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Lopez Wants Old Highway 90 Renamed For Enrique Barrera

Ryan Loyd
/
Texas Public Radio

In his State- of-the-District address, District 6 city Councilman Ray Lopezunveiled his idea to rename Old Highway 90 after former councilman, activist and school board president Enrique Barrera.

Barrera died nearly six years ago, but according to Lopez and family members left a mark on the community he served.

"This is a wonderful blessing," said Leticia Barrera, Enrique’s wife. "He left a lot of good things in this community."

Lopez said the idea comes from the revitalization and the redevelopment to come; he thought the Old Highway 90 name would keep the west side from mentally progressing forward.

"Why in the world would we have anything old right in the middle of our revitalization? We won't," he declared to business leaders and community members Wednesday at his address.

Lopez also wants to focus on economic development, infrastructure and public safety in his district.

"If we don't take advantage of it correctly, we are going to suffer the kinds of problems that other cities in the country are suffering," he said.

Edgewood ISD board president Joseph Guerra understands that progress takes time.

“And it takes money, and sometimes money is not there. We have one pot. We have to share it amongst the 10 districts, so we'll do that. We just don't want to be forgotten,” he said.

On his to do list is expediting road improvements, Lopez also showed models of updated street lights and greenery in the district.

He says the work can't slow down because progress will eventually overtake them.

Ryan Loyd was Texas Public Radio's city beat and political reporter. He left the organization in December, 2014.