Business leaders on Texas-Mexico border say state politicians ignore community needs while calling for a wall – By Mitchell Ferman (Texas Tribune) / June 18 2021
Many local officials and business leaders along the border say that the rhetoric is misplaced and that the broader needs of their communities can often get lost.
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Shovels stuck out of the dirt this week near Texas’ border with Mexico for a groundbreaking ceremony in Starr County’s Rio Grande City.
A row of men and women with white hard hats stood behind the gold-painted shovels, which were decorated with patriotic red, white and blue ribbons. The group posed for a photo Wednesday to commemorate the historic moment — and said they were ready to turn dirt for construction.
It was not the first sign of Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to build a wall near the boundary with Mexico. And it didn’t reflect the scenes that Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick described Wednesday at an Austin news conference where they talked about unsafe border communities being “invaded,” echoing language used by the El Paso shooter in the 2019 massacre.
The shovels in rural South Texas actually belonged to the Rio Grande City Economic Development Corporation, which helped announce the construction of Rio Grande City Village, a new plaza that will feature Buffalo Wings & Rings, Panda Express, Starbucks and a Hilton hotel — all opening for the first time ever in Starr County.
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