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| Bobby "Mr. Positive" Wightman |
"But I can assure you in a few weeks when they do the final resurfacing of Boca Chica a moronic blogger will have something to say about it in a negative light."
Bobby Wightman-Cervantes, traditionally Brownsville's "Negative Nancy," almost dares anyone in the local blogosphere to utter a peep of criticism over the Texas Department of Transportation's ongoing makeover of Boca Chica Boulevard.
Of course, the full-of-himself blogger was not at any of several TXDOT meetings three years ago when Mark Lund was trying to sell this idea to the board before the three local transportation boards were merged into a single regional one.(Do I sound a bit self-righteous like Bobby?)
An aspect of planning not widely known is that the planning agency feels compelled to utilize their entire annual budget on projects, lest that budget be reduced the following year. That thinking did play a part in the Boca Chica project.
Next, Wightman personalizes his praise of the Boca Chica project by claiming to have sailed through a portion of Boca Chica without stopping at a single light, although he gets confused, thinking Jefferson Street somehow intersects Boca Chica:
"Yesterday from my house which is midway between 4 Corners and the airport I made it without hitting one light all the way to Palm Blvd, and then to Jefferson before I hit my first light. I routinely make it to the highway without hitting one light. Boca Chica is so much better."
Well, if Bobby is running red lights, he's not the only one in town.
But, whether or not Boca Chica's traffic lights are synchronized is not the issue. It's the difficulty turning left to access businesses that's become the issue not perceived by Wightman.
The largest retailer in that stretch of Boca Chica, the H.E.B. Supermarket, can no longer be accessed with a direct left turn, but drivers from the east are given two awkward, unwieldy options:
1. Make a U-turn at the U-Haul Trailer facility, then navigate the many speed bumps across the parking lot and a concrete barrier in front of U-Haul to find a narrow lane behind Chase Bank leading to the H.E.B. parking lot.
2. Pass H.E.B. going west and turn left at the traffic light at Paredes Line Road. Proceed approximately two blocks to access H.E.B. from the west side of the parking lot.
Neither of these options are as efficient as the former direct left turn.
Certainly, the owners of the building formerly occupied by Luby's realize their building has lost considerable value with the median blockage.
Traveling east in this section of highway creates other problems in accessing businesses like DD's Discounts:
1. Find the left hand turn lane at Old Port Isabel Road.(During normal traffic, turning left here will involve at least three light changes. As Brownsville grows, that will become 5 or 6 light changes.) Next, travel one block or so to access the parking lot from the west, turning right and navigating carefully across the road leading across the parking lot to Walmart.
2. Bypass many businesses to make a U-turn at Big Daddy's Restaurant, circling back to the Walmart entrance to access DD's and other stores.
It would not surprise me if TXDOT eventually prevents U-turns on this section of Boca Chica even further limiting turn options.
Anyway. Do you agree with Wightman that this section of Boca Chica Boulevard is now easier to navigate then before the changes?
As is your case Jim you will just lie to win an argument. I never said I made it to Jefferson off of Boca Chica, I said I made it to the Palm Blvd light and passed it to Jefferson where Jefferson intersects with Palm Blvd. "Yesterday from my house which is midway between 4 Corners and the airport I made it without hitting one light all the way to Palm Blvd, and then to Jefferson before I hit my first light. " Now if you prefer to pull into the HEB and have to drive pass all that cross unregulated traffic to get to the parking at the front of HEB, that is your choice - or was. I have no problem turning into HEB off Paredes right into the front of the store with the best parking. And no I do not speed. When you hit the lights right, the traffic really moves. Also I have not seen one accident since cars can no longer just shoot out and cross over where ever they want. It is called traffic control.
ReplyDeleteWhy did you not mention the improvement in flooding. Oops people like that. And Jim we both know all you are looking for are the troll comments which you will call a scientific poll.
Just another post of yours to show you and Duardo are obsessed with me and are both compelled to lie if you speak of me. The folder is very, very thick.
