Rio Grande Valley mayor welcomes National Guard troops

[TexasTowelie]

[font color=green]A Republican point of view.[/font]


Ruben Villarreal

Rio Grande City Mayor Ruben Villarreal doesn’t mince words when it comes to the specter of National Guard troops soon descending upon his city as part of a controversial state-based border security initiative.

“Beggars can’t be choosers. I’ll take whatever help they can give me,” he said last week from Rio Grande City’s tiny city hall. “They make a huge difference for me.”

The Republican city leader doesn’t give what he calls the “chamber of commerce” speech, like many politicians do, sugarcoating the dire reality of the situation on the border and the need for resources. His small city, he said, could use the additional manpower so that local officers can focus on the community instead of immigration concerns.

His is an uncommon sentiment in one of the state’s few Democratic strongholds. Democrats hold the majority of city, state and congressional seats in border districts from Starr to Cameron counties, the bookends of the Rio Grande Valley.

Read more: http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/rio-grande-valley-mayor-welcomes-national-guard-troops/article_a0d4df60-2422-11e4-842e-0017a43b2370.html

[DhhD]

2. Villarreal has no control over any federal militia. The soldiers probably will spend money, in

his city, which would make Rio Grande City, a military town. With the increased sales tax money, new services or civic improvements might be possible, maybe even the hiring of more police.

I wonder if the $12 Million a month from State of Texas taxpayers will reduce to a substantial windfall for cities along the border? In a few years the tax collections can be compared from year to year. Wonder if immigrant crossings in or near Rio Grande City will pick up?

[TexasTowelie]

3. Actually it will only take a few months instead of a few years.

The Comptroller's department will be send sales tax revenue back to the cities so they should be able to make year to year comparisons quickly.