City Conducts Survey On Time Warner Cable's Proposed Changes

Time Warner Cable is proposing immediate changes to its cable television service that my result in your inability to view your local City and School channels. The City of McAllen is currently trying to persuade Time Warner Cable to delay its proposed changes. In order to assist the City of McAllen in this process, the City is conducting a survey of our community to determine how it would be affected by the proposed changes in service.

To take the survey, click on the MCN 12 Cable Survey icon in the City Focus section, on McAllen.net or simply click here.

MCN12 Survey

City Hires Retail Attractions, LLC To 'Fill In The Gaps'

McAllen, Texas, has been recently recognized by the likes of Forbes and Entrepreneur magazines as a city on the rise. Known as a retail hub for south Texas and with a heavy, proven cross-border market draw, McAllen easily supports a retail market larger cities covet. But city leaders are listening to residents who consistently ask for more "destination retail."

McAllen has multiple Walmart and Target locations, for instance, but residents still must drive for some speciality goods and services. "It's time to get ahead of the recovery curve as retailers start looking for new locations," Richard Cortez, Mayor of McAllen, said. "We want to fill in the gaps and give our citizens what they want." To examine the market, identify the opportunities and strategically market McAllen to the retail community, McAllen officials decided to hire outside expertise. "No one at the city has ever focused on drawing the attention of specific retail developers," Cortez said.

However, McAllen, known as South Texas' retail hub, has a solid retail track record. "We've had previous success in bringing in retail, and that's not broken. Our needs now are different, though. Attracting the types of retail we want will take a more personal approach because top retailers don't always give McAllen the look we deserve," Steve Ahlenius, President and CEO of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce, said.

After much research, the city of McAllen hired retail development consultants Retail Attractions, LLC from Tulsa, OK to solve their first impression problems. "Our marketplace is different. It doesn't fit into a neat demographic package because we are a border city and because we serve a large population," Keith Patridge, President of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation, said. Rickey Hayes, owner of Retail Attractions, agreed. "This is a different type of retail recruitment effort. It's a more thoughtful, deliberate and personal effort and its tailored to McAllen's unique market dynamics."

McAllen has a strategic business plan in place that was drafted and approved after a year-long public process. The linchpin of the plan is attracting and retaining destination retail to McAllen. "Hiring Rickey and his team is a natural outgrowth of the city's focus on implementing our strategic plan," Cortez said.

The contract McAllen signed with Hayes is for 25 months, a nod to typical development timelines which range from 18 to 36 months from interest to activity. While McAllen is the first Texas city to be directly represented by Retail Attractions, Hayes and his team have worked with Texas developers and sites for several years, and Hayes is a native Texan hailing from Paris, Texas.

"Rickey's reputation and track record are outstanding, and when we met with him there was a synergy and we felt our philosophies for doing business and seeking what McAllen needs were very compatible. We didn't want to just blast data at people. We wanted a more personal, highly knowledgeable and targeted approach," Mike Perez, City Manager, said.

McAllen is home to the La Plaza Mall, a Simon Properties Group holding that, according to Simon, is a consistent top performer, generating sales of more than $650 per square foot.

In 2008 the City of McAllen achieved over $3.57 billion in total retail sales, making it:
6th in total Retail Sales Per Household ($ 82,819)
5th in Retail Sales Per Capita ($ 27,496)
3rd in Per Capita Sales Tax Collections ($349)
(2008 numbers, as compared to other Texas cities, from McAllen Chamber of Commerce - http://www.mcallen.org/Business-Community/Retail-Trade )

McAllen Awarded $1.35 Million FEMA Grant

Washington, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar, TX-28, today (9/3) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded the City of McAllen more than $1.35 million to help alleviate flooding by providing necessary drainage improvements.

The total of the project will be $1.8 million, with FEMA funneling in 75 percent of the cost.

