A trip to Central America for what?

Once again, city leaders are heading out on a business-related trip ... this time they are going to Central America.
Ahh, nothing like Costa Rica in the winter, eh?
I am quite interested to see how this trip will affect overall business in the Greater Laredo area. From what I understand, there will be some city leaders, led by our esteemed Mayor Raul Salinas, headed down to meet colleagues, develop relationships and shake a lot of hands.
Beautiful.
Didn't a group head down to the Port of Lazaro Cardenas for a similar reason? You know, meet colleagues, develop relationships and shake a lot of hands?
In the immortal words of former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, "You betcha."
I also understand there will be some educators along for the, ahem, ride from Texas A&M International University.
Why? What do they know about international trade?
Isn't this a business trip?
Look, taxpayer money is being spent on a "fishing expedition" which everyone has seen over and over again.
Tell me who will benefit from this trip.
Roll off the names of those who are going and, well, I just wonder if the entire Greater Laredo business community is involved in this effort.
Are the "good buddies" of these people going down to Central America going to get first crack at the business? Just asking here.
I have yet to see one solid, concrete business project announced from Salinas' office or through the Laredo City Council from their Lazaro Cardenas trip. Yeah, yeah, I know ... economic downturn, tough times, peso troubled, yadda, yadda, yadda.
Mind you, I am truly all for building up communities and bringing in new business to the Laredo and Nuevo Laredo region. It would be nice, though, to have a plan.
Is there a plan? Can someone please show me a plan? Show me a plan where it is simply laid out, in black and white and plain English and Spanish, on what are the key expectations city leaders will be asking for from these meetings.
You know, my sense is there is no plan. Oh there's a plan all right ... a plan to keep the wool over our eyes (that means taxpayers like you and me) and entrust our elected leaders to do the bidding.
Here's another thing about this working vacation.
Where are the key business leaders involved in this trip? Are Kansas City Southern Railroad and Union Pacific representatives part of this party? Show me.
What about customs brokers here in Laredo? They actually DO business involving international trade. Are they going on this trip?
How about commercial and residential real estate representatives? They could present concrete ideas on what is available to these Central American representatives which city leaders will speak with on this excursion.
Frankly, I'd like to see people like Les Norton, Gary Jacobs, David Killam and others as part of this trip. Heck, they KNOW about business in Laredo and have family roots that go far, far back. Farther than mine personally, that's for sure.
OK, OK ... call me crazy, call me nuts for simply putting this out there.
I really hope and pray this trip is worth it.
After all, it's all about business.
Uh-huh.

-- Joe Rutland

A bit about the Broncos ...

While I realize Laredo's sports news and highlights are best left to Sports Editor Dennis Silva and his staff, I wanted to briefly share with you, dear business readers, my Saturday night experience at Veterans Field taking in a Laredo Broncos baseball game.
Admittedly, it is the first time I've been out to see a Broncos game here in town. I realize there have been ups and downs within the Broncos organization in recent times ... yet this piece isn't about all of that.
What I saw and experienced while being out there was seeing families -- moms, dads and children -- gathering together for fun. Friends sitting with friends, staying well hydrated from sunset when the ump called "lights on" for the game. I also saw some great baseball being played, too.
Of course, I leave with the Broncos down 3-1 after six innings and, doggone it, they rallied to win 4-3.
For me, it was a pleasant experience. Here's hoping the Broncos put together a push for the playoffs.

-- Joe Rutland

It's about business, folks ...

By now, faithful Laredo Morning Times readers are aware that it will cost a few dollars to read parts of our overall content online.

It may not be fair in some people's minds -- after all, there are a gazillion Web sites (OK, maybe less ... but you get the point) available which offer content for free. That's true. Yet those sites probably will not offer stories focused on Laredo, which the Morning Times does each day.

Advertisers want to know they are receiving their money's worth.

Newspapers are a business. Needless to say, if you've read my print "Coffee Talk" column in the past, then you will know I've made this point.

We are in the business of making money, too.

I believe recent online entries by Editor Diana Fuentes make this point real clear.

If you are an avid reader of Que Pasa (and, according to statistical data, there are many people reading Que Pasa Online, too), then you'll know Arts and Entertainment Editor Kirsten Crow wrote a stellar column on this issue recently.

Charging for content is another income stream for newspapers, specifically the Laredo Morning Times.

I don't believe real estate agents, insurance agents, restaurant owners, etc., are offering all of their products and goods for free. Walmart hasn't decided to open up and give away flat-screen TVs all the time. No, paying for services rendered and products offered is business.

So ultimately, all of this is about business.

For those of you who avidly read LMT Business Journal, I greatly appreciate it. My intention is to keep LMT Business Journal relevant, informative and interesting. Also, LMT Business Journal Online is up and running, too. Its content is free to view and see. I invite you to check it out.

-- Joe Rutland

Laredo police chief encourages change ...

Laredo Police Chief Carlos Maldonado, during a noon speech at the Kiwanis Club held at the Holiday Inn Civic Center on Tuesday, said he's trying to invoke a spirit of change within the police department.
One of Maldonado's ideas includes marketing the city through LPD officers.
"Why not be courteous when stopping someone for a traffic infraction," Maldonado said. "Take time to talk with them, try and listen to what's going on at that time. What better way to market a city than through its police officers."
From a business perspective, this could be a win-win situation.
Say a Laredo resident or visitor is pulled over for some reason. An LPD officer gets out of his car or off his motorcycle, approaches the driver and begins a conversation ... while still doing his job.
When finished, that person -- should the interaction be a courteous one -- could take away a different view of not only LPD itself but the city, too.
Business leaders are so desirous of new companies and more jobs entering this more-than-200,000 populated city. This could work.
Change is difficult and, yes, hard to grasp. Give the chief this much: He's making an effort and, as a non-Laredoan in his role, tackling tough issues.
Here's hoping Maldonado and his ideas are given time to work in Laredo.