Bobby WC
First of all, Jim, I appreciate that you allow commenters who disagree with you to post, unlike Bobby. We don't know if Boca Chica will be safer than before. Only a comparison of accident numbers will demonstrate that. but it does seem to be more congested than before.
ReplyDeleteI try to avoid that area. It's a shitty mess.
ReplyDeleteIt's Trump's fault! Also existential climate change and racism.
ReplyDeleteWhightman came to Brownsville to be a big fish in a small pond but the pond kept getting bigger and bigger and has now out-grown him. He claims to be moving from what he considers to be the cesspool of Brownsville, a town he seems to despise. He claims to love the people but hate the town -- who does he think makes up the city? In his world there are no mistakes by others, just lies. And his experience, like his little drive down Boca Chica, must be everybody's experience for there is no way but his way. I see they are planning the same kind of "improvements" on Boca Chica from 4 Corners east to Minn. It will be interesting to see what his take is if he is unable to turn onto W. Cowan Terrace on his way home and must make a u-turn. Bet he won't be as appreciative.
ReplyDeleteBobby's threat to leave Brownsville without his guidance for over a decade is a thinly-veiled plea for us to beg him to stay. Google "Bobby Wightman-Cervantes Dallas Observer" and you'll see his disbarment was well-earned, although he's always claimed he can get his law license back "easily" if he so desires. Wightman's blog occasionally contains some wisdom, but it's so obscured by gibberish and outright foolishness, it's difficult to locate. We will miss Bobby when he goes, but he's not departing anytime soon. He needs Brownsville more than Brownsville needs him.
Delete9:27 a.m. Who are you fooling? Barton's post was in response to my announcement of the new extension of the medians on Boca Chica. I clearly said BISD needs to get involved because they cannot be blocking residential streets with medians used by the BISD buses. For now they enter on Cowan Terrace east and do their rounds then exist Cowan Terrace west. I am not sure which high school they use, Porter or Lopez. It will be a problem for BISD if they use raised medians to block the residential streets. There are not that many residential streets on the subject stretch. Unless I am going to the airport I make a left so medians will not impact me. Now if they put a median then everyone wanting to go to the airport will have to do a U-turn at the Billy Mitchell Boca Chica intersection. I do not see that happening. In the other direction they will have to do a U-Turn on central. The BISD buses will not be able to navigate these U-Turns. So I have stated my opinion. As to leaving Brownsville I am gone sooner than later. I have always moved. It is in our blood. But just to satisfy you I am not going to bring a crew into my house during the worst of Covid to tear up the floors for new floors and then do the sheetrock repair to satisfy you. Also given the high price of housing now is not the time to buy. I have found a lot. It is under engineering review for building the house I want. It is several acres but there appears to not be enough land to build a house and have a pool. I also need to pass a septic tank test. It is no easy task because you are under a special contract which allows you to pull out if the lot is not suitable. I am spending money to make it work. Then when the price of lumber comes down I can build, and still get a great price for my home.
DeleteAnd for the record, the people of Brownsville are not the politicos. That was an unnecessary insult to the people of Brownsville.
Bobby WC
So, there is still hope?
DeleteA correction I am shocked you did not notice. To go to the airport no U-Turn is necessary. I just turn left on Billy Mitchell. But the U-Turns are not possible for the busses which is why in my original post I said BISD needs to get involved in this.
ReplyDeleteBobby WC
Bobby, Barton let's you post here and nobody calls you a troll. Yet on your site you won't post any facts that prove you are wrong nor opinions that are contrary to yours. Then on top of that you call them all trolls. Doing that is not being sincere and it's also been a bully. You insult them and don't let them post a response. Eso se le llama no valer mas que pa pura verga. These are facts.
ReplyDeleteBobby is incredibly insecure, unsure of himself and afraid of criticism. At 73, I've been around the block a few more times than Bobby and view criticism differently, first of all as an opportunity to explain my position, but also an interchange to learn from or, at least, understand another viewpoint. Bobby doesn't mean to be a bully. He's just afraid an exchange of views will expose his deficiencies. This is all part of the growing up process and some take longer than others.
Delete