Experts question whether San Antonio mayor can gain political support for pause on Project Marvel

San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is tripling down on her call for a "strategic pause" on negotiations with Spurs Sports & Entertainment for a new downtown basketball arena, outlining her argument during recent media appearance and in a lengthy public statement. However, political experts said the newly minted mayor may not be able to convince City Council to go along with her plan. University of Texas at San Antonio political scientist Jon Taylor told the Current that Jones' call for a pause to better review the deal makes sense given the gravity of the debate around the arena and Project Marvel, the $4 billion proposed sports-and-entertainment of which it would be a part.