A Cheezer Loyalist Defends the Group, Attacks Mean Mister Brownsville

"Fuck you, Jim! You were one of us and you betrayed us. We were Cheezmeh and you left us when you didn't need us anymore. How dare you call us a cult. The only cult I see is your cult of personality. You will fail! Goodbye Jim, or should I call you Jim Jones. FUCK YOU!"


     The above anonymous comment was received on my blog "Mean Mister Brownsville", conveying anger over a perceived betrayal of a social activist group and wishing me failure.  This opens the door for more elaboration on the time line and rationale of our departure from Brownsville Cheezmeh.
     Nena and I did work with and as part of Cheezmeh on Fly Frontera, and the Jessica Tetreau and John Villarreal commissioner races.  Our participation was willful and voluntary, based on what we thought of as a clear understanding of certain issues.  In late July Erasmos Dragustinovis came down from Austin for a meeting of the group at Denny's.  He gave a speech detailing the group's accomplishments so far, but also outlining a new initiative, the recall of Commissioner Melissa Hernandez-Zamora.  No vote was taken on this course of action, but no one publicly objected either.  A member donated the money necessary to purchase a CD of voters in the third district.
     On the evening of August 3, Nena and I talked for several hours about the recall, finally deciding that neither one of us were comfortable with it.  We did not want to be part of ruining someone's life, especially without clearcut evidence of wrongdoing that could be effectively communicated.  Nena was particularly bothered by Erasmos' statement "We're going to recall them one by one until they start listening to us."  That seemed to be a power trip, basing the action on "not listening" instead of improprieties.  The morning of August 4, I inboxed Erasmos of our decision.  We wanted to conscientiously step aside on this one effort while retaining the right to rejoin the group on a cause of action we could support.   Actually, there was somewhat of a precedent within the group for bypassing certain actions while retaining membership.  Some in the group chose not to work for John Villarreal because of his close friendship with the Hernandez's and that seemed acceptable.
     The reaction we received was very different and swift.  On August 4, minutes after I shared our position with Erasmos, he declared on the Brownsville Cheezmeh page that he was contemplating shutting down the page.  He also defriended me on his personal Facebook page.  I retain all our messages back and forth from that day and since.  When I attempted to reason that other group members had been allowed to conscientiously refrain from certain causes, yet retain membership, he stated that they did so before the start, not jumping ship in the middle of battle.  At that point, to my knowledge, no documents had been presented to the city secretary.  No signatures had been garnered.  I'm not sure any of this has been done since.  But really, changing one's mind is not a radical concept.
     Erasmos will likely have a different spin on this, but I've endeavored to carefully lay out the sequence of events.
   

"A Mind Is A Terrible Thing to Waste"~Cults, Mind Control Groups, Activist Groups

 

by Jim Barton on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 6:16pm

     I've resisted reading Steven Hassan's "Combatting Mind Control" because I sort of get it without the psychobabble.  Kids are born into and vulnerable adults willingly submit to cults and cultlike organizations.  The excruciating pain of exit from cults is the problem.  The line from Hotel California applies:
 
"You can checkout any time you like,              
But you can never leave"
That's the catch with cults.  We're not forcing you to believe a certain way, but if you depart from the faith we will never speak to you again. Amish kids understand this.  Fundamentalist Latter Days Saints running from a world of polygamy understand this.

Kids of Jehovah's Witnesses understand this.  Shunning, disfellowshipping, excommunication effectively removes the departer from every friend or family contact he or she has ever known as the "faithful" family chooses the cult rules over the family member or lifetime friend.
     Social activist groups use some of the same techniques to control and retain their members.

If the Ernie Hernandez, Jr. Matter Comes to District Attorney Armando Villalobos, Will He Recuse Himself?

Yes. . . . . . .Get ready Willacy County.

State of the Blog~Mean Mister Brownsville's First Fifty Days

by Jim Barton on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at 3:39pm

     The plan was to recap this blog's first 100 days, just as John Fitzgerald Kennedy's first 100 were chronicled back in the day.  As you may recall "Mean Mister Brownsville" did "The First 100 Days of Tony Martinez as Mayor of Brownsville", detailing Tony's accomplishments so far in a very short article.  The editorial staff of "Mean Mister. . " discussed the advisability of waiting the full 100 days to do a recap of blog accomplishments.  The consensus was that the blog would not likely last 100 days, so it might be best to cut that time frame in half and do a quick self-congratulatory piece before the blog died entirely.
     Before boring you with readership data, accolades, etc., it may be appropriate to mention the honor "Mean Mister Brownsville" feels in working alongside, learning from and plagiarizing three future, first ballot Blogger Hall of Fame blogs in our town:  "Downtown Browntown", BROWNSVILLE VOICE and "El Rrun Rrun".  These three pioneers, trailblazers have broken the barriers, fought the fine fight, dealt with the abuse as the local establishment has sought to stifle, stymie and squelch their first amendment efforts on behalf of our community.  MMB would simply not exist today without them.
     The three legends deal with the proverbial writer's block, dry spells and slow news days in uniquely personal ways.  El Rrun Rrun's Juan Montoya may simply pull off the top of the stack of donor articles he has received unsolicited and publish one or rework an old article, adding a new twist to make it current.

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes of BROWNSVILLE VOICE may get a late night comment from his favorite numbskull Carlito that will get his creative or defensive juices flowing.
 Downtown Brownsville's Jerry Mchale just needs a picture.  One of Jerry's first record album purchases was "Every Picture Tells A Story" by Rod Stewart.  All Jerry needs is one pic.  He closes his eyes and knows instinctively what happened including exact quotes.
     My list of mentor publications does not include the Brownsville Herald.  The Herald contains a key ingredient not found in the blogs:  cowardice.  It is not widely known but the Herald faced extinction this past spring barely escaping a ban by a mere 30 percentage points.  I'm told that one of the 30 Mexican businessmen participating in the downtown photo-op sponsored by mayoral candidate Edward Camarillo was hit in the face by a stray Herald blowing in the wind.  The businessman stuck his $150,000 investment back in his pocket, got in his Mercedes and went back to Matamoros.  To save face a Camarillo aid suggested The Herald be included in the green initiative.  Customers of Pet Smart and PetCo, Brownsville locations only, would pay $1.00 for bird cage liner OR, at their option substitute one of several tightly wound, yellowing Bargain Book papers likely on their front lawn for The Herald.  The Brownsville Herald itself would be banned from its primary use.  But Camarillo lost, having his Facebook default photo removed.  We dodged a bullet.
     Now, as to the state of the blog:  The first 50 days of operation garnered 10,000 page views.  If we had been advertising at 3 cents a hit, that could have generated $300 per advertiser.  But, Carlos Masso never returned our phone calls and Burma Shave is out of business.  We have to be content with a primary United States audience with Great Britain in second, Mexico in third and the surprising Russians in fourth.  Google lumps all the former Soviet Socialist Republics into one big country, sort of ignoring the status of Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia, Estonia, etc.  The most popular article  was "More on Erin and Yolanda Including Raul in the Precinct 2-2 Justice of the Peace Race" with over 400 hits the first day.  There were 59 total articles written in the 50 days.

