There was a sparse response from City Council District VII candidates to questions sent to them by LareDOS in mid-October. Here are the responses of candidates David Montes and María Antonieta Reyes.
Please provide a brief biographical statement that includes your place of birth, age, education, and profession.
David Montes: I’m a life long Laredoan, born and raised. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education, majored in political science and history, with a minor in Spanish. As an educator for 30 years I taught A.P. Government and Politics, History, and had a Spanish endorsement at the high school level.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: I was born in Mexico City, Mexico. I am 45 years old. I arrived in the United States in 1989 with my family and was enrolled in Nixon High School. I left for military service right after graduation in 1993. While in military service, I started higher education, and continued my education after, until completion of a PhD in public Administration and Public Policy from Auburn University. I taught government and public administration for about 11 years. As of May 31, 2020, I am no longer a professor (title given when holding a teaching position).
Name the three top priorities you have set as goals to improve the quality of life in District VII.
David Montes: My top priorities are the traffic congestion at F.M. 1472, illegal dumping on the west side, and the reparation of the El Pico Water Treatment Plant.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: The three top priorities I have set to assist improving the quality of life in District VII start with a fight against corruption through transparency. I am pledging to invite the citizens of Laredo into the process through exposure of such processes through social media, while making sure that everything set before the city council is broken down in chewable pieces for clear understanding of policies in question to clearly discern how it may affect each one of us. This should open the system of government to peoples’ engagement to make government responsive to us. Second, all basic needs, like lighting, sewage, clean water, sidewalks, speed bumps, parks, etc, should be met by the government as a standard of action. These issues should be taken care of by our local government and not based on where one lives or who you know. All of these services should be a given, not something that the citizen has to work at getting from government. I am pledging to make this the standard. Thirdly, the budget of our city has been in trouble for a long time. This needs to be addressed. We need to break it down, deconstruct it, and analyze it to be able to move forward with confidence in negotiations and discussions of expenditures and taxes.
What sets you apart from the other candidates running for this position?
David Montes: My hardship is obvious. My slogan is, “A FIGHTER WHO WILL FIGHT FOR YOU,” because I know what its like to fight for one’s life, and I know what it’s like to fight in life.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: I understand and can assist in transforming government to be responsive to the people. My experience and education help me identify suppressive systems and coupled with my knowledge of the U.S. Constitution it reveals the possible potential in our governance through individual action. I understand that the burden of liberation and freedom lies in the oppressed and only through communal action could we achieve making the Laredo we envision a reality. However, this requires us to speak up, change some of our habits, traditions, and become engaged with government by making space in our lives for it .
District VII is characterized as the City’s breadbasket. What single infrastructure improvement would further enhance the City’s position as the number one inland port in the nation?
David Montes: F.M. 1472 must become a full-fledged highway with access roads for easy flowing traffic, like the intersection of Clark Blvd. and Loop 20. We also need an outlet from Green Ranch to I.H. 35. Due to the recent loss of life at F.M. 1472 and F.M. 255, we need to work hard on the safety of this road.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: We are living in an era of constant change where technology is leading, by imposition, innovation. I am not sure there is a “one single infrastructure improvement.” In District Seven we need serious changes in the physical infrastructure of the space to allow for the new technological changes that are coming. This means making residential and industrial zoning changes, and new training and education that includes computers, coding, and robotics. The solution cannot and should not be a single approach or action. For example, whatever new roads we build need to include a vision of the future where driverless trucks or automatic pilots can transport and deliver with safety. Equally, the privilege of some cannot be the guide of those new roads. Any infrastructure changes should include discussion of the future, the residents intermittently living amongst industrial zoning, and where import and export is heading.
What is your process for information gathering and research so that you are well-informed enough on an issue to make a good decision? David Montes: My information comes from a multitude of sources. I believe in taking care of the people first and the issues will fall in line. I read, watch, and analyze all levels of government daily. Information gathering and research are at our fingertips in this day and age.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: I am a policy analyst and a researcher. I start at the source. I read law, case law, speak to implementers, speak to stakeholders (which should include interest groups), and once I identify issues, I look for alternative options (are there other communities with similar issues and what were or have been their solutions). In other words, I take a holistic approach because it reveals what we may be doing that is of benefit, and what may be impeding further growth or progress. Most importantly, a holistic approach reveals actionable alternatives that are inclusive of all; the possible consensus or synergy, not a trade off.
Are street lighting, police presence, and the conditions of streets equitable across the City?
