Monday, May 21, 2012

A 28 Year Ride for Rene Oliveira~Is That Enough Already?

Repost from 3/7/12

Are 28 Year

Rene Oliveira always rides in the Charro Days parade and waves. He has done little else for our region in the last 28 years as State Representative. He talks a good game among "La raza", but when he gets to Austin, he forgets who he's supposedly representing. His only real work in Austin has been for the huge Linebarger law firm while doing zero, nada, zilch for the taxpayers of south Texas. Here is what Mean Mister Brownsville wrote February 2, 2012:

Rene Oliveira's salary as a "Representative" of District 37 which includes Brownsville and Cameron County is said to be $7,200. He is also retained by the Brownsville Independent School District as interim counsel. But it is his work for Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson, LLP that gives his employer the most bang for the buck. First, a little historical perspective: In 2001 Oliveira spearheaded a committee to remove a line in section 3308 of the tax code limiting the delinquent tax collection fee to 15%, subsequently including language allowing a tax collection fee rate of 20%. That bill sailed through the Ways & Means Committee of which Rene was chairman and was passed by the entire house. Considering Linebarger's near statewide presence in tax collection, how many millions of dollars did this sleight of hand add to the agency's coffers? Now, fast forward to 2012. With Rene Oliveira retained by BISD as interim counsel, but still connected to Linebarger, the February 2, 2012 board meeting agenda contains an action item INCREASING the tax collection rate by 2.5%, netting the collection firm an extra $125,000. And who is that newly named firm? Linebarger, Goggan, Blair and Sampson LLP. (Please note: As documented by Bobby Wightman-Cervantes, Linebarger was a substantial contributor to the campaigns of BISD board members Longoria, Escobedo and Saavedra.) Who pays this extra fee and the millions of dollars collected since 2001 by the passage Rene Oliveira's house bill? The tax payers, the very people Representative Rene Oliveira claims to represent. We must not limit Oliveira's traitorous betrayal of Brownsville and Cameron County to tax matters. We must not forget Oliveira's treacherous attempt to effectively nullify the 4-3 vote to preserve Texas Southmost College. Rene totally misrepresented the will of the people by trying to overturn that vote with a house bill essentially for unification. Only by the efforts of TSC Trustee Adela Garza to lobby the committee, carefully laying out the actual situation at UTB/TSC was Oliveira's attempted sabotage thwarted. Yes, Rene Oliveira is a representative, but not of the people of Brownsville, Cameron County and District 37.

It seems we may have an alternative to Rene Oliveira, 40 year old attorney Alex Dominguez. Alex is one of 10 children of Manuel and Olga Dominguez of La Feria. 6 of the children are current or former teachers. Alex is a graduate of Rice University, but received his law degree from Arizona State. He also is a member of local bar associations and the president of the Los Diez Education Foundation, which has provided scholarships to graduating high school seniors in La Feria for 15 years.

This from the Brownsville Herald about Alex Dominguez:

Dominguez, an attorney who lives in Brownsville, said he is running for office because he wants to see positive change at the local and state level.

“We need a visible representative who interacts with his community. I hope to bring greater interaction and communication between Valley legislators and also with Republicans in the statehouse,” Dominguez said.

“Mr. Oliveira spoke recently at the Chamber of Commerce Legislative Update complaining that the Republican-controlled house limited benefits for the Valley. I believe an effective representative would reach across the aisle and find common ground with Republicans,” Dominguez said.

Dominguez noted that with his previous experience as a teacher, “I believe that I can bring not just passion but creative solutions for our classrooms.”

Noting that Gov. Rick Perry recently stated that Texas has a wealth of jobs, Dominguez said it’s past time more was done to bring jobs to the district, including facilitating tourism, developing infrastructure projects, enhancing the Port of Brownsville, and building education jobs instead of cutting them.

After being an assistant Cameron County district attorney, he opened his law practice in 2005."

Jessica Puente Bradshaw vs. Adela Garza~Head to Head on Livestreaming Tonight at 6:30 PM

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nccrc-candidate-forum#

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Everything Elon Musk of SpaceX Touches Doesn't Automatically Turn to Gold

I'm not sharing this to criticize Elon Musk. He's obviously an extremely talented man with irons in many fires. At the same time, there may be a misconception in Brownsville and Cameron County, because of the SpaceX euphoria generated by our public officials, that he's an altruistic, free spirited lone wolf, personally financing unique companies with advanced technology.

