EDINBURG, Texas – State and federal lawmakers that visit the Rio Grande Valley need to take off their bulletproof vests and come and play golf.
That is the view of public relations specialist and Edinburg resident Agustin “Augie” Lozano.
“Let me tell you something. I just learned that, when our Governor comes down here, when Washington, D.C. comes here, where do they go? They go to the border. They are scaring our people,” Lozano said.
“We need tourism. So, when they come down, we need to show them what Edinburg, McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, Mission, Alton have to offer. They need to see that we are growing. They are scaring the tourism. So, I ask you, when they come down, let’s invite them to Edinburg. Let them come and play some golf here with us.”
Lozano made his remarks at a recent town hall meeting held at Los Lagos Golf Club and hosted at by the City of Edinburg for its Edinburg2040 project. City leaders are inviting local residents to give their views on what Edinburg should look like 18 years from now.
Lozano won loud applause for his remarks. The Rio Grande Guardian International News Service interviewed him after the town hall meeting had concluded.
“When our representatives from Austin or Washington, D.C., when they come, they don’t actually see the Rio Grande Valley. This is our region. They send them to the river. And they wear the bulletproof vests. Hello. Look what we are doing. Hurting tourism. It hurts tourism. If we are going to grow, tell them the right way, not the wrong way,” Lozano told the Rio Grande Guardian.
“We do have US Border Patrol, we have DPS, they are controlling. As much as we don’t want the bad guys, there is bad everywhere.”
Lozano said he would be contacting his local legislators to see if they could persuade their colleagues not to visit the Rio Grande river but see the delights of Edinburg instead.
“Take off the bulletproof vest and come and play golf. Come and taste our food because we have very good restaurants. Love America. We are not a Third World Country down here,” Lozano added.
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