WESLACO, Texas - The South Texas Alliance of Cities held their latest quarterly meeting at Glazer’s Beer & Beverage in Weslaco.
Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez hosted the group. In an interview with the Rio Grande Guardian, Gonzalez he said securing more funding for infrastructure is the group’s top priority.
“We have the South Texas Alliance group that we put together a couple of years back. Myself and our Mid Valley mayors, we came together as well to kind of talk about what's going on in our area,” Gonzalez said.
“We're just coming together as a region to bounce ideas off each other, on the need of our cities, and how we can come together to go to the Austins and Washingtons and fight for our cities, but fight together.”
Gonzalez said the Rio Grande Valley is growing rapidly and attracting news businesses all the time.
“We have people that are fighting for our area. So you have good representation, whether it's Weslaco, whether it's Edinburg, McAllen, Brownsville, we have great leadership. Everybody is here,” Gonzalez said.
“What we're planning to do is go to Washington and get some response on far as our water issues, our infrastructure issues, most importantly, it's the infrastructure. And having the mayors all in the same room to make sure that, hey, we're in it together. Let's fight together. Let's make sure that we are able to provide the necessary infrastructure for our respective cities.”
The morning event started with breakfast and introductions by Steve Valdez, executive director of Weslaco Economic Development Corporation, Barbara Jean Garza, president and CEO of Weslaco Chamber of Commerce, Brownsville Mayor and STAC Chairman John Cowen, and Gonzalez.
Next followed a discussion on legislative issues featuring state Representatives Armando Martinez and Terry Canales, with former Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza serving as moderator.
After a media availability there was a tour of Glazer’s, which is the anchor tenant of Weslaco EDC’s Mid Valley International Industrial Park. Lunch was taken at Nana’s Taqueria. A STAC business meeting was held during lunch.
In the afternoon, STAC members and their guests toured CASTICO - Casting International Composites on Hagger Street in Weslaco. The group then traveled back to Glazer’s and adjourned.
Here is a video recording of the Guardian's interview with Mayor Gonzalez:
