Five members of the San Antonio City Council appear to have had enough of City Attorney Andy Segovia's handling of various city issues. The group, representing half of the city's chief governing body, submitted a memo calling for a special meeting to question Segovia's fitness for his role. The internal dispute centers on allegations of Segovia's lack of transparency, particularly regarding contract negotiations with the local firefighters' union. According to a memo obtained by KENS 5, the council members claim Segovia has consistently failed to provide transparent legal opinions, leading to delays and a lack of trust.
The collation, consisting of councilmembers Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Teri Castillo, Melissa Cabello Havrda, Marina Alderete Gavito, and Marc Whyte have vocalized their dissatisfaction from the steps of City Hall, as stated by KENS 5. Cabello Havrda went a step further, indicating a desire for Segovia's replacement after eight years in the position. "I'm speaking for myself: It's time for a replacement," she told the publication.
The group's memo to City Manager Erik Walsh expressed that it's "imperative" to have full confidence in the city attorney's ability to perform his duties with "diligence and effectiveness." Unfortunately, their confidence seems to be "compromised," as the memo states. While Walsh has indicated plans to meet with the council members to address their concerns, he has also communicated "complete confidence" in Segovia, as per a statement to KENS 5.
Segovia, defending his position, emphasized his ethical duty to confidentiality in executive sessions. "Based on information that was relayed to me, I have no confidence that what is said there with respect to the (firefighters) collective bargaining agreement – the city's second-largest contract – will remain confidential," Segovia expressed in a brief statement obtained by KENS 5.
Meanwhile, according to a Texas Public Radio interview, some council members have cited Segovia's intervention in blocking discussions about the city's negotiations with firefighters as a significant concern. "We can’t make data-driven decision on this negotiation if we’re not given full data," stated Councilmember Teri Castillo. The council's desire for Segovia's replacement continues against the backdrop of Mayor Ron Nirenberg defending the city attorney and denouncing attacks on city officials.
