How the Mayor and City Commission Mishandled the Tripling of Parking Meter Fees

Participatory democracy is not as efficient as tyrannical rulership.  Consulting the citizenry before deciding issues is unwieldy, time-consuming and requires a larger skill set than simply issuing orders.

Mayor Tony Martinez ran for office as a Democrat, contributes some of his own money to the Democratic Party, but hates the principles of democracy.   He demonstrated that clearly when he continued the ban on the broadcast of public comment during city commission meetings.  It was a distasteful, anti-democratic move that words and ideas of the mayor and city commissioners are more valuable, more insightful than those of the taxpayers, when the exact opposite is true.

Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un

The mayor and city commission have committed $3.5 million of taxpayer dollars to the purchase of older downtown buildings without so much as giving the taxpayers an inkling of the motivation behind those purchases.  North Korean Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un would applaud Mayor Tony's
style and methods.

Soon Brownsville residents will notice that the cost of parking downtown will have tripled.  Most have no clue about the pending change yet as they were not involved in the decision.  Certainly, those who own downtown businesses were consulted before such a substantial change effecting their livelihood was finalized? No, it's none of their business, either.  It's not their call.  They're not the mayor or the supreme ruler.  They have no say in this or any other matter.  The mayor and city commission do not function democratically.

To alert the taxpayers as to what will be considered at a future city commission meeting, an agenda is posted the Friday before the Tuesday meeting.  Sometimes, the true purpose of an agenda item is obsured by clever, obtuse language that does not accurately reflect what will be considered.  For example, Agenda item #6 for the December 10, 2013 meeting reads as follows:

6. Public Hearing and ACTION on FIRST READING on Ordinance Number 2013-736-O to amend the City Code of Ordinances, Chapter 98 “Traffic and Vehicles”; ARTICLE V “Stopping, Standing, and Parking”, promulgating a new Division 6 “Parking Meters”, and adding Sections 98-382, 98-383, with Sections 98-384-98-410 to remain reserved, and dealing with related matters. (Ramiro Gonzalez – Planning)

Now, is there anything in the wording of that agenda item that communicates the actual intent to raise parking meter fees in downtown Brownsville from 25 cents to 75 cents, tripling them?  Not at all.  The wording hides the intent of the agenda item, another way of curtailing citizen involvement.

The second reading of this proposed change will take place Tuesday, January 8, 2014.  There will be no public comment.  If passed, the change will be made without citizen involvement, just as if Supreme Ruler Kim Jong-un ordered it.  (The only way this could be prevented is if a courageous city commissioner pulled this item off the agenda to give the taxpayers an opportunity to express their preference.)

E.F. Mohammed Martinez Screams Censorship As He Departs this Blog to Fight the White Devil Elsewhere

From the editor: Self-named E.F. Mohammed Martinez, who graced this blog with his rants for a couple weeks,  has departed our local blogosphere.  He left this departing message to "Bill" Barton which provides some insight into his thought pattern.  

He will never understand that many of his comments went unpublished, not because they were racist and/or ignorant, which they were, but simply because they were off topic.  I asked him politely to contribute to the discussion at hand, but he was simply unable:


"As a departing message to Bill Barton and his website here, I knew from the outset that I was
in enemy territory and it was just a matter of time before I was going to be CENSORED altogether.

I replied to this last Mother Nature's reject at his own low life level mindset a few days ago, but since I am not of their pasty white color, it's very understandable for "them to take care of their own just like WE RAZA have take care of OUR own as well!

As I have ALWAYS said many times over throughout the years, WE have an absolute RACE WAR with white racist AmeriKKKa..., and without retreat!

It was nice partaking here for a while with the white rednecKKK camp, but at least it also gave me an insight of the belly of the white beast within! I hope one day we will meet doing hand to hand combat as AmeriKKKa's streets will flow red of OUR adversaries carcASSES!

"SLAY OUR ENEMIES WITHOUT MERCY..., AND LEAVE NOTHING FOR THE VULTURES TO FEAST ON!"
(I doubt this post will be posted, but I hope Bill Barton will get my message! Thank you for everything!)

E.F. Mohammed Martinez - Journalist/Writer/ Revolutionary Anti-Fascist Community Activist - White Racist Xenophobe AmeriKKKa's Worst Nightmare!

