b'E d i t o rProtesters marching against a proposed desalination plant to be built in Hillcrest San Antonio Riverwalk Henry CisnerosHillcrest just wont give up. Corpus Christis first and only majority-Black commu- 17-year-old boy was shot and killed by police as he was firing into a vehicle at a high nity, located north of IH-37 in the center of the ports industrial zone, has been theschool party. A 15-year-old boy was killed in unexplained circumstances involving target of decimation for almost two decades. Buyout programs sponsored by theguns. A 20-year-old young woman was shot and killed while she was stopped at the petroleum industry and government entities have reduced the number of occupiedintersection across from Moody High School, and two young men are in jail await-homes from 500 to 150 in less than a decade, and the completion of the new Harboring trial. As opposed to decades past, when gunplay was often connected to drug Bridge will divide the neighborhood, which has been plagued by poverty and crimegangs, for the new generation, firearms are used as statements of power and adult-for generations. Still, the families that are hanging on are united and vocal in theirhood. There are interventions for this kind of destructive thinking, but not a single opposition to further industrial development in Hillcrest, most recently marchingword is ever publicly spoken by our elected officials when one of these lives is lost.against the Citys plan to build a desalination plant along the inner harbor. Unless you are connected to the healthcare system, either as a regular patient or Even if those protesters get their way, and the plant is built elsewhere, the effortas a professional, you may not realize that the Coastal Bend is suffering a severe does little to advance a revitalization of Hillcrestthat will require a radical, newdoctor shortage. We have plenty of pharmacists, thanks to the pharmacy school vision for the neighborhood that would attract former residents and their descen- at Texas A&M Kingsville, but many are waiting weeks or months for specialist ap-dants back, and that will spark new investment. Urban village redevelopment proj- pointments, and some physicians visit one or two days per week from San Antonio, ects are succeeding across the country, and Hillcrest is ripe for such an opportunity.especially, to fill the demand. Of course, many of us find ourselves traveling to San In 2030, will there be fewer than 150 or so households in Hillcrest, or will we seeAntonio or Houston for appointments that cannot be secured in Corpus Christi.new hope for more families and businesses there?San Antonio took a dirty ditch and turned it into one of the countrys top visitorThe solution for filling the personnel void in our healthcare community is multi-fac-attractions, but we in Corpus Christi cant figure out what to do with the most beau- eted, and definitely would be improved by fixing the aforementioned quality of tiful waterfront property in Texas. First Published in 2004. life shortfalls here. However, it seems that the most direct route to attracting and keeping physicians in the Coastal Bend is to bring a medical school branch to Cor-A four-star hotel attached to our magnificent convention center, like what you havepus Christi. Both the Texas A&M and University of Texas systems operate medical in every major city, everywhere. The development of our large and unique T-Headbranches in smaller cities across the state. With the right leadership and a bold vi-and L-Head landmasses, which could have been the other Kemah Boardwalk. Asion, Corpus Christi could attract a medical school branch that would act as the busy and reliable water taxi service between the barge dock, next to the Art Mu- most important step toward maintaining enough physicians to meet the needs of seum of South Texas, and North Beach. The development of Lake Padre on Northour citizensand it could be done by the end of the decade.Padre Island into the Sandestin-style resort it could have been, 20 years ago. TwoWill some or any of this happen by 2030? Our history does not bode well for this new resort hotel properties built on the North Padre Island seawall, where nothinglevel of growth and improvement. But neither did San Antonios before 1980, and new has opened in 50 years. A new, modern, and expanded Bob Hall Pier, home to hotels, restaurants, and entertainment. Improved City and County beaches, main- neither did Austins before 2000. The missing element is always leadership with a tained daily as is done in Port Aransas, including new pavilions and public facilities.vision from someone who is trusted and respected by the People.Do something with the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse, even if cooperation be- That brand of leadership has seldom been seen in a major Texas city as it was in San tween the City of Corpus Christi and Nueces County is grudgingly required. All ofAntonio in the 1980s, a decade which proved to be its greatest. A sleepy Texas city these most-obvious and most-needed improvements should be our shared visionwith a rich history exploded into an international destination that has continued for Corpus Christi in 2030 and a better quality of life for all Coastal Benders. to grow to this day. Mayor Henry Cisneros was the trusted and proven leader who Saving the most important for last, our community is quietly whistling past twotransformed San Antonio and set the stage for the decades of prosperity, earning problems that are literal matters of life and death. his place as one of Americas most successful mayors of the 20th Century.Many of our high school-aged kids, almost-all boys, are enamored with the powerIf only Henry Cisneros would take time to offer his own lessons to our leadersthey feel from possessing firearms. A problem that is in no way unique to Corpusand prospective leadersin Corpus Christi, on these very pages, in our next Christi is costing young lives here on a noticeably-regular basis. In recent months, aedition. If only.The Editor20THE COASTAL BEND GUIDE TheCoastalBend.com'