city of mcallen

MCALLEN, Texas - Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham visited south McAllen this week to participate in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new multifamily housing complex.

Buckingham said the General Land Office was awarding $5 million to build Jackson Road Apartments, a 36-unit affordable rental community. She said all 36 units are guaranteed for low- to moderate-income (LMI) residents. 

The funding is coming from a federal government program to help with disaster recovery.

Among the dignitaries at the event were state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, Hidalgo County Commissioner Everardo Villarreal, McAllen City Commissioner Omar Quintanilla, and McAllen Chamber of Commerce Chairman and former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling.

“Anytime we can find affordable housing for our people, that's not only a good thing, that's a great thing,” said Judge Cortez.

“We are excited today to be here to break ground on this wonderful $5 million project that is going to help over 36 families, all low- to moderate-income, find a place to start and grow and gain that prosperity, judge,” Buckingham,” said.

Also present was Bill Fisher, representing the co-developers, Rise Residential and Sphinx Development. 

Fisher said a one-bedroom apartment to rent in McAllen can cost at least $1,000 a month. He said the affordable housing available at Jackson Road Apartments will cost $300 a month.


Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website to read the full story.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The City of McAllen’s superintendent of bridges says Customs and Border Protection is set to use state-of-the-art inspection equipment at Anzalduas International Bridge. 

The equipment will be in use when Anzalduas starts crossing fully-loaded trucks carrying dry goods north- and south-bound, said Juan Olaguibel. This should be happening by next summer, the superintendent said.

“We’re hoping that this bridge will be the fastest, most efficient bridge on the border, throughout the United States,” Olaguibel said.

Olaguibel made his comments at a recent TxDOT Border Trade Advisory Committee meeting held at McAllen Convention Center. 

Olaguibel noted that two of the largest industrial parks in Reynosa are just a stone’s throw from Anzalduas International Bridge. He said these two parks house more than 200 manufacturing companies, many of them Fortune 500 companies.

Olaguibel predicted the bridge will be popular because it will offer a faster route for truckers headed to Monterrey from the Rio Grande Valley. He noted that Nuevo León is leading the way in near-shoring, so this also should be a boost for Anzalduas. 

Here is an audio recording of Olaguibel’s remarks to the Border Trade Advisory Committee.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Attending MXLAN’s International Economic Summit at the McAllen Convention Center, Index Reynosa’s Enrique Castro looked around the ballroom and expressed pleasure at what he saw.

“Forty years ago you would not have seen this. It is full of Mexicanos. Back then there were not that many. McAllen was divided by the railroad tracks,” Castro said. 

The maquiladora industry leader said the culture and demographics of the McAllen metro area today can help land huge investment from Mexico.

“It's a very Hispanic-friendly city,” Castro said of McAllen. 

“I think there are a lot of investors from Mexico that are willing to put their money at the border. Not go north. Not go south. But stay here where they can have this (Mexican friendly) environment. We were talking a few minutes ago with some of the people and gosh there are a lot of Latinos here now. New kids, even those that are returning back. They left the Valley because their were no opportunities. Now they're coming back with experience. I think it's going to be very exciting.”

Castro gave an exclusive interview to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service immediately following the keynote speech at the International Economic Summit. It was given by Duncan Wood of the Wilson Center.

“I think what makes an area interesting is their own people, not just the money. If you don't have people that you can trust, that you can talk to…,” Castro told the Guardian. “Look at Monterrey. Monterrey is the new Shanghai of Mexico. Why is the border not like Monterrey?”

Castro said he remembers the vision Richard Cortez had when he was mayor of McAllen.

“I remember his plan on making McAllen like a small San Antonio. Remember all that? That's a really good opportunity. And they have already the projects and the money. I think it will come out very soon, something like that.”

Castro is a Mexican national who has lived and worked on both sides of the border for many years. His business interests now are mostly in Queretaro, Reynosa, and McAllen. He has been president of Index, the maquiladora trade association, at both the national and local level. 

