Morning In DC for the City of Laredo

Laredo, TX—March 23, 2009, 12 PM—Today’s focus for the City of Laredo in Washington was the environment and public safety.  Mayor Raul G. Salinas lead a delegation, including Chief of Police Carlos Maldonado and Fire Chief Steve Landin, as well as Council Member Gene Belmares, Dist. VI, Council Member Juan Narvaez, Dist. IV, and City Manager Carlos Villarreal, that met with the Department of Justice in the morning; the group will meet with the Department of Homeland Security later today.  Council Member Hector Garcia, Dist. II and Council Member Cindy Liendo-Espinoza, Dist. VIII, joined with City of Laredo Health Department Director Dr. Hector Gonzalez and the city’s environmental team to spend the day with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency.  

Mayor Salinas explained the focus of the day in this way: “Because of the stimulus bill, the increased focus on the border, and the leadership role U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar is playing in Congress, there are more resources available in Washington.  Laredo cannot provide homeland security, unless we have hometown security.  We had as a priority for this trip to meet with the nation’s law enforcement community, which has funding for the first time in years, to seek partnership support in our collective efforts.  But we are also committed to preserving a safe and secure quality of life for our citizens.  Health and environment are vital components in achieving that goal for the people of Laredo,” he concluded.

“This trip to Washington is the most important trip we have made in years,” said City Manager Carlos Villarreal.  “Between the stimulus and the recently announced border initiative, Laredo could stand to receive millions in support if we press the case.  Our timing could not be better, because it is imperative that we be here in Washington to advocate for these federal dollars.”

Reflecting on his first Laredo mission to Washington, Chief Maldonado explained: “These meetings have been incredible productive for not only the Laredo Police Department. but also the people of Laredo.  It iss great to be able to compete for federal dollars to support our joint efforts to protect the community and to help shape the way the federal law enforcement professionals allocate their funds to best support our collective efforts.”

The health and environment team was equally inspired to pursue federal partnerships for Laredo, having only this morning been informed of an $188,100 grant from Health Resources and Services Administration Web of the US Department of Health and Human Services.  

“These funds will be used to purchase equipment, such as automated handheld pieces that staff can record in the field legibly and send back to the office for documentation for improve data management in our food inspection will improve efficiency in investigations and enforcement of tracking of illegal vendors, “ explained Dr. Gonzalez.

Tomorrow, the City of Laredo delegation has 10 meetings set at various federal agencies, as well as with several congressional leaders.  The day starts with Congressman Cuellar and includes visit with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, the State Department, Commerce Department and Health and Human Services.