WHY DID BEN AND TONY TRY TO STYMIE, SQUELCH AND STIFLE RICK AT THE OCTOBER 17 CITY COMMISSION MEETING?

Channel 12, Brownsville TV, ran the video of the October 17 City Commission meeting again. 

Early in the meeting, there is a brouhaha over whether or not Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa voted to add a new board member to the GBIC.

Tetreau-Kalifa reminds the commissioners that she "represents a lot of people" who suffer when "the tally is not recorded correctly."

Because of the incorrect count, " a citizen did not get his appointment to a board," she states.

Mayor Tony Martinez

Mayor Tony, after interrupting Commissioner Ben Neece, sternly pontificates on the need to have the minutes accurately reflect the actual vote, annoyed that Tetreau-Kalifa had used a sworn affidavit to prove she'd voted and persuade City Secretary Griselda Rosas to change the minutes to indicate that.

Commissioner Ben Neece

Next, Commissioner Neece  holds up a copy of the affidavit, angrily directing his words to Tetreau-Kalifa, not the chair:  "Do you want me to take this to the Chief of Police and have you charged with perjury?  I'm just tired of the shenanigans in this court, I mean commission."

Tetreau-Kalifa calmly responds that she simply wants her votes as a city commissioner to be counted.  

"The commissioners to my right and left heard me.  Of course, you(Commissioner Neece) were sitting way on the other side," Tetreau explains.

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Commissioner Rick Longoria raises his index finger and is recognized.  He starts out,  "As city commissioners. . . . and is quickly cut off by Neece:  

"Don't direct your remarks at me!"

Longoria tries again and, is again blocked by Neece from speaking.

Mayor Martinez interjects:  "We're not having this, telling Longoria to stop, as if stopping a fight in the playground.

"No, Sir," Longoria repeats more than once.

Martinez threatens to have Longoria escorted out of the commission chambers by the police.

A female voice is heard, either Tetreau-Kalifa's or Assistant City Attorney Allison Bastain's:  "Point of order."

What the hell happened here?

Several violations of Robert's Rules of Order, for starters.

Certainly, when Commissioner Longoria wanted to make a statement, Commissioner Neece was totally out of line to interrupt.  Longoria did not directly address Neece as Ben's excitable words implied.  He did not preface his remarks with "Commissioner Neece."

As for Longoria's eyes, he can stare directly at Ben, cross-eyed or goo-goo eyed and Neece has no right to interrupt.  Ben can simply look away or close his eyes if he finds Rick's stares mesmerizing, seductive or horrifying.  Was Ben afraid Longoria might state he heard Jessica vote?  Who knows?

Tony Martinez was also out of line in blocking Longoria's statement.  Yes, Longoria HAD a point of order.  He had been recognized, but  undemocratically not been permitted to continue.

Longoria could have repeated, "Yes, point of order.  I HAVE THE FLOOR!!!"

If Martinez continued to interrupt, Longoria could have asked for a motion for removal of the chair.  Had that motion passed, he could have called for Martinez to have been removed from chambers.

After the verbal tussle, the commissioners moved on the reconsider appointment of someone to the GBIC board.

Nurith Galonsky, Abraham's daughter was appointed.