Mean Mister Brownsvillle~Elaboration, Some Topics Revisited

It's disappointing to think back to conversations where I didn't communicate effectively.  Sometimes,  I simply didn't characterize a situation correctly and left someone with a wrong impression.  Other times, I didn't give enough detail.
Blog articles are flawed in the same way.  But, even if the story has come and gone, it's still possible to go back and elaborate.

Pete Gonzalez, City Commission, Linebarger Revisited

There were several articles on MMB detailing the interaction between Chief Financial Officer Pete Gonzalez and the City Commission and the eventual awarding of that contract for delinquent tax collection to the Linebarger firm.  Remember that at the first meeting this came up, several commissioners were surprised that they would not actually hear the presentations of the three competing law firms, but only get to say "yea" or "nay" on a financial committee's recommendation.  Commissioners Gowen, Zamora and Vasquez all questioned this.  

In response Pete Gonzalez suggested a workshop so that commissioners could "understand the process."   Am I the only one who found that phrasing utterly condescending.  The commissioners were not questioning because they didn't understand the process, but because they didn't trust it and that process had circumvented them.  They were simply being asked to say "yes" to what had already been decided upon behind closed doors.  From day one of the Tony Martinez administration, the commissioner's role has been weakened   Appointments to the important boards and now, lucrative contracts have been reduced to approving recommendations made by a committee.

The commissioner's new role reminds me of a ride our son used to enjoy when he was 3 or 4.  It involved riding in a metal car that traveled along a track around curves and bends and even through a small tunnel.  Each car had a steering wheel which was not attached to anything.  It just turned.  We used to watch our son carefully negotiate the turns with intense concentration, thinking he was "driving" when, in actuality, the car was being guided by a metal track.  Our city commissioners still turn the wheel, but they are not really driving.

Editor's note:  I'm not trying to paint Pete Gonzalez as evil or even devious.  I've met Mr. Gonzalez,  finding him congenial and helpful.  He readily gave me the names of those on the financial committee who actually heard the presentations of the law firms competing for the delinquent tax collection contract.

Rose Gowen's Sports Park Audit Revisited

While the goal may be transparent government, sometimes we get transparent motives and people.  It's no secret that Commissioner Gowen has opposed funneling all of the BCIC's 4B funds into the Sports Park at the neglect of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Gladys Porter Zoo and other entities.  She and Charlie used to tussle about such funding in the previous commission.  Perhaps, it was some recent equipment or expenditures at the sports park that triggered the move for an audit, but in the view of many, the audit is long overdue.

The kicker is the audit could include the construction and equipment once the land was purchased and infrastructure in place.  It could include the construction and equipment and infrastructure once the land was decided upon and purchased.  Or, it could include all of the above, taking us all the way back to the decision to purchase this particular parcel of  so-called "raw" land without infrastructure.  If the latter option is chosen, the audit takes us all the way back to purchasing the original land from Ms. Gowen's own uncle.  Some have suggested that history as a reason Gowen has sort of taken control of the audit, perhaps to limit its scope.

So, the scope of this particular audit will be very revealing.  Do we really want to know ALL the reasons this park ended up costing the taxpayers $36,000,000 or just some of them?

The Election of Sylvia Garza-Perez As Democratic Chairperson Revisited

The election of Sylvia Garza-Perez as Cameron County Democratic Chairperson shocked many, especially those hoping for an improved reputation and more ethical operation of the local party.

It wasn't just Sylvia's weak stance on the use of politqueras or her aggressive, grating personality.  Sometimes, a little assertiveness can be effective as long as it's coupled with ethics.  But the biggest fear of those wanting party reform and change was Sylvia's connection with the corrupt elements of the party, especially including Ernie Hernandez.

So, now I'm told that Sylvia is doing further damage to the party by openly supporting certain Democratic candidates, while opposing others.  Isn't her role to facilitate the election of Democrats against Republicans, not to promote one Democratic candidate over another.  Sylvia ignores that ethical protocol, whild supporting Denise Blanchard against Filemon Vela, and pushing for Erin H. Garcia to defeat Yolanda Begum.

Again, Sylvia, your lack of ethics is showing.