By RENE TORRES
Special to the NEWS
Several months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, San Benito officials announced a program of general development in the “Mexiquito” section of the city. It was a multipurpose project.
It was also understood that the resacas needed an in-depth clean-up and focus on developing the much-underserved “Mexican” side of town.
Although America’s boys, months prior, were rushing to sign up for the selective service to join the war effort, at home, the people were still separated by color.
“Full cooperation of the Latin-American residents of the city is being made an essential part of the program,” San Benito Mayor Witte remarked.
The mayor went on to say, “Our Latin-American citizens are an important part of the community, and the resaca beautification project will have direct benefits to those who reside in its vicinity, for it means a general clean-up, improved sanitation, and the creation of park areas along the banks and nearby (areas).”
From the vantage point of everyone involved, it was immensely clear that all Latinos living in San Benito must have a seat at the table.
A meeting was called for all Latin-American citizens of the city to gather at the city commission administration building. Never had such a city commission meeting attracted so many Latinos. Approximately 300 persons attended, creating a landscape of cooperation never seen before. After the meeting, they were taken on a tour of the new city headquarters.
Beyond the clean-up program, other agenda items were discussed, including city sanitation, streets, taxes and other matters of civic interest.
Making sure that the project momentum continued in the right direction, a liaison group to work with the residents of the Mexiquito section was appointed. The group included: Mrs. J.C. Tamez, Ms. Julia Figueroa, Francisco Villarreal, Ismeal Montalvo, and Alfredo Garcia.
From the beginning, a contributing factor of the extraordinary development of the Rio Grande Valley was due to the abundance of labor, mostly provided by Latinos.
A report written in “The New Texas Encyclopedia” (1927-29), “This labor can be attained for $1.50 a day and considered among the best, because of its loyalty and devotion of this people to their work.” A $1.50 earned in 1927 would be worth $26 today.
Rene Torres is a retired University of Texas at Brownsville, and Texas Southmost College assistant professor. He has a long history in the Rio Grande Valley as an educator, sports historian, and humanitarian, with a wealth of community service to his credit.
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