The New Ethics Code~Tony Martinez's Top Priority Still Nowhere In Sight

     Back on April 19 at the UTB/TSC Mayor Candidates Forum, Tony Martinez clearly identified the drafting of a new ethics code as the "top priority" of a Martinez administration.  Since Tony said so little of substance during the campaign, I jotted that down.  Assuming a strong work ethic coupled with a desire to get our city functioning efficiently and ethically, some of us fully expected Tony to be a man of his word.  Literally dozens of model city ethics codes exist on the internet and from other sources that could be tweaked to fit our city.   Certainly other Texas cities have codes that could be tailored for Brownsville.
     We reported in August:  "City Attorney Mark Sossi was handpicked by Mayor Martinez to initiate the process.  Sossi reported to the commission 7/19/11 concerning the research, thought process and focus so far which amounted essentially to having read the San Antonio and Dallas codes, a 20 minute effort at best.  Later in that meeting Mayor Martinez expressed his desire to be included in the committee to draft the code.  My recollection is that City Manager Charlie Cabler would be included in that committee along with a commissioner or two."
     Since Sossi's report on July 19, two additional months have passed.  Remember once a final draft of an ethics code is submitted and approved, language in the City Charter has to also be changed to allow for penalties for violations of the code.  Brownsville's last ethics code expired in 2006. 

My First Brush with the Law~Malicious J-Walking

     The smart alec above never, ever rode the school bus, even in first and second grade.  Kindergarten had not been available to me.  Not riding made sense with the bus stop a mile away from my house and the school just a mile further.  I know my Facebook profile says that I'm from Kent, but actually I was born in Renton, Washington and spent half of my academic career there, such as it was.  Highland Courts was a bunch of WWII army barracks moved onto lots after the war.  Each building was a duplex, housing two families.  Anyway, I would sometimes pause briefly at the bus stop, but always continued on through a sand and gravel place, then into another neighborhood, using every inventable shortcut.  This brought me to Highland Park Grade School at the middle of the block with crosswalks on each end.
     "Stop, young man.  Are you j-walking?"  Always quick with the inappropriate line, I responded "No, I'm k-walking!"  Not bad for a second grader, but not good enough to not be pulled by the ear by a teacher to the principal's office.   I carefully avoided that last shortcut for the rest of my time at Highland Park, staying strictly within the white lines of the crosswalk.  No need to risk prison time just to save a few seconds.
     Getting to school a bit early had benefits in those days.  You could get a softball and bat from the janitor's closet and hone your fly-up skills.  Fly-up is where you throw a ball up in the air in front of you and try to hit it over the heads of a bunch of kids.   If they realize you're a power hitter and back up, you try to hit ground balls so there's nothing to catch.  Whoever catches your fly takes over as hitter. 

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Will Rendon's Whistleblower Settlement Encourage Others in BISD to Come Forward?

Dominos

     My knowledge about the ongoings inside BISD would not fill the proverbial thimble, but I do understand the paralysis of fear.  With the figurative plumes of smoke rising from the district almost daily, why is no one inside reporting a fire?  The hundreds who have taught, administrated, supervised and coordinated within BISD in the last few years must know something that is askew.  Unless, they are simply afraid of losing their jobs.  That is, afterall, what happened to Art Rendon when he came forward with what he felt was fraud and mismanagement in the district's special education department.  Perhaps the settlement Rendon received of his whistleblower lawsuit which includes reinstatement to his job, will encourage others to come forward.
Ben Neece

     Downtown club owner Ben Neece, wearing his attorney hat, hopes so.  "I feel so good about this, mainly because he got his job back.  Now maybe others will tell what they know."   Ben, Nena and I visited about BISD, Mexico, the Libertarian party, border security among other things.  Conversations dominated the Crescent Moon last night as the Doc Scully Blues Band was a no show.  Juan Montoya, the publisher ot the El Rrun Rrun blog sat at the bar, not even attempting to hide his disappointment at Doc's nonappearance.

Sylvia Atkinson

More on Erin and Yolanda but Including Raul in the Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2-2 Race

