Will Mayor Tony Martinez Even Get A Downtown Office Before He Leaves Office?

Mayor Tony Martinez fervent pursuit of a central downtown office may be waning. His original selection, the space pictured on the left
was leased for one year at a taxpayer cost of $6,000, yet has been reportedly used only 3 times during that period.  Considering the over $13,000 of taxpayer dollars spent to remodel the office at 1101-A E. Washington St., not to mention considerable labor costs, this turned out to be extremely expensive office space.  

City Manager Charlie Cabler concurred with our view that the lease, which expires October 7, 2014, will not be renewed.  In the interim a sign has been installed making it appear the office space indeed has a use as the Brownsville Downtown Revitalization Information Center, but, if the reported numbers are correct, each meeting cost the taxpayers approximately $7,000. Expensive office space indeed, especially considering the city owns a great deal of unused, empty office space!

After changing his mind on using 1101-A E. Washington St. as an office, despite pushing for a lease and remodeling at taxpayer expense, even contributing some of his own furnishings, Mayor Martinez began eyeing the three small properties across the street, 609, 611 and 615 E. 11th St., for an office.  These properties were purchased by the city for $41,000, $41,000 and $42,000 respectively and then an additional $131,000 was committed by the city to remodeling.  

The plan for this property has been in a state of constant flux, wavering among the options of downtown mayoral office, downtown revitalization office, police substation, museum and community building. Sometimes it seems city administrators are searching for viable uses for the speculative real estate purchased in 2012 and 2013 to try to justify those purchases. 

The Planning Department has hung the sign pictured on the left from the rafters.  A proofreader would likely have substituted the word "conscious" for "conscientious," but the sign admonishes contractors to "Do good work."

Mayor Martinez Praying Over Meeting

An interesting development at the 6/3/2014 City Commission meeting was the absence of Pastor Brad Burke praying over the meeting.  Brad got married last week and is evidently on an extended honeymoon.  In his absence, Mayor Martinez took spiritual leadership in praying God's blessing on the City Commission.