RANDALL BOLIVAR CHARGES SHERIFF OMAR LUCIO WITH CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE

Randall Bolivar

From the editor:  We're publishing two articles from Randall Bolivar strongly critical of Sheriff Omar Lucio.

Mr. Bolivar was convicted in 2014 for the 2009 murder of Aaron Castillo and remains incarcerated.

In 2018 this blog published a letter from Mr. Bolivar claiming that District Attorneys Armando Villalobos and Luis V. Saenz had "violated his rights" while "breaking multiple laws."

Mr. Bolivar is responsible for the content below:

THE END OF OMAR LUCIO, Part I 

On November 27th, The Brownsville Herald described the latest Texas Commission on Jail Standards report showing Cameron County, once again, being in violation of meeting the minimum standards, and Omar Lucio’s continued excuses for the same problems. It is apparent that Omar Lucio’s time as Sheriff is coming to an end, again… this time for good. 

Let us remember that it was Lucio’s incompetence and mismanagement that motivated the citizens of Cameron County to vote him out and Conrado Cantu in. Lucio was so bad people were willing to try anybody (ANYBODY!) else, which left us with Conrado Cantu and the damages he did to the county. However, because the corruption is so deep-rooted, Lucio was able to easily return and we’ve had to suffer ever since, but more on that later….

With regard to the report, when I was in the custody of the Sheriff from February 2009 to July 2011, all of the inmates in single cells were filing formal grievances about the exact same issue this report detailed—no out-of-cell time for single cell inmates.. 

We were stuck n those tiny cells 24 hours a day for months and years in some cases like my own. This was a consistent problem well over ten (10) years ago! 

Are you telling me that after more than ten years, Lucio is so incompetent that not only can he not figure-out how to tell his jailers to ensure that inmates are given what the law requires, but that Lucio can’t even hire one experienced person to do it for him? Sadly, the report gives us this answer. 

Looking at Lucio’s sorry and unjustifiable excuses as to why this is continuing to happen is yet but another sign that his time as sheriff is quickly coming to an end. 

He has many jail employees with decades of service at the jail, and these one-hour of out-of-cell time requirements are also decades old. There simply is no excuse for it, but Lucio believes that the citizens of Cameron County are ignorant and don’t care. 

I say we show him otherwise. It is time for a change, it is time for the future to start now.

My fellow citizens, let us look into the future and not to the last forty years of corruption in this County. We need new candidates for Sheriff. Enough of the career politician who only wants to increase the size of the jail and staff so he can increase his power and control over local politics and justify a bigger paycheck for himself. 

How about we help the citizens improve their budgets first, then (if necessary) increase the Sheriff’s budget? Sorry, but as for Sheriff, it is THE END OF OMAR LUCIO… 

De Oppresso Libre,

Randall Bolivar

THE END OF OMAR LUCIO, Part II

To continue with the TCJS Report, I’ll add that its well-recognized that if there is no written record of government action, then it did not happen. Well, Mr. Lucio cannot provide documentation of giving single-cell (Ad.Seg.) inmates their one-hour out-of-cell time as required by law, then it didn’t happen. He just doesn’t care about the law!

It reminds me of when Lucio illegally and unjustly held me in Ad. Seg. for over two years without cause or documentation. When I filed formal grievances, his reasons were that I had been reviewed once a month for the last 16 months, yet gave no justification as to why I was being held in Ad. Seg.

Incidentally, an inmate is supposed to be part of the classification review process, but in the over two years Lucio held me in Ad. Seg., NOT ONCE was I ever interviewed by a classification officer. NOT ONCE! 

How I got placed in Ad. Seg. Still remains formally unanswered, but a few jailers gave hints—Lucio was doing his good friend Armando Villalobos a favor because Villalobos wanted to get a quick plea deal out of me, so they used Ad. Seg. as a way to coerce me into submission like they do with most big cases.

