Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Brad Landi to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. Image Source: jvfd.org
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott has appointed Brad Landi to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System Board of Trustees for a term set to expire on September 1, 2027. The Board oversees and governs a dedicated retirement fund for volunteer firefighters and emergency services personnel in Texas.
Brad Landi of Austin is the fire chief for the Jollyville Fire Department. He is a member of the Travis County Fire Chiefs Association and treasurer of the Williamson County Fire Chiefs Association and the Capitol Area Fire Chiefs Association. He is a board member for the Rescued Sanctuary for Animals and the Brotherhood of Heroes Foundation and a former trustee for the Austin Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund. Landi received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University Chico, an Associates of Applied Science in Fire Protection Technology from Austin Community College, and an Associates of Applied Science in Emergency Management from Frederick Community College. Additionally, he has multiple Masters Level certifications from both the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the State Firefighters and Fire Marshalls Associations. He has obtained his Certified Fire Executive, Fire Service Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Fire Officer certifications.
This appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
Dr. Luis H. Zayas, who for 10 years (2012-2022) served as dean of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named UTRGV’s new provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, President Guy Bailey announced Monday.UTRGV Image
Texas Border Business
By UTRGV News and Media Relations
EDINBURG, Texas – Dr. Luis H. Zayas, who for 10 years (2012-2022) served as dean of the Steve Hicks School of Social Work at The University of Texas at Austin, has been named UTRGV’s new provost and senior vice president of Academic Affairs, President Guy Bailey announced Monday.
Zayas, who currently serves as the Robert Lee Sutherland Chair in Mental Health and Social Policy at UT Austin and holds an appointment as professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UT Austin’s Dell Medical School, will start his new role at UTRGV on June 1.
“We are thrilled to have someone of Dr. Zayas’s caliber fill this role for UTRGV,” Bailey said. “Dr. Zayas is respected nationally as a higher education administrator and as a successful practitioner and researcher in the field of social work. I am confident that his background and experience will help to enhance UTRGV’s vision of becoming one of the nation’s leaders in higher education.”
In his role at UTRGV, Zayas will oversee academic affairs with a focus on the institution’s core priority of student success. Under his leadership, academic affairs also will continue striving to identify, recruit and retain highly qualified, talented and diverse faculty members committed to UTRGV’s vision, mission, values and strategic priorities.
A native of Coamo, Puerto Rico, Zayas received his BA in economics and liberal arts from Manhattan College. He then earned a master’s degree in social work and a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, both from Columbia University.
He began his social work career in New York City as a clinician in social service agencies, general and pediatric rehabilitation hospitals, and mental health and primary care clinics in the boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx.
Zayas went on to teach at Columbia University, Fordham University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Washington University in St. Louis. He is the author of three books and more than 130 scientific papers and chapters. He has lectured nationally and internationally and is a frequent commentator on issues of children’s mental health, appearing in a popular TED talk, The New York Times, TIME Magazine, CNN.com, Washington Post, Telemundo, Univision, NPR, and BBC Radio.
Zayas said he is excited to join UTRGV, in part because his priorities align perfectly with those of the university.
“It is the honor of a lifetime to be appointed the next provost of UTRGV, a university with an unlimited future,” Zayas said. “I am grateful to President Bailey and the search committee for placing their confidence in me.
“Focusing on student success, bringing talented faculty and supporting their development, raising our research output and deepening our engagement with the Rio Grande Valley region are the key priorities. UTRGV is and will continue to benefit from and contribute to the social, cultural and economic development of the Valley. UTRGV has all the parts needed to become a global innovator and enrich the region both in the United States and Mexico. I am deeply committed to seeing us reach that greatness.”
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector arrested a convicted child sex offender, shortly after he illegally entered the United States, March 16. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to Del Rio Sector arrested a convicted child sex offender, shortly after he illegally entered the United States, March 16.
Eagle Pass Station agents encountered eight subjects attempting to avoid detection and determined they were illegally present in the United States. All subjects were apprehended and transported to a processing center. Record checks revealed that Donay Alexander Castillo-Rivera, 48, a Honduran national, was convicted of sexual assault of a child, in Edinburg, Texas, in 2014. He was sentenced to five years confinement and was most recently deported in 2018.
As a convicted felon, he faces a charge of 8 USC § 1326 – Re-entry after Deportation, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
All subjects are processed in accordance with U.S. Customs and Border Protection policies.
Governor Greg Abbott announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved a request from the State of Texas for a disaster declaration in communities affected by tornadoes in Southeast Texas on January 24. Image for illustration purposes
Tecas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) approved a request from the State of Texas for a disaster declaration in communities affected by tornadoes in Southeast Texas on January 24. Counties included in the declaration are Harris, Orange, and their contiguous counties: Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, and Waller.
“This disaster declaration is an important step in helping Texans and Texas communities impacted by January’s severe weather and tornados continue to recover,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank the Texas Division of Emergency Management for working with the U.S. Small Business Administration to determine that eligibility requirements were met for Harris, Orange, and surrounding counties. The State of Texas will continue working nonstop to help homeowners and businesses receive the support needed to rebuild and recover from storm damage.”
With this approval, the SBA granted access to its Physical Disaster Loan program for homes and businesses, as well as its Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
Local, state, and federal officials conducted an analysis of damage sustained in Southeast Texas, which verifies that Harris and Orange counties meet the federally required thresholds for SBA assistance. Officials also reviewed disaster damage information self-reported by Texans through Individual State of Texas Assessment Tool (iSTAT) surveys.
