San Antonio's City Hall was the stage for a heated showdown Thursday as five City Council members publicly questioned City Attorney Andy Segovia's ability to continue in his role. The council members, speaking from the steps of City Hall, decried what they call "significant inconsistencies and demonstrated lack of transparency" in Segovia’s legal opinions, with Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda bluntly stating, "I think it's time for a change," according to a report by the San Antonio Report.
The controversy has its roots in a standoff over the city's budget talks and contract negotiations with the fire union. When a request for a closed-door session to discuss the contentious bargaining was denied by Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Segovia, council members Marc Whyte, Marina Alderete Gavito, Teri Castillo, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, and Cabello Havrda ramped up their public challenge. Segovia, citing confidentiality concerns, insisted that any discussions on the fire union contract – the city's second-largest – should not be made public.
The call for a potential executive meeting to assess Segovia's performance is not without cause, members say. Cabello Havrda's past inquiries regarding animal sterilization at the city’s Animal Care Services were met with contradictory legal advice, an issue she cites as only one incidence of receiving conflicting guidance. Whyte accuses Segovia of policy bias, saying, "Our city attorney is there to call balls and strikes, and to give us legal advice," Whyte told the San Antonio Report. "Far too often [Segovia] has tried to weigh into the policy side."
In the face of this squabble, council members are calling on the city's charter provisions which dictate that three signatures on a meeting request compels the mayor to call a meeting. While backing their claim to this procedure, friction further escalates with budgetary concerns as discussions reveal a $10.6 million deficit looming over the city’s 2025 fiscal plan. Pay increases for firefighters persist as a hot-button topic, yet direct talk on this matter in public sessions wading into the waters of contention, as the council members have been cautioned against it by the city attorney.
Despite the criticism, Segovia has allies. Mayor Nirenberg stood by the city attorney, adding, "Andy Segovia has exhibited nothing but professionalism, candor and judiciousness in his time as our City Attorney." Meanwhile, Council Members like Manny Pelaez – who has mayoral ambitions of his own – characterize the pushback against Segovia as an “abuse of their power” and detrimental to a constructive work environment.
As tension remains palpable among city officials, it is clear the days ahead are key in shaping the political landscape and operational dynamics within San Antonio's leadership. With the May 17 deadline for a potential closed session on the horizon, outcomes could influence both the city's fiscal stability and the tenure of its legal advisor.
