Press release from the Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association

05-09-25

EVENT PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UVALDE, TEXAS – On May 17, 2025, UVASNA will be holding our one-year anniversary
celebration at the El Jardin De Los Heroes Park from 4PM to 8PM.
This event celebrates our city of Uvalde neighbors who have demonstrated what community
involvement can achieve. There will be music, kids’ rides, free food, free bingo prizes and free
door prizes.

The Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association was organized one year ago to advocate for
our neighbors in Uvalde. Working with our local government entities to improve the quality of
life for all of Uvalde but specifically for the neighborhoods in the west and south side of our
town. Since inception, we have successfully helped form the City of Uvalde Grant Committee
and provided effective two-way communications with our local community leaders.

All of Uvalde are invited and welcome to come celebrate with us!

04-09-25

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Approximately 30 people attended tonight’s Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association’s meeting held at the Tomas Valle American Legion 479. At the meeting, Uvalde CISD superintendent Ashley Chohis discussed the District’s after school programs including working with the Uvalde Boys and Girls Club. She stated the school has partnered with the organization and said students who want to participate in activities and sports offered can do so at a reduced or no cost fee depending on the family’s situation.

 Chohlis fielded questions about the Texas Legislative Session and the proposed School Voucher Bill which is expected to pass. District 8o Representative Don McLaughlin seems to support the school voucher bill according to a recent mailer received a few weeks ago by local residents.

 Chohlis stated that under the current voucher plan, parents who decide to send their students to private schools would be eligible for $8000 property tax credit which she believes will take away money from public schools. She said that if a student has learning difficulties or has other difficulties, private schools can choose what students can enroll. Uvalde CISD accepts all students. Another difference Cholis pointed out between public and private schools is that teachers at public schools are required to be accredited under most circumstances while private school teachers do not have to be accredited.

  When asked about the future of Batesville School, Cholis said the district is planning on making Batesville school an Agri-Tech school where students can learn about agriculture, artificial intelligence and other specialized learning experiences.

  She hopes this new emphasis will draw students to want to attend Batesville School.

  Simon Ortiz discussed a $1.5 million grant the neighborhood association is seeking to add sidewalks on the westside of Uvalde and connect the new and existing sidewalls to the new sidewalks TXDOT is planning on adding. The grant is through the City of Uvalde Grant Committee that the association successfully lobbied to form, and association members participate in its work.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

12-03-24

  Hector R Luevano and Everardo “Lalo” Zamora attended Monday night’s Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association Mayoral Candidate Forum on Monday, December 2nd, at the El Progreso Memorial Library where they spoke before approximately two dozen people. Both Luevano and Zamora will face off in the Uvalde Mayoral runoff election on Saturday, December 14th.

  After each was provided 5 minutes to speak on their respective visions and plans for the City of Uvalde if elected as Mayor, they answered questions submitted by members of the audience.

 The issues discussed included the need for sidewalks in the City, the proposed Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone or TRIZ, grant applications, and homelessness. Additionally, both Luevano and Zamora spoke about the need for all local government entities to work together to address concerns about Uvalde CISD student success.

With the City of Uvalde’s upcoming public meeting on the proposed TRIZ on Wednesday, December 4th at 6 PM at the SSgt. Willie De Leon Civic Center, both citizens and the two candidates expressed their concerns over a proposed TRIZ deal between Carper Capt’s real estate venture and the City of Uvalde

which would potentially add 130 houses in the area near the news Legacy Elementary School is being built.

Diana Olvedo-Karau was the first to bring up her concerns about the City tying public funds to a private real estate project. The proposed development, according to Karau, would add additional area where city services such as water, sewer and garbage services as well as police and fire department services would be needed.

Karau stated that the city cannot adequately maintain its existing roads. Additionally, adding 130 homes would increase the demand for water.

When Luevano and Zamora were asked if they would vote for the TRIZ, both said more information was needed and neither candidate said they would vote to approve the deal.

Luevano said, “Who is going to be able to afford these houses on the east side of town when areas on the other side of town desperately need attention?

“They tried to push us to make a decision right away: slow down. We need to get the community involved and educate the community,” Zamora said.

