INEPT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT ONCE AGAIN ENTERTAINS HUGE TAX ABATEMENT FOR ANNOVA LNG

Bill Berg, John Young from Save RGV

from LNG on Whine with Cheez Podcast

On August 21, from his seat on the front row next to County Administrator Pete Sepulveda, Jr., an Annova LNG official, seeing a full courtroom of citizens holding "No LNG" signs, orchestrated the tabling of an agenda item to reward his company with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax abatements from the Cameron County Commissioners Court.  

As most guessed, the inept Cameron County Commissioners Court was just biding their time until they could once again sneak the abatement approval request back on the agenda.  

County Administrator Pete Sepulveda

That time is now!  Tuesday's meeting of the Commissioner's Court at 9:00 AM at the Dancy Building will, once again, try to reward a multi-billion dollar company, already committed to locating in the county, forgiveness of their huge, but rightful tax liability, instead shifting that burden back to local taxpayers.(Those intending to make a Public Comment need to sign up at 8:30 AM.)

Any County Commissioner voting for this obscenity needs to be voted out.  

Meanwhile, Annova LNG encounters some problems passing basic requirements to locate an LNG plant in the county with the Army Corp of Engineers timing them out at least once.

Now, it's been learned that the Valley Crossing Pipeline, which is not intended for LNG, but instead to deliver its load entirely to Mexico, needs an additional compression station to add the additional volume to accommodate Annova LNG.

County Judge Eddie Trevino

One fact not being disclosed is how many jobs Annova LNG is promising in exchange for hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief.  No, the Cameron County Commissioners Court, under Judge Eddie Trevino, is not being very transparent.

SAVE RGV FROM LNG REPS TO APPEAR ON "WHINE WITH CHEEZ" PODCAST SUNDAY AT 1:30

John Young, Save RGV from LNG

Bill Berg, Save RGV from LNG

BAPTIST GROCER H.E.B. KICKS DOWNTOWN BROWNSVILLE IN THE NUTS

Baptist Preacher Harold E. Butt, Jr.,

son of the H.E.B. Founder

Anglo Baptist Grocers H.E.B. are closing the doors of their downtown Brownsville store October 20, according to a contradictory September 24 story by the Brownsville Herald's Steve Clark.

While Steve says the store will be "closed forever," in the next paragraph he quotes H.E.B. as saying the store needs "extensive renovations."

It's obvious to anyone knowledgeable in retail that the Brownsville H.E.B. stores are incredibly profitable, having paid for their infrastructure many times over, raking in multi-millions from Hispanics in South Texas.  

While the downtown store's dollars per order are smaller than Boca Chica or Ruben Torres H.E.B., it is not losing money and is only a second story away from being a viable part of downtown Brownsville's development for years to come.

But H.E.B. execs, like those of other large corporations, simply push pencils, look at numbers.  They understand nothing about revamping or maintaining a historic downtown.  

They understand nothing about Brownsville.

What a pity!

UPDATE: CURRENT EVENTS IN MY SO-CALLED LIFE

Ana Adiong

Events of the last 24 months of my existence have substantially changed the direction of my life, but, at least, good health allows me to still make those decisions.

Fiancee Ana has been here 18 days and loves Brownsville.  She came despite my constant description of my lifestyle as the lowest layer of Hell.  Obviously, she doesn't believe in Eternal Torment.  Neither do I.

My 2-1/2 year stint as Grandson Jack's homeschool teacher officially ceased this fall with his enrollment in BISD.  I felt he was missing out on his childhood and his dad agreed.

Jack somehow got the impression that school would simply be a two week commitment to prove he could do it, but now realizes he's there for the long hall.

BISD motivates with recognition and praise, techniques to which the kid seems to respond and thrive.

An anonymous commenter stated that I obviously need the podcast.

I don't think that's true.  If anything, recent months

have taught me the opposite.  I don't need the Whine with Cheez podcast or the Brownsville Observer blog.

I simply need Ana with me and my family to be happy.

CITY COMMISSIONER NURITH GALONSKY ON SPECIAL EDITION OF "WHINE WITH CHEEZ" TONIGHT AT 6 PM

District 1 City Commissioner Nurith Galonsky

"Whine with Cheez" Podcast Needs a Guest for Special Monday Show

Judge Estela Chavez Vasquez

With Erasmo and most of the city's political leadership hightailin' it to Austin this weekend, the Whine with Cheez podcast has been unsuccessful in securing a guest for a Monday, September 23 show at 7 PM.

