SAN ANTONIO — With only days to go until the May municipal election, Proposition B has reached beyond the political arena, with Spurs Head coach Gregg Popovich calling it a "step in the right direction" earlier this week.
Proposition B seeks to change how San Antonio negotiates contract provisions with police officers, and it's sparked plenty of debate locally.
For John Diaz, president of the San Antonio Police Officers Association, the measure represents a step back. Diaz said collective bargaining is beneficial because it helps both the police department and the city come to fair agreements.
“It’s not one side dictating to the other. There are mutual agreements,” Diaz said.
With early voting underway, some prominent community members have voiced support in voting for Proposition B.
In a statement last week, former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro called SAPD’s rehire rate of bad officers the worst in the nation. This week, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke emphasized his support, saying, in part, “We shouldn't have to bargain for police accountability, it should be guaranteed."
“The police unions use power in a way that does not protect and serve,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said on Wednesday.
Diaz responded in a letter asking to meet with Popovich "to explain why he's got Prop B all wrong." He argued that Proposition B is about repealing collective bargaining, not accountability.
In his initial comments, Popovich specifically took issue with collective bargaining for police unions.
"We're one of the very few cities in Texas that still has collective bargaining," he said of San Antonio.
When asked Thursday if he'd take Diaz up on his offer, he declined.
"Absolutely not, there's nothing I can tell him," Popovich said. "Police unions need to reevaluate. The power has become unmanageable on many different levels, and we've all seen it."
"Mr. Diaz's comments I'm sure are well meant, and that's exactly what I would expect him to say considering his perspective, but police unions need to stand down a bit and figure out a more equitable outcome on various aspects of policing," Popovich said.
Governor Greg Abbott tweeted he’s against the proposition passing, but with the increase in support for Proposition B, Diaz fears it could sway the outcome of the elections results.
“If you don’t have to protect their livelihood, their families (are) going to go elsewhere, and that’s not what we want,” Diaz said.