Employee Needs

LISD Board Trustee Jose Valdez Sr. wants the district to cover the upcoming health insurance premium increase for employees.  Staff is looking at a 15 percent hike in the cost of continuing their health coverage.  Whether self-serving or not on the part of Mr. Valdez, it looks like he wants to help ease the burden that employees have to face.  The masses, judging from online message boards, view Valdez's move as a misappropriation of funds.  Apparently people have never heard of cost-of-living expenses. 

More With Les: Outlet Shoppes Edition 2013

I met with downtown businessman Les Norton this weekend to talk about the earth-shattering announcement the city made Tuesday concerning the private investment the Horizon Group is making on the old River Drive Mall.  He stressed that the outlet project is a private venture that the city has little control over.  The retail space downtown is owned by Horizon, and it wouldn't make sense for them to open an outlet mall elsewhere in Laredo when they have that property at their disposal, Mr. Norton commented.  A project of this magnitude wouldn't only be beneficial for downtown, but for the different taxing entities involved, especially LISD.  Mr. Norton challenges city hall to show him the list of improvements it has made in the past several years. 

I'll update this post later today with what Mr. Norton had to say about the matter.

Laredo Flooding 2013

The Chacon Creek Trail viewed from the S. Meadow bridge.

The same view this afternoon.  Water has backed up into the Chacon Creek because of the overflow the Rio Grande has experienced.

Share The Joy

A billboard along Zapata Hwy is calling motorists to stop in at any Stripes Store to pick up a 32 oz. soft drink for a buck.  As you see with many a roadside ad in Laredo and south Texas, the text included will also be shown in Spanish.  It's a common occurrence, one that we've probably learned to ignore.

I highlight this ad because we've taken offense, at one point in our lives, to the tactics used by corporations that cater to Mexican nationals.  We cringe when clerks address us in Spanish.  We lament the ubiquity of music with Spanish lyrics.  Gawd forbid someone should wave a Mexican flag around here; that'll send us into a tailspin.  Any type of sentiment that's directed towards the Hispanic culture we meet with disdain. 

I don't know why that is since we grew up going back and forth between English and Spanish with our friends and family.  We spent our leisure time in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo.  In my case, Tejano music, or polkas were never my cup of tea, but I was always there on the dance floor when Juana la Cubana was played during wedding receptions.  Yet, for some reason, people relate to me that Laredo has turned into 'Little Mexico,' or use the mocking refrain, "Con la pansa aqui, pero el corazon en Mexico" when talking about someone showing Mexican pride. 

I wanted to write about this because we support the likes of Sebastian delaCruz for singing the National Anthem but we chastise the culture he represents in wearing a charro costume.  The little boy got a lot of heat on Twitter for his performance.  People jumped on those making nasty comments towards him, labeling them racists.  I'm not saying we're racists, but I do wonder when it was that we became pussies.  When did we become so sensitive to Mexican culture when it's been so much a part of our lives?

Beer Run Talk

The beer run activity isn't as flagrant as it used to be but people are still concerned about the image it portrays.

Downtown Laredo 2.0

Hearing the news of an outlet mall being built on the site of the former River Drive Mall is exciting.  But city leaders have to expect some skepticism from the masses, especially when so many things haven't panned out throughout the city.  Les Norton - someone who knows a thing or two about the history of downtown -should not be taken for granted.  His tenure as a businessman should've earned him some respect.  Instead we have Carlos Villarreal blowing him off and calling him "negative."

Things Eventually Come

Several days ago KGNS featured the hike and bike trail along the southern end of Chacon Creek.  This trail is part of a larger, outdoor amenity that's supposed to link the Santa Rita subdivision with TAMIU.  Unfortunately it's nothing new.  Four years ago I interviewed then-Councilman TITO!!! Garcia about the project.  Here we are now and people still don't know how to access the trail that's already there.

99 Days Till Blog Anniversary

I saw "Promised Land," starring Matt Damon, this weekend.  The movie goes through the life of an energy company representative who is sent to a small, rural community with the goal of winning over the people on the benefits of leasing their land for natural gas exploration.  The movie touched on some of the politics involved within the corporate culture, and how that spills over into the communities in need of revitalization.  I think the story made some valid points in regards to land stewardship.  Some of the public concerns were played out overtly, but there was one scene that conveyed a subtle message about wealth.  Matt Damon gives a girl $1 for a homemade lemonade.  The young saleslady insists on giving him change for the 25-cent drink.  Contrived and cynical, perhaps, but nevertheless a worthwhile example for society.       

The Big Time

Congratulations to this young man.

Friday Graduation Thread

Follow me on Facebook or Twitter.  Hello?!!!!

French Open Thread

I like playing tennis more than I like watching it on t.v..  Nevertheless, clay court play makes for great background noise.

My Oh My

They never learn.

Tuesday Thread Blog Post

I saw Councilman Esteban Rangel on the news last night talking about a punch list like we're supposed to know what that means.

Transformed

I hadn't done a photographical (is that a word?) post in a while, but a certain bumper sticker provided some inspiration this weekend.

More And More

With all the supposed new trade traffic ahead, is Laredo really serious about providing safe infrastructure for the public?  (more later)

Laredo Commercials

They're funny.  And embarrassing at the same time.

Joe Rubio: Office Raid Edition

Fifteen years ago today, D.A. Joe Rubio's office was raided.  Thousands of files were seized by the FBI after charges of corruption within the office arose.

Sit And Wait Thread

The San Antonio Spurs sit and wait to start the NBA Finals.

I'll sit and wait a total of 112 days to celebrate this blog's sixth year of existence.