It should be noted that for the first two years I was in Lucio’s jail, I tried to get Lucio to allow my U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Veteran’s Justice Outreach (VJO) Program Case Manager into the jail, the way VJO staff were doing all across the country, to assist me in my case. 

Unfortunately for myself, and fellow veterans at the time, Lucio fought us tooth and nail. But I am glad I started that fight because it caused VA officials in Washington, DC to intervene and ensure that VJO staff were allowed in to meet with veterans. 

What Lucio was opposed to is now a standard practice. And because of this simple act of having VJO Case Managers assist veterans when they find themselves in the court system, many veterans and their families have benefitted. It has allowed veterans to get the evidence they need to present in court, which I did not get to do. 

In a few instances, that evidence has proved their innocence, and frequently shows mitigating circumstances in their case. It also helps to get the veteran and their family better situated regardless if the veteran is being released from jail or sent to prison. 

So, why wouldn’t Lucio want this? Simply put, he cares little, if anything for the men and women whom served. If locking up and keeping them locked up helps Lucio to gain political power by doing favors for his corrupt friends, or growing the jail population to show a reason to merit a big pay raise, believe me when I tell you he will.

It is time for a change, I urge all members of the community, democrats and republicans, to seek and find a better option for Sheriff of Cameron County because for our current one, it is THE END OF OMAR LUCIO.

De Oppresso Libre,

Randall Bolivar

COUNTY CHAIR MORGAN CISNEROS GRAHAM ANNOUNCES BALLOT POSITIONS FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES

Cameron County Republican Chair Morgan Cisneros Graham

Cameron County Republican Chair Morgan Graham announces ballot positions for Republican candidates:

President/Vice President
Bill Weld
Zoltan G. Istvan
Donald J. Trump
Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente Guerra
Matthew John Matern
Bob Ely
Joe Walsh

U.S. Senator
John Anthony Castro
Mark Yancey
John Cornyn
Dwayne Stovall
Virgil Bierschwale

U.S. Representative District 34
Rod Lingsch
Rey Gonzalez

Railroad Commissioner
James "Jim" Wright
Ryan Sitton

Chief Justice, Supreme Court
Nathan Hecht

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6
Jane Bland

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 7
Jeff Boyd

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 8
Brett Busby

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 3
Gina Parker
Bert Richardson

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4
Kevin Patrick Yeary

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9
David Newell

State Senator District 27
Vanessa Tijerina

State Representative District 38
Erasmo Castro

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 4
Jaime Tijerina

Justice, 13th Court of Appeals District, Place 6
Clarissa Silva

District Clerk
Mirla Veronica Deaton

Sheriff
John Chambers

Justice of the Peace Precinct 5, Place 1
Charles "Chuck" Vieh

County Constable Precinct 1
Pedro Delgadillo
Norman Esquivel Jr.
Manuel "Manny" Hinojosa III

CAMERON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY OVERRUNS ANTONIO'S FOR BALLOT SLOTTING EXERCIZE

One of Two Small Rooms Reserved by Cameron County Democratic Party at Antonio's

Cameron County Democratic Chair Jared Hockema arrived customarily late to the party's ballot drawing at Antonio's Mexican Restaurant Wednesday evening, toting a leather bag and a Tupperware storage container to mix up the candidate names for the drawings.

Hockema made up for lost time with a rapid-fire, frequently humorous ballot placement of 13 presidential, 11 senatorial, in addition to dozens of local justice of the peace, constable, sheriff and congressional candidates.  Jokingly, Hockema referred to a male party official assisting him in the drawings as "Vanna White."

Hockema made allowances for a couple absentees;  Representative Filemon Vela, who he described as "in Washington" for "an important vote(impeachment) and Eddie Lucio III who he said was with a hospitalized close friend.

When Ana and I took seats just outside the two small rooms reserved by the party, one of Antonio's waiters explained that the table was for customers.  No matter.  Once we departed to stand alongside the wall, Judge Linda Salazar and her red-shirted posse took over the table.(Actually, the venue was much too small as the group ended up swarming the entire restaurant.)

