VOL. 9 • NUM 37
www.LaPrensaTexas.com
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La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
Let’s Talk About It:
Founded 1913 - Fundada en 1913
Is There Really Shame in Being Brown?
Publisher / Editora: Yvette Tello y.tello@laprensatexas.com Community Liaison / Enlace Comunitario: Ramon Chapa Jr. r.chapa@laprensatexas.com Advertising & Production Coordinator / Coordinadora de Publicidad y Producción: Jessica Medrano Contributors / Colaboradores: Dr. Ricardo Romo Priscilla Sanchez - Hurt info@laprensatexas.com Editor Español: José I. Franco Sales Representative / Representante de Ventas: Maria Cisneros La Prensa Texas is a grassroots, bilingual publication that serves as a vital voice for the community especially for those who are too often left out of mainstream media conversations. Since its founding, La Prensa Texas has been dedicated to providing relevant, accessible, and culturally rooted news that reflects the lives, struggles, and triumphs of the people of San Antonio and surrounding counties. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to inform, inspire, and empower our readers through storytelling that uplifts the diverse voices of our community. This publication continues to be the lifeline of local news, bridging the gap between the people and the stories that matter most.
Send Press Releases and Advertising Inquiries to: Info@LaPrensaTexas.com 210-628-9611
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By Yvette Tello
I had a teacher growing up who clearly favored the white kids in class. I noticed who got called on, who got praised for the same work I was doing. I didn’t know what was going on or what to call it but it did not feel good. Then, as an adult, I was told I was not “Mexican” because I wasn’t born in Mexico. So that made me “Americana ( with a wave of disgust).” I know I’m not the only one who’s felt this tug-ofwar. So many of us grew up watching kids loudly announce “I don’t speak Spanish” like it was a badge of honor. A way to blend in. A way to avoid being seen as “too much” of anything. And can you blame anyone for learning that lesson? For decades, speaking Spanish wasn’t just discouraged in this country in Texas, it was literally illegal in schools until 1973. Illegal. So of course kids picked up on that. Of course some of us learned to distance ourselves from our own language, our own roots, our own last names even, just to feel like we belonged. Nobody sat us down and said “be ashamed of where you come from” — but
the message got through loud and clear anyway. Nobody has to say it out loud for you to absorb it. Being bilingual isn’t a weakness. Better job opportunities, richer relationships, a deeper connection to family and culture. We should’ve been celebrated for it. There is no shame in being brown. There is no shame in your accent, your abuela’s Spanish, your familia’s traditions, or the fact that maybe you don’t fit neatly into anyone’s idea of what “Mexican enough” or “American enough” looks like. You’re allowed to be all of it, messy and whole at the same time. Did you ever feel that shame growing up, even if nobody ever said it directly? Are you realizing right now, maybe for the first time, that it was there all along, quietly shaping how you saw yourself? Or were you lucky enough to grow up somewhere that celebrated your heritage instead of erasing it? Let’s talk about it…. Blue Rose Alvarez: “As a child growing up on San Antonio’s Westside, I attended Las Palmas Elementary. Around the 4th grade, we moved to a house near Babcock and St. Cloud, and our new school was Maverick Elementary. On the first day of school, a Mrs. Rable introduced my sister and me as “two little Mexican girls.” My sister was pretty shy, but I waved to the class and said, “Hola!” LOL… I don’t think I had ever used that word before in my young life! I didn’t speak in school that first day, and the teacher wasn’t sure if I spoke English. The truth is, we were bilingual,
but it was hilarious watching them try to figure that out. We had already met some kids in the neighborhood who knew we spoke English, but they didn’t say a word. Some of these new friends had one or both Hispanic parents but had been students at the school since first grade, so they had never been singled out. The next day, someone asked me if I wanted to play kickball. I answered, “Yes,” and we laughed all the way to the playground.” Ricardo Rodriguez: “Awesome Yvette, you hit several points right on the nose !!! Please save and repost this !! I’m sure Thousands of Others identify with what you Said.( Your Friend , and favorite Bartender)! Rick Joe N Lisa Ortiz: “Amen my friend. I was segregated to a different school across town because it was all white and we couldn’t speak Spanish in class, they used to throw things at the bus like eggs and tomatoes. They would say go home bean eaters, I got in fights every day they would jump me in the restroom. I had about 5 cousins at school and we would beat them up after school. lol” Jazmin D. Zuñiga: “I was a child when I came to the United States. I completed all my schooling here. Years later, as a mother, I went to my first appointment at Brady Green. The woman at the desk couldn’t pronounce my married last name. I corrected her,not in a rude way, just so she could say it properly. She snapped back and said, “Whatever! it’s still
