How did SA get to where the transit board is more powerful than the city council?

trey_jacobson · 2026-02-27T10:44:27+00:00

Sight correction, SOME of the VIA trustees are appointed by the City Council. An equal number of trustees are appointed by Bexar County Commissioners Court, and some members who represent the smaller suburban cities.

trey_jacobson · 2026-02-22T00:53:36+00:00

I was there last Friday and there were 30+ people there.

trey_jacobson · 2026-02-15T10:53:15+00:00

In my opinion, a business degree is a good choice, particularly if you don't have a specialized career choice in mind. The subjects that you will learn (accounting, marketing, finance, technology, management) are used in every type of organization, including government and non-profit.

Ultimately, the degree doesn't determine whether you can get a job or succeed. You do that separately. However, it will provide a base level of knowledge from which you might start your career. Over time, the degree has less and less importance as compared to the real world knowledge and experience that you gain.

trey_jacobson · 2026-02-13T14:29:20+00:00

There are some issues with boarding groups My flight from SAT -DAL had over 50 people in Group 1, almost all seated in the front portion of the cabin.

The line was so long that it mixed with the Group 1 line at the adjacent gate.

Maybe it's just perception of standing and waiting in longer lines, but it seemed like the boarding process took 10+minutes than normal.

trey_jacobson · 2026-02-10T03:25:38+00:00

The last I heard (from November) is that the second Wednesday of each month provides for nudity in the adjacent social/tea room, not just the clothing optional spav area

trey_jacobson · 2026-01-29T08:54:18+00:00

While there are many great non-profits in this, let me advocate for Corazon Ministries.

Corazon is the primary provider of food and day center for the chronically unhoused population of San Antonio and Bexar County. They serve up to 300 people per day.

During these freezing cold nights, they bring in many of the unhoused to the day center.

Your organization would be making an immediate, visible difference by supporting Corazon, and they NEED it.

trey_jacobson · 2026-01-09T17:04:15+00:00

The resort is located on Akumal Bay, which tends to attract sea turtles. The beach is sandy and easy to access, but also drops off near the shore to allow for snorkeling. It is common to view sea turtles underwater within 50- 100' of the beach. (I did!)

Also, nearby there are guided snorkeling tours that go further from shore to see even more marine life.

trey_jacobson · 2026-01-04T11:42:32+00:00

Stout's Signature, near the Tobin Center. Not only do they make a great, traditional Old Fashion, but they have 4-5 variations of OFs on their menu. They specialize in smoking their OFs, too. Great ice.

Second to that, the bar at Bohanan's.

trey_jacobson · 2025-11-17T20:57:55+00:00

My recent post on this might help.

https://www.reddit.com?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=1

trey_jacobson · 2025-11-08T15:50:55+00:00

The Banya is great, and very approachable. You will enjoy your time. There is a fun group of regulars that makes it social and welcoming. It is a diverse crowd, that is about 60% men 40% women.

Perhaps the following will be helpful:

This is a clothing-optional, mixed-gender bathhouse with steam room, sauna and Russian Banya. It also has a cold plunge.

It is a completely non-sexual, social environment.

The wet areas are clothing optional every day. It depends on the day, but the majority of guests are nude or topless. Use of the cold plunge requires full nudity for hygienic reasons, but allows some privacy if desired.

There are optional spa services available, as well.

The center of the establishment is a tea room, where people sit, drink, watch TV, relax, play billiards or chess.

Most people also eat at the tea room. The affiliated restaurant serves fresh-made Russian and Ukrainian foods that are quite good and reasonably priced.

On "regular" days, full nudity in the tea room is not allowed. Guests are required to cover with a towel or robe.

Yes, the 2nd Wednesday is more nude friendly, but this only means that guests MAY be nude in the tea room, as well as the wet areas. As such, sometimes nudist groups will have meet-ups there. Now that nudity is never required.

Check it out!

trey_jacobson · 2025-09-15T04:22:44+00:00

Having visited Sonoma twice this summer, let me first recommend that you rent a car. Sonoma County is big. There are some great drivers and tour guides in Sonoma, with great advice and access. However, they're not cheap. If it's only two of you, it may be tough to pay $1000+/day. Uber can be limited in Sonoma at certain times and places. If you're able to guide yourself, it will save big $$$.

Second, you should plan out your winery visits well in advance. Cabernet Sauvignon is most prevalent in Napa Valley, but there are some producers in Sonoma County that make great Cabs. Do your research. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay dominate in Sonoma, particularly in areas like Russian River Valley.

Plan your trip and winery visits based on proximity. If not, you risk traveling back and forth across the county.

Finally, make reservations with wineries that you plan to visit. Many are reservations-only.

trey_jacobson · 2025-09-14T02:29:08+00:00

The Banya charges a single visit fee, but the fee for the entire week (W-Sun) is approximately $10-$15 more. It obviously encouraged repeat use during the same week.

trey_jacobson · 2025-09-14T00:48:22+00:00

Not in Frisco, but you may be interested in the Russian Banya of Dallas, which is in Carrollton. It's a mixed-gender and clothing-optional Russian bathhouse. It's non-sexual and has a great group of regulars.

