Protecting Cenizo Park in Edinburg
On June 6, the City of Edinburg designated and appropriated Parkland Dedication funds of $1 million for the Memorial/Eisenhower Park Joint Project with the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District. But, the above approved budget item was not the most newsworthy of the agenda items. If you live, work, or travel to downtown Edinburg, you will have noticed the increased building — but not of single-family dwellings which were once zoned there, but instead there is a seeming buying frenzy of single-family zoned lots to switch them to multi-family zoned, and then build or resell later.
Off Seventh Avenue and Sprague Lane, there is established Cenizo Park, which has been steadily improved over the years. New facilities like a playground area, restrooms and covered picnic tables attract neighbors from near and further away. Cenizo Park is two blocks long, one block of improvements, and the second block contains shade trees and surrounding all is a walking trail. This balance of green area along with improvements draws residents to play and interact as a neighborhood community. This sense of neighborhood became evident when real estate developers bought a large lot nearby and wanted it rezoned from single-family, or suburban, to multi-family or urban residential.
The Cenizo Park neighborhood residents who would be negatively impacted by the proposed zoning change met with Edinburg Planning and Zoning twice. Due to infrastructure problems of downtown neighborhood narrow streets, poor drainage during flooding, and concerns about increased traffic congestion and parking, and particularly the change of the zoning in this area, the Cenizo neighborhood acted together to request a denial of the zoning change. And in a happy story for the residents, the zoning change for this particular lot was denied. Applause to Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia and the City Council for supporting the downtown residents and parks.
Diane Teter, Edinburg
Fix ‘hazardous’ Edinburg intersection
This letter is addressed to the traffic department or anyone else who can resolve this issue. The intersection of West Freddy Gonzales Drive and South Jackson Road in Edinburg and is dangerous because of the deep dip in the road. Please put up warning signs. I would hate to see anyone else get hurt.
My own experience with this intersection wasn’t pleasant and any driver could loose control. I nearly lost my front tooth and got a bloody lip when the car I was a passenger in hit the dip in the road at that intersection. Despite having a seat belt on, I bounced up and down making my computer tablet also fly up and hit the ceiling of the vehicle then smash into my mouth. The driver also commented he almost lost control. When we arrived at our final destination, the family we visited said everyone who lives in this area knows about the “dip” in the road.
Please put up some warning signs and fix this area.
Carlos Gonzalez, Edinburg
Judge should sever relationship
I have read about the attention paid to the Orwellian government “transparency” wishes in recent months, as local legislators tackle state issues regarding Open Government laws. This extends to the federal level to combat “fake news” allegations and full disclosure from our dystopian government in Washington, D.C.
As an advocate for improved law enforcement and criminal justice in Hidalgo County, I was surprised to see 206th State District Judge Rose Guerra Reyna swear in Joaquin Zamora to the McAllen City Commission. Zamora is the prosecutor to her court and although judges and attorneys are “friendly” toward one in court, ethics dictate the relationship between them should remain professional.
The swearing-in procedures, as I understand, allow public servants to choose their official, making it a “personal” decision.
Now, in fairness, McAllen Mayor Jim Darling was sworn in by Chief U.S. District Judge Ricardo Hinojosa, who he may have or one day represent a person before in his court. They may have a personal relationship, however, it is communicated on the record. Also, Mayor Darling is not assigned to Judge Hinojosa’s court daily as a prosecutor.
Therefore I believe Zamora should be reassigned from his duties in the 206th State District Court. Or indigent defendants, and their court-appointed attorneys, should be notified through Discovery Compliance Statements as required by Michael Morton Act, of Zamora’s personal relationship with Judge Guerra Reyna.
Lupe Chavez Jr., Pharr
Don’t abandon kids at playgrounds
In regards to Manuel Pescador Jr.’s June 12 letter alleging fast food restaurant playgrounds are serving as “babysitters,” I believe if parents drop a child off without an adult to supervise, wouldn’t that be considered abandonment? You hear of kids being left at truck stops or fire stations or hospitals and that is considered abandonment. So what is the difference here? What if a child got hurt while playing there? You can bet the police would be called when the parent wasn’t present. I bet then, that the parent would try to sue that establishment because their child was hurt on that property.
I feel that if a person sees a child being “dropped off” and an adult doesn’t accompany the child, they should not hesitate to call authorities or let management know. That way when the parent returns they will be held responsible for their actions and reprimanded.
Suzanne Oviedo, Mission
