Samuel Herrera What? I am not much of a fisherman but that sucks!
Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, February 28, 2020
MR. AMIGO ASSOCIATION SELECTS ANOTHER DUD AS MR. AMIGO, WHILE TSC TRUSTEES ARE NO-SHOWS FOR LUNCHEON
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| Empty TSC Table at Mr. Amigo Welcoming Luncheon |
Brownsville does not seem to be responding to City Manager Noel Bernal's persistent refrain about creating a cooperative, efficient culture within the City of Brownsville. (see "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" by Aesop, Fable #210)
A luncheon designed to welcome this year's Mr. Amigo, held at the Brownsville Event Center, was notable for the number of empty chairs for the $40 per plate extravaganza.
A table set for Texas Southmost College, Brownsville's community college for the last 94 years, was inexplicably empty. Since TSC's trustees make it to a wide variety of city events on a regular basis, one would have to assume that their collective absence on this occasion was intentional and with purpose.
As for the honoree, Mr. Amigo 2019(not 2020 as one might assume), boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, was not described as particularly personable, not open to mingling with the masses, but largely confining himself to the Mr. Amigo Association members.
We're told that Mr. Chavez asked that no proclamations or awards be read in his behalf and when Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. attempted to present a gift to Mrs. Chavez, the honoree grabbed the microphone, telling his wife: "Don't come up here. I don't want you to embarrass me."
One observer also found it odd that the normal protocol of introducing any public officials in attendance was not observed.
Seemingly, this was just an odd event that did little to foster warmth and bi-cultural fellow feeling, or, as City Manager Bernal might say, add to our city's culture.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
HAS BPUB CEO JOHN BRUCIAK PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE AN ARROGANT ASSHOLE?
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| BPUB CEO John Bruciak |
Judge for yourselves if John Bruciak should be considered to be in that category with his performance in the role of General Manager/CEO of the Brownsville Public, yes public!, Utilities Board.
Seven years ago Bruciak persuaded the City Commission to approve a 7% utility raise 4/1/2013, followed by another 7% raise 10/1/2013, yet another 7% raise 10/1/2014 and an 8% raise 10/1/2015. The percentages compounded easily exceed 40%.
The purpose of the rate increase was said to be the purchase of 200 megawatts or 25% of an 800 megawatt power plant from the Tenaska Corporation to be named the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant.
The deal negotiated by Bruciak was lopsidedly in favor of the Tenaska Corporation with Brownsville's Public Utility paying $345 million or 65% of the total cost of a $500 million power plant, but receiving only 25% of the power. Almost comically, Brownsville would also be responsible for selling the other 600 watts of produced power.
The rate increases would be used to pay off 20 year bonds to fund the plant.
Construction on the plant was said to start in 2014 with construction completed by 2016. 600-700 temporary jobs for locals were also promised with "23 permanent well-paying jobs."
None of that transpired as the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant was never built.
Yet, all the rate increases above were collected and remain in effect.
When ratepayers cried foul and demanded a return of the overcharges, Bruciak remained silent.
Public information requests received no response with Bruciak's lawyers convincing the Texas Attorney General that accounting for the money ratepayers had spent on a plant never built would uncover "proprietary information."
Yes, the original request for a rate increase did mention constructing the power plant and other infrastructure, but the thrust of the increase was for a power plant never built.
In 2019 all three mayoral candidates promised that, if elected, they would find out exactly how the rate increases were utilized and how much was actually raised.
That promise remains unfulfilled.
John Bruciak has proven himself to be an arrogant asshole, but also dishonest.
WILL FISHING AT JAIME ZAPATA BOAT RAMP BE CURTAILED BY LNG? CITIZENS SPEAK THEIR MIND
Our recent article suggesting that fishing at the Jaime Zapata Boat Ramp will eventually be closed drew the ire of the pro-LNG establishment who described the suggestion as "fake news."
Do people really believe that recreational fishing will be allowed just outside the one mile hazard area of an LNG facility?
Obviously, I could be wrong. Future generations of sportsmen could be allowed to fish adjacent to an LNG plant or, in a few years, the Superfund cleanup wreckage and chemical waste left after the short-term profiteers leave the area.
Port of Brownsville Director Eduardo Campirano reassured the citizenry in a Brownsville Herald letter to the editor dated 10/5/15: "LNG is the liquefied form of the natural gas that people use in their homes for cooking and heating and has been safely handled for many years."
Of course, that silly, irresponsible statement totally ignores the fact that it is the process of condensing natural gas to 1/600th of its volume that is dangerous and highly polluting!
Anyway. Following the article, an interesting discussion ensued on Facebook that is worth reprinting:
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