It depends on your perspective. Are we where we were five years a go? No. Not close. Weve made incredible strides, which should not be overlooked. At the same time, we have a ways to go. So, great progress, but not close to the finish line. We need to invest more into ACS and modernize some of their practices. 9) What would you do to address the high vacancy rate in downtown buildings?

The vacant building problem drives me crazy. In Texas, property owners are at the top of the pyramid. Early in my term I sought to develop a policy that would punish absentee and negligent property owners, commercial and residential alike. That proved to be difficult, and the legalities of taking someone's property became quite apparent. There are still a few options, but they're risky, and some are certainly more carrot than stick. I believe in the next 6 months or so we will roll out a program that represents our first effort. I can't promise it will work they way we want it to, but I can promise that we'll keep trying until something produces the results we want. 10) Is the Citys million-dollar incentive to create a downtown grocery store appropriate? Why or why not? Is there a better way to bring a grocery store downtown? Yes, because nothing has worked before. If a grocery store is the key to downtown development, then we need to help mold the key. The store we eventually get HAS to really service the area in a robust way; a grocery store in name only isn't going to cut it. It has to be real. And awesome. 11) How can San Antonio balance economic development with historic preservation?

Very carefully. Not to be glib, but I think we are. It's hard, and at times divisive, but if we take it one project at a time we'll be ok. I look to the Museum Reach as an example of how we can move forward, be progressive, and at the same time respect and have reverence for our past. 12) Do you support union organizers' push for a Tip Integrity Act for the downtown hotel and restaurant industry? Yes. I'm working on it. It will happen. The City has a pretty expansive agenda ahead of it as it pertains to protecting our most vulnerable residents. Sometimes it takes time to line everything up, but it's in the works. By that I mean we're already several drafts deep.

13) What is the Citys role in making consumer solar power affordable for resid ents as well as local businesses? No answer. 14) Is there more the City could do to protect the Edwards Aquifer in terms of building restrictions, funding conservation easements or other means? That's as simple as enforcing what we already have in place. During my terms I think we've done a decent job at that, but we have to remain vigilant. I could always learn more. I'm open to others' thoughts and ideas. 15) What are the most critical components to implementing Pre-K 4 SA? Are there any other opportunities for the City to support education? It's taking shape very quickly. We need the participating school districts to support it in a real way, and we have to make sure that we reach all of the eligible families. We also have to accept that the people of our city passed this through a popular vote. Hoping it will fail, trying to make it fail, betrays the democratic process. Let's push forward. The City can and should do as much as it can to SUPPORT educational attainment and excellence. Our delegate agency expenditures and Head Start involvement are testaments to that. I also think we need to be honest with ourselves about where we are. Our school districts are too stratified. They're often political fiefdoms, or real estate barons. Educating students needs to be first and foremost in their minds. College or career- that should be their focus. Ours, too. Everything else should be a distant second.