96. How a Baggage Handler Became One of San Antonio’s Most Iconic Artists
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
Release Date: 02/07/2025
119. The Mayor’s Race: Rolando Pablos on Economic Competitiveness, Poverty, and Cross-Border Partnerships for San Antonio
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
We conclude our April series of conversations with San Antonio’s leading mayoral candidates as Bob sits down with Rolando Pablos—a businessman, attorney, and former republican Texas Secretary of State—to discuss his campaign, priorities, and vision for the city. Pablos shares his personal and professional background, shaped by his experience as an immigrant and his decades of public and private sector leadership. The conversation examines key issues facing San Antonio, including the city’s persistent poverty rates, workforce development, economic competitiveness, and the challenges of...
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118. The Mayor’s Race: Manny Pelaez on Ferocious Advocacy, Economic Growth, and the Future of San Antonio
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor. Bob is joined by District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez, an attorney with deep roots in both public service and economic development, as he seeks to become the next mayor of San Antonio. In a wide-ranging conversation, Pelaez shares his personal story as the son of Colombian immigrants and his longstanding commitment to issues of domestic violence and community service. The discussion covers his role in bringing Toyota Manufacturing to San Antonio, his leadership in transforming Brooks City Base from a...
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117. The Mayor’s Race: Gina Ortiz Jones on Public Service, Equity, and Leading with Data
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor ahead of the May 3 election. Bob welcomes Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former Undersecretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, for a wide-ranging conversation about her bid to lead the city. Ortiz Jones discusses her personal journey from growing up on the Far West Side to her national security work in Washington, and how those experiences have shaped her approach to local issues. The conversation covers: • Her motivations for returning to San Antonio and seeking the mayor’s...
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116. The Mayor’s Race: Melissa Cabello Havrda on Community, Accountability, and San Antonio's Next Chapter
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
In this episode, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shares her personal background growing up on the West Side, her legal and public service career, and her early influences—including time spent working under former mayors Ed Garza and Lila Cockrell. The conversation covers key challenges facing the city, from the crowded mayoral ballot and the influx of outside campaign money, to major development projects like Project Marvel. They discuss: The need for stronger candidate vetting in city elections Balancing growth with transparency and public input on development Out-of-town...
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115. The Mayor’s Race: Adriana Rocha Garcia on Housing, Opportunity, and the Future of San Antonio
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
In this episode, Bob continues our coverage of San Antonio’s crowded mayoral race with Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia of District 4. A professor of marketing at Our Lady of the Lake University and former president of the San Antonio Housing Trust, Rocha Garcia shares her journey from growing up on the city’s West and South Sides to her leadership on the city council. They discuss her priorities as a mayoral candidate—from continuing the city’s affordable housing push and evolving the Ready to Work program to her views on Project MARVEL, climate adaptation, and economic...
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114. The Mayor’s Race: Beto Altamirano on Infrastructure, Innovation, and San Antonio’s Identity
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into San Antonio's dynamic political landscape as our city prepares for its first mayoral race without an incumbent in sixteen years. With Mayor Ron Nirenberg's term concluding, the upcoming election on May 3 stands as a significant moment in the city's history, marking both the end of an era and the beginning of potential change. Our guest, Beto Altamirano, is an entrepreneur and business owner known for creating San Antonio's 311 app, now vying for the mayoral office amidst a crowded field of 27 candidates. This episode launches a month-long series...
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113. The Last Word - Tariffs Hit Home in San Antonio
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
This week’s Last Word delves into the ominous impact of President Trump’s tariffs on San Antonio and Texas. As the trade war with Canada and Mexico intensifies, the city braces for economic repercussions. Politicians have transformed tariffs into weapons of political retribution, overshadowing San Antonio’s success in advanced manufacturing and global trade. Bob examines the economic fallout as San Antonio faces potentially devastating tariffs, with goods and services inflating by up to 50%. The stakes are high as voters deal with the consequences of reshaped alliances and immigration...
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112. San Antonio's Culinary Legacy: 25 Years of Biga on the Banks
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we explore the vibrant culinary landscape of San Antonio, with a spotlight on one of the city's longstanding culinary institutions, Biga on the Banks. Celebrating its 25th anniversary at its iconic location on the Riverwalk, Biga on the Banks stands as a testament to culinary excellence and perseverance in a competitive industry. Bob sits down with Bruce Auden, renowned chef and driving force behind Biga, alongside his business partner Perny Shea, to discuss the restaurant's journey, its impact on San Antonio's dining scene, and the challenges and triumphs of...
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111. The Last Word - Leave the City Bond Elections Alone
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
This week's Last Word dives into the ongoing battle between local and state government in Texas, focusing on San Antonio's fight to retain control over its financial future. With Republican lawmakers seeking to tighten their grip on predominantly Democratic cities, proposals like requiring a two-thirds majority for bond approvals loom large, threatening to stall essential capital projects. Bob unpacks the political motivations behind these legislative moves, the implications for San Antonio’s infrastructure and community needs, and how state interference stands to hinder progress on issues...
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110. San Antonio’s Model for Homelessness: Why Other Cities Look to Haven for Hope
bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard
This week on bigcitysmalltown we delve into the evolving landscape of homelessness support and services in San Antonio. As Kim Jeffries, the CEO of Haven for Hope, prepares to depart her role to take on the establishment of a comprehensive homeless shelter in Las Vegas, she joins host Bob Rivard to reflect on her journey in the San Antonio nonprofit sector. Kim's tenure at Haven for Hope offers a unique lens into how the city has grown and adapted to meet the needs of its vulnerable communities. The conversation touches on the extraordinary collaboration between various nonprofit organizations...
info_outlineThis week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown takes a look at the humor, storytelling, and resilience behind one of San Antonio’s most recognizable public artists: Gary Sweeney.
We’re joined by Gary Sweeney, a visual artist known for his bold, text-based public art, wit-infused commentary, and unconventional career path. From working as a baggage handler at an airline to creating public art installations across San Antonio, Denver, and beyond, Sweeney’s work blends humor with sharp social observations.
With a career that spans decades—and a few rejected public art proposals along the way—Gary shares his thoughts on what makes public art work, the balance between humor and meaning, and why he kept his airline job for 35 years even while building a name as an artist.
Listen as we explore how art, place, and storytelling collide, what public art reveals about a city’s character, and why San Antonio continues to be a hub for creative voices like Sweeney’s.
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RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE
▶ #92: Meet San Antonio’s New Family-Friendly Art Residency – Parts & Labor – In this episode of bigcitysmalltown, we explore how San Antonio is rethinking support for artists with a groundbreaking new residency program designed for those who are also caregivers.
We’re joined by Liz Stehl Kleberg and Meaghan Mitts, the founders of Parts & Labor Residency, a nonprofit in Southtown San Antonio that provides mid-career artists with the time, space, and childcare support they need to balance family life and creative work.
What does it take to make the arts more inclusive and sustainable? How does caregiving shape creative careers? And why is San Antonio leading the way with this new model? Tune in to learn how this program is reshaping artist residencies and building a more supportive arts community.
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