Why Would South Texas Need Saving?​​

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Healthcare Crisis and Lower Quality of Life

• Our people are dying - obesity and diabetes rates are at some of the highest levels in the nation​​

• Just 1 doctor per 1,500 people—endless wait times and overworked hospital staff. Nursing facilities and home health too

• Our mothers and children are particularly vulnerable. We live in a "maternity desert" and lack real specialists for children

• Shortage of recreational areas and healthy options for people trying their best to get their body and mind on track

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 Weak Education 

• We are failing our children: low graduation rates, poor literacy, weak STEM skills. We need to compete nationally

• Only 20% of South Texas adults hold college degrees or advanced certifications

• South Texas faces a severe shortage in construction and trades —urgent need for expanded vocational training

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​​Neglected Environment

• Major risk of regional water shortages. Polluted rivers and D+ rated drinking water. Our district is one severe drought from crisis

• No satisfactory plans for a direct impact by a major hurricane

• Pet cruelty beyond any reasonable measure. Animal shelters filled to capacity.

• Mexican poaching within our shared fisheries. Smoke pouring into our air from Mexico. Maquiladoras discharging waste recklessly

• Disrespect of our shared history. Many historical parks and monuments in a state of neglect

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​​​Minimal Economic Opportunity and Future Growth

• Poverty grips District 34: Median household income $50,985—30% below national $74,262—exacerbated by inflation and debt.

• Job market here is a total disaster: Average pay just $21.54 an hour—34% below the national $32.66

• Despite a few key areas, growth is minimal. We are desperately lacking in high paying employers with long term visions for the area

• Our small business owners and small farmers are being squeezed out of the market

• Housing and living expenses were once low - but have accelerated to the point of pricing out the average worker in the area 

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​​Failing Infrastructure

• Pothole covered roads and extremely poor regional planning have led to massive traffic choke points across all our cities

• 2021 freeze blackouts nearly disastrous —no more excuses or leaders pretending like anything has changed since

• Always last in line for federal money and TxDOT's $148B plan, including key highways/South Padre bridge