Ricardo Longoria, Jr. may run for mayor or he may not. Quite possibly, he does not know himself yet. But, the proposed tripling of parking meter fees is just the kind of populist issue with which people, not only in Southmost, but throughout the city, can identify.
Nena and I lived in Arkansas for three decades. A young law professor, Bill Clinton, was elected Attorney General in 1976, then Governor in 1978. In 1980 Clinton's administration doubled the auto registration fees, a very unpopular decision among the populace.
In the 1980 Arkansas gubernatorial election, an old country boy, Frank White, who said he would
run Arkansas like a "bidness," defeated Clinton, largely on the issue of registration fees. While many of us were sort of embarrassed to have an inarticulate, bumbling fellow as governor, Clinton had misread the people. Clinton won re-election in 1982 by admitting his mistake in raising the fees.
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| Commissioner Villarreal |
With respect to Brownsville's parking meter fees, Commissioner John Villarreal missed an opportunity to speak out on behalf of his constituents in District 4, which includes downtown. At the very least John could have suggested that downtown business owners be consulted before any plan so critically effecting their businesses was implemented. John may simply not have the capacity for critical thinking or understand issues like this, but this was another missed opportunity to demonstrate leadership.
The careful phrasing by Mayor Martinez in his mention of a city town meeting on the subject shows he became aware of the criticism of the meter rate increase at some point since the last meeting. He did note that he would likely be "out of town" when the town meeting is held which is consistent with our report that his personal vehicle has been observed in the parking area at the airport nearly every week.
One humorous aside by the mayor did not go unnoticed. When it was announced that no one had signed up for public comment, the mayor flippantly shouted "Happy New Year!" confirming his contempt for the unlearned, irrelevant opinions of the taxpaying public.
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Lets vote them out of office
ReplyDeleteThe sad truth is that even if you paid people 75 cents a hour to park downtown, it would not change the economics of the ghetto. It is macro systemic problem way beyond parking meters. The only thing that can revitalize downtown is growth of local economy. Look at McAllen, they have growth. Their sales tax revenue is double Brownsville. If you really want to see growth go to Round Rock. Twenty or so years ago it was nothing. Today it has half the population of Brownsville and double the sales tax revenue. This works out to four times the spending on a per capita basis. And, why is Round Rock so prosperous? Not because parking is free downtown but because this is area chock full of well paid jobs for well educated people. Until Brownsville addresses systemic issues, low education levels and corrupt local government it will go nowhere. Cameron County has an adult illiteracy rate of 43%. That is something out of "Heart of Darkness" Africa. http://www-tcall.tamu.edu/docs/09illitmap.html
ReplyDeleteYour "reaches" for stories are laughable. Do some real reporting. LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteJohn V. has the political prowess of a crash dummy. An inept, placater.
ReplyDeleteIF RICK WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT 5O CENTS WHY DIDN'T HE AND THE LOST VILLIAREAL SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE WASTED MILLIONS SPENT ON PROPERTY;IS THIS A WAY TO REDIRECT THE REAL ISSUES ? MAYOR COMON MAAN!
DeleteI agree with Anonymous January 8, 2014 at 1032 AM. Unfortunately, too many in control do not want growth from the outside coming in, because they will loose their strangle hold on this town. Quoting former Commissioner Charlie Atkinson only a few years back as stating this in writing on FB..."We don't like outsider's coming here setting up shop and telling us how to run our city"... He was telling that to Craig Grove a resident transplant from the north, like myself. I was stunned to hear such a mentality spouted without shame by a sitting city commissioner and not forgetting his vulgarity that went along with it. I believe that mentality still exists to some degree within our city administration and those on our council. I could be wrong, but nothing has improved to show that mentality does not exist still. There are still no outsider's setting up shops other than the merchants from across that our town loves to court. It seems we will only embrace those from across and not anyone else, which is why this town is so stagnate. Keep the masses uneducated and under skilled seems to be the theme of this town regardless of who runs it.
