Number 20

Whataburger leaves Corpus Christi. Yesterday, the fast food chain announced they were relocating their headquarters from Corpus to San Antonio. First, of course they're moving. San Antonio has far more resources for a large company and a much higher quality of life for their employees. HEB made the same move 23 years ago after headquartering in Corpus for 45 years. This shouldn't come as a shock that an organization with the means would pack up and high-tail it out of here, but it shouldn't be as big a concern either. The City Council and Economic Development board is concerned only with number of jobs and average salary, but never with the type of jobs and quality of life: "The types of jobs leaving the area are high-paying, technical jobs. These are the types of jobs the area is trying to attract, Mower said [caller times]." And that is why companies leave. Because we focus on the numbers instead of the substance behind them. What city would want to pin its reputation on petrochemicals and fast food anyway? Corpus' natural resources are bittersweet. On the one hand they offer obvious and plentiful economic opportunity, but on the other they blind our civic leaders to the creative energy and potential of our citizens. It's been said that businesses won't invest in the city of Corpus because the city won't invest in itself. Whataburger and HEB are proof of that. Our infrastructure is crumbling, we permit industry to exploit our neighbors, our city is dangerous and our citizens are poorly educated. A city is a place to live not just a resource for business, the Council would do well to remember that.