How the Mayor and City Commission Mishandled the Tripling of Parking Meter Fees

Participatory democracy is not as efficient as tyrannical rulership.  Consulting the citizenry before deciding issues is unwieldy, time-consuming and requires a larger skill set than simply issuing orders.

Mayor Tony Martinez ran for office as a Democrat, contributes some of his own money to the Democratic Party, but hates the principles of democracy.   He demonstrated that clearly when he continued the ban on the broadcast of public comment during city commission meetings.  It was a distasteful, anti-democratic move that words and ideas of the mayor and city commissioners are more valuable, more insightful than those of the taxpayers, when the exact opposite is true.

Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un

The mayor and city commission have committed $3.5 million of taxpayer dollars to the purchase of older downtown buildings without so much as giving the taxpayers an inkling of the motivation behind those purchases.  North Korean Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un would applaud Mayor Tony's
style and methods.

Soon Brownsville residents will notice that the cost of parking downtown will have tripled.  Most have no clue about the pending change yet as they were not involved in the decision.  Certainly, those who own downtown businesses were consulted before such a substantial change effecting their livelihood was finalized? No, it's none of their business, either.  It's not their call.  They're not the mayor or the supreme ruler.  They have no say in this or any other matter.  The mayor and city commission do not function democratically.

To alert the taxpayers as to what will be considered at a future city commission meeting, an agenda is posted the Friday before the Tuesday meeting.  Sometimes, the true purpose of an agenda item is obsured by clever, obtuse language that does not accurately reflect what will be considered.  For example, Agenda item #6 for the December 10, 2013 meeting reads as follows:

6. Public Hearing and ACTION on FIRST READING on Ordinance Number 2013-736-O to amend the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 98 “Traffic and Vehicles”; ARTICLE V “Stopping, Standing, and Parking”, promulgating a new Division 6 “Parking Meters”, and adding Sections 98-382, 98-383, with Sections 98-384-98-410 to remain reserved, and dealing with related matters. (Ramiro Gonzalez – Planning)

Now, is there anything in the wording of that agenda item that communicates the actual intent to raise parking meter fees in downtown Brownsville from 25 cents to 75 cents, tripling them?  Not at all.  The wording hides the intent of the agenda item, another way of curtailing citizen involvement.

The second reading of this proposed change will take place Tuesday, January 8, 2014.  There will be no public comment.  If passed, the change will be made without citizen involvement, just as if Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un ordered it.  (The only way this could be prevented is if a courageous city commissioner pulled this item off the agenda to give the taxpayers an opportunity to express their preference.)