Cortines Closes the Whore Houses

Patricio Healy had the map of Ireland on his face but when he opened his mouth he spewed forth a torrent of Spanish. He also spoke English. He was a third generation Mexican, the lead reporter for a large Mexico City daily and a member of the press corps which traveled with President Ruiz Cortines. I met him in Nuevo Laredo where I had traveled after leaving the dedication of Falcon Dam. "I have a scoop for you," he said. After leaving Falcon Dam President Cortines had gone to Nuevo Laredo. Upon arrival he hired a taxi cab and toured the red light district. This was a hodge podge of shacks in the heart of downtown, and the houses were rat infested and dirty and prone to catch on fire. The next morning Cortines called together the leading citizens of Nuevo Laredo, the government officials and anyone with influence. He told them that they must get rid of this fire trap and eyesore. If you wish to replace them, then go outside the city and buy a tract of land and fence it and make an entrance with a police gate and control the traffic, he told them. The president of Mexico has a lot of power in a matter like this, and it was considered an order. So Ruiz Cortines and Patricio Healy went back to Mexico City and two years later a new and orderly red light district was establish on the edge of town, and as far as I know it is still there.