Bexar County Medical Society: April 2017

Thursday, April 27, 2017

AMA Urges Congress to Oppose Amended Health Care Reform Bill

Friday, April 21, 2017

CD 9 David Cohen

Candidates for elected city offices were all asked the same questions by the Bexar County Medical Society and have submitted answers to those questions as shown below.
This information is provided as a service from the Bexar County Medical Society, but is not an endorsement.
BCMS does not make endorsements of any candidates for office nor of elected officials.

David Cohen

City Council District 9

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well-being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

I consider “safety” as the number one obligation of City Government. Safety includes not only police, fire and EMS but Public Health. Metro Health has been critically underfunded. Despite the current risk of vector borne diseases such as Zika, Dengue, Chagas and Chikungunya, Metro Health has had only one or two personnel credentialed to spray and control mosquitos and other vectors. Metro Health has gone without a Director for two years and only just appointed a new one. Metro Health and/or Bexar County Hospital District have programs which need to be expanded for mosquito control, pre-natal and post-natal well baby care, and immunizations. As Medicaid has decreased, I believe we need to expand low cost community health clinics and increase eligibility for CareLink and other similar programs. San Antonio has a disproportionally high rate of diabetes and obesity which lead to large populations with cardiac, renal, wound care and other issues. Lack of good outpatient care for our indigent population costs the community greatly in the necessity to provide inpatient care because of neglect. I plan to work with our new Head of the Metropolitan Health District, Dr. Colleen Bridger to advocate for these and other programs and to use the bully pulpit of city government to encourage the Bexar County Hospital District and other agencies to expand community access to low cost outpatient care. A healthy San Antonio including our indigent population improves the health of residents in all City Council Districts. I plan to not only represent the interests of District 9 but work for programs which are beneficial to all residents of San Antonio.

2. Bexar County is the primary source of funding for indigent health care in our area through the Bexar County Hospital District and University Health System. How would you, if elected, promote cooperative efforts to increase services and access to care for the citizens of San Antonio?

I have alluded to this in the answer to the first question. The Bexar County Hospital District (BCHD) which is a separate taxing entity is controlled by a board appointed by the county government. Although most of Bexar County is the City of San Antonio, the city government has little sway over the BCHD. As a physician on the City Council, however, I can use the bully pulpit of city government to work with BCHD and advocate for increased funding for indigent patients and improved access to outpatient care. As a physician in practice in San Antonio, I find it extremely difficult to get indigent patients of mine into Care Link or admitted to University Hospital because of the extremely low income ceiling restricting this care to only the most desperately indigent patients. I would work with not only BCHD but our other hospitals to advocate for expanded indigent care and seek ways for the city to stimulate these programs.

3. The disparity of health care between our poorest and wealthiest zip codes/districts is quite striking (Bexar County Health Collaborative 2016 report). How would you, if elected, reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for our lower income communities/citizens?

As a physician, I see this disparity every day. We have a world class University Hospital and Medical School, great cancer and cardiac care and marvelous hospitals which are available to our insured and more affluent population. Because of EMTALA rules our indigent patients can access this care but only in an emergency setting which is often late for the patient and costly for the hospitals and community at large. The answer as noted above is to develop lower cost outpatient programs so that our indigent population can access care earlier and in a more cost-effective setting. With a medical school and a new Osteopathic School, we should be able to staff community outpatient clinics using faculty and students of these schools to provide better care for our patients and good teaching opportunities. I will look for ways to fund such programs. “Safety” includes public health and public health should include community health.

4. San Antonio has a high incidence of obesity and diabetes mellitus and has been ranked as high as second in the nation for obesity in recent years. Past city efforts attempting to improve these rates, such as trying to reduce the prevalence of sugary drinks in our community, have been met with controversy. What ideas do you have to reduce the incidence of these chronic health issues?

