Cafecito with Marcello Martinez: Following Your Passion

April 28, 2021 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada, Cafecito Columnist | San Antonio Sentinel

It’s a sunny Tuesday afternoon when Marcello Martinez greets me through my computer screen. Gearing up for the May 1 election, the architect turned politician is preparing to face 11 opponents for the District 3 seat on San Antonio City Council, presently held by outgoing Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran.

As our interview unfolds, Martinez, 49, explains how both his upbringing and professional background set him on a course to run for public office. 

Helping others was instilled in him at an early age by his parents. His father was a career firefighter and, in his spare time, a soccer organizer. 

“He would work to bring soccer to the parts of town where it wasn’t," Martinez says. “Through the generations, my family has done what it could to connect communities.”

From his mother, he learned about the importance of being kind to others.

“It’s interesting to learn how far kindness will take you,” he says. “We go further together than we do apart. If you’re kind and you try to understand the other person, you can get a lot more done than if you come in guns blazing.” 

As a child, Martinez didn’t necessarily envision becoming an architect, but his ideal profession at the time was fairly close. 

"In second grade, I remember wanting to be a carpenter and wanting to make things," he recalls. "I became the kind of carpenter that does drawings that other people make."

Martinez attended Central Catholic High School where he says he learned the concept of servant leadership and “that ethic of [giving] back to the world what you’ve been given.” 

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As an architect, Martinez has duly demonstrated his passion for urban development and growth, and throughout his career, Martinez has taken a conscientious approach to his work. 

“Architects try to address social problems through architecture," he explains. "[But] no one knows that except [architects]." He laughs lightheartedly, then quotes Winston Churchill: “We shape our buildings and then afterwards our buildings shape us.”

For eight years, Martinez served on the San Antonio Planning Commission and has also lent his expertise to many nonprofit boards, always striving to advance community outreach initiatives where he can. Being a 14-year South Side resident and an architect with industry knowledge has certainly helped him to bridge the gap between the two conversations. 

As chair of the Planning Commission, what did you learn about San Antonians and the direction of the city’s growth? I ask. 

“[That] we sure do have a lot of passionate citizens - which I love,” he says. “[And that] we can do a better job of educating our citizens about what the government can do. The top of the government are the voters.”

From the outside looking in, Martinez says that the nation’s seventh-largest city is an attractive place to both prospective residents and growing businesses. 

“The long-range plans are impressive,” he says. “San Antonio will continue to grow, [but] we need to grow intelligently.” 

Martinez hopes to help guide this rapid development as the next D3 representative.

What issues would you prioritize in 2021? I ask.

“The digital divide is an issue that we need to address,” he says without missing a beat. “Covid has shown a big light on that.” 

Public safety is also high on his list.

“We want to look at getting a new substation in District 3,” he says.

Other issues on his radar include continuing to create walkable neighborhoods and improving senior services.

In regard to Covid response, Martinez says keeping residents employed is key, which is why he favors small business assistance. 

“Workforce development makes a lot of sense, [because] that investment comes back to us,” he says.

Over a year into the pandemic, Martinez looks back on a year of a many changes.

“I do have people in my circle who have contracted [Covid-19],” he says. “They’ve all recovered.”

He admits the isolation has been difficult. “There have been times when I sure do miss people.”

Martinez has two daughters, one in high school, another in college. I ask him if he has shared any advice with them as they enter adulthood. 

“Definitely I say follow your passion,” he says after a thoughtful pause. “Work hard and do the smart thing but follow your passion. The world needs more passionate people,” he says.

Mixing things up, I ask him if he has a pet peeve.

With a quick smile, he dodges my question, saying: “I’m super sad that enchiladas are fattening.”

,I completely understand. Enchiladas are indeed amazing. 

“The chicken nuggets of my time was the cheese enchilada plate,” he adds.

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When asked to pin down a favorite spot in District 3, Martinez says his answer would depend on the occasion.

“I have a favorite part for different things,” he says. “For exercise, I sure do love the River Walk and the trails. I love Highland Park. I love different parts of it. We have great pocket parks. For tourists coming out of town, I show them the missions.” 

Martinez has enhanced the quality of life in the city through his architectural work, which include Mission Concepcion River Walk Portal, the revitalization of Houston Street and the adaptive reuse of the iconic Nix Professional Building. 

“I am well aware there are things I’ve done in this city that will be there for many, many, many years....and people will enjoy them for many, many, many years,” he says. “They will never know who I am and that doesn’t matter. But just to know that that’s something I had a hand in…them having a good experience with their life? It’s lovely.”

Jade Esteban Estrada is the Cafecito Columnist for the San Antonio Sentinel. jade@sasentinel.com | Twitter: @getjaded