San Antonio: Councilman Roberto Treviño Comments On Exhumation Of Human Remains At Santa Rosa On Tuesday Morning

Press release from the City of San Antonio:

September 1, 2020

SAN ANTONIO — District 1 Councilman Roberto Treviño provided a statement regarding the exhumation of human remains at Santa Rosa Street by Public Works this morning:

“The archeological process for this project started in January 2018. Public Works has been considerate and inclusive with the communities and descendants, including with development of a Human Burial Remains Protocol. This exhumation of human remains comes after many meetings that informed individuals of the project details, Public Works’ sensitivity of potentially encountering human remains, their commitment to environmental compliance, and obtaining necessary permits and approvals by Texas Historical Commission and Bexar County District Court.

“This project is unlike others that Public Works operates. The process requires consideration and sensitivity to beliefs and backgrounds in balance with standard regulatory protocols. It is my hope that through collaborative discussions and transparency, the archeological progress and findings related to Santa Rosa, San Saba, and Commerce bring healing, closure, and acknowledgement as part of the street improvements under the 2017 Bond Program.

“Public Works gave all descendant groups an opportunity to conduct their own spiritual ceremonies or practices at the site prior to the exhumation work. It’s our understanding the importance of moments like this that are significant to providing inclusivity and thoughtfulness for the diverse backgrounds and cultural footprint we have across our city.”

This press release was produced by the City of San Antonio. The views expressed here are the author’s own.