Former Councilperson Holds City Accountable for Loss of Main Street Program Accreditation

Former Councilperson Alexandra Falcon Calderon addresses the council about the Main Street Program during Tuesday, August 13, 2024's Regular City Council Meeting.

During the Citizen’s Comments portion of the Regular City Council Meeting held on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, Former District 3 Councilperson, Alexandra Falcon Calderon took to the podium to hold the current Economic Development Corporation (EDC) accountable for not upholding the City of Del Rio’s Main Street Program Accreditation for the years 2023 – 2024. 

“Did you know that the Del Rio Main Street Program lost its Accreditation?” Mrs. Falcon Calderon began, addressing the council, city attorney, and Mayor Al Arreola. “Why was this allowed to happen?” she continued. “The Del Rio Main Street Program is very crucial for the downtown area.” According to documents obtained from the Texas Historical Commission, listing Main Street Communities in Texas for the year 2023, Del Rio was an affiliated, not an accredited city and that has not changed.

She went on to read from her notes for the rest of her allotted time, stating, “The Del Rio Main Street performance is annually evaluated by the Texas Historical Commission which works in partnership with Main Street America.” Then, she informed the council and those in attendance that “on July 6, 2022, the Del Rio Main Street Program received the 2022 accreditation announcement, this was on Facebook,” she said. “This was the fourth year in a row that the Del Rio Main Street Program received accreditation, this was based on the annual report that the former EDC Director submitted before she left.” 

Falcon Calderon questioned why the current EDC and Main Street Directors have not continued to submit applications for Del Rio Main Street Program Accreditation in the last two years. “Now, Jorge Garza, Main Street Manager, under the supervision of Jorge Ramon, the EDC Director, should have completed one for the year 2023, and another for the year 2024, she stated. “And the application for 2025 should be coming up in January.” 

Falcon wrapped up her time at the podium by warning the council about the consequences of not applying for Main Street Program Accreditation in the upcoming years. “With this poor, irresponsible, performance, the city will face challenges obtaining grants,” she emphasized. “There is also an annual membership fee that is paid by the city annually to be affiliated with the program, so keep this in mind, no accreditation, no grants.”

This is an ongoing story and Connect Del Rio is awaiting comment from the City of Del Rio/appropriate departments regarding this issue.