While Erasmo, Bobby Tussle for "Credit" on Lincoln Park Issue, Tony Grovels, Gowen Abstains

Erasmo Castro

Document-driven blogger Bobby Wightman-Cervantes calls Brownville mayoral candidate Erasmo Castro "a liar" on the Lincoln Park issue:

"Erasmo Castro proves once again why he is so disliked.
Another big lie by Erasmo - He and his organization had virtually nothing to do with the change of position concerning Lincoln Park.

First, Valley Interfaith look the lead.  Second, Michael Cowen working with myself and many others took the lead to file the lawsuit. We exposed the reality that Gowen's vote is void. There is more - but have to go."

Bobby Wightman-Cervantes

Bobby and Erasmo can fight it out for "top honors" in protecting precious Lincoln Park from the carnivorous, ultra-rich University of Texas system.  UT may be rich, with a good football team most years, but they get a solid "F" in public relations.  While the UT Regents backslapped themselves silly at their El Paso board meeting that followed the town hall meeting on Lincoln Park, giddily reminding themselves of the bargain steal they got from a Hispanic community in extreme south Texas, literally the poorest in the U.S., they came off as dumbass goobers.  If UT cannot live without the 49 acres of Lincoln Park, let them write the check for a better park in Brownsville's Southmost barrio, not gloat over stealing it from a naive City Commission fronted by a groveling Mayor Martinez.  En otros palabras, show some class!

While Bobby and Erasmo battle for valedictorian, salutatorian Lincoln Park honors, this blog wrote 72 essays on a multitude of facets of the potential loss of Lincoln Park, starting November 4, 2013.  I don't recall either of the heavyweights weighing in on the issue back then.  In the immortal words of the mortal Charles Barkley:  "I may be wrong, but I doubt it."

Erasmo, in response to the above, states:  

"Bobby was just being Bobby. I agree with Mr. Cowen. I explained to Bobby that the article was actually taken from the Herald as it was written. The same way we have taken stories from this great blog and others as well. I have respect for the great work that Jim, Juan and Jerry do.
http://www.brownsvilleherald.com/news/local/article_6190b9e2-e7cb-11e4-92a3-9791eb1ca7b3.html"All of the foregoing is a prelude to Agenda Item #15 at Tuesday evening's City Commission Meeting: 

"Consideration and ACTION on a resolution to authorize City staff to continue discussions with the University of Texas Board of Regents regarding the planned location of the UT-RGV campus within the City of Brownsville focusing on alternatives to the Lincoln Park site."

The condensed resolution above and its more lengthy sister in the binder is merely a ruse, an apparent attempt to temporarily pacify opponents to including Lincoln Park in any package to placate UT. While it suggests looking for alternatives, it does not demand it. City officials can simply return to the commission with: "We tried, but cannot find an acceptable alternative to Lincoln Park." 

Attorney Michael Cowen evidently fears as much as a portion his comment states:    "But this fight may not be over. The resolution passed last night may just be a way to provide political cover until after the election, and those who want to give away the park may still try to get their way."

Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa

When Commissioner Jessica Tetreau wanted the wording of the resolution to exclude Lincoln Park, City Attorney Mark "It's Legal!" Sossi said essentially "no can do," implying that would require literally moving a mountain in reversing or undoing a previous resolution.  Sossi, as usual, is incorrect.

We will let Mayor Martinez explain, as he did at the February 25, 2013 City Commission meeting:  

"The land offered last time (2/5/13 resolution) are two different parcels, the "Fish and Wildlife" you mentioned(22 acre tract next to Lincoln Park) and the 55 acre tract east of the expressway. TheUniversity of Texas came back to us, to me, and said would we consider the 47 acre tract west of the expressway known as Lincoln Park."

To refresh Sossi's recollection, it was as simple as pie.  Assistant City Attorney John Chosy came foreward the next meeting with a "clarifying" resolution as we reported back then:

"Assistant City Attorney John Chosy presented the action item: 2. Consideration and ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-022, clarifying property to be donated to the University of Texas system if a downtown location is selected for a campus.
(Mayor Martinez and Commissioner R. Gowen)

The "clarifying" was necessary because the first resolution, passed February 5,2013, did not include Lincoln Park, but only a "55.43 acre tract of land" and a "21.5 acre tract of land." Martinez stated the 55 acres were "east of the expressway" and the 21.5 acres were the "Fish and Wildlife" tract. Now, the University had informed Martinez they wanted neither, but instead, the 47 acre tract known as Lincoln Park."

So, when UT asked that Lincoln Park be included, actually substituted in the original resolution, all it took was a "clarifying" resolution, but when Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa asks that Lincoln Park be excluded from the resolution, Sossi claims it can't be done.  As the nursery rhyme goes:  "Liar, liar, pants on fire!"

ADDENDUM:  In the video below, not taken by Nena, but by a shaky amateur, both Ricardo Longoria, Jr. and John Villarreal, to their credit, want to be included "in the loop" regarding Lincoln Park.  

When none of the puzzled commissioners came forward with a motion to approve the resolution, Martinez offered the self-serving explanation that he had unilaterally approached the UT President about seeking alternatives to Lincoln Park.  All of this seemed to be news to the commission as always.  Typically, Martinez insists on consensus, but does not have to skill set to create it. 

After the vote, Commissioner Gowen raised her hand, wanting it duly noted that she had abstained.  Actually, the same legal reason for abstention exists today that existed during the first two votes on conveying property to UT.  She is employed by the same.