Tony Martinez and Jason Hilts Having A Gay, Old Time on Brownsville Taxpayer Money

When an elderly couple cashed their social security checks, they asked to be driven to WalMart.  Their granddaughter took them to the baby section, as they requested, to look at strollers.  Granddaughter pointed at one of the cheaper ones, but Papa said "no!" instead asking to look at the one for $179.95, a Graco with multiple uses.  It looked fancy and the seat could be removed to double as a car seat.  Nothing was too good for the first great-grandchild.  Papa counted his money.  When it was explained that there would also be sales tax, 8.25% that goes to the city and other coffers, Papa said "I know."  On a $179.95 item, the  sales tax comes to $14.85 for a total of $194.85, nearly one/fifth of the great-grandparent's monthly income.

While great-grandparents, grandparents and parents in Brownsville live frugally on SS checks and minimum or just above minimum wages earned, they all know that 1/12 of their disposable income goes to the city in sales taxes.  If they are fortunate enough to own a home or property, it is taxed based on a formula using square footage and the value of properties in their neighborhood.  It is not unusual to see property taxes paid from wadded up bills, held secure in a handkerchief in the once-a-year sojourn to the tax office.  While those monies add up, they are not "easy come, easy go" funds, but more likely the result of honest blood, sweat and tears.

Jason Hilts

That brings us to Jason Hilts and Tony Martinez, two Brownsville community leaders with zero respect for the source of Brownsville taxpayer revenue, the blood, sweat, tears and sacrifice.  Jason Hilts proved that a couple of years ago when issued a BEDC credit card which he promptly used for personal items many honest taxpayers can't afford:  expensive clothing, jewelry, a diamond ring, a $1,077.09 silver clock, etc.  Hilts is a very large man with a huge appetite for expensive food and drink.  Suffice to say he wines and dines himself on the taxpayer dime frequently as he visits as many exotic locales as a Secretary of State.  With all of Hilts indiscretions, dishonesty, did he wind up in prison, pay a fine, get banished from city officialdom?  Hell, no!  Not in Brownsville.  He was rewarded by being named CEO of the BEDC at an annual salary of $80,000 plus.  Recently, we learned that the BEDC headed by Hilts contributed nearly $200,000 to a Rick Perry slush fund, enabling Perry to travel around the world like Hilts.

Mayor Tony is of the same ilk as Hilts, with in fact both men going on a ludicrous "senior trip" recently to Colombia at the taxpayer's expense.  The hospitable Colombians were likely amused at the raggedy group from south Texas, likely quizzical at the reason for their trek.  As the Colombian locals strained to understand Mayor Martinez anglicized Harlingen Spanish, they learned that the Brownsville contingent had come to Colombia to learn how to ride bicycles.  The locals were glad to share their expertise.  The entire Colombian trip was financed by Brownsville's hard-earned tax money with zero benefit to the city.  No pot holes were fixed, no streets improved.  Downtown was just as ragged when Tony and his groupies returned as when they left.

Tony Martinez

In recent months, Mayor Tony has been hell-bent on tying up Brownsville tax dollars for decades to come on a rag tag assortment of downtown properties.  His desperation is to somehow pacify his aging paramour, UTB President Juliet Garcia and somehow convince her and University of Texas officials to keep the university downtown.  So far, Tony has purchased an armory, grossly overpaid for a retail store, two cafe-sized buildings, a nursing home, a warehouse and a building once housing historic cantinas, all with taxpayer money.  His plan, if there is one, is ill-conceived, poorly thought out and shows zero respect for the taxpayers or the actual needs of the city.

While Martinez and Hilts continue to have a gay, old time at taxpayer expense, our downtown continues to decay, our streets continue to go to shit and Brownsville's actual needs remain ignored.