FAA Gives SpaceX Final Environmental Approval for Boca Chica

Did the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation Hold an Illegal Executive Session?

"The Boxer"

by Paul Simon

"I have squandered my resistance

For a pocketful of mumbles,

Such are promises

All lies and jest

Still, a man hears what he wants to hear

And disregards the rest."

Nine Entities Asking for a Total of $528,100
from the BCIC

Hilario De Leon of the Brownsville Beautiful Project asked for $15,180 to buy more "shovels and rakes."   

Felipe Pena asked for $67,200 to create an outdoor gardening area for kids.

Does "Belden Connect" have a familiar ring?  Well, the City Commission just approved a $400,000 project to narrow E. 6th Street and connect the Belden and Battlefield Bike Trails.  You may also want to add $208,000 for Belden Connect, a landscaping project adjacent to E. 6th.  

Newly hired Planning Director Mike Warrix asked for $68,000 to create a master plan called The Mitte Cultural District Master Plan Project.  He promised "public input," something totally foreign to Brownsville planning in recent years.  

Even the Brownsville landfill, represented by Public Works, got into the act.  They want to turn the Old Scale House into a tourist and bird observation room. The landfill chose a pretentious name for the project~Tourist Centre Project(Notice the English spelling).  They want $17,600 for that project.

Anyway, we sat through two hours of this meeting, waiting for consideration of Agenda Item 8:  "Discussion and possible Action to hire employee for vacant executive director position."

Upon reaching that agenda point, the meeting went into a spontaneous "Executive Session" not listed on the agenda as required by the Public Information Act.  I overheard someone say that the new director position "would not be considered today."  Ramiro Gonzalez and the 4 other unnamed candidates for the position filed out of the room.  

City Attorney Mark Sossi was present when this occurred.  

Since the Attorney General's Office was closed, I emailed a legal expert who referred me to certain pages in the AG's Texas Open Meetings Act Made Easy. Here is a quote form Page 23 of that document:  

"The rules for posting closed meeting items are the same as the general rules for posting issues
that will be considered in an open meeting.  146 Most local governments indicate on the posting
that the governmental body may be going into executive session on a particular topic and the
statutory section that allows such an item to be considered in a closed meeting. However, the
Act does not require the notice to state which items will be discussed in a closed meeting.
Should a governing body consistently distinguish between subjects for public deliberation and
subjects for executive session, an abrupt departure from this practice could render the notice
inadequate.  14"

As mentioned above, the rules for posting closed meeting items are the same as the 

rules for posting items that will be considered in open session.149 The Open Meetings Act 

requires only that the posted notice give reasonable notice of the subjects that will be discussed.

 

Also, this point:

"There is no requirement that the local entity indicate whether an item will be handled in open or 

closed session."

So, it may be, that even though Agenda Item 8 was listed as if it would be discussed in open meeting, the plan was to go into Executive Session.  No Brownsville board has ever done this.  They've always distinguished between agenda items in the open meeting and executive session items.  For this one action, the BCIC seems to have gone contrary to established procedure.  

Another observation on the Texas Open Meetings Act and the BCIC Board.  The legitimately "open" aspect of this board's meetings is the gracious sharing of agenda items by Administrative Assistant Vanessa Villarreal.  

As for the meeting itself, it simply is inaudible for observers and therefore not open in any real sense.  I know public speaking skills have taken a hit in recent decades.  No one on this board enunciates, articulates, projects their voice beyond a mumble, audible at table level.  This is likely intentional.  Of course, visitors next to us are on their smart phones, uninterested, but, for Nena and I, we can only shrug our shoulders and try to look at the agenda and attempt to read lips.  At least former Director Rachel Flores could be heard.

Stillman Ranch House Gets Historical Footings in Mitte Cultural District on Monday

Workmen were busy Monday pouring concrete over the tied rebar installed to create footings for the Stillman Ranch House located in the Mitte Cultural District.

A concrete truck was parked just off the grass inside the parking area. Workers were using a rented, motorized wheel barrel to empty the concrete one wheel barrel load at a time.

"Well, you have the easiest job here,"  I shouted to the concrete truck driver.

"Yeah, they didn't want to let me pull up on the grass,"  he replied.