Obesity and resulting Diabetes is a tough problem. If I can solve this problem, I would like you to nominate me to be the Surgeon General. We try though education and public information to encourage good eating habits, exercise, avoidance of sugary drinks, lard in our tortillas and high calorie foods. Education and encouragement only works if the patient wants to follow the advice. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We live in a free society and I do not advocate the coercive programs adopted in New York City and elsewhere to put high taxes on sugary drinks and ban large cups. I also think that extremely high taxes on cigarettes so that they cost $17 a pack or so are counterproductive because they result in an illegal black market. In a free society, people have a right to make bad choices. We must continue education and encouragement by continuing to require restaurants and food packaging to display calories and other nutritional information as well as public service announcements with nutritional and lifestyle information. As a community, we must continue to provide good parks, bike trails and recreational facilities to make it fun and safe to get out of the house and exercise. We must also accept the fact that there is a population that will be resistant to all of these efforts, yet as a city and as physicians we still need to provide them care.

5. According to the CDC, child abuse and neglect are serious problems that can have lasting harmful effects on its victims. The goal in preventing child abuse and neglect is clear — to stop this violence from happening in the first place. What local policies, resources and efforts will you support to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families?

Child abuse is a terrible problem. It seems to be increasing in our community although it is difficult to tell if it is more prevalent or if this problem was just better hidden and less obvious in the past. There are many victims in these families including the child but also the abusive parent or parents and enablers who do not help. The break-up of the nuclear family as well as the extended family plays a major role in child abuse. The abuser often, but not necessarily has substance abuse or other mental health issues. Protection of the child is of paramount importance. Mental health, substance abuse treatment and family counseling, if successful, can rehabilitate the home environment, which may be better for the child than being taken away from the family and raised in a foster care or other setting. Child protective services is a critical community resource and we need to fund and staff it so that counselors have appropriate caseloads to carefully monitor and protect their patients. The city government needs to support and fund family courts and police units which intervene in family disturbances. These are particularly dangerous police assignments but they are necessary to protect our children as well as our Child Protective Service personnel. Ensuring the protection of our next generation of San Antonians is a critical mission of city government.

CD 8 Paul Martin

Paul Martin

City Council District 8

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

Obesity and diabetes are major problems for our city. We should be making a much bigger effort to combat them.

I need to learn more about this issue before offering solutions, but I do want to learn more about how healthcare is provided to the poor.

The disparities are primarily related to wealth and income, so poorer areas need more healthcare support.

I think that promoting awareness and education are the primary ways to begin tackling the problem.

Education is critical and I would work to promote all forms of education to help reduce child abuse and neglect.

Jennifer Rushton, MD, for AMA Alternative Delegate

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

CD 10 John Alvarez

John Alvarez
City Council District 10
2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

As a Licensed Professional Counselor working with at-risk populations, community health and wellness is among my top priorities and a public servant. The city of San Antonio has several opportunities for improving the health and well being of its citizens. We must take ethical and stringent environmental protection measures so that our citizens are able to breath clean air and drink clean water. We can take measures as a city to improve access to outdoor activities and increased exercise. We should make sure that all citizens have access to, and are made aware of, mental and physical healthcare options. We can increase education and outreach for parents as to proper child health, nutrition, and immunization practices.

As the former Chairman of the SA2020 Commission on Strengthening Family Well Being and an elected representative to the Community Action Advisory Board, care for the indigent population of San Antonio was one our main focuses. San Antonio is a model of providing care to its indigent population for the entire nation but we can do more. With a change in strategy and a focus on "Housing First" models, we can help to stabilize indigent citizens and end homelessness. This model will help to provide regular mental and physical health care which will prevent emergency room visits, which helps indigent people and reduce costs for hospitals and the city.

First is education. With increased outreach and education, we can help families in poor zip codes to find new information and avenues to care for themselves and their families. But the harsh reality is that health disparity is based on income disparity. San Antonio is one of the most financially disparate cities in America. In order to fix this root issue, we must address disparities in public education, minimum wage, and access to healthcare for all people.

I support initiatives that encourage better nutrition but I also think that we can do more to increase physical exercise and education. Many other Texas cities have more public outdoor options that are suitable to hot weather activity (i.e. pools, splash pads, etc.) San Antonio has not focused on improving nutrition or increasing activity options in their attempts to combat obesity and diabetes. I also believe that the City of San Antonio could create a stronger partnership with its public schools to improve habit forming activities for our children.