David Montes: Once again, we need better lighting at F.M. 1472 especially at Dead Man’s curve.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: No, not at all. This includes District VII. One could argue that in District VII we have different housing authorities, but while this could explain some differences, it does not explain the failure of addressing basic standards of security, safety, and public services in the district. There is a practice, especially amongst those in the decision-making process, to judge the population and its areas according to class (or economic worth). This automatically denies some of us basic services, because of a biased or classist perception. Politics in Laredo has become a power dynamic that benefits only some, and the rest are deemed unworthy of investment. A common question is why some streets are better taken care of than others, or better parks, or better sidewalks, or better lighting, now we even include water and water pressure. There is what I call, a language of affluence that tends to encircle discussions only in terms of economic worth and investment that dismisses completely the social aspect of our society – that ultimately affects the economy of all of us. These are somewhere along the line of, “why put a better park there when they will only destroy it (graffiti), why care about the streets when most don’t care about their yards, why put lighting when they will break it.” There is a tendency to establish the deserving which also by default establishes the undeserving. In Laredo most of us are placed in that group and presumed incapable of making decisions for ourselves, which automatically silences our voice.
Do you believe a border wall will be an impediment to illegal immigration and drug and human trafficking?
David Montes: It was a campaign slogan that became a reality. It will not impede the drug or human trafficking; it will only impede our natural resources. Focus on technology instead. It works!
Maria Antonieta Reyes: No. All research highlights the misunderstanding of walls as an effective form of protection against illegal immigration, drug, and human trafficking. Crime finds a way. The wall is a symbolic physical manifestation of keeping things out and keeping things in, nothing more. Because of this, it does affect the economy. The perception of inclusiveness after a trade agreement with Mexico and Canada that aims at collapsing obstacles to trade, will only do the opposite.
How will such a wall change District VII?
David Montes: District VII has the longest river frontage, which will be affected by this eyesore. Proponents are under-estimating the power of the floods that the Rio Grande River can inflict on the landscape.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: The wall will affect the perception of investors and trade partners with the U.S. Research notes that it will primarily affect legal trade, but do so by worsening bilateral relations. This tends to take place because of the politics involved in creating and establishing the need for a wall. This cannot be denied in the present time. We have witnessed this taking place in our daily activities in Laredo where the conversation leads to discussions of our President and how he expresses about our neighbors. Division brews distrust and therefore less exchange in markets.
Are you a proponent of sustainable downtown redevelopment? What has kept that from moving forward?
David Montes: Yes, the urban revitalization of downtown is essential as our Gateway to Mexico overall economic plan. It was doing better until COVID hit.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: The redevelopment of downtown is necessary not just for our economy but also our community. However, this redevelopment should also make space for civic public spaces. While the economy needs sustainability, and access to distressing activities need to be considered, in a time of economic recovery, we may need to reconsider expenditures. I believe that a lack of creativity and understanding of the people we serve, the solutions that have been established are not helping the overall goal. For example, construction and renovation interrupts business, parking meters and appearance discourage downtown visitors. Online shopping and home delivery has changed how we shop. The culture of shopping is changing, are we taking advantage of having a very young city? Do we allow the voice of consumerism and business lead in discussions on improvement?
As a council member, what initiatives would you offer to address homelessness in Laredo?
David Montes: Many of the homeless suffer from substance abuse. The City and County are working together to open a facility for this purpose. Bethany House is also doing a good job for helping the needy. If elected, I will apply for block and/or categorical grants for this purpose.
Maria Antonieta Reyes: The homelessness issue is complex. There are very many different reasons why people are homeless, solutions will have to be diverse and inclusive of long term goals. There are several organizations that feed the homeless, dress the homeless, and provide them with basic care. We even have a commission that keeps informed on this issue. However, no organization looks at long term goals or strategy. Can we as a right force someone to not be homeless? Is homelessness always a choice? Can we as a city provide necessary care, like an ambulatory mental health service (which should include addiction), ambulatory medical care service, like an ambulatory hygiene service (personal and of clothing)? I would suggest or create an initiative that is inclusive of this and form partnerships with already existing organizations. This however, will have to include a discussion of the culture of these organizations. In addition, can we make use of unused city property to provide a place that allows for building of agency in the homeless population, where we can assist in creating and maintaining their own growth or advancement towards what they may consider a goal? In other words, have we done a comprehensive study that includes how our city or society may be sustaining this crisis; do we understand the resources we have available; and do we know what we envision as a solution?
Wow! The ex-military, PhD lady would have my vote if I lived in her district.