Our request to Judge Estela Chavez Vasquez appears unread.  The podcast may have to turn once again to  Blogfather Jerry McHale, who will likely regale us with his impression of the women and cuisine of Portugal ascertained during his recent two week sampling.

Dr. Art Rodriguez

The following two weeks appear set with Cameron County Sheriff candidate John Chambers scheduled for September 30 and City of Brownsville Health Director Art Rodriguez planned to appear October 6.

So, if you're running for office or represent some program in the City of Brownsville and would like to appear on tomorrow's scheduled podcast, please inbox the Jim Barton Facebook account.

If we can't book a guest for Monday, we may have to go out to the Angelita's parking lot to video Erasmo Castro doing wheelies with his electric scooter.

AMFEL EMPLOYEES WILT UNDER PRESSURE FROM COMPANY, VOTE DOWN UNION 594-146

"We took a loss brother!" a union official texted me this morning.

"Well Amfels final move was the best one. They ram rodded everyone into the voting booths. They made everyone go. Whether they wanted to or not. Causing a lot of people to just vote no. The vote was 594 NO and 146 YES. It was a landslide. The next step will be to go through with filing the ULPs. And charge them with tampering with the election," continued the organizer.

The acronym "ULP" stand for Unfair Labor Practice.  It seems that Amfels will be charged with ULPs and tampering as the fight continues.

In addition to the anti-union graffiti shown above, Amfels has recently given our some $4 and $5 per hour raises and brought in air-conditioned trailers for the commissaries, all changes no doubt prompted by union efforts to organize the workforce.

Buscan Incorporar Empresa de Brownsville a Sindicato

http://www.krgv.com/news/buscan-incorporar-empresa-de-brownsville-a-sindicato?fbclid=IwAR0KwkdFZ-F86Xo4WMzB73aYCgGRrTKPVZbK34qN8iWXDRFTbz7t1oT35Ak

CITY OF BROWNSVILLE LEADERSHIP STREAMLINES OPERATIONS

Mayor Trey Mendez

Under the direction of Mayor Trey Mendez, the city's administrative staff, including City Manager Noel Bernal, seem to be streamlining and decluttering city operations.

At the 9/17/19 City Commission meeting 1150 city fees, currently under a multitude of ordinances, were consolidated under a single ordinance.

The rules for non-consent vehicle tows, with Brownsville currently averaging 18 per day, were also solidified, resulting in a $200 fee paid to the hauler, while sticking with $20 per day to the storage facility.

At the request and urging of Public Commenter Pastor Brad Burke and City Commissioner Ben Neece, it was decided to look further into the whole range of fees that sometimes result in locals being unable to afford to retrieve their vehicles from impound.

The Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation 2020 Budget Report, showing an annual budget of $4,600,000 with 28% of that committed to debt service, was approved.

Partner Re Insurance, the firm currently providing the city's stop-loss medical insurance, was allowed a huge increase in deductibles as the company showed figures indicating that the last 3 years claims had been 123% of insurance premiums paid.

AMFELS UNION VOTE SET FOR WEDNESDAY

by Valerie Gonzalez, KRGV

Photo by Ana Adiong

BROWNSVILLE – A vote is scheduled to take place Wednesday that will determine if a union will be formed at a Port of Brownsville company, Keppel AmFELS.


Keppel AmFELS is a company that provides offshore and marine services to customers operating in the Gulf of Mexico.


Employees of Keppel AmFELS have the option to vote to unionize.

A few months ago, some approached South West Pipe Trades, a union affiliated with the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry of the United States and Canada.

Much of work is labor-intensive, as one pipefitter employee, Alex Chavez, explained, "It's tough work moving a pipe, it can be 8 feet long, 10 feet long, and weighes as much from 100 to 800 pounds, and a three or four man crew if it has to be.”

He says he works at night and hopes a union can help negotiate for more lighting.

Safety is a concern, too. A records search of the company's 30-year litigation history showed multiple lawsuits.

An employee who received serious injury on the job sued in 2014.

A woman who claims she was fired a day after returning from maternity leave filed suit in 2010.

And, in 2007, the family of a deceased employee filed for wrongful death.

Some of the cases were settled, dismissed, or remanded to a lower court.

The union's lead organizer, Chad Tomlin, explained they had to get enough engagement with the 800 employees to allow for the vote to happen.