Several locals walked away with the prized numero uno position on the ballot, valued based on the accurate, proven assumption that many uniformed voters simple choose the first option;  Congressional candidate Filemon Vela(who doesn't need that advantage), judicial candidate Gabby Garcia, JP contender Cyndi Hinojosa, also candidates Amber Medina and Sara Stapleton Barrera.

As we left the building I shouted out to District Attorney Luis Saenz, attired as usual in a heavily-starched longsleeved white shirt with red tie:  "Congratulations Mr. Unopposed!"

"The only way I can win is if my wife Delia votes for me!"  Saenz responded.

ATTORNEY ERIN GAMEZ JOINS ERASMO CASTRO IN OPPOSING EDDIE LUCIO III FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT 38

Attorney Erin Gamez at Cobbleheads Event

Eddie Lucio III, who hasn't faced an opponent in the Texas House of Representatives since first elected in 2006, now has two; BISD Trustee Erasmo Castro and now, Attorney Erin Gamez.

Gamez held her first campaign event Tuesday night at Cobbleheads Bar & Grill, filling up both sides of the common enclosed area of the popular eatery.

Speaking softly into a microphone, Gamez spoke proudly of her grandfather, Ernesto Gamez, Sr., who she said built the family's Justice for All law office and the family residence "by hand."

"You all know my father," Gamez said, speaking of Attorney Ernesto Gamez, Jr.

"It just kills him that he couldn't be here tonight," she stated.

"I am you," said Gamez, indicating she faced the same concerns about income and basic necessities locals face.  

Having an appropriate "job placement" for residents who go on to get a college degree is a focus of her campaign, she indicated.

Eddie Lucio III

One issue that may be raised during the campaign is the incumbent, Eddie Lucio III, according to the Texas Monitor, has used campaign funds over the years to maintain a lavish lifestyle, receiving $1.48 million in campaign donations, primarily from special interests, utilizing $312,000 of those monies for travel, cars, apartments, along with furnishings, all of this despite never having an opponent.


https://texasmonitor.org/house-big-spender-4-eddie-lucio-iii/

CITY RESIDENTS STILL SUFFERING FROM COMPADRISMO, HEDGECOCK HIRE

Jerry Hedgecock, Brownsville Public Library

Jerry Hedgecock, a walking, talking example of the compadismo hiring of Brownsville's past, was picked to lead the Brownsville Public Library system a few years ago.

Since, unlike three other candidates for Library Director, Hedgecock did not possess a Masters in Library Science, a new position was created for him that would not draw the ire and notice of the State of Texas; Director of Public Information, with the Brownsville Library System falling under that fake, hastily created umbrella.

Jerry Hedgecock's qualifications were simple.  He was a crony of then Purchasing Director Paul Calapa.  Another City of Brownsville department head got her job similarly.

Last July we reported some impropriety on Hedgecock's part dealt with internally by City Manager Noel Bernal, who, on a daily basis must deal with the blatant administrative appointments of cronies and friends made by previous administrations.  

Hedgecock, allegedly was using high-priced 3D copying equipment to produce items for sale on Ebay, which, if true, would mean not only stealing work time from the City of Brownsville, but also misappropriation, misuse of equipment paid for by the taxpayers.

While that matter may have been resolved compassionately, another issue has recently surfaced according to a note we received from a reader.

The 3D printing equipment is now on display at Brownsville's Central Library, but library employees are not trained to use it.  At least, no one on duty at the library can assist patrons with the use of the equipment.   Perhaps Director Hedgecock was too busy using the 3D printing equipment in a side business he forgot to see that library employees received adequate training in the use of the equipment.

We received this message yesterday:


"Look we have a bunch of 3-D printers down at the library, but I was told they're not available for use.  I asked them why when they are operational. They embarrassingly told me that they don’t have anyone right now who knows how to operate them.

