Rose Gowen Pulls Out All the Political Stops to Ram Through Unnecessary, Impractical 6th Street Project~The Citizens Are Not Pleased!

Commissioner Gowen Bullies City
Into Unnecessary Project

Brownsville's economy took another direct hit Tuesday night when Rose Gowen pushed one of her pet projects down Brownsville's throat, the reduction of heavily traveled E. 6th Street from 3 lanes to 2 with the left lane forced to turn at Madison Street.

As one downtown businessman tried to explain: Brownsville has two main arteries connecting the Interstate with the city's warehouse, shipping and transportation hub on E. St. Francis and E. Fronton, E. 12th and E. 6th.   Of those two arteries, E. 6th has the better flow, with much of E. 12th having stop signs at each cross street.  

"Our shipping warehouse area currently employs 500 people.  If E. 6th Street becomes impassable, the alternative is to go completely around town, using Central Blvd, turning left at W. Elizabeth, then right at Palm Blvd.  Large tractors with 53 foot trailers cannot make the turn at W. Elizabeth and Palm Blvd," he stated.

For the Public Meeting on the action item, Gowen had lined up members of the Brownsville Bike Brigade and, even a student from Cummings Middle School, to talk about their love of biking and the difficulty or riding a bicycle along E. 6th Street.

City Engineer Doroteo Garcia

City Engineer Doroteo Garcia and Traffic Director Robert Esparza shot down every logical questioning of the practicality of project, acting like "paid expert witnesses" for Gowen and the city.  Esparza even used bogus traffic figures in an attempt to demonstrate that E. 6th Street would function "just fine" during Charro Days and Sombrero Fest. 

Despite concerns by Commissioners Tetreau and Portillo that the city had more critical needs than this project, certainly sidewalks in Southmost, for example.(If Gowen has her way, Southmost will get a bike trail BEFORE complete sidewalks, such is her actual concern for the real needs of citizens.)

I apologize to Commissioner Ricardo Longoria for reporting that he voted FOR the project.  That is incorrect.  The vote was 4-2 in favor of the project with Commissioners Tetreau and Longoria voting "no."

Prior to the City Commission meeting, Gowen sent an email enlisting wholehearted support for the project to Carlos Marin, Oscar D. Garcia, Anne Whitko and Jude Benevides.

Eventually, the email was forwarded to a slew of onlookers we will call The Peanut Gallery: Terry Ray; Jack Penn; Oscar Garcia; Carlos Barrera; Nacho Garza; Will Hardee; Robert Guerra, Jr.; DAvid Garza; Jim Perrin; Joe Correa; Tony Flores; Stephen; Harry McNair; Thomas; Trudy; Eduardo Rodriguez; Al Roberts; David Garza

Here is Gowen's letter with a few points highlighted:



Hello friends,
I need your support for the 6th street project. I know you speak to a wide variety of people everyday so in case the topic comes up or you have an opportunity arise that lends itself to the topic....please support this project.

In a nutshell.....our goal is to connect Belden Trail to Linear Park and to do that we have to cross at Harrison or somewhere along the ugly brown fence of the zoo on 6th street to get to the trail on Linear Park. Our other goal is to improve walkability ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE we can.

Originally between Ringold and Madison we proposed removing the far lane adjacent to the zoo to put in a 6ft sidewalk and a green buffer between the sidewalk and the fence in which to plant vines, etc to "green" the fence. We also proposed a protected bikelane and traffic bumpouts at Ringold and Harrison to make pedestrian crossings safer and more accomodating.
NOTHING CHANGES between the freeway and Ringold. NOTHING CHANGES from Madison towards Fronton because there it is already 2 lanes.
This was unacceptable to Mitte ( namely Reba) because it was not logical to put a bike lane next to Linear Park.

The project now (accepted by Mitte) is still between Ringold and Madison and still has the traffic bumpouts at Ringold and Harrison. It no longer has a bike lane....instead it has a 4-6 ft buffer or island between the street and the sidewalk where we can plant trees for shade and bushes, etc. The drawings are lovely and it really will change the look and feel of 6th street into a "people place" garden like feel that accomodates crossing to LInear Park easily.

IMPORTANT: Traffic studies easily support this. #s are far below threshold for the road and they have been filming and counting for a while now....months. Fact is that most cars coming down there from the fwy in the morning either turn right or left at Ringold and far fewer go straight. But even if they all went straight.....the numbers are clearly way way lower than a 2 lane road can comfortably accomodate.

Again, I need this to pass because without an enhancement we literally will have to build a bridge over the zoo to connect to Belden. Final point is that this sidewalk and curb is $150K from TxDot that we lose if we don't use it by end of August and we have been trying to get this on the agenda for several months.

Alot of things I do are hard.....I am not complaining.....but seriously, this project has made it to the top 3 hardest since elected.

