COMMENTARY: Vision required to expand Market Days

Joe Martinez, Ed.D., is a Doctor of Curriculum & Technology, a U.S. Military Veteran, and a San Benito native.

This past weekend, I was reading an article in our local newspaper about Market Days being considered for transfer to a department within the City of San Benito because of its huge success and growth.

Market Days has been an invaluable part of revitalizing not only downtown Robertson Street, but also by uplifting and jump-starting potential entrepreneurs to take a chance on becoming a real business entity within San Benito’s business community.

It is crucial to continue this service, as it will bring more tax funds to the city’s coffers, which can then be used to fix our roads, clean up our parks and resacas, create more social programs that support our citizens, and much more.

I would like to see the old buildings in that area either be condemned or be revitalized with a facelift to bring them up to standards.

Many of those old buildings should not be standing as they have been around for many years. I remember in the mid-70s and 80s, when some of those buildings were still around, and today, they should be condemned.

I don’t know whether the city can exercise eminent domain by paying the owners of those dilapidated buildings or by purchasing them outright for economic development.

It is a sore sight for passersby to see the old cantinas still standing, with the shadows of the past collecting dust as relics ready to collapse. They are unsafe, likely harbor many rodents and rats, and should be removed to make room for newer businesses that benefit our community.

I would like to see food truck vendors, produce vendors, and even an empty lot where people can put up a table to sell their goods.

I know there is an empty, large parking lot across from the old bank; perhaps the city could provide tables for a small flea market for a fee.

This serves three purposes. It can be another source of revenue for the city if it creates a space for people to sell their extra or unwanted accumulated goods to the public.

It also provides people with the opportunity to potentially realize their dreams of opening a small business in our city.

There are so many possibilities for our downtown area, but it needs work, it needs foresight, vision, but most importantly, it needs the flexibility and direction of our local community leaders to say, enough is enough; for them to say let’s do something wonderful to our downtown Robertson Street and transform it into a place where people can shop, eat, have coffee and pastries, shop antiques, dress shops, computer shops, and other nice novelties that bring life and stability to a community.

Let’s think big!

Now is the time to take action and truly revitalize our downtown Robertson Street, because after all, our residents deserve a beautiful downtown area they can be proud of and frequent.

With vision, foresight, and great leadership, our city can create opportunities for its citizens through great planning, because in the long run, these potential business opportunities can propel our community toward greater prosperity and increase our city’s wealth.

A city that prospers also uplifts its citizens out of poverty right alongside it, making it a healthier, safer, and better place to live.