After "Gowengate," Rose Moves to Control Directorship of Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation

Rose Gowen, Brownsville's "Bully"
City Commissioner

Many in Brownsville were not surprised at all with "Gowengate," the release of numerous emails showing Rose Gowen's "bitchy" and controlling attitude with constituents and peers. Perhaps, they've already been victims of her sharp tongue and boorish behavior as City Commissioner.

Motivating Gowen is her compulsion to establish a legacy.  She is driven to create an illusion of a healthy community, with a fake organic farmer's market, a network of bike trails not actually used by the community at large and plaudits from those who sell community awards and plaques.

The average lifespan of a Brownsville resident is not affected by any of this, as it's all superficial, a facade.  

Gowen's sugar daddy for creating her legacy as Brownsville's health guru is the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, the caretakers of 1/4 cent for every dollar spent in Brownsville, to be used for "quality of life" projects.  The one year take is $4,200,000.  

Problematic for Gowen is that the BCIC bylaws call for a Director.  She can't just dip into the funds for her pet, namesake projects.  This obstacle has forced Gowen to run off two directors, Delina Barrera and Rachel Flores, because neither jumped when Gowen snapped her middle-aged fingers.  Gowen's heavy hand on the BCIC was addressed by one city insider:  "If you thought Charlie Atkinson was a pain in the ass, Gowen is worse."

Ramiro Gonzalez, Gowen's New
Hey Boy

At today's (7/8/2014)BCIC Board Meeting, Gowen will get another chance to orchestrate the naming of a director more compliant, subservient and suck up. Gowen has her hey boy already lined up, Ramiro Gonzalez from planning. 

At last month's BCIC meeting, Gowen suggested the naming of a 3 person hiring committee to find a new director, then proceeded to offer her services on the committee as "one who knew the history of the BCIC."  

City Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez asked to be added to the committee.  Eventually, Mary Elizabeth Hollmann was added as the third member.

The agenda for the 4:30 PM meeting on the 4th floor of the City Commission building calls for "Discussion and possible action to hire employee for vacant director position."  The selection committee is poised to pick a director from 5 potential candidates.(An agreement with Manpower evidently expired.)

Who will be selected?  Considering this board is dominated by Gowen, Ed McMahon of the legendary Tonight Show with Johnny Carson could make this call:  

"Here'sssssssss Ramirooooooooo!"

How Carlos Marin Leeches Brownsville's $8.4 Million Annual 4A, 4B Funds

From the editor: In 1992 the City of Brownsville decided to take advantage of a 1989 Texas law allowing the establishment a 4A entity to receive 1/2 cent of the 8-1/4 cent sales tax collected to use for economic development. The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, the beneficiary of such monies, has, according to their website, spent $49,000,000 from that taxpayer fund, $12,000,000 on "operating expenditures" and $37,000,000 on "project expenditures."

In 2002 Brownsville decided to split the 4A funds into a 4A and 4B, with a 4B entity getting 1/4 cent from each taxable dollar for "quality of life" projects. Since that time the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation declares $10,300,000 spent on such projects.

Vetting and recommending projects for the GBIC is its symbiotic sister board, the Brownsville Economic Development Corporation. The GBIC actually holds its meetings in the BEDC Board Room and BEDC Director Jason Hilts is the most vocal, active participant in those meetings.

Carlos Marin, Ambiotec Engineering, United
Brownsville Coordinating Board.  Marin has
inordinate control of both the 4A and 4B Boards,
sucking taxpayer dollars from the nation's
poorest city.

Carlos Marin, Brownsville's adroit little shyster, overrides the built-in protections within the Brownsville Economic Development Council and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation by controlling both boards.

In theory, the BEDC qualifies programs, vetting companies, while the GBIC gives final approval to the so-called economic development projects, writing the checks.

In reality, Carlos Marin, who happens also to be a BEDC board member, initiates projects, studies at BEDC that are merely rubber stamped at GBIC, without discussion.  Any project initiated by Marin, whether it be the V.I.D.A. scam, where he serves as board member, or the recent hiring of Jacobs Engineering to "implement"  the $454,000 Brownsville Strategic Infrastructure and Land Management Plan, passes through GBIC without a word of discussion.

Only two items were on the agenda at last month's GBIC Board Meeting:  

V.I.D.A.