Mexican.” Then I replied loudly: *And you? What are you? You look Mexican to me!” Everyone behind that desk turned. She was a Mexican American who looked more Mexican than I did con el nopal en la frente, like my mom always used to say (lol). That experience stayed with me for 40 years. Jesus said, “Love one another.” Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case in the USA or around the world.” Rosiebella GV: “Mija Once a Mexican, always a Mexican. Your ancestors left that beautiful legacy for you. And you’re a beautiful one. It’s funny you mentioned that, I feel sometimes when I say I’m not from Texas they look at me like I’m not a real Mexican lol. Do I care? “no” ? It is an honor to speak 4 languages, especially Spanish . Viva La Raza” Linda Gaitan Estrada: “I Wasn’t Born Mexican By Choice I Got Fking Lucky. Brown And Proud. I love all your post, Ma” Ana Banda: “I bought my first home as a single mom on my own at age 25, my boss at the time told me I would foreclose because I was just a woman! And a Mexican! Luckily, I remembered that I am a Mexican woman and I am capable! (mi papa me dijo “Nunca digas Que tu no puedes” ) and so I kept my casita and still own it to this day! And plot twist, as a Texas Licensiada de Real Estate, I help everyone! including my beloved familias Mexicanas! #sisepuede and took ESL classes as a kid #VamosConTodo”
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About the Cover
The Story of Moonstruck Foundation Inc By Yvette Tello On the morning of September 11, 2001, Priscilla Hurt was in New York City. What she witnessed that day would shape the rest of her life and, in time, the lives of thousands of families across Bexar County. For years afterward, the sight of a firetruck brought her back to that morning. A wail of sirens, a flash of red; what should have been a symbol of safety had become a trigger for grief. Many who lived through 9/11 carry some version of this: an ordinary sight forever rewired into a reminder of loss. Priscilla lost people she loved that day. And for a long time, there was no way to separate the sorrow from the sound of an engine passing by. Then came the idea that would change everything. What if the same image that carried so much pain could be reclaimed as a source of joy? No more trigger. Now, it’s glimmer. The simple shift in language from trigger to glimmer became the founding principle of the Moonstruck Foundation Inc. Built in 2004 as a living tribute to the heroes of September 11, the Foundation set out to transform fear into wonder, and grief into gratitude, by reconnecting people with firetrucks in the most
joyful way imaginable: through the universal childhood dream of climbing aboard a big, red, shiny antique firetruck and taking a ride. What began as a personal act of healing has grown into more than two decades of public service. Moonstruck Foundation’s mission is to promote fire safety, honor the first responders who ran toward danger on 9/11, and give every child (and more than a few adults) the chance to experience the thrill of a fire truck ride. It is a mission that does something rare. It takes one of the most painful images from one of the darkest days in American history and hands it back to the community as a source of light. Every ride, every fire-safety lesson, every community event is, in its own quiet way, an act of remembrance. Proof that Priscilla’s heroes did not run into those towers so that fear would win. At its core, Moonstruck Foundation is a fire-safety education organization. But it delivers that education not through lectures alone, but through joy. The big red antique firetruck isn’t just a photo opportunity. It’s a bridge. Kids who ride it leave with a genuine understanding of what firefighters do. An early respect for fire safety, and a memory that will stay with them for life. For families
who lived through their own losses on 9/11, or who simply want to teach the next generation about the sacrifices made that day, the ride becomes something deeper. It is a way of turning history into hope. Two decades after its founding, the heart of Moonstruck Foundation remains exactly what it was the day Priscilla Hurt decided that grief would not have the final word. Every child who climbs onto that shiny red truck, every family who leaves a fire-safety event a little safer and a little more connected to their community, carries forward the legacy of the heroes lost on September 11, 2001. Moonstruck Foundation Inc is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Anyone wishing to volunteer, support the mission, or book the antique firetruck for an event is welcome to reach out to Priscilla through the Moonstruck Foundation website for more information. Anyone lucky enough to know Priscilla knows she is a beautiful, powerhouse of a woman whose warmth and strength turned her deepest loss into a gift for an entire community, and I am honored to call her my personal friend and a La Prensa Texas Ambassador.
