Municipal Office Trio on E. 11th Street Getting Paint

This unneeded city office space on E. 11th was part of the City Commission's 2012 real estate spending spree. One office was purchased when Mayor Martinez was unethically dipping into the AOP Texas Refund, a check for over $3 million.

Since then, the city's signage on the front windows has indicated a myriad of uses including a downtown, central mayor's office, a Brownsville Police Department substation, a museum, a downtown revitalization office, a community center and offices for Bike Texas and BC Workshops.  The city did not honor our request for the lease agreement between those two firms.  In fact, the Public Information Director claims there are no plans to lease to Bike Texas.

Meanwhile, the office leased across the street at 1101-A E. Washington, originally for Mayor Tony's downtown office, but changed to the Downtown Brownsville Revitalization Information Office, will see its lease expire October 8, 2014.  City Manager Charlie Cabler confirmed the lease will not be renewed.  The office was used 3 times during the year it was leased after being remodeled by the taxpayers to suit the mayor.