Dear Editor,

August 4, 2010

Nobody from outside of this country has any say in what goes on in this country -nor should they. They demand that we "pass 'immigration reform' or the Dream Act. Go back and get in line. Once you become a U.S. Citizen (if you ever do), then you can have a say in what goes on here, but not before - and certainly not at my and other American Taxpayer's expense!

Eddie Zamora
Edinburg, Texas

Dear Editor,

July 17, 2010

I read your story about the appearance of a new lake on the Rio Salado. I am astonished this is not being sensationalized by the U.S. press. Well, I guess "astonished" is a silly word to use, given that it's in Mexico, and the Valley is practically Mexico.

Your story led me to look all over the Internet for more information, specifically for what the heck is holding this huge amount of water in check. I can't find the answer. Do you know what the "dam" is that's causing the backup? Seems to me if whatever it is breaches, the consequences for everything below Falcon could be catastrophic, in the truest sense of the word.

Thanks,

Mark Goodrich
Austin, Texas

Dear Editor,

June 15, 2010

Janie was a vivacious woman, a great mom and a great political partner to her husband, J.D. She will be greatly missed.

Anthony Covacevich
Associate, Hollis Rutledge and Associates
Mission, Texas

Dear Editor,

June 4 , 2010

Your article came across very heartfelt. It was a joy to read something positive for a change. We always need to be reminded of the great men and Women that make up our great Rio Grand Valley.

Lately I was afraid of living in the Valley so close to all the killing in Mexico. I’ve been so afraid of traveling alone at night five days a week. I was so afraid of all the scary news, that when a DPS was fallowing me to Close, I just about had a heart attack thinking he was a Pseudo Cop trying to rob me. Thank God I remembered in the news a women said to pull over in a public well light area If you were afraid for your life. That however only upset the DPS who had me locked up. He was not at all understanding of the deadly fear we residents are experiencing. We are traumatized by the news of Pseudo cops, home invasions and drug wars a few feet from our homes.

We need to know what is going on around us, but a positive story can lift us out of the dark pit of fear.

Thank You!

Rose Franklin,
Weslaco, Texas

Dear Editor,

June 4 , 2010

I thoroughly enjoyed your story and plan to send it to the school principal for archive purposes. You managed to summarize the even beautifully and I think when students in the future want to know more about PFC Ybarra, they can show them your story.

Thank you for covering our event and I hope you would consider me a contact person at the Weslaco schools.

Steve Valdez
Dir. Of Instructional Television, KWES
Weslaco ISD

Dear Editor,

June 4 , 2010

Thank you for a wonderful story. PFC Ybarra would be proud of his dedicated and patriotic son. What a legacy!

Eloisa G. Taméz, RN, PhD, FAAN
Associate Professor and Director
Master of Science in Nursing Program
The University of Texas and Texas Southmost College
80 Fort Brown
Brownsville, Texas 78520

Dear Editor,

June 4 , 2010

My water! My water! And that's Clayton Williams, just following the Texas rules on water rights.

What will be next? Air?

With a population that will bump to 30 million in a decade in Texas, and population that will bump to 20 or so million in northern Mexico in a decade, there must rules on how water will be allocated for future generations, and not for one group at the expense and health of another.

Despise government-regulation all you want, water (and air and even soil) are too valuable to be left to the profit game.

Texas and Mexico desperately need a water-use plan that will benefit future generations of households, farmers and recreation users, not a, "It's mine! It's mine! I'll drill deep, I'll sell high, and you downstream, don't worry! All will be fine!"

Yeah, like BP!

Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky
Brownsville, Texas

Dear Editor,

May 10, 2010

Congratulations McAllen voters! You saved a pristine slice of your city. The trees will stand. The tennis courts? I hope a new locale that doesn't damage the environment can be found.

Perhaps Brownsville residents can be as successful as they try to stop the West Loop Tollway/Parkway/Porkway. Let there be more preservation of nature, and less asphalt.

Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky,
Brownsville, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 22, 2010

I try to keep up with your efforts to establish a V.A. Health Care Facility in the Rio Grande Valley. The most recent Rio Grande Guardian write up pretty well summarizes the status of this initiative from legislators/policy makers in D.C. - lot of talk, little action. A suggestion to consider - reach out for statewide support for your initiative as this might provide additional leverage for your objectives. Let me know if we can help from the West Texas town of El Paso. Saludos.

Carlos Rivera
President, Veterans Business Association
El Paso, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 22, 2010

I wish we had more like Alonzo Cantu.

Rene Torres
Brownsville, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 22, 2010

I have a  question for Mr. Cantu. Is a Veterans' Hospital going to be included in his plans to make South Texas a "Mecca" for health care for the people of South Texas and northern Mexico?

Jose Maria Vasquez
Commander of America's Last Patrol
Elsa, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 15, 2010

And now John Wood and Ernie Hernandez are closer to having major roles in Cameron County's future thanks to their victories the low-turnout Democratic Primary Run-off election.

Think earth, not asphalt, Misters Wood and Hernandez, as the second decade of the century unfolds.

Savor your wins, and remember they occurred in Earth Month!

Eugene "Gene" Novogrodsky
Brownsville, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 15, 2010

Fantastic article!