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San Antonio Education Partnership to Host “Innovating the Classroom, College & Careers: AI Technology and Beyond” Breakfast Fundraiser Sept. 15 By La Prensa Texas
Hosted by Julia Grizzard and moderated by San Antonio Express-News Publisher Mark Medici, the program asks: are high schools and colleges keeping pace with AI? SAN ANTONIO, Texas. Fewer than 28% of San Antonio adults hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to a 34% national average, and local leaders say artificial intelligence is about to raise the stakes further. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) will convene educators, business leaders, civic voices and students to confront that gap at its annual breakfast fundraiser, “Innovating the Classroom, College & Careers: AI Technology and Beyond,” held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at The Whitley Event Center. Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, former mayor of San Antonio and a co-founder of SAEP in 1989, will appear in a video message during the program, reflecting on
why access to education remains as vital to San Antonio’s future today as it was when SAEP began. Watch the video: [VIDEO LINK]. “This program has become an integral part of how people build their future in San Antonio. Since 1989, more than 19,000 degrees and credentials have been earned with the help of a scholarship from the San Antonio Education Partnership. That’s not a small number. That’s 19,000 degrees and credentials fueling our economy, opportunities that might not have been possible without that support, paths that were expedited. We’ve come a long way,” said Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio and SAEP co-founder. SAEP offers free college advising and scholarship opportunities to more than 12,000 youth and adults annually at partner high schools and at cafécollege. SAEP identifies the gap between local and national degree attainment as central to San Antonio’s economic mobility challenges, one the AI economy is expected to
widen for students without a credential. “Artificial intelligence is accelerating changes in education and the workforce, and San Antonio cannot afford to fall behind. The jobs and opportunities of the future will increasingly require education and skills beyond high school. If we want San Antonio to compete and prosper, we must increase educational attainment and ensure that more of our residents are prepared for college, careers and a rapidly changing economy. This is a critical moment for our community to ask whether we are moving quickly enough, and what we must do differently to prepare our students and our workforce for what comes next,” said Dr. Ana Acevedo, chief executive officer of SAEP. LEADING VOICES This year’s program will be hosted by Julia Grizzard, Executive Director and Founder of Bexar County Education Coalition (BCEC), and moderated by Mark Medici, publisher of the San Antonio Express-News at Hearst Media. Pa-
nelists include: Dr. Taylor Eighmy, President, UT San Antonio Jennifer Maestas, M.Ed., Executive Director, CAST Schools Chloe Bruno, IT Field Technician, SAISD; Director of Studio Operations, Malayla Interactive Dr. Alberto “Beto” Gomez, Co-Founder & CEO, Better Futures Institute Tickets to the breakfast are $85 per person and available through Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026. All proceeds support SAEP’s mission of college advising, scholarships and access for San Antonio students. Reserve a seat at saedpartnership.org. ABOUT SAN ANTONIO EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP Founded in 1989, the San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) creates college opportunities, access and success for San Antonio students, removing the barriers facing first-generation, low-income and historically underserved students through free advising, scholarships, and college and career resources. Learn more at saedpartnership.org.