This week, the Governor directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to request a disaster declaration from the SBA after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied Texas’ request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration. Last month, the Governor requested President Biden declare a major disaster for the State of Texas in response to the severe weather that impacted Southeast Texas, which would have provided several types of federal resources to the residents of designated counties.
On January 26, Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration for impacted communities in Southeast Texas that suffered damage to homes and businesses. The Governor updated the declaration on January 30 to include additional affected counties. At the Governor’s direction, beginning January 23 and throughout the severe weather event, TDEM deployed state emergency response personnel to provide support to local jurisdictions and conduct preliminary damage assessments in coordination with local officials.
Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information, and download applications at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s and men’s outdoor track & field teams completed a sweep in the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union Saturday during the UTSA Invitational at Park West Athletics Complex. UTRGV Photo
Texas Border Business
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros women’s and men’s outdoor track & field teams completed a sweep in the South Texas Showdown presented by Rally Credit Union Saturday during the UTSA Invitational at Park West Athletics Complex.
The showdown used a 5-3-2-1 scoring format. UTRGV’s women’s team defeated Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (TAMUCC) 82-42 while the men’s team defeated the Islanders 66-47. With the six points earned by track & field, UTRGV now holds a 32-28 lead over TAMUCC in the South Texas Showdown standings as it aims to end a three-year losing skid in the rivalry.
The Vaqueros women’s sprinters had a strong day on the track to lead the winning effort. Graduate student Jada Hoffman and junior Aisha Gay rode the momentum created in sprints during the indoor season into the first outdoor meet. Hoffman earned second place in the women’s 100-meter dash (12.33) and was fifth in the 200-meter dash (25.35. Gay placed third in both the women’s 400-meter dash (57.21) and the 200-meter dash (25.11).
UTRGV’s women’s hurdlers also had a big day as junior Uxia Pereira (14.43) and freshman Symoria Adkins (14.51) finished first and second, respectively, in the 100-meter hurdles. Pereira (1:06.96) was fifth in the 400-meter hurdles and freshman Weslaco High alum Kalissa Cavazos finished eighth in the event in her first collegiate race. In the men’s 400-meter hurdles, freshman Jaylen Critton and junior Mission Veterans alum Alex Galvan were fifth and eighth, respectively.
The relays turned in solid performances. UTRGV’s men’s 4×100-meter relay team of Jaleel Scott, Yashawn Hamilton, Jalen Nero and Jermarrion Stewart was third, running 42.10 to claim the new 10th-best time in program history. The 4×400-meter relay team of Jaqualand Fields, Sam Johnson II, Derrius Henry and Jamari Harts took second in 3:21.99. The women’s 4×100-meter relay comprised of Nayla Harris, Adkins, Yaria Akers and Hoffman finished second with the program’s third-best performance in history with a time of 47.37.
Jedidiah Udunna and Rayja’nae Pettit continued their impressive freshmen campaigns with good first outdoor jumps after strong indoor seasons. Udunna took fifth in the men’s long jump with a mark of 6.83 meters and Pettit was sixth in the women’s long jump (5.42 meters).
All four UTRGV throwers finished in the top 10 of the women’s discus, with freshman Hannah Hilding leading the way with a 45.62-meter toss to take fifth in the event.
Senior Edinburg North alum Tristan Pena led the way for the men’s 1,500-meter runners with a third-place finish in a personal-best time of 3:59.34. Junior Sharyland High alum Ana Hernandez was fifth to lead the women’s 1,500-meter runners.
UTRGV’s next meet will be March 24-25 at the Victor Lopez Classic in Houston.
Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry. Photo: Texas Military Department
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard are continuing to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal behavior between ports of entry.
Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 357,000 illegal immigrant apprehensions and more than 26,000 criminal arrests, with more than 23,000 felony charges reported. In the fight against fentanyl, DPS has seized over 367 million lethal doses of fentanyl during this border mission.
Operation Lone Star continues to fill the dangerous gaps left by the Biden Administration’s refusal to secure the border. Every individual who is apprehended or arrested and every ounce of drugs seized would have otherwise made their way into communities across Texas and the nation due to President Biden’s open border policies.
As President Biden continues to ignore the crisis at America’s southern border, Governor Abbott is working to protect Texans from transnational criminal activity and secure the border from record-high levels of illegal immigration.
“Texans are furious about the lawlessness caused by President Biden’s open border policies,” said Governor Abbott. “Texas has done more than any state ever to secure our border.”
DPS Lt. Chris Olivarez joined Fox News this week to discuss the ongoing chaos at the southern border days after a surge of over 1,000 illegal immigrants rushed the border at El Paso and attempted to enter the U.S. illegally. He notes that large groups of migrants are also waiting in Mexico to enter with the Biden Administration’s CBP One mobile app, which has not stemmed the flow of illegal immigration.
“That’s an example of failed border policies, and we’re seeing this mad surge of people coming across the border,” said Lt. Olivarez. “There have been reports that the CBP One app is not working, and that’s why people are getting frustrated. The cartels are also spreading messages on social media to try to get people to come across and distract law enforcement. They want to expose more vulnerable gaps along the border so they can bring across criminals, fugitives, or drugs.”
DPS West Texas Regional Director Jose Sanchez described to Fox News how last weekend’s rush of illegal immigrants at the border in El Paso unfolded and how DPS’ coordinated efforts with law enforcement partners identify border vulnerabilities and prevent mass illegal immigration. After the surge of 15,000 Haitians near Del Rio in 2021, DPS has worked with border security partners to ensure a rapid response to escalating mass migration events along the Texas-Mexico border.
