How Lies, Disinformation and the Mayor's Inaccessibility Factored into the Parking Meter Rate Raise~Part I

After much discussion, fanfare and pretend citizen involvement, the doubling of parking meter fees easily passed the City Commission 3/18/14.

Commissioner Ricardo Longoria, some say a mayoral candidate in 2015, improvised an alternative version to the agenda item, reducing the proposed new rate from 75 cents and hour to 50 cents, with any increased revenue going into the general fund as opposed to a

Downtown Revitalization Fund as specified in the agenda item.(Commissioner Rose Gowen lamented that the aspect she especially liked about the original agenda item was language creating a downtown merchant's advisory board to decide how such funds would be used.  Planner Ramiro Gonzalez admitted that the agenda item contained no such language.)  Mayor Martinez, not to be outhustled by Longoria, provided his own tweak to Longoria's revised motion.  The motion passed unanimously, including a "yes" vote by Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa, who had promised downtown business owners she would vote against a raise in the parking meter rate. 

Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez

Interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez made the agenda item presentation at the 3/18/14 meeting, as he had back on December 10, 2013.  Had it been explained initially that the city simply needed more revenue, that parking meter rates had not been raised since 1976, such a straightforward approach might have worked.  But, the attempt to raise parking meter rates downtown was not handled honestly, but cleverly, covertly, with disinformation and actual lies, a case study on how a dysfunctional, unprepared city commission can be manipulated by a mayor not particularly interested in the needs of viewpoints of Brownsville citizens.

This whole saga started at the December 10, 2013 City Commission meeting with the clever, obtuse wording of the agenda item designed to triple parking meter fees downtown:

6. Public Hearing and ACTION on FIRST READING on Ordinance Number 2013-736-O to amend the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 98 “Traffic and Vehicles”; ARTICLE V “Stopping, Standing, and Parking”, promulgating a new Division 6 “Parking Meters”, and adding Sections 98-382, 98-383, with Sections 98-384-98-410 to remain reserved, and dealing with related matters. (Ramiro Gonzalez – Planning)

Deviously, the above agenda item failed to include any language about raising parking meter rates, but as interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez made his presentation, it quickly became clear, that was the thrust of the item.  And, it almost passed, but for some questioning from Commissioner Longoria. 

Tony Martinez, unavailable for town forum
regardless of when it's held

Mayor Martinez, noting opposition to the proposed raise, designated City Manager Charlie Cabler to arrange for a town hall meeting to discuss the issue "within the next two weeks."  Incredibly, Martinez, without knowing exactly when the town forum would be conducted, declared that he would be "out of town."  The mayor, can find time for anything he deems important, as evidenced by his giddy presence at the SpaceX town forum, his taxpayer and ratepayer financed, yet exclusive "State of the City" event or his backdoor negotiations with P.U.B. and Tenaska.  Interaction with citizens, who may have questions about his agenda, necessitates he be "out of town."  

Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa promises
to vote against parking rate increase
at town hall forum

As it turned out, the forum did not materialize "within two weeks," but took place on 1/22/14 at the Market Square Conference Room. 18 of 20 local citizen commenters, mostly downtown business owners, expressed their opposition to raising downtown parking meter rates.  Mayor Martinez, as he had promised, made himself scarce for the opportunity for an intelligent interchange with local citizens, quite a number his senior in terms of age and experience in running a Brownsville business. 

(to be continued)