BROWNSVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY EMPLOYEES DESCRIBE WORK ENVIRONMENT UNDER HEDGECOCK AS "TOXIC, DISCRIMINATORY"

The Brownsville Public Library's Director of

Public Information, Jerry Hedgecock

While City Manager Noel Bernal continues to preach about city administration's new "culture," employees at the Brownsville Public Library are not feeling it.

We met with several library employees Wednesday, hearing their grievances.

They describe the work environment under Jerry Hedgecock as "toxic and discriminatory."

In our two 2019 articles on the BPL, we described Hedgecock as a compadrismo appointment from the past, indicating that since he did not possess the educational qualifications to escape State of Texas scrutiny as a Library Director appointee, a new position was created for him; Director of Public Information and the BPL was placed under that umbrella.

One employee claims that Hedgecock is continuing to use the city's expensive 3D printers in a side business; selling plastic Star Wars models online.  The employee shared the picture at the left from an internet website, Modelers, Miniatures and Magic, which they said  was being offered for sale by someone named "Jerry Hedgecock."

"If anyone asks to use they 3D printers, they are being told that no one is working who know how to operate the machines."

We also heard the claim that the library's café was being run by workers without health department certification and that food handling was "very unsafe."

One library worker told us that "an inventory should be performed," making the claim that an expensive electronic equipment may be missing.