ALLA AKABAR JIHAD!"

Who's Stifling Downtown~The City of Brownsville, the Property Owners, or Both? Comments from A Downtown Business Owner

From the editor:  The City of Brownsville is not unique in having a decaying, albeit historical, downtown.  Many, many cities have been more successful in revitalizing.  Some have revitalized, but sunk back into decay.  

For Brownsville, the frequent scapegoats are said to be cheap-ass downtown property owners who won't spend money to maintain their buildings, lugheaded, inflexible building inspectors, known for irrational, uneven code enforcement and likely "on the take," or the infamous peso devaluations of 1976 and 1993.  

The peso devaluation of 1976 was indeed serious.  Overnight, the savings and purchasing power of Mexican nationals was cut in half.  1993 gave the peso another serious hit.  Of course, these financials hit downtown Brownsville hard, but it also underscored its economic dependence on south-of-the-border customers.  Few actual Brownsville residents seriously consider purchasing, eating or drinking anything downtown.   Serious customers from Mexico also bypass downtown, instead buying a dozen purses for resale from Ross Dress for Less near the Sunrise Mall, sporting goods at Academy or eating at the mall's food court. They also shop hard at Walmart and H.E.B.  This past Sunday when Dillard's at Sunrise Mall offered 50% off tailored clothing, the adjacent parking lot was filled with Tamaulipas license plates.  Those who actually shop downtown include pedestrians who walk across one of two bridges looking for a dollar store level plastic toy for their children or used clothing for their family.  

A recent Facebook thread discussed some of these issues:

Teresa Saldivar

Teresa Saldivar:  Downtown looks so drab because there is a pissing contest going on between landlords and our city from what I have read over the past few years. Landlords claim our city rates are too steep and our city claims property owner's are too cheap and will not meet the building codes nor want to pay appropriate fees. In the meantime our downtown continues to look more like a ghost town than the largest city in the RGV.

Daniel Lenz:  Teresa, I bought my buildings 11 years ago and immediately started fixing them, after years of the previous owner doing nothing. I thought the city would be happy about this, but no, all I hit was road blocks and people from the city trying to shut me down. You have no idea what I went through. Without any notice, I had 11 police officers, the entire staff from building inspections, health department, and also a few people from the fire marshals office, oh and one commissioner, shutting my building down because they said someone reported there was a leak in the roof. By the way, I had just completed bringing the buildings up to meet the current fire code at the time. It was quite the circus to say the least. Anyway, I have had

Daniel Lenz

to fight tooth and nail to even be a property owner in downtown, including filing a lawsuit against the city, which finally got them to back down. I am all about doing things to code and willing to follow the rules, but I am not going to be bullied and when I am, I will either fight or say forget this crap, I will let my building stay as it is. By the way, for the record, the fire marshals office was fantastic to deal with. Lastly, if you are going to make property owners spend thousands of dollars to bring there buildings up to current codes, there has to be a payback to cover these costs. As it is, there are building codes for existing buildings that don't require them to bring them up to current codes, so they do nothing. Once they start any renovation, then they are required to meet all new codes.

We were intrigued enough by this exchange to call Daniel Lenz, the owner the Kobbeltvedt Enterprises Building at 12th and Adams St.(formerly Hotel Economico) downtown for more information.  Here are some excerpts from our brief exchange:

MMB:  When did this incident you described on Facebook with the police, inspectors and a City Commissioner, occur?

Daniel Lenz:  It was around May of 2006.  I had been working on my building, bringing it up to code.  Former Fire Marshall Ben Nunez and Inspector Cassandra Gomez were extremely helpful, yet strict in guiding me through the process.  Jim, I'm not against code enforcement.  I want my

Edward Camarillo

building safe and in compliance.  The event I described came as a complete shock.  One of the fire inspectors alerted me, saying that he was awaiting a group that was to meet at my building.  As I stated, eleven police officers showed up along with the entire inspection staff, the health department and the fire marshals.  District 2 City Commissioner Edward Camarillo was also there along with a crew from KGBT Channel 5.  

MMB:  So it looked like a photo op orchestrated by former Commissioner Edward Camarillo?  What did they give as the reason for the unannounced visit?