Jacobs' Engineering

The monthy $25,000 stipend to V.I.D.A., a Carlos Marin-controlled non-profit, was approved without a whimper.

Next came the bid of $180,000 by Jacobs' Engineering to "implement" Needham, McCaffrey & Associates' $454,000 infrastructure plan for the industrial corridor and the Port of Brownsville.  Not only is Robin McCaffrey, who authored the infrastructure plan a crony of Carlos Marin, he participated in the production of the Imagine Brownsville Comprehensive Plan, for which the city paid a whopping $900,000 and never implemented.

Oscar Garcia, Jr., employed by Carlos
Marin, named "Project Manager" to
implement industrial corridor and Port
of Brownsville Plan

Phase 1 of the implementation plan passed the GBIC without one word of discussion among the board members.  Jason Hilts introduced Oscar Garcia, Jr. as the new "Project Manager" for the plan.  Incredibly, Garcia is an employee of Carlos Marin.

Actually, the plan the GBIC paid half a million for and another $180,000 to "implement" is nothing more than a regurgitation of studies done by the U.S. Corp of Engineeers.  As El Rrun Rrun blog noted recently"

"The main recommendation for the port in the management plan is that the channel be dredged and deepened to its authorized 42-foot depth. The study also recommends that a turning basin be enlarged to accommodate cargo ships turning without having to hinder other ships from coming into the channel.

Well, wouldn't you know that the United States Army Corps of Engineers had been studying the issue for the past seven years and that the government and the port had spent $9 million to put together the “Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment.”

In other words Brownsville and Cameron County is paying big bucks for information and implementation already available.  That's what scams do.

Carlos Marin's stranglehold on local tax dollars is not limited to his incestuous participation and molestation of the GBIC and BEDC, he also has a representative at the BCIC, the dispenser of funds for "quality of life" projects.  

Commissioner Rose Gowen
Controls Fund Dispersal at BCIC

City Commissioner Rose Gowen, who rules the BCIC with an iron fist, like Oscar Garcia, is also an employee of Carlos Marin.  Carlos Marin, along with current Mayor Tony Martinez, were instrumental in Gowen's first election as City Commissioner At Large B.  With that influence, Marin has his unscrupulous tentacles in both boards dispensing 4A and 4B funds.  As one local attorney told me:  "Carlos has succeeded in infiltrating every major revenue source."

Brownsville's "City Commissioner Dearest"

Caricature by Nena Barton

The Wit & Wisdom of Rose Gowen~Snarky Retorts to Taxpayers from Our Royal Highness, the Commissioner

Gowen signs her email letter to taxpayers:
"Ugh!, Rose"  Why does she find communication
with ordinary people so disdainful?

Our July 3 article displaying email communication concerning the $400,000 E. 6th Street project received numerous responses, many concerned with the disrespectful, actually "bitchy" attitude of our City Commissioner At Large B, Rose Gowen, in communicating with a number of solid, longtime citizens and business owners of Brownsville.  

Gowen was inexplicably surly, condescending and churlish in her word choice to constituents who did not agree with her that the project to narrow E. 6th Street from three lanes to two was a good idea.

Our readers who've commented so far have described Gowen's attitude as "arrogant," "rude," "drunk with power," and "ugly."

Since we so rarely get opportunities like this, to see how elected officials really feel about themselves and their constituents it might be constructive to examine some of Gowen's words in the context they were written.

Did you notice the closing used by Gowen in her letter to solicit support for her project?  She simple says:  "Ugh,  Rose."  In the sentence just before the closing Gowen says:
"Alot(sic) of things I do are hard. . . . . I am not complaining. . . . . . But seriously, this project has made it to the top 3 hardest since elected.   Ugh, Rose."

"Ugh" is not a word generally used to close a letter.  "Sincerely" or "thanks" are more common.  

Ugh implies "disgust or horror" according to Merriam Webster, or "to show you are annoyed."  Why would enlisting support or building consensus for a project be so distasteful, disgusting or horrifying?  Is it because Commissioner Gowen is so accustomed to getting her way without questioning or alternate viewpoints?  Is that why this project was among the "top 3 hardest" for her?  Democracy is an unwieldy, chaotic form of government.  Being a tyrant or dictator is easy.