They also told me they need to hire someone who knows how to operate them and then we will have 3-D printing available.  Anyway I’m sure the people around here need to print stuff in 3-D.

The library spent thousands to decorate for Christmas, about 20 trees and a whole area with snow, but they know nothing about using their printing equipment."

What you're experiencing reader is collateral damage from compadrismo, a longtime Brownsville practice.

IS SYLVIA ATKINSON SIMPLY "THE FIRST SHOE TO DROP" AT BISD?

Sylvia Atkinson

Back in 2016, when Sylvia Atkinson was running for BISD Trustee, I got a call from TSC Board President Adela Garza suggesting I write an article about Sylvia.

"So, you two are friends?"  I remember asking Adela, who mentioned that she'd known Atkinson since they worked together at Los Fresnos I.D. and said she would "never forget" the kindness and support from Atkinson when Adela's mother passed away.

I wrote what I viewed at the time as a balanced article, highlighting Atkinson's obvious skill set and platform, but also including this paragraph about her work history:

Atkinson's several brief tenures with various school districts were not without controversy. According to reports, she left the Santa Rosa School District with an $800,000 shortfall. At Socorro ISD of El Paso, there were charges of nepotism when three of her friends from Santa Rosa were elevated over more qualified job applicants. At BISD, while Atkinson was Human Resources Director, her brother Charlie, the former City Commissioner, was hired as a coach over several more qualified applicants, despite not having a teaching degree.

Adela Garza, who's typically complimented anything I've written about TSC or BISD, said nothing about this 2016 article.

Now, with Atkinson charged, but not convicted of one count of conspiracy and seven counts of bribery during her tenure at BISD and Rio Hondo ISD, we begin to get a picture of a self-serving, greedy individual without any genuine interest in the students, but as the indictment states; (using her position) "to obtain money from private companies and private individuals in exchange for assistance in obtaining contracts with BISD or RHISD."

With  BISD's annual operating budget nearing $600,000,000, corruption charges do not surprise.

There are also indications that Atkinson did not act alone.  Note this statement from Juan Montoya's El Rrun Rrun blog:   

At her bond hearing this morning, Magistrate Ronald Morgan prohibited (Atkinson) from having contact with "co-conspirators, co-defendants and victims."

That statement should be extremely unsettling to other BISD trustees.

SPACEX~SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORKMANSHIP!

Truck traveling down Minnesota Avenue Sunday to deliver Rocket Part to SpaceX

ERASMO CASTRO DECLARES FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 38

For too long our voice has been but a whisper because of the corrupt politico machine has had a stranglehold on the low voter turnout that plagues our community. Career politicians have become complacent, comfortable and inefficient. No challenge to dynastic governance creates arrogance and leaves individuals with a tinge of entitlement.

When visiting Austin during the now defunct Brownsville Day at the Capital as a concerned citizen I shared with our representatives the concerns of our people. I was set back at their response, “your people don’t vote, so they don’t matter.” This was one of the reasons I decided to run for Mayor of the City of Brownsville. I wanted the opportunity to show my people and the politicos a different way, a better way.

I am currently serving my community on the Brownsville ISD Board of Trustees. We won our seat with the greatest number of votes and the highest percentage in the race. In my time on the Board I have continued to fight the corrupt political machine that consumes our children’s inheritance. I have remained faithful to the promises I made while running and true to the oath I took upon taking our seat. A better way, a brighter day.

Today I proudly announce that I am your candidate for Texas State Representative District 38. We will bring true transparent representation to Austin and continue to demand better from all local elected officials. No more working for the few. Representation that focuses on economic development. Representation that will work on campaign finance reform. Representation that will work within ones means and not in the pocket of special interest groups from all over the country.

Together my friends, we can bring about the change our community deserves. I humbly ask for your continued support.

