Southmost Continues Progress Despite Rick Longoria

From the editor:  Rick Longoria has represented Southmost as City Commissioner for twelve years.  He's done little to help this segment of Brownsville, but, no problem.  Southmost is rising on its  own.

Well before Rick Longoria's birth, I would go to Tony Alvarez in Southmost for haircuts.  Tony charged 50 cents to cut your hair in his living room barber shop.  Painstakingly, he took over an hour to perfect your look, but, when you got home and peered at your bedroom mirror, one ear had a 1/2 inch more skin showing than the other and there were "chops" here and there.(Tony Alvarez no longer barbers.)

I eventually settled on a guy in Matamoros, who gave a razor cut, charging 5 pesos, 40 cents, making you look like Robert Redford.  I looked in the shop's mirror and gave him a dollar.

Driving through Southmost, Brownsville's poorest, but most populated district, it's difficult to keep your eyes on the road. Taquerias, offering 6 bistek tacos for $2.99, show up on your left and your right.  There is at least one tire shop on every block.

Amidst some third world blight, there is considerable pride.  Houses under 1,000 square feet have wrought iron fences, carpet grass lawns and bright color paint.  

Of course, there are still houses with a gravity feed, Mexico style water tanks on the roof and extension cords from neighbors providing electricity.(Code violations are unequally enforced throughout the city.)

Tom and Nena a few years ago

Our longtime friend, Tom Robinson, is an administrator at the Southmost Library.  College students and elementary kids will never meet a better friend than Robinson.  He will help you find answers to any question while eating a stick of celery for lunch.

Thanks to Rose Gowen, Southmost has a bike trail.  Thanks to Rick Longoria, little else.  Someday, it will have sidewalks.  Every day, it has pride.