Laredo Speaks/Habla Laredo Survey Continues Thru July 5

A quality of life community survey to assess Laredo's present and future continues thru July 5.

"Laredo Speaks/ Habla Laredo: A Community Survey" is part of the city's 250th anniversary celebration and aims to provide a forum for Laredoans to share their perceptions of the Gateway City's quality of life and suggest what Laredo's future quality of life should include.

The bilingual survey is being delivered by Texas A&M International University's Texas Center for Border Economics and Enterprise Development. This week, 48,000 surveys were included in the Wednesday edition of The Laredo Morning Times.

Surveys can be returned at any HEB Business Center located in each store through July 5.

This weekend, TAMIU students will be conducting person-to-person surveys in various locations around the city, including Mall del Norte, Wal-Mart, Super S Foods, Narvaez Beef Stores, McDonald's Restaurants, Cotulla Style Pit BBQ, Danny's Restaurants (Malinche and South Zapata Highway locations) and United Artists Northcreek 10 Theatres. It will also be available at this weekend's Miss Texas USA Pageant events at the Laredo Entertainment Center. Local Catholic churches will also have the survey available for parishioners to complete at Sunday, June 27 services.

Surveys are also being distributed to major city employers and local civic and social groups.

The survey is also available on line at tamiu.edu and at web sites of The Laredo Morning Times, Laredo Development Foundation, Laredo Chamber of Commerce and Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau.

" Laredo Speaks/Habla Laredo" is a phased effort with data-gathering and analysis occurring in June and July; community-based discussion groups meeting in August; development of a plan of action scheduled for September-October and the implementation of that plan set in November.

"Laredo Speaks/Habla Laredo" is being assisted by funding partnerships including The Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Laredo Development Foundation and The Laredo Morning Times.

For additional information, please contact the TAMIU Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180, e-mail pais@tamiu.edu or visit offices in the Killam Library room 268.