I live in Northern Wisconsin, which is, as one census worker put it, "remote." I live two blocks from our county court house in a city of 2000, but apparently, I am "remote". We are also in an "Update and enumerate" area and we also have had ZERO publicity regarding the fact that our census would be performed differently. We, like you, just keep

hearing the same standard advertisements telling us to "send 'em back."

Our local post office was told nothing about this. Local media was not informed. Even the official Census 2010 dog-and-pony show knew nothing about this! I've made numerous calls to the local, regional and national offices with very little in the way of results.

Isn't it nice to be told how important we all are and then be treated basically like second-class citizens!

Ron Krueger
Crandon, Wisconsin

Dear Editor,

April 15, 2010

Posturing for the upcoming mid-term elections and immigration reform, some House Republicans are introducing legislation that purports to stop the Department of the Interior from using environmental laws to get in the Border Patrol's way. 

This of course ignores the fact that DHS already used the Real ID Act to waive all environmental (and other) laws to build the border wall, and the fact that there are no documented instaces of environmental laws interfering with the Border Patrol's mission. 

The intent is an expansion of the Real ID Act, setting aside the rule of law for all Border Patrol activities, not just the border wall. So long as the precedent of the Real ID Act waivers is allowed to stand, our nation's rule of law will be under threat every two years, when fresh elections roll around and politicians want to look tough.
 
Scott Nicol
No Border Wall coalition
Weslaco, Texas

Dear Editor,

April 5, 2010

I have just read the excellent article concerning the 4-year medical school project with which many of us our concerned. There seems to be some confusion however, which we should try to clear up.
 
There are three components to the RAHC. The component in Brownsville, the School of Public Health campus, is administered by the University of Texas Houston Health Science Center, not San Antonio. San Antonio does not have a School of Public Health, hence the joint involvement of these two large centers in the valley. Since both will be important in the development of this complex project I think people locally should be aware of the correct information, and press statements are important in molding public impressions.
 
Susan.P.Fisher-Hoch, MD
Professor, Division of Epidemiology
University of Texas, Houston School of Public Health, Brownsville campus

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

I am pleased that I worked and voted for President Barack Obama. I am glad that for a refreshing change we have a caring, family oriented and intelligent president of and for the people.

President Obama has been in office for little more than a year, and is constantly criticized by selfish and self-centered special interests, plus millions of impatient and uniformed citizens, for not curing the ills of the past 70 years, almost all of my life.

President Obama has gotten more done for the American people in his first year than George W. Bush did in eight.

President Obama, when joined by non-obstructionist members of Congress (and there are not enough), has made progress in creating new jobs, providing for a start of economic recovery, tackling healthcare reform, investing in clean energy, promoting education, lifting the ban on stem-cell research, restoring international family planning money, initiating banking reform and opening peace talks in several regions, as well as advocating nuclear-weapon reduction. This list could go on ....

This is a wonderfully diverse and exciting country, comprised of all colors and creeds.

Let us return to real values: voting, community, volunteerism.

President Obama needs and wants our support. Congress - both parties -  needs to do the job for which members were elected, and that does not include the petty bickering, and partisan and babyish behavior at the behest of large corporations and the super rich who pay a ridiculously low share of taxes.

How much is enough, Americans?

Aren't you as sick and tired of a complaining, mindless and racist minority as I am?

Ruth E. Wagner
Brownsville, Texas

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

As a Registered nurse and nurse educator, and a constituent of the TX 28th district, I applaud my congressman, Rep. Henry Cuellar, for voting for health care reform.

By doing this, Mr. Cuellar supports the families of his district.  In my nursing experience, families and communities have been hard hit by the deficits, and disparities,
in our current health care system. 

This legislation will assist those covered by Medicare, closing the donut hole which is a particularly troublesome aspect of Part D, extend coverage to uninsured residents of our region (estimated to be over 202,000) as well as guarantee coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. 

These are much needed reforms. Additionally, the bill will  fund community health centers--about 27  in our district--which will enable a much needed shift to preventive care and health promotion which will ultimately save money!
 
I applaud the changes this legislation will bring about, and Rep. Cuellar's support for an improved health care system in Texas and in our country. Thank you, Rep. Cuellar.
 
Jeanette McNeill, RN, DrPH, CNE
Seguin, Texas

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

I just want to take the time to thank my congressman, Rep. Henry Cuellar for helping to pass this important and history bill. My family will immediately benefit from this legislation and will benefit for generations to come. 
Thank you so much.

Suzanne Villalon Hinojosa
Schertz, Texas

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

As a constituent in the Texas 28th Congressional District, I want to thank Representative Henry Cuellar for casting an essential vote in favor of health care reform. After 50 years of struggles to reach this historic moment, we can say our congressman stood with the families of this district, Texas and the Untied States to make health care reform a reality.

Patty Raspino
Schertz, Texas

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

After nearly 100 years of frustration, obstruction and delay, the House of Representatives passed health care reform. It was not an easy vote but it was the right vote. I want to thank my congressman, Henry Cuellar, for standing with the families of the TX 28th and voting for health care reform. Thank you, Congressman Cuellar!
 
Candace Flenniken King
Schertz, Texas

Dear Editor,

March 23, 2010

I would like to thank my Texas 28th district Representative, Henry Cuellar for his courage in voting for health care reform against intense opposition. His decision to support health care reform is a statement of commitment to people. I applaud my congressman. Thank you, Rep. Cuellar.

Melvin L. Coe
Schertz, Texas