Gowen's response to a letter from Jaime Parra is also revealing.  Parra respectfully says he does not think the 6th Street project is a good idea.  He says nothing about voting or not voting for Gowen the next time around.  Notice Gowen's response:
"You can vote for whomever you want next time......but you know who I came from and if you have any remaining respect for my father I would ask that you give me the respect of listening to what I have to say."

What the hell?  How does Gowen's father, a former football coach at St. Joseph's factor in?  What about respect for the constituent who Gowen is allegedly working for in city government?  What about actually listening to a citizen once in your storybook life? Gowen betrays not only a thin skin, not open to second guessing by anyone, but, as a commenter implied, some serious "father issues."  Gowen's response here is just beyond strange.

Interestingly, this particular response was signed Rose M Zavaletta Gowen, MD, City Commissioner at Large "B", whereas other comments were simply signed "Rose."

Here's another interesting word choice by Gowen in describing public concerns about the 6th Street project:

"There is much hype being built around this 2 block stretch of a single road in the city and I encourage everyone to actually hear the presentation and data this evening." 

Here Gowen simply uses the wrong word.  Hype is defined as:  "to promote or publicize (a product or idea) intensively, often exaggerating its importance or benefits."

In this situation it is actually the city, not the citizens who are hyping the project.  As we demonstrated in our July 3 article, it is their claims about the minimal affect of closing one lane of traffic on a main city artery that are not factual.

She also states the project affects only "a two block area of a single road in the city," an obvious attempt to downplay the concerns over traffic flow.  What she neglects to say is that E. 6th Street is one of two main arteries linking heavy trucks to the warehouses on E. St. Francis and E. Fronton.  

This small sampling of responses to constituents is very revealing with respect to Commissioner Gowen's approach to city government and her view of those she professes to serve.  Her skill set does not include humility or consensus building.  One of our commenters described Gowen's bimonthly performance at City Commission meetings as "quiet."  We now have a clearer picture of the real Rose Gowen.

Face of Brownsville Planning Department During Parking Meter Issues Rumored to Be Resigning

Former Interim Planner Ramiro Gonzalez

We've been trying to track down an unconfirmed rumor that Planner Ramiro Gonzalez may be leaving the City of Brownsville Planning Department to take a job as Director of the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.  The BCIC, closely supervised by City Commissioner Rose Gowen, controls $4,200,000 of taxpayer dollars to be spent on so-called "quality of life" projects throughout the city.  

So far the largest expenditures have been for the Brownsville Sports Park, just across the Interstate from Olmito, Texas and the Belden Hike & Bike Trail.  

We emailed current BCIC Director Rachel Flores, but she has not responded.  Our tipster claimed Ms. Flores was accepting a position with the City of South Padre Island.

John Warrix from Atlanta, Georgia recently accepted the job as Planning Director for the City of Brownsville, his tenure beginning June 2, 2014.  

Rose Gowen Pulls Out All the Political Stops to Ram Through Unnecessary, Impractical 6th Street Project~The Citizens Are Not Pleased!

Commissioner Gowen Bullies City
Into Unnecessary Project

Brownsville's economy took another direct hit Tuesday night when Rose Gowen pushed one of her pet projects down Brownsville's throat, the reduction of heavily traveled E. 6th Street from 3 lanes to 2 with the left lane forced to turn at Madison Street.

As one downtown businessman tried to explain: Brownsville has two main arteries connecting the Interstate with the city's warehouse, shipping and transportation hub on E. St. Francis and E. Fronton, E. 12th and E. 6th.   Of those two arteries, E. 6th has the better flow, with much of E. 12th having stop signs at each cross street.  

"Our shipping warehouse area currently employs 500 people.  If E. 6th Street becomes impassable, the alternative is to go completely around town, using Central Blvd, turning left at W. Elizabeth, then right at Palm Blvd.  Large tractors with 53 foot trailers cannot make the turn at W. Elizabeth and Palm Blvd," he stated.

For the Public Meeting on the action item, Gowen had lined up members of the Brownsville Bike Brigade and, even a student from Cummings Middle School, to talk about their love of biking and the difficulty or riding a bicycle along E. 6th Street.