In my previously mentioned public service positions and as a psychotherapist working with children, this is an issue that has remained a difficult problem to solve. Despite focus and resources being provided to this ongoing tragedy, there are underlying systemic factors that are causing improvement to be almost non-existent. As a city, we can strengthen our partnership with public schools, the Children's Shelter, and the multiple foster care and child abuse prevention agencies in our community. We also must lobby to the Texas Legislature for reform and improvement of CPS and other child and family services state wide. Child abuse will remain an issue that I will continue to focus on throughout my career and public service but it has thus far been the largest problem with the greatest lack of actionable solutions.

CD 10 Eric Robert Morse

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

Physical health and fitness are essential to a high standard of living. The local government can help in several ways: First, by eliminating any regulations that limit or otherwise hinder individuals and families from making their own choices when it comes to health and wellness. Second, by maintaining and protecting existing public parks so that citizens can make the most of them. Third, by overhauling zoning and code ordinances to allow for more walkable and livable neighborhoods.

I would reduce regulations that limit charitable organizations from operating, and those that prevent individuals and families from participating in healthy lifestyles.

The best way to help the poorest obtain a healthy lifestyle is to make them wealthy. The local government can help by reducing any limitations or regulations that prevent the poor from becoming self-sufficient and productive.

The worst foods are often the cheapest. They are the cheapest in large part because of government subsidies (such as those for high fructose corn syrup). Get rid of the subsidies and you will see an equalizing between healthy and unhealthy edibles, and, ultimately, this will make healthy foods more appealing and accessible.

Safe and healthy families are integral to a flourishing community. Local governments can help first by protecting the lives of innocent children from violence, and this principle begins when the children are still in the womb. Once we have guaranteed the protection of all innocent lives, we can work on reducing the policies that destabilize families such as extreme drug laws, as well as welfare and wage controls that incentivize joblessness.

CD 9 Matt Pina

Matt Pina

City Council District 9

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

I would focus on maternal and child health, especially preconception healthcare. To decrease the health equity gap, we need to start at the beginning. This is even before parents think about conceiving. A high rate of children are born into families where they were unplanned. The lack of educational and economic ability to plan accordingly has a generational compounding effect. Having an unplanned pregnancy leads to a fetal environment that is at risk, examples include low amounts folic acid during the beginning stages of development and/or unhealthy behaviors, such as drinking alcohol.

In San Antonio, the number of women who access prenatal care has fallen since 2010. Often births that have had no prenatal healthcare lead to lower birth rates and high risk deliveries. Creating increased attention on health prior to conceiving will lead to a healthier population. I recommend partnering with our communities and schools to discuss what it means to be healthy.

We cannot expand funding in a direction where there is not enough data to explain a) if the current population who would qualify for indigent health care is receiving the services b) if they are not, why so and c) who is the population that needs access should the services be expanded.

More importantly trying to raise the funds for these services through private means as the data is starting to suggest that there are negative effects for our poorest community members when we use public funds over long periods of time.

Preventive medicine, in a way, is diet. A healthier diet and exercise is often cited as a way to avoid certain diseases and illnesses, like diabetes mellitus. San Antonio has wide food deserts and most of the impacted areas are lower on the socioeconomic scale. We need to partner with local organizations to find healthy low-cost food solutions. The other side is economic, currently the city has created stagnant economic policies that prevent our poorest citizens from granting youth opportunities and old age security. Nothing creates a bigger disparity of health then a lack of a job.

I do not think that we can regulate the prevalence of sugary drinks. This will not change the cultural dynamic of consumption. Over the years there has been great strides and programs to increase healthy activity in both children and adults. Síclovía for example has been great at bringing out people who would normally stay in. However, as we change the infrastructure of the city we need to make sure its friendly towards walking and biking. The idea is to create cultural shift towards health not just create programs.

