Hello, I’m Raul G. Salinas Mayor of the great City of Laredo, Texas. It brings me great pleasure to talk to you about a community that means so much to me and the almost two hundred thousand people who live here.

Laredo is quite unlike any other city in Texas. We are one of the fastest growing border communities located in Webb County along the banks of the Rio Grande; about 150 miles southwest of San Antonio.

Founded in 1755, our city has grown from the once small town to the present-day progressive community it now is.

We can boast about our four international bridges which is why our city is commonly referred to as the “Gateway to Mexico.” This access with our neighbors to the South has made Laredo one of the largest inland ports along the U.S./Mexico border.

Trade in our city is done by land, rail, and air, and results in billons of dollars in business with companies from over 60 different countries from all around the world.

In Laredo you’ll find a vibrant culture rich in history and tradition where much of our population is bilingual, speaking English and Spanish.

Laredo has so much to be proud of and as Mayor of this city it is incumbent upon me address concerns community-wide. As a border city, we must not only be concerned with our population but that of our sister city, Nuevo Laredo, Taumapilas, as well. For example in the area of the health, if there is an outbreak of tuberculosis in our sister city, our population can be effected as well as theirs and vice-versa. In the area of public safety, our police and fire departments must be on stand-by at all times if a chemical or hazardous spill should occur from the high volume of trade passing back and fourth from our city to Mexico.

These are just a few items I want you to think about. Laredo is so unique and I would like to share this with you. In the area of trade, our city does have a global impact but there are other “global” issues we need to address and are outlined for you in this agenda.

Our city will continue to compete in the global marketplace but being able to provide basic services to the community such as creating job opportunities, and stimulating the economy, are essential to the future of Laredo.

I ask you to join me and my colleagues as we present our “Gateway’s global perspective.”