Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Monday, December 15, 2014
Future Downtown Police Substation Gets Temporary Duty As Art Gallery
Future Police Substation at 615 E. 11th Street |
Ms. Argueta gave us a quick tour of the gallery, including a laminated wood sculpture, a piece utilizing wire coat hangers and wall art made from a piece of an antique chair recovered from a Brownsville alley.
Art Director Lourdes Argueta |
"This will be an art gallery until February when the Brownsville Police Department takes over the space," stated the artist.
Brownsville Downtown Redevelopment Director, Ramiro Gonzalez agreed: "We didn't want to simply leave the space empty. We have enough of that already in downtown. Lourdes approached us with this idea and we think it makes good use of the space."
Friday, December 12, 2014
Two Other Firms Consider Launching Rockets from Boca Chica, Sick Sossi Attends GBIC Meeting via Skype
GBIC Contract Attorney Sossi on Skype |
A resourceful City Attorney Mark Sossi, rose from his sick bed to join the meeting via Skype, perhaps mindful of the $5,000 per month stipend he receives from the GBIC for part-time legal advice. With the absence of David Betancourt and Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa, Ed Sikes served as chairman.
Gilberto Salinas |
Salinas spoke of Project Panther and Project Nocturnal, entailing two firms that want to do launches from Boca Chica, but on "a smaller scale" than Space Exploration Technologies, SpaceX. Perhaps, all of us should pay our eight mile long pristine beach one last nostalgic visit before the commercial launches begin in 2016.
SpaceX has already erected a "temporary building" on site, according to Salinas, with "solar panels" for energy. Project Stargate, a partnership between UTB and SpaceX, has commenced.
Project Sizzle, involving a Finnish firm's intention to build a metal foundry at the Port of Brownsville, will "hopefully receive a commitment" in early 2015. Salinas gushes that the project has "grown" from a single foundry to "two foundries and a machine plant." He cautions that "we're" still in competition with Monterrey, Mexico for the project and that "over 3,000 jobs" are on the line. Salinas admits that wages would be lower in Monterrey, but iterates that power is three times as expensive in Mexico as in Brownsville.
In rapid-fire Salinas touches on Project Front Door, Project Ladder, Project Mandarin and Project Islander.
One of the above is a plan for a Canadian company to create a distribution center for frozen chicken to be shipped into Mexico. The hope is that the firm will utilize 200,000 square feet of the defunct Titan Tire building. Brownsville is competing with "three other states" for that project.
Governor-Elect Greg Abbott |
Saturday, December 6, 2014
City Insider Critical of Assistant City Manager Ruth Osuna's Management Style
Assistant City Manager Ruth Ozuna |
"Jim,
You are going after the wrong side. Brownsville's problems are almost exclusively management problems.
Ruth Osuna is trying to continue a life on the gravy train of municipal employment. She is a lifer. Look at her career. Most recently she was fired from a city in Arizona. Fired for poor management decisions. Yet, she was hired here. Why?"
The reader includes a photostatic copy of an article from The Eloy Enterprise from Eloy, Arizona dated October 3, 2013. The article relates that the City Commission of Eloy, by a 4-3 vote, decided not to renew Ruth Osuna's contract with the city that ended December 6, 2013. So, she was not actually "fired," as the anonymous correspondent claimed, but her contract was not renewed. The Enterprise article cites a claim by city employees that changes made to vacation and sick leave policy during Osuna's tenure as City Manager were "unlawful."
City Manager Charlie Cabler |
"Look at Mr. Cabler. Mr Medina took the fall for all the decisions made by Mr. Cabler. Mr. Medina was a bad manager for sure. He continued a long term secretary whom he promoted well beyond her ability. When he was fired(quit); he took a job at a nearby city and hired as his secretary that same secretary."
(The writer also included a copy of a letter from HUD to the city detailing several millions of dollars of mishandled projects by the City of Brownsville. We will include that letter in a subsequent article.)
The letter continues: "You are trying to find something wrong often with the only altruistic people who care the most about our City. If you sit back and look at it, it has always been a City management problem. The Human Resources department is incompetent beyond belief. How else would they recommend a most recently fired manager. Ruth was sent home, forced to take days off, just a few months after she got here for poor decisions, but she has now made it past her 6 month probation period. Now she can exhale on the municipal gravy train. Who else is on that?
If you quote some of this, I will keep fresh information coming your way.
