Harlingen Airport Controversies

By: Jerry deal 

All of these accusations about Valley International Airport sexual harassment etc. may be true, but has anyone who has been doing the writing for this publication really pursued it to see if they are, or are they just content to keep harping about it in their blogs?

Any real proof, or just talk? 

It may well need investigating, but where is the proof or accusations in formal writing to the aviation board or city commissioners?

Why doesn’t someone go to the airport advisory board monthly meetings and get some answers, if you can’t get them elsewhere? They meet once a month at 7:30 a.m. Remember these people have jobs too and go to work after their meetings. 

Next, true that Harlingen only has two airlines and sometimes three, from November through April, but it still is number one in the number of passenger service. Barely, McAllen Miller Airport has been creeping up for a few years and has sometimes exceeded Harlingen in the number of passengers. 

You don’t just go to an airline and invite them to start flying into your city — especially since airlines are cutting back. I have stated previously that Harlingen was working with Delta to bring in some flights, that failed, but Delta later left McAllen too. 

You must have passengers and the prospect of passengers. Harlingen has tried flights to Mexico a few times, but there just was not enough business for those companies to keep flying out of here. 

Now remember, that despite all this, that Harlingen also has a big cargo service. 

The last figures I could find was that through September, Valley International Airport boarded 283,625 passengers to McAllen’s 280,607. Yep, that is real close and I personally know that it has been a concern of some of the aviation board members… 

Remember, that McAllen area has more than 700,000 populations to Harlingen-Brownsville 300,000, less Harlingen’s 70,000, since Brownsville also has an airport that is 61,154 through September hat could go to Harlingen if Brownsville did not have an airport. 

Also remember, Brownsville pays Continental Airlines to service its airport. 

In reality, figuring of some of the areas with airports, there should only be one airport here. But, that is not going to happen, especially as long as the FAA is willing to keep supporting all three. 

Now, accusations against aviation advisory board members of making profit while serving on the board. 

Say the name of a person you who have made these accusations you have made against. If you do, you will find yourself in a big lawsuit. You may not know that your blog can be traced to who you are. 

Do you want to accuse Rick Ledesma, who fought for single member districts, or Jim Solis, who not only served in the Texas legislature, but worked toward helping the Valley and Harlingen?

Do you want to accuse Carlos Cuellar, a former executive of the Harlingen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and also the Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce, or do you want to accuse Dr. Bonnie de la Garza Villarreal, who has contributed so much to the community. 

OK, that leaves the other guys. Have at it. But you better remember there are libel laws and you best know what you are talking about. 

Maybe you did not realize that you can be exposed as to who you are, despite your cowardly ways of using a fake name. 

As an after thought I remember when my friend and retired banker and one of the most respected men in Harlingen and the Valley, served on that board. He would be devastated to think he would ever be accused of doing anything to benefit himself or others, other than to do the right thing on the board.