STAY IN YOUR OFFICE

http://www.mysanantonio.com/http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/editorials/article/Reining-in-Bexar-s-world-travelers-5186827.php opinion/editorials/article/Reining-in-Bexar-s-world-travelers-5186827.php

A witch hunt. Results for International business development travel take an incredible amount of time and effort, especially for public entities such as Bexar County. Most of the time it takes years for a project to develop, Years, literally. Especially if you have various other cities or counties as potential competitors plus no one knows you. It is next to impossible to have any immediate "expected outcome" from these trips. If you dont put your wares in front of the custom...er someone else will. The author cites Travis and Harris counties as not being able to recall an international trip. Dduuhh. These counties are magnets for foreign direct investment, industries and trade. They don't need to lift one finger. They are NOT the underdog. San Antonio is. And guess what? Most of the world has no clue where San Antonio geographically! When I go to China, I have a map in my breast pocket to which I point to everytime. Never fails. The only reference to San Antonio are the Spurs. Great. But no business.
The budget should double for this type travel, especially since the county has done an outstanding job in the automotive sector. The automotive sector in our region is skyrocketing and we need to be much more aggressive in being involved. But what do we do? We do the little crab dance and move backwards. But who gives a damn? We have the River walk.

REAL ESTATE MUSIC BLUES

http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/San-Antonio-s-new-music-scene-5155749.php

I hate it when venues close...

This is a big issue. These venues loose their leases and big developers come in with huge project or landlords jack up the rates to the stratosphere. This is also a big issue in restaurants. Just four days ago, a great authentic Mexican eatery in Stone Oak, CIELITO LINDO (loved their Caldo Tlapeño with three extra chipotles) was forced to close because the landlord jacked up their rates. The owners were not about to work for the landlord. And r...ight in the same retail center there is a new outstanding place called VIDA MIA. It took the owners awhile to get the place over the top and now they are sweating bullets.

Back to the music venues: same stuff happens in Mexico City. An iconic jazz club and bistro THE BLUE MONK by the Pemex Tower just shuttered their doors because the real estate owners wanted the property back for new development (This re-developed area will be known as POLANCO II). I understand business and profit, but there needs to be a middle ground somewhere...money is crushing culture.

FAST TRAIN TO MAYBE

Check this out.


http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/us-world/border-mexico/article/Fast-train-to-Monterrey-on-the-horizon-5150132.php

Is the investment worth it? and it not about pre-clearing U.S. Customs anymore, It about Homeland Security Federal Inspections Services as a whole. and WHO will pay for that. The feds usually will say "GREAT," here's ouir monthly bill for our services. With a project like this, this can easily run into the millions per month. And WHO will pay for the construction of the pre-clearance center? Will the Mexico government invest in a pre-cealrnce center in SA. This is a two way street (pardon the pun).