ReplyDeleteNo, what exists now is a clika of people that think that their job is to tell us what to do. The fact that everyone close around them makes money just proves to them that it is working.
DeleteI knew Bill Clinton.....he was a Rhodes Scholar.....and Ricardo Longoria is surely not even close to being a Rhodes Scholar........maybe a "road scholar" or even a "rode scholar". Longoria fits more as a D.J. than as a man of thought. Yet I applaud his position on this parking issue.....not willing to look at him as a "populist" candidate for anything.....even though the anti- Tony Martinez movement could allow Longoria to take that position.
ReplyDeleteJohn V. has been a total loser and has turned out to be a real toad as a commissioner. The last area he cares about is downtown. He never attends the downtown functions and is a no show at most downtown public events. What a let down - just like Tony Martinez, the puppetmaster and such a waste of a person coming from such a good Brownsville family. Spineless and dumb, it is no wonder that DJ Longoria stands out as the only one with any brains in the group. Wherein lies the logic that if you raise parking 3 times more, more people will come to shop downtown just because there are more parking spaces? What happened to attracting business downtown that create decent paying jobs first?
ReplyDeleteYOU HIT THE NAIL RIGHT ON THE HEAD ,RECALL?
DeleteJim, you're comparing apples and oranges here. Not just because of Clinton and Longoria but because of auto registration fees and downtown parking fees... refer to the studies in countless cities, higher parking fees have its cons but the benefits overpower them. In the long run, more prosperity is created this way.
ReplyDeleteIt's understandable that downtown business owners would prefer to keep the parking fees low but in reality, those cars parked all across Elizabeth and the other streets belong to them and those who work in downtown. As a result, most Brownsville residents (the general public, who should be visiting downtown more) have the perception that THERE IS NO PARKING DOWNTOWN. It is for this reason that many people get discouraged to visit downtown. Talk about REAL loss of clientele.
Opposing the rise is short-sighted and aligns with the mentality that prevails in Brownsville, that of leaving things the way they are. How can we expect progress then? People spend so much in unhealthy things... well, grab a bike, walk more. But tell you what, I will gladly pay $0.75 every time I go there knowing that this money will fund projects that will improve the downtown area.
To the downtown business owners who oppose this increase, your position is respectable but it's time to move forward. Opening a business in the area has helped (and kudos to you) but being realistic, that's not the only way that downtown will generate revenue. And those of you who say "now people will prefer to shop in Harlingen or McAllen" GEEZ, yeah, people will prefer spending gas in driving all the way over there to avoid the 75cents fee... YEAH RIGHT. It's not just about your businesses, it's also about creating opportunities for downtown to advance!!!!!!!!!
Oh, golly gee, college student! It's been a while, hasn't it? The argyle socks, white pants and megaphone sort of gave you away. That's so UT-Arlington, malt shop, Riscky's Barbecue. BTW, did you sign up for a free birthday cake?
DeleteYou probably think it's about the 75 cents, don't you? Remember when we used to lay quarters across the top of the Galaga machine, just to try to get the hang of shooting before getting shot or before one of those ugly little creatures destroyed you from the side?
Shop in Harlingen? Damn, you have been away a long time! Oh gawd! "Creating opportunities for downtown to advance?" Does the Chamber of Commerce even meet any more?
Anyway, keep in touch, "college student." We will respond despite who you say you are, "concerned citizen," or even just plain old "Eddie."
Hang loose, bro! Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Later, alligator!
Jim
@College student January 9, 2014 at 12:02 AM
DeleteIt is nice for you to state your position on this subject. I believe I know who you are, but next time be a brave soul and sign your name to what you write so others know who is debating this subject. Certainly you should not be embarrassed to sign your name on something you feel strong about...right?
Agree with Jim here. What's so sad about Brownsville is the anti Robin hood mentality, tax the poor to pay the rich. The city freely dropped $2 million on the old casa Nylon building downtown but somehow needs to raise parking fees on the poorest working people in the most downtrodden area of the city? Seriously? Perhaps that $2 million of tax dollars been better spent expanding the parking spaces downtown or constructing a multilevel parking garage...
DeleteDear "college student",
DeletePlease stay in school and take some business classes. You very obviously don't have a clue how this issue affects the downtown business owners nor do you have any business acumen in general. People don't shop here other than the mall anyway. Besides the mall the flea market is Brownsvilles top biz. Followed by the countless taco stands that are prevalent ONLY in Brownsville. This is why fine dining Brownsville lost the AT&T jobs; around 600. Followed by Convergis; around 1,200. Lack of incentivizing business that support our community is part of the problem. How an esteemed attorney as mayor did not step in to try and salvage the badly needed jobs that were lost because of a lease "dis" agreement is beyond me. But let's spend millions on old dilapated houses near the college that his buddies own.
@College studentJanuary 9, 2014 at 12:02 AM
ReplyDeleteI understand your thinking, but I believe you are putting the cart before the horse. If Downtown Brownsville were a “Destination” of specialty shops, nice sit down restaurants and entertainment venues, along with the historical factor, then raising the meter fees would be logical to keep traffic moving and allow more people to experience it. As of now it is not a “Destination”, it is mostly, (not all) dollar stores, ropa usadas and cheap restaurants. So the people that frequent these types of places cannot afford to pay the increased fee, and in the short term the Downtown will suffer the consequences along with the property owners. Now take into account the minimum wage person who works downtown, they have to park somewhere also, but can they afford $150.00 per month in increased parking fees, I think not. And yes people will, and do spend the money on gas to shop in McAllen and Harlingen, because it is a “Destination” and a pleasant experience that they are willing to spend money for, just as they would spend the increased parking fees if Downtown Brownsville were a “Destination”. When the Downtown starts attracting different types of businesses to make it a “Destination”, and allowing for higher wage jobs, then raise the meter fees to even as high as $1.50 per hour and people will pay for it. However, this will never happen without the City providing greater incentives for businesses to locate there. The City could simply start by enforcing codes on ALL downtown businesses and property owners, keeping the downtown clean and spruced up, addressing the homeless problem that engulfs the area, and getting rid of the little cantinas that allow people to get drunk by day and loiter on the sidewalks while smoking a cigarette, thereby intimidating day shoppers from frequenting stores nearby these cantinas. These basic things should be done without imposing a higher meter fee (tax) at this time, I mean… don’t we pay taxes for that type of thing already? Once you do these basic things, you will start attracting businesses that will make Downtown Brownsville a “Destination”, and as I said earlier, raise the meter fees to as high as $1.50 per hour. As a property owner, I witness the parking situation on Adams Street. This week you could find anywhere from 10-20 empty parking spaces throughout the day in a two block area on Adams Street. Granted, there are times it is full, but I rarely have had a problem finding parking in this area. There is also the complaint by some City officials that business owners take up the parking not allowing customers to park, and to some degree this is true. However, it is no different than these same City officials taking up parking spaces throughout the entire work day, never moving their vehicles. There are many things to address before implementing higher meter fees, and this can only be done with involving the merchants, property owners and general public through town hall meetings. When you exclude the people and try to do things without public knowledge, cleverly writing agenda items so people are left in the blind, you will always have a backlash of opposition.
Well said! Hope the leaders would listen.
DeleteBrownsville is governed by ignorant laypersons and as such has no chance at a prosperous future.
DeleteMr. Daniel Lenz you are the kind of person who should run for MAYOR. Someone from the private sector who knows how the FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM works and has made this country great.
DeleteWe all know Bill Clinton and both Tony Martinez and John Villarreal are NO Bill Clinton...the youthful energy expected from a tortilla vendor never came thru. The dictator slash king Tony is nothing but bad news for a small impoverished town like Brownsville. We will be raped before it is all over!
ReplyDelete