During an earlier panel discussion at the International Economic Summit, involving four local bankers, Castro asked a question during the Q&A. He pointed out that Tamaulipas was not getting much of the near-shoring that is happening now. He said security and infrastructure issues must be resolved. 

However, in his interview with the Guardian, Castro said the Rio Grande Valley and northern Tamaulipas can land some big manufacturing projects. At present, the big winner in the near-shoring race is Nuevo León, a state where Elon Musk is building a new Tesla plant.

“I think there are other companies, big companies, large companies that are willing to come this way. I mean, Tesla is, right now, the new kid on the block. But, gosh, I know several companies that are coming this way that are even bigger and stronger, especially in the high tech (world), in electronics and all that,” Castro said.

Castro said he was not just talking about microchip manufacturing. 

“There is a lot of high tech, which I think Texas should take advantage of. Yesterday we were talking about that at the MEDC. There are a lot of schools here. The medical school. There are a lot of things. I'm really excited that we can grow. But, you know, it's all about trust.”

MEDC stands for McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service recently interviewed McAllen resident and nature lover Vicky Guerra about Green Jay Park. 

Guerra lives close to the park. She said it is beautiful and unique in McAllen. 

She does not want it destroyed, which she fears will happen now McAllen city commissioners have voted to change the status of the park from “agricultural/open space” to “light industrial.” The interview was taken before the city commission voted.

Here is the interview. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Telecommunications giant Spectrum recently awarded a Digital Education Grant worth $10,000 to Leap for STEM. They also donated 30 new laptops. 

Leap for STEM is a small nonprofit based in south McAllen that teaches digital literacy.

Among those to attend a news conference to announce the grant were Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, City of McAllen Assistant City Manager Michelle Rivera, and Tania Ortega, senior manager of regional communications for Spectrum in Texas.

Here are their views on the work of Leap for STEM, the Spectrum investment, and the importance of tackling the digital divide in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Vijay Sundaram, chief strategy officer of Zoho Corporation, has given the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service an exclusive interview about his company’s decision to set up an office in McAllen, Texas.

Zoho is a global software development and technology company based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Its U.S. headquarters was previously in California but is now in Austin, Texas. Its new office in the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone currently has 25 employees—with plans to the double headcount by next year. 

In his interview, Sundaram spoke about the culture of Zoho and how it shuns the major metropolitan areas. He said the company is happy to set up operations in provincial areas and train the local workforce. He also spoke about how he and the Zoho leadership found something special in McAllen - a willingness of various stakeholders to work together in order to make the company welcome. 

The interview took place on April 20 at the official announcement that Zoho was launching an office in McAllen.

“The idea was to find places where we can be rooted in the community. So… we didn’t even know McAllen, until not too long ago. And when we came in here and met people, saw the Valley, see the educational system, saw the willingness of the community to engage… in many ways… I have been in business for a number of years and an entrepreneur myself. But, 25 years ago, and that is what today’s session reminded me of, 25 years ago I was in the city of Singapore, trying to set up an office for my then company. And I was impressed with how different parts of the city came together. There were financiers, there was economic development, there was education, there was the political leadership, all coming together to welcome us. Twenty five years later I am seeing that here. I haven’t it since. So, I feel like the notion of a community putting all these elements together to promote it, it is unusual. It does not usually happen in America,” Sundaram said.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

EDINBURG, Texas - Hidalgo County and McAllen leaders recently held a news conference to announce that thousands of maquiladora workers from Reynosa would cross into the U.S. to be given a COVID-19 vaccine.

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is being administered within the Hidalgo International Bridge compound. Maquila workers are bused across the bridge and receive the vaccine from nurses whilst staying on the bus. The bus then returns to Reynosa. 

Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez kicked off the news conference. He was joined by Eduardo Olivarez, Hidalgo County’s chief administrative officer for Health & Human Services, McAllen City Commissioner Pepe Cabeza de Vaca, Keith Patridge, president of McAllen Economic Development Corporation, and Steve Ahlenius, president of McAllen Chamber of Commerce. 

