That's right, I wrote a letter to Oprah!

Yeah that's right, I'm one of those people.....But I feel it important to give thanks to those who deserve it. And Oprah does. She's one of those people who is blessed with the ability to really make people see their own self worth. And she's done that for me, so I wrote this note to her.


Well I felt compelled to write you because I think this is partially your fault.


I have a certain love affair for the downtown area of my city. I love downtown areas. I think they are the heart of the city, any city. Well my downtown (Corpus Christi, TX) has been neglected for decades. I've always felt that it was a crying shame to see such wonderful property fall into delapidation and an eyesore.

It wasn't until I formed a group of artists called Coastal Bend Artists that I became really aware of the problems there. We started having art shows with our version of First Friday called ArtWalk in downtown. And I would invite people to come and some were afraid to go because they thoguht it was dangerous or they felt there would be not much to do.

Soon I got involved with a group called Downtown Management District and am really getting know what is really going on down there. It's a lot of up hill battling but slowly and surely there are gains being made. Our city council is a lot more progressive and so is our (now second term) mayor. Then I found there is a group called Destination Bayfront that is really working hard towards giving our waterfront a MUCH needed facelift. I've attached their PDF link only because I think its 89 pages of awesomeness!

So I thought I could sit on these boards, throw in my two cents when I felt it necessary and vote as I wish and just let that be that. But then things started happening. I started getting these whispers (you know the ones....they make you go, Oh? OK. even though it makes no real sense at the time) and people were suddenly in my path that I thought, "Hey, I need to be more proactive." So now I've got some people coming into town (Site Source USA--a scouting company for retail/restaurant investors and some individual investors from the Austin area) for a walk about. I've set up a meeting where I've given them all the info they needed (tax incentive info and the Destination Bayfront PDF) and then we're going to walk the downtown area and see the buildings and the possibilities. And hopefully get some great investors to set down roots and stay!

Thing is, I've never thought I would be doing something like this. I'm an operator for a car dealership and an artist. I am in the class of the working poor. I live with my elderly mother because she needs me and because I couldn't really afford to live on my own. Who am I to be showing people around like this? Who am I to think that I will make a difference in this city? I am Laurette Iris Escobar, that's who. Through God's good grace (and nudging) I'm paying attention! Also, I thank God that he put you on t.v. You are one of the people in my life who have taught me that it is enough just to be Laurette Iris Escobar, my little sister is the other person in my life to make me know that.

I don't know if this is going to work, me taking these people around showing them downtown. They seem genuinely interested in the tax incentives the city has to offer and the work Destination Bayfront is doing. They also seem to really appreciate my passion and work. Life is really great. I may not have much, as far as stuff or nice stuff, but I am hugely blessed.

Destination Bayfront

If you know of any investors who might want to have a go at revitalizing CC's downtown, PLEASE send them my way! I'd really would like to help in making downtown the jewel it should be.

Thank you for all you do. I sincerely mean that. I'm sad to see the show gone but we all have to move on, don't we?


So see, it wasn't sacarine or anything. It's just a statement of the facts of my life right now.