Raul Lopez, a bailbondsman with 25 years experience is running for this position as a Republican, according to the Brownsville Herald.  There may eventually be at least one more Democrat running in addition to Begum and Garcia.  No candidate will be ignored.  If permitted to do so, any other candidate's announcement will be documented and covered just as we covered Erin H. Garcia's and Yolanda Begum's announcements.
     I'm also adding videos of Ms. Begum's speech as well as that of her son Alex, introducing her.  I can't add these to a Facebook note, but will include them in the Mean Mister Brownsville version.  We've tried to do this for all of the candidates so that you can make judgements based on what they actually said, not relying solely on commentary.  Frequently, candidates for justice of the peace state that they will be a "full-time" justice.  Ms. Begum has promised this.  The job does pay a substantial salary, until recently including a car allowance.  If Mr. Lopez is still a practicing bondsman, it will be interesting to see if he plans to continue his bail bond activity during his tenure as a justice.  Likewise for Erin H. Garcia.  Will she step away from her law practice to serve the community full-time as a justice?  It's not really just the time contraints.  Can anyone see possible conflicts of interest for someone serving as a bail bondsman or a lawyer AND justice of the peace?
     Let me add a few more comments about the Yolanda Begum Fundraiser.  Someone at my table observed that Alex Begum might make an effective Democratic Party Chairperson for Cameron County.  It's long past time to make a change in that position.  Gilberto Hinojosa is synonymous with back door deals, corruption and tampering with elections.  Is that the appropriate face for the party?  Interestingly, Alex Begum's speech Thursday night at his mother's fundraiser was themed about the history of the Democratic party and its survival.  Was that a thinly veiled feeler for the party chairmanship?
     My last article focused on whether or not Ms. Begum could defeat Ms. Hernandez-Garcia.  It is my belief that the Hernandez family have used public service as a vehicle to enrich themselves.  Once in office, they survey the scene to ascertain what services are needed and regularly used by the city or county and how they can get a piece of that lucrative pie.  Wrecker service, printing, vending and other services have been used by the Hernandez family to put city and county monies into their pocket.  It doesn't matter which family member the ownership is shifted to.  The Hernandez family is living essentially off our community.  This election could, at least, nip that in the bud with respect to the NEXT generation of Hernandez's.
     Let me use a far-fetched and ridiculous illustration or analogy.  Mayor Tony Martinez owns Spanky's Burgers.  How would you feel if Spanky's Burgers became the exclusive caterer for the nourishment at City Commission meetings, city staff meetings and other city functions?  What if Tony shifted ownership to his wife, saying he had nothing to do with the enterprise.  It was his wife's thing and she went through a bidding process.  Would you be less enraged?  Of course, Tony is not that stupid.  I'm just trying to illustrate the situation.
     Lastly, some brief thoughts on the qualifications of the two Democratic candidates.  Ms. Garcia has a law degree.  That has to be an advantage in serving as Justice of the Peace.  The courses Ms. Begum has taken in anger management, truancy prevention and shopliifting show her desire to get up to speed in the areas of service needed, but do not measure up to a law degree.  Ms. Begum is 61 and has managed several businesses and raised a family.  Erin is 32 and is in the process.  Ms. Begum gets the life experience edge.  The overriding issue to me still is using public office for personal enrichment.  Ms. Begum promises to not do that.  Ms. Garcia has a track record of doing just that.
      Here are the videos taken at the Begum fundraiser:

Can Yolanda Begum Defeat Erin Hernandez Garcia for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2-2?

    
     The headline above was my question to a close friend at the Yolanda Begum Fundraiser held at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art September 22, 2011.  "Well, if she keeps getting turnouts like this, she could," my friend responded.  Master of ceremonies Evelon Dale orchestrated an entry worthy of royalty or maybe the late James Brown, putting special emphasis on Ms. Begum's middle name:  "Please rise for your next Justice of the Peace, Yolanda TERAN Begummmmmmmm!"   Ms. Begum entered from a side room to a mostly standing, roused crowd.  Evelon Dale repeated her name twice more with the same cadence and power.  Did I hear trumpets blare?   Ms. Begum approached but was not offered the microphone just yet.  That assignment fell to her son, attorney Alex Begum,  described by my friend as "likely her biggest financial contributor."




     Young Mr. Begum started his speech with a bit of melodrama, describing the Democratic Party as "under attack."  Aren't all political parties sort of under attack with politics being a war?  Begum then traced the party's development briefly, starting with Thomas Jefferson, finally ending in extreme south Texas, characterizing "our area as one of the last havens of the Democratic Party stronghold."  A couple sentences later, he delivered his best line:  "Candidates are supposed to be elected to give back. Since when did it become OK for candidates to be elected for personal gain? Where did we lose that?"
     Personal gain is, of course, what the Hernandez family is all about.  Ernie Hernandez, Jr., his wife Norma and now, kid Erin have used Brownsville and Cameron county as their personal ATM machine for years, tossing the ownership of various companies that do business with the city and county back and forth like hot potatoes, depending on who did nor did not hold office at the time.  Erin Hernandez Garcia has also declared for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 2-2.
     So, back to my original question.  Yolanda Begum said the right things.  She wants to work closely with BISD to control truancy among other things.  She read her speech from a notebook, flipping the pages, responding to applause with a broad smile.  Her campaign is largely dedicated to her late husband, Mike Begum, a cancer victim, as were two sisters.  She herself battled cancer, but has been cancer free for 13 years.  Her business experience includes running the family's New Yorker clothing stores and a restaurant in San Antonio.  She used her talent for art to teach children in the colonias.  This is a good resume', but can she beat Erin?


     I got a bit more insight as I went for a beer and brushed by Juan Montoya, the writer of the El Rrun Rrun blog.  Juan said: "I see money here.  Everywhere I look, I see money."  Nena took a picture of Juan and I with Pete Avila, former firefighter.  Back from the beer line, I asked Laura Miniel my question of the night.  "All of these ladies are voters.  In fact, this looks like an entire room full of voters."  Ok, money, voters.  That's a good start.

    

Sossi's Bogus Pie Chart, Estela's Abstention, Tony's No-Huddle Offense

    
     Do you remember the city commission meeting on  August 9 when City Attorney Mark Sossi slapped democracy in the face with his bogus pie chart attempting to prove that a "greater diversity" of speakers participated AFTER the ban of public comment broadcast than before?  As we stated that night:  " Had not Sossi himself even thought through that argument enough to realize that the greater "diversity" was in large part do to those speaking out FOR the broadcast of public comment?"  Have you noticed that since that time public comment has shriveled down to near zero?  No diversity, no participation, no broadcast.  That's what Tony wanted anyway as he stated at the time:  "I'd like to continue doing things the way the previous administration did them.  It's been working pretty good so far.  I don't want to change that."
    
     Whoever thought back on May 14 at the time of Tony's landslide election from among 5 candidates without a runoff that the most significant accomplishment of his administration would be a continuance of an anti-democratic policy initiated by Pat Ahumada, induced by a Mark Sossi hissy fit?  What a waste of blue campaign signs and chicken plates!  Brownsville needed, no REQUIRED  a dynamic point man who would hit the ground running with a plan, with ideas, carefully strategized and thought out.  What we got was a do-nothing, status quo plodder, a ceremonial figure like England's Queen Elizabeth.  Officiating a tomato contest at the farmer's market, witnessing the sprinkling of holy water on the Juarez Mercadito is acceptable mayoral behavior, but it's not enough for a city hurting, watching its most precious resource, the historic downtown disintegrate into nothingness.  The sad thing is Tony knew he was going to be mayor, WANTED the job, but so far hasn't gotten off his ass.

