SAN ANTONIO — Tino Munoz spends a lot of time in his man cave. Dallas Cowboys memorabilia and a Harlandale High School sign rest on the walls of the refurbished garage. 

“We watch games, do karaoke, and I have a dartboard,” Munoz said. 

It was his grandfather's garage. Pieces of it still remain as a reminder his roots were planted in this South San Antonio neighborhood nearly a century ago. 

What You Need To Know

  • Tino Munoz lives in South San Antonio and worries about the long-term health effects of metal yards. Concerns include debris, smoke and fires 

  • Council member Teri Castillo has issued a council consideration request (CCR) to initiate a review of current code regarding metal and auto recyclers
  • The CCR states that if the businesses don’t correct the code violations, it could result in temporarily ceasing operations, require air monitors for weeks to test air pollution and require fines to be paid to recoup city services like police, fire and EMS

  • Munoz doesn’t believe any change will happen

“We love it, but it’s been getting kind of trashy with all the metal yards, all of the car lots all over,” Munoz said. 

These yards have been around for as long as he’s been alive. 

“It just kept getting worse and worse and worse. Many times we’ve tried to get the city or City Council. It’s like it’s gone to deaf ears,” Munoz said. 

The city council member for the neighborhood, Teri Castillo, says those concerns are heard. 

“We filed a council consideration request (CCR) to initiate a review of current code regarding metal and auto recyclers,” Castillo said. 

Castillo says the CCR was inspired by Munoz’ 83-year-old mother’s story. She lives next door to Munoz.

Castillo says the neighborhood is worried about the debris left on the streets, the smoke in the air and the fires. 

“Just overall public health concerns with what they are inhaling,” Castillo said. 

The CCR states if the businesses don’t correct the code violations, that could result in temporarily ceasing operations, require air monitors for weeks to test air pollution and require fines to be paid to recoup city services like police, fire and EMS.

Castillo says they can’t do anything contrary to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

“Ultimately TCEQ is the state regulating body for these industries, which preempts a lot of work that we can do locally,” Castillo said. 

Which is why Castillo is requesting to modify current codes and to have a stakeholder committee during the process.

“It will likely include community members, industry folks, experts such as an environmentalist and folks that have an understanding of these types of industries on nearby communities,” Castillo said. 

The consideration request is still just a request and hasn’t made its way to the dais. 

Munoz doesn’t believe any change will happen. 

“Honestly, as long as I been here, I actually have no hope,” Munoz said. “I don’t think anything is ever going to be done, not in my life time. If anything it’s going to get worse.”