Councilman focuses on family violence
Fellow members signal support for his policy changes
There’s no question that preventing domestic violence in San Antonio is a key concern for District 8 City Councilman Manny Peláez.
He’s served as an attorney for the Battered Women and Children’s Shelter, which his mom, Marta Peláez, oversees as president and CEO of Family Violence Prevention Services. His sister also has worked in the field. So it’s not a surprise when he brings up family violence issues in the City Council chambers.
“My mother would have grounded me for the rest of my life if I didn’t make this a priority,” he likes to say.
Now in his third term, Peláez already pushed City Council toward a comprehensive assessment of domestic violence in 2019. But he says he’s not done yet.
Last month, he submitted three proposals for policy changes related to family violence, human trafficking and education. One of Peláez’s proposals confronts recent action by Gov. Greg Abbott that allows parents to opt out their children from receiving information on things like dating violence and child abuse. The other two proposals aim to increase awareness of the issue.
Council members Mario Bravo, Adriana Rocha Garcia, Teri Castillo, Melissa Cabello Havrda and Ana Sandoval all signaled their support in writing for the various proposals.
“I’m excited because I have yet to talk to anybody out there who objects to this,” Peláez said.
In a roundtable discussion last week, Marta Peláez said over the last 22 years, she repeatedly has confronted City Council “perhaps in a disrespectful manner” for not taking enough of an interest in preventing domestic violence. The issue, she said, needs to be exposed consistently to the community.
“This, with this new council and with Mayor (Ron) Nirenberg, has been the very first time that they have addressed and they intend to stay on message and to be consistent with their support,” Peláez said.
Family violence education
A new, bipartisan state law that takes effect next month will require schools to teach students about child abuse and family violence at least once in middle and high school.
It also includes the option for parents to remove their students from that instruction.
“We in the domestic violence sector were just appalled,” Peláez said.
The opt-out choice was included after Abbott vetoed the bill when it first came to his desk.
“I have vetoed similar legislation before on this ground, because we must safeguard parental rights regarding this type of instruction,” Abbott said in a memo at the time.
In response, Peláez wanted to look at what San Antonio could do to bolster education on domestic violence and similar topics.
That’s how he landed on a policy proposal that would require schools and universities, public or private, to provide students with
that instruction if those schools receive city funding or work with the city in some way, like through contracts or the use of city facilities. There isn’t an opt-out option this time.
“It occurred to me we could plug up that silly hole the governor created,” Peláez said.
He acknowledged it could put school districts and universities in a tight spot if officials have to choose between following city ordinance or state law for a parent who wants to opt out. He said he hasn’t heard from any schools yet about objections.
The instruction could include materials that schools already have from existing experts on those subjects.
“We’re not asking them to invent anything new,” he said.
Sharing resources
The second of Peláez’s policy requests would require places of public accommodation to post signs in bathrooms that show prevention resources for domestic violence and sex trafficking.
The city already posts signage at some buildings like libraries and the airport. The requirement would be new for private businesses like bars or restaurants that have bathrooms open to the public or customers.
“We know these bathrooms are oftentimes an oasis where people are safe from their abuser,” Peláez said.
Many people already see signs in bathrooms that inform employees they must wash their hands before returning to work. Peláez likened new signage to that.
He said he’s spoken to business owners and chambers of commerce that are on board with the proposal.
“There seems to be acceptance of this because they also realize we’re talking about their employees,” Peláez said.
Public outreach
Peláez also wants to take advantage of all the public interactions the city has with its residents to learn more about people who may need help.
For example, thousands of people interact with municipal courts every week.
“You may be looking at a domestic violence issue, where the judges and prosecutors could be frontline spotters,” Peláez said.
He wants everyone who works for the city to be the eyes and ears on the ground.
His last domestic violence-related policy proposal would do that by increasing messaging in “everything the city does.”
It could be bill inserts through CPS Energy and the San Antonio Water System. Or training for code enforcement officers who may encounter homes and families on a regular basis.
“City-related services create potential touchpoints to engage in outreach and build awareness about how to identify family violence and trafficking, how to report it, and how to seek support,” Peláez wrote.
Family violence killings
An Express-news investigation published earlier this month found that family violence killings are on the rise in the city. The series detailed the justice system’s shortcomings in holding abusers accountable and protecting victims.
It found that of urban counties across Texas, Bexar County had the lowest conviction rate and the highest dismissal rate for family violence assault cases
from 2011 through 2020.
So what kind of change does Peláez want to see stem from his policy proposals, which aren’t directly involved with the justice system or law enforcement?
“Success, in my eyes, is measured by the number of funerals that don’t happen,” he said.