(Ed.'s Note: No sooner had the Mr. Amigo Association headed by Carlos Treviño (owmer of Los Trevi's convenience stores in Matamoros and Brownsville) announced that Mexican billionaire's Carlos Slim's son-in-law Arturo Elias Ayub was their Mr. Amigo 2018 that the polemica began.
Who is this guy?, residents asked. What has he done? The answer is that he works for his father-in-law in Grupo Carso and as such is the director of Strategic Alliances and Content of America Movil, director of Telmex and also of Uno TV, all subsidiaries of Slim's group.
He is also a member of the Shark Tank Mexico.
But as Brownsville Independent School District board president asks: "Ok, so because he has money he was chosen?"
Matas reply was a lame "Hopefully, to bring business to Brownsville."
If Ayub bring anything to the border, it will probably be to Matamoros, not to Brownsville, as Treviño, a savvy businessman from northern Tamaulipas well knows. Hw many opportunities do mover and shakers there get to rub elbows with the likes of Slim's in-laws?
On every social media outlet, whether it be The Brownsville Herald, KVEO, Mr Amigo Facebook page or anyone posting who the selection of Mr Amigo is has had a bad review.
No one believes that this man will one bring jobs, put Brownsville on the map or bring in crowds to pay to see him.
But what is more interesting in the exchange to the choice from BISD President Minerva Peña with active board member of Mr Amigo Tito Mata who also worked for BISD.
BISD is the biggest employer of the city and let’s be honest: the parents go to the parade to see their children and grand children and a celebrity. Now that the president of BISD is not happy with the selection will they lay out the red carpet or pull the rug from under their feet?
Another said: "It’s not cheap to stop everything to go see to Mr Amigo when you think no one will attend. If the so called billionaire doesn’t come to Brownsville giving thousands of dollars in scholarships to Brownsville students or promises to build a manufacturing company that will employ people at high paying jobs, then why pay to go see him?"
A legitimate question..
A legitimate question..
We will eagerly await for our kids to reap the fruits of this year's Mr. Amigo Association's selection. But we wouldn't hold our breath.)