TONIGHT: A SALSA SEND OFF TO THE LATIN JAZZ FESTIVAL

(Ed.'s Note: This year's hugely successful Latin Jazz Festival caps off a 21-year run that started when recent immigrant George Ramirez came up with the idea of bringing Latin jazz to Brownsville. Now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Ramirez has been a major force in bringing people back to our blighted downtown area.

The very first festival featured Tito Puente "El Rey de los Timbales" and his revue. Since then Brownsville residents have been treated to a veritable encyclopedia of salsa and Latin jazz stars from throughout the Caribbean and champion salsa dancers from Oaxaca.

At last night's Adams Street bash, one entire block was filled with people and dancers. Nothing else – except for the Freddie Gomez Conjunto Festival or Charro Days, perhaps, – can even come close to drawing those size crowds. And the credit has to go not only to Ramirez, but to a core of people who over the years have championed the resurrection of downtown and put their money where their mouths are.

Now, we know that one week a year does not make, but Ramirez and that cadre of downtown believers have given us an anchor from where to launch the effort to make downtown Brownsville vibrant again. See you in front of the Capitol Theater tonight!