MCALLEN, Texas – McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos points out that if Zoho Corporation were to build its 90-acre campus in north of the city, it could benefit Edinburg CISD.
Many environmentalists said the campus should not be built on Green Jay Park in south McAllen because of its unique habitat.
But if it were put in north McAllen instead, Mayor Villalobos warned, millions of dollars of property taxes would go to Edinburg’s school district, not McAllen’s.
“Well, if so goes to the north, guess what district is gonna get a benefit? North of Freddy Gonzales is not McAllen ISD. Your kids, your educators will not receive the benefit of millions and millions of tax dollars. If it goes north of Freddie Gonzalez, Edinburg Independent School District receives the benefit of what Zoho is trying to do here,” Villalobos said.
Villalobos made his comments in wrap-up remarks at the end of a vote by McAllen city commissioners to rezone Green Jay Park. They voted to turn the park from agricultural-open space to light industrial. This paves the way for Zoho to move onto the property.
“We’ve received calls like you wouldn’t believe. Since my tenure here on the commission there has never been something as controversial as this,” Villalobos admitted.
Many voices were heard at the city commission meeting. Here is the commentary of three of the supporters of rezoning, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling, and South Texas College board trustee Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar.
Editor’s Note: The main image accompanying the above audio story features McAllen Mayor McAllen Javier Villalobos. (Photo copyright: Madison Girault/RGG)
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