Video is Back! City Commission Discusses Awarding Delinquent Tax Collection Contract~June 5, 2012

In these exchanges the commissioners question why the three competing firms did not give presentations before the city commission.  Instead, an "independent" committee vetted the three legal firms, giving its unanimous recommendation to the commission.  This is a big departure from the way such contracts have been handled in the past.  It is a blatant attempt to take away the appointment from the commissioners and give it to a secret committee.  This progression has been noted during Tony Martinez' tenure as mayor.

CFO Pete Gonzalez Sells Linebarger(Video)

Instead of sharing a comparative, showing side-by-side the merits of the three companies bidding on the contract for delinquent tax collection in the City of Brownsville, Chief Financial Officer chooses to give the commissioners a history lesson detailing the evolution of tax collection in the city.  This whole presentation bears no relevance to the action item at hand, selecting a legal firm to collect taxes 2012-2015.  

Pete Gonzalez Tries to Pull A Fast One on City Commission~Fails!

GONZALEZ CREATES A DIVERSION

Chief Finance Officer/Deputy City Manager Pete Gonzalez stepped up to the podium to present item 20 on the City Commission meeting agenda:  Consideration and ACTION to award a term contract for Delinquent Ad Valorem Tax Collection Services for the City of Brownsville.

After announcing that an "independent" committee had nominated the Linebarger law firm to represent the City of Brownsville to collect delinquent property taxes. Gonzalez proudly added:  "This will not cost the city a dime!"  That statement was a red herring, a factual distraction from the real issue at hand, since whether the contract was awarded to Linebarger, Pena or Perdue, it would be at no cost to the city.

Next, Gonzalez uses the video screen in the city commission meeting room to give us a history lesson in the evolution of tax collection in the City of Brownsville, showing important changes in 1983 and 1989.  He mentions that the city used to have its own tax collection office, the elimination of which saved the city $160,000 annually. He wastes the city's time with this diversion.   All of this information is irrelevant to the matter currently at hand:  Which competing law firm is best equipped to collect delinquent property taxes for the City of Brownsville.  This was the very moment he could have given the city commission side-by-side comparisons of the three competing firms.  All that was left now was for the commissioners to rubber stamp the committee's recommendation and confirm Linebarger as the winner of the contract.

IS THE CITY COMMISSION BEING INTENTIONALLY WEAKENED?

The reality is that, during Tony Martinez' tenure, the city commissioner's role has gradually weakened.   The appointment and reappointment to the several critical boards was to be farmed out to a shadowy, unknown committee.  That doesn't seem to have happened.  While each commissioner seems to have lost the right to nominate someone from their district, some homage is paid to having all of the district's represented on the boards.  There was some confusion at this meeting as to which district prospective board members lived in.  Still appointments were made, seemingly in a hasty manner.  Now, the contract for a vital city service has been sent out to a committee first, with the city commissioners asked to simply say "yea" or "nay."

Why this important, lucrative contract was put in the hands of a committee was not explained.  Actually, Gonzalez misread or underestimated the mood of the commission by coming in without factual support for his "independent" committee's recommendation.  The commissioners, particularly the ladies Zamora, Vasquez and Tetreau have grown up.  They fall for mealy-mouthed sales jobs no more.  The discredited purchasing officer Robert C. Luna rarely shows up anymore.  He sends an assistant.

THE BISD EXAMPLE

Of course, simply allowing the competing firms to give presentations before the commission does not guarantee a level playing field.  The BISD board of trustees pretended to be totally unbiased in allowing all three firms to give presentations.  When the first team exceeded the requisite 15 minute time limit by 2 minutes, the next two teams were allowed 17 minutes to insure fairness.  Here is a portion of Mean Mister Brownsville's write-up on that meeting:

"At the BISD budget meeting January 16, trustees could not even ACT impartial while pretending to monitor the presentations of three firms competing for the right to represent the district in delinquent tax collections. Budget committee chairperson Cata Presas-Garcia actually took two potty breaks during the Pena group's 17 minute presentation. To objective observers, the Pena group offered to continue collections with the lowest fees charged to the district. The Perdue group demonstrated superior collection rates in those districts where they had succeeded Linebarger in the tax collection role. But the trustees thinly-veiled preference for the Linebarger group were confirmed with Linebarger's quick selection following the presentations."

