Beyond the Bite

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, Eddie Aldrete sits down with Texas Transportation Commissioner and long-time friend Alex Meade — not just to talk policy, but to tell the story of a problem-solver who believes progress begins with listening.Meade’s journey starts long before his appointment to the Texas Transportation Commission. From his days in city management to his work in economic development, he learned that big challenges are rarely solved from behind a desk. So, when he joined the Commission, he did something almost unheard of: within his first year, he personally visited all 25 TxDOT district offices. Only one other commissioner had ever done it.What he found wasn’t just a list of projects — it was a patchwork of priorities, personalities, and regional realities. And the lesson wasn’t about asphalt or appropriations. It was about consensus. Meade makes the case that in Texas, the greatest barrier to progress isn’t always funding — it’s alignment. His diplomatic style, grounded in respect and accessibility, has become his most effective tool.That approach was tested in one of the most complicated regional efforts in recent memory: the merger of three Metropolitan Planning Organizations in the Rio Grande Valley. Encouraged by Governor Greg Abbott, the task meant bringing together 47 cities — each with its own leadership, interests, and history — under one unified planning structure. What could have become a turf battle instead became a blueprint for collaborat ion. Through persistence, patience, and a steady focus on shared goals, the Valley emerged stronger and more influential in statewide transportation decisions.Throughout the conversation, Meade reflects on the leaders who shaped him — especially the late Transportation Commission Chairman Bruce Bugg. Bugg wasn’t just a chairman; he was a mentor and an advocate who understood that relationships move projects. Meade speaks of him with genuine warmth — recalling a leader who championed the Valley, believed deeply in Texas’ future, and modeled what it meant to serve with humility. His legacy isn’t just measured in miles of roadway, but in the people he brought together. It’s clear that Bugg’s spirit of collaboration continues to guide Meade’s work today.In the end, this episode is less about transportation policy and more about the art of bringing people together. Alex Meade shares how diplomacy, accessibility, and steady leadership can turn competing interests into common purpose — and how, in a fast-growing state like Texas, consensus may be our most valuable resource of all.https://www.txdot.gov/about/leadership/texas-transportation-commission/alejandro-meade.htmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-meade-114b14205/

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete sits down with David McArthur, candidate for Texas House District 121, and Adam Blanchard, CEO of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics, for an in-depth discussion on the upcoming state representative race and the latest issues impacting Texas communities and businesses.The conversation kicks off with with McArthur discussing his campaign – from his background working for President George W. Bush to his motivations for running for office. McArthur shares his experiences walking the district, engaging with everyday concerns about property taxes, education, and public safety.A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to hot-button legislative issues, especially lawsuit reform. Blanchard provides a behind-the-scenes look at the impact of abusive lawsuits on the trucking and logistics business, laying out how fraudulent claims are driving insurance rates up for everyone—from business owners to consumers at the grocery store. What follows is a discussion of incumbent Marc LaHood’s voting record, especially on critical business and legal reforms.Throughout, Aldrete keeps the conversation practical and focused, asking what makes Texas great, why public service matters, and how listeners—especially business owners—can get more involved in local elections.The episode wraps up with a call to action on voting in upcoming primaries, reflections on leadership and trust, and details on how and voters can engage.Key topics include:Why leadership and honesty matter in public officeThe economic impact of lawsuit abuse on businesses and consumersProperty taxes and priorities for Texas familiesThe importance of voting in primary electionsWhat makes Texas a great place to live and do businessFor more information:https://www.mcarthurfortexas.com/https://www.facebook.com/mcarthurfortexashttps://www.dd-transport.com/https://www.tanagerlogistics.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-blanchard-19042735/

