Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Was That Commissioner Portillo Giving Mayor Martinez "Back-Talk" At Tuesday's City Commission Meeting?

Commissioner Debbie Portillo
It seemed like a watershed moment, similar, but maybe not reaching the stature of Rosa Park's refusing to relinquish her bus seat to a white man in 1955, but, at least in the same spirit.  

Newbie City Commissioner Debbie Portillo had introduced Agenda Item #18: 

 Consideration and ACTION to acknowledge the list of City properties that could possibly be placed on the City's seller list. (Commissioners D. Portillo and J. Villarreal)

The only property mentioned was El Cueto Building, leased to UTB for three years at $30,000 per year, although we've been told that not a penny of the lease has been paid.(I've sent a Public Information Request to the City of Brownsville for the complete list.)


Mayor Tony Martinez
No sooner had agenda 18 been read by City Secretary Estela Von Hatten, Tony Martinez called for a motion to table since he'd been out of town and not had time to examine the agenda item.(Actually, in town or not, Tony likely receives the agenda via email on Fridays, just as I do.) Tony expressed concern that the "lessee," UTB, might misunderstand the decision to list the building, calling the lease a "less." to the chagrin of onlookers.  He was obviously flustered with the agenda item.  

When Portillo stated that she did not want inaction for "two months" on the agenda item, Mayor Tony started trying to talk over her.  For a minute, both Portillo and Martinez talked at the same time, but not in harmony.  Tony eventually got the item tabled, but not with the typical mindless rubberstamp by the City Commission.

This past January 27th, Portillo had joined John Villarreal in presenting an agenda item designed to curb Mayor Martinez dipping into the AEP Texas Settlement fund for his own pet projects: 

12. Consideration and ACTION to acknowledge the expenditures paid from the AEP lawsuit settlement proceeds and to approve an expenditure budget from the remaining proceeds.(Commissioners J. Villarreal/D. Portillo)


Tony had already spend $400,000 of the $3,060,000 utility refund before the commissioners moved in to protect the fund.  

If Ms. Portillo's current conduct continues, Brownsville citizens may find something they've not had on the City Commission for a long, long time; a voice.

20 comments:

  1. Wonder if ignoring the Fire Fighters lawsuit win is an issue she has any thoughts on.

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  2. WOW IT TOOK A NEW-B TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG ,THE OTHERS?

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  3. [It seemed like a watershed moment, similar, but maybe not reaching the stature of Rosa Park's refusing to relinquish her bus seat to a white man in 1955, but, at least in the same spirit.]

    Dumbest analogy ever, Jim. Put the bottle down

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    1. I agree with the above comment dudes....Sothern Comfort has been the demise of many talents.....drop the bottle Jimbo.....lol!

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    2. More like Washington crossing the Potomac, no?

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  4. According to former mayor Pat Ahumada, a professional shrimper, prices for shrimp have jumped to a 14-year high in recent months, spurred by a disease that's ravaging the crustacean's population. At Noodles & Co., a Broomfield-based chain with locations across the country, it costs 29 percent more to add the shellfish to pastas this year. Restaurant chains, already struggling with shaky U.S. consumer confidence, are taking a profit hit as prices climb. Even worse, the surge is happening during the season of Lent, when eateries rely on seafood to lure Christian diners who abstain from chicken, beef and pork on certain days. The climb is mainly the result of a bacterial disease known as early mortality syndrome. While the ailment has no effect on humans, it's wreaking havoc on young shrimp farmed in Southeast Asia, shrinking supplies.

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    1. In a NY Times story just yesterday, the Jews are also complaining about the scarcity of gefilte fish. Now what is Passover without gefilte fish?
      “In all my years making gefilte fish, it has never been this bad,” said Benzion Raskin, the bearded owner of BenZ’s. “I can’t remember a time with so little fish.”

      Things are bad all over...well, unless you happen to work in one of those good gub'ment jobs!
      Oy Vay!