So, we await the next City Commission meeting to see if Pete's salesmanship paid off.  But for the assertiveness of certain commissioners, the tax collection contract could have been awarded without input from the commission, setting a precedent for future important decisions.

Craig Grove Responds to Comments on this Blog

Jim, couldn't you have used my other profile picture? I hate that one. Anyhow, I am not sure how my comment was so personal. Yes, I did ask you a few personal questions but it certainly wasn't out of line. You seemed to take it far more personal then it was intended. Aside from that my post above was a response to your post of the of the Environment Texas Press Release and it wasn't anymore childish then these anonymous comments stooping to name calling and the Ad Hominem approach. One of the anons asked what's in it for me? Nothing directly. But yes, real estate is tough and yes I would like to see the situation for our entire community improve. And if that helps sell some houses, that's fantastic. But no if the EIS comes back showing irreparable damage, I would not support the launch pad in this location. I just prefer to let the due diligence be done before I make a final judgement. As for now, I am in total support of the project at this phase. We will see if that changes at the conclusion of the study and response from SpaceX. As for the person that claims I delete posts. I do not. The only posts I have ever deleted on any of my pages is when someone flat out attacks another person. I NEVER DELETE disagreements. Sometimes people delete their own comments after they rethink them but I do not delete them. If you don't believe me, you don't know me and it really doesn't matter as you have made your judgement anyhow. As for me trying to be relevant, I could see how someone who doesn't know me would think that and it certainly helps raise my visibility. However, I don't do things for that reason. I do things because I am passionate about them. If that raises my visibility for better or worse, it is what it is. I will continue to do what I believe in regardless if it garners me visibility or not. There are certainly many other issues I could get involved in that I choose not to which would produce much more visibility on a consistent basis.  As to the anon that said I am too good for the beach... where did they get that? I just stated in my comment how I go there and swim, kayak, fish and use the beach. I am not the most avid user of Boca Chica Beach but I have done all of these activities there. I do not think myself too good for that beach at all but I also don't find it to be the cleanest beach I have visited, not even close. Which brings me to my second post. Unlike all the other Social Media pages in town I have actually promoted many beach clean ups, dune restorations, Adopt A Beach events and Surfrider Foundation events. Ask Mary Helen who sits on the other side of this issue if I have ever promoted her events. Ask Rob Nixon who heads the Surfrider Foundation if I have ever promoted his events. Again, you guys have made up your mind about me from before I opened my mouth. You have personalized this not me. You are the ones that are immature by saying ugly things about me and hiding behind anonymous posts, not me. Anyhow, I have spent way much time on this already so I will be logging off but I will chose to look at this interaction as people being involved and ultimately that is a positive. If you don't agree with me or don't like me, at least you care enough to be involved in the community. Too bad you hide behind anonymous comments, but I guess it is what it is.  Warm Regards, Craig Grove - BL

Finance Director Unable to Slip Linebarger Past City Commission

Finance Director Pete Gonzalez tried to pull a fast one at the June 5 City Commission meeting, by depriving the City Commission of the opportunity to select a law firm for the lucrative contract of delinquent tax collection based on competitive presentations.  Gonzalez wanted the commission to simply rubber stamp a recommendation by a committee he characterized as "unanimous."

Commissioner Melissa Zamora wondered "why the commission was not given enough background to make an educated decision?"  "Did you request proposals?" countered Gonzalez.   "I always want enough background to make a good decision.  We were given two pages on this.  That's not enough," responded Zamora.

Quick on his feet, Gonzalez, perhaps facetiously, turned around to face the audience.  "I think we have representatives from all three firms here,   Perhaps, they would like to give some presentations."  No one came forward.

At this point, Pete Gonzalez called one of the members of the so-called "independent" committee forward.  The committee member reiterated that the decision to pick Linebarger was based on a sliding scale of criteria and was "unanimous."