Daniel Lenz:  Jim, they said they had heard I had a roof leak.  I later found someone had stuffed clothing into one of my roof drains.  The water had to go somewhere, draining down the side of my building.  

MMB:  Was this your first experience with the City of Brownsville?

Daniel Lenz:  Not at all.  When I first started painting an interior room, changing out some ceiling tiles, I heard a knock at the door.  It was a building inspector threatening to shut me down.  He gave me a "Cease and Desist" order, stating that if work continued I would be fined $2,000 per day.  So, rather than fight it, I went to the Permit Department to get a permit.  Jim, it took me 7 days to get a permit, meanwhile I had to pay a crew for doing nothing or find another crew to remodel.  It was a totally frustrating experience.  I spent at least $75,000 bringing the building up to code.  

MMB:  Did that end your problems with the City of Brownsville?

Daniel Lenz:  No, when you bring your building into basic compliance, you now become susceptible to a new package of codes and restrictions.  You now have to follow rules other building owners have never faced that have not remodeled.  I was still threatened with being shut down by the City of Brownsville.  That ended up costing me approximately $25,000 in legal fees. That's money that just kept me in business, but I have nothing tangible to show for it.

MMB:  You seem to be implying that code enforcement is not applied even-handedly by the city?

Daniel Lenz:  Well, yes.  When I purchased my building eleven years ago, I immediately got a fire inspection, health inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy.  A couple of years ago a survey found that over 200 downtown buildings did not even have a Certificate of Occupancy, including the old Edelstein's Furniture store.  I just want the same rules to apply to everyone.  Before I allow a tenant to rent, I insist they get a fire inspection, health inspection and a Certificate of Occupancy. But, I can walk down the block and see other competing businesses with none of this.   

MMB:  Your building experienced a fire in 2010.  The rumor is that you scored pretty big with an insurance settlement.  

Kobbeltvedt Building after the Fire
Channel 4 Photo

Daniel Lenz:  I actually had no insurance.  My insurance on the building had lapsed by a month when the fire occured.  The bank had received notice of the cancellation, but had not notified me. Still, it was something I failed to keep up with.  I went back to the bank and renegotiated an additional $80,000 added to my loan to make the repairs.  With the fire and other upgrades, I've spent at least $200,000 on the building.  In addition to a new roof, the city mandated I increase the windows to their original size.  It made no difference to them that many, many other downtown buildings reduced the size of their windows in the same way.  All I ask is that whatever improvements or changes I'm required to make apply to others, but that's not the case.

When I had the fire, the city called me every day threatening to condemn my building.  Yet, the El Capitan Bar on 11th Street burned and has remained a burnt out shell ever since with no action taken by the city.  The unfairness, the lack of evenhanded enforcement is what frustrates me.

While I was experiencing my issues, I could walk over to the old Lopez Supermarket on 13th and Adams and see water leaking straight through the light fixtures.  It was difficult to understand how much hassle I was receiving from the city after remodeling while an existing business continued to operate under those conditions.  

Meet Alex Dominguez, Candidate for County Commissioner, Precinct 2, At the Ice House Sports Bar & Grill January 16

Yolanda Begum Barbecue Chicken Fundraiser January 25th

Dolores Zarate, Candidate for County Court #3 Addresses Crowd at Cobbleh...

Mayor's Newly Remodeled Downtown Office Morphs into the Brownsville Downtown Revitalization Information Center

The office at 1101-A E. Washington, the object of Mayor Tony Martinez' old property lust for several months, has now evolved into the Brownsville(On the Border, By the Sea) Downtown Revitalization Information Center, BDRIC, for short.

Evidently, after city crews labored night and day for several weeks with as many as four City of Brownsville trucks parked out front, installing a new commercial glass picture window, a unisex bathroom and hanging three different City of Brownsville maps, the mayor has changed his mind.

