Citizens seek Uresti's help to protect Laughlin, address other issues

August 9, 2008
By Stacy S. Jensen
Special to LIVE!

Laughlin Air Force Base, groundwater issues and children will top the agenda of Texas Sen. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) for Val Verde County and Del Rio in January when the next legislative session begins.  

The Texas District 19 senator met constituents, Thursday (Aug. 7), at the Del Rio Civic Center for a town hall meeting. "It's good to be back in Del Rio," said Uresti. "Let me tell you where I've been hiding," he said, describing his district covering 23 counties, 55,000 square miles and stretching from San Antonio to El Paso.

Del Rio Mayor Efrain Valdez thanked Uresti for past legislation to help Del Rio and asked him for more help this year to protect Laughlin Air Force Base. "My number one goal is Del Rio – to protect the economy and to protect the citizens," Valdez said.

The mayor said local civic leaders have put a task force together to protect the base. Valdez said the base is important to the economy. He cited the influx of 250 new lieutenants to the area. Of those, 46 will live on base with the others living in Del Rio. "Knowing that, we need to do our share," Valdez said.

Jerry Simpton, The Bank & Trust president and chairman of the Del Rio-Laughlin Air Force Base Task Force, said Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) recommendations will probably be adopted later this month. The 30-member group represents a cross section of the community. 

Simpton said over the years the city has gradually developed closer to the base boundary. The group has looked at zoning and airfield zones to protect the base. JLUS wants a five-mile Military Influence Area around Laughlin, but current state law isn't compatible with only 1.5 miles protected on the side of the base.  

"We have a gap, a big gap," Simpton said. "We hope to see legislation that will give the local community some control over compatibility issues. We feel it is mandatory that we get some changes in that legislation," he said. "My hope is you'll help us with the development of it." 

Uresti said San Antonio has similar issues and last session work was done to get buffer zones around bases. 

The senator also encouraged city and county officials to think about being part of a groundwater district. "I know it's a delicate matter here. The city may have one position and the county may have one position.  If we don't create a groundwater district soon, I'm concerned Val Verde may have a problem." Uresti warned that if the county doesn't have a groundwater plan, it likely will not be a player when a plan is submitted to Austin. "If you're not a player, what that means is that other folks, other counties – someone dictating how your water will be controlled." 

During a meeting, Tuesday (Aug. 4) on groundwater districts, Uresti said Val Verde and Maverick counties stood out because they weren't part of the process. Groundwater districts are a way to manage water and protect the county, he said. The senator added that county and city officials need to make some concessions. "Otherwise, we're going to go without and at some point down the road, it will come back to bite us," Uresti said. 

Citizens addressed a variety of issues: 

Marco Fuentes asked Uresti about support to create an international park in Mexico and Big Bend. "Some people dream of developing the area for tourists," Fuentes said. "The mountains are very nice and they want to bring tourism to Mexico." He said the combined park would be the largest international park. "It's a beautiful place." Uresti said the relationship between sister cities needs to be fostered. 

Jesse Salgado asked about the possibility of a state income tax as a way to relieve the tax burden on property owners. Uresti said Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) has advocated the idea of creating an income tax and doing away with property tax. Uresti said he doesn't think the measure has enough votes, because it is a difficult message to articulate to the constituents.  

"Texas is one of the few states that doesn't have one," Salgado said. "The taxes just keep going up and up." Uresti said his concern is that if a state income tax doesn't generate enough, the property tax would be reinstated. "That's what scares people," he said. 

Blanca Larson, senior general manager and marketing director of Plaza del Sol Mall, said when the school taxes went down, business taxes increased. Uresti said he doubts the school tax savings were passed onto consumers who rent or lease, but expects consumers will pay more due to the increased business taxes.  

Larson, a member of the Convention & Visitors Bureau, said the CVB have relied on Mexico and Lake Amistad to draw tourists. Due to problems in other border cities, she said they have refocused on Lake Amistad and then Mexico. She asked Uresti about grants to help develop tourism and an emergency children's shelter.  

Uresti said they can look into grants for tourism and the children's shelter. He encouraged officials and citizens to attend Val Verde County Day at the Capitol during the session. He said it is a day to promote the area and its assets such as Lake Amistad.  

Diana Salgado asked about daycare regulations saying it seems as if there aren't enough teachers to take care of the children. Uresti said legislators often face resistance on this issue, because more caretakers increase costs which are passed on to parents. "It's trying to strike that delicate balance," he said.  

Another audience member thanked Uresti for his support of the new Port-of-Entry under construction in Del Rio. Uresti said they are working on a "smart card" to help people pass through the border more easily.  

Prior to the town hall, Uresti attended the health fair at the Del Rio Civic Center where he handed out 1,000 school backpacks. "Wow," he said of the line of students and parents waiting for the health fair. "It was amazing."

District 19 is the second poorest legislative district in Texas. Many people are raising their families on $1,100 a month, Uresti said. Families are struggling with high gas and food prices as well as foreclosures. "You can only imagine the challenges these families are facing." 

"When I go to Austin, you'll hear me talk about health and human services," Uresti said. He said he’d fight for children, seniors and the disabled. "Our job as legislators is to fight for those folks who don't have a voice," he said. "I believe I'm their voice." 

Uresti said he has been working on Child Protective Services issues and will look at foster care issues in the upcoming session. The system needs an overhaul, he said and cited statistics of first-year caseworker turnover. In San Antonio, first-year caseworker turnover has been 75 percent. "Can you imagine, if you had a 75 percent turnover rate?" he asked. "How do you recruit people into the agency?" Over the last two quarters, he said the turnover rate has been 48 percent.  

Uresti said the purpose of the town hall is to begin defining district priorities before the January session. Bills may be filed in November. He is talking to elected officials and constituents.  

The state has a $15 billion surplus and some of it will be spent. "It doesn't belong to the state. It belongs to the taxpayers," he said. "We need to prioritize what's most important to Val Verde and Del Rio." They'll make a list of important issues, Uresti said, "So we can get our fair share of the surplus."  

Uresti encouraged Val Verde County and the City of Del Rio to identify their needs early. "Too many wait until January to begin the agenda," he said.  

Uresti introduced his staff and emphasized they are here to serve. "We're points of access," he said, to the entire state. His offices are in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, Pecos and the Capitol in Austin.  

Uresti encouraged people to e-mail, write or call. "We have an open door," he said. The senator's Web site is www.carlosuresti.com, e-mail is carolos.uresti@senate.state.tx.us. His toll-free number is 800-459-0119.