Texas Border Business
Right from the beginning of 2021, when candidates started to announce their intention to run for office and others for reelection, the new year immediately, felt different.
Today, we have McAllen Commissioner Javier Villalobos seeking the mayoral seat. Villalobos is an attorney by trade and in this issue, you’ll learn more about him. Next month we are featuring other candidates, at least, those participating in the McAllen elections. Enjoy!
On another matter, the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District recently announced that 17 campuses earned 2019-2020 Educational Results Partnership Honor Roll awards, which recognize high-performing schools across the nation.
Good news: Luis R. Zamora has been promoted to Director of Real Estate Services for Affordable Homes of South Texas, Inc. (AHSTI). Zamora, who has been serving as interim director for the last several months, had been Real Estate Services Manager with AHSTI since 2015.
In addition to serving as Director of Real Estate Services, Zamora is also the Managing Broker for HCH Realty, LLC, a subsidiary of TuCasa Investments, Inc. and a social enterprise of AHSTI.
I hope no one drops the ball: the Governor’s Broadband Development Council (GBDC) has issued its first report to the Texas Legislature. The report includes recommendations for the 87th Legislative Session and provides an overview of the work of GBDC since its inception.
GBDC has researched the progress of broadband development in unserved areas, identified barriers to residential and commercial broadband deployment in unserved areas, and studied technology-neutral solutions to overcome barriers. Also, GBDC analyzed how statewide access to broadband would benefit economic development, higher education, public education, state and local law enforcement, state emergency preparedness, and health care services. Let’s continue building the infrastructure and give the opportunity to all to be connected.
Senator Juan ‘Chuy’ Hinojosa, Vice Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Redistricting participated in the first regional hearing held by the Committee this legislative session. In a first for the Texas Senate, these regional hearings will allow members of the public to testify before the Committee via Zoom videoconference. This change was approved unanimously by the Texas Senate with the adoption of Senate Resolution 4, which allows the Committee to hold region-focused hearings in the Capitol, with public testimony provided via videoconference.
“The first virtual regional hearing of the Senate Redistricting Committee went very well. Allowing virtual testimony gives Texans from all across the State an opportunity to safely provide input regarding their communities and how it can be impacted with the redistricting process,” said Senator Hinojosa. ”Participation in these hearings – is not optional. We must make the issues and concerns of each region known to the rest of Texas. The insights from the different regions of the State will provide the Committee with a much-needed local perspective on district maps that will define the context in which we elect our leaders for the next decade,” Senator Hinojosa said.
There is more in this issue, enjoy!
