Friday, February 28, 2020

MR. AMIGO ASSOCIATION SELECTS ANOTHER DUD AS MR. AMIGO, WHILE TSC TRUSTEES ARE NO-SHOWS FOR LUNCHEON

Empty TSC Table at Mr. Amigo Welcoming Luncheon




Brownsville does not seem to be responding to City Manager Noel Bernal's persistent refrain about creating a cooperative, efficient culture within the City of Brownsville. (see "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" by Aesop, Fable #210)

A luncheon designed to welcome this year's Mr. Amigo, held at the Brownsville Event Center, was notable for the number of empty chairs for the $40 per plate extravaganza.

A table set for Texas Southmost College, Brownsville's community college for the last 94 years, was inexplicably empty.  Since TSC's trustees make it to a wide variety of city events on a regular basis, one would have to assume that their collective absence on this occasion was intentional and with purpose.

As for the honoree, Mr. Amigo 2019(not 2020 as one might assume), boxer Julio Cesar Chavez, was not described as particularly personable, not open to mingling with the masses, but largely confining himself to the Mr. Amigo Association members.




With two selection duds in a row, perhaps the Mr. Amigo Association needs to rethink the type of person who could be comfortable with both cultures, a so-called people person, who knows how to make others feel welcome and substantial.

We're told that Mr. Chavez asked that no proclamations or awards be read in his behalf and when Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. attempted to present a gift to Mrs. Chavez, the honoree grabbed the microphone, telling his wife:  "Don't come up here.  I don't want you to embarrass me."



One observer also found it odd that the normal protocol of introducing any public officials in attendance was not observed.

Seemingly, this was just an odd event that did little to foster warmth and bi-cultural fellow feeling, or, as City Manager Bernal might say, add to our city's culture.








Wednesday, February 26, 2020

HAS BPUB CEO JOHN BRUCIAK PROVEN HIMSELF TO BE AN ARROGANT ASSHOLE?

BPUB CEO John Bruciak
Arrogant assholes are a dime a dozen.  Some are born well to do, developing an illogical feeling of superiority over time.  Others acquire prominence through business or politics, lose the common touch, feeling they need answer to no one.

Judge for yourselves if John Bruciak should be considered to be in that category with his performance in the role of General Manager/CEO of the Brownsville Public, yes public!, Utilities Board.

Seven years ago Bruciak persuaded the City Commission to approve a 7% utility raise 4/1/2013, followed by another 7% raise 10/1/2013, yet another 7% raise 10/1/2014 and an 8% raise 10/1/2015.  The percentages compounded easily exceed 40%.

The purpose of the rate increase was said to be the purchase of 200 megawatts or 25% of an 800 megawatt power plant from the Tenaska Corporation to be named the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant.

The deal negotiated by Bruciak was lopsidedly in favor of the Tenaska Corporation with Brownsville's Public Utility paying $345 million or 65% of the total cost of a $500 million power plant, but receiving only 25% of the power.  Almost comically, Brownsville would also be responsible for selling the other 600 watts of produced power.

The rate increases would be used to pay off 20 year bonds to fund the plant.

Construction on the plant was said to start in 2014 with construction completed by 2016.  600-700 temporary jobs for locals were also promised with "23 permanent well-paying jobs."

None of that transpired as the Tenaska Brownsville Generating Plant was never built.

Yet, all the rate increases above were collected and remain in effect.

When ratepayers cried foul and demanded a return of the overcharges, Bruciak remained silent.

Public information requests received no response with Bruciak's lawyers convincing the Texas Attorney General that accounting for the money ratepayers had spent on a plant never built would uncover "proprietary information."

Yes, the original request for a rate increase did mention constructing the power plant and other infrastructure, but the thrust of the increase was for a power plant never built.

In 2019 all three mayoral candidates promised that, if elected, they would find out exactly how the rate increases were utilized and how much was actually raised.  

That promise remains unfulfilled.

John Bruciak has proven himself to be an arrogant asshole, but also dishonest.

  






WILL FISHING AT JAIME ZAPATA BOAT RAMP BE CURTAILED BY LNG? CITIZENS SPEAK THEIR MIND



Our recent article suggesting that fishing at the Jaime Zapata Boat Ramp will eventually be closed drew the ire of the pro-LNG establishment who described the suggestion as "fake news."

Do people really believe that recreational fishing will be allowed just outside the one mile hazard area of an LNG facility?


Obviously, I could be wrong.  Future generations of sportsmen could be allowed to fish adjacent to an LNG plant or, in a few years, the Superfund cleanup wreckage and chemical waste left after the short-term profiteers leave the area.

Port of Brownsville Director Eduardo Campirano reassured the citizenry in a Brownsville Herald letter to the editor dated 10/5/15:  "LNG is the liquefied form of the natural gas that people use in their homes for cooking and heating and has been safely handled for many years."

Of course, that silly, irresponsible statement totally ignores the fact that it is the process of condensing natural gas to 1/600th of its volume that is dangerous and highly polluting!

