Posted on 07/26/2007 3:24:30 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
MONTERREY — A billboard in Monterrey hangs high above the highway to Reynosa, alerting motorists that not everyone on this side of the border agrees with putting a wall between the two countries.
The billboard reads “McAllen rechaza el muro fronteriza” or McAllen rejects the border wall.
It’s just part of a multi-pronged attack city and business officials in the Rio Grande Valley are mounting to convince neighbors in Mexico that the area is still open to their visits — and their money.
With the background of a "No Border Wall" poster, McAllen Mayor Richard Cortez visited Monterrey Wednesday to speak out against the federal proposal for a wall along the border, claiming the artificial barrier will send a negative signal to shoppers and business people in Mexico.
"Not all Americans are in favor of the fence," Cortez told the Monterrey and Mexican national press corps.
"But the 25 percent that are against the wall are the only ones being listened to."
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security plans to build 135 miles of fence along the Texas border, 70 miles of which are in the Valley, Cortez said.
Agency officials expect to start construction in 2008, but Cortez and others in McAllen hope to persuade the federal government to delay or abandon the wall.
McAllen city officials and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce have launched a constant barrage of attacks at attempts to build the fence.
Pro-business people from McAllen say a wall could alienate Mexican shoppers, who bring an estimated $3.5 billion a year into the Valley in shopping and trade.
“If I thought the wall was going to stop terrorists, I would build it myself,” he said.
The trip was part of an economic development meeting between officials in the two cities.
The two cities’ economic development organizations signed an agreement to support one another in bringing jobs to the region on both sides of the border, but Cortez took time to talk to reporters and dignitaries in Monterrey about his views on the wall.
The McAllen chamber has organized several focus groups in the area, polling Monterrey-area shoppers about the wall.
Overwhelmingly, the poll shows a wall would alienate shoppers, although they said they would continue to come to McAllen, said Chamber President and CEO Steve Ahlenius.
Monterrey Mayor Adalberto Madero also expressed his hopes of keeping trade open between the two cities and strengthening relations.
I was just thinking that myself. I thought there would be gates.
Ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
What are mexicans buying in the USA?
If there are here to buy then there is no reason to object to a fence. Are they walking accross the unfenced desert?
The objections make no sense unless these businesses are looking for coyote business.
You can post some comments at the Brownsville Herald and discuss the fence with the locals.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/wall_78709___article.html/mcallen_monterrey.html
Oh Jeez, we all know that the CA mexicans all came from McAllen, Tx. They have been telling us this for years. Especially La Raza.
ping
I have relatives that live part time in McAllen (snow birds). It could be a great town but it is being overrun by illegals. Getting across the border is quite easy. Its a damn shame the mayor has hoisted the white surrender flag.
I think the cartels spread a lot of money around on both sides of the border, navyguy.
El Conquistador knows the answer.
San Diego has a LONG fence now, and the San Ysidro crossing is busier than it ever has been.
His BS is for gullible public consumption only.
His primary concern isn’t the shoppers, who walk or drive across the bridges. Like any politician, he’s worried about the cheap labor for his local businesses.
Like I said the other day. Build the wall about 50 miles north of them. That should solve the problem.
I imagine that they send busses across to pick them up. Why would they want to inconvenience them any. They might even have to carry those loads of purchases back across the river on their backs. That is being too cruel.
BTTT
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