Here's a "Coffee Talk Live" video/opinion piece on making Laredo into an international city.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Health care reform view from insurance side ...
Longtime Laredo insurance agent Henri D. Kahn said health care reform "no matter how you look at it, is a benefit to people in the United States" during a Tuesday noon Kiwanis Club meeting.
"It is a benefit more so for people who find themselves between Medicaid and Medicare," Kahn said in a speech at the Holiday Inn Civic Center.
Kahn, who has been in the insurance business for 40-plus years, is owner of Henri D. Kahn Insurance Services, located at 112 Del Court, Suite B.
He said health care reform is important "because it affects us all from birth to death."
Kahn also said any reform plan would not be for the poor. "They have Medicare, and Medicare has great benefits already," he said.
When asked what he thought about the quality of care here in the United States, Kahn said he thought it was a great system.
"There are so many different machines immediately available for patients who come into hospitals nowadays," he said. "Mexico's health care system is grossly inadequate."
Kahn questioned the Obama administration's claim that any health care reform plan will already be paid for when it starts.
"This will have to be paid for with an increase in taxes," he said.
Kahn said 177 million people in the U.S. have employer-paid insurance coverage.
"According to a study from the Urban Institute, which is a non-partisan organization, 91 percent of those already with health insurance will stay with their current coverage," he said
Kahn pointed out he makes sure his own company's employees are fully covered, making sure they would not have to worry should a health emergency occur.
"Employers should be concerned about the people who work for them first and care about them," he said.
Kahn knows about insurance and is willing to share his insights. It's good to hear from someone with his deep background speak out about these issues.
-- Joe Rutland
"It is a benefit more so for people who find themselves between Medicaid and Medicare," Kahn said in a speech at the Holiday Inn Civic Center.
Kahn, who has been in the insurance business for 40-plus years, is owner of Henri D. Kahn Insurance Services, located at 112 Del Court, Suite B.
He said health care reform is important "because it affects us all from birth to death."
Kahn also said any reform plan would not be for the poor. "They have Medicare, and Medicare has great benefits already," he said.
When asked what he thought about the quality of care here in the United States, Kahn said he thought it was a great system.
"There are so many different machines immediately available for patients who come into hospitals nowadays," he said. "Mexico's health care system is grossly inadequate."
Kahn questioned the Obama administration's claim that any health care reform plan will already be paid for when it starts.
"This will have to be paid for with an increase in taxes," he said.
Kahn said 177 million people in the U.S. have employer-paid insurance coverage.
"According to a study from the Urban Institute, which is a non-partisan organization, 91 percent of those already with health insurance will stay with their current coverage," he said
Kahn pointed out he makes sure his own company's employees are fully covered, making sure they would not have to worry should a health emergency occur.
"Employers should be concerned about the people who work for them first and care about them," he said.
Kahn knows about insurance and is willing to share his insights. It's good to hear from someone with his deep background speak out about these issues.
-- Joe Rutland
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Sports switch at KGNS ...
While it's not covered a lot in the business world (at least from my end, OK), LMT's print edition will run a local TV-related story for Thursday's paper regarding Univision Laredo layoffs involving longtime anchor Lupita Benavides, veteran reporter Juan Rodriguez and cameraman Sammy De La Garza.
But there also is other TV news, too, here in Laredo. Therefore, let's get to it.
Pro8News recently added Michael Blake to its news staff as sports anchor for its 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
Ray Gomez, news director for Pro8News, said Blake has taken over as KGNS’ main sports anchor for Doug Robinson, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.
"Michael comes from Carrizo Springs and graduated last year from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in political science," Gomez said. "So he didn’t take the usual route to get into broadcast news.
"He came to us with an interest in it," he said. "We reviewed a lot of applications, more than we’ve ever gotten for a sports position but Mike, with his history of how hard he’s worked and the fact that he’s an area kid … we just really wanted to get him in here."
Gomez said Blake first joined the NBC affiliate here in Laredo in January as producer of KGNS’ 6 a.m. morning news program.
"He’s a really smart guy and caught on fast, but told us from the beginning that his passion was sports," Gomez said. "Even before coming to work for us, he’s had a sports blog up and running. He wrote a huge blog post for us about the Del Mar Little League, which got a big response.
"He’s just real knowledgeable about sports and that’s what makes him stand out," he said. "He’s so easy to get along with and we’re really happy to have him. Michael has had to undergo a huge shift in his life (from arriving at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for the morning show)."
Blake also just started teaming up with Patrick Nelson, who recently was hired as a reporter/anchor for the CW station in Laredo, for "Friday Football Fever."
"Patrick also has an interest and passion for sports," Gomez said. "He can go out and get a news and sports story in the same day."
"Friday Football Fever" opened its 16th year last Friday, Aug. 28.
Gomez said plans also include adding Flip Romero to the Friday night show, too.
"We wanted to make it big and wanted input from as many people as we could get," Gomez said. "We’re lucky to have three passionate guys who really like sports."
There's a TV business roundup for you right there.
-- Joe Rutland
But there also is other TV news, too, here in Laredo. Therefore, let's get to it.
