South Texas has a colorful history of past elections. Lyndon Johnson's political career received a needed victory with the discovery of ballots in an "extra voting box" in the nearby town of San Diego, Texas. Our most recent Sheriff's race needed at least 3 re-counts to settle. At least one Webb County race in the 1980's was decided by one vote!
So as we approach our November 2, 2010 election day we have entered into what some locals call Laredo's "silly season". First though, a bit of history. The Laredo elections of the 1980's, for example, seemed centered on "pachangas" and bloc voting. A pachanga, especially a polical pachanga, is a mainly masculine get together for heavy doses of beer and carne asada (fajitas, mollejas, etc.) Of course the object is to rally your election supporters for the big day.
Bloc voting consisted of, for example, hiring buses to bring your voters to the polls--sometimes with the encouragement of some "walk around money" given to induce your would be voters to get on the buses. If your supporters weren't quite sure where to mark their ballots, they might be be given a special string. The string was the length of the ballot, with knots tied where the voter should mark the ballot.
Some of these practices continued into the 1990's, but were gradually replaced as we came into the 21st century with some distinctly Laredo election strategies. Since the City of Laredo prohibited elections signs until a certain date ahead of the election, Laredo politicians invented the "political message on the wall". First, just the name of the politician, and nothing else, would be painted on as many walls and fences as possible(the City forbade any political message until the legal
date for the campaign start). This was successfully contested as a violation of constitutionally guaranteed "free speech", and now the walls and fences are huge campaign signs.
On election day, and during early voting days, a political candidate's supporters stand around polling sites (at the appropriate legal distance from the site) waving signs encouraging citizens to stop and vote for their favorites. The number of these folks with their signs vary, but usually enough to make you wonder if its worth it to drive or walk yourself through the gaulet of competing supporters!
This year in Laredo, we seem to have many more candidates for available positions, and what seems to be an endless amount of televised "debates" between these opponents. Of course, all the candidates are for more services, less taxes, more economic development, cutting out the waste, and all are "for the kids"!
So enjoy election time in Laredo, and as we always say "vote early and often".
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Summer of 2010
Whether you believe the climate is changing or not, Laredo, this summer, certainly had some weather experiences to talk about! The first Atlantic hurricane of 2010, Alex, meandered up the Rio Grande on the Mexican side, but dumped mega tons of water upstream. As a consequence, The river at Laredo was 43 feet above flood stage on July 8. This was our second "100 year" flood in only 12 years! On August 27, 1998, the Rio Grande in Laredo flooded to 32 feet, bring the water to the bottom levels of the downtown bridges. The flooding this year did much more damage--with over 250 homes badly affected, and destroying the Laredo park area along the river. International traffic was disrupted for days, and international rail service ceased for 5 days as an overflowing dam in Mexico took out a vital rail bridge. Local faith based and non-profit groups have formed a coalition with the City of Laredo to help those who suffered loses, and to plan for future such events.
The South Texas Food Bank was able to meet the most pressing demands for food relief, and the community supported the Food Bank's "Empty Bowls" fund raising event on August 25. Featured at the event were a large variety of bowls painted by local and regional artists--sold by auction, and a performance by the famous 70's rock group, "Three Dog Night."
With continued serious drug cartel violence in our sister city, Nuevo Laredo, many would be visitors to Laredo are staying away--under the false assuption of danger in Laredo, Texas. Laredo has been, and is, one of the safest cities in Texas and the U.S.. So on a happier note, the 17th Annual Logistics and Manufacturing Symposium, held on the 15th through the 17th of September, drew outstanding speakers from around the U.S. One of the best, Mr. John Adams, director of economic development for the state of Florida, returned for this event. You might notice that the inspiration for this blog is his quote that "More happens in Laredo in a week, than in most cities in a year! It was good to have John back in Laredo.
The South Texas Food Bank was able to meet the most pressing demands for food relief, and the community supported the Food Bank's "Empty Bowls" fund raising event on August 25. Featured at the event were a large variety of bowls painted by local and regional artists--sold by auction, and a performance by the famous 70's rock group, "Three Dog Night."
