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South Texas Resort Includes a Pool, a Golf Course and, Maybe, a Border Wall South Texas Resort Includes a Pool, a Golf Course and, Maybe, a Border Wall
(about 8 hours later)
BROWNSVILLE, Tex. — Shirley Menard says she did not think all that much about Donald J. Trump’s proposed border wall when she cast a reluctant vote for him in 2016.BROWNSVILLE, Tex. — Shirley Menard says she did not think all that much about Donald J. Trump’s proposed border wall when she cast a reluctant vote for him in 2016.
She is thinking about it a lot more now that plans call for part of what could be a 30-foot-tall stretch of wall to land in her backyard, dividing the River Bend Resort and Golf Club, which hugs the Rio Grande. About 70 percent of the community — some 200 properties — would be stranded south of the barricade but north of the river. Fifteen holes of the golf course could be there, too.She is thinking about it a lot more now that plans call for part of what could be a 30-foot-tall stretch of wall to land in her backyard, dividing the River Bend Resort and Golf Club, which hugs the Rio Grande. About 70 percent of the community — some 200 properties — would be stranded south of the barricade but north of the river. Fifteen holes of the golf course could be there, too.
An unsettling lesson in unexpected consequences has left some residents rethinking their support for the wall and the president who has made it his signature project.An unsettling lesson in unexpected consequences has left some residents rethinking their support for the wall and the president who has made it his signature project.
“I never thought they’d go through a subdivision,” said Ms. Menard, a former Houston schoolteacher who said she had been shaken since she was notified in June of plans to build the wall next year. “My blood pressure has not been normal since I got that letter.”“I never thought they’d go through a subdivision,” said Ms. Menard, a former Houston schoolteacher who said she had been shaken since she was notified in June of plans to build the wall next year. “My blood pressure has not been normal since I got that letter.”
Despite President Trump’s promise to complete 500 miles of wall in his first term, the Army Corps of Engineers and private contractors have constructed only 60 miles of vehicle barriers or replacement fencing where existing impediments had been damaged. But he has made it clear he wants more sections of the wall built, no matter the obstacles, and the plans for River Bend are part of 19 miles of proposed border wall in Cameron County in South Texas.Despite President Trump’s promise to complete 500 miles of wall in his first term, the Army Corps of Engineers and private contractors have constructed only 60 miles of vehicle barriers or replacement fencing where existing impediments had been damaged. But he has made it clear he wants more sections of the wall built, no matter the obstacles, and the plans for River Bend are part of 19 miles of proposed border wall in Cameron County in South Texas.
A border wall built during the George W. Bush administration left farms and dozens of Texans on the south side of the wall but north of the Rio Grande, but no border barrier has cut off such a populated area.A border wall built during the George W. Bush administration left farms and dozens of Texans on the south side of the wall but north of the Rio Grande, but no border barrier has cut off such a populated area.
The result is no small degree of consternation in an overwhelmingly white residential and golf community serving a 55-and-older clientele dominated by transplants and snowbirds from the Midwest. A typical sight last week was a man in socks and sandals and a red MAGA hat driving a golf cart with his dog riding shotgun. The result is no small degree of consternation in a residential and golf community serving a 55-and-older clientele dominated by transplants and snowbirds from the Midwest. A typical sight last week was a man in socks and sandals and a red MAGA hat driving a golf cart with his dog riding shotgun.
The population in South Texas and in Brownsville is 94 percent Hispanic and strongly Democratic: Hillary Clinton won Cameron County, which includes Brownsville, in 2016 with 64.6 percent of the vote. Residents say River Bend was roughly split between Trump and Clinton voters. (A sample of residents in interviews turned up nine Trump voters and two Clinton ones.) The population in South Texas and in Brownsville is 94 percent Hispanic and strongly Democratic: Hillary Clinton won Cameron County, which includes Brownsville, in 2016 with 64.6 percent of the vote. Residents say River Bend, which is overwhelmingly white, was roughly split between Trump and Clinton voters. (A sample of residents in interviews turned up nine Trump voters and two Clinton ones.)
