Macias tells GBIC: We need to do more

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Speaking in her personal capacity, not as a city commissioner, Linda C. Macias made an impassioned plea to Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation to get moving on bringing new businesses to the city.

“Let’s try letters, emails, to every single start up business and company in the United States and across the world. Let them know what Brownsville has to offer. We are a city with so much capability and so many resources that could be tailored to different sectors,” said Macias, during the public comment period of GBIC’s most recent board meeting.

Macias started her remarks by telling the story of her introduction to her neighbors. She said she was 26 when she moved into her new house and wanted to say hello to those living in the neighborhood.

It seemed like every house she visited, an elderly couple would tell her that their sons and daughters had left Brownsville in order to make a better life. Many moved to San Antonio, some to Dallas, she said.

“This second generation stood on their (parents) shoulders, but they outgrew their city,” Macias said. “They moved because of a lack of economic opportunity.”

Macias said she is now 32 years of age with two children, one aged four and the other two. She said she worries about the future they and thousands of other children in Brownsville will find when they grow up.

“According to the United States Census Bureau there are 45,000 children under the age of 14 in Brownsville, Texas. We have to get moving. The moment that we do not find and do not create economic opportunity for these 45,000 children… they will outgrow this city. I would love for them to stay here.”

While thanking GBIC for what the group does, it was clear Macias wanted to see more action.

She concluded her remarks by saying: “I just wanted to come here and state these facts and state my concerns. That I fear that we will fail 25,000 families living in Brownsville if we don’t take the lead today.

“I hope that we can collaborate and start by sending emails and have conversations with CEOs across the world and let them know that Brownsville is open for business.”

GBIC Chairman Ankjaer Jensen said the group is doing everything it can to bring new business to the city.

“Thank you very much and believe me we are working on it. We are working on it very hard. Our job is to create jobs and provide economic possibilities for these startups and existing companies,” Jensen told Macias.

Editor’s Note: The Rio Grande Guardian secured a video interview with Macias after she had given her remarks to the GBIC board. Here is the interview:

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