Why Estela Chavez-Vasquez, Rose Gowen, Debbie Portillo and Tony Martinez Should NEVER Hold Public Office Again!

Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez

A public official caught embezzling $100,000 in taxpayer funds would undoubtedly lose their office, face imprisonment and fines.

The three city commissioners and the mayor damaged the city far worse than such a theoretical embezzler. The four agreed to sell a city asset, Lincoln Park, for millions of dollars BELOW its market value.  The $6.5 million low ball offer from the ultra-rich University of Texas System is roughly half the lowest current appraisal of the park.  With land across the street from the park being offered for $410,000 per acre, the land alone of the 48 acre park may well be worth $20,000,000, not to mention the two ballfields, amphitheater, two nature trails, basketball courts, garden center, barbecue area and parking. Transferring a taxpayer asset for millions less than actual value creates a catastrophic loss for the hardworking taxpayers of Brownsville and is inexcusable.

Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez knew very well she was selling Lincoln Park well below market value.  She has a calculator and can figure out how many millions her vote cost the taxpayers.  Three years ago she took an oath to protect taxpayer assets. She has clearly violated that oath.  She should NEVER hold public office again.  She has abused the trust we placed in her.  

Actually, Chavez-Vasquez may have been the swing vote on the matter, making her more culpable.  She is also aware that the voters are overwhelmingly opposed to the sale as evidenced by their comments at the town hall meeting.  That may be the very reason she chose not to attend the town hall meeting. Clearly, she did not represent the taxpayers' interests which simply underscores her unfitness for public office.

Reportedly, Chavez-Vasquez leaned toward not selling the park a few weeks ago.  What changed her mind?  What was she offered to change her vote?  It doesn't matter.  We don't want her in any public office again.

Commissioner Deborah Portillo

Commissioner Deborah Portillo appeared to veer away from groupthink at the 10/7/14 City Commission meeting with a statement criticizing the speculative real estate purchases for $3,500,000 including the never used Casa del Nylon for $2,300,000, also not leveraging the remainder of the AEP Texas Refund check with grants.  Now, that seemingly independent thinking appears to have been a mirage.  

A commenter claims her prepared speech was written by Carlos Marin, her benefactor from United Brownsville.  Certainly, her vote to sell Lincoln Park for peanuts syncs with Fred Rusteberg and the United Brownsville gang who lust for control of the lucrative industrial corridor.  The real Debbie Portillo is not the one who read a prepared speech 10/7, but the one citizens say doesn't return phone calls and blew off the town hall meeting about Lincoln Park.  Debbie, like Estela, is not fit for public office.

Rose Gowen and Tony Martinez may be the most hated officials inside city government.  The emails we shared containing Gowen's responses to citizens questioning the narrowing of E. 6th Street revealed a surly, arrogant know-it-all, who holds herself as superior to lowly taxpayers.  Her vote to sell Lincoln Park was never in doubt as she clamored to claim a hunk of the $6.5 million from UT for her the Belden Bike Trail.  This should be Gowen's last term in public office.

The whole enticement package with UT was initially worked out between Tony Martinez and Juliet Garcia, then rubberstamped by the city commission.   It included, not just Lincoln Park, but revenue from increasing the parking meter rates.  Martinez has ruthlessly squandered taxpayer assets and foolishly spent millions in tax dollars.  Tony Martinez, like those above, is unfit to hold public office.