Pro8News recently added Michael Blake to its news staff as sports anchor for its 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.
Ray Gomez, news director for Pro8News, said Blake has taken over as KGNS’ main sports anchor for Doug Robinson, who resigned to pursue other opportunities.
"Michael comes from Carrizo Springs and graduated last year from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in political science," Gomez said. "So he didn’t take the usual route to get into broadcast news.
"He came to us with an interest in it," he said. "We reviewed a lot of applications, more than we’ve ever gotten for a sports position but Mike, with his history of how hard he’s worked and the fact that he’s an area kid … we just really wanted to get him in here."
Gomez said Blake first joined the NBC affiliate here in Laredo in January as producer of KGNS’ 6 a.m. morning news program.
"He’s a really smart guy and caught on fast, but told us from the beginning that his passion was sports," Gomez said. "Even before coming to work for us, he’s had a sports blog up and running. He wrote a huge blog post for us about the Del Mar Little League, which got a big response.
"He’s just real knowledgeable about sports and that’s what makes him stand out," he said. "He’s so easy to get along with and we’re really happy to have him. Michael has had to undergo a huge shift in his life (from arriving at 3:30 a.m. to prepare for the morning show)."
Blake also just started teaming up with Patrick Nelson, who recently was hired as a reporter/anchor for the CW station in Laredo, for "Friday Football Fever."
"Patrick also has an interest and passion for sports," Gomez said. "He can go out and get a news and sports story in the same day."
"Friday Football Fever" opened its 16th year last Friday, Aug. 28.
Gomez said plans also include adding Flip Romero to the Friday night show, too.
"We wanted to make it big and wanted input from as many people as we could get," Gomez said. "We’re lucky to have three passionate guys who really like sports."
There's a TV business roundup for you right there.
-- Joe Rutland
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Life at Mall del Norte ...
Mall del Norte general manager Ken Beckmann said small business entrepreneurs are taking advantage of retail opportunities at the mall.
Beckmann and assistant general manager Margie Joachim were on hand to talk about retail business and Mall del Norte's ability to hold up during the recession Tuesday at the Kiwanis Club meeting at Holiday Inn Civic Center.
"Looking at the fourth quarter, we're not even in a position to predict what might happen," Beckmann said. "It will depend on how strong the peso will get, plus the U.S. economy and how successful the 'Cash for Clunkers' program ended up being."
Beckmann said the mall needs to remain flexible and look at a long-term strategy.
When asked if Mall del Norte can gauge how successful it has been in luring Mexican shoppers through its doors, Beckmann said it wasn't quantifiable.
"Mexican shoppers make up 50-60 percent of our traffic, but that number has been declining" Joachim said.
Beckmann has been in his role for CBL & Associates Properties for six months, so he's still learning the lay of the land (so to speak) around Laredo and in the border region.
"My No. 1 job is to find retailers to come into the mall," Beckmann said. "Looking at the demographics, it shows the city wouldn't support many retail stores. Then we show prospective retailers the Mexican market and how it can help keep their doors open."
Beckmann did say his biggest challenge so far has been trying to fill Circuit City's vacant store space.
Mall del Norte has more than 1 million square feet of space for retailers of all shapes and sizes. JC Penney recently spent a lot of money sprucing up its store and adding some additional pieces.
It's no secret retailers are holding off and waiting to see what happens in the U.S. economy, when to move and how much it will cost.
Beckmann is looking forward to having more retailers be a part of Mall del Norte.
Laredo is looking forward to just having more businesses -- retail or not -- make their home here.
-- Joe Rutland
Beckmann and assistant general manager Margie Joachim were on hand to talk about retail business and Mall del Norte's ability to hold up during the recession Tuesday at the Kiwanis Club meeting at Holiday Inn Civic Center.
"Looking at the fourth quarter, we're not even in a position to predict what might happen," Beckmann said. "It will depend on how strong the peso will get, plus the U.S. economy and how successful the 'Cash for Clunkers' program ended up being."
Beckmann said the mall needs to remain flexible and look at a long-term strategy.
When asked if Mall del Norte can gauge how successful it has been in luring Mexican shoppers through its doors, Beckmann said it wasn't quantifiable.
"Mexican shoppers make up 50-60 percent of our traffic, but that number has been declining" Joachim said.
Beckmann has been in his role for CBL & Associates Properties for six months, so he's still learning the lay of the land (so to speak) around Laredo and in the border region.
"My No. 1 job is to find retailers to come into the mall," Beckmann said. "Looking at the demographics, it shows the city wouldn't support many retail stores. Then we show prospective retailers the Mexican market and how it can help keep their doors open."
Beckmann did say his biggest challenge so far has been trying to fill Circuit City's vacant store space.
Mall del Norte has more than 1 million square feet of space for retailers of all shapes and sizes. JC Penney recently spent a lot of money sprucing up its store and adding some additional pieces.
It's no secret retailers are holding off and waiting to see what happens in the U.S. economy, when to move and how much it will cost.
Beckmann is looking forward to having more retailers be a part of Mall del Norte.
Laredo is looking forward to just having more businesses -- retail or not -- make their home here.
-- Joe Rutland
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