     Of course, it's not all Tony's fault.  Brownsville has a "weak mayor" city commission.  That refers to a style of governance, not a character flaw.  The mayor has one vote, as do each of the commissioners.  The mayor has the added responsibility of chairing commission meetings.  Right now there is a leadership vacuum on the commission, but hopefully someone will be assertive and stand up for our city.   When an agenda item comes up for discussion, it is a disservice to the electorate when elected officials have NOTHING to say or ASK.  The goal is not to finish a commission meeting as quickly as possible so Tony can get home in time for Boston Legal.  He can TiVo it!  The discussion of the item takes place right there at the meeting in front of the 2nd floor audience and the viewers at home on public access channel 12.  Prior discussion of agenda items is illegal.  So, does this mean that important agenda items involving thousands of dollars of taxpayer money are being rushed through WITHOUT discussion?  Yes, for the most part.
     I'm told that the mayor and commissioners get a voluminous printout, with details salaried city officials have prepared about agenda items.  It may seem like more than a commissioner can digest between the release of the agenda on Friday and the commission meeting on Tuesday.  But the minutiae should not distract commissioners or even the mayor from basic principles that need to be addressed with EVERY contract Robert C. Luna brings before them.  Remember Luna is simply a purchasing AGENT.  The commission makes the final decision based on what is best for our city.  Don't worry in the least about irritating Robert Luna.  He simply needs to understand his role in relation to the commission.  Here are questions that need answering with every contract recommended by purchasing:

Why does the city need this?  Is it absolutely needed NOW?  How many bidders were there?  What was the highest bid?  What was the lowest bid?  How were bids advertised?  Why are you doing business with a sole source?

     These are not complicated questions.  If the city's purchasing department needs more time to provide answers, the item can be tabled.  Once the commission establishes a modus operandi that protects the city's interests against inflated contracts, unnecessary purchases, improper sole source bidding and other abuses, the purchasing department will adjust to the new environment.  Contrary to the quote from the mayor above, we do not need to do things the way they've always been done.
     I missed the 9/19/11 city commission meeting raising taxes nor could I find a video.  I understand that Robert Uresti presented some pertinent facts and there was an exchange with Commissioner Longoria.  Yet, surprisingly, Longoria voted against the tax increase.  If that was a change of heart based on the facts presented, I applaud that.  I understand Commissioner Chavez-Vasquez abstained. * Why?  The whole handling of this tax increase, that was represented as not an increase left a lot to be desired.  As Letty Perez-Garzoria stated so simply.  The city's salaried and elected officials lack "creativity".  Do you really think Ms. Garzoria or Robert Uresti couldn't have found 6% to cut from the city's budget?  Please!  Finance Director Pete Gonzalez is obviously good with numbers, but we need someone who is capable of thinking outside the proverbial box.  So far, no one has stepped up.

*After this article went to press, I learned that the vote to increase taxes eventually became unanimous.

Robert C. Luna Bristles As Tony's "Girls" Question the Procedure

    Tony Martinez did not disparage the female city commissioners tonight by calling them "girls".  The roasting he received a couple weeks ago in the blogs may have helped to bring him up to speed with respect to appropriate gender phrasing in the 21st century work environment.  Of course, my friend Jerry told me that Tony says he doesn't read the blogs.  Yeah, right.   Although the main players at the 6/20/11 city commission meeting were the females, their progress could be measured in baby steps.  Estela Chavez-Vasquez stepped into the forefront for the first time, questioning city purchasing agent Robert C. Luna about his purchasing process.  Ms. Chavez did violate one of the standards of good lawyering by asking a question to which she did not know the answer, allowing Luna to deflect criticism by explaining the difference between a captive and a sole source.

     But Chavez was undaunted, continuing to question, even though the final results were not in doubt.  Commissioner Zamora reminded Luna of the questionable issueing of a contract to American Surveillance without bids, a company owned by one of the crooked Escobedo brothers.   At one point purchaser Luna got so rattled that the city bus manager Norma Zamora came to his aid, followed by Police Chief Garcia.   Mr. Luna finally vented a bit:  "The only reason we bring these contracts to the commission is because they exceed the $35,000 limit beyond which we must get commission approval."  But, that doesn't mean it has to be a rubber stamp, Robert, despite Mayor Martinez's meeting hurryup.
 

      The lady commissioners are on the right track, but perhaps need to take advantage of Brownsville's human resources.  In the field of software, electronics and computers there is Tad Hasse.  While Tony Martinez and Robert C. Luna most likely know little about software, Tad knows everything.  A visit with him once the agenda is published allows a commissioner to come to meeting less than flat-footed.  Remember Luna is simply a purchasing agent, the kind of guy sales people love to see.  The system of checks and balances includes the mayor and commissioners.  They owe it to the city to get up to speed.
     If an environmental issue, one involving native species or habitat, Tom Robinson at the Southmost library is an expert and would graciously educate without condescension.  Commissioners must tap in to these human resources.
     We did see growth tonight.  A fully functioning, uninhibited commission is vital for our city.
  

Hearing Details An Unsecured Border~Tony Martinez Worries About Brownsville's Image

Tiffany Hartley, widow of David Hartley with valley rancher

     The hearing about border security at the UTB/TSC Arts Center was sort of the republican version of the Fort Brown Clubhouse meeting sponsored by State Senator Lucio.  Not  quite.  Lucio's meeting on Saturday dealt with the effect of the border wall on the community, especially those living between the wall and the river.  Monday's hearing focused strictly on border security.
     Congressman Ted Poe, along with Blake Farenthold listened to panelists with varied expertise, all related to border security.  Frequently, the real enlightenment came from the followup questions from the two lawmakers.  After Janice Ayala, representing Homeland Security finished her prepared statement, including what her department had done to stop the flow of illegal weapons into Mexico, Poe asked her about the 2,000 automatic weapons our own government had sent into Mexico under a program called "Operation Fast and Furious."  Poe wanted to know if anyone had been prosecuted for that exercize in stupidity, with 1,400 of those weapons still unaccounted for likely in the hands of cartel members.   Ayala did not know.  Farenthold wanted to know if any such government gun-running operations were still ongoing.   Ayala said "not to my knowledge."  Farenthold also asked the percentage of the U.S./Mexico border the U.S. actually controls, a frequent topic of this forum.  Ayala was not sure.  She also did not have an opinion on the 4,000 SSP officers trained in Mexico.
     Mayor Tony Martinez gave a brief statement, emphasizing that "Brownsville is safe.  You can walk any street in our city and feel perfectly safe."  He credited Police Chief Garcia and the Brownsville Police Department for controlling crime in the city.   The mayor's comments drew a smattering of applause.  Of course, it's not unusual for officials to be concerned about the perception of their city as it affects tourism.  The mayor of Matamoros would likely speak similarly.
     Tiffany Hartley, whose husband David was killed on Falcon Lake a year ago, detailed their experience.  Sheriff Sigi Gonzalez, sitting next to her, added some key information.  He said the murderers chased Lisa nearly a mile and a half into U.S. waters.  He added that the cartels have much faster boats now than the slow ones who couldn't catch Lisa's jet ski.  The Hartley case remains open, sitting on the top of his desk.  Sheriff Gonzalez also mentioned helicopter incursions over U.S. soil.  When he mentions this to federal officials they hint at some secret joint mission between the two countries, but his office is never notifed before hand.  He's had citizens in his county ask if "they should shoot the damn things down."
     One of the largest costs of illegal immigration is the housing, feeding and care of thousands of the undocumented incarcerated in state and county institutions.  Congressman Poe routinely polls the institutions in his district, finding that typically a third of the prison population are undocumented.  In counties along the border, it is closer to half.
     T.J. Bonner, a retired Border Patrol official expressed his own personal thoughts.  By his definition zero percent of the border is under control.  He said the cartels have enough money to corrupt every segment of the Mexican government, making it difficult to trust or work with them.  He stated the obvious, that U.S. troops couldn't be deployed, but hoped that the U.S. could consider air strikes, stating:  " We know where the cartels are."
     Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos referred to a 2008 border study he helped prepare.  He said the border would never be secure until the consumer demand for drugs was curtailed. 

