Brenda Joyas: Standing Out from the Mediocre Pack of Mayoral Candidates

Brenda Joyas

If Brenda Joyas had $100,000 in discretionary funds to use on a mayoral campaign, she just might blow Tony Martinez and the four bell hops away in the May election.  But, she does not and will not.  The City of Brownsville is the loser.

We sat down with Joyas for an interview Thursday at the La Plaza Multi-Modal Bus Station.

A Brownsville native, Joyas returned to the city in 2009 after 22 years in San Antonio.  She also left behind an abusive relationship, stating:  "I didn't get married to be abused." Despite supporting 5 kids, she earned a Bachelor's Degree from UTB in Environmental Science, while working in the city's human resources department, planning department and Brownsville Bike Barn.  Her work inside the city administration gave Joyas definite ideas on what works and what doesn't work in city government.

"One of my first moves if elected mayor would be to convince the commission to sell the $3.5 million in buildings purchased by the current administration.  They are obviously not needed. The money can be used for a number of actual needs in the city," stated Joyas.

When asked how she felt about the decision to gift Lincoln Park to the ultra-rich University of Texas system, Joyas responded:  "Two years ago, when this was first proposed, I went to both the UTB administrators and the city, explaining why this was a bad move.  Obviously, they didn't listen.  If elected, I would propose this option:  Preserve the park's current infrastructure, but allow UT the undeveloped part of the tract for building."

Asked how her governing style would differ from Tony Martinez, Joyas commented:  "Public involvement would be emphasized. Not only would I try to restore the broadcast of public comments at meetings, but arrange for forums in each district to identify specific needs in each segment of the city.  My focus would be on having an informed City Commission.  The current practice of releasing an agenda the Friday before a Tuesday City Commission meeting leaves the commissioners unprepared to intelligently discuss the agenda items.  After the weekend, they have only Monday to consult city staff about the particulars.  The meeting agenda needs to be released much earlier.

We need to totally change our approach with respect to businesses locating here.  Instead of giving away city assets, we should ask prospective businesses what they will do for the community.  Our unique location and workforce allows us to negotiate from a position of strength."

A couple of years ago Joyas formed the Historic Downtown Coalition in an effort to united downtown business owners. Recently, the Brownsville Herald detailed the coalition's efforts at the Cameron Hotel on E. Washington Street.  

"We provided volunteer labor for painting the lobby and halls," stated Joyas.  "Hotel ownership bought the materials. We also convinced ownership to hire a UTB market graduate to promote the hotel on the internet.  We consider this a pilot program.  There is so much talent at UTB that can be utilized in the city."

Joyas wants to bring back the Boys and Girls Clubs to Brownsville: "It will cost us $200,000, but we seem to find the money for other things.  We also need a separate after-school program using UTB graduate students as tutors.  That could be funded with monies from the plastic bag ban program."