“We all know the serious flooding issues this part of the Rio Grande Valley encounters every time the area receives a significant amount of rain. This is why these federal dollars are extremely important. ,” said Congressman Cuellar. “I applaud Mayor Richard Cortez and McAllen City Council Members for actively seeking these funds that will greatly benefit area residents.”

“We appreciate Congressman Cuellar’s efforts because approval of this $1.8 million FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program project and the award of the associated 75% matching funds of approximately $1.35 million, will greatly assist the City of McAllen in addressing the infrastructure needs of the Retiree Haven Subdivision located off of S. 10th Street just south of Military Highway,” said Mayor Richard F. Cortez, City of McAllen. He added “Implementation of these funds will improve the quality of life for our residents.”

The project consists of the construction of curb and gutter, a storm sewer network, a stormwater detention pond with pumping station, and an outfall force main system.

Drainage in the McAllen area is limited due to lack of topographic relief, slow draining soils, and the absence of natural watercourses. Due to these natural restrictions, manmade channels and/or stormwater pump stations are the only potential means of stormwater conveyance, thus resulting in slow floodwater receding rates.

McAllen Fire Department Unveils New Firefighter Statue

A new art sculpture was unveiled Friday at McAllen Central Fire Station. The 1,000 pound copper and bronze statue depicts the scene of a McAllen fireman kneeling on one knee after having rescued two little girls.

McAllen Fire Chief Roy Rubio said the statue, which sits on a concrete base near the main entrance, will serve to honor all firefighters, past and present.

Local artist Douglas Clark created the statue.

In addition to creating the firefighter statue, Clark has worked on a host of other projects at the Veterans War Memorial, McAllen Memorial High School and Quinta Mazatlan.

The statue was made in the likeness of current firefighter Javier Salinas and two girls from McAllen.

New Technology Implemented At McAllen International Airport

The McAllen International Airport and 7 other south Texas airports are now utilizing full body imaging equipment, aimed at increasing security on airplanes.

TSA Federal Security Director Leo Vasquez demonstrated the new technology to a MCN camera crew, recently.

“The technology that we’re employing here in South Texas is called Backscatter technology," Vasquez said. "What that is in summary format is a very low form x-ray beam that’s rapidly scanned over the surface of your body. The reflection of that is captured and digitized and that’s what appears on the monitor. That shows anomalies, any objects that would be hidden underneath the clothing or inside the clothing would be very obvioius."

The new security equipment is a step up from only using walk-through metal detectors because it allows security officers to detect metal and non-metal objects.

Vasquez said several steps are taken to ensure that the full body scanning procedures protect the traveling public's privacy.

“Well that’s a huge concern for us and always has been and we’ve had a lot of thoughtful people looking at that to make sure that we’re doing it right," said Vasquez. "There are a number of things that are inherent with the technology here that will go a long way to protect privacy of individuals. First of all the machines cannot store or any way transmit the picture. Every time a person goes through, the picture is taken and is visible, the person is there. When the next person comes through that previous picture disappears.”

Officers are also briefed and cautioned not to take any cell phones or cameras inside the screening room.

“The other part that we do is also very important. The person who is looking at the image at the monitor is apart, is away from the checkpoint itself, so that person can never see who’s going through. On the other hand, the officer who is looking at the passenger and dealing with the passenger cannot see the monitor. That information is communicated by radio.”

For now, Vasquez said travelers who don't want their full body image scanned can request alternative means of being screened.

“We have it as a primary device okay. We will encourage people to go through this device because it gives us greater capability as I mentioned but someone who doesn’t want to go through it for whatever reason will go through the regular walk-through metal detector and we’ll do appropriate security protocols to ensure that there’s no prohibited items that are going to be carried aboard that airport.”

TSA said it welcomes feedback from travelers.

“There’s a huge research and development program that’s ongoing all the time trying to stay one step ahead of the threat. This represents the culmination of some of that. It’s a work in progress, it never stops.”

To view video of this story, click here:

TSA Demonstrates Full Body Scanners