“Thank goodness that Governor Abbott is in big support of Operation Lone Star West,” said Regional Director Sanchez. “He has provided us with the resources that we need to help prevent an incursion like this.”
Texas National Guard soldiers worked alongside Operation Lone Star partners to repel the surge of illegal immigrants who rushed the border at El Paso last weekend. Texas Border Czar Mike Banks explained how mass migration incidents like these will continue as long as the federal government fails to take action to secure the border.
“The soldiers and troopers did an outstanding job assisting [with the bridge incident], but I think this is just the beginning,” said Border Czar Banks. “We have immigrants amassing at our southern border hoping for a chance to apply. When they get tired of waiting, tired of the broken promises, they are going to start pushing forward.”
DPS Lt. Olivarez spoke with Fox News about DPS’ warning to Americans to avoid traveling to Mexico amid escalating violence, after a group of Americans was recently kidnapped and murdered in Matamoros and as three women remain missing after crossing the border from Texas. With Mexican cartels continuing to profit off President Biden’s open border policies, a federal designation as foreign terrorist organizations is more critical than ever. Last September, Governor Abbott designated Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations.
“How many more Americans are we going to lose with this continued disaster, with fentanyl coming across our border and these cartels that are more powerful than ever before,” said Lt. Olivarez. “Something needs to be done. There’s enough rhetoric and talk, but it’s time for the federal government to take responsibility and go after these organizations with a designation of terrorist organizations.”
DPS Lt. Olivarez spoke with CNN to highlight the growing threat of violence along the Texas-Mexico border, with rival cartels fighting each other over territory and drug smuggling routes that create a highly volatile situation in the region. Despite President Biden turning a blind eye to the ongoing chaos at the southern border, DPS says the first step in curbing the Mexican cartels’ violence would be a federal designation as terrorist organizations.
“We are very concerned at the state level with the increased violence and the Mexican drug cartels that represent a significant threat to anyone who crosses into Mexico,” said Lt. Olivarez. “We know that many Americans have traveled to resorts like in Cancun without incident, but we can’t ignore the risks. The cartels now have a heavy influence in Mexico, even in those resorts.”
A 16-year-old smuggler led DPS troopers on a high-speed vehicle pursuit in Webb County with an infant inside the car. During the pursuit, the driver from Laredo ran several red lights and went through a construction zone. He eventually crashed into a canal, where he was arrested.
He is charged with smuggling of persons. Six illegal immigrants, including the infant, were referred to Border Patrol.
DPS Brush Team Seizes 300 Lbs. Of Marijuana From SUV After Driver Bails Out
Texas DPS Photo
A DPS brush team responded to a camera activation that led them to an SUV exiting a private ranch in Webb County. Troopers stopped the vehicle, and the driver bailed out and ran into the brush. Troopers seized 300 pounds of marijuana from the vehicle.
FEATURED: Janiece Longoria of Houston, a renowned attorney who was born in McAllen and grew up in Pharr, was reappointed to the University of Texas System Board of Regents on Thursday, March 16, 2023, by Gov. Greg Abbott. In this image, Longoria is shown on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 after being honored by the Port Commissioners of the Port Authority of Houston for having volunteered on the Port Commission since 2002, including serving as its Chairman. Photograph Courtesy PORT OF HOUSTON FACEBOOK
Texas Border Business
DAVID A. DÍAZ
Janiece Longoria of Houston, who has deep roots in the Rio Grande Valley, on Thursday, March 16, 2023 was reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbot to the University of Texas System Board of Regents.
The Board of Regents, the governing body for The University of Texas System – which includes UT Rio Grande Valley and its School of Medicine – is composed of nine members who are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate.
In Texas, for an appointment by the governor to be confirmed, two-thirds of the 31-member Senate who are present must support that individual’s selection.
Longoria’s reappointment came after she had completed a previous six-year term in February 2023 as a member of the UT System Board of Regents.
Longoria is a daughter of the late Sen. Raúl Longoria, D-Pharr, who was a civil rights activist in the Texas Legislature, both in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate, where he represented Hidalgo County.
Raúl Longoria was elected state representative in 1959, and elected state senator in 1972, before resigning in 1980, following his election as judge of the 139th Judicial District. He served on the bench until 1994, when he retired, according to records by Texas State Cemetery.
According to the University of Texas System:
For nearly 140 years The University of Texas System has improved the lives of Texans and people all over the world through education, research and health care. With 13 institutions that enroll more than 244,000 students collectively, the UT System is one of the largest public university systems in the United States.
UT institutions produce more than 68,000 graduates annually and award more than one-third of undergraduate degrees in Texas and more than 60% of the state’s medical degrees. Collectively, UT-owned and affiliated hospitals and clinics accounted for more than 10 million outpatient visits and more than 2 million hospital days each year.
UT institutions are among the most innovative in the world, ranking No. 1 in Texas and No. 2 in the nation for federal research expenditures. The UT System also is one of the largest employers in Texas – employing more than 116,000 faculty, health care professionals, and staff – and has an annual operating budget of $25.2 billion.
According to the governor’s office:
Longoria is a retired attorney. She has served on The University of Texas System Board of Regents since February 2017 and is a member of the UTIMCO Board of Directors.
She is the former chair of the Port of Houston Authority.
