MEG joins San Antonio's East Side and Mario Salas in presenting support for SA resolution.

Approx. 40 MEG members gathered at St. Jeromes Church and boarded a chartered bus bound for San Antonio's City Council.

In the bus we were both entertained and informed by Lee, Jay, and other MEG members.   We learned the latest information regarding BFI's ability to sue the city of San Antonio if they oppose the expansion.

Once at the city council chambers MEG members and their family sat and prepared for a long wait.  The council was busy with city business and they were scheduled to go into closed meetings before dealing with our resolution.

During our lengthy wait Mario Salas took time out to greet members of our group!   KWEX Channel 41 also talked to members of MEG regarding the landfill issue.

As time drew near we confirmed presentation plans and discussed issues and presentation styles with TC Calvert.

Our children have always been an important motivation in this fight--and we include them in our presentation whenever possible.

Finally it was time for the council to consider the resolution to oppose the landfill expansion.  The city made its own presentation to inform staff of the landfill demographic information.

BFI and MEG made their presentation to the city council.  After all the presentations the council requested further information regarding the impact of the possible closure of the landfill and how it would effect other communities.  Two important issues were raised with respect to the possible closure.

1. If the Tessman Road Landfill were closed would it lead to the immediate opening of the Waste Management Rosio Creek site by Waste Management?
2. Is it true that the Rosio Creek site is for sale?

Representatives of Waste Management were present to answer these two important questions.  Members of the East Central School Board and East Central Citizens Forum have raised these two issues in the past as prime reasons why the BFI expansion should be permitted.

The Waste Management representatives made it clear that they have a considerable investment at the Covel Gardens landfill and it would not make economic sense to open the Rosio Creek site while Covel is operational.  They also stated that the Rosio Creek site is not currently for sale nor do they have plans to sell the site.

After more discussion the council voted on the resolution.  To everyone's surprise, the council unanimously voted for the resolution opposing the expansion!

It should be noted that as long as there is inexpensive land and little opposition to landfills in our neighborhoods there will be landfills in our midst.  At worst, stopping BFI's expansion only makes our communities deal with this reality sooner than later.  MEG and their allies believe this issue needs to be dealt with now.   Others who support the expansion are only creating a larger problem to be placed in our children's hands.