City Commission to Make Real Estate Decisions Without Citizen Involvement 5/24/14

From the editor:  If there's anything scarier for Brownsville's hardworking taxpayers than the City Commission making real estate decisions behind closed doors, it's doing so with the legal guidance of City Attorney Mark Sossi.  

While most blame Mayor Martinez, the Gomer Pyle of Brownsville real estate, the City Commissioners weren't elected to be mayoral lap dogs, but independent adults, representing their constituents with thoughtful, intelligent consideration of each agenda item, not simply a puppy-style roll over.  

Consider this:  The City of Brownsville's seven elected officials roughly two years ago purchased 11 aged downtown properties to be paid for by the taxpayers in a 20 year Certificate of Obligation.  10 of those buildings have lay idle for two years now with taxpayers paying mostly interest on the note.(One building, a former adult care facility, purchased for $195,101, was recently used for bicycle storage.)

With the mayor using the AEP Texas Settlement Fund of $3,060,000 as his personal piggy bank, another property was purchased on E. 11th St. for $42,000 and an office leased at 1101-A E. Washington St. for a downtown mayoral office.(When this taxpayer abuse was reported on this blog, the office space was converted to a Downtown Brownsville Revitalization Information Office, used perhaps three times since the start of the lease, October 8, 2013.)  City Manager Charlie Cabler knew of this misuse of funds, but was too afraid of losing his job to tell the mayor "No!"

City Attorney Mark Sossi's ethical standard and legal competence have been well documented in this blog over the last two years;  a $167,363 judgment against him by his previous employer, the Willette & Guerra Law Firm, for pocketing money not his, a similar judgement of $20,711.66 by the Texas Workforce,  a $100,000 tax lien by the I.R.S., two malpractice lawsuits by Brownsville citizens who foolishly retained Sossi's services in private practice, the suspension of his law license and his recent failure to register as the attorney of record for the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, etc.

This is the group that feels they can cut a better deal for the city behind closed doors!


EXECUTIVE SESSION: 5:30 P.M. April 24, 2014.
A) Discussion pursuant to Section 551.072, of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, and pursuant to Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, on a matter in which the duty of the attorney, to the governmental body, under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, clearly conflicts with this chapter. (Mark Sossi – City Attorney – 15 min.)
B) Discussion pursuant to Section 551.072, of the Texas Government Code, to deliberate the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person, and pursuant to Section 551.071, of the Texas Government Code, on a matter in which the duty of the attorney, to the governmental body, under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas, clearly conflicts with this chapter. (Mark Sossi – City Attorney – 15 min.)