An Interview About the Rio Grande Valley

I had an interview with Abraham C. Padron, a local business owner and politician how has lived in the Rio Grande for most of his life. Additionally, he immigrated here when he was six years old so also knows about what it is like to be an immigrant coming to America.

Q: Tell me a little about yourself.

A: My name is Abraham C. Padron, I was born and raised in the area, and have lived here all my life. I went to college here and got two degrees a marketing and finance degree. I built a business here. Its and insurance agency, and one of the largest Hispanic owned agencies in the country. I also have real estate holding here. An I am heavily involved in politics and have run for elected office, being very involved in my local and state politics. I’ve been an advocate for different state bills and numerous times have testified in front of the state legislature.

Q: How would describe life on the border?

A: I would describe it more as a slower pace of life. Our dollar goes a lot farther then say Manhattan. It’s also a great place to grow a family. It is also a good place to make a name for yourself. And due to the slower pace in life, and the cost of living, we don’t have a lot of the same opportunities as say New York, it is a great place to make a name for yourself.

Q: So, you say that life on the border is at a slower pace, what exactly do you mean like that?

A: This a place where it’s not fast moving. It’s not a big city, we know more people. We don’t have the large industry that some of the other cities have.

Q: Do you see this a hindrance or an advantage to the big cities?

A: it depends on what you want out of life. While in enjoy living here I also enjoy visiting bigger cities and experience the culture that is there, by enjoying the museums the evening life, the restaurants, and the things that metropolitans have to offer.

Q: So, the big news about the border is the Wall, what can you say about that?

A: we already have it. We have a fence, why do we need the wall?

Q: and how would you say that this Wall, since its construction, has affected the people the Rio Grande Valley?

A: I can’t say that it has had a positive or negative effect. But it is on the American side and has therefore created a problem for people who have property on the border, as it has divided the land. And while I have not been directly affected, it does affect the economy as we depend heavily on the Mexican tourists and shoppers.

Q: Ok, can you talk about the culture in the Rio Grande Valley? What makes the RGV the RGV?

A: We have a unique culture. We have a Mexican American culture. We have about 87% Hispanic population. This unique. While many of use speak English a lot of use also speak Spanish, and a combined language. We must understand three different cultures, American, Mexican, and the mixed Mexican America. For example, we celebrate 4^th of July and September 16, Mexican Independence Day. We also celebrate both Mexican and American Mother’s Day.

Q: We have talked about quality of life, and I wanted to know what you meant by the “dollar goes further”.

A: For starters, the price for square footage for a home his is about $80 a foot, while in a place like Manhattan it is about $1700 a foot. And due to our proximity to Mexico as well as the Gulf of Mexico, that allows us to have cheaper gas prices. And our groceries tend to cheaper because of what we get from Mexico. And having things like this results in a cheaper cost of living and a better quality of life.

Q: You’ve talked about all the positive reasons you enjoy living in the valley, can you please tell me some of the things you don’t like about life here?

A: Well, I think there are a couple of things I don’t like. There’s the heat. It’s hot and humid, During the summer we average over 100 degrees and since we have high humidity it stays that hot for a while. And from a weather standpoint we don’t have the four seasons. Many years during Christmas we even wear shorts. But beyond that there is the violence that the rest of the country perceives we have. That violence, while it is violent across the border. On the American side, we don’t have the violence. It is not any higher than the average of the rest of the country. As a matter of fact, there are articles out there that has vote us are one of the safest in the country. Now there is violence, as this is considered a drug corridor. However, I haven’t seen it. And another thing that I don’t care for is that it is harder to get here. We always must take at least two flights if we want to go anywhere other than Houston or Dallas. Another this is the healthcare. I believe that other bigger metropolitan areas have better healthcare and more options then we have which is an issue.

Q: ok thank you very much for talking about this. Now before we go is there anything else that you want to say about life on the border to people who might be interested?

A: I’ve always said that life on the border in south Texas is the last frontier in America. It’s a place where we welcome new ideas, new business, people who want to better their lives and make a name for themselves. The border has been a place where many people make names for themselves. It’s a good place to live, make a family, and have a career, regardless what industry you’re in.

This interview was very helpful in understanding what life is like by the border from someone who life here and has really experienced the valley.