Mayor Ortiz Jones Says Only City Council Can Cancel Ye Concert Contract
With less than two weeks until Ye’s scheduled Fourth of July concert at the Alamodome, San Antonio is facing a heated debate over free expression, public venues and whether taxpayer-supported facilities should host performers with a documented history of hateful rhetoric.
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, is set to perform July 4 at the Alamodome, a city-owned venue. The concert has drawn pushback from members of San Antonio’s Jewish community, interfaith leaders and local officials who say the city should not give a public platform to an artist repeatedly condemned for antisemitic comments.
At a joint press conference Tuesday at the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio, Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones stood alongside members of the Jewish community and other local leaders who urged the city to take action.
“When our city was presented with the opportunity to host Ye, we faced a choice between our values and financial gain,” Craig Berkowitz, CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Antonio, said.
Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody also spoke against the concert, calling the issue a moral one.
“I represent a large portion of the Jewish community here in Bexar County, and it’s a moral issue for me,” Moody said.
Mayor Jones Says Cancellation Would Require A Council Vote
Mayor Ortiz Jones has publicly opposed the concert, arguing that the Alamodome should not be treated like any other private venue because it is taxpayer-supported.
She also pushed back on comparisons between Ye’s concert and other entertainment events hosted at the Alamodome.
“I push back on the assertion that this concert should be viewed in the same way as Disney on Ice or Big Trucks. Those are different things,” Ortiz Jones said.
Still, the mayor acknowledged Tuesday that the city’s ability to stop the show is limited. Ortiz Jones said canceling the contract would require a City Council vote, and at this time, she does not believe the votes are there.
That means, despite growing public criticism, the concert is still expected to move forward.
An Alamodome spokesperson said the July 4 performance remains on schedule. City officials estimate the event could draw more than 60,000 people and generate nearly $2 million in revenue.
Six Council Members Oppose Canceling The Concert
Not all city leaders agree with efforts to block the show.
Six San Antonio City Council members — representing Districts 1, 2, 5, 7, 9 and 10 — released a joint statement condemning antisemitism and hate while opposing cancellation of the concert.
The statement was signed by Councilmembers Sukh Kaur, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, Teri Castillo, Marina Alderete Gavito, Misty Spears and Marc Whyte.
“We strongly condemn antisemitism, hate, and any ideology that seeks to divide or intimidate members of our community,” the statement read. “Many residents have expressed legitimate concerns about Ye’s scheduled July 4th concert, and we take those concerns seriously.”
The council members argued that the city can oppose Ye’s rhetoric without canceling the event, saying government intervention could create a dangerous precedent.
“We can condemn hate without resorting to censorship, which could set a precedent toward limiting expression based on objectionable viewpoints,” the statement continued. “The City does not endorse his rhetoric by allowing use of a public venue, just as a public library does not endorse every book’s viewpoint simply by carrying it.”
The council members also pointed to the projected economic impact, saying the event is expected to generate roughly $1.7 million for the Alamodome and that hotel reservations have increased since the concert was announced.
“These considerations do not diminish our opposition to hate in any form,” the statement said. “We remain committed to ensuring that all communities feel welcome and safe in our city.”
Debate Centers On Public Venues And Taxpayer Support
Moody said the issue is not simply about censorship, but about how publicly owned venues are used and whether there should be a clearer review process for controversial acts.
“You talk about private venues and public venues that are county and city owned. That’s where I think there has to be a process in place that screens these acts,” Moody said.
For opponents of the concert, the question is not whether Ye has the right to perform, but whether San Antonio should host him in a city-owned facility on Independence Day.
For council members opposing cancellation, the concern is whether blocking the performance would open the door to limiting speech based on political or social objections.
As of now, the Alamodome concert remains scheduled for July 4.
