Mission mayoral candidates discuss city’s future

By Edwina P. Garza

MISSION — Over the past decade, the city has experienced immense change and growth, and while change is inevitable, Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said that change was driven by effective leadership in City Hall.

In his bid to be re-elected as mayor, Salinas said his 12 years of experience would help propel the city to even greater heights.

“(The current administration) needs to continue to do what we know how to do,” Salinas said Wednesday. “People can just look at what we’ve done across the city.”

Chief among his goals are continuing to develop a railroad connection on both sides of the border, road construction along Bryan Road to the Anzalduas International Bridge and attract more businesses to the area.

“Those things cannot get done by itself,” he said. “Let me continue to get things done.”

Salinas has prided himself and the current council on continuing to lower taxes, which over the years has helped save taxpayers close to $2 million, he said.

“I want to continue to lower the tax rate until we reach 49 cents,” he said. “There’s no way in the world I’ll even approve a tax increase.”

Salinas said he’s against the fire fighter’s Proposition 1 election because of the inevitability of a tax increase.

“I stand up for the citizens and I don’t want to increase taxes,” he said.

As mayor for the past 12 years, Salinas said he has the experience and time to move the city further.

“We have important work to do, especially in economic development,” he said.

Over the years, Salinas said he’s helped build strong economic development programs that have changed the city for the better.

“We have worked real hard to get a bridge open, we have worked to bring people to Mission, to shop in Mission and stay in Mission,” he said. “The city’s appearance alone is a big difference. We have great programs here.”

Salinas cited the Sharyland Plantation work with Hunt Development as one of the city’s successes, and added that areas like this will attract even more businesses to move here.

“We brought unity to this community over the last 12 years,” Salinas said.

While Salinas said he’s brought the city together, his opponent disagrees and claims areas of the city have been left out.

Salinas disagreed and said the current administration has taken care of the whole city.

“He’s trying to divide the city and it’s not going to work,” Salinas said of his opponent.

But this weekend’s heavy rainfall, which left pockets of the city underwater for hours, is a perfect example of what’s wrong with Mission, Baldemar Flores said.

“I got 10 calls from people asking for help,” Flores said in an interview. “It’s really bad out there.”

The city’s west side has been neglected for too long, he said, and part of his campaign is to spread the wealth beyond Shary Road.

“I want to make sure everyone gets an equal opportunity,” Flores said. “It doesn’t make a difference how much your house is worth, you should benefit from what the city has to offer and if not, that’s an issue.”

Along with infrastructure, Flores said he also wants to see economic development in the area.

“There’s nothing there,” he said. “How do you think the people feel?”

In order to address issues across the city, Flores said he’d like to see single-member districts. Currently, council members mostly live on the east side of the city.

“I want to make sure everyone gets an equal opportunity,” he said.

The city is constantly missing out, he claims, with lackluster industrial development after three big companies left the city, taking hundreds of jobs with them.

Flores said Salinas has done a good job as mayor, but insists the city hasn’t fully benefited because of a lack of planning and leadership.

If elected, Flores said he plans to bring economic development through relationships he’s developed with Mexican investors.

“They’re people that want to bring their businesses here,” he said.

Some investors, he said, are met with too many restrictions that keep them from doing business here. The city needs to find ways to lure businesses that aren’t spill over businesses from McAllen like the H-E-B and Target along Expressway 83.

A former Mission police officer for almost 10 years, Flores said he also wants to increase police protection in the city. Currently, Mission has six to eight patrol officers per shift.

“That’s not enough, you need a minimum of 12 to 15,” he said.

Flores, a supporter of Proposition 1, explaining it wouldn’t raise city taxes, said he’d be a full-time mayor.

“A lot of people have a lot of needs,” he said. “If people aren’t paying attention to them then there’s no point in running for office.”

Flores said he’s enjoyed campaigning, despite its bumpy road with people asking where he gets the money to fund his campaign – he took a loan from his wife’s security business – and the public lewdness charge filed against him in September.

“I wasn’t there,” Flores said of the allegations, adding that he believes political motivations have kept his case delayed in the court system.

Like Flores, candidate Dr. Armando O’Caña said he’s concerned about the west side, too.