In this episode, Host Eddie Aldrete sits down with Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones for an in-depth discussion about her upbringing, career, and the unique challenges of representing one of the most diverse and fastest-growing county commission precincts in Texas. Commissioner Briones shares her background as the daughter of two educators from Laredo, her journey through Harvard and Yale, and how her experiences on the Texas border and at prestigious universities have shaped her commitment to public service and educational opportunities.The conversation explores key issues facing Harris County Precinct 4, including public safety, infrastructure, and the balancing act between rapid growth and essential services. Briones details efforts to improve law enforcement recruitment through competitive pay, the advancement of flood mitigation projects, and the importance of collaborative partnerships with public and private sectors to deliver innovative solutions in transportation, green space, and disaster preparedness. She also outlines her approach to early childhood education investments, emphasizing the need for scalability, sustainability, and data-driven planning.Briones and Aldrete touch on local government dynamics, budget challenges, and the significance of transparency and respect in leadership. The episode covers recent county budget decisions, cooperation with various regional organizations, and Briones’s ongoing priorities—from preparing Harris County to host the World Cup to strengthening community resilience against natural disasters. Throughout, Briones underscores her dedication to ensuring that Harris County not only keeps up with growth but also harnesses its diversity and resources to improve quality of life for all residents.

In this episode, Eddie Aldrete sits down with Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock for a deep dive into fiscal management and government transparency, with a special focus on municipal spending and indebtedness. Hancock explains how his business background drives his mission to bring efficiency, accountability, and urgency to state government, but he also stresses why monitoring and communicating about local (municipal and school district) debt is a top priority for the Comptroller’s office. He reveals that Texas’ strong statewide fiscal position is threatened by the rapid growth of local government debt—a burden that is inevitably passed on to property taxpayers.Throughout the conversation, Hancock warns that excessive municipal spending and recurring bond cycles allow local governments to sidestep delivering real property tax relief, despite concerted efforts by state leaders to lower rates. He believes honest, transparent communication about local indebtedness is essential, since cities and school districts often continue issuing new debt as old bonds are paid off, preventing meaningful reductions in taxpayers’ bills. To this end, Comptroller Hancock has introduced new online platforms created to empower Texas voters and taxpayers to track debt and spending in their communities, making it easier for citizens to hold local officials accountable and understand the impact of financial decisions.https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/local/hb103/The episode also explores important reforms driven or overseen by Hancock, such as ending procurement preferences based on race or gender, focusing support on disabled veterans, and rolling out Texas Education Freedom Accounts created by the school voucher bill in the last session of the Texas Legislature. All these policy moves underscore his larger goal: ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely at every level of government. Hancock makes it clear that no matter how strong Texas’ overall economy, unchecked municipal debt and irresponsible spending have direct, long-term consequences for everyone—and it’s the Comptroller’s duty to shine a light on these issues for the benefit of all Texans.https://comptroller.texas.gov/https://www.kellyhancock.com/

In this episode of Beyond the Bite, host Eddie Aldrete welcomes back returning guest Rudy Garza for an in-depth conversation about the current and future challenges facing CPS Energy and the broader San Antonio community. The discussion opens with a look at recent board changes at CPS Energy, highlighting the appointment of Dr. Erika Gonzalez and her impressive background in both business and civic leadership. Garza offers insights into the rigorous selection process and expresses optimism about the new board member’s impact, while Aldrete touches on the city’s growing energy needs and the unique role San Antonio plays as a crucial hub in the ERCOT system.The conversation quickly shifts to the dramatic pace of growth in San Antonio—recently named the fastest-growing city in the nation—and the complex balancing act CPS Energy must endure to maintain both reliability and affordability. Garza provides behind-the-scenes details on major decisions, such as acquiring gas plants to save time and money rather than building new ones, and outlines the significant investments being made in renewable energy, battery storage, and high-voltage transmission upgrades. He emphasizes the critical nature of customer engagement and transparency, noting historic highs in satisfaction scores, and describes how CPS Energy is proactively planning to meet both traditional residential growth and the influx of high-demand industrial customers like data centers.The episode also covers timely policy debates, including discussions at city council about the siting and regulation of data centers, as well as CPS Energy’s approach to potential rate increases. Garza details the decision-making process on when to seek rate support, strategies to ensure large new customers bear their fair share of costs, and the ongoing effort to engage the community via surveys, town halls, and direct outreach. Wrapping up, both speakers reaffirm CPS Energy’s commitment to transparency, community partnership, and forward-thinking planning as San Antonio navigates its rapidly evolving energy landscape for San Antonio and South Texas.https://www.cpsenergy.com/en/about-us/horizon-2050.htmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rudy-d-garza-sa/https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-gonzalez-allergist/