NOTING THE SHARP CONTRAST BETWEEN THE CURRENT AND FORMER BROWNSVILLE CITY ATTORNEY

City Attorney Rene De Coss

Long time observers of city government are witnessing something they've never seen before at City Commission meetings;  pushback against real-time rulings of the City Attorney.  These have been gentle tussles, typically with City Attorney Rene De Coss volunteering to reword some of the City Code, or, as was the case at last Tuesday night's City Commission meeting, when Mr. De Coss ruled that since the City Code called for "owners" to be counted, not simply "lots," in determining votes for renaming a city street, that would be his best legal position.

If De Coss occasionally finds himself on the proverbial hot seat, it's because he's the only City Attorney to have actually done real work on the City Charter and Ethics Code in many, many years.  His predecessor, Mark Sossi, City Attorney for the better of a decade, never did.

De Coss's approach and demeanor is decidedly different, actually in stark contrast to that of  Mark "It's Legal!" Sossi, who would frequently stride to the podium to pronounce anything the mayor and city commission proposed as "legal."  

Simply put, Sossi, pictured at left, was an enabler, ever conscious of job security. while De Coss is conscientiously trying to render a legal opinion.

Note what De Coss told the commissioners at the December 3 meeting:  "That's my best legal opinion, but the commission has the final say."

Looking back, Mark Sossi was simply not a good hire in March of 2009.  His previous employer, Willette & Guerra, had proven in court that Sossi had pocketed $167,363 intended for the firm, while the Texas Workforce Commission found that he'd done the same thing with $20,711.66 earmarked for unemployment benefits.  A $100,000 IRS tax lien and multiple malpractice lawsuits in Sossi's private practice further spoke to his character.

It's noteworthy as well, that, while retained by the City of Brownsville at a salary or $120,000 annually, Sossi also did part-time lawyering for the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation at $60,000 per year.  

De Coss, given the same opportunity, declined, indicating it would be a conflict of interest working for both entities.

WHAT CITY VOTERS SHOULD NOT FORGET!

The city commissioner foursome voting to retain the bootlicking "McNair Family Drive" designation for what has been known since 1850 as "East Fronton Street" faced a moral dilemma last night and were found deficient.  Theirs was a moral, political and democratic failure.

All four, Commissioners Gowen, Tetreau, Munguia and Cowen tried feebly to rationalize their obvious failure to recognize the will of the people by pretending to have issues with the wording of the new city policy on changing street names, a policy they were comfortable enough to vote for just weeks before.

Yes, they were under pressure, pressure exerted from two distinct sides; the owner/residents of East Fronton Street and the McNair family, who own three warehouse buildings with East Fronton addresses.

Commissioner Rose Gowen admitted to such pressure when she stated "I will never consider the renaming of a street again."

Had majority really ruled, had democracy really worked in this case, the voices of the vast majority of East Fronton residents would have been heard, but instead, four commissioners chose to listen to the voice of one rich, influential family seeking to aggrandize their family name.  It was a simple, clear-cut case of pandering to the so-called rich and famous, ignoring the principle of self-determination and failing to reward citizens who did exactly as they were told by the same city commissioners.

And don't let the last minute semantics used by the foursome to justify their vote against the people fool you.  That was insincerity at its worst.  The simple fact is that they did not want to alienate a powerful, influential family in the city, residents of East Fronton Street be damned!

If you vote in Brownsville city elections, you've now been given clear, unmistakable proof that these four do not represent the ordinary citizens, but instead, the rich, powerful and influential.  

DEMOCRACY FAILS MISERABLY FOR EAST FRONTON STREET RESIDENTS

Several dozen East Fronton taxpayers learned a valuable lesson in participatory democracy tonight at the City Commission meeting where they hoped to reverse a short-sighted City Commission decision to rename East Fronton Street, the historic street they lived on, for an Anglo profiteer who'd made a fortune utilizing minimum wage labor in three factory/warehouse buildings.  

