Where are the environmental activists when you need them?
By George Rodriguez
October 2, 2026 · El Conservador
The San Antonio Democratic socialists and other environmentalists celebrated when the Deely coal plant closed. Yet the city's own emissions figures showed scarcely any change in overall CO₂ emissions.
San Antonio has lost billions of dollars in fossil fuel profits, but the promises of a cleaner local environment have not materialized. The radical environmentalists caused higher CPS rates because SA has less energy.
However, where are the environmentalists when there is a real opportunity to protect the local drinking water supply and the environment?
A Real Opportunity to Protect Our Drinking Water
Seventy-five private homes in "The Villas at Timberwood" rely on a failing communal septic system that discharges into nearby Mustang Creek and into the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone. An official quoted in the Express-News warned that the system could contaminate San Antonio's drinking water.
These seventy-five homes send what they flush in their toilets into a communal septic system. The drain field is a sewage-filtering sandbox in the ground that drains into the aquifer's recharge zone.
Where are the environmental activists on the City Council now? This is human waste threatening our drinking water.
When that system fails, sewage will reach the recharge zone over the underground water supply San Antonio depends on for drinking water.
Where Are the Environmental Activists on the City Council?
Councilwoman Misty Spears from District 9 is pushing to help these homeowners connect to SAWS. The neighborhood has already secured $2 million in county funding toward the estimated $2.8 million project.
However, most council members, especially the leftist Democratic socialists, appear unwilling to waive approximately $415,575 in connection fees.
Citizens and taxpayers should remember that former SA mayor "Climate Ron" Nirenberg took money away from aquifer protection and redirected it toward more buses. That is money that could have removed the homes from the failing septic system and connected them to SAWS.
The liberal/leftist city leaders found money for buses to save the local environment but now ignore or oppose an opportunity to stop sewage from threatening the city's drinking water. Are they worried about the budget deficit, or punishing the northside for income and race?
Protecting Our Drinking Water Must Be a Priority
Protecting the public's drinking water must be a priority. Councilmember Spears deserves credit for pushing the issue.
San Antonio needs to elect adult leaders that serve the entire public good, rather than immature people who play race and income politics.
Save our drinking water!