Reader question: Do local elections matter? Plus, Brownsville may dissolve its LGBTQ+ task force
Voters across the U.S. are casting ballots in key state and local races today, including in the Rio Grande Valley.
📝 News brief
This is a regular news brief we publish for the Rio Grande Valley on Across The Americas. Today we include notes on local elections, and a decision by the city of Brownsville to possibly dissolve its LGBTQ+ task force.
🙋🏻♂️ Reader Question
- We want to take the opportunity to ask our readers on the day that it’s happening — how do you feel about local elections? Are they important?
- What about media coverage — does local media in the Rio Grande Valley do enough to cover elections? How well prepared to vote did you feel today?
We want to hear your thoughts. We'll publish some of your responses in an upcoming news brief.
Drop us a line.
newsroom@acrosstheamericas.com
It's election day and voters across the U.S. are casting ballots in key state and local races
Election Day has arrived across the country and in the Rio Grande Valley, bringing voters to the polls to decide key local races and multimillion-dollar bond measures.
🗳️ Polls are open until 7:00 p.m.
Here’s a summarized look at some of the races on the ballot in Hidalgo and Cameron counties.
Local races
In Hidalgo County, Edinburg is choosing a new mayor. PSJA ISD has two bond propositions: $54.3 million for facility upgrades and $5.7 million for performing arts renovations. Alamo voters are selecting a municipal court judge.
In Cameron County, Brownsville ISD also has two bond propositions: $385 million for renovations and $75 million for a new performing arts center. La Feria voters will decide whether to extend mayor and commissioner terms from three to four years.
Several other local offices are on the ballot across the region, including city council and city commission seats.
◆ MyRGV published a more detailed guide on local elections yesterday.
◆ The Advance News Journal published an interview last month with PSJA ISD Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Elias on the PSJA bond propositions.
Constitutional amendments
Voters are also looking at 17 Texas constitutional amendment propositions today. Here are two of the propositions on the ballot.
Proposition 1 creates a permanent fund to modernize and expand Texas State Technical College campuses and equipment, aiming to boost workforce training in high-demand trades and technical fields.
Proposition 14 establishes the Dementia Prevention and Research Institute of Texas with $3 billion in funding to support studies and treatment development for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and related brain diseases.
◆ If you haven't already, check out a full guide to the 17 propositions from The Texas Tribune.
Polling locations
- Hidalgo County polling locations
- Cameron County polling locations
- Starr County polling locations
- Willacy County polling locations
◆ ValleyCentral also published a user-friendly lookup page for local polling locations.
Across The Americas is the newsletter of independent journalism from the Rio Grande Valley.
You might also like
Pablo De La Rosa
The Brownsville City Commission will Vote Tuesday on possibly dissolving the local LGBTQ+ Task Force
The Brownsville City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday evening on a resolution that would dissolve the city’s LGBTQ+ Task Force, a volunteer advisory group created in 2019 to recommend policies supporting equality and inclusion.
City documents describe the task force as having met its objectives, citing its role in helping pass the 2022 Fair Practices Ordinance and improving Brownsville’s Municipal Equality Index score. The city said in its agenda materials on the vote that the "objectives for which the LGBTQ+ Task Force was created have been substantially achieved, and it is now appropriate to formally conclude its work."
However, some residents say they are confused by the move, questioning why the task force would be disbanded amid ongoing community needs.
“No one is asking the city of Brownsville to dismantle the task force,” José Colón-Uvalles, a community organizer and former task force member, posted on social media this week. “This is coming simply as a proactive measure to prevent any pushback from, I’m guessing, Abbott, the governor of Texas, and the current Trump regime.”
Local LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations and supportive community members have been posting on social media for several days, asking for residents to show up to give their comments on the vote.
The City of Brownsville said on Tuesday morning that it is still preparing a response to a request for comment from Across The Americas.
Residents who want to submit comments before the vote must register on the city's public comment registration form at least an hour before the meeting.
🗓️ The Brownsville City Commission will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4, in the Commission Chambers at City Hall, 1001 E. Elizabeth St. The meeting will stream live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Across The Americas is the newsletter of independent journalism from the Rio Grande Valley.
You might also like
Pablo De La Rosa
About Across the Americas
Across The Americas is the newsletter of independent journalism from the Rio Grande Valley, covering the Texas-Mexico region and the deep roots its people share across the continent.
Join four-time award-winning journalist Pablo De La Rosa as he reports on the global forces shaping these regional communities today.
Pablo's voice has appeared on NPR, MSNBC, Texas Public Radio, The Border Chronicle, The Texas Standard and Lighthouse Reports documentaries. In 2022, Pablo helped launch and host the first daily Spanish-language newscast in public media for Texas, broadcasting from the Rio Grande Valley for San Antonio’s NPR member station.