Most of the elected officials are doing good by the City. Rose and the Mayor are individually self-made wealthy people who could be doing better things with their time than to be dealing with this stupid management. They do it because they really want a better place for the people here. Not enough of the commissioners are supportive of firing Cabler and the HR director and all the other idiots. Idiots raised to the level of management, the ones here at least, are afraid to hire good smart people because they make management look bad. That is how they see it. It is a position of defense. Smart management does not do that. Really, simply, they are not smart enough, nor well read enough, nor educated enough.
So, step up if you really care, spread the word."
The letter was unsigned with no return address.
How do you feel about the writer's observations? Are Rose Gowen and Tony Martinez selfless workers for the public good as the writer infers? Is the City Commission doing a good job representing the taxpayer's interests? Should City Manager Charlie Cabler be fired?
We will publish your thoughts in a subsequent article.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Commissioner Jessica Tetreau Requests and Receives Correction in Minutes for February 25, 2013 City Commission Meeting
Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa |
Tetreau wanted it clear that she has NEVER voted for the transfer of Lincoln Park, not on February 25, 2013 or on November 4, 2014, when the final resolution was presented for vote. Tetreau's correction was adopted unanimously.
District Attorney Luis V. Saenz |
Mayor Martinez Lied to Community about Lincoln Park |
Monday, December 1, 2014
Unsubstantiated, Unconfirmed, Likely Untrue Rumor in the County Judge Replacement Selection
Gilberto Hinojosa, Cameron County Reject |
Opportunity Knocks for Carlos Cascos |
District 1 County Commissioner Sofia Benavides |
For those who question if Benavides can handle the position, rest assured a former county judge is willing to guide her through the process.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
"A Day At the Beach"~Boca Chica Beach, c.1900
Monday, November 24, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Several Inaccuracies, Misleading Statements in Sunday's "Brownsville Herald" Article: "Park May Be Election Issue"
Brownsville Herald Reporter Ty Johnson |
Understanding that Ty likely does not write his own headlines or subheadings, please note the subheading:
"Some fume over sale agreed to in 2013"
Ty: "As dozens spoke out against the sale, which was essentially agreed to in 2013, they also noted the upcoming city elections in May, almost as a warning to the commissioners sitting at the hearing with terms expiring this spring."
MMB: The tone of this subheading implies that some locals are bellyaching over something they should have spoken up about in 2013. Actually, Lincoln Park was first put on the agenda February 25, 2013 as an "ACTION ITEM" with NO PUBLIC COMMENT ALLOWED.
Ty: "A lawsuit over the sale has the potential to stretch discussions about selling the park property to the Uni-versity of Texas System into next year, with some vowing that the May 2 election will be a referendum on the sale even with the beginning of the election filing period still more than two months away."
MMB: Actually, Ty, the election will be held May 9, not May 2. According to City Attorney Mark Sossi, the City Commission merely agreed on a resolution to "enter into negotiations" with the University of Texas concerning a transfer of Lincoln Park. Sossi claims there is no actual sale agreement.
Ty: "In February 2013, the city agreed to sell land to the University of Texas at Brownsville for expansion as part of a deal to keep the school downtown when it was floating the idea of relocating."
Ty: "(In February 2013) No one voted against the deal, though District 2 Commissioner Jessica Tetreau abstained."
MMB: Totally wrong. There were two votes to "donate" property to UT in February 2013, one February 5, the other February 25. Here are the two action items considered February 5, 2013:
"ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-015, authorizing the donation of a 55.43-acre tract of land to the University of Texas System, designating signatories, and dealing with related
matters.
ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-016, authorizing the donation of a 21.5-acre tract of
land to the University of Texas system, designating signatories, and dealing with related matters."
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Commissioners Vasquez, Zamora, Gowen, Longoria, and Villarreal.
Nays: None
Abstained: Commissioner Tetreau
MMB: Neither one of these Action Items concerned Lincoln Park. According to Tony Martinez, UT considered the two tracts above, came back and suggested the 48 acre Lincoln Park be offered instead.
This change necessitated a "clarification" in an Action Item presented February 25, 2013:
2. Consideration and ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-022, clarifying property to be donated to the University of Texas system if a downtown location is selected for a campus.