Please note in the article below that one of Musk's enterprises, the Fisker Electric Car Company, received 528.7 million in loan guarantees from the U.S. government, 359 million of which was to open a closed factory in Delaware. Elon Musk personally received 465 million in loan guarantees.

As noted in the article shared below, the production of the Fisker Electric car has been very problematic. Projections were to produce 75,000 to 100,000 units by 2014. So far only 400 have been sold and in a recent car test detailed below, the car quit before completing the test.

"Consumer Reports," the noted tester of consumer merchandise handles car tests a little differently. They do not allow the manufacturer to supply them with a test car, probably one that has been tested totally before loaning it to the tester. They buy one from a dealer just like a typical consumer. So, in this case, they bought a Fisker and it quit on them after 180 miles.

‘Karma’: $107k plug-in hybrid dies on test track, automaker got $528m US loan guarantee

Published: 1:01 AM 03/09/2012

By David Martosko - The Daily Caller

Executive Editor

Bio | Archive | Email David Martosko

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The Fisker Karma is a plug-in hybrid car that seems to have everything the rich and famous — and environmentally correct — look for in a set of wheels. Sleek silhouette? Check. Green cred? Check. Six-figure price tag? Check.

Reliable battery? Not so fast.

In a test conducted Wednesday by Consumer Reports magazine, the niche-market $107,850 sports car conked out completely, after a short ride at 65 miles per hour on a Connecticut test track.

“Our Fisker Karma … is super sleek, high-tech — and now it’s broken,” Consumer Reports wrote on its website late Thursday.

“We have owned our car for just a few days; it has less than 200 miles on its odometer … We buy about 80 cars a year and this is the first time in memory that we have had a car that is undriveable before it has finished our check-in process.”

A Consumer Reports video shows a flatbed truck, sent by the Fisker dealer who sold the car, preparing to tow it away.

Watch:

David Champion, who runs the magazine’s automotive test center, told Reuters that ”[d]uring the gentle run down the track, a light on the dashboard came on.”

The light signaled battery trouble, and the car wouldn’t restart after the test driver parked it.

“It is a little disconcerting that you pay that amount of money for a car and it lasts basically 180 miles before going wrong,” Champion said.

The company plans to build a sedan at a former General Motors plant in Delaware, which it now owns.

When Fisker opened that plant in 2009, Vice President Joe Biden credited ”a real commitment by this Administration, loans from the Department of Energy, [and] the creativity of U.S. companies.”

Energy Secretary Stephen Chu claimed, in the same press release, that the plant’s reopening was “proof positive that our efforts to create new jobs, invest in a clean energy economy and reduce carbon pollution are working.”

In September 2009, Chu announced a $528.7 million loan guarantee for Fisker, specifically to develop its two plug-in hybrid cars. The Obama administration said at the time that $359 million of that loan would help reopen the Delaware factory.

The White House also announced in 2009 that Fisker “estimates it will build 75,000-100,000 of these highly efficient vehicles every year by 2014.”

Fisker has sold just over 400 of the Finland-built Karma cars to date.

Last month, with the memory of the Solyndra loan-guarantee scandal still fresh, the U.S. government froze Fisker’s access to the loan funds, citing the company’s failure to meet intermediate milestones.

“They won’t release any more money, given where they’re at with the programs,” company spokesman Roger Ormisher told Bloomberg News on Feb. 7.

Tesla Motors, another electric-car pioneer whose main investors include Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, also received a $465 million government loan guarantee.

Its signature car sells for $109,000.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

A Response from Mr. Art Martinez de Vara About Jessica Puente Bradshaw's Candidacy

Mean Mister Brownsville posted a copy of a letter indicating there had been an effort to disqualify Jessica Puente Bradford as a candidate for Congress, District 34. That letter was addressed to an attorney with some association with Adela Garza, Are Martinez de Vara. Mr. Martinez de Vara has now sent me this email with further clarification, indicating his belief that a challenge to Ms. Puente Bradford's candidacy is still possible.

