This document discusses the importance of elections and civic participation in a representative democracy. It argues that citizen input in San Antonio has often been ignored on important issues like development projects, infrastructure changes, and environmental protections. It provides several examples where hundreds or thousands of citizens spoke out against proposals but were not listened to by city council. The document urges people not to take voting lightly, as the outcomes of elections can significantly impact people's lives and communities.

2. Elections
of any kind
should NEVER
be taken lightly.

3. July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence,
Washington D.C., National Archives

4. We hold these truths to be self-
evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable
Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty
and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to
secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just
powers from the consent of the governed.

5. Does San Antonio
Practice
“Consent of the Governed”?

6. NO!

7. 107,000 Signature
Petition
To Allow for a Vote

8. WERE
CIRCUMVENTED
BY
City Council

9. By replacing it
with
an
anti-petition
proof
ordinance.

10. A 2007 City Council vote
excluded a previously
agreed upon
new fire station.

11. A 2007 City Council vote
allowed slick TCEQ
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone
protection regulation
circumvention.

12. Were the
107,000 signatures
heard?

13. NO!

14. Were City Council
Governing Officials
the only ones involved?

15. NO!

16. STATE, COUNTY AND WATER
DISTRICT OFFICIALS
WERE ALSO INVOLVED.

17. Hundreds
Spoke
Against
Main Plaza’s Redesign
And Street Closures

18. Were they heard?

19. NO!

20. Hundreds
spoke
against
toll roads.

21. Were they heard?

22. NO!

23. Impacted communities
spoke
against
a
roundabout.

24. Were they heard?

25. NO!

26. Was a four-year
community plan
respected
when residents spoke
against a high rise?

27. NO!

28. Were they heard?

29. NO!

30. Impacted Communities
Spoke and gathered
400 signatures
Against
The Process and Location
of a Homeless Shelter.

31. Were they heard?

32. NO!

33. Parents had complained
For years
Of possible abuses
Against children
At
TYC
To no avail.
It took the death
of a child to be listened to.

34. Were they heard prior
to the death of a
child?

35. NO!

36. SAHA Affordable Housing
Magi/KB Homes
contamination concerns.
Solution :
SAHA bought back the homes
but
medical bills, from their
contamination, were not their
responsibility.

37. Were residents
heard?

38. NO!

39. City Council
elections
should NEVER
be taken lightly.

40. An Elderly Lady
asked that her
1915 home, that had just been
painted by university volunteers
gathered by former City
Councilperson, not be taken away
through
eminent domain.

41. Was she heard?

42. NO!

44. Neither were
some of the following
homes and businesses.
They were demolished in
April 2009.

52. Taken
by
Eminent Domain
&
DEMOLISHED.

53. Other businesses and homes
were also taken by
negotiation
and/or condemnation
if needed
for a
“public good”.

54. New Tax Exempt
14 acre, 22 to 37 acre area
1) 823 N. San Marcos 10) 727 Salado
2) 819 N. San Marcos 11) 615 Perez
3) 804 N. San Marcos 12) 626 Perez
4) 603 Leal 13) 903 Morales
5) 619 Leal 14) 825 Morales
6) 623 Leal 15) 722 Morales
7) 724 N. San Marcos 16) 801 Morales
8) 617 N. San Marcos 17) 720 Morales
9) 625 N. San Marcos

55. New Tax Exempt Areas mean a
$690,000 Yearly Tax Loss!!
(To City, County, Health District, School District, College District)
This does not include sales tax
losses nor losses from businesses
that did not relocate and closed
instead.

56. Our citizens’ input
seems to have become
a nuisance [to City Council]
versus a part of our
representative form of
government.

57. James Madison,
4th President of the United States, served from 1809 to 1817.
Portrait Courtesy of http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0512-0702-1617-1139.html

58. James Madison, 4th President of the United States,
served from 1809 to 1817.
quot;I believe there are more instances of the
abridgement of the freedom of the people
by the gradual and silent encroachments
of those in power than by violent sudden
usurpations.quot;
James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, June 16, 1788.

59. Franklin D. Roosevelt,
32nd President of the United States, served from 1933-1945
Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Digital Archives.quot; Library I.D 48221895, 00/00/1938, Franklin D.
Roosevelt 09-1816a.gif

60. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States,
served from 1933-1945
quot;Let us never forget that government is ourselves
and not an alien power over us.
The ultimate rulers of our democracy
are not a
President and senators and
congressmen and government officials,
but the voters of this country.quot;
Franklin D. Roosevelt Speech Marrietta, Ohio, July 8,1938
Photo Courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library Digital Archives.quot; Library I.D 48221895, 00/00/1938,
Franklin D. Roosevelt 09-1816a.gif

61. Martin Luther King Jr.,
U.S. civil rights leader and clergy (1929-1968)
http://www.clipartguide.com/_search_terms/pd_martin_luther_king.html

62. Martin Luther King Jr.,
U.S. civil rights leader and clergy
(1929-1968)
“Injustice anywhere is a
threat to justice everywhere.”
Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/24974.html

65. That this nation
under God
shall have a new birth of freedom
-and that government
of the people by the people
for the people
shall not perish from the earth.
Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States, served (1861-1865)
Excerpt from his November 19, 1863 Gettysburg Address.

66. THE PERSON WE VOTE FOR CAN
CHANGE OUR LIVES AND THE LIVES
OF OTHERS FOREVER.

67. That is why
we must NEVER take
our
vote lightly.

68. A short listing of Issues and
Concerns
Eiginio Rodriguez has faced.
• • Infrastructure (Drainage,
Voting Rights Concerns
streets, lighting , water, gas,
• Water Protections
electricity)
• Roundabout Concerns
• Natural Disasters
• Environmental Contamination
• Egress Concerns
• Neighborhood Concerns
• Health, safety and welfare of
• Health Tuberculosis Concerns
others
• Fuel Tank Concerns
• Etc…
• Health Concerns

69. Thank You For Your Time.
Sincerely,
Eiginio Rodriguez
City of San Antonio District 5
2009 City Council Candidate.

70. In memory of Mrs. Zulema Galindo, an 84 year
old victim of County and City eminent domain
proceedings.
She stopped taking her medications after
finding that the help she expected from
current and past City Councilpersons, that
helped paint her house in 2007/08, would not
occur.
Laid to rest November 3, 2008.