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN AIR QUALITY STANDARD PERMIT FOR AN ANIMAL CARCASS INCINERATOR PROPOSED AIR QUALITY REGISTRATION NUMBER 184894 APPLICATION. Celebrate Life Memorial Center LLC, P.O. Box 390, Bulverde, Texas 78163-0390 has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for an Air Quality Standard Permit, Registration Number 184894, which would authorize construction of an animal carcass incinerator. The facility is proposed to be located at 112 Mitchell Drive, Unit 104, Spring Branch, Comal County, Texas 78070. This link to an electronic map of the site or facility’s general location is provided as a public courtesy and not part of the application or notice. For exact location, refer to application. https://gisweb.tceq.texas.gov/LocationMapper/?marker=-98.376471,29.807824&level=13. This application was submitted to the TCEQ on August 5, 2026. The primary function of this facility is to properly dispose of animal carcasses through incineration. The executive director has determined the application was administratively complete on August 10, 2026. PUBLIC COMMENT. Public written comments about this application may be submitted at any time during the public comment period. The public comment period begins on the first date notice is published and extends to 30 days from the publication date. Public comments may be submitted either in writing to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, or electronically at www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/. Please be aware that any contact information you provide, including your name, phone number, email address and physical address will become part of the agency’s public record. RESPONSE TO COMMENTS. A written response to all relevant comments will be prepared by the executive director after the comment period closes. The response, along with the executive director’s decision on the application, will be mailed to everyone who submitted public comments and requested to be added to the mailing list. The response to comments will be posted in the permit file for viewing. The executive director shall approve or deny the application not later than 30 days after the end of the public comment period, considering all comments received within the comment period, and base this decision on whether the application meets the requirements of the standard permit. CENTRAL/REGIONAL OFFICE. The application will be available for viewing and copying at the TCEQ Central Office and the TCEQ San Antonio Regional Office, located at 14250 Judson Road, San Antonio, Texas 78233-4480, during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning the first day of publication of this notice. The application, including any updates, is available electronically at the following webpage: https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/air/airpermit-applications-notices. INFORMATION. For more information about the permitting process, please call the TCEQ Public Education Program, Toll Free, at 1-800687-4040 or visit their website at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/pep. Si desea información en Español, puede llamar al 1-800-687-4040. You can also view our website for public participation opportunities at www.tceq.texas.gov/goto/participation. Further information may also be obtained from Celebrate Life Memorial Center LLC, P.O. Box 390, Bulverde, Texas 78163-0390, or by calling Mrs. Morgan Miller, Air Quality Permitting, American Crematory Equipment Company at (205) 715-3697. Notice Issuance Date: August 10, 2026
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La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
13 de Septiembre de 2026
SS&E Empleados-Voluntarios Ayudaron En Limpieza En El Westside Por Franco
Spurs Sports and Entertainment (SS&E), empresa propietaria del pentacampeón equipo NBA Los Spurs de San Antonio, con su legión de empleados voluntariamente participaron en el sector Westside
en conjunto con el House of Neighborly Service. Durante un programa comunitario de limpieza tras los estragos sufridos por sorpresiva tormenta que azoto la ciudad de El Álamo. Durante este humanitario esfuerzo se logró limpieza gene-
ral dé árboles y ramas caídos para así recuperar espacios y terrenos de viviendas familiares. Ha este programa también se contó con la ayuda de residentes afectados quienes posteriormente agradecieron la noble ayuda que les ayudó
en el comienzo de su recuperación del inesperado siniestro natural. De tal forma una vez más SS&E, sé hizo presente en nuestra comunidad, retribuyendo el apoyo que durante el año le proporciona al cinco veces campeón Los Spurs de San An-
tonio, cuyos trofeos y anillos se exhiben al público en su exclusiva vitrina ubicada en el sector Plaza Level del estadio Frost Bank Center. Fotos de Cortesía SS&E
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America Cried 25 years on September 11, 2001 By J. Gilberto Quezada
Lest we Forget. On the solemnity of this special day--September 11, 2001, twenty-five years ago, this coming September 11, 2026, we cried, America cried, a day that will never be forgotten as we pause to remember those innocent victims, with sorrow in our hearts and a pain that will never be erased, who were incinerated alive by the murderous Islamist terrorists. On a beautiful Tuesday morning, twenty-five years ago, a caring and wonderful person, Lydia Estelle Bravo, a cousin of my wife Jo Emma had returned to work as a nurse at the Marsh & McLennan Offices, located in the World Trade Center, Tower No. 2, af-
ter spending a week in Mexico with her fiancé. On Monday evening, Lydia, known for her passion for cooking, had prepared a pot of ribollita, a Tuscan stew of beans and greens, and celebrated their return to their home in New Jersey with a bottle of Sangiovese. She was a devoted cook, having taken classes at Peter Kumps, and had hundreds of cookbooks, some picked up at the flea markets, others on trips abroad since she loved to travel. Whenever Lydia went to Italy, she would peek into kitchens and chatted with the cooks. At work, she was known for organizing health fairs and was also concerned about taking the blood pressure for the office personnel. She also lo-
ved flamenco music. Sadly, Lydia, was fifty years old when she perished that morning along with 3,000 other innocent people. So long as we live, she too shall live for she will always be a part of our lives, as we remember her. May God bless America and may we never forget. As we mark this 25th aniversary, we also honor the resilience of those who survived, the courage of the first responders who ran toward danger, and the quiet strength of families who rebuilt their lives in the shadow of unimaginable loss. Their stories remind us that even in the face of terror, the human spirit endures. The skyline may have changed, but the legacy of unity, compassion, and resolve that emerged from
the rubble continues to shape our national character. Let this day not only be a memorial to the fallen, but a call to live with purpose and kindness. In remembering Lydia Estelle Bravo and the thousands of others, we reaffirm
our commitment to peace, to vigilance, and to one another. May their memory be a blessing, and may we carry forward the light they left behind, illuminating a path toward hope, healing, and shared humanity.
