Winter Valleyites + MHMR Updates

December 05, 2004

For this edition, Ron interviewed Jim Deuser of the McAllen Convention and Visitor's Bureau, along with Joe Rodriguez, the Administrator for the McAllen Medical Behavioral Health Center.

Jim Deuser commented on the value to the Valley of the many winter residents who "nest" here during these cold months, and how we should take special care and notice of them as they are vitally important, economically and socially, to this region of Texas.  An additional surge in "Winter Texans" has been seen due to more "Winter Floridians" coming to Texas instead of Florida because of the four hurricanes that have left Florida with higher priced goods and services to compensate for the financial losses suffered from damages by the hurricanes.

Joe Rodriguez discussed the impact on the Rio Grande Valley of the potential closure of the Rio Grande State Center-Harlingen, which would leave the center he administrates as the only one in the Rio Grande Valley to offer services to Mental Health patients, a service that the McAllen Medical & Behavioral Health Center is not prepared to supplant!  The possible closure of the Valley's State Center would also net a loss of 475 jobs, and a loss of services to thousands with mental/behavioral problems who would mainly otherwise remain in city/county jails, wandering the streets, or transferred to the San Antonio State Hospital.

Also on this show was an exclusive public release of the 4-year Mission,TX study of families, showing CHIPS cuts having caused a 150% increase in use of Emergency Rooms (ER's)!  It also shows that this additional expense to Vanity Fair is causing this Valley employer to evaluate the future of their 600 job clothing manufacturing plant and the potential of it relocating off-shore, following the pattern of previous Hagger, Carter, Fruit of the Loom, and other plants!

See our archive of "Valley NewsLine's" November 21, 2004 edition, on MHMR Closures Sought, for more information regarding this problem.

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