Mayor proclaims Basura Bash kickoff; council recognizes River Aid and Unite Here Local 2327s hotel contract win

Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones read a proclamation Feb. 19 recognizing River Aid San Antonio27s 31st annual Basura Bash set for March 7, 2026, and commended the organization27s longstanding river cleanup work. Charles Bank, representing River Aid San Antonio, told the council the organization gathered 2,130 volunteers last year and collected roughly 105,000 pounds of trash in a single event; River Aid said cumulative recoveries are approaching 2 million pounds.

The mayor and council also recognized Unite Here Local 23 members who recently won a three‑year contract at the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency. Council members and union leaders said the contract secures a $20‑per‑hour minimum for back‑of‑house hotel workers (the first hotel in San Antonio to set that floor for those positions), reduced workloads for housekeepers, lower insurance costs, paid Juneteenth as a holiday, increased paid time off for tipped employees and successorship language that preserves the union contract through a change in ownership. Union negotiators and hospitality workers on the dais described the contract as both a citywide standard‑raising victory and a step toward broader gains across Texas.

Council members individually highlighted district pickup sites and encouraged residents to participate in Basura Bash; multiple members also praised the union victory and urged continued organizing and collective bargaining as tools to improve working conditions in the hospitality industry.

Next steps: Councilmembers promoted volunteer signups for Basura Bash and said city departments will continue to coordinate with River Aid and neighborhood groups.