In meeting with Mission residents, he said he’s learned that people are upset the city is looking to reconstruct the overpass along Bryan Road first before working on Inspiration Road.

“Most people I’m talking to feel they should do the overpass for Inspiration Road first and widen the road,” O’Caña said Thursday. “I know the city cannot approve both at the same time, but it’s a matter of priorities.

In his campaign, where he said he wants to promote equitable spending, O’Caña suggests halting the reconstruction of the overpass to address the needs of the residents along Inspiration Road.

O’Caña wants to see a lot of the city’s infrastructure and public safety with a reorganized focus. If elected, he wants to work on connecting schools with sidewalks, improve the city’s park system with a full-time park patrol, and pave city streets.

“I want to have a systematic approach of paving and resurfacing,” he said. “I want to start on 10th Street and Conway and go out the four corners of the city. We’ll take one street at a time, and it will be a four-year plan for a four-year term.”

O’Caña said he also wants to develop more attraction to the city’s downtown area with more activities. He also wants to redefine the downtown district from a four-block radius to a stretch along Conway Avenue from Expressway 83 to Mile 2 Road. Like the park system, O’Caña wants to hire a full-time employee to be in the area, monitoring public safety.

To better protect the citizens here, O’Caña said he wants to see public safety increased and have fully developed neighborhood patrolling with neighborhood watch groups.

A former fire chief, O’Caña said public safety is very important to him. Along with protecting the city, he has concerns about allowing the fire and police personnel to do a better job. With that in mind, he said he wants to add an annual expenditure for the departments for a vehicle replacement program annually.

On the fire fighter’s Proposition 1 campaign, O’Caña said he’s neutral.

“That issue belongs to the citizens and it shouldn’t be a mayoral stance,” he said. “It’s the will of the people.”

But if elected, O’Caña said he could offer a solution to police and fire fighters with an advisory board made up of union and fire department administration to address concerns.

Under his economic development plan, O’Caña said he wants to develop an airport and a railroad system to connect to Mexico. Continuing on the city’s retail growth, O’Caña said he wants to work on attracting big chain restaurants that McAllen has.

“I want to be able to create those kinds of opportunities in Mission,” he said. “I’m running because I want to move mission forward, united.”

Alton mayoral candidates discuss city's growth

By Edwina P. Garza

ALTON — The success of this small city lies not just in the elected council or office administration, it lies in the community input from residents, Mayor Salvador Vela said.

“I am blessed with this city and how it’s been run,” Vela said in an interview Wednesday. “We’ve got a good team, a good city manager, and consultant that helps. Whatever concerns citizens bring us, we address them.”

Vela said he decided to try to retain his seat as mayor, a position he’s held for 20 years, to continue the momentum he’s built with the city commission.

“Everything good is happening in Alton,” he said.

Residents, he said, like what’s going on in the city.

“We’re receptive to the people,” he said. “When people have a problem, we listen to them.”

Economic development, a high priority on any city official’s mind, has increased under his administration, Vela said. The city, along with its chamber of commerce, is working to attract businesses with different lots that are for sale.

“People are already asking about what can be built in these areas,” he said. “We want to bring in the right kind of businesses. Dominos, the pizza place, has said they’re interested.”

Vela said other upcoming Alton highlights include more park development and a potential city library.

“I listen to my advisors,” Vela explained. “I don’t do what I want.”

Jose A. Picasso, the opposing mayoral candidate disagrees. Picasso, a commissioner from 2005-2008, said he always had aspirations to be mayor, but wanted to learn how the city worked by starting as a member of the council. He characterized his time as a member on the council as good education, something he said the current mayor lacks.

“He doesn’t have the education or background,” Picasso said in an interview Tuesday. “We need to represent the city better. The decisions he makes aren’t in favor of citizens, it’s more for themselves.”

Picasso’s biggest concerns and goals for Alton revolve around economic development and more police protection.

“People want a change, people are fed up,” he said.

The city is also in desperate need for sewer systems, he explained, adding his neighborhood doesn’t currently have any sewer service.

