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Palmview proclaims April Fair Housing Month, marks National Crime Victims' Rights Week; police outline victim services and April 16 community event
Summary
Mayor Ricardo Villarreal issued proclamations recognizing Fair Housing Month and National Crime Victims' Rights Week. The Palmview Police Department described expanded victim services — a 'victim's closet,' a 911 cell-phone bank partnership and an outreach event, 'Chalupa and Chisme,' set for April 16 at 6 p.m. at the city youth center.
Mayor Ricardo Villarreal proclaimed April 2025 as Fair Housing Month and designated a week in April 2025 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week during the Palmview City Commission meeting on April 1.
The proclamations were delivered as part of the meeting's opening recognitions. The Fair Housing proclamation referenced the federal Fair Housing Act of April 11, 1968, saying the law “ensured… the goal of eliminating racial segregation and ending housing discrimination in the United States.” The victims' rights proclamation noted the Palmview Police Department's work with the Hidalgo County Criminal District Attorney's Office and local advocates.
The proclamation text and the police presentation matter, officials said, because they draw attention to local services for survivors and invite community partnerships. “I, Ricardo Villarreal, mayor of the city of Palmview… do hereby proclaim the month of April 2025 as Fair Housing Month,” Mayor Villarreal said while reading the proclamation.
Police leadership then described several victim-support initiatives the department has launched or expanded this fiscal year. The department said it has partnered with a nonprofit 911 cell-phone bank that refurbishes donated phones, wipes data and issues them to victims who lack a working device. “We joined them December sixth of 2024… we've already issued out 3 cell phones to victims,” the Police Chief said, noting one model provided is 911-only while other phones can be provisioned with temporary service in certain circumstances.
The department also described plans for a “victim's closet” at the Palmview Police Department that will offer clothing, hygiene items and comfort supplies to victims and to nearby smaller victim-service units on request. Local businesses — Doctor's Choice and Apple Pharmacy — donated $250 each for the closet, and Lowe's and Home Depot provided shelving and storage bins, the chief said.
To promote services and outreach, the department invited residents to its community event, described as “Chalupa and Chisme,” scheduled for April 16 at 6 p.m. at the city youth center gym. The chief said the event will combine information presentations by service providers with games and prize donations from local nonprofits and businesses.
Representatives from the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office and community nonprofits spoke in support. Ruben Piqueno, criminal investigator with the Hidalgo County DA's Office, said the work to prevent and serve victims must reach young people: “It's an epidemic that has been going on in in in our culture for a long time,” Piqueno said, urging sustained prevention and education.
The commission noted ways residents can contribute: the police department plans an April cell-phone drive and asked that donated phones be dropped off at the police department. The victim's closet will be housed at the police department, officials said.
The proclamations and presentations concluded with thanks from commissioners and community partners; no formal vote was required to issue the proclamations.