"These workers started reaching out to us every time we come here and we had to sign authorization cards to represent them. In that process, you have to have a 30% interest out of these 800 workers here and we did that by getting 247 cards signed," says Tomlin.

Tomlin tells us the dues are about $30 a month and they are prepared to help with contract negotiations and legal representation.

If employees decide to form the union, Tomlin says this would be the largest company they would represent.

President of Keppel AmFELS Simon Lee did not return a request for comment on this story.

A decision will be made with a 50% plus one vote

PICTORIAL MONTAGE OF DEMONSTRATION AT PORT OF BROWNSVILLE FOR BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS

Amfels Workers Demonstrate for Better Working Conditions, Wages and the ...

JIM BARTON INTERVIEWS JASON MEDINA OF PIPE FITTERS UNION IN DEMONSTRATION ACROSS FROM AMFELS

CONSTABLE ABEL GOMEZ TO APPEAR ON "WHINE WITH CHEEZ" SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Constable Abel Gomez

CCIX ANNIVERSARIO DE LA INDEPENDENCIA DE MEXICO

CURRENT GBIC BOARD'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS STIFLED BY SINS OF PREVIOUS BOARDS

Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation Board, 9/13/19

To understand the plight of the 2019 GBIC, one must separate the fairy tale from the reality.

The fairy tale, one that's been repeated on this and other Brownsville blogs, perhaps even in the Brownsville Herald, although the local paper has seldom covered GBIC in recent years, is that of a 4A economic entity dispersing roughly $5 million annually on projects designed to bring industry, jobs and economic development to Brownsville.

The reality, as made all too clear in GBIC Executive Director Mario Lozoya's 2020 Budget Report 9/13/19, is that of a hamstrung operation, that, after operating expenses and project commitments are paid, has only $684,000 left to play with annually for economic development projects.

A case could be made for simply scrapping the GBIC and returning its share of sales tax receipts back to the city's General Fund, except that the financial commitments would likely have to be picked up by the City of Brownsville anyway.

The institution's impotency in doing much in economic development is obvious in the numbers.

While projected 2020 sales tax revenues do approach $5 million, actually $4,934,366, the operating budget, including Lozoya's $220,000 base salary, exceeds $1,533,000.  Also included in the operating budget are 8 salaries for GBIC employees, their health insurance, rent on the fancy digs at the historic Young House, maintenance and mileage on the $55,000 vehicle purchased last year, employee travel, meals for employees on out-of-town recruitment efforts and hosting expenses for prospects visiting the city.

Administrative costs owed to the City of Brownsville pushes the total expense of running GBIC to $1,631,000 or 33% of 1/4 cent in sales tax diverted annually to the corporation for economic development.

Then, adding existing commitments, including $945,000 annually for the next 5 years to help pay for the new airport terminal, GBIC is left with only $684,000 to do its thing, only 13.67% of the $5 million we've tossed about as if factual.

For a city the size of Brownsville, that's not much money to disperse on economic development projects.

We could argue about how GBIC got into this predicament.  The weak-minded "leadership" of past board president David Betancourt factors in, as does the symbiotic relationship with GBIC's corrupt, now defunct, sister, the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation, with GBIC rubberstamping BEDC's world junkets sending Tony Martinez, Jason Hilts, etc. on lavish trips, the Colombian office and various boondoggles.

Brownsville's own City Commission bears some responsibility for GBIC's current economic plight, with the sleight-of-hand shifting of responsibility for the airport terminal from COB to GBIC.

The irony is that today's GBIC Board seems more astute, more scrutinizing, more engaged and informed than its mousy predecessors.  New members Dennis Sanchez, Graham Sevier, Jason Wolfe and Sandra Duran played a major role at the 9/13/19 meeting, not to mention a much more businesslike leadership by current board chairman Esteban "Steve" Guerra. 

Unfortunately, the current 2019 board must pay for the sins of the past, given much less to work with after years of malfeasance and waste.

    

JOHN CHAMBERS TO ANNOUNCE FOR CAMERON COUNTY SHERIFF 2020

John Chambers

SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR LIVING WAGES AT AMFELS, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16

Solidarity Rally

20000 TX-48

Brownsville, TX

BROWNSVILLE BLOGGER AND FIANCEE ANNOUNCE WEDDING PLANS

Ana and I agreed to have our wedding on the above-pictured Brownsville deck October 12 at sundown.  October 12 is the birthday of Ana's late mother.  

