" They "assimilate" very easily into out Southwestern culture."
Here's your "assimilation", bay. Why won't you talk about this article???
Bill seeks to prevent Colonias (Texas)
Corpus Christi Cller-Times ^ | February 10, 2005 | Tim Eaton
Posted on 02/10/2005 9:59:32 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Developers would face new rules
AUSTIN - Third-world-like conditions that exist in Nueces County and other parts of South Texas in colonias could come closer to being eradicated if a new bill becomes law.
Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, filed a bill Wednesday seeking to end the construction of colonias, which are underdeveloped neighborhoods which are usually past paved roads and in patches of land without municipal water and sewer lines.
"We have colonias with no running water, no drainage, no septic tanks. And when it rains, it floods," said Hinojosa, who represents Nueces County. "People cannot get out of the house. Kids cannot go to school, and you have health problems associated with this."
The bill's two-pronged approached would allow Nueces County to receive state and federal grants that have historically been reserved for border communities, and it would put demands on developers.
Under the legislation, developers must get a plat, a legal document approved by Nueces County commissioners, that includes a map of a subdivided property to ensure adequate roads, sewage, drainage, water and other necessities.
Senate Bill 425 is based on codes that have allowed Hidalgo County officials to force developers to meet accepted municipal standards for water, wastewater and solid waste, Hinojosa said.
And if Hinojosa's bill becomes law, developers won't find it as easy to take advantage of people with low income and create neighborhoods that look like third world countries with little economic development, he said.
State Rep. Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi, state Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Robstown, and state Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi, attended Hinojosa's news conference to show support for the bill.
Nueces County Commissioners Peggy Banales and Betty Jean Longoria also attended and thanked Hinojosa for his efforts.
"This will give us the teeth we needed," Longoria said.
Some of the available grant money that Nueces County could receive may help pay for cleaning up some of the roughly 50 existing South Texas colonias, according to Hinojosa's staff.
So, far Hinojosa's bill has not garnered any vocal opposition.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340396/posts
"We have colonias with no running water, no drainage, no septic tanks. And when it rains, it floods,"
Wow. Sounds like a typical third world paradise.