Doc Scully's Dirty Little Secret

     Doc Scully doesn't just sing the blues.  He lives them.  That huge hole in his heart is where Flo-Nan belongs.  No girl ever gave Doc more, expecting less.  Doc expected complaints when there were simply no more rooms near Haight-Ashbury because of all the "Summer of Love" publicity.  Flo-Nan just curled her long, thin frame up in the back of Doc's '59 VW bug.  She laughed when Doc hit his head on the steering wheel trying to lay across the two front bucket seats.  "That steering wheel didn't just get there!" Flo-Nan teased.   "Hey, roll that sunroof back.  I wanna see stars!"
     Funny thing is, with all the love-making around them, Doc and Flo mostly talked.  Mostly. . . . .The Viet Nam War, blacks and whites being together, JFK, RFK and MLK getting shot, the Beatles, the Temptations.  They had seen "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" together and it made them nervous.  Neither wanted that scene.  Maybe they could go to Tahiti and make a living selling coconuts.  Or maybe Doc's parents in Modesto would approve.  Or Flo's in Arkansas. . . . . .fat chance.
The Doc Scully Blues Band appears at the Crescent Moon Saturdays from 9 pm till 12 am.  The Crescent Moon is located at 722 E. 11th St., Brownsville, TX
    

The Ever-Increasing Collateral Damage of the Border Wall

     In my brief career as a landscaper I learned that a weed is something growing where you don't want it.  By extension an otherwise comely ten foot burgundy fence becomes an eyesore, a nuisance,  an obstacle and even part of a death trap.   No one attending the Saturday morning meeting at the Fort Brown Golf Course Clubhouse about the problems created by the placement of the border wall even fantasizes about it being torn down in the immediate future.  Actually, one diminuitive patriot, Dagoberto Barrera loves everything about the wall and the protection it affords him against Mexican nationals, people he describes as "not of our culture.  They eat with their fingers, their heads bobbing up and down to the table like ducks".
Dagberto Barrera
Since previously I've described Dago as a working class hero, let me take him back a notch.  Today, he was more like an 80 year old skinhead with matching shirt and tie, a patriot with his nationalism wound just a bit too tight.  I quickly scratched Mr. Barrera off my short list for the ambassadorship to Mexico.


     Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. expressed disappointment that his bill #1809, calling for an economic impact study of the effects of the border wall on those Texans living south of it did not pass the Texas senate.  John Moore asked if local law enforcement had done any studies to determine if the wall had slowed the flow of drugs north or lowered the number of crimes committed  by the undocumented.  Lieutenant Art Barrera of the Texas Rangers did not know.  Sheriff Omar Lucio, as might be expected of an octogenarian sent someone else in his stead.  The message from Lucio was delivered by Lieutenant Rick Perez, called Roman Perez by Senator Lucio.  Perez said the border wall was a bad idea, not nearly as effective as additional manpower.

A grant of 2.2 million received by the sheriff's department permitted the department to retain 12 "boots on the ground" along Hwy 4 to Boca Chica Beach, a prime trafficking location.  He detailed the drug tonnage, the weaponry, the vehicles seized.   The grant runs out at the end of the year.
     Mean Mister Brownsville asked if any of the reported 80 gates were going to be built in Cameron County.  Senator Lucio had heard nothing about gates, but a young attorney from Austin raised her hand.  She said 30 gates were designated for Cameron County, 12 for Hidalgo County to be built in a 6 to 12 month time frame.  She stated that 4-6 test gates would initially be built.  A Sierra Club spokesperson mentioned that 27 laws had been waived with the construction of the wall, including Native American Territorial and burial rights, water rights, property rights, etc.


     State Representative Rene Oliveira spoke of record apprehensions of the undocumented and record deportations during the Obama administration.  Of course, no study has been done to show if deaths in the desert have increased since wall construction in the more populated areas.   Actually, no study of any kind seems to have been done.  Two instructors from UTB,  (Jeff & Jude?) described a partial study comparing those that live in the gaps between the wall to those living behind the wall.  Economically, the gappers won.    A lady named Michelle described the personal terror of frequent helicopter flights over her home, no Brownsville PD presence,  hearing gunfire, losing pets and property.   Another lady mentioned possible psychological damage to children growing up with the hindrance of the wall.
     Paster Brad closed the meeting requesting that the food we were about to receive would nourish our bodies, that Mexico would someday enjoy peace, that our leaders would lead with wisdom, all in Jesus name.