Mr. Barton,

      A friend of mine forwarded your Blog post in which your posted the RPT
response to my letter regarding Ms. Bradshaw. I wanted to send you my
letter to the RPT so that you can post for your readers.

     The response
from RPT was not that my concerns have no merit, but that due to the
redistricting lawsuit the time under which the RPT Chair has authority
to act was shortened and such time had passed before they received my
letter. However, a Court of Appeals could act to disqualify at this
time.

     Though Mrs. Garza and Mr. Hering have chosen not to pursue
this option in court, a Democratic opponent surely could. Ms.
Bradshaw's petition is riddled with errors and omissions, but the
greatest flaw is that she failed to use her legal name on the
application which potentially disqualifies her as a candidate if
challenged in court. Use of legal name is required under Texas Law
and space for nickname is clearly provided on the application. Note,
that the version I am sending you redacts some information from the
original to protect the privacy of the persons being discussed.

Kind Regards,

Art Martinez de Vara

Art Martinez de Vara
Attorney and Counselor at Law

The Martinez de Vara Law Firm,

PLLC
PO Box 377

Von Ormy, Texas 78073

Mr. Martinez de Vara also enclosed a 4 page letter, dated April 30, 2012, he wrote to Steve Munisteri, State Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas in which he challenges the eligibility of Jessica Puente Bradshaw as a candidate for U.S. Congress, District 34 of Texas.

He states that Ms. Bradshaw was required to present 500 valid signatures.  He claims Ms. Bradshaw submitted 567 signatures but without the required information.  He claims 529 signatures omit the district number.  He states that 10 signatures are invalid because they omit county information.  He states that 52 signatures are invalid because they omit the date.  He finds even the notary certification in undated.  He found 1 "signature" that lacked a signature.  He wants 5 signatures disqualified because they live outside the district.  12 with no address. 2 because only one name is used.

He also claims Jessica's legal name is Jessica Robinson.

Further, under a differnt part of the election code:  He wants 13 signatures disqualified because they lack Voter ID numbers and dates of birth.

On the basis of all of the above Arturo I. Martinez de Vara wants Ms. Bradford declared ineligible.

Mean Mister Brownsville~More Meanness on SpaceX

An "Orchestrated" Public Forum: As pointed out by Juan Montoya of "El Rrun Rrun" that was not a true public forum at ITEC May 15 about SpaceX. When you rehearse your words collectively at the First Bank of Fred Rusteberg, sometimes known as IBC, with the first few dozen 3-minute presentations carefully orchestrated, it is not a true public forum. It is an infomercial. The only thing missing was canned applause.

The Art of Negotiation: When you realize you have something desirable to a corporate entity, you negotiate from strength. We have something you want. How much are you willing to pay for it? Showing up at an a negotiating session, wearing the logo of the company across the table comes off as desperate, amateurish. Elon Musk has not given a penny to Cameron County. Why would city and county leaders act as if they're already part of the company, sporting the company's logo on their blazers? What message does that send? How do you negotiate now?

Mayor Tony's "due diligence": Mayor Tony Martinez stated that he'd done his "due diligence" on SpaceX. What does that mean. Did the mayor do a personal environmental impact study? Does he know the effect of a huge rocket explosion on all of the flora, fauna, and creature life of Boca Chica? Does he know where the huge amounts of "gray water" will be coming from necessary for cooling? What about the effects of trucks transporting rockets, fuel and supplies out to the site on the fragile two-lane made up of depression era concrete sections with a thin asphalt overlay? With all due respect, the only "due diligence' possibly completed by Tony would be of a financial nature, if at all.

No More from Rene Oliveira on SpaceX: As reported on two blogs and backed up by quotes from a letter by his own Chief of Staff, everything Oliveira said at ITEC was either irrelevant, inaccurate or both. The legislation he supported that failed in 1998 was for a Space Port. The legislation he "helped" pass in 1999 was for a Space Port. The proposed launch site at Boca Chica is not for a space port. The bill he "supported" last session to limit the liability of manned space craft is also irrelevant. No manned flights are even proposed here. What Oliveira said about the State of Texas contributing 3.2 million to get the site "shovel ready" is flat out wrong. Rene, please save yourself the embarrassment of any more public comments about SpaceX.

