Project Marvel Under Fire: COPS/Metro Questions City’s Priorities
Last week, longtime neighborhood advocacy group COPS/Metro held a fiery press event outside City Hall in response to the city’s newly released economic impact study on Project Marvel, a $4 billion proposed downtown sports-and-entertainment district anchored by a new Spurs arena.
At Issue: The Report
At issue: the report, compiled by Minneapolis-based consultant CSL International, estimates up to $9.4 billion in inflation-adjusted economic impact over 30 years—or $18.7 billion in nominal terms, generating $351 million in new tax revenue. But COPS/Metro argues it glosses over economic pitfalls and omits a clear breakdown of what residents will actually get back.
During the press conference, Father Jimmy Drennan, a prominent organizer with COPS/Metro, criticized Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones for abruptly canceling a scheduled public comment session. That session, slated for Thursday’s City Council meeting, would have allowed local residents to react to the study. Instead, the matter was postponed to August 6, in a “B Session” that allows the council to shift into executive (closed-door) mode—effectively shutting out public input.
“The Firm is No Longer Unbiased”
“Our voices matter,” said Drennan. “The citizens of San Antonio demand to be heard.” He emphasized that the current study provides no assessment of potential downsides—from displacement and traffic to opportunity costs—and called on the city to hire an entirely independent firm for a fresh review. Citing a final sentence in CSL’s letter stating that CSL “look forward to contributing to the next phases of the project,” Drennan argued that the firm is no longer unbiased.
COPS/Metro Push for $5 Billion Infrastructure Bond
Rather than sending Project Marvel to the November ballot for voter funding, COPS/Metro urged City Manager Erik Walsh to instead prioritize community needs by placing a $5 billion infrastructure bond before voters, funding essentials such as corridors for affordable housing, sidewalks, and even addressing the city’s stray‑dog issue.
The Public Sentiment
The group’s warnings align with scathing public critiques published in outlets such as KSAT and the Express-News. Local economists told KSAT they found the CSL report “useless” from a policymaking perspective, pointing out that consultancy‑commissioned studies almost always emphasize benefits and ignore costs or viable alternatives. A University of Maryland economist put it bluntly: “You don’t get to be wealthy as a consultant by telling the people who hire you that their ideas are bad”.
As COPS/Metro continues building momentum—collecting thousands of signatures on a “No Public Funding for Project Marvel” petition—they’re also gearing up for a meeting with Mayor Ortiz Jones by end of this week, seeking a platform to press their concerns directly.
Current Situation
In short, COPS/Metro’s press conference spotlighted both procedural frustration—the sudden cancellation of public comment—and fundamental objections to the substance and process behind the economic report. They’re demanding transparency, public accountability, and a reordering of city priorities toward infrastructure that serves ordinary residents—not tourists or big investors.
We will be updating you on Project Marvel, stay tuned.