With continued serious drug cartel violence in our sister city, Nuevo Laredo, many would be visitors to Laredo are staying away--under the false assuption of danger in Laredo, Texas. Laredo has been, and is, one of the safest cities in Texas and the U.S.. So on a happier note, the 17th Annual Logistics and Manufacturing Symposium, held on the 15th through the 17th of September, drew outstanding speakers from around the U.S. One of the best, Mr. John Adams, director of economic development for the state of Florida, returned for this event. You might notice that the inspiration for this blog is his quote that "More happens in Laredo in a week, than in most cities in a year! It was good to have John back in Laredo.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
The Long Spring
Yes, I know, Laredoans are always talking about the weather when not much changes. However, this year it's different! Winter normally starts about the day after Christmas, then gradually disappears by mid-January. For the first three months of this year, 2010, Laredo was just darn cold--colder than New York City on many days. Instead of the air conditioner coming on, the heater was used for a gracious plenty of nights in the 30's and 40's. Finally in March, our Spring appeared, and it's still here at the end of April. It rained last week for 7 days, and not quite 7 nights. Our prominent weather forecaster, "Heat Wave" Berler says we are 5" of rain ahead of our year to date average; Heatwave had to change this year from shorts to his "long johns"!
Well, enough already, it has been a good year for the most part. Our 6 week celebration of George Washington's Birthday went off great. Anna and John Galo did their expected superb job portraying Martha and George. Laredo raised $60,000. for Haitian earthquake relief--donated to Habitat for Humanity International, Doctors without Borders, and the Red Cross. The Laredo Bucks made it to the CFL Hockey Playoffs, and many out of town college students (working for Habitat Laredo on an alternative Spring Break experience) enjoyed seeing the Bucks in action.
The pool was used last week, the rain has stopped for now, and we may have our start of Summer by May. It's been a long Spring, hope yours has been enjoyable as well.
Well, enough already, it has been a good year for the most part. Our 6 week celebration of George Washington's Birthday went off great. Anna and John Galo did their expected superb job portraying Martha and George. Laredo raised $60,000. for Haitian earthquake relief--donated to Habitat for Humanity International, Doctors without Borders, and the Red Cross. The Laredo Bucks made it to the CFL Hockey Playoffs, and many out of town college students (working for Habitat Laredo on an alternative Spring Break experience) enjoyed seeing the Bucks in action.
The pool was used last week, the rain has stopped for now, and we may have our start of Summer by May. It's been a long Spring, hope yours has been enjoyable as well.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
11 Days to Christmas in Laredo
It's cold, it's cloudy, and it really seems like winter. The houses in the neighborhood have their lights and Christmas decorations in the front yards. Migratory birds have arrived from their Northern sites, and the theirs is a special Laredo Christmas music. Shoppers at the Mall seem sparser this year, and the Christmas charities seem more intense at their work. The tamales and Christmas cookies are being sold and given, and it's a great season in Laredo!
On Christmas Eve, 2004, it snowed in Laredo--we are keeping our fingers crossed.
On Christmas Eve, 2004, it snowed in Laredo--we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Laredo--It's Not Flat: "A short history"
The consensus of most first comers to Laredo is that it is flat. Flat to me is a relative condition. Laredo is certainly not flat like most of South Texas—especially along the Gulf of Mexico. The cotton fields surrounding Corpus Christi, 150 miles due east of Laredo, are as flat as an endless board. Laredo is not flat to me. Also, in the higher parts of Laredo you can see mountains quite clearly, at least at sunset on a dust free day. The mountains are 70 miles to the southwest, part of what grow to become the Rockies. The range you can enjoy seeing from Laredo is call the Sierra Morena—Spanish for the “brown mountains." Most Laredoans, I found, don’t ever look at these mountains; it does require being at the right place at the right time. To someone who is not used to “relative” flatness, the Sierra Morena is a solace to view as the sun is setting.
Laredo is one of the oldest cities in Texas. It was founded in 1755 by Tomas Sanchez with three families. Originally named San Agustin de Laredo, after a city in northern Spain, it has become known simply as Laredo. As a small, non-military Spanish settlement, early Laredoans were on their own in protecting themselves against Apache and Comanche Indian raids, and as late as 1892, Laredo appointed “vigilantes” to protect homes from Indian attacks. In 1789, Laredo counted approximately 800 inhabitants, engaged mainly in either ranching or trade. Then in 1840, it became the capital of a new country—The Republic of the Rio Grande, as a group of dissidents from the Mexican States of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Laredo succeeded from Mexico. The Republic lasted 283 days, until its chief leaders were shot, hung, or in one prominent case—beheaded. The three star flag of the Republic still flies, however, over the country’s modest Capitol or headquarters house next to the La Posada Hotel.
After the Mexican-American War, which ended by treaty in 1848, the boundary of the United States was moved 100 miles south from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande. Those Laredoans who wished to remain Mexican citizens, moved to the south side of the Rio Grande and founded the present day City of Nuevo Laredo, or “New Laredo." This event resulted in the creation of a close relationship between the citizens of the two cities, since many are related by blood or marriage. The two Laredos are jointly promoted as “Los Dos Laredos."