Commissioner Rose Gowen had a question:  "Why did we not get presentations this time when we got them three years ago?"  He said he didn't have an answer for that. Responding to a question by Commissioner Tetreau as to which firm was least expensive for the taxpayer, the committee member admitted that would be the Pena firm.  But, he added, that he had done some calculations that indicated that when court costs and other fees were included, Linebarger was actually the least expensive.

More than once, Mayor Tony Martinez emphasized that "these were all good law firms."  When the mayor called for a motion to either approve or table the action item, he was met with total silence.   Threatening to simply move on to the next item without any action,  the mayor finally got a motion to table.  After stopping Commissioner Longoria from interjecting a thought, Martinez asked for a second.  The motion passed.

So, a deft attempt by Finance Director Pete Gonzalez to take even more decision-making out of the commission's hands was blocked.  The huge Linebarger law firm, noted for influence peddling and generous contributions to politicians, including our own BISD trustees, must wait till the next meeting to be reaffirmed or possibly replaced as the delinquent tax collector for the City of Brownsville.

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes' BROWNSVILLE VOICE Blog Announces Shutdown

For the umpteenth time Brownsville's most unstable blogger, Bobby Wightman-Cervantes is shutting down his blog forever and ever.  Nothing you or I can say or do will change Bobby's volatile mind.  This is it.  No mas!






I am sorry if I mislead anyone the BV would continue - I was lied to - the BV has no purpose.  Unless a community group comes along with loyalty to none of the past or current players, November will see just another group of selfish people run as trustees with no intend of fixing anything.  

The BV will not be party to such a treachery on the people of Brownsville

It is time to go back to work helping people to get their GED's.

Our Visit With Election Administrator Roger Ortiz

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We stopped in to visit with Election Administrator Roger Ortiz Monday morning.  We shared with him Section 84.04 of the Election Code dealing with witnessing a mail-in ballot.  During our conversation, he called the legal department of the Secretary of State, putting the representative on speaker phone so she could hear us.

We showed Mr. Ortiz the anomaly with three candidates having nearly the EXACT same number of mail-in votes.  We asked him about the story reported in the "El Rrun Rrun" blog about 10 mail-in ballots disqualified, but only one person called in time to vote the next day at their precinct.  Politiqueras, voter fraud and stolen elections.  Mr. Ortiz' comments late this afternoon when we return home. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OK.  We're home.  Mr. Ortiz met us at the front of the Election's Office, inviting us to his desk in the back.  

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Thank you for seeing us.  Do you remember being interviewed in a  story about politiqueras by a lady from the San Antonio Express-News?  It was published May 25.  (Mr. Ortiz looks a little quizzical, at first, then remembers.)

Mr. Ortiz:  Yes.  It wasn't a sit down interview.  She called us on the telephone.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Well, you were quoted in the article.  May I read you the quote?  "If there's anything happening, it's happening in someone's home, or a nursing home. . . . and there's no way we can police that.   We don't have the authority, we don't have the personel or the budget, the funds to do something like that.  And first of all, it would have to be in the code for us to do anything like that."  Do you recall making those statements?

Mr. Ortiz:  Yes, pretty much.  I recall saying something similar to that.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  I think there may be a provision in the code that could help.   Let me read it to you.  Section 84.004.  UNLAWFULLY WITNESSING APPLICATION FOR MORE THAN ONE APPLICANT.  (a)  A person commits an offense if, in the same election, the person signs an early voting application for more than one applicant.

      (b)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection (a) that the person signed early voting ballot applications for more than one applicant:

                (1)  as an early voting clerk; or

                (2)  and the person is related to the additional applicants as a parent, grandparent, spouse, child or sibling.

         (c)  A violation  of this section does not affect the validity of an application involved in the offense.

         (d)  Each application signed by the witness in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.

         (e)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor

So, my question is:  Doesn't this part of the code give you the authority to reject mail-in ballots where one individual, like a politiquera, for example, has witnessed more than one mail-in ballot?