On the Homeless

  Candidate Lalo Zamora stated on the issue of homeless persons within the City, he said the issue is complicated but stated they homeless are choosing homelessness and they often refuse help. He was referring to City’s action to remove a homeless camp earlier this year located along the Leona River just south of Uvalde Memorial Park. 

    When Zamora received criticism from an audience member on his answer, Zamora said he went to the homeless camp and spoke to one of the homeless men who stated he didn’t want help, and he liked staying where he was.

  Luevano agreed the issue is complex including mental health considerations. He suggested the city seek help from the Ministerial alliance.

  Zamora stressed the importance of meeting with all City workers on a regular basis and asking them what they need.

  Luevano stated, if elected, he planned on having an open-door policy for community members to communicate their concerns.

Related Article:

Uvalde City Council to hold public hearing on public hearing on designation and creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) – Uvalde Hesperian

 

Article submitted by J. Anson Bills: Photos by Jennifer Bills

09/19/24

 Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association (UVASNA) met Wednesday evening, September 18th at the Tomas Valle American Legion Post #479 American Legion Hall and was attended by Uvalde City Representatives, Mayor Pro-Tem Everardo, “Lalo” Zamora and City Manager Vice DiPiazza; Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Board members including Superintendent Ashley Chohlis and Trustees Robert Quinones, and JJ Suarez, along with Uvalde County Republican Party Member J. Anson Bills.

  UVASNA has been working to bring grants to Uvalde City to help with keeping our streets clean, to fix our streets making them safer.

   Now they want to help UCISD with issues like school attendance and school safety.

  Superintendent Chohlis addressed the clear backpack issue as a Fourth Amendment violation. She went on to say that the clear backpacks only bring a false sense of security, but we need is a real sense of security

  After listening to the concerns from the superintendent. It became abundantly clear that the biggest issue that our school district faces is parental involvement. The school district has been asking for parent involvement so that we can start making changes together.

   Another issue is funding for the athletic groups. This does not just affect the football programs; this also affects soccer wrestling and many other sports.

  For example, Jennifer Bills asked why the wrestling team’s funding went from several thousand dollars down to $750. The answer that she got was very shocking: the clear backpacks only bring a false sense of security, but we need is a real sense of security

   Funding was cut due to school attendance.

  Combined with lack of parental involvement, you go from a great big budget down to a little budget.

   It is a parents’ job to make sure that their kids are at school like they are supposed to be. It is not the school’s job to make sure that your kids are in school like they are supposed to be. It is, however, becoming the school’s problem due to lack of parent involvement.

   Over the years parent involvement has dropped significantly. So UCISD is asking for more parent involvement.

By  J. Anson Bills/Uvalde Hesperian

Saturday, August 3rd, 2024

(The Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association met on Saturday afternoon,  August 2nd at the Jardin de los Heroes Park)

The Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association is working to get grants for the much neglected West Side of Uvalde City.

  By getting the citizens to stand up and having their voices heard, Simon Ortiz and Priscilla Moreno have been working diligently with City officials to improve the infrastructure of the West Side.

  Just because this is their main concern, it does not mean that this is the only concern that is on the table.

  They are trying to prevent another tax increase on the citizens of Uvalde that will be imposed by the school district due to the lack of attendance.

  They have gotten assistance from organizations that reside on the West Side. Precinct chair 13 of the Uvalde County Republican Party and Sergeant at Arms Anson Bills was congratulated for his efforts in getting signage that says slow deaf child area and requesting more signage throughout the City.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Image credit: Simon E. Ortiz

The Uvalde Southwest Neigborhood Association met on Monday, April 22nd at 6:40 PM at El Jardin De Los Heroes Park in Uvalde to discuss streer lighting. street conditions, police patrols and other shared concerns to bring to city officials.

“We had a great turnout. We had about 35 people from the neighborhood show up. We do have a Facebook group page called Uvalde Southwest Neighborhood Association with more than 90 members. We are focusing on our neighborhood but it seems like residents from the whole city want to join.

Some projects that we are working on will require citywide planning, so we welcome any and all Uvaldeans. The focus of our group is to create an effective mode of communication, identifying issues in our communities and working with our city leaders to find solutions for these issues,” Simon E. Ortiz said.