Ugh,
Rose

Many solid citizens were not pleased with the heavy handedness of the projects implementation and, as is typical of Brownsville city government, zero citizen input sought.

From Reynoldo Garza, Jr.

I LIKE 6th STREET THE WAY IT IS AND I GO INTO TOWN 250 + TIMES A YEAR TO WORK FOR OVER 30 YEARS. MANY TIMES WE NEED THE 3 LANES. IF THE CITY WANTS TO SPRUCE UP 6th STREET WHY NOT START WITH THE OLD CRAPPY WAREHOUSE PROPERTY ON 6th & RINGGOLD, PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY!!!! SOME TRAFFIC TURNS OFF 6th ONTO RINGGOLD BUT A HELLUVA A LOT OF TRAFFIC STAYS ON TO HARRISON (THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS), I WANT TO KEEP THE 3 LANES AND AM ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO ELIMINATING A LANE.

NOTE: I TYPE IN ALL CAPS. A HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS YEARS AGO, AND NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING AT YOU.
Reynaldo G. Garza, Jr.

From Jaime Parra:

One also has to consider the traffic during downtown special events. Especially Charro Day’s along with Sombrero Fiest. Just during these two events Brownsville Traffic Department along with Brownsville Police Department has to pull TRIPLE duty at times in order for traffic to move steadily. And in all honesty I believe that Brownsville has spent enough on the subject of Bike Routes and Parks. There is no long term revenue for the city or none whatsoever. The city should consider other sources in order to create a more sustainable income. Take the Sports Park for example, I am not sure of this information but from what I understand it takes more than $6,000,000 PER YEAR to maintain the property. Please correct me if I am wrong, but if not how does the Sports Park contribute to the city, financially and by how much?

I agree with Rey Garza. I have been working downtown my entire life and IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE to renovate 6th street in the manner you wish to do so.



Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

Another comment from Marshall Ray:

I think it’s also important to keep in mind that, when the West Rail bridge is opened ( hopefully soon! ), 6th and 7th streets should be extended all the way to the Amigoland Mall area which will significantly increase the traffic load on the 6th and 7th streets corridor over time. I’m all for beautifying Brownsville, but I’m not sold on this project. This is the major transportation artery into the downtown and Amigoland area and shouldn’t be narrowed, especially when you consider the future transportation needs of the area.

Sorry Rose, I just don’t think this project is a good idea.

Marshall

Next, Rose Gowen offers to answer some of the "concerns:"

Gentleman,
Regardless of this item's outcome, I would be happy to speak to you about risks and realities that are here with us today. You can vote for whomever you want next time......but you know who I came from and if you have any remaining respect for my father I would ask that you give me the respect of listening to what I have to say.
He taught me many things and one was to love my home and never lose faith in it. Another was to never stop learning and searching for what is best, to listen and learn from science, and that what was right would surface.
I cannot meet with you before tomorrow, time is too short for my patients who have held appointments for weeks......but I would be happy to meet with you next week ....perhaps Wed morning if your schedules permit.
Best,
Rose

Rose M Zavaletta Gowen, MD
City Commissioner at Large "B"

Another comment from Gowen:

Thank you for responding to my email Eduardo. Safety is a significant concern among many others. There is much hype being built around this 2 block stretch of a single road in the city and I encourage everyone to actually hear the presentation and data this evening. You are also correct in that now is the time to work together towards a Brownsville that is vibrant and modern and where other people's best and brightest as well as our own want to live and raise families.....as well as a place where we can all age comfortably taking a walk thru the Mitte district and others with a grandchild or child without insecure corners and intersections. A place that is filled with healthy children and families .....healthy not solely because they have a job but also because they live active lives. That place is truely priceless!

I respect your opinions and strong feelings....this is the USA and we all have a right to our opinions. Whereas we may not agree on all issues, I look forward to working with any and all of you beyond this issue if you are interested. My invitation stands......happy to meet with you.

Best,
Rose

Response to Gowen's comment above by Jaime Parra:

Dr Gowen,

I am sorry to hear that you believe our opinion’s for this matter is being considered as “hype”. In my opinion, Downtown Brownsville will begin to thrive again, hopefully soon, and it is the future you should consider especially when it has to deal with traffic. When the downtown area does begin to thrive traffic will thrive as well. What then, re-open the third lane?

This 6th street matter should be reconsidered and tabled at tonight’s meeting until the City Council can honestly sit down with its constituents. And yes this idea might have been going around for a year but none of the Commissioners ever asked my insight, this was handled just like the parking meters. No one knew about it till AFTER the first meeting and no one would have known about it if it wasn’t for the Brownsville Herald publishing it in the front page. Common courtesy WILL go a long way…

Respectfully,


Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

From Rose Gowen:

By "hype" I mean that there are multiple versions of the plan floating around. I never said your opinions are "hype" and Jaime frankly neither are mine. I respect your opinion and I expect you to respect mine. Deal? We can agree to disagree and still speak and behave respectfully.