The Psychology of Elon Musk: Musk threw a psychological curveball in Cameron County's direction by naming as one of his primary prerequisites to doing business with us would be the warmth our community showed for his proposal. For our desperate, psychologically weak community, this was the perfect pitch. He turned the negotiation around from listening carefully to what he could offer our community to seeing how high we could collectively jump.

Perceived Economic Impact: Sports stadiums and franchises, convention centers, industrial zones are sold every day with the lure of economic impact. From the amount spent in a week by a visiting Little League team to the amount tax revenue generated by the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, it is almost always greatly exaggerated. Don't buy it at face value. Alltel Arena was sold to Little Rock on the basis that it would lift an impoverished region out of the ghetto. Twenty years later, one block from the arena is still ghetto.

Coming Down to Earth on SpaceX

Tom Robinson, a trusted friend for 45 years

Sharing our SpaceX cynicism over beer and Diet Coke, Juan Montoya of El Rrun Rrun, Nena and I walked out the back door of the Crescent Moon. The rock n roll of Earthmen made it difficult to hear what Juan was saying and I wanted to hear.

"I know someone who works at Canaveral. He says that after each launch, workers circle the launch area, picking up dead birds. It's the shockwaves from such a large explosion. This is one aspect of rocket launching not publicized. If birds are killed, just imagine how the fragile bird eggs in the nests fare," Juan told us.

On the drive home from the Crescent Moon, I mentioned to Nena: "You know who we should go see about the environmental impact of SpaceX?" We replied in unison: "Tom!"

Tom Robinson has been our close friend for nearly half a century. His father taught math at TSC, while his mother taught etymology, a long, long time ago. At an early age, Tom shared his mother's love for all creatures, making frequent trips to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador to study the unique ones.

Tom once stood in front of earthmoving equipment off Oklahoma Road to protect the migration trails of the ocelot, trails he himself had traced and documented across the Rio Grande. According to Seth Patterson, author of the El Valle volume, detailing the Rio Grande delta wildlife, the last documented jaguarundi sighting in the Rio Grande Valley was by Tom Robinson. No one knows more about the living things in our area. No one knows more about Boca Chica.

With that background, Nena and I approached the Southmost Public Library where Tom works.

"Tom," I started. "Nena and I came by to see how you feel about SpaceX, a rocket launch pad being built near Boca Chica beach."

"Well, why don't they just build it in the middle of Yellowstone?" Tom replied.

"Tom, what we need from you is some commentary on the hazards, the risks, the catastrophic consequences if any, of locating this launch pad near the beach. It doesn't have to be 3,000 words, just something concise."

"Ok, Jim. But I need to know EXACTLY where they plan to put this thing. I will definitely work something up."

Nena and I know he will.

Did Adela Garza Try to Get Her Opponents Paul Haring and Jessica Puente Bradshaw Thrown Off the Ballot?

Nena and I interviewed Jessica Puente Bradshaw, Candidate for Congress, District 34. She shared with us a letter from Art Martinez de Vara, who Ms. Bradshaw says has links to Adela Garza. The letter is copied to all three Republican District 34 candidates, Adela Garza, Jessica Puente Bradshaw and Paul Haring.

Art Martinez de Vara

For this reason, Ms. Bradshaw feels that it's obvious that Adela Garza attempted through a representative to have Bradshaw and Haring's candidacy's disqualified. When you Google the name "Art Martinez de Vara," it does lead to a website named TEXAS GOP VOTE. The website has an article "Why Adela Garza is the Right Candidate for Texas District 34." Adela Garza also advertises on the site. So, Bradshaw may have a point.

I hope the copies below are readable.
Please click on to enlarge.

Did Rene Oliveira Overstate Things During SpaceFest?

If you were at the ITEC Center on May 15 and listened to the giddy 3 minute testimonials by local officials to the grandeur of the SpaceX proposal, you likely heard State Representative Rene Oliveira considerably overstate HIS involvement in procuring SpaceX and also the State of Texas monetary commitment to the project.

