Editorial: Abbott to be commended for addressing vital issues during summit in the Valley

We have to give credit to Gov. Greg Abbott, who addressed wide-ranging topics beyond border security at Tuesday’s Alliance of Cities summit in McAllen. We hope to see more state issues occupy is attention in the future.

Many issues need to be addressed in a state as large and diverse as Texas, as was evident during the quarterly meeting of the South Texas Alliance of Cities that drew city officials from an area spanning the border to San Antonio. Abbott was one of several state officials that also included heads of the Water Development Board and departments of transportation, emergency management, economic development and tourism and other offices.

Our water needs particularly are growing in urgency, not only statewide but more critically perhaps in the Rio Grande Valley, which draws almost all of its water from the Rio Grande, whose flows aren’t sufficient to meet this region’s growing needs. A lack of water for irrigation already has cost the Valley billions in economic losses — our entire sugar cane crop, the only one in Texas, has been lost completely because of it.

Abbott added his voice to the many who complain about Mexico’s failure to meet its obligation to allow flows of water into the river from its tributaries, as mandated by a 1944 treaty between our two countries. But the governor rightly recognized that we can’t simply wait for Mexico’s compliance, which might never come. He noted the need for contingency plans such as the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas to finance infrastructure projects and improvements that can help meet our water needs.

Local officials should be able to provide projects that could utilize those funds, such as creations of retention pools for rainwater, enclosure of irrigation canals to reduce evaporation and seepage, or even pipelines that can help move water from areas that have it to areas that need it.

The governor also discussed other infrastructure improvements and pledged continued state support for business investment. He specifically cited companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, the latter of which has been a boon for the Valley.

For several years Abbott has arguably spent an inordinate amount of his attention, and state resources, on Donald Trump’s pet project, border security, to the detriment of other needs such as infrastructure, teacher retention and public safety. We hope the governor turns his attention back more comprehensive policies that marked his earlier years in office.

Abbott was correct when he told Tuesday’s group that Texas has earned a reputation for attracting business investment. We’re sure he recognizes that the attraction isn’t limited to lower regulation and taxation compared to other states. Companies also look for areas where their workers live in safe, stable and successful communities, with parks and schools that help ensure their children’s success as well.

The world is changing, and our state and cities need to be able to change as well. That is best accomplished by giving proper attention to the many diverse elements that comprise a community. If Abbott helps provide that attention, our state’s future — and his own — are likely to be better.