McAllen spends $15,100 to fete “Chuy” Hinojosa

McALLEN — The city spent $15,100 to throw a dinner party for state Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen, Oct. 15, and city leaders defended the expense as a well-deserved thank you to the powerful senator, despite recent budgetary cutbacks.

Hinojosa became vice chairman of the state Senate Committee on Finance this past legislative session, a powerful position in Austin in which he, in part, directs the flow of hundreds of millions of state dollars.

City leaders say Hinojosa was instrumental in several important projects for McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley at-large in the last session, which ended in June.

Hinojosa’s most important accomplishment for McAllen was securing the $80 million in funding necessary to bring U.S. 281 up to interstate standards and turn it into a nonstop expressway along the state’s trade corridor.

Hinojosa and McAllen officials lobbied the state for years to create overpasses for Texas’ third-busiest North American Free Trade Agreement corridor, and they say the improved mobility for trucking goods will have a tremendous economic impact and also help the region compete in recruiting companies to the Valley.

“It was high time McAllen recognize him for the work that he has done,” said Mayor Richard Cortez, who called for the party. “Obviously, we need strong representation (in Austin). We don’t have to give him a party to do that – that’s what he’s elected to do. But in the spirit of recognizing those that have helped us, we thought it was important to do that.”

But the dinner party comes just weeks after city leaders voted on a budget for the new fiscal year that cut back expenditures by 7 percent after a year in which the recession battered two key revenue sources: bridge traffic and sales taxes.

The city reduced funding for outside agencies – like the McAllen Economic Development Corporation – by four percent across the board, eliminated funding for capital improvement projects and cut $1 million in spending for recycling and repaving city streets.

In order to finalize the budget, the city shaved off $1.6 million in salaries and compensation for non-civil service employees and found another $850,000 in savings by re-working the last year of the police and fire union’s collective bargaining contracts.

Cortez defended spending the money on the party, saying that the city needs to be close to its representatives in Austin and Washington in order to land the funding for projects and infrastructure that will bring jobs and growth to McAllen and the Valley.

The city paid solely for the catered food at the party, which was held at the Quinta Mazatlan, City Manager Mike Perez said. The city owns the Quinta Mazatlan, and the alcohol and entertainment were provided for by AT&T, the McAllen Chamber of Commerce – out of its membership dues – and the McAllen Foreign Trade Zone.

“Some people will think this is not the best use of money, but going forward the way we’re going to move the community forward is getting assets,” Cortez said. “And we can’t do that by simply wishing for it. We have to take the initiative.”

Houston-based political consultant Dan McClung said appreciation dinners were common for state lawmakers and $15,100 “doesn’t seem too way out of line.”

“Everybody is aimed at their senator,” McClung said. “You’d like to know that whenever that phone rings at the desk, he’s going to pick it up and get the job done. And (Hinojosa) is very good at getting the job done.”

Hinojosa said he’s attended about a half-dozen appreciation dinners since the session ended, but the Mission native said the McAllen dinner was particularly special because it was the Valley that was recognizing him.

“I always respond to my constituents. I always work hard, regardless of whether I’m recognized or not,” Hinojosa said.

Hinojosa served in the state House for 17 years before taking his Senate seat in 2002, and he currently chairs the Texas Senate Hispanic Caucus.

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Nick Pipitone covers McAllen and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4446.