During a spell of overt goofiness, the City Commission had changed the name of a downtown street from it's historic 1850 "East Fronton Street" to "McNair Family Drive."

Carlos Lastra from Engineering, who was given the task of discerning the mood of the residents of East Fronton about the proposed name change, failed miserably and the City Commission faced an angry group of East Frontoners who had no idea the name of their street was being changed.

Have no fear.  4th graders from sea to shining sea will be reminded in the morning that the United States of America is a democracy ruled "by the people."

The residents of East Fronton Street got that same lecture in two languages and have shown up at the last two City Commission meetings to see the American dream in action.

"You can correct this with a petition," they were told, among other things:

1.  Play by the rules, conform to every requirement of a newly enacted city policy about changing the name of a street.
2.  Go en masse to the commission meeting to voice your position to your duly elected representatives.
3.  Sit back and observe democracy in action.

The resident taxpayers of East Fronton did everything asked of them before showing up at tonight's meeting to see if the concept of democracy actually worked.

They were sorely disappointed, seeing the uglier side of city politics, how a rich Anglo businessman could indeed manipulate four commissioners to get the agenda item shot down.

All four, much like Trump supporters in the U.S. Congress, questioned the methodology instead of responding to their constituents.

Commissioner Rose Gowen questioned the wording of the policy awarding a vote to each owner listed on the Cameron County property listings, while Jessica Tetreau mentioned conversations with other Texas cities whose policy differed from Brownsville's.

The vote almost got tabled again until Commissioner Ben Neece reminded the commission that "we've passed the policy and the City Attorney has ruled on it.  Let's vote and do the right thing."

Commissioners Joel Mungia and John Cowen, neither of whom normally ever make so much as a peep in City Commission meetings, both attacked the policy at tonight's meeting.

None of these four had any criticism of the policy when it was enacted weeks ago.  Had the McNair family gained their support somehow?

Four voted against residents having a say in their community, all using convoluted reasoning to support their position:  Rose Gowen, Jessica Tetreau, John Cowen and Joel Munguia.

Nurith Galonsky, Ben Neece and Mayor Trey Mendez supported the citizenry.

"Let it be noted that the vote was 4-3," stated Mendez, making certain we knew where he stood, even though his vote is normally needed only in a tie.

Commissioner Nurith Galonsky apologied to the East Fronton citizens as they exited chambers.

WE LEARN TONIGHT IF THE CITY COMMISSION LISTENS TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Mayor Trey Mendez Stands Tall in Fruia Motors Convertible at Christmas Parade

Our little city, where the majority of registered voters choose not to participate in city elections, by default indicating neither their vote or voice could ever make a difference, receives a lesson in participatory democracy tonight at the City Commission meeting.

A group of East Fronton Street residents, led by Juan Rene Hernandez(pictured above), have seemingly complied with a new wrinkle in the City Charter governing the renaming of a city street, obtaining signatures from 75% of the residents of that street to return it to its original name.

The McNair family, represented with some sarcastic pushback in the local newspaper by Harry McNair, are fighting hard against the will of the people, in an effort to retain the recent new designation, McNair Family Drive.

The McNair family, profiting greatly from minimum wage labor for decades at three warehouses on East Fronton, have also cleverly saved tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes by getting those warehouses designated as historical buildings.

The McNairs submitted a petition of their own in favor of retaining the new street name at the August 7, 2019 City Commission meeting, even though there is no provision for a counter petition in the City Code with respect to renaming a street.

City Attorney Rene De Coss discovered that six residents who signed to Hernandez petition to change the street name back East Fronton Street, also signed Harry McNair's counter petitition and suggested strongly to the city that those residents be interviewed as to their exact leaning on the matter.

"I hope all six City Commissioners are in attendance and the vote ends in a tie," confided one of my close friends.

"I want Mayor Mendez to have to break that tie and show the community whether or not he actually values Brownsville's historic character as he's publicly indicated over the years."

Holiday Village Night Lighting Ceremony