Oliveira, like many politicos, has learned the art of the overselling themselves and their personal contribution to the health, welfare and happiness of their constituents. Certainly, the State Representative overstated his SpaceX participation and what he promised is forthcoming from the State of Texas.

First of all, Rene said that he had an involvement in 1999 Spaceport legislation. Even if true, that is irrelevant. What's being proposed for Boca Chica Beach is not a Spaceport. Secondly, you may have heard Oliveira pat himself on the back for his "support" of Senate Bill 115 to limit corporate liability to a "space flight participant." Of course, Rene is in the House, not Senate, so he didn't sponsor the bill. What is more is that SpaceX is not proposing manned flights and the bill merely means if something goes terribly wrong the corporation won't have to pay as much to settle the claims. Again, that bill has NOTHING to do with SpaceX, Boca Chica Beach or Brownsville, Texas.

You may also have heard from Rene Oliveira that the State of Texas has committed $3,200,000 to get the launch pad site "shovel ready." Wrong, wrong, wrong! Just the opposite. Notice a portion of a letter from Rene Oliveira's own Chief of Staff:

"As of today, SpaceX has filed with federal officials a letter stating SpaceX’s intent to prepare an
environmental impact study on the Boca Chica Beach site. From what we can tell, several federal
agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Game, and the Federal
Aviation Administration, will have to evaluate and clear the project from an environmental and
safety standpoint before it can proceed.
SpaceX is an exciting opportunity for our community. The State of Texas, through the Enterprise
Fund, has committed $3.2 million to the Boca Chica Beach site that SpaceX can access when the
site becomes “shovel ready.”"

So, this is the opposite of what Oliveira said. Once the EPA, the Fish and Game Department, the FAA all "evaluate and clear" the project, and WE get the site "shovel ready," THEN the State of Texas will commit the 3.2 million. See how different all of the facts are from what Rene Oliveira said the other night.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Jessica Puente Bradshaw~A Choice Not An Echo

Click to enlarge

As you go down the line at the candidate forums for Congress, District 34, most of the candidates sing in harmony on certain hot button issues. They all want a VA hospital in the valley. Most favor the D.R.E.A.M. Act. Most will create jobs, function with transparency and just love apple pie. Frequently, the only discordant note is Jessica Puente Bradshaw, the 38 year old, born in Matamoros, but raised in Brownsville.

Bradshaw differs on most issues slightly or dramatically from the other congressional candidates and has little difficulty articulating the why and the how. Mean Mister Brownsville had a conversation with Ms. Bradshaw recently about some of these issues:

Mean Mister Brownsville: Brownsville and Cameron County are heavily subsidized by the federal and state governments; social security, food stamps, education grants, adult care, child care, medicaid,etc. Conservatives sometimes talk of cutting back on some of these programs.

BRADSHAW: "It's not about cutting back at all where there is real need. Many of these programs have tremendous fraud. A consultant to the medicaid program recently estimated 20 to 30% outright fraud on that one program alone, billions of dollars. Cutting fraud makes room for those actually in need. Non-invasive drug testing, for example, of those in public housing could free up that housing for the recent widow or divorcee or single mom truly in need. Eliminating or greatly reducing fraudulent claims frees up funds for those in actual need."

Mean Mister Brownsville: We have an extremely large student population in many border cities including Brownsville. It's pretty obvious we're educating with tax dollars non-residents, non-citizens. Your thoughts?

BRADSHAW: As things stand now, federal school funding is tied in to not asking about citizenship. That change has to be made at the federal level. Of course, if a school district wants to self fund or use only local monies, I suppose they could decide to do that.

Mean Mister Brownsville: I'm certain you've been asked about the D.R.E.A.M. act, allowing citizenship after certain requirements were met, including military service. Would you please restate your position?

BRADSHAW: "Certainly. The original D.R.E.A.M. act failed to be approved by either party actually. It was poorly written, with too may loopholes. It allowed, not only "Johnny" to get citizenship, but in certain cases, to bring with him father, mother, brothers, sisters, aunt, uncle, etc. Why not simply work to qualify for citizenship as so many have in the past? I'm not even opposed to private sector companies qualifying individuals or bringing those who qualify to the attention of the federal agency and doing so for a fee. I believe private enterprise can sometimes do a better job than the bureaucracy."

