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| Keeping An Eye on the City Commission |
EXECUTIVE SESSION: 5:30 P.M. April 24, 2014.
A) Discussion pursuant to Section 551.072, of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, and pursuant to Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, on a matter in which the duty of the attorney, to the governmental body, under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, clearly conflicts with this chapter. (Mark Sossi – City Attorney – 15 min.)
B) Discussion pursuant to Section 551.072, of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, and pursuant to Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, on a matter in which the duty of the attorney, to the governmental body, under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, clearly conflicts with this chapter. (Mark Sossi – City Attorney – 15 min.)
We've reached out to make certain none of the Sossi legalese above includes the sale of Lincoln Park. All we've been told is that it involves "office space." Mayor Tony has already leased one office for himself at 1101-A E. Washington. Once we brought that to the public's attention, he "gifted" it to interim City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez for a Downtown Brownsville Revitalization Information Office, that remains unused daily(used for possibly three meetings since leased by the City of Brownsville October 8, 2013).
This past winter remodeling was started on 609, 611 and 615 E. Washington. A sign posted on the window promised a "new, central, downtown mayor's office and a Brownsville Police Department substation."
At the last City Commission meeting April 15, 2014, an agenda item to put a secret list of properties up for sale was tabled:
Consideration and ACTION to acknowledge the list of City properties that could possibly be placed on the City's seller list. (Commissioners D. Portillo and J. Villarreal)
The only property mentioned was El Cueto Building, leased to UTB for three years at $30,000 per year, although we've been told that not a penny of the lease has been paid.(I've sent a Public Information Request to the City of Brownsville for the complete list.)
The only property mentioned was El Cueto Building, leased to UTB for three years at $30,000 per year, although we've been told that not a penny of the lease has been paid.(I've sent a Public Information Request to the City of Brownsville for the complete list.)
Since being mayor, Tony Martinez has tried to give away office space at City Plaza twice, once to the newly elected Congressman Filemon Vela, another time to UTB(Ramiro Gonzalez even gave UTB officials tours of City Plaza offices during business hours much to the chagrin of city employees.)
In an unrelated move, we've learned that City Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez has "self created the associate judge selection committee to try to shoe horn in her buddy Noemi Garcia. No such committee is in the (city) charter, especially for a part time job."
The source continues: This is being done at the "City of Brownsville, Municipal Court, the same place you pay parking ticket fines."
We will monitor this reported development, noting if the City Attorney and legal department protect the citizen's interests nipping this nepotism in the bud.
Without good summer rains, the Rio Grande through Albuquerque could see its lowest sustained levels since the 1970s, water managers said Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteIn the midst of the fourth consecutive year of extreme drought, agencies are scrambling to stretch limited supplies and looking hopefully at a National Weather Service forecast for good summer rains.
“We hope the National Weather Service prediction for an early monsoon is right,” said Mike Hamman, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s area manager, at a water operations briefing. “But hope is not a plan.”
The plan, as presented Wednesday by bureau scientists, includes a risk that the Rio Grande will drop below legally mandated levels set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife to protect dwindling populations of the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow. With flows in the river projected to be just one third of the long term average, the river through Albuquerque is forecast to drop to extremely low levels by early July.
A coalition of water agencies is planning a weeklong surge of extra of water to raise river levels modestly to mimic a spring runoff through Albuquerque to help the endangered fish spawn, Hamman said.
Even with the surge, expected within the next several weeks, river levels will be lower than a normal spring runoff. But the bureau’s annual Rio Grande operating plan acknowledges that, without rain, the river could be nearly dry from July through mid-October. The forecast is similar to last year’s, when it called for a near-dry river before July rains bailed the Rio Grande out.
Farmers will likely suffer the most, while metro area cities have groundwater to fall back on during the dry year.
It is unfortunate that Mayor Tony Martinez uses "his" city attorney to obfuscate the agenda in order to deny transparency to the public. Tony cannot deal with the public and is public opinion or public input scares him because he cannot believe that any public citizen would stoop to challenge him. Tony, like most of his budz downtown are "special" people who can accept no criticism or challenge. Keeping the public opinion out of city business has been a major element of Tony's administration. He has been schooled in the management style of the Kardenas Klan (no doubt by Julieta), and has adopted an autocratic, dictatorial style like his mentor, Julieta. What a waste of money and time his administration has been. We have gone backward under Tony.
ReplyDeleteTony ran for mayor only to provide support for Julieta Garcia in her time of need. He proceeded to use tax dollars (as Julieta would have) to buy up property to "GIVE" to UT-System....as a bribe on behalf of Julieta and to save her ass. Now, it appears that Julieta has focused her attention outside of Brownsville; has given up on the "Harvard by the Rio Bravo" and is leaving the fate of the local university in the hands of UT-System.....which means we get the left-overs. McAllen, Edinburg and Harlingen translated their interest in the new university into money....donations for the future of the UT-RGV. Brownsville and Tony Martinez were embarrassed to offer old, rundown buildings, disparate property, and no money. Now Tony has all that "property" on his hands and is likely to sell for a fraction of the price paid by taxpayers. Julieta is very quiet.....she has abandoned Tony...as she has abandoned so many who take a fall for her. Julieta seems to have her eyes focused on another "brass ring"....perhaps the job as UT Chancellor. At the same time she is using her failing power locally to find jobs for her offspring.....who wouldn't survive without her and the public's willingness to "give" them one of the public tits. We can expect Tony to table the property issue in the commission; to wait to see where Julieta lands. Tony is a pawn and likely has few unique or individual thoughts.
ReplyDeleteOne possible solution file complaints with the State Attorney General, the Texas Rangers and have these CROOKS INVESTIGATED!!!!
ReplyDeleteDid Julietta make the Times top 100?
ReplyDeleteAntonio is going to offer the "La Casa del Nylon" to the UT system for UTRGV administrative offices. How can they refuse? This man is a genius.
ReplyDeleteJulieta will be UT Chancellor and Antonio will be appointed Ambassador to the Vatican after Hillary is elected.
Authorities are investigating a recent string of diesel fuel thefts from storage tanks at companies throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
ReplyDeleteOne of the heists occurred April 12 at the Cherry Crushed Concrete plant in the 6400 block of Koeblen in the Edinburg area, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said the suspects drove two Dodge dually pickups. One of the trucks was maroon. The other was white and pulling a gooseneck trailer with fuel storage containers on it.
Deputies said the suspects stole nearly 1,100 gallons of diesel as well as a pressure washer, lawnmower and large pipe wrench.
The suspects have struck at other sites in Starr and Hidalgo counties.
Estela is a vile, vindictive little witch. She is pushing for one of her buddies. Isn't this an abuse of official capacity charge or official oppression? Why would she be immune?
ReplyDelete