Ethan T. Maldonado 
PHOTO COURTESY CITY OF MCALLEN
After weeks of enforcement actions against downtown bars, the City of McAllen is opening a new chapter: collaboration, according to a city official.
On Sept. 22, City Manager Isaac Tawil met with business owners from the Entertainment and Cultural Overlay District to address concerns and outline a path forward that includes more communication between operators and the city.
Tawil said the meeting, which took place in the City Hall’s Commission Chambers, was prompted by community discussions and confusion over bar requirements following permit revocations and power disconnections in September.
“There seemed to be a significant amount of comments in the community suggesting that either landowners or business operators hadn’t taken the time to educate themselves on the requirements they had to meet,” he told The Rider in an interview Oct. 10. “We wanted to create an open conversation about what the minimum requirements for operating are.”
The conversation followed weeks of heightened enforcement in the district.
On Sept. 2, the city revoked permits for 20 downtown bars, citing operators who failed to implement safeguards against underage drinking, such as ID scanners and ultraviolet ink.
Ten days later, power was disconnected to more than a dozen establishments operating without certificates of occupancy.
Tawil said the meeting began with frustration from some operators but ended productively.
“Most [operators] walked away feeling more informed,” he said. “There was consensus that there are things operators can do to enhance the safe operations of the establishments.”
Some operators, Tawil said, discussed forming their own association, or organized group, to better communicate with the city. He said he encouraged the idea.
“If they do choose to organize themselves, we’re willing to continue engaging with them,” Tawil said.
The city manager acknowledged the recent spike in enforcement and the online reaction to it has helped spark the dialogue.
“Having an open forum and dialogue where proprietors could ask questions and the city could provide information in an open setting … would be beneficial,” he said.
McAllen bar owner James Alexander, of The Flying Walrus, previously said his venue had already adopted required safeguards and wants clearer communication from city officials.
“We want accountability and we want safety, but the communication hasn’t been clear,” Alexander said. “Our door remains open to the city, and we’d like to have a constructive conversation about solutions moving forward.”
Tawil emphasized while enforcement remains in place, collaboration is key to the district’s long-term success, a place where “people can relax, have a good time … and have a fun night out.”
The city manager added he envisions the district as a “lively center for culture and entertainment” in the years ahead and noted many operators have already begun improving their practices.
“We’re already seeing some changes,” Tawil said. “Bars are being much more responsible in their operations. My hope is that this kind of dialogue continues well beyond this moment.”
Mass communication senior Marcus Alvarez said recent changes in downtown are already noticeable.
“Now that more places are using scanners and stricter checks, it feels a lot safer,” Alvarez said.
Mass communication senior Paolo Santiago said the conversation should not stop at rule changes.
“For downtown to really change, the culture has to change,” Santiago said. “It can get messy, and that’s what makes people feel unsafe.”
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