She is a co-founder of the Center for Women in Law and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center for Business, Law, and Policy at UT School of Law.
She has received the Distinguished Alumnus Award and the President’s Citation for Distinguished Service from UT, as well as the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Community Service from UT School of Law.
Longoria received a Bachelor of Arts from UT Austin and a Juris Doctor from UT School of Law.
In addition to Longoria, Abbott reappointed James C. “Rad” Weaver of San Antonio and appointed Robert Gauntt of Austin.
All three regents have terms that are for six years.
Gauntt is the co-founder of Capital Creek Partners. He is a trustee of The University of Texas Investment Management Company (UTIMCO) and former trustee of the Texas Teachers Retirement System.
He is a member of The University of Texas (UT) Chancellor’s Council and UT McCombs School of Business Advisory Council.
He is currently a board member of Little League Baseball – Williamsport PA, RBI Austin, The Contemporary Austin, and Ascend Mission Academy – Mozambique. Gauntt received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from UT Austin.
Weaver is CEO and chairman of CW Interests. He has served on The University of Texas System Board of Regents since February 2017 and currently serves as one of two Vice Chairman. Previously, he was appointed by Abbott as the presiding officer of the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority.
He is a former director of the of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas – San Antonio Branch and former chairman of the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. Weaver received a Bachelor of Business Administration from UT Austin.
The Center for Women in Law, which is part of the School of Law, The University of Texas at Austin, provides the following, more detailed background about Longoria:
Ms. Longoria is an honors graduate of the University of Texas, and received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979.
She practiced law for 35 years starting with the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and then in private practice as a partner with Andrews & Kurth LLP, and Ogden Broocks Longoria & Hall LLP where she concentrated her practice in securities litigation.
She has retired from the active practice of law and is focused on community leadership and board service.
After having served as a Commissioner since 2002, on January 8, 2013, she was unanimously appointed by the County of Harris and the City of Houston as the Chairman of the Port of Houston, the leading economic engine for the greater Houston region, and the most productive port in the nation.
She is the first woman to hold this position in the 100 year history of the Port of Houston.
She serves on the Board of Directors of Superior Energy Services, Inc., a public company based in Houston which offers drilling and production related solutions to energy producers in domestic and select global markets.
She served on the Board of Directors of Centerpoint Energy Inc., also based in Houston from 2005 through March 2018.
She is a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents, that oversees nine academic and six health institutions across Texas including the flagship University of Texas at Austin, and the world renowned UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
She also formerly served on the UT System Board of Regents from 2008 through 2011.
She has been active in many non-profit organizations.
Prior to being appointed to the UT System Board of Regents, she was the President-Elect of the Texas Exes, and served on the Board of Directors and the executive committee of the Board of Visitors of the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.
She also served on the board of directors of the University of Texas Law School Foundation, and the Texas Medical Center.
She has also served on the Board and Executive Committee of the Greater Houston Partnership.
She is also a founder of the Center for Women in Law, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for energy, business, and law at the University of Texas School of Law.
She received the UT Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2013, an award granted to UT alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to the University of Texas.
In 2016 she received the prestigious President’s Citation, awarded by the President of the University of Texas to alumni who have served the University of Texas with distinction.
In 2017 she received the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Public Service from The University of Texas School of Law.
For her service to Port Houston, maritime transportation, and the Maritime industry, she was named the Maritime Person of the Year in 2017 by the Greater Houston Port Bureau.
In June 2018 she was recognized by The Bay Area Houston Transportation Partnership with the Charles A. Jacobson Transportation Award, that is awarded each year to a community leader who has made a substantial contribution to the greater Houston region.
She was selected by Direct Women, an initiative of the American Bar Association, the ABA Section of Business Law and Catalyst, Inc., as a recipient of the 2008 Sandra Day O’Connor Board Excellence Award, and has been named by Texas Diversity Magazine as one of the “Most Powerful and Influential Women in Texas.”
She has also received other honors and recognitions for her community leadership from various organizations including Communities in Schools and Crisis Intervention of Houston.
She and her husband Steve Lasher were honored in 2016 with the Pathlighter Award from Houston Achievement Place.
She was also named the Female Executive of the Year by the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2010), received the Community Service Award from the Hispanic Chamber in 2016, and was recognized as a “breakthrough woman” and inducted into the Hall of Fame by the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
She is a frequent speaker on topics including the Port of Houston, leadership, and community service.
Attorney General Paxton won judgments shutting down a massive robocall operation involving John Caldwell Spiller II and his business partner, Jakob Mears. Spiller and Mears owned the Texas-based Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC, JSquared Telecom LLC, and Rising Eagle Capital Group–Cayman. Image for illustration purposes
Texas Border Business
AUSTIN, Texas – Attorney General Paxton won judgments shutting down a massive robocall operation involving John Caldwell Spiller II and his business partner, Jakob Mears. Spiller and Mears owned the Texas-based Rising Eagle Capital Group LLC, JSquared Telecom LLC, and Rising Eagle Capital Group–Cayman.
These defendants blasted billions of illegal robocalls to people across the country, bombarding Texans with hundreds of millions of robocalls, many of which were made to people whose numbers were registered with the Do Not Call Registry.
Attorney General Paxton sued the defendants in June 2020 alleging violations of the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the federal Telemarketing Sales Rule, as well as various state consumer protection laws. The complaint alleged that defendants used their companies to bombard people with deceptive robocalls, including extended car warranties and health care services.