Picasso and Vidal Farias, candidate for Place 1, have begun campaigning together promising to bring more opportunities for the city’s children. Local families place their kids in recreational programs in Mission because of lack of options here.

“We want a better lifestyle,” Picasso said. “I want to live in a good city.”

Also on their agenda are seeking federal funding and developing new programs like a housing program for the elderly.

It’s a lot of missed opportunities, Picasso and Farias said, pointing to Palmhurst’s Walmart.

“The mayor has failed promises and doesn’t deliver,” Picasso said. “People are leaving the city because of the disappointment.”

Candidates Picasso and Farias allege politiqueras have been visiting with elderly residents, handing them mail-in ballots and telling them who to vote for; the individuals, who Picasso and Farias identified as relatives of Vela, are also known for submitting the votes, which is illegal.

Elections in Alton are handled by the city, not the Hidalgo County Elections Administration. Allegations of voter fraud are handled by the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office, but District Attorney Rene Guerra could not be reached for comment late Wednesday. Telephone and e-mail messages to Alton City Manager Jorge Arcaute were not returned Wednesday afternoon.

Vela said allegations of voter fraud aren’t uncommon here.

“We’ve been there 20 years and they’ve always accused me of voter fraud,” Vela said. “It’s being done the right way, there’s no fraud. People vote on their own, using their own hands.”

Four-legged genocide—the human connection

By Mary Nichols

There is a large silver freezer. A freezer most never will want to see. When the latch is pulled and the ice fog melts, paws, tails, snouts, whiskers and glazed eyes fill the room. The freezer at Palm Valley Animal Center holds the corpses of hundreds of stray and non-adopted animals that have to be euthanized daily in Hidalgo County. About 40,000 animals a year are taken by animal control to Palm Valley. Unfortunately, due to lack of space and funds, only 3,000 make it out alive.

The overpopulation of animals in the county is growing and has become a severe concern. Several rescues and animal centers, like Palm Valley, are trying to educate residents on the importance of spaying and neutering pets.

Shannon Ponce, director of community outreach at Palm Valley, hopes they can educate the public and, in turn, prevent the unnecessary mass numbers of euthanized animals.

“That number alone should cause awareness. The idea that 40,000 animals could be roaming around from not being spayed or neutered, and are homeless, is sad,” said Ponce. “If people fixed their pets, and came in more to adopt, the less we would have to euthanize.”

Palm Valley Center is a non-profit organization and has been open since the early 80s. They offer the public animal adoptions, foster programs, volunteer opportunities, educational presentations and, recently, micro-chipping for pet owners.

They receive about 125-150 homeless animals a day. However, they can only house 100-125 dogs, 45 cats in kennels, plus a loose cat kennel room.

If an animal is placed in lost and found, by law the center has to hold them for 72 hours for their owners to claim them. If not, then pets go through medical testing and behavioral testing. If they pass both exams, they start the journey to adoption. However, some tend to get ill and have to be put down before reaching adoption.

Other animals up for adoption usually have about 10 days to find a home before being euthanized, but Ponce says that varies case by case.

Kittens and puppies five months and under are $110 for adoption, dogs and cats over six months are $90, including being sterilized and vaccinated.

The overpopulation of the county, Ponce says, is a problem because most of the public is not aware of the benefits of sterilizing a pet.

In the United States, 10,000 humans are born daily and each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born, according to SpayUSA.org. A single, un-spayed female cat, her mate and all of their offspring in six years can make 66,088 cats. An un-spayed female dog, her mate and puppies can make 67,000 puppies in six years. This leaves thousands of animals with uncertain futures.

RGV Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic in McAllen opened in November, 2008, and is trying to help the public get their animals fixed at a low cost to reduce the overpopulation.

Arlene Campos-Smith, clinic manager, says many people can’t afford to spend the money that a full service veterinarian charges. Most vets would charge from $200-$300. At RGV Clinic cat sterilization costs $40-$50, and dogs $65-$85, depending on their weight and sex. Female surgeries are more costly because they require more resources and time. The clinic also offers an array of basic services like vaccinations or flea and tapeworm treatments, if you’re bringing in your pet for surgery.

