District 3 Councilmember Prioritizes Maintaining Alleyways

Published on August 15, 2024

SAN ANTONIO (August 15, 2024) — District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran continues working diligently with residents to communicate innovative ways to help maintain alleyways and keep them cleared. During the late spring and summer, City of San Antonio Code Officers in the Southside are addressing numerous reports of overgrown alleyways daily. Maintaining clean alleyways is a city code mandate, covering issues from overgrown vegetation to trash. With more than 700 alleyways in District 3, primarily in older residential areas behind homes and small businesses, assistance is vital for those receiving citations.

This year, the City initiated the Senior Assistance Pilot Program to aid seniors and the disabled facing overgrown vegetation violations. Each City Council district received $10,000, with an additional $5,000 committed to District 3 due to its high senior population. Almost all the Senior Assistance fund allocated for District 3 has been utilized in less than eight months, and the Councilmember asks for equitable distribution to be considered based on districts' fund usage in the future.

“Our office has received multiple concerns from residents about their alleyways, from illegal dumping to speeding,” the Councilmember said. “As the representative for the Southside, it is import we work with our residents, neighborhood associations, and stakeholders to keep our neighborhoods clean and safe.” 

Community members can access the Community Tool Shed for equipment to clean yards or alleyways. This resource, combined with the Dial-A-Trailer program, offers free tools like shears and shovels for community clean-ups. 

Empowering and educating the community about available resources to address alleyway issues is crucial for the City’s South and Southeast sides. Collaboration with the Texas House of Representatives on legislation to allow residents to put up deterrent signs in alleyways is underway.

Residents are urged to report issues to 311 and 911, organize clean-up days with neighbors, and support state legislation for resident advocacy, especially for seniors.