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| Daniel Lenz |
At today's City Commission meeting, Assistant City Manager Pete Gonzalez will introduce an agenda item to negotiate solely with First Transit to manage Brownsville Metro. First Transit also enjoys the $1,400,000 maintenance contract, just renewed by the City of Brownsville in January despite Brownsville Metro buses experiencing major breakdowns every 825 miles. The contract calls for 8,000 miles between breakdowns, but that's irrelevant since the City Commission and City Administration are not concerned enough to enforce the contract and protect Brownsville Metro riders.
"What's funny Jim is that I was called in to inspect the buses for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, trained 1,500 mechanics, drivers and other employees for New Jersey Transit, called to Egypt to train personnel in conjunction with U.S. aid to that country, managed systems far larger than Brownsville Metro with greater success and can't get consideration in Brownsville," stated Lenz over the phone.
Lenz is someone seldom seen in Brownsville, a world class expert with 40 years experience in his field. He's worked in every aspect of the bus transportation business, including Production Manager for the Eagle Coach Corporation, which during his tenure manufactured over $20,000,000 worth of intercity coaches per year.
Lenz' articles on Eagle suspension and alignment are used to this day as the most authoritative reference on the subject.
His expertise in the field has been acknowledged by his consultant work with the Federal Transit Administration, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, American Bus Association, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Safety Administration and more.
He has been called as an expert witness in litigation involving bus safety issues.
When Brownsville Metro's head of mechanics, James Campbell, complained to Lenz about unfixable AC systems in some of the buses, Lenz said "bring them to me." Lenz had all the buses ice cold in just a few hours, repairing one "dangerous" electrical system.
Unfortunately, Brownsville's city administration suffers from cronyism. Mediocrity, not expertise, is rewarded.
Today the city missed an opportunity to have a far superior transit system, content to just muddle along in mediocrity.
It amazes me that they will not accept Dan Lenz's expert knowledge on the subject. He has been a tremendous help to the Silver Eagle bus community for many years. That's just plain stupid! I guess the Good Old Boys don't want to make any changes for the better, shame on them!
ReplyDeleteI agree, they are stupid. This town's leader's and city staff are its people's worst enemies. They are only concerned with protecting their jobs while milking the coffer's at the expense of the citizen's.
DeleteI have worked with Dan many times in the past and I can attest that he not only knows about buses, he knows and understands what is involved in the day-to-day operations of a bus company. Like the article states, he is well knows in the bus industry and considered an expert whom many seek advice from.
ReplyDeleteI have worked with Dan many times in the past and I can attest that he not only knows about buses, he knows and understands what is involved in the day-to-day operations of a bus company. Like the article states, he is well knows in the bus industry and considered an expert whom many seek advice from.
ReplyDeleteI have worked with Dan many times in the past and I can attest that he not only knows about buses, he knows and understands what is involved in the day-to-day operations of a bus company. Like the article states, he is well knows in the bus industry and considered an expert whom many seek advice from.
ReplyDeleteYet he isn't in the bus industry, is he?
DeleteSo taking a break from your profession is what in you mind, evil, sinister...what exactly is your point? You are most likely working for First Transit or our city so it suits your agenda to throw suspicion onto Daniel Lenz's character. This city's tactics are so obvious to everyone. The only ones you fool are yourselves into thinking citizen's don't realize how crooked you all are.
DeleteJewish Lenz is a publicity hound. He may not be front-center, but he seems to have, it appears, your big ear.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't you post your name? I know Dan Lenz personally and this is an insult to his integrity!
DeleteI wonder if Dan's bus driver friends are just mad they didn't get the contract.
DeleteWow. You have a problem with Jewish people? Another typical tactic by the cronies in this town attack and insult people's background, religion and where they came from. What needs to happen is a State or Federal level investigation into the fraud perpetrated by this city's staff in contract bid violation by discriminating against a person's creed & religion. That will teach you idiots that you cannot do whatever you please by discriminating against people unlike yourselves to protect your kickbacks.
DeleteNo one is mentioning the Jews except you. Leave us out of this. Dan isn't one of us.
DeleteHiram Goldstein
As i have posted on Facebook there are no words that I can use to describe the level of failure that the city of Brownsville has achieved in that decision. I personally know Daniel Lenz and his level of experienxe professionalism and character are second to none
ReplyDeleteThere are no words that I can use to describe the level of failure that the city of Brownsville has achieved in that decision. I personally know Daniel Lenz and his level of experienxe professionalism and character are second to none
ReplyDeleteNecesitamos Dan ”el judío” Lenz por Rey de Brownsville! Chóferes gringos unidos! Todos los chóferes gringos en Brownsville apoyan Dan Lenz por Rey. Brownsville y la gente mexicana necesita el liderazgo de los chóferes gringos! Vamos a ganar!
DeleteLos choferes de autobus deben ir en huelga o llame todo enfermo!!
