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Despite 2024 ranking as our third-hottest August and fifth-hottest summer on record, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s office and San Antonio Metro Health fail to track or report weather-related deaths, a glaring gap in public health data that undermines accountability and prevents lifesaving strategies. Maricopa County, Arizona, with a similar climate, reported 645 weather-related deaths in 2023 and 466 as of October 2024, with a majority being due to excessive heat. Bexar County on the other hand has reported zero weather related fatalities the past two years, underscoring the need for accurate tracking to address risks and safeguard residents. We demand an immediate, transparent tracking system for weather related fatalities, with annual public reports to guide equitable solutions. Additionally, CPS Energy must adopt fair, affordable rate structures to shield struggling households from crushing bills. San Antonio’s leaders cannot delay: Join us in demanding action now, lives hang in the balance. (Deceleration News: Energy Justice & Heat Island Blockwalking Video w/ Southwest Workers Union in San Antonio, Texas)

Under the current Mayor Ron Nirenberg and majority of the current City Council, CPS Energy created an unfairly structured two-tiered system: while most working class households pay 7 cents/kWh, wealthy residents who waste excessive energy enjoy a special discounted rate (RCE) of just 4 cents/kWh, rewarding waste instead of conservation. This backwards policy forces average customers to subsidize the energy excess of the rich, all while CPS Energy CEO Rudy Garza pockets a staggering $750,000 yearly salary. It’s time to demand equitable rates and leadership that prioritizes sustainability—not handouts for the wealthy at the public’s expense.