Mears and Spiller are now permanently banned from initiating or facilitating any robocalls, working in or with companies that make robocalls, or engaging in any telemarketing. The court also ordered monetary judgments totaling $244,658,640 for Spiller and Mears combined.
“My commitment to protecting consumers is unwavering. These judgments should send a warning to all bad actors looking to take advantage of Texans,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Just as Spiller and Mears are being held responsible for breaking the law, we are going to press forward to ensure that all individuals involved in these sorts of illegal schemes face justice.”
Attorney General Paxton is joined in the settlements by the Attorneys General of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Ohio.
To read the Stipulated Order against Spiller, click here.
To read the Stipulated Order against Mears, click here.
Mayor Javier Villalobos welcomed distinguished dignitaries and guests to McAllen’s State of the City 2023 address.
Friends, Welcome! ¡Bienvenidos! Thank you for joining me on such a momentous day. Today I stand with my fellow commissioners, residents, guests, friends, and family – united in purpose- to inform you of our successes, challenges, and plans for a better and brighter future.
We are also united by the power of McAllen to bring people together to achieve momentous things. The power of McAllen’s community partners is why your support keeps today’s event at zero-cost to taxpayers, with all proceeds going to local nonprofits. You know, since we began hosting our state of the city programs the generosity and support from our community has been amazing. Thank you to Linebarger and Vantage Bank Rioco who have supported this event at the diamond level. Thank you for your generous support of our community nonprofits. And to all supporters and sponsors, we offer you our thanks and a well-earned round of applause- thank you so much.
Slideshow below 91 beautiful photos:
On behalf of the City of McAllen, I welcome our dignitaries: senators, congressmen, mayors, consuls, council members, trustees, federal and state judges, and university leaders – thank you all for your service.
On a personal level I would like to recognize the person that has inspired me to reach this stage and help build a better future for us, our family, and everyone in our beloved city, my beautiful wife Annette. I also want to recognize the first woman I ever loved. I am blessed to have my mother Elida Villalobos with us today. And my dad, I know he is beaming with pride looking down from heaven.
2022 was a momentous year for McAllen, and the power behind it was us- not just those within this room, but our residents and partners who worked together to achieve great things. We emerged from 2021’s post-pandemic economy into a world of rising fuel costs, supply chain problems, and stubborn inflation. Yet the power of McAllen to turn challenges into opportunities created a year of innovative solutions and hard-earned achievements.
2022 was the year our city, earned record sales tax revenue. People chose McAllen as their post-pandemic retail destination. It was the year we invested that revenue back into our community through tax relief, crucial infrastructure, and capital improvement projects- all to bring yet more prosperity to our city.
The power of McAllen’s public servants made our city safer, healthier, and more compassionate. It was the year when the power of McAllen’s forward-thinking delivered outstanding quality of life, world-class events, and projects of global importance.
Today, we will share the facts and figures behind McAllen’s momentous year and reveal the human impact of our efforts. But first, I have the responsibility of reporting the state of our city- and I am proud to say, the state of McAllen has never been stronger.
The power of McAllen to achieve big things earned our city momentous recognition in 2022. McAllen was chosen by realtor.com as the 5th best city in the nation for middle-class home buyers, one of the most vital segments of our community.
McAllen remains among our nation’s least expensive places to live and was recognized by Kiplinger in 2022 as America’s 3rd most affordable city. McAllen’s own South Texas College was noted by Niche.com as one of the 10 safest campuses in the state. For the 1st time, McAllen was recognized with the prestigious IFEA World Festival and Event City Award for creating tremendous community and economic capital, by creating and improving events.
In 2022, the power of McAllen’s prosperity was truly momentous. McAllen’s retail dominance earned a 12.5% year-over-year gain in sales tax revenue. Our retail partners helped generate a record-breaking $91 million for our city- a momentous 31% increase from McAllen’s pre-pandemic sales taxes.
McAllen rose through the ranks of the nation’s top 20 cities in total sales tax revenue and ranked number 4 in total sales tax per capita. For perspective, McAllen nearly doubled the total per capita sales tax revenue of Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. Through the power of McAllen’s prosperity, our city had the resources to reinvest in our community- starting with tax relief.
We did something really momentous- we reduced the property tax rate back to a level not seen since 2014! Cutting property taxes helps ease the sting of economic pressures and makes McAllen an even more desirable place for people to raise a family, to buy a home, or simply retire. As one of the Valley’s cities with the lowest property tax burdens, McAllen is creating the blueprint for fiscally responsible prosperity.
Most importantly, McAllen reinvested our record sales tax revenue into our most ambitious city budget ever. I’m proud of a new vision for McAllen from our commissioners, city manager, and myself- a momentous $641 million budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year. This budget, backed by a $133 million general fund, provides more than 220 days of working capital, a number exceeding our city’s 140 day required reserve. Ladies and gentlemen, the power of McAllen is undeniable.
McAllen’s residents will experience a transformative series of projects to strengthen our economy and improve our quality of life: strong infrastructure, like roads and transportation hubs, modern fire stations, and crucial drainage improvements that will benefit generations to come. Because we created the power of McAllen’s prosperity together, we believe every McAllen family should benefit from better city services and the quality of life they ensure.
But McAllen’s services are only possible thanks to the passion of our city’s loyal team. For all they do to keep our city running strong, our budget provides a 3% cost of living adjustment to city employees and 4% increase to our firefighters and police force. To all our city employees, thank you!