I would work to develop programs with and through community leaders and schools dedicated for parent(s) to learn parenting techniques. Often abusive behavior can stem from personal frustration as a parent, so increasing the parent’s self-efficacy to guide and correct their child in a healthy way will prevent harmful behavior. To help with neglect, the parent(s) need to be receiving their own needs. Other policies will trickle into helping stop child abuse by creating a good economy in San Antonio by decreasing barriers for small businesses.

CD 8 Cynthia Brehm

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

What health-related areas do you think deserve increased attention, priority, and local resources, and, if elected, how would you elevate the discussion of these health issues at City Hall and lead effective action to improve health and healthcare in our community?

Health and wellness is an area San Antonio should focus on. According to the sanantonio.gov website, “[j]ust under1 million adults (71%) in Bexar County are classified as overweight or obese based on their Body Mass Index.” Further, the website goes on to say that “[i]n 2014, 14.2% of Bexar County adults had been diagnosed with diabetes…” There are other areas of concern that require our attention such as: high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, which all circles back to proper nutrition and exercise. These are not the only areas of concern in Bexar County. Other health issues include teen pregnancy, congenital syphilis, air quality, drug abuse, and tuberculosis just to name a few.

Educating the public is critical in creating a change within our community. Adding health care tables to Town Hall Meetings to where citizens can gather information and get their blood pressure checked, blood sugar levels, BMI, and nutritional information resources would be a good start. Creating a team of professionals that can go to schools and present healthcare issues and answer questions for students. Starting a mobile RV that will go into blighted or elder neighborhoods for well checks might be an idea. Dissemination of information in both English and Spanish will be key factors in educating the public.

This can be accomplished through community services, education and dissemination of information in both English and Spanish. See my answer in question 1.

Eliminating or screening those that abuse the system, so that those with real needs can get the healthcare he or she requires would be a great start. There must be a system of checks and balances. Too many people that are able bodied people are robbing from the disadvantaged to avoid paying for healthcare to save money. As I mentioned earlier adding a Mobile Wellness Mobile that would go into the poor neighborhoods to heighten education and provide simple checkups would be beneficial.

I like the idea of adding fitness equipment to parks under a gazebo for easy access. They have been doing this in California for a number of years and have proven to be successful, for example they have a fitness center at Venice Beach that is open to the public. Adding more lighted hiking trails to parks or neighborhoods would encourage citizens to get out, as well as bike paths.

There are too many infants and children suffering from abuse and worse yet death because of ignorance. By providing family wellness instruction to go along with prenatal care we can begin remedying the situation. It needs to be made into a comprehensive program. It grieves my heart beyond measure to read in the newspaper that an adult male in his 20’s thought it was okay to take a 14-month-old toddler by the ankles and toss her into the air and watch her fall. When the child was injured and unresponsive, he shook her and was taken to the hospital where sadly, she passed away from her injuries. These young parents need to be taught how to care for a child—what is proper and improper care. For example, how to support the baby’s neck, what to expect from a newborn baby, how often to feed, and what to feed, sanitation of bottles, hygiene, teaching a child to speak and reading to a child, discipline insofar as what is acceptable and unacceptable according to Child Protective Services. etc. Lastly, COSA should begin using PSA’s to create a dialogue within the community about the Baby Moses Law using social media, the City website, billboards, radio, television, and adding it to all correspondence on envelopes as a message to the public. I was told that San Antonio has the highest incidence of child abuse totaling 5000 cases per year, and that is too much.