Two weeks before the new sign went up, when I noticed City Planning Director Ramiro Gonzalez meeting with what I later learned were historic preservation types from out of town, it occurred to me that the mayor might be having second thoughts about using that space as his downtown office. Perhaps, I got a bit of misinformation and utilizing this space for the BDRIC was the plan all along. Maybe.  But, I don't think so.  Please notice the highlighted wording from one of the Public Information Requests sent back by City Secretary Estela Von Hatten:

Mr. Barton:
In response to your public information request, here is the information that I received from our Finance Dept.
I would like to know the cost of the lease, when it started and if it is being paid by the City of Brownsville. Was this an original lease or an assumed lease?
The lease started October 8, 2013 and will terminate October 7, 2014. The cost of the lease is $500 a month.
What is the total cost of refurbishing the property?
The amount of expenditures paid to date is $3,505.91.
Was there a purchase of an interactive television and, if so, how much did it cost?
There is a purchase order issued in the amount of $7,247 for a display system. Please note invoice has not been paid as of today.
Also, who furnished the office and at what cost, if any, to the city?
The mayor furnished the office except for some stackable chairs that the city had available.


First of all, notice that the mayor furnished the office at 1101-A at his expense.  He would not have felt compelled to do that if he was not intending on using that leased space as his downtown office. As for the $7,247 interactive TV display screen not being paid for by the city, that is in response to our Public Information Request asking who paid for it.(Someone reported to me two weeks ago that they saw workmen transporting what appeared to be a very large flat screen from 1101-A E. Washington down 11th Street to a different location.)

In any event, now the three small former bar/restaurants on 11th, across from the BDRIC, are being remodeled for yet another downtown office for Mayor Martinez as well as a Brownsville Police Department mini-station. The sign to the left is posted on a window at one of the three properties at the corner of E. Washington St. and 11th.  Please notice that the property is being remodeled as a "City of Brownsville central Mayor's office."  Does this mean he will have multiple offices in the city, this one being the "central" one?

Of historical interest are the schematic, architectural drawings for the properties dating from 1895 to the present displayed on the windows.

Three adjoining properties on E. 11th being remodeled for mayor's central office and
Brownsville Police Department mini-station

Elvira Ortiz, Wife of Deposed Election Administrator Roger Ortiz, Pops Up As Cameron County District Clerk Candidate

Annoying those around me, I couldn't get the Oak Ridge Boys' tune out of my mind today:

"Elvira, Elvira
My heart's on fire, Elvira
Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow
Giddy up, oom poppa, omm poppa, mow mow, heigh-ho Silver, away"

Yes, I know.  I annoyed myself, too.

But, of course, Elvira S. Ortiz is not the subject of that country foursome's song.  

If Mrs. Ortiz sets anyone's heart on fire, it is the heart of husband Roger Ortiz, the former Cameron County Election Administrator, who, for a decade, looked the other way while Gilberto Hinojosa, Ernie Hernandez, Jr. and the politiqueras ran roughshod over the democratic process in Cameron County elections.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ortiz was serving dutifully under the leadership of the incredibly crooked District Clerk, Aurora de la Garza, the facilitator of much of the corruption leading to the conviction of former Judge Abel Limas. The last two decades Ortiz was Aurora's Chief Deputy, the one Ms. de la Garza herself tried to install as her replacement upon her recent retirement announcement.  

To be fair, two other District Clerk candidates worked in de la Garza's office; Eric Garza and Rosie Sotelo.  The remaining candidate, Neida Ruth Soto-Grantland, is a longtime operative at BISD.  

Anonymous Commenter~"Jim, Don't Just Bitch and Moan! Offer A Solution!" Fixing the Cosmetic Problems At the Airport in 30 Days

Brownsville Street Department "offered this solution"
to three potholes on Pablo Kisel Rd.
 

After our article detailing the rundown nature of the Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport, a commenter felt we were simply complaining while not offering a concrete solution:

"And Jim, in the future, can you offer some solutions to some of these festering problems? It's not enough to just bitch and moan in an eloquent fashion. You're in danger of becoming just another blowhard . Why waste your spirit. Use your writing talents more effectively."

Constructive criticism is like dollar draft.  You just can't get enough. But, in the case of the Brownsville/South Padre International Airport, there is no magic plan needed.  Someone, anyone just has to care that the place looks like shit.  The old adage "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" fits the hundreds who land at Brownsville for the first time expecting a subtropical paradise and find a rundown 60's vintage terminal and the smell of dirty sock syndrome.  As reported this past October, the lobby's main terminal had two recent smoke incidents resulting in a call to the fire department.  The culprit?  A smoldering and defective part in the HVAC.

