PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TRUSTEES CAVE, APPROVE TEXAS A&M-WRITTEN MEMORANDUM, 3-2

Audience at Port of Brownsville Boardroom

The elements were there for compromise and consensus, but the Port of Brownsville Board simply lacked the skill to negotiate.  Instead of tweaking the one section of the Memorandum of Understanding that caused it to be tabled last month, the board meekly approved the exact wording they know doesn't fit the needs of our community.

The memorandum called for BND, the Brownsville Navigation District to provide the land and fund a training facility "at BND's sole cost."

As BND Trustee Ralph Cowen explained, the taxpayer-subsidized Port of Brownsville has money in the bank, but is still in the "Dark Ages" in terms of technology, still needing to disperse fiber optics among its customers, still needing to come up with the final third of funding to dredge the ship channel.

The obvious answer, so easy a cave man could see it, is that, just seven miles from the Port of Brownsville, Texas Southmost College sits on 113,000 square feet of airconditioned, well-maintained space that could easily be repurposed for a training center.  Or, does the training have to be near the murky waters of the ship channel?

"But Texas A&M can offer specialized courses like LNG Safety," countered A&M graduate "Kiko" Rendon, once a TSC trustee.

TSC President Jesus Roberto Rodriguez

Well, we're certain that's a highly technical course with protocols, protective gear and safeguards for the public and the environment.  But, can't that be taught just as well at I-Tech?  What's wrong with cooperation?

Obviously, ultra-rich institutions like Texas A&M aren't currently sitting on $11 Billion in assets because they give their services away.  They don't give a shit if you're the nation's poorest community, they're in the business of selling education and its a huge business.

But, as Attorney John Shergold asked rhetorically, "should A&M not have to put any money up?"

BISD Trustee Sylvia Atkinson didn't foresee the Port of Brownsville managing the facility, but could visualize the operation being turned over to a non-profit "and we all know who that non-profit will be," a possible reference to goofy philanthropist Mike Hernandez.

Senator Eddie Lucio supported the memorandum, but said nothing of substance, except to express his professed "love for TSC."

Chairman John Reed twice made an emotional plea for a 5-0 vote in favor of the memorandum.

"Anything less would fuel divisiveness," he claimed.

Trustee Tito Lopez made the motion, reminding the trustees it was all about "a seat at the table."

John Wood seconded the motion, promising "we can say 'no' to this later."

Steve Guerra and Ralph Cowen actually voted "nay," with Reed, Wood and Lopez forming the majority of three.

Texas A&M, not officially represented at the meeting, gets approval of the document exactly as they wrote it up, but this community was not well represented in the negotiations.