We continue working with landowners in our southern area to keep promoting economic development. We want to thank Killam Development, a Diamond Sponsor of this event, for working hand in hand as we look to tackle one of the biggest developments our area has ever seen. Thank you so much Cliff!
We are also excited to welcome Zoho to McAllen! Friends, Zoho is a multinational technology company that makes computer software and web-based business tools and they have made significant plans to expand their presence in McAllen. I am so glad that our friends from Zoho, another amazing diamond sponsor of this event could be here with us today. Thank you so much!
Now, the power of McAllen has space to create new facilities, public projects, and ambitious partnerships to drive economic growth for years to come. The power of McAllen’s partnerships created momentous achievements in 2022. It was the year McAllen partnered with UTRGV to create the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Cancer and Surgery Center supported with the advisory services of the world-renowned MD Anderson Cancer Center.
The city’s million-dollar investment will give McAllen residents access to advanced treatments and advisory services, with underserved specialties in surgical oncology, radiation therapy, clinical and medical services. As the first of its kind, this 100,000 sq-ft facility will transform healthcare in South Texas as phase one of UTRGV’s McAllen Academic Medical Campus. This partnership will also develop homegrown talent by training UTRGV medical students- a momentous resource that benefits our community. McAllen partnered with South Texas College, investing up to $2 million to increase the much-needed nursing program to augment the number of nurses necessary for our hospitals and clinics, all to assure that McAllen’s quality of life is always at its best.
I would like to recognize UTRGV President Dr. Guy Bailey, and South Texas College President Dr. Ricardo Solis for ensuring McAllen’s education and quality of life are at their best. Gentlemen, please stand and be recognized.
The partnership between UTRGV and McAllen powered by the generous support from McAllen ISD will be even greater these coming years as we break ground on the new Center for Urban Ecology at Quinta Mazatlán. When complete, guests from around the world will travel to McAllen to experience a first of its kind research center, while our local students will study the native plants and wildlife in our unique South Texas ecosystem.
These partnerships demonstrate the power of McAllen’s ability to unite diverse organizations to do something momentous. I thank Doctor Guy Bailey and UTRGV, Senators Chuy Hinojosa and Eddie Lucio, State Representatives Guerra and Canales, our entire valley delegation, McAllen ISD, Congressman Gonzalez, Judge Richard Cortez, County Commissioners Elle Torres, Eddie Cantu, Ever Villarreal, friends of Quinta Mazatlán, and our many community partners- please stand and be recognized.
The power of McAllen’s partnerships also drives efficiency within our city government. In 2022, multiple city departments partnered for Project Smart- a plan to improve customer service by connecting utility billing, finance, and HR departments.
They worked together and invested in new Enterprise Resource Planning Software, that once deployed, will give residents better service with less internal overhead. While our city residents benefit from the power of partnerships, every American will soon benefit from McAllen’s momentous new project.
Last September, we officially broke ground on the $83 million Anzalduas Port of Entry Expansion Project. McAllen partnered with the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and Secretary Buttigieg to receive the largest grant in our city’s history- $25 million. The INFRA grant for Rebuilding America, awards funds for logistics and transportation projects of national significance. On top of that, the City also received the support of the Texas Department of Transportation and received an additional $22 million grant towards this historic project.
McAllen’s own GPS study confirmed the momentous impact this new commercial inspection and cargo facility will have on international trade, increasing travel and the movement of full commercial cargo between the U.S. and Mexico. I thank our City Manager, Roy Rodriguez and our superintendent of bridges, Juan Olaguibel, and all our city staff who worked so hard on this truly momentous project.
In July, we signed a sister city agreement with beautiful Puerto Vallarta with Mayor Luis Alberto Michel Rodriguez, committing to share our complementary expertise in tourism and infrastructure.
In August, we solidified another sister city agreement with the industrial powerhouse of Nuevo Leon, … Apodaca! The city of Apodaca, like McAllen, is a mighty municipality, and I am delighted to have a good friend and ally in Apodaca, Mayor Cesar Garza Villarreal- saludos mi amigo!
Closer to home, McAllen partnered with South Padre Island this year to create and grow economic, cultural, and tourism opportunities. I thank our friends in South Padre Island for their momentous support.
The power of McAllen to connect people is momentous. In 2022, Metro McAllen took connectivity further with the new Transfer Center and Maintenance facility on 23rd street. This 8,000 sq-ft facility will be north McAllen’s transit hub and will connect passengers with better routes and more access to STC, Texas A&M, and UTRGV campuses. It will greatly expand Metro’s offerings to passengers, add additional drivers, and more routes with greater frequency. The Transfer Center’s $8 million cost was fully funded by a Federal Grant and Development Credits- a momentous benefit to McAllen residents.
The power of McAllen to connect people is international in scope. With our fully reopened International Bridges, leaving pandemic restrictions in the past, families and businesses finally reconnected and increased total northbound crossings by 27%.
McAllen welcomed 11.5 million personal vehicles to visit our stores, stay in our hotels, conduct business, and experience our award-winning festivals. Southbound combined crossings increased by 51% with more than 3.7 million personal vehicles and a million pedestrians. I am proud to say it was a momentous reunion.
McAllen International Airport also connects travelers with our fast-growing destination city. In 2022, our airport invested $34 million in multi-year improvement projects to the airfield stormwater management system, commercial runway, boarding bridges, and refreshed amenities. McAllen International Airport welcomed nearly 876 thousand passengers in 2022, exceeding the prior year’s all-time high- a momentous achievement for the Valley’s preferred airport.