The other featured speakers were Foylán Yesces Cedillo, Mexico’s consul in McAllen, and Humberto Martinez, president of Index Reynosa, the maquiladora trade association. 

Cortez said the program is called the Essential Economic Trade Initiative.

“It involves vaccinating maquiladora workers in Reynosa with unused COVID-19 vaccines before they expire. Our initial goal is to vaccinate up to 3,000 workers but our hope is we will vaccinate more as we receive more unused vaccines from across the state when they become available,” Cortez said.

“I want to make it clear that no U.S. citizens will be denied any vaccine or anyone who wants one from our area hospitals, private pharmacies, UTRGV, or even our Hidalgo County clinics. This program uses left over vaccines that are soon to expire to vaccinate maquila workers before the vaccines are destroyed.”

Cortez noted that similar programs have been started in San Diego, California, and the Texas border cities of El Paso and Brownsville.

“We think this as a good thing. We view this as a smart, economic move aimed at restoring to normal one of our region’s biggest economic engines, which is the maquiladora industry,” Cortez said.

Editor's Note: To read the full story go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service website.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

McALLEN, Texas - McAllen Mayor Jim Darling recently held his final State of the City Address.

After 43 years in government, including three four-year terms as mayor, Darling will step down as soon as the result of the runoff election for mayor is known. The runoff is between outgoing city commissioners Veronica Vela Whitacre and Javier Villalobos.

In his speech, Darling noted how the past year had brought challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic and the sever winter freeze. He thanked all the first responders for their efforts.

Darling also noted some of the city’s achievements, such as introducing citywide wifi, expanding Bicentennial Boulevard, improving parks, the focus on drainage and boosting trade through the refurbishment of Anzalduas International Bridge. 

The mayor had entered the McAllen Convention Center with a dance routine. He concluded it with these remarks: 

“I have tried in my many years to work with everyone, everyone of every race, nationality, creed, political persuasion, everyone who could help our great city. I have also tried to always return the favor when I could. God Bless You and God Bless McAllen. Bye."

Asked by the Rio Grande Guardian what the key things were that he wanted to get across, Darling said:

“I wanted to be funny. I wanted to be entertaining. I wanted to be informative. I think we did most of that. I wanted to do two things. I am leaving so I wanted to leave a message for the people that are taking my place. And, number two, it has been a tough year. I wanted to thank a lot of people for getting it done. We accomplished most of that. I want everybody to walk our of here feeling good about their city and proud of it.”

Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - For the latest in our Meet the Candidate series we met up with Dr. Shahid Rashid, who is running for mayor of McAllen.

Born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan, Dr. Rashid is a physician and public health expert, trained at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

He has a practice in McAllen that specializes in pain management. He is happily married to Elean Ledesma, who was born and raised in Mission, Texas. They have six children.

Dr. Rashid has been serving McAllen for over two decades as a physician, community humanitarian, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

“I am not a politician. I am a physician and public health expert and I care deeply about my patients, my community and the city of McAllen,” Dr. Rashid told The Rio Grande Guardian.

“My practice specializes in pain management. I alleviate and reduce pain. I hope to alleviate and reduce the pain we are all suffering due to the pandemic and the fear and uncertainty we are all confronting due to the economic, social, medical and emotional upheaval that this virus has caused.”

Dr. Rashid added: “I strongly believe it’s my ethical, moral and professional duty to help my community during this critical time as I have the education, training, and expertise to do so.”

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - For the latest in our Meet the Candidate series we met up with Veronica Vela Whitacre, who is running for mayor of McAllen.

Currently, Vela Whitacre is a McAllen City Commissioner. She has represented District 6 on the commission for the past eight years.

Born and raised in McAllen, Vela Whitacre has also served on the boards of Easter Seals, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the Mcallen Boys and Girls Club, and the McAllen Education Foundation. 