MMB: Assistant Attorney John Chosy presented this item, stating that Lincoln Park would be substituted for the two tracts mentioned February 5, 2013. Here is the voting for the clarified Agenda Item presented February 25, 2013:
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Commissioners Gowen, Longoria, and Villarreal;
Nay: Commissioner Zamora. Commissioner Tetreau and Vasquez were absent.
Ty: "When it came time to transfer the land, Brownsville spokeswoman Patty Gonzalez marketed a required public hearing ahead of the sale as an opportunity for residents to discuss their plans for a replacement park, which would be located across the expressway and built with the proceeds of the sale."
MMB: Again, totally incorrect. The hearing, by law, HAD to be about WHETHER OR NOT sell the park, not about the amenities of the new park. The City of Brownsville, through their newly hired Public Relations Officer, Patty Gonzalez, DID try to spin the purpose of the meeting as Ty suggests, but, after being called out in the city's blogs, the official public notice reflected the legal purpose of the meeting, not what Patty had told The Herald.
Ty: "City leaders and supporters insisted the $6.5 million could easily replace amenities at the current park, itself a replacement for the original Lincoln Park, which was closed in 2001 when the Texas Department of Transportation built the expressway, but opponents seized on the proposed location of the new park, which is across East University Boulevard from a water treatment plant."
MMB: Actually, at the November 4, 2014 City Commission Meeting, City Manager Charlie Cabler said assessment of the cost of utilities and replacement of amenities on the proposed new park site had not been completed, but that the numbers looked "close." Not very reassuring!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Judge Nelson's Unexplained Ruling May Cripple, But Not Kill Democracy in Brownsville
Judge A.C. Nelson |
As we wait to see if citizen Luis Saenz appeals the decision, arguments presented by City Attorney Sossi at the hearing as well as an alerted citizenry in Southmost and throughout Brownsville, could still make city government more responsive to the people. At least several hundred more people than before the October 30 Town Hall Meeting about Lincoln Park know that Tony Martinez and three city commissioners do not listen to the people.
While pro bono Attorney Michael Cowen shared six ways with the court he felt the sale could be legally blocked, he mentioned in the elevator going down from the court's third floor that he'd found yet another, a seventh, in his research. Will he continue the fight?
City Attorney Mark "It's Legal!" Sossi |
Lincoln Park, November 9, 2014 |
District Attorney Luis V. Saenz |
As suggested by Luis Saenz, how the mayor and commissioners voted on Lincoln Park may become a litmus test to determine which elected city officials listen to the people. Jessica Tetreau was warmly received at the Valley Interfaith "Accountability" Meeting for her vote against the sale. Commissioners Ricardo Longoria, Jr. and John Villarreal both voted against the sale November 4 after voting for it February 25. Of course, Rose Gowen, Deborah Portillo, Estela Chavez-Vasquez and Tony Martinez voted to sell the property.
Nurith Galonsky |
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Sossi Contradicts University of Texas Regents About Lincoln Park Sale
Southmost family enjoying Lincoln Park(11/9/14) |
A press release concerning the regent's meeting indicated they viewed their purchase of Lincoln Park as a done deal with an agreed upon price. Notice the exact wording:
"The property(Lincoln Park) is critical for the growth of the institution due to its size and proximity to the academic core of the campus; there is no alternative site of equal benefit available. The City of Brownsville has indicated that it plans to use the BARGAIN SALE proceeds to replace the park facilities at locations (note - plural) more convenient to the public.
Bargain Purchase Price: $6.5 million
Appraisal: Appraised by Aquire and Patterson, Inc. (July 23, 2014) market value range from $8,860,000-$9,360,000
Lease back at no cost to the City of Brownsville for a period not to exceed 5 years, so that the City of Brownsville will have time to construct alternate park facilities elsewhere."
City Attorney Mark Sossi, in his arguments before 138th District Judge
City Attorney Mark "It's Legal!" Sossi |
Sossi used this cutesy approach to imply to Judge Nelson that the lawsuit to block the sale was premature because the City Commission merely resolved to enter into negotiations for a sale. In other words, bull shit from Sossi. Had the lawsuit not occurred, the city completes the transaction "as is." Has Sossi opened the door for negotiating a purchase price?
Pat Ahumada |
Ahumada stated that he used comparables. "Downtown property is depressed," he observed. "Nothing close to the park was for sale." He appraised Lincoln Park at a value of $11 million, exclusive of structures, utilities and paving, land only. He described his appraisal as "conservative."