Mr. Ortiz:  I believe that part of the election code applies in the case of where an individual cannot write his or her name and a person is witnessing the signature.  There is a difference between being a witness and assisting on a ballot.  Most of the mail-in votes are assisted ballots, not witnessed ballots.  Let me find that in the code.  (Mr. Ortiz begins leaving through the huge volume that is the election code.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  While Mr. Ortiz is looking through the code, I locate the specific directions about witnessing a ballot in "Sec. 1.011.  SIGNING DOCUMENT BY WITNESS.  (a)  When this code requires a person to sign an application, report, or other document or paper, except as otherwise provided by this code, the document of paper may be signed for the person by a witness, as provided by this section, if the person required to sign cannot do so because of a physical disability or illiteracy."   Isn't this the separate treatment of a witness that you were looking for?  I guess the Secretary of State would know.  (At this point Mr. Ortiz decides to call the Secretary of State.  He asks for the Legal Department, then puts the representative on the speaker phone.

Mr. Ortiz:  (Speaking to the rep from the Legal Department at the Secretary of State's office)  Ma'am, we're trying to locate the part of the election code dealing with an assisted ballot, not a witnessed ballot.  I guess our question is:  Is there any limit on the number of times a person can assist on a ballot?

Legal:  No.   There is no limit on assisting on ballots.  There is a limit of one on witnessing ballots with certain exceptions.  She started looking for that and after several minutes, I shared the location in the code as it was in front of me.

Mr. Ortiz:  There was a bill in the legislature two years ago to limit assisting on ballots, but that measure did not pass.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Well, you understand the concern surrounding these assisted ballots?  There have been elections, for example, the 2010 County Commissioner's race where assisted mail-in ballots swung the election.  Let me ask you this.  Did you see the statistical anomaly that occurred in this year's primary regarding mail-in ballots?

Mr. Ortiz:  No, I did not.

At this point, I pulled out my copy of the Cameron County Democratic Primary results,  turning it around so Mr. Ortiz could see it.  I had highlighted in yellow Carlos Masso's, Omar Lucio's and Abelardo Gomez's mail-in votes.  Here is that document:

Cameron County Democratic Primary~5/29/12

Name                                   Total Votes                %                           Mail-in Votes

                                                         COUNTY ATTORNEY

Carlos R. Masso                     8,072                        35.86                      192

Luis V. Saenz                          7,766                        34.50                        47

Maria Urbina De Ford             6,672                        29.64                        33

                                                               SHERIFF

Joe Cisneros                            6,107                        26.02                        55

Terry Vinson                            3,268                        13.92                        25

Omar Lucio                           14,096                         60.06                      191

                                                    CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 2

Juan S. Torres                         2,348                         27.45                        13

Roel Arreola                               893                            8.54                        7

Pete Avila, Jr.                          3,952                         37.78                        27

Abelardo "Abel" Gomez, Jr.     3,267                         31.23                      191

More with Roger Ortiz

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Have you seen this before?

Mr. Ortiz:  No, I have not.  It appears three candidates may have used the same politiquera or group of politiqueras.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Of course, in this instance the mail-in votes did not change things much.  Masso was not close to 50% where the mail-in votes would allow him to win without a runoff.  Lucio would have won with or with out the mail-in votes and Abelardo Gomez finishes second regardless.  But there have been other elections where the mail-in votes have turned the election.  Are you aware that Alex Begum is offering $5,000 for information leading to a conviction of voter fraud?

Mr. Ortiz:  No, I wasn't aware of that.  I met Alex Begum the other day, a very intelligent young man.  I knew his dad, Mike Begum, back when I was involved in assessing property taxes.  Mike had a personal formula no one else understood.  He could look at a few figures and quickly determine if an inventory was undercounted.  We never knew how he did it, but he was always right on the mark.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Let me ask you about another incident that was reported in the El Rrun Rrun blog.  It was reported that in this last primary 10 mail-in votes were disqualified for various reasons, but only one voter was contacted, Blanca Vela, so that she could vote at her precinct the next day.  The upshot was that your office only notified one voter by phone when you could have taken a few minutes and notified all ten.

Mr. Ortiz:  That story is untrue.  My office doesn't handle the mail-in votes for approval or rejection.  That is done by the board.  Those letters go out almost immediately explaining why the vote was disqualified.  I only remember one time when there was enough time for a corrected mail-in vote to be received.  We don't call.  I don't think the board does either.  If someone was notified, it must have been by a poll worker.