 Vela Whitacre currently works as an executive director in the non-profit sector. 

“I want to assist small local businesses recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, keeping their doors open with targeted support and need-based plans,” Vela Whitacre told the Rio Grande Guardian.

“I want to stimulate new and existing business growth through grant programs for economic growth and create opportunities to stimulate high demand and unique businesses.”

As for quality of life issues, Vela Whitacre said: “I want to continue developing outdoor spaces, city parks and pedestrian infrastructure. And increased digital infrastructure rot support e-commerce, education and other digital activities.”

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - McAllen Mayor Jim Darling is fed up with all the negative publicity surrounding the Rio Grande Valley perpetrated by national politicians and news outlets.

At a news conference held to announce new non-stop flights between McAllen and Monterrey, Mexico, Darling said his city is safe. He said the city is helping Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley provide testing for COVID-19 to asylum seekers dropped off in the city. 

Darling said he hopes Washington, D.C., will compensate the city for the work it is doing to help the federal government look after migrants and that the negative jibes will stop. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - During this election season, the Rio Grande Guardian is running a Meet the Candidate series.

The series comprises audio interviews with candidates seeking elected office to city councils and commissions. 

Mario Reyna, a veteran and former dean of business at South Texas College, is running for McAllen City Commission, District 3.

Here, attached, is the interview with Reyna.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - The McAllen Area Rotary Clubs recently held a virtual McAllen mayoral candidate debate.

All five candidates appeared. They are: Othal Brand, Jr., Michael Fallek, Dr. Shahid Rashid, Veronica Vela Whitacre, and Javier Villalobos. 

The candidates explained who they are and why they are running for mayor. They were asked what challenges McAllen faces and also took a question about the asylum seekers passing through McAllen.

Here is an audio version of the debate. 

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Michael Fallek says he will continue McAllen’s historic connections to international trade and commerce if he is elected mayor of the city. 

The businessman and community leader made clear his support for the maquiladora industry in an exclusive audio interview. The podcast is part of the Rio Grande Guardian’s Meet the Candidates series.

“It (cross-border trade) is a absolutely crucial to the success of McAllen. And not just McAllen. Valley-wide. McAllen has to lead in the Valley. As McAllen goes, the Valley goes and South Texas goes. And the cross-border trade is absolutely critical to that success,” Fallek said.

Fallek pointed out that his father was one of the pioneers of McAllen’s foreign trade zone.

“I grew up in McAllen, I grew up crossing the border every week, or every other week, or three times a week. Whether it was for dinner or to tour some other development across the border,” Fallek said.

“Running hotels now, as we do in the Valley and specifically in McAllen, that is our business base; the people coming down from Chicago, New York, California, but also internationally from Japan, South Korea, everywhere else. They come and they stay in McAllen to cross the border and service the plant that their companies have there. It is absolutely crucial.”

Fallek says the disruption of supply chains caused by the coronavirus pandemic has made people realize the importance of manufacturing locally. He says this will provide more opportunities for McAllen, Reynosa and the Valley.

“It (cross-border trade) is a significant focus of mine. Not just because that is what has helped build McAllen but, I feel like, especially these days, as we’ve understood more and more through the pandemic how the just-in-time manufacturing process works, that local is probably going to be better,” Fallek said. 

“I feel like we have a real opportunity to bring additional businesses and manufacturing plants to the border region and we need to be reaching out and establishing those increased ties to really build not just additions on what we have but new opportunities, new companies, new employment into the Valley, whether that is located on the McAllen side, whether it is located in Mission, Pharr, or whether it is located in Reynosa.”

Fallek added: “The majority of the people managing those (maquila) plants are probably going to be located in McAllen. And they are going to be spending money in McAllen. It is absolutely crucial that we continue to focus on that industry.”

