Where was 2018 Mr. Amigo Arturo Elias Ayub during the 82nd Annual Charro Days International Parade Saturday?
Would you believe that he boarded his private jet and flew off back to Mexico and stood up the parade-goers?
Sources say Ayub flew off before the parade aboard his jet after he donated 400 bicycles to the city. But while that may be accepted in some quarters (Rose Gowen, for example), the fact that he took off before the min event led some to say that the gesture was a backhand compliment to the pueblo bicicletero.
But there was a catch. It won't be Brownsville kids using the bikes. Mr. Amigo directors were asking school principals and administrators to help then identify students from Matamoros to give them a bike so they could use them to go to and from the bridge.
"What a snub for the city," said a local Mr. Amigo Association critic. "That shows how much Ayub thinks of us here in Brownsville. Even after the group used our city facilities and security, they give the bikes to students from Matamoros."
The Mr. Amigo Association faced widespread criticism and disapproval in social media for choosing a rich guy's son-in-law.
Commenter after commenter voiced disapproval of Mr. Amigo Association's selection of Ayub, the son-in-law of Carlos Slim, Mexico's richest man – and seventh richest in the world – to make an appearance during the upcoming Charro Day's events.
The mission of the MAA is "To celebrate the shared culture, friendship and family of Brownsville and Matamoros. To enjoy the traditions and history that unite us bringing “The Valley” and “La Frontera” closer together, serving as an example for our two countries."
In the past, the list of Mr. Amigos ranges from the president of Mexico to various actors, comedians, and performers. The past board have had members associated with Televisa, which resulted in soap opera stars and performers under contract with that broadcaster being chosen for the honor.
However, member Arturo Treviño, of "Los Trevis" convenience stores on both sides of the river, is said to have used his influence to convince the membership to extend the invitation to Ayub as a way to foster "economic development" and attract investment to the area, a purpose which differs slightly from their stated mission.
The Mr. Amigo Association's membership is rather clubby, with members inviting each other to join the association. One of the directors, Eliceo Davila, was said t have traveled to Mexico with wife and family at the association's expense. and others have said that the organization has turned into a very selective group which spends the funds it raises ($37,000 in the Taste of La Frontera) in private parties for selected members.
The clearest comment from one of those that disapproved of Treviño's (and the MAA's) selection put it this way:
