Friday, October 3, 2014

City of Brownsville Allows Lease to Lapse on Office Martinez Just Had to Have, But Never Used!

City Trucks in Front of Tony's Office
As City Workers Remodeled the Space
When I asked City Manager Charlie Cabler last fall why the city would need to lease space at 1101-A E. Washington St. for a mayor's office when the city already had a great deal of unused office space.

"That's what I thought," was Cabler's reply.


But Mayor Tony is not one to listen to reason whether it comes from the city manager or lowly taxpayer.  As the lyrics to the 50's pop hit remind us:  "What Lola wants, Lola gets."

The office lease was a modest $500 per month.  $500 X 12=$6,000.  A public information request to the City of Brownsville revealed the cost of materials for remodeling the office in excess of $13,000.  A conservative estimate for the labor costs would be $20,000 for a total one year cost of $39,000 not including utilities.  An $8,000 interactive TV screen, originally purchased for the office, was moved to the planning department when we wrote about it.


Terrace Suite at AT&T Center
For the same $39,000 the City of Brownsville could have leased a luxury box at the AT&T Center for 10 San Antonio Spurs home games with catering, leather seats and flat screen TV monitors. 


The Brownsville Downtown Revitalization
Information Office, Now Vacated
While I'm aware of the office being used once during the lease, I'm told by a city administrator that the office was used 3 times.  In other words, the city spent $13,000 in taxpayer dollars each time this small office was used even though these meetings could have been held in any number of already empty city offices.  No one mismanages taxpayer dollars like Tony Martinez.

Actually, Martinez NEVER used the office he so desperately had to have.  He sent his heyboy, Ramiro Gonzalez, to utilize the space as a Brownsville Downtown Revitalization Information Center to save face.  This week that sign was pulled down and the office emptied as the lease expires October 7, 2014. Tony tired of his new office faster than a child tires of a cheap Christmas toy.


Notice on Window at 615 E. 11th Street
Martinez next turned his attention to the three small offices at 609, 611 and 615 E. 11th.  Two of those were purchased with the City Commission's speculative real estate buying spree in 2012 and a third purchased when Martinez unethically spent some of the Texas AOP Refund check.  A notice was placed by the city on the window of the 615 E. 11th property promising a downtown, central mayor's office and a police substation.  Both of those plans have been scrapped by the city as remodeling continues.  The final use for the three offices remains in flux.

13 comments:

  1. I apologize to Pat Ahumada. He was not Brownsville's worst mayor. Our current boozo makes Pat look like an altar .

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  2. They are both pathetic.

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  3. Pat Ahumada is the most "revolcado" of all our politicians. He is both Nero and Adolfo Lopez Mateos, a man who plays his own chin music. Go, Pat. You tell'em how it used to be!!!!!!!!!

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  4. Adolfo Lopez Mateos? Lopez Mateos was the last intellectual President of Mexico. I don't thing anyone ever accused Pat of being an intellectual....

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  5. Funny that you mention President Lopez Mateos, who was a personally friend of my wife's family and was a frequent visitor to the house. Lopez Mateos sought counsel from my wife's grandfather and when he got sick to the point they wanted to amputate his leg, the President sent him to Houston where Dr. Bakey operated on him and saved his leg. My wife's grandfather worked with CFE and her brother worked with Salinas de Gortari, which is an interesting anecdote you have brought memories. Lopez Mateos was a good President.. As far as your personal disgust of me, ahhhh-that is okay, you are entitled to hate anyone you want, but I know who I am, the public service rendered and the many good things that happened because of me and you enjoy, but do not value. People like you really contribute nothing. And, I always pray God protect me from people like you and that he deal with them as he sees fit. Your problem is the problem our city faces, the pettiness and jealousies that undermines our city. Remember the after life will come for you, as it comes for all of us and what good did you do? You only attack and are a coward.

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    1. Jesus, Pat, Lopes Mateos died 45 years ago. How old were you when you got married, 10?

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  6. Tony Martinez is a DICK!!! As mayor he has focused his policy decisions on supporting Julieta Garcia in her fight against TSC and the UT System. He has not given much attention to real issues in Brownsville; only to issue related to salvaging Julieta's position. Tony is a DICK!!!

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  7. Tony is a DICK! He has never done anything for the city....only for himself and for his compadres....(United Brownsville and Juliet Garcia). Tony has no clue as to the needs of the city....he takes action based on the interests of his "friends". We don't need his presence....he has no leadership skills....he is just a DICK!

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  8. Brownsville Downtown Revitalization, another failure by Tony Martinez and the Lard Ball Ramiro Gonzalez

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  9. (who was a personally friend of my wife's family and was a )

    Do you make these comments while under the influence of much alcohol, or are you just as uneducated as I'm assuming that you are?
    Dags.

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    1. He's as uneducated as you are, Dags. Feeling the warmth, you ignorant Mexican?

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  10. With that attractive iron work, you could use it as a drunk tank to complement La Casa del Nylon homeless shelter. The only thing missing downtown is a full blown Casa de Putas so the girls don't have to work in the rain.

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