SAN ANTONIO — Although the November midterm elections are still top of mind for many people, one group in San Antonio is already thinking about the 2023 ballot.

What You Need To Know

  • San Antonio activist group ACT4SA is working to get police reforms added to the May 2023 ballot

  • The SA Justice Charter would reform local police policies, ban no-knock warrants and decriminalize abortions and marijuana

  • Their goal is to get 35,000 signatures before January

  • “If we can have more money to spend to raise our community out of poverty, you will see the crime rate go down,” Ananda Tomas, executive director of Act4SA, said. “Much more than arresting and policing this away”

Fernando Aguilar grew up in San Antonio.

“I’ve lived here my entire life,” Aguilar said. “I know what underserved communities are looking for, and the kind of change they want to see in their community.”

Although he’s a military veteran, he’s still serving as a community organizer. Aguilar is speaking with voters, trying to get signatures for the San Antonio Justice Charter.

“We’re trying to do an initiative for next year’s May election,” Aguilar said to a voter.

The SA Justice Charter would reform local police policies, ban no-knock warrants and decriminalize abortions and marijuana.

“A lot of veterans using medical marijuana in places where it is legal,” Aguilar said. “This is at least a way if someone is struggling with PTSD they won’t get arrested for it.”

Ananda Tomas is the executive director of Act4SA. They’re pushing the justice charter to hopefully add an oversight justice director and ban chokeholds.

“A signature today will get us on the ballot in May,” said Tomas. “Help us from having so many police brutality case settlements. They’re not part of the police budget. They are your tax dollars.”

In just three years, Bexar County’s cite and release diversion program has saved $4.7 million in booking costs. Tomas says San Antonio can be a model for other Texas cities if these cost-saving reforms are adopted.

“If we can have more money to spend to raise our community out of poverty, you will see the crime rate go down,” Tomas said. “Much more than arresting and policing this away.”

The goal is to get 35,000 signatures before January.

For Aguilar, this is personal. The criminal justice system has affected his family, so he knows these reforms could help.

“Signing this petition just means we’ll see it on the ballot in May,” Fernando said. “Even if you don’t agree with everything on there, at least give us the right to express our democracy.”