Oh, Iowa Road is now nicely paved, pothole free. The potted plants are being watered, coming to life. The board room was ice cold, indicative that the terminal's AC units are finally operative.
One board member, 51 year old Chris Hughston of Hughston Insurance is engaged, asking the hard questions, contributing. The rest, save Aviation Director, Larry Brown, just sit there. Brown's torturous "Director's Report:" "takeoffs, up monthly by 1%, yearly by 2%, cargo weight, up monthly 2%, yearly 1%. . . . . ."ad nauseum. Larry, pass it out. Let the board members read it. Pick out one high point or low point to discuss, but never, ever read it again.
The same goes for Business Manager, Michael Jones, like Brown, a very nice man. Jones' "Business Report," uttered with the resonance of a 50 year smoker, is inaudible beyond the board table. No matter, really. It's all a tease about airlines that can't be identified, lusting for Brownsville, but not mentioned in next month's report.
We've heard about the south loading bridge being repaired for $65,000 for three consecutive board meetings.(During heavy rains, cans have to be set out to catch the rain.) The 25 year old bridge smells of mold and mildew. Now, Larry says the thing might even be totally replaced for $100,000 and the old bridge sold for scrap. Well, ok. Let's do it!
This is not enough for the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport, locked into an 80's time warp, embarrassingly two decades behind HRL, trying to get ready for SpaceX and the Fred Rusteberg/Carlos Marin industrial corridor. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Contractor(Jerry Ferrar?) is unveiling 3, 4 or maybe 5 alternatives for a new terminal. The cheapest plan involves remodeling the current terminal, but, that's not really an option because the necessary 7:1 ratio, trajectory will not be sufficient for the bigger jets(737-800) the airport hopes to accommodate someday. A new terminal will have to be built, while using the existing terminal. it seems. Then, the old terminal can find a new use or simply be demolished.
Ferrar has some intriguing concepts, some two-story with elevated ramps and double load concourses. He emphasized that initial cost is just one factor, while maintenance cost, ability to expand, profitability are others. And remember, reminds Aviation Director Larry Brown, "the FAA has a vote too."
Anyway, all of this will have to be run by the City Commission. Hopefully, after buying a dozen, old unnecessary buildings, funding United Brownsville and trying to sell Lincoln Park, the City Commission can recognize a real, actually a mandatory project.
Needs new blood? What's the point - that you don't like these people. Weak.
ReplyDeleteA Los Fresnos woman was fatally injured in front of her home Thursday when a minivan hit her car as she pulled out of the driveway.
ReplyDeleteMiami police said Elizabeth Cordona, 22, was leaving the driveway of her home at 3810 NW 13th St. at 1 p.m. when an eastbound Toyota minivan hit her vehicle.
The impact rolled Cordona’s car over, causing it to hit a tree.
Cordona was pronounced dead at Harlingen Mediacl Center.
Police were still investigating the crash Thursday evening and did not release information about the driver of the minivan.
Was it Los Fresnos or Miami? LOL!!!
ReplyDeleteA question to be asked is "Does the city require official travel be routed from Brownsville airport?" Or, do our officials use the airport in Harlingen??? 'Da Mayor doesn't have a clue and likely uses the Harlingen airport himself. We can always ask why we have three international airports within 60 miles of each other. Most citizens around the country have to travel to the airport. Convenience is costly. We need an energized airport board and we need oversight from the city.....not that the commission is effective at any kind of oversight or policy making.
ReplyDeleteThis board leaves visitors in the dark. No handouts are shared so that its difficult sometimes to understand what's going on. Mr. Jones(business manager?) passed around some photos to show eager customers boarding Metro Connect from SPI to the airport. He shared them with the few at the board table, then put them back in his pocket. None of us on the back table got a look. Seemed inhospitable to me.
ReplyDeleteNena Barton
All u had to do was ask, is what I would say. Did u?
DeleteHad I interrupted the meeting to ask to see the pictures, I would have been just as rude as the board members who feel no need to make visitors feel welcome or a part of things. They send a clear message that they'd rather we not attend.
DeleteNena Barton
A waitress was shot overnight at a north side restaurant during a botched robbery attempt.
ReplyDeleteAccording to media reports, an unidentified man walked into the Monterrey Steakhouse on U.S. Highway 281 near University Drive in Edinburg at around 2 a.m. Sunday.
He grabbed a waitress by her neck and demanded money from the manager before the restaurant alarm went off, according to The Edinburg Gazette. When the manager was not able to shut off the alarm, the man shot the waitress in the leg and took off without any money.
The waitress was transported to McAllen Medical Center. Her condition is unknown. City police are still searching for the shooter.
Cecilio Balli
ReplyDeleteAssociated Press
BROWNSVILLE - Sonia Inez Calderon has nothing against long gowns with high waists and flowing fabric - dresses that are designed to camouflage curves on plus-size women. But the Brownsville high school senior had no interest in buying a loose-fitting style for her senior prom, even though it was all she could find in a size 16 or so at nearby stores. So many stores, Calderon said, “never have anything that’s a little more sexy or a little form-fitting, or anything like that for my age.” Clothes shopping for plus-size teens can be frustrating in general, but shopping for a dream prom dress can be a tear-inducing, hair-pulling morass of bad design and few options - especially for girls who want a dress that hugs the body instead of tenting it. “It’s like people kind of assume that’s what I want and that’s what I like. I’m 18. I really like the way the tight dresses look,” said Calderon, who plays roller derby and hopes to study music education in college. She finally found one that didn’t make her look like a bridesmaid - or worse, mother of the bride - at a boutique: a V-neck black lace “fit and flare” style with an open back and pleats above the knee for dancing ease on her big night.
For a better effect, in your headline, use the German word for blood: Blud
ReplyDelete"Airport Advisory Board Needs New Blud"
Sounds a bit more ominous in a threatening way, which seems to be your intent.
- Him
How is it that the largest city(by far) in the Valley can't or won't support a state of the art airport in the 21st century. We sure have a beautiful new bus terminal in Brownsville; or Brownsville's citizens only mode of long distance travel is by bus because...?
ReplyDeleteThis whole fucking town needs new blood and not new other fucking democRATAS
ReplyDeleteNew blood is arriving daily, the Valley is now overrun with our good friends from the South and they do know something about aviation:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.proceso.com.mx/?p=368841
can you please screen out these moronic off topic comments?
ReplyDeleteNo, I enjoy seeing the variety. Leave them on, Jim.
DeleteGo read the newspaper then, moron
DeleteThis is yet another Browntown group infested with political dirty business and wannabees! Mis-leaders, one and all.
ReplyDeleteCaption for picture "I told a lie and it was only this big!"
ReplyDeleteWho has something to gain by crapping off-topic stories into the comments section?
ReplyDelete