MEAN MISTER BROWNSVILLE:  Thank you, Mr. Ortiz, for your time.

Craig Grove Speaks Out Against Environment Texas Petition

     Local realtor Craig Grove sent the statement below in as a comment on the "Environment Texas" petition posted on this blog.  Craig has been promoting SpaceX on his Facebook page. 

     Craig's comments are unnecessarily personal and shrill in tone, making an unemotional discussion more difficult.   Craig questions whether Boca Chica beach could be described as "pristine" and wonders out loud if I've actually been up and down the beach or "taken my kids to play in the surf."  LOL!  Our son is older than Craig.  We don't "take him to play" anymore.  The picture on the upper left was taken at Boca Chica in 1970, three years before Mr. Grove's birth..  The picture in the upper right is Nena with our granddog at the beach.  As far as fishing in the bay is concerned, we do not fish.  We did live at Arroyo City for 5 years with our property line bordering the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge and have been to most every nook in the laguna including Green Island.
     We've been up and down every inch of the beach and on the Mexican side at Playa Baghdad as well and explored the adjacent hectares.    My description of Boca Chica as "pristine" refers to it still being undeveloped commercially, not saying that empty cans of Bud Light or discarded Pampers don't hit the beach.  That kind of personal trash can be cleaned up in a day or two whereas the pollutants of an industrial site not so much.(Actually, we go to the beach nearly every non-holiday week and have not found it particularly trashy.)
     We're not opposed to SpaceX necessarily, although not in favor of a site adjacent to Boca Chica.  It's way premature to support a project before we know how much it will cost and before an environmental study is done.   To use one of Craig's hot button phrases, we're trying to "act like adults."  

Brownsville LivingJune 2, 2012 7:53 PM

1. Boy this is a pretty strongly worded Press Release for
   a person/organization that has admittedly never been
   to Boca Chica beach and almost definitely has no
   real understanding of the issues we face in our community. It's quite simple to sit up there in Austin and tell us what
   we should do in our own backyard.
   
   Furthermore, they are cherry picking data from a
   report released by a government body outlining the
   worst possible scenarios of putting in a launch pad but
   no at all looking specifically at this specific project and
   with no regard to the Environmental Impact Study that is currently
   getting underway.
   
   So I guess they are just assuming that we have no good judgement
   down here and can't make decisions on our own and based on
   good science. Silly us for thinking we can handle our own issues.
   
   As to the data about effecting eco-tourism... well, it's rather convenient
    that they are using numbers that are compiled for the entire region with
    no respect to what actually is generated just on Boca Chica Beach.
    They fail to mention that there is not a birding center there or any type
    of facilities aside of a Border Patrol Check Point. The county barely picks
    up trash out there so there goes the whole pristine dunes argument Jim
    tries to make. Jim, when was the last time you actually went down there
    or traveled from the mouth of the Rio Grande Valley to the jetties? Have
    you ever done it? I have. Have you ever stopped to look at the shear
   volume of trash or picked any of it up? I have. Have you ever taken your
    kids down there to play in the surf? Have you ever gone fishing in
    South Bay or kayaking? I have. Has Mr. Luke Metzger who is apparently
    so concerned ever done any of these things? No he is too busy chilling
    at coffee shops in Austin and crafting press releases and initiatives
    that could negatively effect our future.
   
   I want to protect the environment just as much as anyone and would go
    as far as to say I have spent more time in it then a large portion of
    the people claiming to want to protect it. I would never want to do
    anything that would hurt that area. That is the purpose of the EIS. Let's
    do the research and find out what the harm can be. It's not as if they
    don't have a ton of eyes on them. Then when the study is done,
    let's analyze the data and see if we can mitigate the potential damage.
    Once we have done that, let's review what we can't mitigate and see if
    there are things that can be done to compensate. Just saying "no"
    without doing that is short sighed and frankly, bad business. If we are
    to grow out of this economic funk and provide hope and opportunity for
    our area's children, we have to act like adults and research the facts
    before making decisions.
   