City Engineer Doroteo Garcia

City Engineer Doroteo Garcia and Traffic Director Robert Esparza shot down every logical questioning of the practicality of project, acting like "paid expert witnesses" for Gowen and the city.  Esparza even used bogus traffic figures in an attempt to demonstrate that E. 6th Street would function "just fine" during Charro Days and Sombrero Fest. 

Despite concerns by Commissioners Tetreau and Portillo that the city had more critical needs than this project, certainly sidewalks in Southmost, for example.(If Gowen has her way, Southmost will get a bike trail BEFORE complete sidewalks, such is her actual concern for the real needs of citizens.)

I apologize to Commissioner Ricardo Longoria for reporting that he voted FOR the project.  That is incorrect.  The vote was 4-2 in favor of the project with Commissioners Tetreau and Longoria voting "no."

Prior to the City Commission meeting, Gowen sent an email enlisting wholehearted support for the project to Carlos Marin, Oscar D. Garcia, Anne Whitko and Jude Benevides.

Eventually, the email was forwarded to a slew of onlookers we will call The Peanut Gallery: Terry Ray; Jack Penn; Oscar Garcia; Carlos Barrera; Nacho Garza; Will Hardee; Robert Guerra, Jr.; DAvid Garza; Jim Perrin; Joe Correa; Tony Flores; Stephen; Harry McNair; Thomas; Trudy; Eduardo Rodriguez; Al Roberts; David Garza

Here is Gowen's letter with a few points highlighted:



Hello friends,
I need your support for the 6th street project. I know you speak to a wide variety of people everyday so in case the topic comes up or you have an opportunity arise that lends itself to the topic....please support this project.

In a nutshell.....our goal is to connect Belden Trail to Linear Park and to do that we have to cross at Harrison or somewhere along the ugly brown fence of the zoo on 6th street to get to the trail on Linear Park. Our other goal is to improve walkability ANYWHERE and EVERYWHERE we can.

Originally between Ringold and Madison we proposed removing the far lane adjacent to the zoo to put in a 6ft sidewalk and a green buffer between the sidewalk and the fence in which to plant vines, etc to "green" the fence. We also proposed a protected bikelane and traffic bumpouts at Ringold and Harrison to make pedestrian crossings safer and more accomodating.
NOTHING CHANGES between the freeway and Ringold. NOTHING CHANGES from Madison towards Fronton because there it is already 2 lanes.
This was unacceptable to Mitte ( namely Reba) because it was not logical to put a bike lane next to Linear Park.

The project now (accepted by Mitte) is still between Ringold and Madison and still has the traffic bumpouts at Ringold and Harrison. It no longer has a bike lane....instead it has a 4-6 ft buffer or island between the street and the sidewalk where we can plant trees for shade and bushes, etc. The drawings are lovely and it really will change the look and feel of 6th street into a "people place" garden like feel that accomodates crossing to LInear Park easily.

IMPORTANT: Traffic studies easily support this. #s are far below threshold for the road and they have been filming and counting for a while now....months. Fact is that most cars coming down there from the fwy in the morning either turn right or left at Ringold and far fewer go straight. But even if they all went straight.....the numbers are clearly way way lower than a 2 lane road can comfortably accomodate.

Again, I need this to pass because without an enhancement we literally will have to build a bridge over the zoo to connect to Belden. Final point is that this sidewalk and curb is $150K from TxDot that we lose if we don't use it by end of August and we have been trying to get this on the agenda for several months.

Alot of things I do are hard.....I am not complaining.....but seriously, this project has made it to the top 3 hardest since elected.

Ugh,
Rose

Many solid citizens were not pleased with the heavy handedness of the projects implementation and, as is typical of Brownsville city government, zero citizen input sought.

From Reynoldo Garza, Jr.

I LIKE 6th STREET THE WAY IT IS AND I GO INTO TOWN 250 + TIMES A YEAR TO WORK FOR OVER 30 YEARS. MANY TIMES WE NEED THE 3 LANES. IF THE CITY WANTS TO SPRUCE UP 6th STREET WHY NOT START WITH THE OLD CRAPPY WAREHOUSE PROPERTY ON 6th & RINGGOLD, PROPERTY OWNED BY THE CITY!!!! SOME TRAFFIC TURNS OFF 6th ONTO RINGGOLD BUT A HELLUVA A LOT OF TRAFFIC STAYS ON TO HARRISON (THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS), I WANT TO KEEP THE 3 LANES AND AM ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO ELIMINATING A LANE.