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Dock Space Gallery Hosts FotoSeptiembre Latino Exhibition By: Ricardo Romo, PH.D
In its 32nd year, FotoSeptiembre is part of the Dock Space Gallery exhibitions in San Antonio’s Lone Star District. The opening reception for “Close to Home,” an exhibit of the work of thirteen San Antonio photographers, is Saturday, September 12, from 4- 9 p.m. Curated by Ricardo Romo, the photographers in the exhibit include Lead Artist Monica Sandana, Al Rendon, Joel Salcido, Enrique Navarette, Kathy Vargas, Guillermina Zaballa, Ramon Hernandez, Oscar Castillo, Chris Hernandez, Victoria Martinez, David Ortega, Gloria Cruz, and Ruben Chavez. FotoSeptiembre has a long and colorful history. San Antonian Michael Melh, a photography historian, festival entrepreneur, and founder of San Antonio FotoSeptiembre, was living in Coyoacán, Mexico in the 1980s when he met Patricia Mendoza, a recent graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana who had a degree in Art History. Mehl had established a studio/ atelier in Coyoacán, showing his work and that of other artists. Patricia served as director of Los Talleres, a private cultural center owned by the dancer Isabel Beteta, which was located just a few blocks from his studio. Mehl and Patricia soon became fast friends and project partners. Michael Melh and Patricia Mendoza discussed creating an open, accessible photography festival—something Mehl envisioned like a féria popular (a popular fair)—independent of wealthy patrons or government directives. FotoSeptiembre came to life
in 1994, when Patricia Mendoza was named Director/Founder of the Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City. When Mendoza took the Centro helm, she invited Mehl to develop the international component of what would become FotoSeptiembre in Mexico, giving him freedom to set his own formats and guidelines. When Mehl moved to San Antonio in the mid-1990s, there was only one major annual photography show in the United States. He adapted and independently established the FotoSeptiembre USA celebration in San Antonio as a platform for photographers from across the community. In 1995, Mehl and his wife Ann Kinser officially founded FotoSeptiembre USA as a “unique and eclectic forum for the exhibition and celebration of photography and photographically based art.” He observed on his website that “It’s been a long and daunting thirty-some years of producing a festival every September and maintaining an archive of a very broad range of photographic expressions; all the while keeping FotoSeptiembre private, independent, ongoing, and free.” In its third decade, FotoSeptiembre USA has become one of the major art festivals in San Antonio. It attracts regional, national, and international photographers who are currently showing their work in 30-plus exhibits at venues large and small. The openings start in late August and continue throughout September. Photo historians Alicia Ahumada and Yolanda Andrade wrote in Between Worlds: Contemporary Mexican Photography that “Photographers have the
opportunity to reflect, to examine their own culture and to find considered visual explanations in a society and culture which nurtures this way of working.” San Antonio photographers are especially proficient at preserving the Mexican and Mexican American history, identity, and spirit of the region. These photographers serve as both witnesses and storytellers of a community that is still heavily influenced by Mexican culture. Over the years, photography has served as both witness and storyteller of San Antonio’s Latino community. The images of FotoSeptiembre capture everyday life, important events, and cultural traditions—both tangible and intangible—creating a visual archive that complements written records and sustains collective memory. Through scenes of daily routines, celebrations, struggles, and triumphs, photography documents a community’s values,
Monica Saldana, “Tejana/Chicana.” Courtesy of Dock Space Gallery.
