Would a thank you note suffice?

McAllen Monitor - October 26, 2009 - MCALLEN SPENDS $15100 TO FETE “CHUY” HINOJOSA

The city spent $15,100 to throw a dinner party for state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, Oct. 15, and city leaders defended the expense as a well-deserved thank you to the powerful senator, despite recent budgetary cutbacks. Hinojosa became vice chairman of the state Senate Committee on Finance this past legislative session, a powerful position in Austin in which he, in part, directs the flow of hundreds of millions of state dollars.

City leaders say Hinojosa was instrumental in several important projects for McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley at-large in the last session, which ended in June.

http://www.themonitor.com/articles/mcallen-31899-spends-chuy.html

Frankly, if Sen. Hinojosa has been representing his constituents well, isn't that in his job description? Thanking him with an extravagant taxpayer-funded dinner party is inappropriate while folks are losing their jobs. Get a grip, folks, it isn't rocket science. Elected officials should get a thank you when appropriate, and it need not be on engraved stationery.

McAllen officials dump more debt into the lap of taxpayers

Apparently McAllen officials would rather fund fluff projects instead of paying off the current city debt.

Officials in McAllen are planning to build “outdoorsman's oasis”, which will include a 6.4-acre fishing lake and camping grounds at Fireman's Park in addition to 11 acres of park land. The park will include a playground, pavilion, restrooms, showers, concession building, trails with bridges, fishing piers and a sand volleyball court.

The City of McAllen is adding $800,000 from its coffers to fund the project.

While the idea of an outdoorsman’s addition to Fireman’s Park seems like a great idea, how is it that the City of McAllen feels like they have enough extra taxpayer dollars laying around for a frivolous project?

According to the Texas Bond Review Board website, as of 2007 the current outstanding debt for the city of McAllen is: $207,789,903.

And who stands to pay the city’s debt? – McAllen residents via taxes.

McAllen city leaders have big plans for McAllen taxpayers' money

McAllen seeks to draw the ‘creative class' - The Monitor
http://www.themonitor.com/articles/city_19076___article.html/people_young.html

Last week, the city commissioners gave preliminary approval for $960,000 of projects designed to meet the goal of drawing young, creative people here.

Among those projects is beautification work throughout the city, including landscaping near the airport and La Plaza Mall and accent lighting on public buildings.

Money was also allocated for public art, a campaign to minimize the use of plastic shopping bags and the development of a park-and-ride system for special events.

Almost $2.25 million worth of projects is included in the plan, which city leaders will gradually fund over the next few years, said Mike Perez, the McAllen city manager.

City leaders also hope to create a new music festival, develop a plan for a performing arts center and incorporate the current main library at 601 N. Main St. into the arts community once its replacement is built at the former Wal-Mart building at the intersection of North 23rd Street and Nolana.