"Have you ever appraised a park?" Deane asked Ahumada.
"It doesn't matter." answered Ahumada. "The developer or purchaser will use the land for whatever they can get zoning for, condominiums, single family residences or adding to the university. An appraisal is based on 'best possible use.'"
Of course, the University of Texas system likely will not retain the property as a park either.
Why would Attorneys Deane and Sossi work so hard to break down Ahumada's appraisal of $11 million if the final purchase price for UT was yet to be negotiated? Someone is not being honest here.
Judge Nelson recessed the court until a later, unspecified time. He has several exhibits to study, including portions of the municipal code, a video of the town hall meeting and an Attorney General opinion from 1993.
Attorney Deane, weak in public speaking skills, could barely be heard. He tried to make the argument that Commissioner Rose Gowen's side job was with UT-Houston, not UT-Brownsville. Of course, the lawsuit did not state she worked for UT-Brownsville, but merely the UT System. Judge Nelson seemed to pick up on that, saying: "Aren't they all part of the UT System?"
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Hearing Concerning Legality of Lincoln Park Sale~November 19 at 9:00 AM
Our City's Insecurity: Paying for Awards, Accepting Second Class Treatment as Citizens
The taxpayers even footed the bill for a delegation of about forty to travel to Colorado to receive the accolade. Consumers are frequently told never to pay for any "prize" or "award," but our city leaders are not that savvy, easily duped.
City Manager Charlie Cabler, after inking the deal with David McCarthy of Community Showcase Banners |
Our city's insecurity is also reflected in our toleration of being treated as second class citizens. Symbolic of that treatment is the ban of the broadcast of public comments at city commission meetings. While the words of wisdom of the mayor and commissioners are videotaped and broadcast, the switches are turned off as soon as the taxpayers come to the podium for the so-called Public Comment Period.
The chosen ones even had their own exclusive parking area as Mary Helen Flores found out when she tried to park her red and gray motor scooter close to the building.
We're not saying that the UT regents or their counterparts set up the seating and parking arrangements. Those organizational decisions were made by locals setting up the meeting. But, the setup simply reinforced the concept of UT as hierarchy and the taxpayers as underlings. The reality is that local taxpayers have overpaid for every bit of educational service from UT including not collecting $10,000,000 in promised rent with the University shielded by the Rene Oliveira loophole.
The University of Texas even allowed their hands to be tied when it came time to dispersing anything from the billions in P.U.F. funds. A technicality was conveniently enforced to disqualify the TSC/UTB partnership from even a penny of those monies.
Another subtle hint that the people are less valued was the positioning of the microphone at the town hall meeting, facing the four commissioners and Irv Downing as if petitioning a tribunal. When City Manager Charlie Cabler responded to my suggestion that the microphone be turned away from the majestive five, facing instead the 400 "public" of the public forum, Commissioner Ricardo Longoria, Jr. intervened: "Charlie, Jim is not running this public forum. I'm running this meeting." Cabler returned the microphone to its original position.
Notably, two other speakers, District Attorney Luis Saenz and former Mayor Pat Ahumada, felt as I did and turned the microphone away from the four commissioners and UT rep Irv Downing toward the 400 citizens concerned about losing their park.
When will Brownsville citizens learn they deserve paved roads, sidewalks, even billing with politicians, the right to have their comments heard along with the mayor and commissioners, the right not to have their parks and assets committed to "deals" without their permission? When will Brownsville's citizens no longer allow themselves to be treated as second class?
Monday, November 17, 2014
UT's Irv Downing, Mayor Tony Martinez At Odds Over Details of Lincoln Park Deal
UT Operative Irv Downing |
Then, we learned that UT reps did indeed meet with some leaders of the "Save Lincoln Park" movement after the town hall meeting October 30.
Irv Downing, a holdover official from the Juliet Garcia administration, is said to have attempted to smooth some of the ruffled feathers of Valley Interfaith and other like-minded citizens in a meeting held about a week ago.
"Mr. Downing explained that it was never the University's idea to absorb Lincoln Park," mentioned one activist who attended the meeting. "That was the city's idea."
Of course, the ultra-rich University of Texas, once seeing and hearing the hurt, anguish and frustration expressed by half a hundred Southmost residents in a two and one half hour public meeting, could have simply backed out. They still can.
The irony is that Juliet Garcia, in a whirlwind tour of potential properties, took the UT Board of Regents to the East Avenue property where the city wants to relocate Lincoln Park. The regents found the property unacceptable, likely holding their noses.