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vitality, and evolving identity, revealing how it sees itself and how it wishes to be seen by others. Two artists, Al Rendon and Enrique Navarette, have a fascination with lowrider owners and the culture lowriders represent. Lowriding is a Mexican American/Chicano tradition that originated in the Southwest after World War II. The Chicano lowrider tradition with its particular social practices and car-club infrastructure can be traced to Southern California (especially East Los Angeles) in the mid‑ to late‑1940s; lowrider clubs spread through Texas, New Mexico, and the Southwest in the 1950s. The Lowrider clubs and organized car-club culture, cruising rituals, and competitive shows emerged among Mexican American youth and veterans who modified affordable prewar cars to ride “low and slow” (bajito y suavecito), in contrast to hot rods built for speed. Texas historian Michael Stone, who wrote “The Cultural Significance of Lowriders in Mexican-American Identity,” notes that “On both sides of the Mexican border and throughout the Southwest, lowriders and their elaborately crafted carritos, carruchas, or ranflas-as the cars are affectionately called- contribute a particular stylistic flair to the multivocalic discourse on Mexican-American identity.” Enrique Navarette, who has spent much of his life in the throes of lowrider clubs and culture in San Antonio, argues that the lowrider clubs are an affirmation of Mexican American pride and family honor. Most of the club members have some barrio identity, but recognize that they are a part of a society that marginalizes Chicanos. Even though the lowrider practice took shape in the U.S., its visual language and meaning are deeply tied to Mexican and Chicano culture.
La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
Mexico’s artistic influence is profound but primarily cultural—supplying the symbols, colors, language, and sense of identity that make lowriders distinctly Chicano. The photographer Monica Saldana documents lowrider culture as well as family relationships. We learn from the FotoSeptiembre exhibit at the Dock Space Gallery that a photograph can serve many purposes—artistic, documentary, commercial, or conceptual. Monica Saldana, the Lead Artist, demonstrates her understanding of major objects of regional photography. In a recent interview, she noted that her work centers on portraiture, documentary moments of everyday life, and a soft, romantic visual sensibility. Saldana shows through her work that artistic photographs can express emotion or ideas. I first saw some of Saldana’s excellent photography at the Centro de Artes / “Madre Land” installation art exhibit. Saldana participated as a “Madre Land” artist in a panel moderated by curator Bonnie Cisneros. Saldana’s still life photograph of Pan Dulce and coffee reminds us of quiet weekend mornings when a good cup of coffee helps start the day or allows for quiet moments of reflection. Saldana grew up in San Antonio’s Southside and attended Southwest High School. She became familiar with a camera at a young age and developed a storytelling approach to documentary photography in a high school journalism class. While working as a make-up artist, she took mental notes on what the professional photographers required of their models and how they handled placement and spatial movement. She is technically self-taught, but credits the professional photographers she assisted in the modeling environment for teaching her much of what
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she knows. The Dock Space Gallery photographers show that chronicling events has both aesthetic and historic value. The photographers in the exhibit hope that their images evoke empathy and understanding. Their iconic images make us aware of car cultures, family events and festivals, as well as social movements that have shaped public memory in South Texas and deepened a wider cultural awareness.
Al Rendon, “Carlos and family.” Courtesy of Dock Space Gallery.
Al Rendon, Dan with his ride. Courtesy of Dock Space Gallery.
Al Rendon, Joe, and Leticia. Courtesy of Dock Space Gallery.