Editor's Note: This podcasts explains why Michael Fallek is running for mayor of McAllen, Texas. The election is May 1, 2021.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez says Anzalduas International Bridge will be “game changer” for the Rio Grande Valley and the state of Texas - once it can take trucks carrying cargo.

At the moment, Anzalduas can take empty trucks going southbound into Mexico. That should change soon, Rodriguez said, during a webinar hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. The webinar showcased McAllen as a place worthy of commercial investment.

“Our bridges are our way of life for South Texas. We are very proud to own two international bridges. We have a team of cities that have partnered for many, many years, on Hidalgo Bridge and Anzalduas Bridge,” Rodriguez said.

“Anzalduas is really the future for us. It is a big part of the future of this region.”

Rodriguez pointed out that Anzalduas Bridge has been open for about ten years. 

“We have only been able to have vehicular traffic go through it. And, in the last few years we have had empty trucks going southbound into Mexico. We are currently designing the cargo facilities,” Rodriguez said, proudly.

“I will use something the mayor uses all the time: is just going to be a game changer.”

Many of the listeners on the webinar were potential investors and real estate developers. Rodriguez explained why Anzalduas is going to make a big difference.

“When we open up Anzalduas for cargo it is going to really, really, develop our region and our state. In McAllen, we realize that the bridges are much more than another revenue (stream). Anzalduas Bridge impacts the State of Texas and the United States,” Rodriguez said.

By way of example, Rodriguez highlighted the parts that go into making automobiles. He said many of these parts cross the U.S.-Mexico border.

“A lot of folks outside of our region do not realize that parts coming from Mexico, northbound, are going as far as Michigan, in order to put cars together, with parts made back here, across the border. So, Anzalduas is definitely going to be a game changer.”

Rodriguez said a plan to develop Anzalduas so it can take fully loaded trucks is 90 percent complete. He said the plan will incorporate the Donations Acceptance Program, which allows municipalities to work with the federal government to fund infrastructure projects at international ports of entry.  

“It will be submitted through the DAP program, our partners with CBP, GSA and all the others that will use the facilities have been part of that design from the beginning. We did not want to guess what they needed. They have been around the table with us, designing this port of entry and we are very excited that we will be turning dirt on that in 2021.”

CBP stands for Customs and Border Protection. GSA stands for General Services Administration.

Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MISSION, Texas - The McAllen Bridge System, in conjunction with federal, state and local stakeholders, officially inaugurated additional northbound lanes at Anzalduas International Bridge Port of Entry.  

The newly constructed lanes were part of improvements made to increase northbound vehicular traffic at the bridge. The total construction cost for the improvement was $2,867,922.

The project involved adding three travel lanes for passenger cars that includes two working vehicular lanes and one by-pass lane, known as a return lane. The two vehicular lanes included the installation of two inspection booths with the accompanying equipment, high mast lighting and extending the existing canopies. 

Local officials said the project will improve mobility and commercial border efficiency at the port of entry by alleviating queuing and shortening wait times for northbound vehicular traffic. The lanes at the Anzalduas Port of Entry have now increased from four working lanes to six working lanes.

Among the VIPs to speak at a ribbon-cutting ceremony were McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, Mission Mayor Armando O’Caña, Hidalgo Mayor Sergio Coronado, state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, and McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez.

McAllen Superintendent of Bridges Juan Olaguibel was emcee.

This podcast features all the speakers at the ribbon-cutting.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

On Sunday, June 9, 2019, Auxiliary Bishop Mario A. Avilès blessed a new location for McAllen's Humanitarian Respite Center. The center, just across the street from the downtown bus station, has been acquired by the City of McAllen. It will host asylum seekers dropped off by Border Patrol. The asylum seekers will be provided free food and clothing and a place to stay overnight, before they head out to other parts of the country. Among the speakers at the event were Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, and state Sen. Juan Hinojosa. All three were asked to respond to the claims of some McAllen residents that the City of McAllen's involvement showed McAllen is a Sanctuary City.

To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.