4A AND 4B HAVE A HISTORY OF EXPENSIVE OFFICE SPACE

The Coca Cola Building

With the rumor that the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, the city's 4A entity for dispensing monies for "economic development" projects, might acquire new digs in Trey and Ramiro's newly acquire Coca Cola Building, we're reminded of some past searches for office space by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the 4B counterpart, entrusted with dispersing "quality of life" funds to worthy recipients.

In 2015, the BCIC was using space on the Human Resources 4th floor of the City Commission building FOR FREE, at absolutely no cost to the taxpayers.

Yet, the BCIC clamored for an office of their own, apart from city hall.

The city had just purchased 13 unoccupied buildings at a cost of $3,500,000, but those did not suit the BCIC.

Market Square, utilized by the city at the benevolence of Sandy Stillman, had an empty second floor and a wonderful visual room seemingly perfect for meetings.

No, the BCIC had their eyes on another property as our 2015 Brownsville Observer article shows:

With the tax dollars of this poorest city of the United States burning a hole in their collective pockets, the BCIC decided to move out of their no-additional-cost-to-the-taxpayer digs at the City Commission building and leased new digs at 2424 Village Drive, just off of Price Road near El Globo Supermarket.  The first year basic cost to the taxpayers was $86,983 including a $46,000 annual lease and $41,000 for furnishings and equipment.

Of course, there are additional costs associated with maintaining an office that were revealed in the February 2016 Accounts Payable.  

There is the matter of janitorial services, $90.00 weekly to A&L Floor, Carpet Care or $4680 annually. 

Monthly utilities for January to PUB were $224.44.  Annually, that would be $2688.  

$156.06 was spent for a new front door.  

My World Embroidery, possibly creators of the beautiful BCIC fabric wall hanging, were paid twice, $954 and $1136.  

An insurance payment to Philadelphia Insurance Company was for $1028.  

Coat racks for "Cori's and Rebeca's offices" cost $54.10. 

Name plaques from Things Remembered went for $204.99.  

A desk phone for the "administrative assistant" cost $390.95. Hundreds of dollars were spent for non-specific "office supplies."

OK.  That property, with the exorbitant lease and the associated cost of furnishings was utilized for one year, paid for by city sales tax funds.

Earlier that year, Rose Gowen, with her term as chair of the BCIC already expired, came back illegally for one more meeting to try to ram through an even more expensive plan for office space.

Gowen's plan was that the City of Brownsville spend $225,000 to renovate the San Fernando Building, one of the 13 building purchased by the city in 2012, and allow the BCIC to house their staff and hold meetings there.

Anyway, we'll see how GBIC handles their reported craving for separate office space, but be prepared for a substantial cost to the taxpayers.