Leaking, moldy jetways at airport

Walk out to the "passenger bridges" or jetways as purists refer to them and we are reminded of this quote from the October article:   "We actually set out buckets to catch the water. The carpeting gets drenched and retains a musty, mildew odor for several days after a rain," reported an anonymous technician."

Ok, Barton, enough!  You've reported this stuff before. What's the solution?  Well, it's so simple it's mindblowing. Let me illustrate:  If Tony Martinez walks into the restroom of Lola's Bake Shop on Palm Blvd., his place of business, and the soap dispenser doesn't work, how many milliseconds will it be before he barks out orders for an underling to take action?  Or, if the awning out front is leaking buckets during a thunderstorm and customers seeking shelter there are getting drenched, how many stone ages before workmen are replacing or repairing the damn thing?  Why the quick action?  Because he gives a shit about his business, the clientele and the bottom line. For Mayor Tony to reportedly be a frequent customer of the local airport, walking past the daily mess is proof positive he doesn't have the same regard for the City of Brownsville or its facilities.

But, what about Aviation Director Larry Brown?  He's been involved in one position or another in city government for four decades and is part of the furniture at the airport. Exactly!  When you walk past the same thing day after day, smell the same smells, see the same decor, you become acclimated, comfy.  Like Nelson Mandela in the same cell for 28 years, redecorating is not your main concern.

So, here's my goofy plan.  Cancel the next meeting of the Airport Advisory Board, but have all the board members meet with a commercial building inspector in front of the terminal.  Issue each board member a yellow legal pad and a ballpoint pen.  Tour the grounds and facilities, making note of each dead plant, inoperative sprinkler, clogged soap dispenser, dated wall decor and missing air-start unit.

Call the Brownsville Beautification Committee Chairperson.  Ask that they devise a landscaping plan that will make first time visitors feel they've landed in a subtropical paradise, not a dusty oil field in West Texas.  Fix the damn HVAC system and fix it correctly.  Fix the leaky jetways.  Order a damn air-start unit, yes, a new one!  Find out which city S. Iowa Avenue is in and have them pave the damn thing post-haste.

I don't want to hear about money.  It won't even be that much anyway.  We're not talking about extending the runway to 12,000 feet as should have been two decades ago.  If Tony can find $3,500,000 to buy old downtown buildings the city hasn't even used or has stated plans for, he can find the money to bring our "international" airport into at least the twentieth, if not twenty-first century.

Scattered Thoughts~The 124 States of the United States That Could Have Been and Unpublished Comments from E.F. Mohammed Martinez

From the editor:  In 2011,  Andrew Shears created this interesting map that shows 124 states that could have existed in America if various failed partition proposals throughout history had succeeded. Visit Shears’ website to read more about how he created the map, and to see a larger version of the full map of the United States that could have been.

Below the map will be several as-yet-unpublished comments to this blog from E.F. Mohammed Martinez, a person representing himself as a former Cameron County resident now residing in California.  The comments, while somewhat off the topic of the articles to which they were submitted, represent considerable effort on the part of the commenter.(It's not unusual for former residents to want to participate in the local discussion.)

Mr. Martinez's comments are reminiscent of the writings a Tony Alamo, a religious leader who had a following in the 70's near Fort Smith, Arkansas and published materials warning about the dangers of the Catholic Church.  His followers made hand-made, decorative denim jackets that sold for large sums back in that era.  

Martinez, described by some as related to a former Brownsville mayor, writes with some passion, even anger, in communicating his issues.  While publishing these comments may not relate to any particular blog article, they represent considerable effort by the commenter and may be of some interest to readers.  

TsKKK! TsKKK! TsKKK! The problem with most of these COWARDLY "Anonymous" types here is that they can NEVER attain my literary and academic achievements, even if their own carcASS depended on it! They are are just envious as inept and incompetent buffoons! 

My question to these backwoods "Anonymous" types of ILLITERATE KKKlowns is..., can YA'LL do better than I? Can any of YA'LL forum Maggots take me on an INTELLECTUAL level, one on one instead of demonstrating your laughable temper tantrums hea, eh boys, hmmmmmm....?! 

