The City of McAllen is considering selling its only full-size performing arts theatre, the McAllen Civic Center! This would be a tremendous blow to the local performing arts community, as that would leave no suitable space for stage performances of many kinds, including dance recitals and shows, symphony and chorale performances and Broadway touring productions.

If you'd like to help convince the city officials to change their minds about selling, and instead renovate and repair the Civic Center, here is some information for you.

Put December 13 on your calendar. That is when the next City Commission meeting will be held. Show up and let them know you support saving the Civic Center.

Regular Meetings of the McAllen Board of Commission are every second and fourth Monday of the month, convening at 4:00 p.m. at the City Commissions Chambers on the 3rd floor at City Hall located at 1300 West Houston Avenue. These meetings are open to the public excluding the executive sessions, which are closed to the public by state law. Every meeting has a time for public comments. The time for public comments is usually about 6 p.m. It's best to show up at 5:45 p.m. to make sure you don't miss the opportunity to let the city commissioners and mayor know how you feel about saving the civic center. Each person making public comments is limited to five minutes.

There is also a Facebook page where you let your voice be heard on this matter: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Petition-to-Save-the-Civic-Center-Auditorium-Please-Help/171878546171446

Note from Sylvania (Bunny) Woerpel
(Bunny holds a degree in dance, and is still using dance in her current program FitTap in San Diego.)

How sad...

to take the opportunity away from adults and children to enjoy the arts at the Civic Center.

Shameful. There is much retail in McAllen, and I am sure other space options to expand retail than to knock down the Civic Center. It has been a tradition and a historical place for generations with PRICELESS value to many, not easily measured in "dollars".

Yes, maybe on paper the Civic Center has "broken even", but consider the immense value it has. It keeps McAllen on the map offering a venue for arts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Why replace the Civic Center with retail and food establishments that will continue to keep McAllen on the map as one of the unhealthiest places in the nation, instead of one that continues to value the importance of it's traditional value?

I hope McAllen will decide to continue to provide children and adults a place for music and dance, inspiring them for a culturally rich life in McAllen.

I hope, like you Melba, that those who hold the future of the children in your hands will give them a place to dream.

The Civic Center was the first place I ever heard a symphony, saw a play and danced year after year on stage in countless recitals.

Priceless!

Bunny