On his way to a U.N. meeting, Mexican president Felipe Calderon recently visited their colonies (link) and met with the mayor of New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jim Cahill. That's him pictured right along with Calderon and his wife.

Among other things, Calderon promoted what's called "regional integration" and promised to build a new consulate in Cahill's city. You can contact him through officeofthemayor *at* cityofnewbrunswick.org

Not only that, but Calderon said that at a public school (Lord Stirling Elementary School). Contact the NBPS superintendent Richard Kaplan at richard_kaplan *at* nbps.k12.nj.us

Apparently the promise of the consulate was prompted by some groups [1], with Calderon saying:

"It seems to me a fair demand, so this is what we'll do, we'll put a consulate here in New Brunswick"... he said a regional approach is needed to build sound economies in North America, including the United States, Mexico and Canada. "Relaunching the economy will not happen if we don't think as a region," he said, adding that a strong in the United States must include immigration reform... "It is my personal conviction that migration is a natural social-economic phenomenon that cannot be stopped by decree... What we need to do is channel it and direct it for the prosperity of our society... One day Mexico will have the conditions to generate work and schools sufficient so that never again you have to leave due to hunger... [however, just not now]."

[1] Those quoted include the following:
* Cesar Zuniga, "who is in charge of health programs at New York City-based Casa Puebla"

* Teresa Vivar, 'the president of Lazos America Unida in New Brunswick"

* "Perth Amboy's Fernando Garcia, a construction worker studying small business management at Middlesex County College... [and] the treasurer of the Mexican Association of Perth Amboy