   Everyone needs to get over this idea that people are always trying to
   screw or take advantage of another. They need to look at the entire
   situation from all angles and make a well informed educated decision.
   Let's hope our community and our leaders continue to do that. Let's hope
   we all work together for what is best for Brownsville, not just our own
   self-interest.

Gilbert Salinas Finds SpaceX Opposition Unexpected, Unwarranted

Brownsville Herald reporter Laura M. Martinez describes the posture of Gilbert Salinas in this way:    

"Gilbert Salinas, executive director of the Brownsville Economic Development Council, said he had anticipated some opposition to the project early on, but not after the public hearing took place on May 15."

Now, one might consider stated opposition or at least questioning of the proposed rocket launch site as a bit tardy if construction had been started, 600 local residents had been hired for good-paying jobs or an Environmental Impact Study had been completed and analyzed, but NONE of that has happened yet.  Actually, now is the VERY time to question the project, or at least its proposed location, not ten years down the line after we realize we again been boondoggled by the historically inept BEDC and done irreparable harm to our most precious ecological feature, Boca Chica beach.

In a genius move, SpaceX owner Elon Musk threw our community a giant psychological curve ball by stating publicly that greatly factoring in his decision to locate his launch station among three sites, Puerto Rico, south Florida and Cameron County, would be how receptive the individual communities were to his overtures.  That deftly shifted the microscope from peering at the merits of the project to seeing how high we could jump for it.

Our economically desperate community, emotions whipped up somewhat by social media,  became a huge pom pom squad for SpaceX.  The May 15 meeting at ITEC was not so much a public hearing as it was a pep rally for the project.  The mayor and city commission in attendance wore SpaceX insignias on their blazers without a deal having been struck.  How's that for negotiation skill?   It was as if Oprah Winfrey had landed her helicopter in Market Square and given the city the keys to a brand new rocket launch pad.

But Elon Musk is not Oprah Winfrey and there's no certainty his project will be self-funded.  His electric car company, Fisker, certainly wasn't, with $465,000,000 in loan guarantees coming from the U.S. taxpayer.  We can't assume billionaire Musk will pay his own way anymore than billionaire Jerry Jones paid for his own new Cowboy Stadium.  He will likely work the three sites he says remain in contention against each other to see who gives him the best deal.

But, back to the environmental considerations.  We're not fooled by Mayor Tony Martinez's statement that he's "done his due diligence."  Do you actually think Tony has completed his personal environmental impact study?  I don't either.  Nor am I particularly reassured by the words of BEDC's Gilbert Salinas:  "The wildlife has done just fine.  If anything, it has flourished because nothing else is built for miles before you get to the launch site."


Luke Metzger of Environment Texas states: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrote that noise, heat, vibration, fencing and hazarduous material spills' from the project could harm endangered and threatened species and diminish the value of Boca Chica State Park and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge."


There is also the fear that a launch site would pose a threat to the local eco-tourism industry.  A 2011 Texas A&M study reported:




"Nature tourism generates about $300 million a year in the Rio Grande Valley, creates 4,407 full or part-time jobs and $2.6 million in sales taxes and $7.26 million in hotel taxes. The Rio Grande Valley has been named the number two destination in North America for birdwatching and attracts visitors from all over the world to view almost 500 species of bird. The petition calls on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to find suitable land for the project elsewhere."



Obviously, there's a lot at stake here, economically and ecologically.  It may be too soon to support or oppose the SpaceX project, until all of the facts are in.  

Environment Texas Shares Concerns About SpaceX Launching Rockets Near Wildlife Refuge

SpaceX Attempting to Launch Rockets Near Texas Wildlife Refuge


Environment Texas Launches Petition to Stop Project


For Immediate Release


Friday, June 1, 2012


AUSTIN – Environment Texas launched a petition drive today to stop the proposed construction of a spaceport on 49 acres of land almost completely surrounded by a south Texas park and wildlife refuge. California company SpaceX – which made news last week when their commercial spacecraft successfully attached to the International Space Station - has applied to the Federal Aviation Administration for a license to launch million pound rockets from an area home to endangered sea turtles, ocelots and falcons.