All I see here on most of these links are just uneducated low class moronic chicKKKen scratch nonsense with absolutely incoherent childish ramblings with no substance! Nice try boys, but no cigar..., unless you're smoking it from where tha light don't shine hea YA'LL! Helloooo....?! I can take YA'LL KKKlowns down on an INTELLECTUAL level, but I can also parry at YA'LL'S Green Acres country bumpkin low life level mindset as well! YOU just throw me the "best" what YA'LL got boys! 
BRING IT ON PEA BRAINS!

(Deep Southern Texas Drawl) 
"THA SOUTH SHALL RISE AGAIN YA'LL! ...SOUTH OF THA BORDER THAT IS!"

Yeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaa! YA'LL come back now! ...Ya hea?!

Bring me the next Texas village idiots hea!
LMAOFF!

(For those who don't know about what YOU TUBE poetry was previously mentioned here by one of my adversaries, the following is one of my many revolutionary poems that has been published and viewed throughout Aztlan (California to Texas) and beyond:)

I AM THE ONE YOU LOVE TO HATE THE MOST
By E. F. Mohammed Martinez

I am the one you love to hate the most after you invaded and stole my land!
I am the one you love to hate the most because of my skin color and AZTEC WARRIOR indigenous roots! 
I am the one you love to hate the most because I speak more than two languages …, you only speak one!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am educated and I know how to fight APARTHEID XENOPHOBE RACISTS like you!
I am the one you love to hate the most because the Brown Sleeping Giant Tsunami tidal wave is fiercely approaching you on the horizon!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I do your menial jobs you are too lazy to do yourselves!
I am the one you love to hate the most because my RAZA sells oranges on America's off ramp freeways while your white shiftless vagrant people are too proud to work as they shamelessly beg for chump change and handouts!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I go fight your stupid imperialist wars and die on foreign lands in the name of American CAPITALISM, IMPERIALISM and GENOCIDE!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I VOTE for those who look like me and other oppressed people of color! 
I am the one you love to hate the most because I have the overwhelming numbers…, you do not anymore!
I am the one you love to hate the most because you can no longer reproduce not even among yourselves!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am a successful business owner circulating my green dollars within OUR own communities of color!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I no longer believe in your evil scheme to DIVIDE and CONQUER oppressed Blacks and Raza!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am no longer "assimilating" into your MANIFEST DESTINY "Ugly American Nightmare"!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am aware of AMERICA'S XENOPHOBIC RACIST HIS-story of GLOBAL CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I defend immigrants' rights against white America's hatemongering racist attacks! 
I am the one you love to hate the most because I say; America! YA BASTA! (America! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!)
I am the one you love to hate the most because AMERICAN PATRIOTISM IS THE LAST HOME OF ALL XENOPHOBE RACIST COWARDS!
I am the one you love to hate the most because you live in fear as LA RAZA is ready to fight for a FREE AZTLAN on the streets of America…, if need be! 
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am the new Brown "Occupied Palestinian" in America!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am a proud Mexican, Chicano, Caribbean, Central and South American…, and I even look just like YOU too!
I am the one you love to hate the most because I am just as American as your immigrant white forefathers!
Yes white racist America, be afraid …, very afraid!
Because I am the one you love to hate the most!

Jim Barton, I that my adversaries here have probably brought it to your immediate attention about me, huh? However, as it may be, you are so right, but with these rightwing Neanderthals here, these no name COWARDS do tend to like dishing out their insults and put downs which don't bother me in the least bit, but it does not surprises me that when I throw their same own excrement in return, "they" wind up crying on someone's shoulder to do "something about that boy!" (Me!) 

Jim, I just treat "them" as they treat me, tit for tat..., as simple as that. Some of these "people", but not all of course, are used to roam with impunity to bully others here, but I am not one to be bullied! Now, if they were to rein in their bigotry, put downs and insults towards me and keep it to themselves, then "they" would NOT have to contend with me on an equal par either. Don't you think this is a fair assessment? ...And thank you for bringing your concern to my attention. 
Thank you once again.

E.F. Mohammed Martinez - A Voice of Reason 

I have no problem 

It ALWAYS feels good to be here in the Belly of the Beast enemy camp to do cyber combat! I hope that after I kick YA'LL yokel's nalgas, all the while my adversaries will result in scurrying like whipped dogs to SNITCH on me "how that Mexican kicked your nalgas galore", all the while sobbing and whimpering with your tails between YA'LL'S hind legs; "Boo Hoo Hoo! Sniff! Sniff! Wauuuugh! Wauuuuuugh!"

