Andy Ruiz spent part of his life in Imperial, California. Imperial County, or Valley, is a desert valley below sea level, that has reclaimed the land through irrigation from the Colorado River. It is like a giant greenhouse, and crops are grown almost year round.
It is also poor. Migrants from Mexican legally cross the border at 4 a.m. on buses that take them to fields north. And everyone who wants to buy something cheap, goes to Mexico. Include chain stores that send corporate profits out, etc.
Andy Ruiz Jr. visiting is a one time thing, and the people deserve to see and participate a fun celebration with him. Yes a parade. Yes, some sort of event that can handle all the cars and traffic and crowds of people.
The challenge is between the city of Imperial and the county of Imperial. The fairgrounds are County run. The city wants to know who will pay for traffic control of a parade. The county wants to charge people to park their vehicles, enter a secure fairgrounds, buy local products, see their hero, and buy something else before they leave the city.
The community is poor. We need jobs. We need something that does not mean having to put on a uniform just to get a chance to get out.
It is up to Andy Ruiz to decide how he spends his time in Imperial.
In my opinion, the eyes of the world are following Mr. Ruiz, and that means, where he goes, the world will see what he sees and hears and witnesses.
So if Mr. Ruiz wants to check out the New River at the Border, the Salton Sea, or some local schools, churches, charities, etc that benefits the community, that means the world will learn of that, and can potentially send some support.
Thank you, and congratulations again to Andy Ruiz! (Did you train at the EC Armory?)
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