COMMISSIONER DE LOS SANTOS MAY BE ZEROING IN ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE BROWNSVILLE LIBRARY

We plan to attend or tune in to the livestream of the 9/21 City Commission meeting, our first since triple bypass surgery.  

I'm curious about the ongoing looksee into Brownsville's Municipal Court, Information and Marketing Department and Public Library System.

The Brownsville Library is of particular interest as we wrote in the article below, originally published in 2019.

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.