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Their Names Were the Same as My Neighbors’ By J. George Cisneros
It was a typical morning. A young man carefully inspected the carrying case for his precious Misen Chef Knives before leaving for work. A woman placed her lunch in her handbag and checked to see if it was her. METROCARD was in its side pocket. A middle-aged man smiled as he studied his knotted tie in the mirror, a technique he had never mastered, yet on this day it was almost perfect. A grandmother prepared breakfast for her husband and two adopted grandchildren. He showered for his job as a janitor in Tower II. The children looked for their school backpacks. A young bride moaned as her husband kissed the Scorpion tattoo on her left shoulder. He asked repeatedly that she call-in sick. A distinguished-looking man checked his watch before boarding the train from Morristown to Lower Manhattan He smiled as he mentally counted down the forty-five days until his retirement. Several firemen wolfed down fresh rolls, scrambled eggs and bacon before their early morning inspection of corner fire plugs that were frequently vandalized. Traders studied overnight trends and responded to future market activities in the Hong Kong, Paris and London exchanges over cups of hot coNee. Two brothers celebrated their jobs as sous chefs at the tallest restaurant in the United States and began making final preparations for a private breakfast gathering of one hundred early morning guests. A woman hesitated to phone her sister who would be on the subway She had forgotten to give her the list of groceries they needed for tonight’s supper with visiting friends. It was a typical morning. Within hours everything changed. The assumed sense of national and personal security we all had grown to expect from our leaders was gone. A week after 9-11, a friend who lived in the Village called me with a story from her neighbor next door. This neighbor related that his girlfriend, working for a Japanese news service, had witnessed Hispanic
and African family members being detained, arrested or denied entrance when they arrived at the pier on the Hudson River that served as The ONicial Missing Person Information Center. This was not a story any national nor foreign news networks wanted to cover because any negativism would be considered unpatriotic at this time of uncertainty. A plan developed. The solution was for a San Antonio publication to assign me as a stringer. With my experience in digital file transfer and the Internet, I could get this story to services that might want to dig deeper. When I approached Tino Duran, owner of La Prensa, he, Minnie, and his son Steve agreed. They designed and created a laminated press ID card with my photo and his signature that designated me as an official La Prensa photographer. I arrived in New York with a SONY Mavica camera and two boxes of 20 3-inch floppy disks. Upon my arrival, my request for the required NYC local press credentials with NYPD and Federal agents were not successful. La Prensa did not appear on their lists as an official journalist publication; only as a social, cultural, neighborhood newspaper. I was denied entrance to gated police areas surrounding Ground Zero and the official family reunification sites. During the following days I wandered through Lower Manhattan still coated in deep dust, and began to study the thousands of handwritten, xeroxed, and printed flyers posted on any available surfaces. On street signs, telephone poles, bus stops, mailboxes, dumpsters, fences, and windows, families had placed appeals pleading for information about their missing loved ones. Every posting triggered imagined scenarios of each missing person and those moments when it still was a typical morning. Names jumped from flyers to my eyes as I begin to see the great number of names that were similar to those of my family and my neighbors in San Antonio. Were these long-lost cousins, extended family connections, the children or grandchildren of brothers, sisters or cousins
related to my grandparents? Were those distant relatives? When I returned to San Antonio, La Prensa devoted a centerfold spread of images from the collection. Centro Cultural Aztlan included a looped video sequence embedded into an altar for the2002 Dia De Los Muertos exhibition in their gallery and Elaine Ayala did a special on-line presentation of selected images for the 20th Anniversary of 9-11. Today, at this benchmark of twenty-five years, with the assault on Latino contributions and presence in the cultural landscape of this country, we share these sixteen photos with you. Beautiful people with beautiful names. It was a typical morning.
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La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
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On View Now Through January 4, 2027
ON THE RIVER WALK
ANTONIO, TX BRISCOEMUSEUM.ORG S A N
Selena 4 1992, Digital print on panel, Courtesy of the artist, Panel dimensions: 50 x 62 x 1 in. (detail)
13 de Septiembre de 2026
La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
MIEMBROS DE LA JUNTA DE REVISIÓN DE AVALÚOS DEL CONDADO DE BEXAR Ya se están aceptando solicitudes para formar parte de la Junta de Revisión de Avalúos del Condado de Bexar (Appraisal Review Board) para el año 2027. Las funciones incluyen escuchar y resolver protestas de impuestos sobre la propiedad relacionadas con asuntos de avalúo, de negaciones de exenciones y avalúos para usos especiales. Los miembros recibirán un pago por cada día de servicio, el cual se les pagará mensualmente. Los solicitantes deben: • Estar disponibles para trabajar potencialmente 40 horas por semana de junio a octubre. • Haber sido residentes del Condado de Bexar durante al menos los últimos dos años. Los solicitantes no pueden haber servido durante todo o parte de tres períodos anteriores en la Junta de Revisión de Avalúos. Además, el solicitante o su cónyuge no puede tener un contrato vigente con una unidad tributaria. La fecha límite para presentar la solicitud es el 2 de octubre de 2026. Las solicitudes pueden enviarse por correo electrónico a jochoa@bcad.org o por correo postal a: Bexar Central Appraisal District P.O. Box 830248 San Antonio, Texas 78283-0248 Para obtener una solicitud, visite la sección “ARB – Appraisal Review Board” bajo la pestaña “Forms” en www.bcad.org, o llame al 210-242-2437 para obtener más información.
