By RON MEXICO
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN, TX - The gray-black photo of the hamburger stand you see above was taken here in 1939. As is clearly visible, the joint is packed with what appears to be a flock of Winter Texans. And, yeah, that soda machine readies the next drop of a Real 7Up. That sign taped to the rusting vending machine says you can have ham & eggs and coffee for 25 cents. Yep, Harlingen has been danged-basic, less-than-excitable for many, many years. A refugee from a bad marriage working as a waitress here insists the town's favorite color is fog.
There is no question that Harlingen is the calmest town in the wild Rio Grande Valley, although gang activity reported here by Valley Morning Star writer Corey Ryan is dead-on. And there are mornings when it's tough to find parking along the quaint shops to be found on nouveau Jackson Street. And you thought that Waffle House near the Action 4 News studios was this town's "Happenin' " place?
Well, let me introduce you to four men dueling for the title of mayor. Cardinal City, home to some 70,000 fun-starved souls, has seen these sort of scrapes on the football field lately, but rarely in contests for elected office.
There is the incumbent mayor - Chris Boswell - asking for another term. And the ex-cop Joe Rubio. And the schoolteacher Jose Flores. And, yeah, Pastor George Merrill, a firebrand (by Harlingen standards, not Brownsville's) saying he should win the job because he has less gray hair than the other three. Side note: One would think that gray hair would be a requirement for the mayor of a town known far & wide for its many, many blue-haired winter visitors.
Recently, this foursome sparred while addressing a reserved mob of Rotarians.
Boswell hung hard on his record as mayor, telling Rotarians he accomplished much in his current term, but noting that his political vision stretches far, far down the road. "There is so much more to do that is going to take experience,” is what The Morning Star said he said by way of explanation.
Rubio played on the fact that Harlingen is his birthpace, adding that his degree in criminal justice and 22 years of experience on the police force counts for something. It is his opinion that the city is playing with unbalanced visions, or as he put it, Harlingen does not share a “vision of moving together.” He wants to formulate a "Master Plan" related to growth, presumably all the way to neighboring San Benito and Rio Hondo.
Flores, meanwhile, decries what he labels as “too many political changes,” saying new blood is needed for framing of that a comprehensive plan that would include new & fresh-faced people.
Merrill, head of a nonprofit organization, believes his experience will help him run the city, an enterprise he characterizes as being similar to a nonprofit venture. He openly describes himself as a pro-small business candidate.
As for that comment on his lack of gray hair, Merrill said his age "gives him the energy needed to run the city." The crowd was not amused, but the shot served as the evening's eye-opener, drawing both frowns and guffaws from his audience.
Still, there are critics here in the Mayberry of the Valley. Cleverly, they rise like weeds against a lawnmower in comments submitted to the local newspaper.
Wrote one concerned citizen, identifying himself as Moe1Dog, "Georgie (Pastor Merrill) , have you told the people in Harlingen that you bid to remove hurricane trash from the city without having the equipment...that you bid to demolish two of your own houses that were condemned? What a future mayor!!" And to candidate Rubio, Moe1Dog said: "Rubio, boy, what is your vision, only have one, maybe none." To Candidate Flores, "Flores your vision is (perpetuating today's) Harlingen? Oh, boy!"
The effusive Moe1Dog, perhaps backing the current mayor, did not have a comment for Boswell.
In Harlingen, a city that just cannot make a name for itself other than being the home of military school and enough senior citizen trailer parks to call itself a Florida community, it would be bigger news if someone opened an outdoor hamburger joint with a stand-up soda machine and breakfast for a quarter. Now, that would be something to crow about...
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13 comments:
The place where bigots and racist feel comfortable. An existing town, thats all no more no less, just a small town with nothing going.
ANON: All we knew for a long time about Harlingen was that it was the place where 50s Rocker Bill Haley was found dead in a motel... - Editor
I think he is from Harligen, or owned a house on the Finwood heights subdivision.
A big old Frame house that had a bedroom door exiting into the Swimming pool area.
After he left he didn't come back. Bill Haley that is.
All I know that election time is next week, and a one of elected politicians that has benefited from the position is on his way out the "door". We are hoping the mayor looses and to and gets lost..
The last time they had a tea-party forum, I thought they were going to get into a brawl, some of the tea party people got nasty with Joe Rubio, and joe is a big dude. Nothing but Bigots thats all, they just hide behind a name.
Mr. Editor, what is going on??? dp-m is being hammered by el roci's readers.
I thought que lla avien echo las pases. Pero, ni para cuando.
Juntelos en el siete mares, i que ablen como la gente.
No sabia que abia tanta gente que no quieren an Duardo Paz.
ANON: Even Jesus Christ had his critics. We know what El Rocinante is and isn't, as we like to say. Its readers are a certain type of citizen. You may or may not know, but we reject the comments they submit here with extreme prejudice. And they get their feelings hurt. DP-M is without question a quality individual. He knows it, his friends in the Valley know it, and we know it. Everything else - including El Rocinante and ElRrunRrunRrun - is just silliness... - Editor
It's pure vulgarity, nasty stuff, I mean, not even in the military out in the phillipines, did I ever hear so much filth.
I like women, just like any man, but el roci reminds me of Larry flint and Hustler magazine. They exploit men and women. Thrash, just thrash.
I don't want to be offensive or offend el roci's readers, But el roci belongs in the sewer.
ANON: A community is just that, a collection of varying opinions, ideas, offerings, positions and, for dessert, a kaleidoscope of entertainment. That's El Rocinante, just a place to pull in for a snack, beer or dance. What it isn't - and never has claimed to be - is a place for intelligent discourse. We gather it's a handful of regulars spewing the same insanity day after day after day. Phraseology gives them away. It's them and then, of course, contributions to the drunken choir by operator McHale and his two pals. I wouldn't give it too much thought. We stop in on El Roci and, at times, comment on their topics, but only when we get tired of people being nice to us... - Editor
The taco stand looks inviting. And with the 7up machine right next to it just makes it all a virtual work of art. But the 25cent sign on top of the 7up sign doesn't make sense. Is that for an order of tacos or for a 7up? In the 1930s? Hmmm.
Julio
Sorry about the above post. What the 25 cent sign on top of the 7up fridge says is "Ham and Eggs and Coffee 25cents". Guess it makes sense now,even for 1939.
Julio
WITH THE MAYOR'S RACE GOING ON, ONE WILL WONDER WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE MOST CONSERVATIVE CITY OF THE VALLEY.
I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS A YOUNG BOY, ALL I HEARD ABOUT WAS CONSERVATISM IN HARLINGEN. THIS WAS BACK IN 1947. IT IS THE SAME THEN, AS IT IS NOW. LET ME GO TO THE ICE CREAM SHOP OF THE HYGEIA DIARY AND JUST WAIT FOR THE OUTCOME. I COULD GIVE YOU A HINT ON THE WINNER. VOTE FOR BANANA SPLIT AT THE RAIL!
Harlingen and Mercedes were the only two cities in the valley that a klu klux chapter and by the way those hooded people had their marches to.
It doesn't get any more conservative than that. Nothing but bigots and racsist live in the all america city.
ANON: Harlingen we can believe, but Mercedes? Really? How would that town explain that? And what became of these two KKK chapters?... - Editor
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