Cortez: The Valley must align with Gov. Abbott’s economic plan

MCALLEN, Texas – Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez says any strategic plan developed by and for the Rio Grande Valley should align with the economic plan Gov. Greg Abbott has for the region. 

Cortez spoke about the need for a strategic plan in a speech at “Building the Valley – Uniting for RGV Regional Growth.” The conference was hosted by the Institute for Leadership in Capital Projects and held recently at the Embassy Suites in McAllen.

“Well, here is the nice thing about where we are. We have not reached our full potential. But in order for us to do that… we have lacked a comprehensive strategic plan that leverages all of our strengths, of all of our region, while still addressing the challenges that we have,” Cortez said.

“I have seen many, many strategic plans, made by multiple organizations and cities, and the problem always was, who is going to execute the plan, especially a regional plan that has that much geography to do.”

Cortez continued: “Regardless of whatever plan that we come up with, our strategy must align with Governor Abbott’s plan for the RGV. Because without him and without the state, we can really not have all of the physical infrastructure and all the incentives that we need to be competitive.”

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An advisor to Cortez later told the Rio Grande Guardian that Cortez meant to say “economic plan” and that the Valley should align with Abbott’s economic plan not necessarily his plans in general.

From the podium, Cortez ran through what is in Abbott’s plan.

“His plan includes growing our economy, reducing the welfare costs that we have down here – we have a high percentage of people in poverty. For us to be able to attract outside investment… and reduce jail population, our jails are full of young people that come from broken homes. We have to develop a better workforce with better paying jobs, and of course, he (Abbott) wants to secure the border.”

Cortez listed some of the steps he believes the Valley needs to take to get where it needs to be.

“First, we must have all players engaged, both public, private, nonprofits and educational institutions involved. We must also assess our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The old SWAT analysis. Our weaknesses here include an unreliable source of water and power. I can tell you right now that is my number one concern for us. We’re going to have to figure that one out,” Cortez said.

“We talked earlier before coming here about the brain drain. We are actually doing a fairly good job in creating human capital, but that human capital is migrating elsewhere because the jobs to reward them for that human capital are not found here.”

Cortez said the region also lacks public transportation.

“Many of our people, many of our workers, work on the outskirts of our counties, of our areas, where public transportation is not available to them, keeping them from doing certain things that they need to do.”

He said the Valley also has to look at affordable housing and health care.

“Austin wants to cut the budget for health care. Thirty-one percent of the people who live in Hidalgo County are on some kind of government subsidy, in need of that help.”

Cortez said the region also needs to push back against negative rhetoric. He noted that just the day before, in his State of the City address, McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos had spoken about McAllen being the safest city in Texas.

“And yet some people think that we’re afraid to leave our houses because we’re in a dangerous situation,” Cortez said.

He added that a strategic plan must be specific, with a proper matrix to measure success or failure.”

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