During a contentious debate Thursday over raising pay for San Antonio elected officials, Councilman Manny Pelaez — a mayoral candidate — called council colleague Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and local social-justice advocates 'poverty pimps.
The comment came as council locked in a heated debate over whether to amend the city charter to give elected leaders a pay raise.
"Poverty pimp" is a derogatory term used to describe people who exploit the vulnerability and suffering of marginalized communities for personal gain. District 2's McKee-Rodriguez, one of the most progressive members of the dais, has been among the vocal proponents for increasing council pay and has spoken about his need to take a part-time job as a public-school math teacher to make ends meet.
It's unclear who McKee-Rodriguez was referring to in his jab about missed meetings. Even so, it pissed off both District 8's Pelaez and District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda, who's reportedly mulling a mayoral run of her own. Both Pelaez and Cabello Havrda are attorneys, and both have missed meetings over recent months.
"We get to park wherever the hell we want," Pelaez said."All of us get invited to every Spurs game and all the high-ticket concerts. And by the way, those of us up here who talk about regular-ass people and regular folks and being poverty pimps and all that stuff, you'll see them all in the luxury suites and at luxury events and galas, right?"
District 2 Councilman Jalen Mckeerodriguez City Council Pay Raises City Charter Amendments Local Politics San Antonio News
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Documentary featuring San Antonio band Pariah to debut this week at San Antonio Film FestivalSan Antonio metal band Pariah will feature heavily in a new documentary about infamous Austin rock venue The Back Room, which will make its debut this weekend at the San Antonio Film Festival. Bloody & Bruised: The Untold Story of the Back Room, directed by J. Budro Partida, will screen this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Radius Center.
Read more »
San Antonio's CineFestival, the nation's longest-running Latino film festival, starts ThursdayCineFestival, the longest-running Latino film festival in the nation, is back for its 45th edition.
Read more »
Rey Lopez throwing birthday bash Thursday at San Antonio's Bonham ExchangeYou’d never guess it from his baby face and boyish demeanor, but local LGBTQ+ nightlife innovator Rey Lopez is turning 49 years young this month.
Read more »
Donny Osmond plays San Antonio's Tobin Center this ThursdayDonny Osmond, a singer and entertainer whose career spans six decades, will play the Tobin Center's H-E-B Performance Hall this Thursday.
Read more »
Ozone Action Day alert issued for Thursday in San AntonioThursday, Aug. 8, has been declared an Ozone Action Day in San Antonio by The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.ity.
Read more »
Listen: Kathy Sosa and Antonio Arelle Barquet bring San Antonio artists to MexicoEpisode 64 of BigCitySmallTown features Kathy Sosa and Antonio Arelle Barquet on bringing San Antonio artists to Querétaro, Mexico.
Read more »