The predominately Mexican American citizens of Laredo, Texas, found themselves in a “hot” war between 1861-1865, as part of the Confederacy in the American Civil War, or the War Between the States—as it is preferred to be called in the South. On March 18, 1864, the Battle of Laredo was fought between Major Alfred Holt leading 200 Union solders, and Colonel Santos Benavides who defended Laredo with 42 men. Colonel Benavides and his Confederate volunteers held back three Union charges at Zacate Creek, east of Laredo, and went down in history as the victors of the battle. The 5000 bales of cotton, stored in Laredo for sale by the Confederate States of America, had been saved.
Modern Laredo started with the arrival of the railroads in 1881. The Texas-Mexican Railway (still operating today), and the Great Northern Railway (later absorbed by the Union Pacific), connected Laredo to Mexico City to the south, and to the rest of the United States to the north. Trade flourished in the city, with emigrants from Europe and other U.S. States increasing Laredo’s population to 11,319 inhabitants by 1890—an increase of nearly 4 times the 1880 count. So many of today’s Laredo institutions date from the early 1880’s, including various churches, the newspaper, the water works, the Webb County Courthouse, the Laredo Independent School District, and in 1889, the first wagon bridge across the Rio Grande. The turn of the century brought a booming “Bermuda onion” agricultural industry, a coal mining operation northwest of town, and in 1921, Oliver W. Killam discovered oil and gas in Webb County. Oil and gas has resulted in some of Laredo’s earliest families becoming very wealthy. These 7 or 8 families consolidated their land holdings as their wealth increased, and today, a great portion of all land in the county is owned by a relative few. The uneven economic growth of Laredo since the 1880’s also created a large differential of income. The result is that a small portion of the population is very prosperous, and the largest segment of the population remains poor. In 1981 Laredo was the third poorest region in the United States, exceeded in poverty by only Brownsville, Texas, and a county in eastern North Carolina. At the turn of this century, 2000, Laredo was the second poorest region in the country, while having been the second fastest growing region in the U.S. (after Las Vegas) during the 1990’s.
Laredo is one of the oldest cities in Texas. It was founded in 1755 by Tomas Sanchez with three families. Originally named San Agustin de Laredo, after a city in northern Spain, it has become known simply as Laredo. As a small, non-military Spanish settlement, early Laredoans were on their own in protecting themselves against Apache and Comanche Indian raids, and as late as 1892, Laredo appointed “vigilantes” to protect homes from Indian attacks. In 1789, Laredo counted approximately 800 inhabitants, engaged mainly in either ranching or trade. Then in 1840, it became the capital of a new country—The Republic of the Rio Grande, as a group of dissidents from the Mexican States of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Laredo succeeded from Mexico. The Republic lasted 283 days, until its chief leaders were shot, hung, or in one prominent case—beheaded. The three star flag of the Republic still flies, however, over the country’s modest Capitol or headquarters house next to the La Posada Hotel.
After the Mexican-American War, which ended by treaty in 1848, the boundary of the United States was moved 100 miles south from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande. Those Laredoans who wished to remain Mexican citizens, moved to the south side of the Rio Grande and founded the present day City of Nuevo Laredo, or “New Laredo." This event resulted in the creation of a close relationship between the citizens of the two cities, since many are related by blood or marriage. The two Laredos are jointly promoted as “Los Dos Laredos."
The predominately Mexican American citizens of Laredo, Texas, found themselves in a “hot” war between 1861-1865, as part of the Confederacy in the American Civil War, or the War Between the States—as it is preferred to be called in the South. On March 18, 1864, the Battle of Laredo was fought between Major Alfred Holt leading 200 Union solders, and Colonel Santos Benavides who defended Laredo with 42 men. Colonel Benavides and his Confederate volunteers held back three Union charges at Zacate Creek, east of Laredo, and went down in history as the victors of the battle. The 5000 bales of cotton, stored in Laredo for sale by the Confederate States of America, had been saved.