It's obvious that YA'LL right wingers members of the RepublicsKKKumbag Party will attack the nationally much respected state legislator, Ms. Wendy Davis, because she stood to YA'LL Neanderthal fascists, especially against the # 1 fascist, Governor Perry himself! ..And she did a very good job at that too! She kicked butt galore!

I know that my days are numbered here, but as long as I can fight bigots of your ilk here. I will stand my ground against those naysayers who seek OUR demise as RAZA to the last consequences! This is what I live for! YA'LL can consider me without question as your own front, center and in your face..., personal Chicano literary JIHADIST! Hellooooo...?!
LMAOFF!

Hmmmm...., let me see if I can bypass the CENSORS for the second time here, but I realize that I am the ONLY one who is right in the middle of the Belly of the Beast enemy camp here! For four decades I have dedicated my life fighting American fascism such as your ilk without abatement! I have no qualms in taking on OUR racist right wing enemies, because this is what I have ALWAYS focused on as a print/radio journalist/writer all these years!

No, I DO NOT hate ALL white people! What I deplore with my body and soul are ignorant bigots like yourselves here and of other colors as well and without apologies to no one! ...And as long as there are knuckle walking Neanderthals like yourselves..., I will ALWAYS be doing INTELLECTUAL combat on the front lines whether here or anywhere I can find your kind! So please YA'LL David Duke adherents..., BRING IT ON! Now YA'LL can go shed your tears to the webmaster hea that this Mexican hoit yer itty bitty little bigoted feelings! Ok?! 

Wendy Davis For Governor! 

"DEFEAT OUR ENEMIES WITHOUT MERCY..., AND LEAVE NOTHING FOR THE VULTURES TO FEAST ON!"

E.F. Mohammed Martinez - An Anti-Fascist Freedom Fighter!

P.S. 
Jim Barton, I'm just replying on equal par to the two above no name adversaries whom I see they are NOT being reprimanded either. Thank you. . 

Hey no name "Anonymous" in the closet! You and your kind of right wingers will ALWAYS continue to live as cave dwellers who refuse to see the rality of things that are overwhelming YA'LL, i.e., THE BROWNING OF AMERICA! 

Anonymous January 1, 2014 at 9:43 AM Said:

"Where did I leave that "Back to the '60's spray"?"
________________________________________ 

My Reply: 
Yep! NOSOTROS are already part of La Reconqusita de Aztlan, and the beauty of it all is that WE do not have to fire one single shot in anger and there is absolutely NOTHING to stop your INEVITABLE miserable fate that awaits YA'LL Euro-Americans! 

E.F. Mohammed Martinez - An Anti-Fascist Freedom Fighter 

Mayor Martinez Fiddles While the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport Deteriorates Into Oblivion

Mayor Tony Martinez

Mayor Tony Martinez is not unaware of the shambles known as the Brownsville/South Padre Island "International" Airport.  His personal vehicle has been observed in long term parking spaces for both American Eagle and United Airlines flights, which means he likely drove down S. Iowa Avenue, dodging multitudinous pot holes, but hitting some, before turning left at Billy Mitchell Blvd. into airport terminal parking.

A potty break would have necessitated a visit to the men's room where 80% of the soap dispensers remain inoperative.

Wet/Dry Vac at North Bridge
(Picture sent by a friend
flying United this past Sunday)

On rainy days the mayor has walked from the terminal across "people bridges" which provide American Eagle aircraft and the North Bridge, which takes them to United Airlines flights, have fallen into extreme disrepair.  Cans are strategically positioned to collect raindrops flowing through holes in the tarp awning while wet/dry vacs are used to suck up the excess moisture between flights.  Both the South and North Bridges need periodic attention from a wet/dry vacuum to suck water from the rubberized surface whenever it rains at the airport.

"Jim, this place is rundown, embarrassingly so. What we call the "people bridges," leading out from the terminal to board the plane leak profusely during a rain.  The south bridge used by American Eagle is the worst, but the north bridge used by United Express is almost as bad.  We actually set out buckets to catch the water. The carpeting gets drenched and retains a musty, mildew odor for several days after a rain," reported an anonymous technician.