Mean Mister Brownsville: We had a march last fall in Brownsville seeking the approval of same sex marriage in the State of Texas. There are, of course, auxiliary issues, too, involving medical decisions in an emergency by same sex partners, health insurance issues, inheritance and adoption rights, etc.

BRADSHAW: "I believe marriage to be a spiritual union between a man and a woman. That doesn't preclude same sex couples from entering into a civil union. That's the approach I would take. All the issues you mentioned like medical decisions, inheritance, etc. can by handled by a civil union and a contractual agreement without changing the definition of marriage."

Mean Mister Brownsville: The country has been involved in wars in Iran and Afghanistan with the use of ground troops. Conservatives generally support our war effort fully.

BRADSHAW: "I generally do not favor this kind of involvement, especially based on disinformation. I noticed Condolesa Rice on tv the other day still not admitting that we went into Iran under false pretense, because there were allegedly weapons of mass destruction. I want government that admits to mistakes and seeks to avoid repeating them."

Mean Mister Brownsville: What is your position on a VA hospital in the Rio Grande Valley?

BRADSHAW: Even if we received such a facility for our region, there's no guarantee it would be in the valley. Corpus Christi wants such a facility, as does Alice. My question is "What's the best use of our resources to help our veterans? We can tie funds up in real estate, maintenance, staffing, insurance and all that goes with maintaining a facility or we can issue vouchers that allow veterans to seek their own health care in already existing facilities. The voucher system, to me, gives us the most efficient use of our resources.

"Everybody's Scared!" Salinas Vs. Villalobos, 444th District Court

"Like a dog on a chain

He ain't got no name

But it ain't him to blame

He's only a pawn in their game"

Bob Dylan

Click to enlarge

Trinidad Salinas is not afraid of Armando Villalobos. He thinks he may be the only one. "Everybody's scared. I ain't scared," he proudly states. "No one else would come forward, but I don't like the corruption," the 67 year old Cameron County resident continues. In private conversation, Salinas admits that what initially angered him was the closing of his gaming house, especially since "other gaming houses exactly the same near Combes were not shut down."

It appears Salinas may be "just a pawn in their game" as this isn't about gaming houses, but about removing Armando Villalobos, the indicted district attorney, from office. It will happen eventually in one fashion or another, but Juan Angel Guerra, former Willacy County district attorney and current candidate for congress, district 34, wants it done sooner. Guerra wanted to initiate the action personally, but lived in the wrong county, thus Salinas gets his proverbial 15 minutes of fame.

Guerra, who could barely be heard, seems to start off by implying that the presence of Villalobos two attorneys, Rene Gonzalez and Sam Smith, was inappropriate unless they were willing to testify as private citizens as Salinas was. Judge Banales didn't seem to acknowledge that argument, but simply asked if Guerra was saying Villalobos needed to be removed because he had been indicted. Guerra responded by saying that this hearing was very limited in scope and preliminary.

Rene Gonzalez, the counsel for Villalobos, stated that Guerra had misinterpreted the effective code for this action. He quoted code section 87.018, sections E and F as requiring the county commissioners court to call for the district attorney in an adjacent county to file this action. He also asserted that Villalobos was actually not the district attorney in reality, but merely the county attorney.

Judge Banales wanted documentation to prove that point and ordered a 10 minute recess that turned into a 40 minute break. During the break Guerra was interviewed by several tv reporters about the hearing. Salinas walked out into the corridor and we took the opportunity to speak with him there.

After the break Judge Banales said there would be "no ruling today" and gave Guerra until May 30 at 9:00 am to "cure his affidavit." Without such a "cure," Banales said "the action would be rejected.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

A Possible Reason Why The Brownsville Herald Has Avoided the Villalobos Story

It may not totally explain why the Brownsville Herald has shined so little light on the continuing Armando Villalobos story over the years. One alert Mean Mister Brownsville reader has identified a possible contributing factor. Laura B. Martinez, Herald reporter is listed below as a primary Villalobos supporter, endorsing his candidacy. This may or may not have been a factor in the lack of coverage, but it is certainly worth noting.. . . . . . . Jim