LEGAL NOTICE Application has been made with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for a Wine and Malt Beverage Retailer’s Permit by Luis H Cueto/ Nana Tortilla LLC , dba Nana Tortilla , to be located at 4334 Thousand Oaks Dr., San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. Owners of said business are (CUCANA LLC) / Luis H Cueto, Owner, and Estrella Canedo, Owner
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13 de Septiembre de 2026
La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
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Daniel Saucedo “Chichi” Y Su Doble Fiesta Beisbolera De Cumpleaños Por Sendero Deportivo
Daniel Saucedo “Chichi”, jugador de cuadro del popular equipo Rieleros, celebró en grande su 45o cumpleaños. El 2 de septiembre su estimada familia le ofreció cena y pastel de chocolate (su favorito), recibiendo a la vez emotivas felicitaciones por parte de su señora esposa Adriana Saucedo, su hija Valeria, sus hijos Felipe y Fabián.
El viernes 4, directivos y amigos del club Rieleros, por la tarde le ofrecieron una sabrosa cena a la parrilla, con T-Bone Steaks. Sausages y Costillas de Cerdo, platillos acompañados por salsa picante y de bebidas de su preferencia. Los Rieleros le desearon todo lo mejor de la vida. Tras el largo fin de semana dedicado al tradicional Labor Day, ahora este
domingo 13 de septiembre será en el estadio Potranco Baseball League una espectacular jornada del mejor Béisbol regional durante cuatro partidos a jugarse en el rol regular de la temporada dedicada al beisbolista Mike Tabhan, manager y jugador del potente equipo Los Diablos. De acuerdo al presidente Simón Sánchez, en el campo 1 a las 10am jugarán Diablos vs Piratas.
À la 1:30am Vaqueros vs Tuneros. Campo 2, alas 10am Broncos vs Latinos. 1:30pm Swingmen vs Aliens. Todo esto con el apoyo del artista Eloy Rocha, dueño del complejo deportivo. En resultados de la fecha 2, Piratas derrotó 8-3 carreras a Tuneros. Miguel Rondon se anota la victoria ayudado con bateo de su compañero Daniel Rojo, quien impulsó cin-
co carreras tras pegar jonrón, doblete y sencillo. Los Broncos noquearon 23-1 carreras al debutante Swingman. Con Victoria para Emiliano Alvarado. Reynaldo Castañeda “Nica”, pegó Grand Slam, seguido por su compañero Brandon Andrews con vuelacerca con bases llenas. (fotos de Franco).
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ELECCIONES DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2026
votar como un Texano
• Octubre 19–30: Votación adelantada en persona • Octubre 23: Fecha límite para solicitar la boleta para votar por correo • Noviembre 3: Día de elecciones
Escanea para descargar las fechas importantes
LO QUE NECESITAS • Revisa los centros de votación: Con tu condado o en VoteTexas.gov • Identificación con foto: 1 de las 7 formas de ID aceptadas • Documentos adicionales: Si corresponde
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La Prensa Texas SAN ANTONIO
13 de Septiembre de 2026
DISSECTIN
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THE
WESTSIDE SOUND Join us for a lively discussion exploring the origins, evolution and enduring impact of one of San Antonio’s most influential musical traditions, featuring legends in the industry!
GRAMMY WINNER
SUNNY OZUNA
Sunny and the Sunliners
IN CONVERSATION WITH
BANDLEADER
MUSIC HISTORIAN
The Dell-Kings
Hispanic Entertainment Archives
FRANK RODARTE
JOSE ARREDONDO
TUESDAY
SEPT 15
RAMÓN HERNÁNDEZ
MORE INFO
6:30-8:30 PM
2026
CENTRAL LIBRARY
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