“I love the space program as much, if not more, than anyone,” said Environment Texas Director Luke Metzger. “But launching big, loud, polluting rockets from the middle of a wildlife refuge will scare the heck out of every creature within miles and spray noxious chemicals all over the place. It’s a terrible idea and SpaceX needs to find another place for their spaceport.”


On Tuesday, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) sent a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration outlining significant concerns with the proposed facility, which would include a hangar, a launch pad, a stand that contains a flame duct, propellant storage tanks, and more. TPWD wrote that “noise, heat, vibration, fencing and hazardous material spills” from the project could harm endangered and threatened species and diminish the value of Boca Chica State Park (near Brownsville) and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. SpaceX had previously approached TPWD about leasing parkland for the project, which the agency declined. SpaceX then instead leased 49 acres of land almost completely surrounded by the state park (see attached map). TPWD also noted
"potential for significant contamination of very senstive resources in the event of a catastrophic event (i.e., hurricane)"
the area is "extremely susceptible to wildfires" which could result from launch failures and accidental fires
concern "with the loss of the function and value of all wetlands"
"recreational use of the TPWD lands as currently planned would need to be revised"
"the proposed project area is within the Central Flyway, a route through which over 500 species of birds migrate annually"


Environment Texas also pointed out the risk the project poses to the south Texas economy. According to a 2011 Texas A&M study, nature tourism generates about $300 million a year in the Rio Grande Valley, created 4,407 full- and part-time jobs and $2.6 million in sales taxes and $7.26 million in hotel taxes. The Rio Grande Valley has been named the number two destination in North America for birdwatching and attracts visitors from all over the world to view almost 500 species of bird. The petition calls on SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to find suitable land for the project elsewhere.

How Did This Happen? Strange Statistical Anomaly with Mail-In Votes

                      Cameron County Democratic Primary~5/29/12

Name                                   Total Votes                %                           Mail-in Votes

                                                         COUNTY ATTORNEY

Carlos R. Masso                     8,072                        35.86                      192

Luis V. Saenz                          7,766                        34.50                        47

Maria Urbina De Ford             6,672                        29.64                        33

                                                               SHERIFF

Joe Cisneros                            6,107                        26.02                        55

Terry Vinson                            3,268                        13.92                        25
Omar Lucio                           14,096                         60.06                      191

                                                    CONSTABLE, PRECINCT 2

Juan S. Torres                         2,348                         27.45                        13
Roel Arreola                               893                            8.54                        7
Pete Avila, Jr.                          3,952                         37.78                        27
Abelardo "Abel" Gomez, Jr.     3,267                         31.23                      191




Does anyone else find it a bit curious that three candidates in different races got an almost identical number of mail-in votes despite very different vote totals?  Did one "helper" work for three candidates or is this simply a statistical anomaly, an extraordinary coincidence?    Jim

Using the "R" Word Against Filemon Vela

"Did you know that he's really a Republican?" a guy asked me as we walked out of the Vela Victory Party at the Phoenix Grill the other night.

"You know his wife is a Republican?" said a lady in the checkout line at H.E.B. who recognized me as that "blogger guy."  I immediately thought of James Carville, wondering if I should somehow get a hold of him to tell him about his wife's party affiliation.

My friend Juan Montoya of the El Rrun Rrun blog labels Vela as a  "political chamelion par excellence," as if to imply that he changes his colors to fit in with those around him.

It's a harsh charge, to be sure, to be labeled a fake Democrat.  Ernie Hernandez, Gilberto Hinojosa, Conrado Cantu and even Abel Limas have been called a lot of things, but no one to my knowledge ever called any of them a Republican.  On the other hand, candidates have been known to change parties and somehow survive.  County Judge Carlos Cascos uses the line:  "The party left me.  I didn't leave the party."   Cascos also makes a case for those who want to listen, that party affiliation alone may not be the best criteria to pick candidates.

Ultimately, voters decide what you are.  In the recent primary 40% of those asking for Democratic ballots voted for Filemon Vela in a crowded eight Democrat field.  Perhaps those voters are closet Republicans.  No matter.  If Vela wins the runoff, he becomes the Democratic nominee to face either Adela Garza or Jessica Puente Bradshaw, who, for all we know, may be closet Democrats.