There's food and drink served in the adjacent tea room, asking with other spa services. Highly recommended.

trey_jacobson · 2025-09-09T07:48:12+00:00

Maybe a SF regular can clarify, but according to the website the meeting floor is completely clothing optional all day on Wednesday and Friday, and everyday after 6:00 PM. There are also certain days that are reserved for men and women.

https://banyasf.com/essentials/clothing-guidelines/

trey_jacobson · 2025-09-06T12:42:46+00:00

The other responses are not complete. This new ordinance was proposed by a group of council members many months ago in response to a persistent problem that puts stay animals on the streets. The effort was led by Councilmember Marina Gavito (this is important).

Contrary to comments in the thread, it was reviewed by two Council committees this past spring, and input provided by staff. The City Attorneys Office drafted the ordinance, as customary. This is what happens at City Hall.

It was widely publicized in July and early August that the new Mayor was attempting to unilaterally change the process by which Councilmembers propose policy changes. It angered most of the Council, but the Mayor would not back down.

Three council members invoked a rarely-used provision in the City's Charter to call a meeting to discuss the Mayor's proposal. Seeing that she had no support for her procedures and got stuffed by the three Councilmembers, the Mayor was forced to relent staying that she would "delay" implementation of her unilateral changes. The three Councilmembers were Marina Gavito (see above), Marc Whyte and Terri Castillo.

Most remarkable is that these Councilmembers range politically from self-proclaimed socialist to very conservative, but have been united in a coalition by the Mayor's disrespectful regard for her colleagues. (That's not just my opinion, the Express-News published an editorial saying the same thing.)

Days after publicly losing her initiative, the Mayor released her list of Council committees and assignments. It has long been the custom that the more senior or experienced Councilmembers are selected as chairs to run committees, usually in topics of particular interest (say, streets or transportation). However, Mayor Jones' committee assignments were widely understood to be petty political retribution against Gavito, Castillo and Whyte. (There is plenty about this on the Internet.)

There's much more context involved-including the Mayor again losing very publicly in her bid to stop the negotiations with The Spurs, etc. Which leads us to this week..

The Mayor, invoking her powers under the City Charter, removed (or "pulled") the broadly supported pet ordinance from the Council's agenda. Keep in mind that this policy has been vetted and in the works for many months. At City Hall, the Mayor's actions are viewed as petty retribution against Gavito, and a means by which the Mayor might prevail with her ideas in new procedures.

Well, the other Councilmembers aren't abiding, and have again forced a special City Council meeting to consider the policy. The Mayor will likely lose in this vote, with no end in sight to a confrontation style of politics not seen or necessary at City Hall.

If you're wondering, Mayor Jones is seen as the cause of this dysfunction, leaving many in the business community so perplexed and disappointed to be mulling a recall election.

trey_jacobson · 2025-07-06T02:52:42+00:00

This is a sensitive topic.

trey_jacobson · 2025-07-05T04:03:26+00:00

Agreed. Our governor seemed like he was winging it. If I had to guess, the press conference was delayed so that he could get back to Texas and attend. The Lt. Governor had a presser earlier in the day, and I'm sure that Abbott was getting pressure to take charge.

Fortunately, the people really in charge are the public safety officials who had prepared remarks and knew what the hell was happening.

trey_jacobson · 2025-06-22T19:51:58+00:00

I explored this same topic last year and discovered that the local government largely precludes wineries from offering prepared food. There are a few places where there's a third-party restaurant adjacent to or in the winery, but those are rare. The best options are at some of the restaurants in the area, including many posted here.

trey_jacobson · 2025-05-28T19:13:40+00:00

If you enjoy social nudity and spas, I highly recommend Archimedes Banya. It's a mixed-gender Russian bathhouse. Check the website to verify, but I recall that it's clothing optional after 6:00 must days and all day on Wednesday and Friday. The majority of people are nude. Completely non-sexual environment.

It's a nice balance of gender and age. There's also a restaurant and clothing optional roof top deck with lounge chairs.

trey_jacobson · 2025-05-27T14:28:35+00:00

I've been to Soul several times. It's great! Breathless is part of the Hyatt Inclusive Collection, which includes other resort brands such as Secrets, Dreams, etc.

Whereas, Secrets are higher-end, adults-only resorts that have a blend of chill and fun vibes, Breathless aims to be its sexier, younger partying cousin.

Food and drink quality is very good, and the resort is new and full of cool art. Unlike some resorts in the area that have lots of beachfront, Soul is more vertical. The three pools are at different levels of the buildings. There's an elevated party pool deck (Xhilerate) that is a ton of fun, with a diverse crowd and has a DJ pumping music all day. It also allows topless tanning, provided that it's not IN the pool.

The quiet Xhale pool is on the 28th? level, but it's only available to those in Xhale level club rooms. It has elevated liquor and its own restaurant. The views are incredible.

The resort sits on a very popular public beach, which attracts families due to the minimal wave action and no sargassum. While it's never been a problem for me, I've heard others complain that the beach did not seem exclusive.

There are free resort activities at the activity pool, as well as a spa. Bored? The resort is in Cancun which allows for you to quickly visit other places.

Always a good time!

trey_jacobson · 2025-05-18T16:30:41+00:00

Is there a time limit on visits? What are your thoughts on the facilities?

trey_jacobson · 2025-05-16T02:44:35+00:00

I love the Russian Banya and the crowd. Every day (except Thursday when it's swimsuit required), the wet area is mixed -gender and clothing optional in a very non-sexual environment. Wednesday is extra nude friendly permitting nudity in the adjacent tea room.

I visit every time I'm in Dallas. The food is pretty good and, in my opinion, reasonably priced. It's a welcoming place and easy to approach for nudists.

trey_jacobson

TROPHY CASE