Dollars from Mexico

This may be the new norm if you ask me. Deservedly so. I mean, if you were a Mexican, would you want to visit the USA and spend your money here? Check this from the Statesman today:

SAN MARCOS — For years, the outlet malls in San Marcos have bustled with Mexican tourists looking for deals. Mexican license plates dotted the parking lot, and it was common to see people piling out of tour buses to do their shopping.

“I haven’t seen a bus in a while,” said Bradley Tanksley, store manager of New York, New York, after hanging a long gown on a rack above his head on a recent weekday. “We’ve had a lot more people from around here and the states, the closer states, but not a lot from Mexico.”

And hardly any Mexican license plates were to be seen in the lot just outside the store’s window.

San Marcos officials say sales tax revenue from February, based on January sales, was down about 9 percent, or $200,697, compared with the same month last year. They believe, at least in part, that the decrease is a result of fewer foreign travelers, particularly those from Mexico, making the city their shopping destination.

This marks the second consecutive decrease after January revenues saw a drop of more than 3 percent. Retail sales took a hit of almost 10 percent in January but were partially offset by a 9 percent increase in accommodation and food sales and a 36 percent increase in wholesale.

And:

The dip in sales tax revenue made sense to many shoppers at Tanger on a recent weekday. Carrying a bag with a new stuffed animal for his child from the Disney Store, Garvin Biscette, 40, said he had no doubt that the slowdown in international travel is a reaction to Trump’s political rhetoric and actions on immigration.

“I think that a lot of people will avoid America because of his policies,” said Biscette, who is originally from the Caribbean but lives in Austin now. “And that’s going to hurt the economy.”

I wonder how many of those folks who work at the outlet mall voted for Trump? Just asking.

The Brits put Trump and Sean Spicer in their place so to speak. Check this AP story. I would say that Sean Spicer and Trump are running out of excuses but I won’t. They will keep making up lies. Check this AP story:

LONDON (AP) — A spokesman for Britain’s prime minister says the White House has promised that it won’t repeat a claim that U.K. spies snooped on U.S. President Donald Trump.

Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman, James Slack, says the British government has made it clear to the U.S. that the “ridiculous” claims should be ignored. He said Friday that Washington has assured Britain they will not be repeated.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer on Thursday cited Fox News analyst Andrew Napolitano, who suggested that the British electronic surveillance agency GCHQ had helped former President Barack Obama spy on Trump before last year’s presidential election.

GCHQ took the unusual step of releasing a statement calling the claims “nonsense.”

It said “they are utterly ridiculous and should be ignored.”

According to a story I read yesterday, some prominent Irish-American musicians declined invitations to perform yesterday at the White House St. Patrick’s Day reception. Not to worry. Toby O’Keith filled in at the last minute.

Commentary is wearing green socks today.

Speaking of green, how many MLB clubs have green on their uniforms?

Commentary checked out “Kong: Skull Island” in 3D and IMAX. There wasn’t a dull moment. There were some bad arse creatures in the flick and a couple were downright filthy. If you go check it out and if you are not in a hurry stay through the entire credits. They tease you afterwards about the next Kong flick with “Gozeela”, err Godzilla. Toward the end of the credits they mention Godzilla so I guess it was for the tease a minute or so later. Oh, this Kong is certainly the baddest.

Surprisingly, only two, ok three MLB clubs wear the green on a regular basis, the A’s and the Mariners of course, both AL West teams, and the D-Backs wear on some uniforms a turquoise so that is kind of green

A lot of teams will be sporting the St. Patrick’s Day green today.

From SportsOnEarth.com:

Houston Astros

No, I’m not identifying the Astros as a team all that likely to sell midseason. But the fact that a 7-17 April last year basically torched their season will invite plenty of public — and, perhaps, internal — anxiety should 2017 not start well.

At the moment, Houston is placing a big bet on its in-house rotation options, including a recovering Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers. Not for lack of effort, they didn’t land any of the big fish in the pitching trade market, and it will be interesting to see if that comes back to bite them or if all the concern about their starting set proves to be much ado about nothing.

This looks like a strong team with a more balanced offense, and, even with Jose Quintana still with the White Sox, the Astros are a popular pick to win the AL West. Still, they have a lot to prove as a result of the way last season unfolded — or, rather, unraveled.