Anyway.  Following the article, an interesting discussion ensued on Facebook that is worth reprinting:



  • Dana Libby Our county government sucks bad ,but then look what we voted for last time . Maybe its time to do a recall or vote for people with our interests , instead of theirs .
    3
  • Dorothy Adams Gonzalez No that's been a fishing spot since i can remember. Can something be done Bobby
    2
  • Dorothy Adams Gonzalez Same as what Cameron County did with SpaceX Get rid of SpaceX taking ovet Boca Chica beach
    3
  • Bobby Lerma And you should know bloggers are usually close to right sometimes
    • Sheala Sue Bobby Lerma even if they’re not closing imagine the environmental impacts, the effects of closing waterways, etc. Good business doesn’t always mean prosperous community or environment.
      1
    • Jared Hockema Pati Pineda Matamoros the ramp may not be permanently closed, but one of the concerns that I have is the restrictions that will be placed on marine traffic when the LNG tankers are present. In other cities where LNG facilities are located, the coast gSee More
      1
  • Bobby Lerma Good to know! Thanks for updating us
    1
  • David Childress Sad but true
    1

  • David Kowalski Look what happed with the Dakota Pipeline
    2
  • Carlos Masso That is not true! The anti-lng people are putting this out to play on your fears and it looks like its working. I have been to an lng right on the Texas/Louisiana border that is adjacent to Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Its been operating for years. No chemicals going out into the environment. Recreational fishing not affected at all.
    5
    • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso the Lake Charles facility you are referring to has not started operation yet it is to be opened sometime this year it has not been there for years.
      1
    • Carlos Masso Donald Clupper i am referring to the Cheniere Sabine Pass LNG. its been there for several years. I visited about 4 years ago and it had already been in operation for several years at that time.
  • Richard Hitchcox This is a total political lie by the same campaign that threw around lies that I work for his opponent. Thanks for the thought, but I am a political nobody who works for no one politically. Why attack me? Donald Clupper lacks common dignity!!!
    2
  • Jared Hockema What is also not mentioned is that if these facilities catch fire, there is no way to extinguish the flames.
    1
  • Jared Hockema Another issue that has not been mentioned is the deposition of the spoil from the dredging that will be necessary to make the ship channel deep enough to accommodate these vessels. It will be deposited on the East bank of the shop channel. If anyone remembers the silt and sand we had blowing across highway 48 before this area was restored, a similar situation will occur.
  • Pati Pineda Matamoros False news. Boat ramp will NOT BE CLOSED! Beach will NOT BE CLOSED!! Anti-LNG people are putting this out. My husband and I enjoy fishing 🎣 as much as most of you. FISH ON!!! 🐠
  • Ellen Tyma Not true at all
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso the Lake Charles facility you are referring to has not started operation yet it is to be opened sometime this year it has not been there for years.
    1
  • Carlos Masso Donald Clupper i am referring to the Cheniere Sabine Pass LNG. its been there for several years. I visited about 4 years ago and it had already been in operation for several years at that time.
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso it has been there since 2008. It is expanding, however it is not on the coast and its tankers are moved by tugs avoiding the disruptions we will have here. They are able to contain their pollution by being inland always. We will not have tSee More
  • Carlos Masso Donald Clupper its a very clean operation. There is no pollution going on. Oil tankers are far more dangerous if they were to be targeted than an LNG ship or facility. You are against LNG and are spreading fake news and paranoia.
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso this is not fake news. LNG is going to devastate the local economy if it goes through.
  • Jared Hockema Carlos Masso why would you want such an ugly facility next to a beautiful, pristine natural area? I’m embarrassed to think of our visitors coming to the Laguna Madre area who will see this mess. As once example, Texas LNG, which is to be located behind H-E-B in Port Isabel, will have a 450 foot tall smoke stack and a 300 foot tall tank. That is far higher than any building on SPI!
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso just because you cant see it, smell it or taste it doesn't mean it isnt there. This is very dangerous stuff. The explosions in San Juan Puerto Rico, Plymouth Washington, and many other LNG sites overseas prove it. This isnt mentioning the numerous tanker explosions that have happened.
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso ask yourself a very simple question. If this stuff is so safe why wont they let them build one in Houston?
  • Carlos Masso Jared Hockema you wont be able to see it while you are driving on hwy 48. There will be a natural barrier along the hwy. Also the actual tanks are not much bigger than some of the oil tanks already there at the port. Houston lacks the acreage to build them.
  • Carlos Masso Jared Hockema you all think that the LNGs are like a refinary but they are not. I will agree with you that refineries are sore sights. LNGs are not like that. Go check some out in person so you can see.
  • Jared Hockema Carlos Masso I have met with them and discussed the size of the facilities. At first they said that it “wouldn’t be visible from the road,” but that’s because they’re building a high berm around the facility. However, they confirmed the height to me and that will be visible for miles!
  • Carlos Masso Jared Hockema Its a port. It is there to bring jobs for the community. There is nothing wrong with LNG.
  • Jared Hockema Carlos Masso I think this project will risk more jobs and more taxable value than it will create and SUSTAIN in the long term.

    The project is not being developed in a port. It is being developed alongside the Bahia Grande. The Port of Brownsville des
    See More
    2
  • Carlos Masso Jared Hockema we considered all those issues when LNGs first approached the port. Thats why we went to see an LNG in operation. We did our due diligence. This is where I live too. I wasnt going to just take their word for it. We went and we saw anSee More
  • Donald Clupper Carlos Masso how can you say it is going to create high paying jobs? That is not what Annova filed. It is my understanding that those high paying jobs will be in Houston and those employees will only come here occasionally for Inspection and maintenance.
  • Carlos Masso Jared Hockema the bahia dried up because it got blocked off by hwy 48 on one side and hwy 100 on the other side. The port opened up a canal from the ship cannel to the bahia grande with the help of several agencies and organizations. The salinity levSee More
    2
  • Jared Hockema Carlos Masso the original destruction of the Bahia was caused by the ship channel. I am very familiar with the project to restore the Bahia grande