We have about twenty people on a prospective guest list, well aware that some will not be able to make it.

We will keep things simple; a 5-minute ceremony, followed by a light menu, champagne, beer, water and soft drinks.  

Laura Miniel will chronicle the occasion with pictures.

GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE REJECTS SYLVIA GARZA-PEREZ RAISE BY 7-1 MARGIN

 

Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez

After a ten minute delay while determining if they had a quorum, 8 citizens, selected from among the grand jury pool, 5 women and 3 men, listened keenly to Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez make a pitch for an additional $8,000 in annual salary.

Garza-Perez, the only county official to so far file a grievance for a salary increase during a limited window, maximized the scope of her department's work in licensing, preserving documents carefully and making information readily available online.

The county clerk emphasized that she ran three offices with 8 supervisors and 36 employees, several who'd passed leadership courses and volunteered with United Way.

When the Grievance Committee returned from Executive Session they were given three options by County Judge Eddie Trevino; make a motion for approval or disapproval of the $8,000 raise or make a motion for a different raise.

A motion was made to disallow the raise and that motion was approved 7-1.

Prior to the meeting, Ana and I found the County Clerk alone in chambers working on her presentation.  She told us about technical changes that made it easier for citizens to access information in her department.  We also discussed the 72 hour waiting period after obtaining a marriage license.  

ADDENDUM:  We asked Sylvia Garza-Perez about the proposed $22,000 salary increase for her office that came up at last month's commissioners meeting.

"That was not my doing.  That came from the commissioners.  I was going to ask for a $15,000 increase, then settle for $8,000.  You know how that goes,"  Sylvia told us.

When I questioned her about whether or not the money was actually in the budget for raises for officials, she said the commissioners kept her in the dark about the numbers.

CONFUSED WIGHTMAN, BAFFLED BY SATIRE, FAILS AGAIN TO CONNECT THE DOTS

sat·ire

/ˈsaˌtī(ə)r/

noun

noun: satire

1. the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
2. 
   
3. Synonyms:  mockery, ridicule, derision, scorn, caricature
4. 
   
5. 
   

6. 

   Jerry McHale, Founding member.

   South Texas Independent 
   Journalists Association(STIJA)

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   As if it has to be spelled out, Jerry McHale does not actually consult an operational polling entity to give his favored candidates the proverbial lift.  
   

   
   STIJA President Anthony Starr has no official duties and, no, Bobby Wightman-Cervantes does not apply for inclusion in the association annually, only to be stifled by the down votes of local journalists.
   
   It is satire, a vehicle for Jerry's stories to make a point.
   
   All but the thickest of Brownsville residents and readers of the blogosphere understand this, with the possible exception of Bobby Wightman-Cervantes.
   
   Bobby, who I've said for years, finds dots, but simply can't connect them, mixes up stories in the most convoluted way, confusing himself and totally baffling anyone who tries to make sense of his almost daily blog offerings.
   
   In Wightman's latest feeble stab at journalism, he states what has been obvious to all of us for years:
   
   Barton calls it the most accurate in the area. It is just a lie. McHale has never ever posted the methodology of his fake polls. Such a poll would cost easily $10,000. Who paid for it. How many people were surveyed? How were they chosen?
   
   McHale posts no methodology because there is no such thing as the STIJA. McHale says I have applied to be part of the organization. Never happened because no such organization exists.

   
   

   

   Bobby Wightman-Cervantes

   Good heavens!  Is it even possible to be a Brownsville blogger for years and just now discover that Jerry's STIJA is satirical?

   
   

   BTW, in a recent story, McHale raises the question:  "Is Unbought Bobby Brownsville's Best Blogger?"

   
   

   Don't take that too seriously either Bobby.  It's meant tongue-in-cheek, satirically, if you will, and it likely goes over your head like most everything else.  
   

ANA GOES TO IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHEDRAL AFTER PODCAST

Ana told me this morning:  "After the podcast, I want to go to that cathedral downtown."

She was referring to the Immaculate Conception.

"I don't believe in religion, but I do pray," she told me.

"Why this particular church?" I asked.

"Because it's His house," she replied.

After a quick tour of downtown, Ana and I went home to watch the broadcast of Texas' most popular religion, the Dallas Cowboys.

When it became obvious that da boys were going to kick New York Giant ass, I turned around to see an angel asleep on the day bed.