While a 21 year old joining management at the entry level could easily identify significant problems needing immediate attention at the airport, the mayor and Aviation Director Larry Brown seem totally oblivious.  Passenger safety issues make the repair of these passenger bridges extremely high priority.

Typical Air-Start Unit Available at Most Airports

Perhaps even more serious is the fact that the airport currently does not have a functioning air-start unit available to restart aircraft. While the old unit was broken several months ago, the airport occasionally borrows an antiquated 60's vintage starter from Hunt Pan Am.  Airport technicians have not been trained in the use of this older, worn unit and are unsure of its relative safety.  When this unit has been unavailable, flights have been cancelled or delayed.

Even though incoming flights are typically notified that the Brownsville airport has no operative air-start unit available, pilots sometimes ignore this warning as it necessitates keeping the aircraft running, wasting fuel during Brownsville layovers.

Why District Attorney Luis Saenz Initiated the 8-Liner Crackdown~Blame It On the Bishop!

Bishop Daniel Flores

Former two-time Mayor, Patricio Ahumada, saw it as the proverbial "sure thing," operating an 8-liner at the former Waffle House location along the Interstate 77 access road at Price Rd.

The 68 year old politico knew better than to jump into a "gray area" business enterprise without the so-called due diligence, checking first with local law enforcement, as in his consultation with former Brownsville Police Chief Carlos Garcia about enforcement regarding such operations.

Pat Ahumada, May 3, 2013

So, it did come as somewhat of a surprise when Goldmine 777, Ahumada's operation at 854 N. Expressway 77/83 was raided by law enforcement officials on May 3, 2013. Ahumada, like other 8-liners offered "winners" certificates for necessities at H.E.B. and other local businesses.  If cash was illegally offered, it was certainly done, as it is told, without the owner's knowledge or permission.

District Attorney Luis Saenz, in a 2013 Year-End Report inserted into Sunday's Brownsville Herald, has made crystal clear his desire to abolish 8-liner operations in Cameron County.  Until now, we may have misinterpreted Saenz' motivation for closing down these edge-of-the-law gaming operations.

Juan Montoya, publisher of the El Rrun Rrun blog, assuming the role of a de facto Public Information Officer for the Cameron County District Attorney's Office, revealed today what motivated District Attorney Luis Saenz to go after Cameron County 8-liner operations:

"Saenz said that Operation Bishop was named after new Brownsville Catholic Diocese Bishop Daniel E. Flores since the clergyman complained about the establishments because he felt that they were diminishing the amount of money made in local parish bingo halls and church collection plates."

Montoya continues on his blog, quoting District Attorney Saenz:

"It got to me second hand that the bishop had visited our county judge (Carlos Cascos) and had implored on him to do something because his collections had fallen down on Sundays and that's understandable," he laughed. "So when it came around to pick a name for the operation, we said, well, why not Operation Bishop? It was a catchy name and it just stuck. I am very proud of that...we started in April and within a matter of four or five months we had shut down the vast majority of them. I'm very proud to say that we were able to do in a matter of months what other administrations hadn't been able to do in years."

District Attorney Luis Saenz

So, the bitter reality is that Saenz motivation was not based primarily on legality, morality or even the monies lost by the poor and elderly who frequent 8-liner establishments.  He was responding to a request made by an official of the hugely affluent, but still money hungry Catholic Church.  He even named the operation after the official title of the papal officer making the request, Bishop Daniel Flores.  Yes, Operation Bishop! Flores and Saenz were concerned about loss of revenue by the Catholic Church!

Interestingly, Time Magazine names Pope Francis "Person of the Year," perhaps rightfully, and, in the same year, District Attorney Luis Saenz names a law enforcement operation "Operation Bishop," in honor of Brownsville Bishop Daniel Flores.  

Abbott Campaign Desperate for My Five Bucks

Actions

Wayne Hamilton (info@gregabbott.com)

Schedule cleanup

4:00 PM

To: rvpark645@hotmail.com

Jim, I wanted to make sure you saw this message. The campaign's end-of-the-year fundraising deadline is only a few days away. Can you contribute $5 today? With your contribution, you will be entered for a chance to have lunch with the next First Lady of Texas! Sincerely, Wayne Hamilton, Campaign Manager Texans for Greg Abbott