OK, I'LL SAY IT: TRUMP IS MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND MORALLY UNFIT TO BE PRESIDENT! ALSO, THOUGHTS ABOUT THE DEFEATED "VENUE"

                                              

In years past, this blog focused more on local issues, but it's hard for me to put together two sentences about city commission races or bond issues when we have a President hellbent on wrecking our democracy.

Trump's mind-numbing cabinet appointments alone will cost American lives.  The mentally ill RFK, Jr. heading Health and Human Services can only bring death, not a bear carcass or whale's head, but human death, American death from diseases he doesn't respect or take seriously.  Putting the reckless Fox News weekend host, Pete Hegseth, in charge of the U.S. military will kill soldiers, but Trump gives not half a shit, because, to him, American soldiers are "losers" and "suckers."

Putting wrestling promoter Linda McMahon in charge of the Department of Education is not only a death knell for our education system, but aligns nicely with Trump's professed love for the "uneducated."  Now Trump attacks our universities, like Harvard, because they won't agree to teach MAGA bullshit.  Yes, Trump is actually too dumb to make America great.

Now, as to Trump's Executive Orders, which are not binding or law, here's the routine.  In walks White Supremacist Stephen Miller or some other Trump operative, who explains to Trump what he's about to sign.  Trump pulls out a fresh Sharpie and proudly writes an almost calligraphic signature, but it means nothing.  It's not law.  Those babies born in the U.S. are still citizens irrespective of the flashy black signature.  Trump's Executive Orders are mere suggestions, actually worthless unless turned into law by Congress.

Now, Trump owes Elon Musk big-time, because Musk bought him the Presidency, so Musk is given a role in a pretend governmental entity; D.O.G.E.

One of D.O.G.E.'s first tasks is to terminate USAID.  Soy beans and other commodities, for which Iowa farmers have already been paid, will not be shipped to the starving populace of Sudan, but, instead, are allowed to simply rot in storage.  Efficiency at its finest!

                                          

                                                                       

Next, the in-over-his-head Musk fires the nuclear inspectors, then, embarrassingly, has to rehire them.  At Trump's behest, Musk fires any inspectors who might cramp the President's style, all allegedly members of the dreaded Deep State, it is assumed.

Yet, every skilled and experienced person Musk fires, does not make the U.S. government more efficient as proven by the fact that Trump's government spent $200M more in the first 100 days than Biden, not including the $92M Trump wants to spend on a Kim Jong Un style military parade honoring our insecure, narcissist President.

Anyway, in the coming days, I'll continue to monitor the Trump presidency, but let's talk local for a millisecond.

Now, with respect to the "venue," said to be a 10,000 seat arena. The project was not skillfully sold or presented to the taxpaying public.  Voters simply voted to not pay higher taxes, thus a 61-39 defeat.

This project is actually overdue and should have been built instead of the Sports Park. 

With respect to building and financing a convention center, we already have the model in Laredo.

                                         

Laredo, only slightly larger than Brownsville, has enjoyed a very successful 10,000 seat convention center for twenty-five years, financed with 1/4 cent of sales tax revenue, exactly what Brownsville gave BOTH the GBIC and the BCIC for many years. 

The project cost was $36.5 million, but contributes $100 million annually to the Laredo economy, as well as creating hundreds of jobs, serving Laredo and northern Mexico, providing major concerts, sporting events, family and ice shows, conventions, trade shows, and civic events. 

But, the Laredo Energy Arena is not run by local government, but instead by a management agency that does the same thing for over 300 other venues worldwide, ASM Global, formerly SMG.

That private management controls everything including the concessions.  If local politicos are allowed control, the vendors, concessionaires will be cronies, family, friends and failure will ensue.

The LEA, as its called, has, in recent years, featured Shakira, Elton John, Julio Iglesias, Cher, WWE, Santana, ZZ Top, Juanes, The Harlem Globetrotters, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Disney on Ice.

It is the home of the Laredo Bucks Hockey Team who play in the Central Hockey League, plus the home for regional basketball tournaments.