The McAllen International Airport team goes above and beyond to connect travelers with world-class destinations and experiences. In 2022, they used the power of McAllen’s partnerships to raise our city’s profile as the Official South Texas Airport of the Dallas Cowboys- the first partnership of its kind in the United States (a big win for the cowboys and our City this season).
This exclusive partnership connects McAllen airport guests with the world’s top sports brand, with nonstop flights to games, player meet and greets, giveaways, and the new Skybox Fan experience at McAllen Holiday Parade.
Now here’s a special message from Eric Sudol of the Dallas Cowboys on this momentous partnership.
As a destination city, McAllen connects people with festivals and events year-round that raise our quality of life. McAllen hosted the 65th Annual IFEA Convention, welcoming representatives from the world’s greatest festivals, including the Rose Bowl, Kentucky Derby, and Indy 500. There, McAllen earned the International Festival and Event Award for hosting over 800 events and generating more than $87 million of economic impact, joining the likes of Dubai, Sydney, and the City of Philadelphia.
Festivals and events help drive McAllen’s hospitality industry. McAllen hotels saw revenue per available room climb by a record 9.6% and reached a 73.5% occupancy rate in 2022. Work is underway on a new five-story ALOFT Hotel that will bring an additional 135 rooms to the McAllen Convention Center entertainment district. It’s yet another way McAllen welcomes guests and residents to our more than 800 festivals and events.
Friends, our holiday events were even more powerful this year because thanks to our friends at HEB and Boggus Auto Group local non-profits received generous contributions through McAllen’s 12 days of giving.
Thank you to HEB for donating $144K in daily 12,000 contributions to McAllen’s nonprofits and Boggus for their generous $40K donation to the Children’s Bereavement Center. Thank you to all our volunteers and event teams for your dedication.
The McAllen Holiday Parade and South Pole Illuminated festival were just two of many unforgettable events, like the McAllen Marathon, CarFest, Dinos & Dragons, our Independence Day Celebration, Halloween Fright Festival, Fiesta de Palmas, MXLAN, the Monarch Festival, Texas Recycles Day, Arbor Day, Ilumina Fest, and lighting the Tallest digital Christmas tree in America!
McAllen’s International Museum of Art & Science also helped improve our quality of life through exhibitions, educational programs, and experiences in 2022. IMAS is a momentous asset for our city, from the children’s museum to their expanded permanent art displays and science collections.
McAllen always strives to improve our quality of life. McAllen Parks and Rec is investing millions of dollars into a campground for guests to enjoy hiking trails, fishing docks, archery alleys, birding blinds, campsites, and picnic shelters. Parks and Rec is also developing new projects, like building splash pads in every district, and are making plans to improve the city’s walking and biking trails, lighting, and accessibility. All this made easier with Park and Recs new 20,000 sq-ft facility located on 23rd Street.
McAllen’s greatest power is our sense of compassion. In 2022, the Development Corporation of McAllen and our general fund combined to provide more than $5.1 million to fund 17 local nonprofits. These organizations helped us mentor our youth, remember our history, improve literacy, inspire entrepreneurship, counsel those in need, and other compassionate work. They are critical to the heartbeat that makes McAllen the caring community that it is: Comfort House, McAllen Heritage Center, Mujeres Unidas, RGV Literacy Center, McAllen Town Band, McAllen Chamber of Commerce, Amigos Del Valle, Boys & Girls Club of McAllen, Museum of South Texas History, Valley Symphony Orchestra, International Museum of Art & Science, Lift-Fund Inc., South Texas College, Affordable Homes of South Texas, Vida, and El Milagro Clinic.
But our compassion did not end at our city limits. When our brothers and sisters in the Monterrey Nuevo Leon area were suffering from extreme drought, our city and our community jumped to action. Within days, we had 50 pallets holding 144K bottles of water ready for delivery. But how do we deliver that water?
Well, we have good friends- I want to thank our good friend Carlos Canales with Trancasa and Joaquin Spammer with CIL who, without cost to us, used their trucks and trailers to deliver our water all the way to Nuevo Leon. Gracias Caballeros for what you did and for being Diamond Sponsors of today’s event.
I also want to thank our good friend Hershel Patel, who quickly mobilized organizing fellow hoteliers to generously donate pallets of water. Thank you so much, Hershal and Ruby Red Hospitality for your Diamond Sponsorship.
This truly was a team effort. Thank you to all that helped and supported the effort. Here in McAllen, we care. Sometimes, compassion can be as simple as lending someone a hand. McAllen’s community toolshed program lent tools to residents to beautify their yards and neighborhoods- a small gesture with momentous personal impact. We enhanced Imagine Tomorrow in 2022- an incentive program for home and lot repairs, demolitions, and older home renovations in McAllen neighborhoods. This year, we will increase Imagine Tomorrow’s budget by 33% so more residents can help improve our city from the inside-out.
The City’s Retail and Business Development Office reinvested in our downtown through the Refresh 50/50 grant program. This helps our local businesses stretch their dollars by adding city money to improvements which helps small businesses beautify their storefronts and preserve McAllen’s vital downtown experience. I am so proud of these programs created in McAllen and which now serve as models throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
The power of McAllen’s community spirit kept our city safe in 2022. A SmartAsset study evaluating violent crime, poverty, vehicular mortality rate, and other factors ranked McAllen as America’s 6th safest city in 2022 – a momentous achievement. 2022 was also McAllen’s 13th consecutive year of declining crime reports with an overall decrease of 2.7% following the previous year’s near 3% decline. Among the four largest border cities in Texas, McAllen was ranked with the lowest violent and property crime rates.