But, getting back to HOW Lincoln Park got included in the so-called deal to keep UT "downtown," let's allow Tony Martinez words from the February 25, 2013 City Commission meeting including the Lincoln Park resolution to speak for themselves:
Mayor Tony Martinez |
So, while UT's Downing evidently told members of a community organization that the idea of transferring Lincoln Park originated with the city, Martinez states it was the University's idea.
Assistant City Attorney John Chosy presented the action item: 2. Consideration and ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-022, clarifying property to be donated to the University of Texas system if a downtown location is selected for a campus.
(Mayor Martinez and Commissioner R. Gowen)
The "clarifying" was necessary because the first resolution, passed February 5,2013, did not include Lincoln Park, but only a "55.43 acre tract of land" and a "21.5 acre tract of land." Martinez stated the 55 acres were "east of the expressway" and the 21.5 acres were the "Fish and Wildlife" tract. Now, the University had informed Martinez they wanted neither, but instead, the 47 acre tract known as Lincoln Park.
Based on the wording of the resolution passed 2/5/13, coupled with Martinez' explanation, it appears that including Lincoln Park in the transfer was an idea originating with the University.
Assistant City Attorney John Chosy |
District 1, Southmost, Turning into World War III As Galonsky's Daughter Considers Race for Commissioner
Nurith Galonsky |
Of course, Abraham has more property he hopes to sell the city, particularly a 30 acre tract adjacent to the smelly lot proposed for the New Lincoln Park, next to a sewage treatment plant.
Galonsky was one of a handful of speakers at the Town Hall Meeting held October 30 to speak out in favor of the sale of Lincoln Park. As Galonsky left the Tony Gonzalez gymnasium he expressed his disappointment to Roman Perez, a vigorous opponent of the sale of the park, who has filed for City Commissioner, District 1: "I was going to support you, but now I think I'll support Rick."
Ricardo Longoria, Jr. |
Rumblings are now being heard that indicate Abraham may have yet another option. We've heard that his daughter, Nurith, who garnered an appointment to the P.U.B. Board in 2013, is considering a run for City Commissioner, District 1.
Certainly, Tony Martinez is salivating at the prospect of a Gowen, Chavez-Vasquez, Portillo and Galonsky quartet, giving him a clear majority on every issue coming before the City Commission. Sometimes, when we think things are bad, we realize they could be worse.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
"Remember Lincoln Park!" Is the Battle Cry As Five Brownsville Churches Hold "Accountability" Session
Lupita Moreno of Holy Family gave a rousing speech about Lincoln Park |
400 delegates from five Brownsville churches attended an "accountabilty" session at Christ the King Church on Southmost Road Sunday afternoon, November 16.
"We have been quiet too long," stated Brother Jason Rossignol, OMI, from St. Eugene de Mazenod Church on Austin Road.
"And look at where that has left us. Our kids walk home from school on unpaved streets or in the mud. Crime is taking over the neighborhoods at nighttime in the colonias because no one can see what's going on. And the city voted to sell Lincoln Park. That is not what we want for our families. . . . We want to see a different city."
Tina Tetecatl: "Are North Brownsville kids different from South Brownsville kids?" |
Various speakers detailed problems that need attention, asking city officials attending for a simple "yes" or "no" answer, not a longwinded excuse. Tina Tetecatl wants to walk to school on a sidewalk on McKenzie Road.
Other speakers addressed lighting in the colonias, repaving streets, a stop light at Minnesota Avenue and Austin Road, neighborhood and park security and other issues.
"We're saying we're here, we know how to organize our neighborhoods, and you need to listen to what the people that elected you are saying. We want the people elected to public office to be accountable to the people of the community," said Maribel Quiroz of the Holy Family Church.
Orlando Rodriguez, Alex Dominguez, Sofia Benavides, Jessica Tetreau |
In a spirited "Call to Action," Lupita Moreno asked: "How many votes did Tony Martinez get last time? 3,000? We need 4,000 this time to make our positions known. We need to 'Remember Lincoln Park!'"
She said that already 1,000 had signed petitions calling for city government to be accountable on Lincoln Park and other issues.
The public officials attending:
County Commissioner Sofia Benavides
County Commissioner Alex Dominguez
City Commissioner Jessica Tetreau
Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez
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