TENASKA, CASA DEL NYLON, POLICE ISSUES SURFACE IN DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY COMMISSIONERS

Jerry McHale

Despite being designated recently by Jerry "The Blogfather" McHale as "Mr. Meetings Man," dispensing "bureaucratic bull," even a blind squirrel occasionally stumbles upon a nut.

It was at Wednesday's BMFA exhibition of photographs inspired by religious paintings that Commissioner Cesar De Leon dropped a hard kernel on my head, mentioning that the audit committee, recently disbanded, obliterated and quashed by Brownsville's City Commission, had, not only been looking at the diversion of the city's emergency calls to a private ambulance service, but also at possible irregularities with respect to the Tenaska deal and subsequent utility rate hike and the dubious purchase of La Casa del Nylon at 1304 E. Adams Street.

Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa

City Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa concurred that the "Tenaska" and "Casa Nylon" deals had been mentioned as subjects of audits, remembering that a "deadline was fast approaching" for action on the city's purchase of La Casa del Nylon.  

"It needs to be addressed immediately," she added.

The commissioner also offered:  "I have fought tirelessly for 8 years for the betterment of the people of our community.  I wish for nothing more than these deals be exposed."

Commissioner Neece

City Commissioner Ben Neece, who, along with Tetreau-Kalifa and Commissioner Joel Munguia had formed the Audit Committee, made it clear it was not a "single issue" entity.  

Neece stated that, once the committee was formed, citizens were coming to him with reports of impropriety they felt needed investigation, mentioning reported irregularities with the city's Public Works Department and B.U.S., now known as Brownsville Metro.

Neece mentioned another issue that had been presented to the committee, a formal complaint by BPD Commander David Dale allegedly "interference" with police activity by Commissioner Tetreau-Kalifa.

"The Brownsville Herald is waiting on a reply to their Public Information Request for a taped conversation between Tetreau and Dale," Neece continued.

"Then, based on that tape, citizens can make their own determination as to whether such interference occurred," added the commissioner.

Whatever methodology the City Commission uses to get to the bottom of these various issues, Brownsville's taxpayers need and deserve the transparency these public servants promise every time they run for office.