Modern Laredo started with the arrival of the railroads in 1881. The Texas-Mexican Railway (still operating today), and the Great Northern Railway (later absorbed by the Union Pacific), connected Laredo to Mexico City to the south, and to the rest of the United States to the north. Trade flourished in the city, with emigrants from Europe and other U.S. States increasing Laredo’s population to 11,319 inhabitants by 1890—an increase of nearly 4 times the 1880 count. So many of today’s Laredo institutions date from the early 1880’s, including various churches, the newspaper, the water works, the Webb County Courthouse, the Laredo Independent School District, and in 1889, the first wagon bridge across the Rio Grande. The turn of the century brought a booming “Bermuda onion” agricultural industry, a coal mining operation northwest of town, and in 1921, Oliver W. Killam discovered oil and gas in Webb County. Oil and gas has resulted in some of Laredo’s earliest families becoming very wealthy. These 7 or 8 families consolidated their land holdings as their wealth increased, and today, a great portion of all land in the county is owned by a relative few. The uneven economic growth of Laredo since the 1880’s also created a large differential of income. The result is that a small portion of the population is very prosperous, and the largest segment of the population remains poor. In 1981 Laredo was the third poorest region in the United States, exceeded in poverty by only Brownsville, Texas, and a county in eastern North Carolina. At the turn of this century, 2000, Laredo was the second poorest region in the country, while having been the second fastest growing region in the U.S. (after Las Vegas) during the 1990’s.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The David B. Barkeley Cantu Chapel at LCC
Veterans Day, November 11, 2009 the newly restored 114 year old Fort McIntosh Chapel was dedicated as the Private David B. Barkeley Cantu Veterans Memorial Chapel. The $1.6 million of exterior and interior work has produced a stunningly beautiful building of limestone and brick facade, unique palladium architectural features, and original windows, doors, ceilings and walls.
Gathered for the event were Laredo's U.S. Congressman, Henry Cuellar, local office holders, a military representative from Fort Hood, law enforcement leaders, college students, administration, faculty, and Laredo veterans. Also recognized was community leader and member of the LCC administration, Mrs. David M. Slaughter, better know as "Millie"--who spearheaded the restoration for five years. Also attending were many private donors, including trustees of the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation--among the major contributors.
The restoration of this historic building is the start of a ten year effort to restore the many historically important buildings located on Fort McIntosh--the downtown campus for Laredo Community College.
David B. Barkeley Cantu gave his life, at the age of 19, in World War I.--two days before the war ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 am of 1918. He was the the first Laredo native to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions as a Private in the U.S. Army serving in France. France and Italy also recognized his ultimate sacrifice. A member of the Barkeley Cantu family presented the Chapel with the flag that draped his coffin when he had lay in state at the Alamo.
Gathered for the event were Laredo's U.S. Congressman, Henry Cuellar, local office holders, a military representative from Fort Hood, law enforcement leaders, college students, administration, faculty, and Laredo veterans. Also recognized was community leader and member of the LCC administration, Mrs. David M. Slaughter, better know as "Millie"--who spearheaded the restoration for five years. Also attending were many private donors, including trustees of the Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Foundation--among the major contributors.
The restoration of this historic building is the start of a ten year effort to restore the many historically important buildings located on Fort McIntosh--the downtown campus for Laredo Community College.
David B. Barkeley Cantu gave his life, at the age of 19, in World War I.--two days before the war ended on the 11th day of the 11th month at 11:00 am of 1918. He was the the first Laredo native to be awarded the Medal of Honor for heroic actions as a Private in the U.S. Army serving in France. France and Italy also recognized his ultimate sacrifice. A member of the Barkeley Cantu family presented the Chapel with the flag that draped his coffin when he had lay in state at the Alamo.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fall in Laredo
Well, it finally happened this week--the temperatures fell into the 60's! For two days the temperature never climbed higher. The Laredo natives went crazy, of course. All you could hear was how great the weather was, and especially appreciated was some rain. The coats came out, and kids ran outside to experience the first real showers since June? or was it May?
We did enjoy the week; today, Saturday, the weather service issued a "heat warning", and so much for fall temperatures for awhile.
I think this season rivals spring for new starts. Just a new school year brings so many changes. Traffic quadruples--no one seems to walk to school, teachers end a summer's vacation, stores selling backpacks, school supplies, and clothing are full again, and high school football is back in Texas on Friday nights.
Of course, the Christmas decorations are back at big box stores, and the start of the hunting season is wildly anticipated by it's devotees. All in all, it's a great time of year to be in Laredo. The flowers are still blooming. The humming birds are appearing. The mornings are now comfortably cool for walking. So forget your problems for a bit and enjoy this great season.
We did enjoy the week; today, Saturday, the weather service issued a "heat warning", and so much for fall temperatures for awhile.
I think this season rivals spring for new starts. Just a new school year brings so many changes. Traffic quadruples--no one seems to walk to school, teachers end a summer's vacation, stores selling backpacks, school supplies, and clothing are full again, and high school football is back in Texas on Friday nights.
Of course, the Christmas decorations are back at big box stores, and the start of the hunting season is wildly anticipated by it's devotees. All in all, it's a great time of year to be in Laredo. The flowers are still blooming. The humming birds are appearing. The mornings are now comfortably cool for walking. So forget your problems for a bit and enjoy this great season.
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