The Border Wall~ A Dumb Idea Getting Dumber~First Cat Holes, Now Gates~Is Barbed Wire Next?

by Jim Barton on Friday, September 16, 2011 at 10:16pm

     Since the George Dubya Bush Commemorative Border Wall cuts through farms, golf courses, homesteads and businesses it needs openings large enough to allow homeowners and their vehicles to get from one side of their property to the other.   These openings have now become sort of a security breach since the undocumented can actually leave their 11 foot ladders at home and simply walk around a section of the wall.  Homeland Security never saw this coming, but are quick on their bureaucratic feet with a response. 
     In an unspecified time frame, Homeland proposes to have built 80 gates to seal up these openings, thus making our country secure again.  Of course, closed gates can be opened, but Homeland is so far ahead of the game, it's funny.  No, Master Padlocks did not get a huge government contract.  Our government agency of protection is going with key pads.  Only local law enforcement and the farmers, landowners and necessary personnel will have access to the code.  Once open, a gate will remain so for only 5 minutes.  Who could possibly sneak in that quickly?   Any landowner who feels he is being followed as he approaches the gate is instructed to alert local law enforcement.
     The fence around El Calaboz, TX, with known ocelot migration routes already has "cat holes", as pictured.  Since it was proven in the 70's by my friend Tom Robinson that ocelots migrate across the Rio Bravo in Cameron County as well, perhaps we need the same.  Next we may even hear from Mildred Camomile, chairperson of the Rudy's RV Park Tea Party, suggesting prison barb wire topping the walls. 

My Imaginary Conversation with Bobby Wightman-Cervantes

     Actually, I stopped at the Brownsville Public Library to use the computer room, but the young man in charge of the room said all the computers were taken and three other people were waiting ahead of me.  So I wandered  past the card catalogue to the long table in front of the research volumes, the kind you can use in the library, but not check out.  I contemplated perusing an 80's collection of "Motorcycle Digest" to see if I could find a review of a Kawasaki LTD 454 when someone caught my eye.
      He looked like pictures I had seen of famous blogger Bobby Wightman-Cervantes.  He was bespectacled, hunched over some large volume.  Flat on his table I could make out "Landmark Court Cases of the 1940's," a well-worn leather volume.  Underneath that book I noticed "Cosmopolitan" March1996-September 1998".   I hesitated to approach him, not sure of his response.
     "Pardon me.  Are you, by any chance, Mr. Wightman-Cervantes?"   The researcher peered over his glasses, smiled and then smiled more broadly.  "Jim Barton?  Mean Mister Brownsville?"  Extending his hand: " Call me Bobby."  He gestured toward the vacant chair across the table from him.  "I've read your new blog.  It's developing nicely.  5,000 page-views in the first month.  Not bad.  You've been on the city's ass.  I like that."
     "Well", I started.  "I never fail to read BROWNSVILLE VOICE.  You uncover details no one else seems to find.  I consider you a research tool.  I read you and Jerry Mchale first thing every morning."
     Bobby drew a breath.  "Jerry has sort of lost his way.  He's lazy.  Rather than do investigative journalism like me, he simply makes up quotes.  There is nothing I hate more than imaginary quotes.  I mean.  Is that journalism?  Hell no!  Then he adds that smut he calls art.  Believe me.  I know the difference between smut and art.  His shit is pure smut.  I don't want to use the term pornography because of my respect for the first amendment, but let's just leave it at smut."
   I sort of gathered myself, mentioning something about Nena waiting for me in the lobby.  "Keep in touch." whispered Bobby.  "I will."
      "Oh, Jim.  Can you give me directions to Tad Hasse's Cheese Shop?  I've developed a craving for smoked gouda.  It's down by Market Square, right?   I never go down there. . . . . ."

Borderland Beat: "Zeta and Valencia Cartels Combine Forces"

Zetas and Valencia cartels union confirmed

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 | Borderland Beat Reporter Chamuko213

Secretary of Public Safety Luis Carlos Najera said they had already warned against this criminal alliance of groups that were once rivals.

 

The Chevy found with several assault rifles 

The clash occurred on Sunday night between the Guadalajara police and a group of assassins, where two gunmen and a policeman were killed. It allowed the authorities to confirm a new alliance between the Zetas and the Valencia cartel, also called the Milenio Cartel.

This was confirmed by Luis Carlos Najera Gutierrez, the Secretary of Public Security in Jalisco, who said they found a narco banner inside the Chevy that was carrying the gunmen, reaffirming the new alliance.

We've talked about this some time ago, that an alliance was occuring between the Zetas and Milenio. While the banner they had on board the vehicle, which made the manifestation, confirms what we had already said several weeks ago, said Gutiérrez Nájera .   

About the confrontation, there are two versions. One that was unveiled by Servando Sepulveda, the Secretary of Public Safety in Guadalajara, who said the police received a report of a confrontation between two opposing groups in Jardines del Bosque.

It was 11:30pm when the police got to the streets of Tonantzin and Parque de las Estrellas, but they were received with bullets and a grenade, killing a gunman while repelling the attack. It also claimed the life of officer José Luis Hernández Peña of 38 years, and wounded three other policemen with minor injuries.
 
The other version is that municipal crews were searching for a white Chevy car and another vehicle.

At the intersection of San Jose and Chapalita they tryed to stop the Chevy, who then accelerated  toward the streets of Tonantzin and Parque de las Estrellas, where they started shooting at the officers, killing the policeman.

Neighbors said they first heard several bursts of high caliber weapons and then the shots of a gun, which are less leisurely, and then the detonation of a grenade, followed by more gunfire.

.In the passenger seat of the patrol G-2021 was the body of Hernandez Peña, while the rear seats of the Chevy was the alleged gunman.

Another of the gunmen with serious wounds was taken to Leonardo Oliva's Green Cross, where he bleed to death hours later.

The city conducted a search in the area of ​​the clash and managed to arrest Jesus Antonio García Olivares, a native of Torreon, Coahuila, and Francisco Rodriguez Gallardo, a resident of Zapopan.

According to authorities, both admitted to working for the cartel of the Valencia and earned 12,000 pesos a month for serving as lookouts and assassins.

In the Chevy authorities found two AK-47 rifles, two R-15, three pistols, grenade launcher and a caliber .66 mm. They also found a banner announcing the alliance between the Zetas and the cartel of the Valencia's, which Gutiérrez Nájera confirmed his version on this new criminal alliance.

Pay tribute to fallen officer

• • • The posthumous homage to José Luis Hernández Peña, the officer who died in the clash of the Jardines del Bosque in Guadalajara, began yesterday afternoon by its corporate partners.

His body was taken to a funeral home located on Avenida Hidalgo, in the first frame of the city, where police gathered in Guadalajara, Zapopan and other corporations in the metropolis.

The Ministry of Public Security reported that the officer joined the corporation in 2003 and currently works in Two Sectors, located in the Providence area. In his history his has made five important arrests, but there was no details. However, the official ceremony to bid farewell to Jose Luis will be held at 8:30 pm today in the Police building located in the Peripheral Guadalajara. 



