Between San Antonio and the US Mexican border, leaders from COPS / Metro and The Border Organization in Del Rio bridged gerrymandered distances to engage Democratic challengers in US Congressional District 23 (Helotes), and Republican challengers (and Democratic incumbent) in House Districts 116 and 117. The joint accountability session drew 175 to Our Lady of Guadalupe in Helotes, Texas and included candidates for Bexar County Commissioner Precinct 2. Leaders also engaged top candidates in House District 21, currently held by Joe Strauss, in a separate assembly.

After collective bargaining with the city manager stalled, the police officers union asked The Border Organization (TBO) for help. Politicizing the issue of police pensions and wages, police union firefighters and TBO leaders targeted the City Council, meeting with individual members to line up the four votes they needed. On the day of the vote, police, firefighter, cafeteria worker and TBO congregational leaders piled into the chambers. After a two hour debate, the council unanimously voted to increase city retirement matches on police and firefighter pensions, maintain previously promised step increases, AND increase all city worker wages by 2%!

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Though no public comments were included in the Val Verde Medical Center District Board's agenda, The Border Organization leaders were called up to deliver scathing remarks to District decision makers. Said Ms. Queta Quinonez, "The Val Regional Medical Center is a public hospital.... the hospital employs a law firm in Del Rio to collect delinquent bills.... Your lawyers may wear fancy, expensive suits, but they are no better than back-alley henchmen."

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With the Del Rio Police Department currently operating at 63% (45 sworn officers out of the 71 for which the DRPD is funded), The Border Organization took the issue to the City Council. Leader Sandra Fuentes called for additional hiring of police officers, testifying that department efficiency must be balanced with the safety of local residents.

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At an accountability meeting organized by The Border Organization (TBO), both Del Rio mayoral candidates committed to work for the creation of a groundwater conservation district (long fought for by local leaders), higher wages for police officers, matched with accountability measures to be put in place, equitable trash collection rates for both city and county residents, and the establishment of another walking trail on the city's south side.

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Leaders of the Border Organization confronted Democratic Party candidates for two seats on the Val Verde County Commissioners Court, Precinct 2, asking them whether they would work with the organization to address the clearing of dirty lots, demolition of abandoned homes, lighting on dark streets and roundup of stray animals.

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"Lolina Peña, a leader in The Border Organization (TBO), told members of the Del Rio City Council that on Monday, she and Sandra Fuentes, another TBO leader, attended a meeting of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) Board of Directors and again urged the board not to consider water from Val Verde County as a water source for San Antonio."

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Acting on pressure from leaders of The Border Organization, Del Rio "City council members pledged Tuesday to join The Border Organization in San Antonio Monday to voice opposition to a proposal to export Val Verde County water east to San Antonio via pipeline.

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"A new shelter to aid victims of domestic violence is one step closer to reality. Monday, Val Verde County Judge Laura Allen and the Commissioners Court granted a one-year funding contract for $128,846 to Quad Counties Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (QCCADA) to help begin the process of opening and operating a shelter."

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