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    2. That is the fish Chris Tucker could not pronounce in Rush Hour 2. Gefilte

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  5. The Herald article this morning didn't even mention what the city is planning on doing to address the lost lawsuit to the fire fighters. That would seem to be an important question in light of talks about budgets.

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    1. You likely know that the issue was considered in executive session last night.

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    2. Fu*k the fire fighters. I hope their greedy asses don't get a single penny. They are so busy with so many frivolous lawsuits and grievances that they forgot how to fight fires and have become fat slobs collecting a paycheck for sleeping at the station. They consider themselves heroes yet they are suing the citizens they claim to be saving. They are dealing and wheeling with candidates, promising them a victory in exchange for settlements to these frivolous lawsuits and for even more raises and benefits and contracts that require them to have less and less duties. And who else gets screwed? Your children and their children, city employees, police and, well, pretty much everyone except the fire fighters and their families. Most politicians start off okay then go bad. The ones these idiots support start off on the wrong foot period. Get a real job and earn your pay, idiots!

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    3. DON'T BE HATING ,JEALOUSY MAYBE ? LUV HATERS CAUSE THEY NEVER WIN

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  6. Doesn't this woman know her place? What is all of this back-sassing the Grand Poobah? Now get back in that kitchen Debbie and make us some fresh tortillas! NOT. Wow, someone on the City Commission with a SPINE! What a novel idea.

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  7. She just announced she is the newest tri chair of united Brownsville

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  8. Not a voice of the citizens, but a voice of United Brownsville. The question is: why is the Shadow Government sudenly unhappy with the mayor?

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  9. Does the city want to buy the Eiffle Tower? I am sure we can swing a great deal, just like the Nylon Building, Cueto Building, The Little Red House, The Aromory and other speculative real estate deals that the city has dumped enormous amount of money into by rehabing and then wanting to sell at a loss. The Eiffle Tower may be the best deal or the deal of a life time for those who supported the real estate investments for the city. Yeap! We are witnessing a Donald Trump in the making.. But, before they commit to buy the Eifle Tower, I am sure they must check with the United Brownsvillle defacto government Prince Carlos Marin. We do not want a repeat of what Jessica Tetreau did when she promised not to raise downtown parking rates, only to go back on her promise when she got her marching orders from the Prince to vote for the parking increase. Deja Vu, I told Atkinson, Leo, and Longoria this was going to happen.... But, they were too busy trying to make me look bad, that they went along like sheep.. Foolish sheep!

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    1. "Eiffle Tower"? Go back to shrimping, Ahumada. If you can't write, you can't think.

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  10. You did not need any help making yourself look bad pat.

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  11. Anonymous, you are just like Chris Valadez who contributes nothing, is out scaming and got caught stealing electricity from PUB and was very tight with Villalobos trying to swing forefeiture deals his way. Cowards like him and you have a lot of skelotons in their closet and are always trying to bring people down to their level, but the good Lord protects me from people like you. Hide like a coard behing Anonymous, contribute nothing and put me down all you like, but I atleast stood up to the plate and did something, while you lurk on the dark side of evil like the coward you are.

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  12. AS a believer in the resurrection of Christ and the ever presence of God in my life, which has gotten me through the most difficult times and still blesses me, I knew that our city was divided back in 1991 when I was elected mayor the first time. It is because of this, that my first action was to introduce prayer and televising our city meetings. I did this asking for our Lord's blessings on our city and to bring a perspective that we are here to serve him and our constituents. Prayer was introduced to bring guidance to do what is right and for us to subject ourselves to his will and not ours. Perhaps my bliefs and intent make little or no difference in the decision making, because we are human and can easily be swayed by peers regardless of what is best or right, just to be accepted, but I strongly believe when we put ourselves first at the expense of the city we serve-the televised meetings serves as a tool to bring transparency to the decision making that is up to the electorate to judge us for our good or bad decisions. Happy Easter to all and remember, we are just in passing. It is what we do to serve that allows us to build a better city.

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