Source: http://jalisco.milenio.com/cdb/doc/impreso/9025587

Brownsville Wasting a Not-So-Small Fortune on Legal Fees Despite $2,300,000 Shortfall

Alan Ozuna, Lenny Perez, Ricardo Navarro

     On paper it seemed like a David and Goliath legal matchup with the city hiring two high priced labor specialists, attorneys  Ricardo Navarro and Alan Ozuna for the Marco Longoria employment hearing while Marco was represented by a non-attorney, retired fireman Louis Hebert.   Remarkably, the legal braintrust of City Attorney Mark Sossi and his two assistants seemingly sat idle during this process although still earning a combined salary of over $250,000 a year.  If they were involved in paralegal or research efforts, I apologize.
     The website for Navarro which includes Ozuna lists labor and employment law, collective bargaining and civil service as among their areas of expertise.  They also represent the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool or TML-IRP, a self-insurance group charging an administrative fee to the city of Brownsville.  A wooden TML plaque is prominently mounted in the 4th floor hearing room of the city commission building.  A self-insurance group tends to resist claims, putting them into the appeal process.  The two labor law specialists could find themselves in a no-lose situation if they can work for TML, but still be hired guns for the city when appeals are pursued.
     To several courtroom observers of yesterday's hearing, Navarro and Ozuna did little to earn their money being outlawyered easily by retired firefighter Louis Hebert.  Hebert seemed to easily lift the facade from three important witnesses for the city.   Fire Chief Lenny Perez, the city's principal witness, the only one not sequestered, seemed totally flustered by Hebert's homespun question:  "Now, Chief Perez, you don't much like Marco Longoria, do you?"  Perez stumbled into an obvious perjury:  "No, I, I, uh care for him."   Judging by the smattering of laughter, no one bought that.  Louis  Hebert


     Two other important city witnesses  were employed at the time by T.A.T.T.S., a company that collects urine samples and sends them off for testing.   Mr. Gonzalez, the former staff sergeant, who allegedly "raised his voice" to Marco Longoria" also fell into Hebert's trap, getting him to talk about his army days, when he didn't simply ask, but commanded his men.  He even finished Hebert's sentence "When you asked them to jump, they said" with his own "how high?"  Gonzalez's assistant, another witness, was a lady who obviously did not speak English at the clinic.    When asked to describe Longoria's attitude at the time of the incident she spoke a well-rehearsed "arrogant".  When asked to describe the admittedly loud-talking Gonzalez conduct, she said "professional."  Chuckles broke out. Despite repeating those two words flawlessly, she could not grasp the simplest of Hebert's questions.   Even Navarro admitted at this point that the lady did not speak English.  The rehearsed testimony had fallen flatter than flat.
     Meanwhile Navarro droned on and on for the bulk of the seven hours, repeating and repeating himself again. Frequently, he tried to give testimony himself, but Hebert objected each time.  Finally, hearing judge Richard Dole instructed Navarro to "ask a question".
     The whole unnecessary proceeding illustrates that the city does not have a thinking cap with respect to prudent use of taxpayer funds.  City Manager Charlie Cabler is not managing well.
    

Dysfunctional Bloggers Only Safety Net Left for the City of Brownsville

  




      As my late uncle Joe would phrase it:  "Brownsville is in a mell of a hess".    Not only is our city and county likely the poorest in the United States, but we maintain a high tolerance for political corruption.   The legally forced departures of Abel Limas and Conrado Cantu, Jr. is not great consolation to a community still retaining Gilberto Hinojosa, Eddie Hernandez, Jr., Eddie Lucio, Rene Oliveira and however many letters of the alphabet eventually follow Limas.
     If you share the above pessimism, please add the fact that this town has no newspaper to the equation.   Tragically, the Brownsville Herald daily uses the precious paper pulp of sacrificial trees to print a bland assortment of innocuous, inoffensive, meaningless "stories" with the depth of a resaca in a six month drought.  TV journalism seems limited to segments like "Dirty Dining", utiizing health inspection reports to feature restaurants with sanitation problems or perfect scores.  In all fairness, establishments that serve pre-formed frozen meats, potato patties, powdered eggs and microwaved breads have a distinct advantage over restaurants that actually do cooking.  No knife ever touches a vegetable on a cutting board and of course, the roaches are not fooled by such so-called food.
     So, we're down to the above-pictured flawed assortment, not a Robert Redford or Ricardo Montalbán in the mix.  These are the four that I know, so I include them all because they meet one simple criteria.  Either you blog or you don't.   Whatever you think of the four guys above, they have risked ever enjoying a free chicken plate by giving us at least some detail with regard to the local political scene, BISD, the election process, UTB/TSC, the unions,  details that paid local journalists are unable or unwilling to provide.
     This, folks, is our safety net.

While America Honors Their Firefighters, Brownsville Dishonors Theirs

by Jim Barton on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 7:25pm

Louis Hebert, Union Representative, Ex-Firefighter
Hebert, Marco Longoria
Alan Ozuna, Lenny Perez, Ricardo Navarro


     Sometimes you really can't see the forest for the trees.  It's easy to focus on a petulant Commissioner Ricardo Longoria mustering up enough machismo to boldly make a motion to terminate the firefighters' contract or Fire Chief Lenny Perez teaming up with former Commissioner Charlie Atkinson to give Marco Longoria, president of the firefighters union the death penalty for a minor infraction.  In two separate court actions this week it was the City of Brownsville versus the firefighters.  What's intriguing is who you DON'T SEE as a prominent player in either of these two actions:  City Attorney Mark Sossi.  Mark and his two assistants were on the sidelines briefly in the hearing about the contract termination at the court house but never stood up as attorneys.  They were not in sight during the Marco Longoria employment hearing on the 4th floor of the city commission building.
     Instead the city chose not to use any of the three attorneys on retainer with a combined salary easily exceeding a quarter million dollars, but instead went with Ricardo J. Navarro and Alan Ozuna.  These two attorneys are influential in turning the city on to two bright, shiny new healthcare toys:

Texas Council Risk Management Fund (TCRMF)

Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool (TML-IRP)

