Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 On March 15, 2010, A Plus Plumbing Contractor Inc. will be installing a water tap for underground fire protection service to the life sciences building at Martin High School. Starting at 8:00 a.m. and concluding at 5:00 p.m., the north sidewalk, which runs east to west, will be closed at Salinas Avenue up to Convent Avenue.  
 Motorists are urged to please drive with extreme caution and observe all traffic control and detour signs for their safety as well for the safety of construction crews in the work area.

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 One of the many wonderful aspects of our country’s political system is the freedom to post signs in support of candidates running for office.  However, once the elections are over, it is important for all those candidates and their supporters, to help keep a community clean by removing all signs.
 A City of Laredo ordinance allows posters, portable and painted signs to be posted in the days leading up to the campaign.  Once the election is over, those posters and signs must be removed by candidates or property owners …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
WASHINGTON DC— A delegation of Laredo’s elected officials were invited to the White House to meet with senior members of President Obama’s administration, following up on a phone call City of Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas and City Manager Carlos Villarreal had with Vice President Biden last week.  The goal of the call and today’s meeting was to highlight the need for the federal government to honor its commitments to the border and to recognize the heightened state of need in Laredo, in light of the escalation of violence …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 City of Laredo contractor, Dynser, Inc. will be closing West San Francisco Avenue between Ortiz Street and Tacuba Street, starting on Wednesday, March 10, 2010, at 8:00 a.m.  This work is expected to last approximately three days.  Additional street closures will be announced at a later time.
 The contractor will be constructing a sanitary sewer main line, manholes, and other miscellaneous work.
Motorists are urged to find alternate routes, but if traveling in the area, to please drive with extreme caution and observe and obey all traffic control and detour …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,                                   
WASHINGTON DC—Safety, health, and grants were at the top of the priority list as City of Laredo officials met with federal agencies on the first day of their annual legislative trip to the nation’s capital. Mayor Raul G. Salinas lead the delegation, which included Council Members Gene Belmares, Johnny Rendon, and Hector Garcia, Chief of Police Carlos Maldonado and Fire Chief Steve Landin, as well as and City Health Director Hector Gonzalez, M.D., M.P.H., and City Manager Carlos Villarreal.
Mayor Salinas shared with the Justice Department that it …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
 Weather permitting, on-going construction on several of Laredo’s industrial street projects will include several closures, starting next.  The City of Laredo contractor will coordinate with area businesses to maintain access. The traveling public should slow down, drive with extreme caution, and observe all safety signs, traffic control devices and flaggers in the work zone area.
 Killam Industrial Park
Beginning Monday, March 8, 2010 at 11:00 a.m., traffic will be shifted to the north side of Killam Avenue at Spivey street.  Two-way traffic will be maintained.  Drivers are advised to avoid …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
The City of Laredo celebrated the completion of the Gateway to the Americas Bridge Pedestrian Walkway Canopy (USA) project with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.  The canopies are constructed over the northbound and southbound pedestrian walkways extending from the midpoint of the bridge to the northern boundary of the City-owned bridge.  The galvanized aluminum canopies are designed to shield pedestrians from the various weather elements.  Approximately 1,000 linear feet of lighting and a misting system are included.  The total cost of the project is $906,000.
 “This canopy project was an …

“Operation Clean-Up” hits District IV

Laredo, TX—Inspectors from various City departments will team up on Friday, March 5, 2010 to make a sweep of an area in City Council District IV educating about and enforcing City of Laredo codes.
The campaign will encompass the following central Laredo neighborhood: Louisiana to Bartlett Avenue between Locust and Lyon Street, including Plum and Frost Street.  Inspectors from Community Development (Code Enforcement division), Police (Ordinance division), Health (Animal Control division) and Building Development Services (Zoning Inspection division) will be walking door-to-door on Friday.  They will be …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Laredo, TX – -The City of Laredo Health Department will host a rabies vacuna clinic tomorrow, March 3, 2010.  We want to inform the public that recently our animal control officers have seen a surge of unvaccinated pets.  We urge everyone to get their pets vaccinated.  Unvaccinated pets put the public at risk for rabies.  Also, we want to remind the public that it is their responsibility to safeguard the health and welfare of their pets not only against rabies vaccine but to also protect them against other …

Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Laredo, TX – The City of Laredo Health Department would like to inform the public and all local business owners that service animals are not pets and by Federal law must be allowed into any business establishment (restaurants, hotels, grocery and department stores, hospitals and medical offices, and theaters, etc.).  According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) businesses and organizations that serve the public must allow persons with disabilities to bring their service animals into all areas of the facility where customers are normally allowed to go …