McALLEN, RGV – McAllen Mayor Jim Darling held his fourth State of the City Address at the McAllen Convention Center.
The images in the above slideshow were taken by reporter Stephanie Jara.
Here are some of the tweets the Rio Grande Guardian reporters sent out during the event:
Mayor Jim Darling says McAllen population is 140,000 and city’s budget is over $300 million. #McAllenSOTC17 pic.twitter.com/HliFAxRw9c
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
Mayor Darling was delighted to announce that the new Performing Arts Center is proving popular with visitors.
McAllen Mayor Jim Darling calls the city’s new $36 million @McAllenPAC its “Wow Center.” It opened to rave reviews last Nov. #McAllenSOTC17
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
During the State of the City address, a video was shown listing some of McAllen’s success stories in 2016. Mention was made of the work the Diocese of Brownsville has done to make newly-arrived immigrants from Central America feel at home.
The immigrants, mostly women and children from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, started arriving in large numbers in the summer of 2014.
The number of arrivals dropped in 2015 but picked up again in 2016.
After giving themselves up to Border Patrol, the immigrants are booked in and then released at Sacred Heart Church Refugee Center in downtown McAllen.
After receiving food, clothing and in some cases medical attention the immigrants head for McAllen Bus Station.
City Commissioner John Ingram says McAllen/RGV residents have “opened their hearts” to 53,000 immigrants at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
Another part of the video focused on the Anzalduas International Bridge, which is not taking southbound ’empty’ trucks.
City Commissioner Richard Cortez says McAllen is first city in nation to help pay for int’l bridge infrastructure in Mexico: $1.1 million.
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
Mayor Darling pointed out that Mexican shoppers have always been important to the McAllen economy.
McAllen Mayor Jim Darling: 37% of sales tax receipts in McAllen come from Mexican shoppers. #McAllenSOTC17
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
Mayor Darling: Mexican shoppers make up 37% of our sales tax & we’re glad they continue to shop here despite the rhetoric in Washington DC.
— Stephanie Jara (@sjacru) January 24, 2017
Darling acknowledged sales tax revenues were down in 2016, probably because the value of the Peso has weakened.
Mayor Jim Darling says although bridge crossings are up, Mexican shoppers are spending and staying less. #McAllenSOTC17
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
McAllen’s value to the Texas economy should not be underestimated, Darling added.
Mayor Jim Darling says @CityofMcAllen is highest per capita sales tax collector in state of Texas. #McAllenSOTC17
— Steve Taylor (@SteveTaylorRGG) January 24, 2017