Behind the termination of the firefighters' contract is a move to a different form of health care, the self-supporting system with an administrative fee.  This type of system substantially rewards fighting claims.  The kicker is that when claims go to arbitration, lawyers like Navarro and Ozuna are there to pick up the attorney dollars.  No one seems to know how much Navarro and Ozuna are netting in the Longoria case, but a courtroom observer mentioned the fee of $19,000 recently charged in a very similar McAllen case.
     The city could very well lose both pending cases, although I'm certainly no legal expert.  With respect to the recent termination of the firefighters contract, language in the old expired contract calls for a continued honoring of the former contract until a new one is arbitrated.   That seems to have been done UNTIL the termination was announced.  Now claims that have been honored in the past are going to a grievance process, expensive for the firefighters association and the city, but lucrative for the lawyers mentioned above.  Recently a claim for tuition reimbursement that had been consistantly honored in the past was denied by Fire Chief Perez.  City Manager Cabler was next up the chain of command.  He denied the substantiated claim as well, foolishly adding:  "The city has money to fight these claims."   So, it goes to appeal.   Another mistake the city made was not giving the firefighters association written warning of the termination.  They read about when the agenda for the city commission meetings were published.  Bad move.
     A few observations on the Marco Longoria employment hearing:  The charges are so ridulously petty as to be laughable.   Yet the fire chief, Lenny Perez, obviously viewing Longoria as a thorn in his side, a rival, gives Longoria the strongest discipline possible, an indefinite suspension, which amounts to termination.  Testimony showed that on 2/21/11 Longoria drove a city emergency vehicle through the H.E.B. parking lot on Central Blvd. to avoid the congestion at the intersection.  An H.E.B. customer was not paying attention and backed up into the city vehicle, just glancing one of the front tires with no damage to either vehicle.  The lady got out of her car, apologized, gave her license and insurance information and left.  She said to contact her if needed.  Longoria called his supervisor, Lt. Garcia, who initially said essentially "no harm, no foul."  Longoria wanted to know if he should follow normal post-accident protocol and submit to a drug test.  Garcia initially said "no", but later after conferring with Perez, changed his mind.  Longoria initially submitted to the drug test, but took exception to the loud manner of the staff person, and his insistance that Longoria surrender his wallet.  Longoria walked out, eventually taking a drug test at another station.
     Chief Perez declared this to be insubordination, although no direct order to take the test was ever issued.  He then rejected the options of a 15 or 90 day suspension, going for the maximum, an indefinite suspension.  All of the testimony was given today.  A court reporter has 30 days to complete a transcript and the lawyers have another 30 days to file briefs.
     Actually, Lous Hebert, representing Longoria is not an attorney, but has a great legal mind combined with clever common sense.  He elicited laughter from the courtroom audience when he got Chief Perez to perjure himself with the homespun question:  "Now, you just really don't like Marco Longoria much, do you?"  Perez replied:  "Oh no, I care about him."  The judge had to call for order with a big smile.  Earlier Hebert got Mr. Gonzalez, the former Army Staff Sergeant turned clinical worker to admit that he was accustomed to people jumping to his commands, simply asking "how high?"
    

Mean Mister Brownsville~Giving the People What They Want with 5,000 Hits in the First Month

by Jim Barton on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 3:11pm

     The annoying new blog Mean Mister Brownsville(http://meanmisterbrownsville.blogspot.com/) somehow garnered 5,000 hits in its first month of operation shocking the blog world.  The hits came despite the blog not being properly promoted or linked to Facebook.  The combination of lame writing, faulty memory and questionable subject choices seems to be working, moderately if not spectacularly.   Actually, a less than meteoric start is sort of a safeguard against flameout.
     The blog has received no critical acclaim but numerous critical comments, some focused on the appearance of the blogger pictured above:
"Dude chuck the cheap sunglasses. You look like an old pimp."
Or:  "Good work Jim. Drop the Snowbirds Shades dude. But you wont. It's your Angela Davis afro in-your-face I don't give a fuck what you think statement, right? Right? If not, them shades are the cheeziest pair of shades ever and you need to fire your hair fashion consultant."
      The blog also received well-deserved criticism from Erin Hernandez Garcia, a candidate for Justice of the Peace, District 2-2 and from supporters of Juliet V. Garcia, the UTB superstar.   The single most popular story was "Bobby WC's Unflattering, But Humerous Remarks,"  closely followed by "Ricardo Longoria Makes It Personal with the Firefighters."   The audience was primarily from the United States with surprising numbers from United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany and Canada and a smattering from Belgium, Costa Rica, India, Latvia and the Netherlands.
     After Marco Longoria's hearing on Monday, a new story should be ready:  "America's Honors Their Firefighters While Brownsville Dishonors Theirs."  Toward the end of the year the 1st Annual Mean Mister Brownsville Community Service Awards sometimes called "The Meanies" will be awarded.  I'm hoping the award show can be videotaped at the Crescent Moon if Ben Neece will allow and J.J. will do us the honor of the drum rolls.   

Video of Children Ringing the Bell at UTB's Julietafest

UTB's Julietafest Endured Under Scorching Heat at the EDBC Courtyard

     I felt like an atheist at a tent revival, but I was not alone.  Scanning the audience during one of the coordinated manuscript speeches,  I spotted other apostates, heretics and rebels.  Kiko Rendon waved.  The Mimi Mapache Rodriguez of Facebook wore her "Save TSC" t-shirt.  Linda Dragustinovis was attired in a tailored Cheezmeh shirt.  Other assorted Cheezers wore the black and white.  Adela Garza dressed appropriately, but I would have given several pennies for her thoughts.
     A speaker from each segment of UTB spoke with a bell theme.  A student, a faculty member, an administrator and even the queen herself paid homage to enough bell analogies to fill a dried up resaca.  Arturo Guerra, the student speaker, was introduced by Garcia as the student body president and a potential December graduate or as Jerry Mchale would say: "one of the lucky 17% UTB is able to graduate."  After each speech, the orator was given quality time with the bell.  The faculty rep knocked it silly.  Senator Lucio and Representative Oliveira thought about stealing it, but gave it an unenthusiastic shove instead.  Only the student acted too old for this silliness.  The highlight of the afternoon was the pre-schoolers who seemed terrifed of the bell, a touching, if unrehearsed segment.
     In a multiple choice question, a young lady representing Wells Fargo Bank would be the answer to the question:  "Which person doesn't fit?"  She was on stage because her bank generously donated $10,000 to the Bell Scholarship Fund, actually enough moolah to pay Julietta's salary for a week and a half.  In a stroke of unoriginal creative genius, a huge fake check was hoisted up for public view, much to the delight of the brethren.
     During the service, a lady carried a serving tray with one clear plastic cup's worth of beverage available for the taking, giving me a Jonestown flashback.  Despite the heat, I didn't feel thirsty.