Sterilizing a pet has several benefits; the top three are it stops the animal overpopulation, reduces the risk of a pet’s urge to roam, and gives the pet a longer, healthier life (one to three years for dogs and three to five for felines).

The clinic feels many myths need to be expelled about sterilizing a pet, such as, dogs and cats don’t need to have a litter before being spayed, animals don’t become less active or overweight, behavior is not adversely affected, neutering is not painful, and it does not emasculate male dogs.

“It has to do a lot culturally in many respects especially with males and male dogs. Many people say ‘I don’t want it done to me and I don’t want it done to my dog,’” said Arlene. “Pet owners need to understand it’s not the same connection that we as humans have to our bodies. In the long run you’re giving your pets longer and healthier lives, and helping control the overpopulation of animals.”

The clinic recently received a grant to help educate and pay for neutering services for families living in the colonias.

“People have their lives and if they are low income they are just worried about their next meal, not if the dog has their vaccination, which is understandable,” said Arlene. “So we have some education out there.”

In the short time that they have been open, the clinic has already preformed 1,500 surgeries and hope the numbers increase.

Recycled Rovers and Friends

Recycled Rovers and Friends in Donna, a no kill animal rescue, is a non-profit organization that rescues dogs and tries to find them proper homes.

, supervisor at Recycled Rovers, says they have been open for five years and try to save as many animals as possible.

“Our main goal is to educate people to have their pets spayed and neutered,” said Gallegos. “We also try to pull out dogs that are going to be euthanized from places like Palm Valley and other animal shelters and find them a permanent home.”

The facility cares for up to 137 dogs who stay at the rescue as long as it takes to find them a proper home. New expansion is taking place, and by the end of the year the animal shelter hopes to have 250-300 dog kennels available, along with playgrounds and pools for the animals. There is a kennel for cats, but space is limited.

“We bring the animals in and recuperate them, bathe them, vaccinate them, have them spayed/neutered get them up to date medical-wise,” said Gallegos. “Then, the process begins to finding them a new home. We find them homes, through foster homes, adoptions and adoption showcases on weekends at both PetSmarts in McAllen.”

Gallegos feels there are several factors that play into the overpopulation of animals besides not having animals sterilized. He says many people see their pets as a source of income, as seen when they are being sold on the side of road or in flea markets.

“Once that pet can’t produce anymore they kick it out to the streets, with the ‘X’ amount of litters and ‘X’ amount of puppies. Another reason is people have unrealistic expectations with the pet,” he said. “Parents and kids are too busy and no one takes the time to train the pet. So he ends up on a chain in the backyard, because he didn’t learn fast enough, didn’t learn how to sit, or digs holes.”

Gallegos says the shelter takes the time to get to know each dog and crate and leash trains the animals. This makes it easier for the public to find the right dog, with much of the legwork in training done.

“Once you’re going to adopt or buy a pet, you’re going to need to know who is going to take care of the pet,” he said. “It’s like taking in another family member if you can’t support it then don’t do it, because you’re going to create more of a problem. With getting animals fixed, it’s beneficial for them and helps reduce the numbers in and out of the shelters.”

Recycled Rovers hopes to network with other animal organizations in the area and be a positive influence in the community and in the pet world. The cost of adoption for male dogs is $75 and $85 for females, vaccinations and spaying/neutering included.

“If there is a pet you need to drop off or whatever the situation, you can bring them here and we’ll try to accommodate them,” said Gallegos.” But, at the same time if we could get 10-15 dogs adopted, we could make more space. Creating space helps me bring in more dogs that need desperate help.”

Oasis Animal Sanctuary

Oasis Animal Sanctuary in Mission is also trying to do their part for homeless animals. Elizabeth Sterns, founder of the sanctuary, helps facilitate adoptions and uses foster homes to take in pets, instead of running a facility.

“There are many homeless pets put to sleep because they were not adopted. Everyone needs to fix their pets,” said Sterns. “Just because your pet is purebred doesn’t mean it has to have a litter or has to be made money off of.”

Through their foster care volunteers, Oasis is able to take in about 100 animals a year, but is looking for more volunteers to house more pets. Sterns says they have all kinds of animals, including several purebred dogs, looking to be adopted.

