LAREDO, Texas – With the clear intention to start a working relationship between the President-elect and the City of Laredo, a letter of congratulations signed by Mayor Pete Saenz and City Manager Jesus M. Olivares has been sent to Donald Trump.
The letter, dated Nov. 16, states the importance of Laredo as the “number one inland port” but also requests a meeting with Trump. A first possibility to meet could be on November 30th when Olivares and Saenz will visit Washington, D.C. The second opportunity, the letter states, would be during Laredo’s annual Legislative Trip early March.
“If your schedule allows, we would like to visit with you briefly to discuss our ideas of enhancing global trade in our community and the United States,” reads the letter.
Laredo leaders believe they can build upon the connections they made with the President-elect when he visited Laredo in July, 2015, at the start of his presidential campaign. During a meeting with Saenz, Olivares and other Laredo leaders, Trump made a concession to his plan to build a large border wall. He said a wall may not be necessary where there is a natural boundary such as the Rio Grande.
As an example of Laredo importance to the country, Saenz and Olivares in their letter explained that the Laredo Custom District had a record-setting of $284.33 billion in trade with the World in 2015.
“According to the Texas State Comptroller’s Office, Laredo’s inland port creates some 363,000 net Texas jobs and contributes to $52 billion to the state gross domestic product,” adds the document.
The letter and copies of two photographs taken during Trump’s visit to Laredo in July 2015 were sent to the President Elect’s transition team in New York and in Washington, D.C.
“Your visit to Laredo, Texas last year made a tremendous impact in our community… We would be most appreciative if you could take a few minutes out of our busy schedule to meet with us,” reads the letter.
A group of representatives from Laredo visits Washington, D.C. every March as part of their legislative advocacy outreach. In 2017 the visit will take place from March 5th to March 9th. During that visit the city celebrates the Laredo Day reception. The letter states that a formal invitation to this event will be send to Trump in the near future.
“We wish you every success as our new leader,” concludes the letter.
In a previous interview for the Rio Grande Guardian, Saenz expressed that meeting with Trump “would be beneficial and helpful to structure his policy towards Mexico and the border area.”
Trump will be the 45th President in the United States. The oath is scheduled for January 20th.
Here is the letter:
November 16, 2016
Mr. Donald Trump
President-elect of the United States Trump Tower
725 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10022
Dear President-elect Trump:
The City of Laredo would like to congratulate you on your victory as our 45th President of the United States. Your visit to Laredo, Texas last year made a tremendous impact in our community. As the number one inland port in the nation, the Laredo Customs District’s trade with the world was a record setting $284.33 billion in 2015. According to the Texas State Comptroller’s Office, Laredo’s inland port creates some 363,000 net Texas jobs and contributes to $52 billion to the states gross domestic product.
Our City Manager and I will be in Washington, D.C. on November 30th. Ifyour schedule allows, we would like to visit with you briefly to discuss our ideas on enhancing global trade in our community and the United States.
Should this date not work with your schedule, the City of Laredo Delegation will be in Washington,
D.C. from March 5th through March 9th of 2017 for our annual legislative advocacy outreach. We would be most appreciative if you could take a few minutes out of your busy schedule to meet with us during that time. As part of our Legislative Trip in March, we have scheduled our “Laredo Day” Reception from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on March gth which is held at the Capitol. We will forward a formal invitation.
We wish you every success as our new leader and we look forward to hearing from you or your administrative team to confirm a date and time to meet when we are in Washington, D.C. We may be reached at 956-791-7304 or via e-mail at [email protected] or jolivares @ci.laredo.tx.us.
Sincerely,
Pete Saenz
Mayor
Jesus M. Olivares
City Manager