Nonetheless, in this middle- to upper-middle-class community, where RV lots go for about $35,000 and brick homes can cost north of $200,000, residents seem to unanimously oppose the plans to build a slice of the wall along a slightly raised flood levee, which is topped by a gravel road used by their meandering cars and golf carts.Nonetheless, in this middle- to upper-middle-class community, where RV lots go for about $35,000 and brick homes can cost north of $200,000, residents seem to unanimously oppose the plans to build a slice of the wall along a slightly raised flood levee, which is topped by a gravel road used by their meandering cars and golf carts.
“If there’s a good purpose for having that wall cut right through our little community, I guess I would go along with it,” said Susan Kaper, who voted for Mr. Trump and who moved from Michigan to care for her ailing sister. “But I’ve yet to hear any reason why to do that.”“If there’s a good purpose for having that wall cut right through our little community, I guess I would go along with it,” said Susan Kaper, who voted for Mr. Trump and who moved from Michigan to care for her ailing sister. “But I’ve yet to hear any reason why to do that.”
Some residents said they were considering selling their homes, but it was not clear what the market there would be with a wall pending.Some residents said they were considering selling their homes, but it was not clear what the market there would be with a wall pending.
Jeremy Barnard, whose family owns the resort, said he has halted millions of dollars in construction expansion.Jeremy Barnard, whose family owns the resort, said he has halted millions of dollars in construction expansion.
He figures the wall is a done deal.He figures the wall is a done deal.
“It’s not if, it’s when,” he said.“It’s not if, it’s when,” he said.
Both residents and the owners said it was difficult to prepare without concrete plans and timetables from the authorities. The Border Patrol has met with residents, but the agents have been tight-lipped about specifics and have postponed planned meetings.Both residents and the owners said it was difficult to prepare without concrete plans and timetables from the authorities. The Border Patrol has met with residents, but the agents have been tight-lipped about specifics and have postponed planned meetings.
“This is throwing an upheaval onto us,” said Jerry Olsen, who designed roads for the Missouri Department of Transportation before eventually retiring to River Bend nearly 20 years ago. He said he had seen undocumented crossings twice during his time in Texas.“This is throwing an upheaval onto us,” said Jerry Olsen, who designed roads for the Missouri Department of Transportation before eventually retiring to River Bend nearly 20 years ago. He said he had seen undocumented crossings twice during his time in Texas.
He voted for Mr. Trump and might do so again, but said, “None of us at our age need the additional stress.”He voted for Mr. Trump and might do so again, but said, “None of us at our age need the additional stress.”
Avie Greenslit, a Minnesota transplant who drives around River Bend in her red Hummer-brand golf cart and liked the idea of having a businessman in the White House, is looking elsewhere for 2020. She was scared, she said, by reports last week that Mr. Trump told aides to “take the land” that was needed for the wall.Avie Greenslit, a Minnesota transplant who drives around River Bend in her red Hummer-brand golf cart and liked the idea of having a businessman in the White House, is looking elsewhere for 2020. She was scared, she said, by reports last week that Mr. Trump told aides to “take the land” that was needed for the wall.
“He’s not going to get my vote in 2020,” Ms. Greenslit said.“He’s not going to get my vote in 2020,” Ms. Greenslit said.
Other Trump supporters were unhappy but not planning to desert Mr. Trump over the wall.Other Trump supporters were unhappy but not planning to desert Mr. Trump over the wall.
“To determine whether I vote for this guy or not because of the wall?” Ms. Kaper said. “No, that’s silly.”“To determine whether I vote for this guy or not because of the wall?” Ms. Kaper said. “No, that’s silly.”