CD 5 Cynthia Cavazos

Cynthia Cavazos
City Council District 5

2017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates

Health Care Questions

>
>
> 1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.
> What health-related areas do you think deserve increased attention, priority, and local resources, and, if elected, how would you elevate the discussion of these health issues at City Hall and lead effective action to improve health and healthcare in our community?
>
I am going to be honest...with respect, Our city have much to deal with when it regard Health Care+ I was homeless for many years and I was a club member at the University Hospital due to not having anywhere to go or for study.
My bills piled up,but the Shelter took over payments while we were in their care.
I will note the amount of money a person pay for service is too expensive - on my salary of 10.30 an hour, I could possibly pay a bill without insurance if I had been able to work forty hours a week.
Should Our President Trump raise the minimum wage...We may have to still keep an eye out on Employment through out the city, away from city employee or the constituent body who is employed by the city as not a job or known as a City Employee.
Health Care as well as Indigent Health Care( I.H.C the dollar the government pay to y'all the hospital should your minority or others not pay their bill.)
Should y'all were to appropriate the Budget- decrease the amount of dollars for each service or lab being done...y'all would accrue more revenue on a daily,weekly,bi-weekly, and monthly time span. MRI: expensive...with respect, this machine has computer monitors which download to film. Keeping a database without the internet chip will allow safe keeping of patient records by following safety protocol and making a backup disk at many if needed.
If y'all can decrease the amount of prices, you will have more patients going on to be evaluated,which will have money to spend up front, and who know they will have the medical the need based on the decrease of prices.
>>
> 2. Bexar County is the primary source of funding for indigent health care in our area through the Bexar County Hospital District and University Health System. How would you, if elected, promote cooperative efforts to increase services and access to care for the citizens of San Antonio?
>
> As denoted above U foresee the Health Community as the Hub of the Constituent Body, minority to the wealthy. Enabling Dental into for extractions without pay up front is a good idea, at least you will have that hand and helping them keep or attain employment. Many people in our constituent body do not know how to care for their teeth...much less have the capita to pay for service. Should y'all decrease the prices of labs, and keep a minimum of twenty five dollars a minimum for those with a certain income...you will have those payments.
I would help y'all to understand the importance of decreasing that dollar and adding services, Care Link is a program through UT Health, and I understand it is not insurance...but, if yall allow that dental without that added premium, it would be easier for the patient to pay into that bill.
>
>> 3. The disparity of health care between our poorest and wealthiest zip codes/districts is quite striking (Bexar County Health Collaborative 2016 report). How would you, if elected, reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for our lower income communities/citizens?
>
> The Minority based on income have the Care Link Program or Medicaid, and based on this, There is no need to change the poverty level for service.
>>
> 4. San Antonio has a high incidence of obesity and diabetes mellitus and has been ranked as high as second in the nation for obesity in recent years. Past city efforts attempting to improve these rates, such as trying to reduce the prevalence of sugary drinks in our community, have been met with controversy. What ideas do you have to reduce the incidence of these chronic health issues?
>
> The city does have a problem with Diabetes and Obesity, and based on study ethics and statistics....y'all know our constituent body have to become trained in areas to keep satisfactory amounts of "The Food Pyramid" which I am not sure why it was taken. The intake of the constituent body by herbs, spices, fruits and vegetables is what I will enforce in our community-they will have that added experience to know how to care for their body when they are having an diabetic attack. Low Blood , intake something sweet and call the Dr. High Blood, intake something sour and call the Dr.
Glucose I have noticed remind me of Aloe- I am not sure...but as a favor, can y'all test Aloe with abscesses,and diabetes as well as other ailments.
There is a cure their" I did research on herbs and spices.
For cancer...I have not read up on this part yet...but, I know alcohol destroy bacteria and fungus. Based on the deformity of the virus (any) the virus would decrease based on the absence of the cell missing its code.
>
>> 5. According to the CDC, child abuse and neglect are serious problems that can have lasting harmful effects on its victims. The goal in preventing child abuse and neglect is clear — to stop this violence from happening in the first place. What local policies, resources and efforts will you support to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families?
>
> This is an excellent subject for debate.
I have many cures, and the cures have been instituted based on my University Education at Our Lady of The Lake and University of Phoenix, Living Homeless is also a benefactor to my findings as a single mother with children and without.
Rule in our Judiciary System can be of the Military-Corporal Punishment without the abuse. I am trying to get a topic for debate-I am charging five dollars for each person who attend. This would be the topic.

I will be getting this Social Services part done, they will have the hospital resources and non profit reiteration to keep our communities at citizens in good standing.

CD 4 Rey Guevara

Candidates for elected city offices were all asked the same questions by the Bexar County Medical Society and have submitted answers to those questions as shown below.

This information is provided as a service from the Bexar County Medical Society, but is not an endorsement.