Many people care about downtown and there are many ideas and solutions. Honestly the real answer is not just one thing in my humble opinion.......it is a collection of things together with likely some luck added in that will turn downtown around.

I honestly do not ascribe to this practice of emails with 20 people on the chain and then forwarding and so forth. I asked you yesterday to speak with me and only One person responded. I take that to mean that none of you want to speak with me you just want the issue removed. Perhaps I am misreading all the emails.

I'm going to stop emailing now..... You have my email and phone and if you would like to hear what I have to say on this and other topics please let me know and we can set it up.

Best,
Rose

From Jaime Parra:

Dr Gowen,

I do agree with the emails, we should sit down and talk about this. But for the record I was never contacted by you or anyone else for that matter. I was attached to a group email. I apologize if this matter was not meant for my attention.

DEAL!



Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

From Rey Garza:

TO ALL: I WATCHED THE PROCEEDINGS ON TV LAST NIGHT AS THE PROPOSAL PASSED 3 TO 2. I HOPE I AM WRONG THAT CLOSING A LANE ON 6th STREET WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, TRAVEL DELAYS, BACKED UP TRAFFIC, etc. AS I AM 1 OF THE THOUSANDS OF UNFORTUNEATES THAT WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THAT.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT CITY STAFF NEVER PRESENTED A STUDY RE WHAT THE TRAFFIC ON 6th STREET REQUIRES, OR WHAT EFFECT THE LANE CLOSURE WILL HAVE ON TRAFFIC. THE STAFF PRESENTED SOME RECENT TRAFFIC COUNTS BUT THAT IS DATA AND NOT A STUDY BASED UPON ACCEPTED GUIDELINES OR NORMS FOR TRAFFIC. I CAN ONLY PRESUME THAT IF STAFF HAD A MEANINGFUL STUDY THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE CLOSURE OF A LANE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PRESENTED IT, BUT, SINCE THEY DID NOT, I PRESUME THAT THEY NEVER DID A STUDY OR THAT THE STUDY TURNED OUT BAD FOR THE LANE CLOSERS.

NOTE: I TYPE IN ALL CAPS. A HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS YEARS AGO, AND NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING AT YOU.
Reynaldo G. Garza, Jr.
Mediator and Attorney

Finally, Jaime Parra:

Attention:

Some of the times you can hardly blame city staff especially in this case, as it was only presented to them about 3 months prior and WITHOUT any other alternative plan for the $150,000.00. This is just another case of personal, one sided agenda’s. The 6th & 7th corridors are meant for commercial traffic, HEAVY COMMERCIAL traffic on a day in day out basis. You will never hear of a heavy traffic road being REDUCED. You hear every day that city streets are being increased with an extra lane or widen, BUT REDUCED!. Where is the logic?

By the way, thanks again to the City Commission and City Staff for giving us the heads up on this subject JUST a day prior to vote.

On a personal note I would like to thank Rick and Jessica for listening to reason.

Jaime Parra, Jr.


Owner/C.E.O. Parra Loan Company, Inc

ADDENDUM:  The way this project was approved, promoted and misrepresented gives us an inside look at how our City Government operates.  The view is not pretty.  

As in the raising of downtown parking meter rates, almost everything the city said about this project was misinformation or an outright lie.

The project cost is $400,000, not $150,000.  As for the claim that the timeline was insufficient to change the program before the August 28 deadline, that was also a lie.  Remember, the city totally changed the program in the space of two weeks between the First Reading on 6/17 and 7/1; totally altered plans with new drawings.  City administrators like Ramiro Gonzalez, Doroteo Garcia and Robert Esparza become gutless lackeys for Tony Martinez and Rose Gowen when they stand in front of the city and lie to promote ill-advised, pet projects.

The traffic counts used by Traffic Director Esparza were also skewed as everyone will see clearly during the coming Charro Days and Sombrero Fest.  Rose Gowen's contention that most vehicles turn left or right off 6th Street at Ringgold is a lie.  The vast majority of vehicles continue on 6th Street.  

Something lost on Rose Gowen is that she WORKS for constituents like Rey Garza, Jaime Parra and Marshall Ray, not the other way around.  Yet, it was Gowen taking a decidedly "bitchy" tone, disrespecting her constituents.  

Lastly, don't forget that Mayor Martinez, despite not staying for the City Commission meeting 7/1, nevertheless, tried to steer the vote on the agenda item, even speaking out for it during Public Comment and asking City Attorney Mark Sossi if he could vote in absentia. This city administration has no regard for the rules of law and zero tolerance of citizen input.