DeleteMediocrity in city management is inherent in our local government because this way, the elected officials can control the employees. Mediocrity is also the reason we lose so many good city officials to other cities and states. We refuse to seek a trained and experienced city manager because a competent city manager might question the political and personal policies of the mayor and city commission. So, we continue to hire cop after cop, after cop.....wanting to control the city manager, not to have an effective city manager that might question the stupid decisions of the mayor, such as Tony Martinez's real estate deals, or the Stillman "Shack" fiasco. This city lacks leadership and professionalism because those qualities would deny or question the follies of our "leaders".....(not really leaders, but......)
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteAs you point time and time again, Brownsville has the worst characteristics of both cultures, Mexican and US. It is a toxic blend nurtured by a putrid border swamp, self-absorbed by its geographic isolation. Things will NEVER change. If anything, they get worse year by year. There is no accountability whatsoever. Nothing is done on merit, only cronyism and outright bribery prevail. The primary reason for this constant state of affairs it that the city "leaders" has no shame, son sinvergüenzas. Combine this with an over 40% illiteracy rate, gross ignorance and total lack of any semblance of true culture and you have a propitious environment, which produces these hijos de la chingada.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, for a variety of reasons, the powers that run Texas don't give a flying fuck about what goes on in Brownsville. It is of zero importance to them. The only reason the UT Board of Regents bothered with Brownville is because they had no choice and were essentially blackmailed by race baiting into including UTB as a satellite light. McAllen is where the center of the campus will be along with Edinburg. Any student with the slightest ambition should get the hell out of Brownsville as fast they can.
Spot on!
DeleteThat's one of the problems with government - too many positions are appointed instead of elected by the people they represent. The elected ones need to be held accountable for their actions. It's sad when cronyism happens over the selection of the best talent. :(
ReplyDeleteWe should dump our current B-Metro advisory board they let this happen!!!!!
DeleteYou are obviously misinformed about the authority of the B-Metro Advisory Board. The Board has no power of authority. It is merely for show. The City Commissioner's have ALL the authority while the board has none whatsoever, which is why the Board Member's are upset with the way this board was set up. Why have a board if they cannot stop bad business from taking place? Because this town's city leader's and staff like it this way, so they can do whatever they please and thumb their nose at the board and citizen's.
DeleteYou should check your facts before making inaccurate statements.
Until this city rids itself of nepotism, cronysim along with the existing compadrismo and hires experienced and competent professional individuals who care about the citizens first, fires incompetent personnel, punishes those who illegally take advantage of the system, and follow a guided plan for our city's growth we will not move an inch forward. Our mayor, our incompetent do-nothing young commissioners, and some current administrators who are costing the city taxpayers thousands of dollars should be the first ones to go. Let us vote them out. My thinking is that it will take at least 8 years to weed all these out but we have to start thinking and acting now.
ReplyDeleteExactly.
DeleteWhile I do not know Mr. Lenz on a personal basis I do know that the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta enjoyed one of the smoothest transportation experiences an operator could imagine. The company I worked for handled transportation for top global corporations (Sports Illustrated, Panasonic, ATT and others) and was praised on the job Atlanta did for moving people locally and venue-to-venue. I wholeheartedly believe Mr Lenz helped play a part in keeping people moving which is the main objective of Brownsville Metro.
ReplyDeleteI do not know Lenz personally either, but it shows a complete lack of class to attack the city through Jim when he doesn't get his way.
DeleteGiving a heads up about the continued cronyism of this town is not attacking the city, it is informing citizens of bad business. Leave it to supporters of bad business deals like (yourself evidently), to blame the wrong person. That is why this town is so poorly managed. People don't really care to know what is happening, Now that is not having any class, doing nothing while complaining about those who do something. Typical.
DeleteBut we are an ALL AMERICAN CITY "laughing my ass down in the floor"
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that Mr. Lenz change his name to Lozano. Then, and only then, would he have the fainest change of getting a job as a bus driver.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a bus driver position he seeks. It is to manage our city bus service, thereby improving the service used by citizens.
DeleteThen he needs to apply for director of BMetro. Quit bitching during public comment! Puro pedo!
DeleteI wish he would file suit against the village idiots! Every time I think we couldn't possibly be more stupid and ignorant the city and county prove me wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe title says "city accepts mediocrity " no our city demands DISMALL
ReplyDeleteWhat ever happened to people being hired for their experience and knowledge? I know Dan, I have his personal cell number. If I have a problem with my bus, I can call him anytime, and have before. I would think that Brownsville would better themselves by cashing in on the expertise they have readily available to them. It seems to me that the city of Brownsville is setting themselves up for failure in a big way. Soon it may be called Lenzville!
ReplyDeleteToo many breakdowns leaving citizen's stranded, yet city leader's refuse to accept Daniel's contract bid that would saved the city money while improving the service. There is only one reason why any city would ignore such a contract...Compadras hard at work protecting their buddies and themselves. That includes First Metro. This town discriminates openly and resembles Chicago's mobster mentalities. The next time your grandmother, uncles, aunts, etc.. are stranded at the bus stop due to a breakdown, you can take your complaint down to city hall to those sitting commissioner's who don't give a damn about you or your grandmother. Que gacho estos pendejos!
ReplyDeleteSo how did the vote go?
ReplyDelete