McAllen’s Information Technology team partnered with our Parks and Recreation Department to upgrade 9-1-1 callboxes on the 2nd Street and Bicentennial walking trails. Now we are installing them on the Bentsen Road Trail! McAllen updated existing callboxes from 3G to 5G and regularly services them to ensure our community is safe while they are being active.
We also congratulate the McAllen Fire Department on maintaining their Property Protection Classification of 2, among the best in our region. This rating keeps McAllen home insurance rates among the lowest in the state. McAllen is making a momentous investment in fire safety with a first of its kind, state-of-the-art training center on North La Lomita Road. When complete, we will enhance the training our firefighters receive right here in McAllen- a momentous 1st for our city. The proposed 10,000 sq-ft facility will give our firefighters stadium-style classroom seating, a lobby, administrative offices, conference rooms, and accessible parking.
The power of McAllen’s community spirit shined through in a Community Satisfaction Survey where you, our residents, rated our city. McAllen residents have a very positive perception of their home, far ahead of the state and national averages.
In 2022, 94% of McAllen residents were satisfied with McAllen as a place to live and 90% are satisfied with McAllen as a place to raise a family. McAllen residents rated our city above the U.S. Average in 63 of 71 categories, with much higher satisfaction in city services.
Safeguarding McAllen from mother nature is also one of the city’s most crucial responsibilities. The city acted decisively in 2022 to prevent yearly flooding from overwhelming our drainage systems. McAllen completed over $12.4 million of drainage projects last year. This year we are investing more than $22 million in 42 drainage projects to upgrade drainage throughout our city- a momentous investment in public infrastructure. You know we are blessed to have the best water system in the Rio Grande Valley!
Building permit growth was nothing short of momentous in 2022. McAllen issued over 1,643 residential permits for a construction value totaling over $215.3 million. With more homes came more businesses.
McAllen issued over 791 commercial permits for a construction value of over $175.9 million; that, ladies and gentlemen, is momentous growth! With our city’s power we set a record budget for 2022-2023 of $641 million and more than 127 capital improvement projects and have the largest and most healthy fund balances in the history of McAllen!
McAllen’s success took off like a rocket in 2022, and like any mission, our city needed a steady hand on the controls. I recognize McAllen City Manager Roy Rodriguez for his leadership and commitment to taking our city to new heights. Thank you, Roy. Please stand and be recognized!
For most of the country, 2022 was a challenging year. For McAllen, it was an opportunity to show our community’s strengths: resilience, innovation, and a sense of purpose.
As mayor, and on behalf of my fellow city commissioners, I am both humbled and inspired to pursue momentous goals for McAllen. We are ready to face any challenge. When fuel costs were on the rise, we invested in better roads to reduce traffic and we partnered with federal and state governments to upgrade McAllen’s public transportation. When the world faced supply chain problems, we partnered with federal organizations to expand the Anzaldúas Port of Entry. When inflation would not ease, we cut property taxes to their lowest level since 2014!
We improved quality of life for families by investing in green spaces, parks, home improvement programs, and non-profits. We improved public safety with investments in fire safety, law enforcement, storm protection and vital drainage infrastructure. When economic uncertainty rose, we generated record revenue by becoming a top destination city for retail, business, and world class events.
2022 was a challenging year, yes it was. But for McAllen, for us, for our team, 2022 was a momentous year! Thank you and God bless you and our great city of McAllen.
This speech has been redacted due to space constraints
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry have apprehended 38 fugitives since the beginning of March, including three men wanted for sexual offences against children. USCBP Image
Texas Border Business
EL PASO, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at El Paso area ports of entry have apprehended 38 fugitives since the beginning of March, including three men wanted for sexual offences against children.
“CBP’s mission is to protect our country and communities, at and beyond our borders,” said Director Field Operations Hector A. Mancha. “Our interagency communication and partnership with federal, state, local and international agencies is vital in accomplishing our mission.”
On March 2, at the Port of Columbus, New Mexico, CBP officers were notified that a 55-year-old male, U.S. citizen, wanted for failing to register as a sexual offender, possession of child pornography, and aggravated sexual assault of a minor was apprehended in Mexico by Mexican authorities. CBP officers aided coordination with federal and international agencies to repatriate the individual via the port of entry.
On March 12, at the Paso Del Norte Border Crossing, CBP officers encountered a 33-year-old male, Mexican citizen, who arrived via the pedestrian lanes. The man was secured and escorted to secondary for further inspection where biometric verification confirmed his identity along with an active warrant for lewdness with a child under the age of 14, lewdness with a child under the age of 16, sexual assault with a minor under 16 years of age, out of the North Las Vegas Police Department, Las Vegas, Nevada.
On March 13, at the Ysleta Port of Entry, CBP officers encountered a 26-year-old male, Mexican citizen, who arrived via the pedestrian lanes. The man was secured and escorted to secondary for further inspection where biometric verification confirmed his identity along with an active warrant for sexual offence/sexual exploitation of a child out of the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, Eagle, Colorado.
The individuals were arrested by CBP officers and turned over to local authorities pending extradition to the originating agency.
The additional 35 individuals taken into custody were being sought on a variety of charges to include assault, sexual assault, cruelty towards a child, larceny, and dangerous drugs.
