Brownsville at Large with Tino Villarreal Jr.

The future of Brownsville isn’t something that will happen to us, it’s something we’re building right now. Brownsville is experiencing one of the most significant periods of growth in its history. From major infrastructure investments and economic development opportunities to housing, public safety, and long-term planning, the decisions being made today will shape our city for generations to come....

Brownsville is growing at a rapid pace… If we want our community to compete in the future then education and workforce development have to lead the way. I sit down with Veronica Gonzales from UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to talk about how the City and UTRGV are working together through the “Task Force of the Future” to align growth, opportunity, and workforce needs. We talk ab...

Texas legend Vince Young joins Commissioner Tino Villarreal Jr. on Brownsville At Large for a powerful conversation about football, family, leadership, adversity, and inspiring the next generation. From Madison High School to the University of Texas, from the unforgettable national championship win over USC to becoming an NFL quarterback, Vince Young shares the lessons that shaped his life on and...

Brownsville is not just growing, it is entering one of the most transformative moments in its history. In this episode of Brownsville at Large, Commissioner Tino Villarreal Jr. sits down with Mayor John Cowen Jr. for a powerful and timely conversation following his sold-out State of the City: Progress with Prosperity. More than a recap, this is a real look at the momentum building in Brownsville a...

🎙️ Brownsville at Large - Season 2, Episode 6: Gustavo de Leon (District 3)What’s happening in District 3?In this episode of Brownsville at Large, I sit down with District 3 Commissioner Gustavo De Leon to talk about the projects, challenges, and opportunities shaping one of the most active districts in our city. We cover a lot of ground from the new Public Safety Complex, the future of the Browns...

Brownsville at Large - Season 2, Episode 5: Andrea Benton, Community Relations Director, NextDecade (Rio Grande LNG) Brownsville is growing, and one of the biggest reasons is happening right now at the Port of Brownsville. In Episode 5 of Brownsville at Large, I sat down with Andrea Benton from NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG project to break down what residents are seeing along Highway 48 and what it...

What happens to our local sales-tax dollars, and how does that investment actually show up in your everyday life? In this episode of Brownsville at Large, Commissioner Tino Villarreal Jr. sits down with Cori Peña, President & CEO of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC), one of the City of Brownsville’s two economic development organizations (Type B EDC).Cori breaks down wha...

Brownsville is stepping into 2026 with momentum and this episode puts the spotlight on District 2. Host Commissioner at Large Tino Villarreal Jr. sits down with Commissioner Linda C. Macias (District 2) for a deep, informative conversation about what’s moving the needle right now: quality-of-life projects, parks and recreation equity, flood mitigation efforts, smart planning & zoning decisions...

Brownsville’s most active district is being rebuilt from the ground up with affordable housing, historic restorations, Old 77, riverfront, and a new bridge. District 4 is on the move. From historic building restorations to major street reconstructions, Commissioner Pedro Cardenas joins Host Tino Villarreal Jr. to break down one of the most active moments in Brownsville’s growth. In this episode, t...

Brownsville is not the same city it was ten years ago. In the Season 2 premiere of Brownsville at Large, Commissioner Tino Villarreal Jr. sits down with City Manager Helen Ramirez, the first female city manager in Brownsville’s 171-year history, to talk about the projects and decisions that are reshaping Brownsville, Texas for the next 20 years. From SpaceX growth and the Port of Brownsville, to t...

🎙️ Brownsville at Large | Episode 9 - Ramiro GonzalezIn this episode of Brownsville at Large, I sit down with Ramiro Gonzalez, Director of Development for Origo Works, to discuss some of the most exciting projects shaping Brownsville’s future. From the revitalization of the Sable Center formerly known as El Globo or North Park Plaza to the restoration of the historic Palm Village, Origo is reimagi...

🎙️ Episode Eight of Brownsville At Large is now live! This week, I sat down with Dr. Jesús Chávez, Superintendent of Brownsville Independent School District, to talk about the upcoming November bond election —a major decision for our community with two propositions totaling more than $460 million . 👉 Proposition A (the larger portion) will address much-needed renovations across 39 schools , inclu...

🎙️ Brownsville at Large | Episode 6: “Texas, Space, and the Next Great Frontier – with Norman Garza” Hosted by Commissioner Tino Villarreal, Jr. 🚀 Episode Summary: In this powerful episode of Brownsville at Large , I sit down with Norman Garza , the Director of the Texas Space Commission , to explore how our state and specifically Brownsville is being positioned as a critical hub in the future of...

🎙️ Brownsville at Large Episode 5 - Featuring Bill Dietrich, CEO of the Port of Brownsville by Commissioner Tino Villarreal Welcome to Brownsville at Large , where we highlight the people, projects, and possibilities shaping the future of our city. In this episode, Commissioner Tino Villarreal sits down with Bill Dietrich, CEO of the Port of Brownsville—one of the most powerful economic engines in...

🎙️ Welcome to Brownsville at Large , the official podcast of Commissioner Tino Villarreal. In this powerful fourth episode, Commissioner Villarreal sits down with Gilbert Salinas , CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC), to unpack the bold economic vision that’s propelling Brownsville into a new era of growth. Recorded in the heart of the city’s momentum, this conversation ex...

Episode 2 of “Brownsville at Large” Listen NOW... This week’s guest is Michael J. Limas — partner at Ramblas Hospitality Group and the mind behind Brownsville favorites like Le Rêve , Boqueron, Las Ramblas at Market Square , and 1848 BBQ... We dive into: a. The evolution of downtown nightlife b. First Fridays and local culture downtown c. Economic growth in Brownsville and other downtown hotspots...

Welcome to Brownsville at Large, the official podcast of Commissioner Tino Villarreal. In this powerful first episode, Commissioner Villarreal sits down with Mayor John Cowen Jr. to unpack the key initiatives from the 2025 State of the City Address — titled “Edge of the Future.” Recorded at the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center, this conversation dives deep into how Brownsville is pos...

🎙️ Rayyan Farooqui is a standout student at IDEA Brownsville and Vice Chairman of the City of Brownsville’s Youth Advisory Board. As a first-generation college-bound student with a passion for aerospace engineering, he’s already making an impact through leadership roles in NHS, Rotary, and Student Government.🚀 In Brownsville at Large Episode 3 as Rayyon shares - Insights on the newly established...

Episode 7 of Brownsville at Large is LIVE! 🎙️ This week, I sit down with Doroteo Garcia Jr. , our City Engineer, to break down the truth about our streets and drainage — what’s being fixed, what’s planned, and how our $382 million Capital Improvement Plan is delivering results you can already see. ✅ 50+ streets are being rebuilt, repaved, and renewed this year alone . ✅ Historic investment in dr...