Changes

After several years in Laredo, Tatangelo became active in local politics. He considered himself a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], but, as an independent businessman, he was more pragmatic than partisan. "I had a summer house in Zapata and learned that they had a fire station manned by volunteers. I thought we could have that in Laredo," he told ''The Laredo Morning Times''. He recruited thirty-nine volunteers, and in 1973, a fire station was built on Del Mar Boulevard across from St. Patrick's Catholic Church.<ref name=lmtgarza/>

After several years in Laredo, Tatangelo became active in local politics. He considered himself a [[Democratic Party|Democrat]], but, as an independent businessman, he was more pragmatic than partisan. "I had a summer house in Zapata and learned that they had a fire station manned by volunteers. I thought we could have that in Laredo," he told ''The Laredo Morning Times''. He recruited thirty-nine volunteers, and in 1973, a fire station was built on Del Mar Boulevard across from St. Patrick's Catholic Church.<ref name=lmtgarza/>

In the middle to late 1970s, some 75 percent of Laredo streets were still unpaved, and Tatangelo challenged the established order that permitted a low standard of achievement. Tatangelo said that [[Cranston]], Rhode Island, a city with which he was familiar because his last surviving sibling, Gilda T. Merolla, resided there, had at that time a population comparable to that of Laredo. Cranston had all paved streets and a $1 million budget. Laredo had a $3 million budget with miles and miles of dirt, dusty roads. Cranston also had to earmark funds for snow and ice clearance, an expense that did not apply to Laredo, with its [[semi-arid]] climate.<ref name=lmtgarza/>

In the middle to late 1970s, some 75 percent of Laredo streets were still unpaved, and Tatangelo challenged the established order that permitted a low standard of achievement. Tatangelo said that Cranston, Rhode Island, a city with which he was familiar because his last surviving sibling, Gilda T. Merolla, resided there, had at that time a population comparable to that of Laredo. Cranston had all paved streets and a $1 million budget. Laredo had a $3 million budget with miles and miles of dirt, dusty roads. Cranston also had to earmark funds for snow and ice clearance, an expense that did not apply to Laredo, with its semi-arid climate.<ref name=lmtgarza/>

Tatangelo attended Laredo City Council meetings and asked Mayor Martin why Laredo had so few paved streets, considering that it had three times the budget of Cranston. Martin, an ally of [[U.S. Senator]] and then [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], replied simply that Laredo was "a poor city." Tatangelo then proposed to donate $6,500 to purchase paving equipment that city employees could use. The mayor and the council rejected Tatangelo's proposal. Tatangelo persisted and, for a full year, he attended every council meeting to discuss street paving. The council eventually agreed to a paving experiment in a six-block area of the San Ignacio neighborhood.<ref name=lmtgarza/><ref name=cbsreports/>

Tatangelo attended Laredo City Council meetings and asked Mayor Martin why Laredo had so few paved streets, considering that it had three times the budget of Cranston. Martin, an ally of [[U.S. Senator]] and then [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]], replied simply that Laredo was "a poor city." Tatangelo then proposed to donate $6,500 to purchase paving equipment that city employees could use. The mayor and the council rejected Tatangelo's proposal. Tatangelo persisted and, for a full year, he attended every council meeting to discuss street paving. The council eventually agreed to a paving experiment in a six-block area of the San Ignacio neighborhood.<ref name=lmtgarza/><ref name=cbsreports/>