Norm Rourke, who at 82 still hops on his bicycle every day for about a five-mile ride said he was one of the few people on his street — there is a “no border wall” flag in his yard — who did not vote for Mr. Trump and certainly would not in 2020.Norm Rourke, who at 82 still hops on his bicycle every day for about a five-mile ride said he was one of the few people on his street — there is a “no border wall” flag in his yard — who did not vote for Mr. Trump and certainly would not in 2020.
“I’m surprised we haven’t had people falling over with strokes, honestly,” he said.“I’m surprised we haven’t had people falling over with strokes, honestly,” he said.
No new sections of border wall have been built in the Rio Grande Valley during the Trump administration, but funding for 110 miles of it has been approved by Congress. Representative Filemon Vela, the Democrat who represents Brownsville, did not vote for that funding, and has called the wall “racist.” In 2016, he sent Mr. Trump a tart letter giving him graphic advice of where he could put his proposed wall.No new sections of border wall have been built in the Rio Grande Valley during the Trump administration, but funding for 110 miles of it has been approved by Congress. Representative Filemon Vela, the Democrat who represents Brownsville, did not vote for that funding, and has called the wall “racist.” In 2016, he sent Mr. Trump a tart letter giving him graphic advice of where he could put his proposed wall.
“I believe that our own leadership has not understood how bad it has been for them to support funding the wall,” Mr. Vela said in an interview.“I believe that our own leadership has not understood how bad it has been for them to support funding the wall,” Mr. Vela said in an interview.
Mr. Vela is familiar with Bush-era border barriers, which are up to 18 feet tall. The few residents and farmers north of the Rio Grande who were unlucky enough to be walled off have to head to the nearest sliding gate, which they can open by punching in a code on a keypad. But Mr. Vela said his office had received numerous reports of gates malfunctioning.Mr. Vela is familiar with Bush-era border barriers, which are up to 18 feet tall. The few residents and farmers north of the Rio Grande who were unlucky enough to be walled off have to head to the nearest sliding gate, which they can open by punching in a code on a keypad. But Mr. Vela said his office had received numerous reports of gates malfunctioning.
That worries many residents of River Bend.That worries many residents of River Bend.
“You’re fixing to fence 400 U.S. citizens behind a wall with a gate and most of them have medical problems,” said Jimmy Jones, adding that ambulances are called to the community at least three times a week. “Our gate fails, somebody’s going to die.”“You’re fixing to fence 400 U.S. citizens behind a wall with a gate and most of them have medical problems,” said Jimmy Jones, adding that ambulances are called to the community at least three times a week. “Our gate fails, somebody’s going to die.”
The wall was originally going to cut through other developed sites in South Texas — nature observatories, a wildlife refuge, property housing a chapel. But after legal challenges, activism and political pressure, those sections were scrapped from the Trump administration’s construction plans.The wall was originally going to cut through other developed sites in South Texas — nature observatories, a wildlife refuge, property housing a chapel. But after legal challenges, activism and political pressure, those sections were scrapped from the Trump administration’s construction plans.
River Bend residents considered filing a lawsuit, but most figure it would be a waste of time and money and have no plans to challenge the proposed wall.River Bend residents considered filing a lawsuit, but most figure it would be a waste of time and money and have no plans to challenge the proposed wall.
Ms. Menard is not sure how she will vote in 2020. She has not followed the Democratic field but is wary of the country moving too far left. She is a lot more anxious about her own backyard, where her beloved views of gorgeous South Texas sunsets seem likely to be replaced by views of Mr. Trump’s wall.Ms. Menard is not sure how she will vote in 2020. She has not followed the Democratic field but is wary of the country moving too far left. She is a lot more anxious about her own backyard, where her beloved views of gorgeous South Texas sunsets seem likely to be replaced by views of Mr. Trump’s wall.
“Nobody really thinks about it until it affects them personally,” Ms. Menard said.“Nobody really thinks about it until it affects them personally,” Ms. Menard said.