“We deal with a lot purebred dogs that come to us that would otherwise be put to sleep or die somewhere because they were abandoned,” said Sterns. “Basically if you adopt from a no kill rescue, you’re saving a life.”

Oasis is non-profit and runs off public donations. Adoption fees also help to keep the sanctuary running. It’s a $100 for dogs and $75 for cats and includes spaying and neutering, vaccinations and being micro chipped. Oasis has adoption events every two weeks at Petco and PetSmart to help find rescue homes.

All the organizations agree that with more public awareness and action the genocide of animals can be reduced.

“The overpopulation and number of animal deaths is not a subject many people want to think about,” said Campos-Smith of RGV Spay/Neuter. “Just because you don’t look at it doesn’t mean it’s not there. It’s going to take a long while to really get a hold of the problem or see a noticeable difference. You have to start somewhere, and sterilizing your pets is one key way to stop unwanted litters and deaths.”

For more information, to adopt a pet, make a donation or volunteer, contact the following organizations: Palm Valley Animal Center, 686-1141 or visit www.petango.com/pvac; RGV Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic, 687-7728 or visit www.rgvlowcostspayneuterclinic.org; Recycled Rovers & Friends, 562-4421 or visit www.recycledrovers.petfinder.com; and Oasis Animal Sanctuary, 240-0701 or visit www.theoasis.petfinder.com.

Girls Track and Field

Sharyland and Veterans Memorial dominate district meet

The Track and Field district championships were held last weekend amidst clouds, lighting and rain. Yet out of the shadows, the Sharyland and Veterans Memorial girls track and field performers shined throughout. The Lady Rattlers took home the District 30-5A championship while the Lady Patriots brought home the District 32-4A trophy.

VMHS' Head Track Coach Kathryn Howell was enthusiastic about her team's performance, calling it “probably one of the best performances I have seen in my career. I have had some really good district championships in the past, but this one was awesome. The kids rose to the occasion.”

Veterans showed well in the relays, winning the 400 and 1600 while finishing second in the 800. Individually, first place finishers were: Becca Lopez, triple jump (34-10); Kristina Cantu, 800 (2:21.91); Gracie Jimenez, 400 (59.35); Brittani Saenz, 300 hurdles (49.80). Eight athletes will perform in 14 events for Regionals.

For SHS, the Rattlers outdid McAllen Memorial by a combined score of 187 to 122. The Palmview Lobos also finished strong and qualified for Regionals by scoring 64 and landing in third.

The Rattlers will have 10 representatives at Regionals come May 2-3. Guerrero's team also had seven five first place finishers: Zyndee Gonzalez, discuss (116-4); Amanda Salinas, high jump (5-0); Brigitte de los Santos, triple jump (34-10); Kayla de la Pena, 100 and 300 hurdles (45.45). The girls also took first in the 400, 800 and 1600 relays.

For a detailed listing of girls that qualified for regional, look inside Section B of the April 23 issue.

 

Boys Track and Field

Sharyland, Mission take home district titles

Sharyland Boys Track and Field matched the Rattler girls with a District 30-5A title of their own last weekend, beating Rio Grande City and Palmview. Another Mission school, the Eagles of MHS, took home the District 32-4A title. Palmview and Veterans Memorial both finished third in their respective districts and will accompany Sharyland and Mission to Regionals.

The Rattlers scored 189, nearly doubling Rio Grande City's score of 87. SHS had first place finishes in the Triple Jump (Josh Delgado), 400 relay (team), 800 relay (team), 1,600 run (Mike Medrano) and 1,600 relay (team). Regional representatives are the top three finishers from the district meet. The Rattlers will have 15 athletes representing the school in San Antonio May 2-3.

The Eagles on the other hand, will have seven athletes for 12 events, as well as their three relay teams. First place finishers include: Ruby Lopez, Discuss and Shot put; Edgar Garza, Pole Vault; Martin Rodriguez, 800 run; Mike Reynoso, 300 hurdles.

Of his team's performance, David Munson said, “They ran super. 'They showed up to play' as the saying goes.”

For a detailed listing of boys that qualified for regional, look inside Section B of the April 23 issue.