BCMS does not make endorsements of any candidates for office nor of elected officials.

Rey GuevaraCity Council District 42017 Mayoral/City Council Candidates Health Care Questions

1. Despite affecting everyone in this community, "community health and wellness" has not been a big priority at City Hall. "Community health and wellness" had one third of the ranking that "streets" received in community input via SpeakUPSanAntonio. Yet it impacts our well being, workforce, economic development and the prosperity of San Antonio.

I’m very concerned about nutrition and nutrition awareness in San Antonio, and in District 4 particularly. Over the past few months, while considering what my role as city councilman would mean for my district, I’ve thought of ways to create awareness of nutrition options, goals, and resources on San Antonio’s west side. I would like to see city-wide programs in schools which motivate young people to evaluate the food they eat more closely.

I want to motivate the healthcare industry in San Antonio because it is, obviously, an important part of our identity as a city and because it reflects and provides the most basic needs for our neighbors. I look forward to working with the medical community to have a stronger presence in our low income communities, and, while I am considered the anti-spending candidate in my district, I have always tried to make a point of saying that certain areas require tax-payer funding in order to uphold the dignity of the human person. I consider healthcare to be a necessity. I am not opposed to spending tax dollars to expand health services in the city.

2. Bexar County is the primary source of funding for indigent health care in our area through the Bexar County Hospital District and University Health System. How would you, if elected, promote cooperative efforts to increase services and access to care for the citizens of San Antonio?

I am strongly opposed to increasing the tax burden on San Antonians. However, I hope to identify and curb spending enough in the city that more tax dollars are available to spend on important things in the city. In general, I support using existing tax revenue to assist the medical industry in awareness campaigns and outreach in the city. I am certainly open to more specific ideas and look forward to working together with medical professions to implement them.

Again, I think there is a need for a committed effort in raising awareness of healthcare services in low income communities. I’m a child of the west side. I grew up lower-middle class. I still don’t know a lot about my healthcare needs and how to address them for myself! This is why I frequently bring up the idea of awareness campaigns in schools. Kids should grow up with an understanding of how to address medical needs in their communities.

I’ve also been vocal about the need for new, modern healthcare facilities on the south side of San Antonio. I am hopeful that city council, with or without me, can work with the private sector to build a new hospital on the south side and motivate medical professionals to invest in the south side.

4. San Antonio has a high incidence of obesity and diabetes mellitus and has been ranked as high as second in the nation for obesity in recent years. Past city efforts attempting to improve these rates, such as trying to reduce the prevalence of sugary drinks in our community, have been met with controversy. What ideas do you have to reduce the incidence of these chronic health issues?

I looked at my own issues with weight and identified my lack of knowledge of proper nutrition growing up as an issue. I also identified my lack of access to healthy foods as an issue. I grew up with these two problems and it formed a man who has no clue how to be healthy.

I am sold on at least one idea, which you have probably gathered by now. The government of San Antonio needs to work aggressively with school districts and local leaders on programs that will address these issues for the next generation of San Antonians. Furthermore, we need to invest in grocery stores and places where communities on the south side can have access to healthy food alternatives.

5. According to the CDC, child abuse and neglect are serious problems that can have lasting harmful effects on its victims. The goal in preventing child abuse and neglect is clear — to stop this violence from happening in the first place. What local policies, resources and efforts will you support to promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children and families?

I want to empower existing organizations in schools, churches, and other community programs that promote healthy values in our youth. I want to make law enforcement and social services accessible options for families and I want to reduce the stigma associated with seeking these services. I also want to help mental health services have a presence in low income areas and, again, reduce the stigma associated with seeking those services. I consider myself a young, modern and progressive man who isn’t tied to the prejudices of older generations, and even I caught myself looking down on mental health services when I first sought treatment for my depression.

The only way we normalize mental health care is to make a point of discussing it in public. As a person with diagnosed depression and as a person with family members who live with mental health issues, I believe I am a strong voice for mental health care. I advocate for it in my personal life, and I will advocate for it in San Antonio as city councilman.