ANA AND I MAKE IT BACK FOR THE PODCAST AND ANA'S "APPOINTMENT"

Yes, it was an admittedly grueling 1-1/2 day, 768 mile commute between Brownsville and Houston's George Bush International Airport, including a 2:00 AM arrival Friday morning, a few hours of  rest at the motel, then back on the road.

The sorghum and cotton fields along Highway 59 reminded Ana of her childhood in the Bukidnon province, which also happens to be the rodeo capital of the Philippines.  Maybe that's why we tried on matching cowboy hats in Sinton, before deciding against the purchase.

"I have an appointment tomorrow," Ana told me on the ride back. 

After making me guess for a few minutes, my fiancée admitted her "appointment" was a personal decision to go see my mom first thing.

At the nursing facility, Ana was euphoric, feeling she'd broken throught dementia enough to get a smile from my mom.

"How are you momma?" she kept asking.

"I'm with Jim."

Saul Del Angel

After tomorrow's Whine with Cheez podcast, featuring Saul del Angel's work with autistic kids, Ana wants me to take her to the Immaculate Conception Cathedral on East 12th Street.

I'm guessing she wants to thank someone, but that's a private conversation and I will not eavesdrop.

WAITING FOR ANA IN A CHEAP MOTEL ROOM MINUTES AWAY FROM GEORGE BUSH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

My fifty dollar motel room on FM 1960, just minutes from George Bush International Airport in Houston, is pristine, actually brand new.

The owners, from India, have the surname "Patel," but, when I asked them if they knew P.K. Patel from Brownsville, both mother and daughter said "we don't know anyone in Brownsville."

Ana wouldn't like the fact that I walked to a Circle K and bought a quart of King Cobra Malt Liquor, but it will be out of my system by the time her flight arrives from LAX at 1:56 AM.

  

Ana Adiong Barton

Houston is Cebu on steroids.  This Farm to Market Road 1960 in front of my motel has more traffic than I-69 in El Valle.  Venture to walk along the bike/turn lane and the damn SUVs will flatten you!  It's all pedal to the metal here in H-town!

On my trip to secure malt liquor, I encountered no less than 4 Ezekiel Elliot look-a-likes, one in cowboy boots, but all with pulled out Afros and even one nose ring.  Go Cowboys!

Houston, a municipality, as geographically large as a small state, has beauty, but choking, crazed traffic subtracts mightily from quality of life.

The city craves workers.  A  Dairy Queen advertised jobs "starting at $13 per hour" and the Aldine Independent School District wants bus drivers at $16 per.

But Ezekiel Elliot just got $90,000,000 from Jerry Jones and we can watch him join the Boys on September 8.

WILL ANA'S TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES BE THWARTED BY FLOODING IN THE PHILIPPINES?

Water Flowing off Diversion Road behind Ana's Subdivision

Fiancee Ana's videocall woke me up yesterday morning with her voice in full panic mode.  Several days of torrential rains had flooded the Villa Trinitas Subdivision, putting jeepneys, tricycles and taxis out of service.

The screenshot above is from a video Ana sent from her phone, showing the diversion road behind her subdivision, a veritable river swelling the normally small stream flowing under the bridge.

"Darling, that's the road where we went for a walk your first day here.  Now, it's impassable," Ana stated.

While this might normally mean a few days inconvenience, flooded roads now threatened Ana's ability to make it to Cebu City by September 4 for her flight to the United States.

"I can't think straight right now," Ana continued.

"I will call you in the morning and we can try to figure out what to do."

At daybreak things looked somewhat better. but the 10 day forecast for Cagayan de Oro showed thunderstorms 9 out the next 10 days.

Ana's Luggage

"All my neighbors are telling me to get out while I can before a typhoon, now out at sea, makes landfall," Ana told me the next morning.

"What do you think I should do?" she asked.

"I agree with your neighbors," I responded.  

"Take the ferry to Cebu City and get a hotel room for the night.  At least you won't miss your flight that way," I advised.

As I type, Ana is in a bunk amongst a couple hundred other passengers on the eight hour 2Go Travel Ferry's overnight passage from Cagayan de Oro to Cebu.  

Ana Adiong

She's weary after two tense days, first worried about flight cancellations due to sabotage of the reserve oxygen tanks on planes at the Hong Kong Airport, then being trapped by the flash flooding in her barangay.

But, at least now she's on the boat.