NOTE: I TYPE IN ALL CAPS. A HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS YEARS AGO, AND NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING AT YOU.
Reynaldo G. Garza, Jr.

From Jaime Parra:

One also has to consider the traffic during downtown special events. Especially Charro Day’s along with Sombrero Fiest. Just during these two events Brownsville Traffic Department along with Brownsville Police Department has to pull TRIPLE duty at times in order for traffic to move steadily. And in all honesty I believe that Brownsville has spent enough on the subject of Bike Routes and Parks. There is no long term revenue for the city or none whatsoever. The city should consider other sources in order to create a more sustainable income. Take the Sports Park for example, I am not sure of this information but from what I understand it takes more than $6,000,000 PER YEAR to maintain the property. Please correct me if I am wrong, but if not how does the Sports Park contribute to the city, financially and by how much?

I agree with Rey Garza. I have been working downtown my entire life and IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE to renovate 6th street in the manner you wish to do so.



Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

Another comment from Marshall Ray:

I think it’s also important to keep in mind that, when the West Rail bridge is opened ( hopefully soon! ), 6th and 7th streets should be extended all the way to the Amigoland Mall area which will significantly increase the traffic load on the 6th and 7th streets corridor over time. I’m all for beautifying Brownsville, but I’m not sold on this project. This is the major transportation artery into the downtown and Amigoland area and shouldn’t be narrowed, especially when you consider the future transportation needs of the area.

Sorry Rose, I just don’t think this project is a good idea.

Marshall

Next, Rose Gowen offers to answer some of the "concerns:"

Gentleman,
Regardless of this item's outcome, I would be happy to speak to you about risks and realities that are here with us today. You can vote for whomever you want next time......but you know who I came from and if you have any remaining respect for my father I would ask that you give me the respect of listening to what I have to say.
He taught me many things and one was to love my home and never lose faith in it. Another was to never stop learning and searching for what is best, to listen and learn from science, and that what was right would surface.
I cannot meet with you before tomorrow, time is too short for my patients who have held appointments for weeks......but I would be happy to meet with you next week ....perhaps Wed morning if your schedules permit.
Best,
Rose

Rose M Zavaletta Gowen, MD
City Commissioner at Large "B"

Another comment from Gowen:

Thank you for responding to my email Eduardo. Safety is a significant concern among many others. There is much hype being built around this 2 block stretch of a single road in the city and I encourage everyone to actually hear the presentation and data this evening. You are also correct in that now is the time to work together towards a Brownsville that is vibrant and modern and where other people's best and brightest as well as our own want to live and raise families.....as well as a place where we can all age comfortably taking a walk thru the Mitte district and others with a grandchild or child without insecure corners and intersections. A place that is filled with healthy children and families .....healthy not solely because they have a job but also because they live active lives. That place is truely priceless!

I respect your opinions and strong feelings....this is the USA and we all have a right to our opinions. Whereas we may not agree on all issues, I look forward to working with any and all of you beyond this issue if you are interested. My invitation stands......happy to meet with you.

Best,
Rose

Response to Gowen's comment above by Jaime Parra:

Dr Gowen,

I am sorry to hear that you believe our opinion’s for this matter is being considered as “hype”. In my opinion, Downtown Brownsville will begin to thrive again, hopefully soon, and it is the future you should consider especially when it has to deal with traffic. When the downtown area does begin to thrive traffic will thrive as well. What then, re-open the third lane?

This 6th street matter should be reconsidered and tabled at tonight’s meeting until the City Council can honestly sit down with its constituents. And yes this idea might have been going around for a year but none of the Commissioners ever asked my insight, this was handled just like the parking meters. No one knew about it till AFTER the first meeting and no one would have known about it if it wasn’t for the Brownsville Herald publishing it in the front page. Common courtesy WILL go a long way…

Respectfully,


Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

From Rose Gowen:

By "hype" I mean that there are multiple versions of the plan floating around. I never said your opinions are "hype" and Jaime frankly neither are mine. I respect your opinion and I expect you to respect mine. Deal? We can agree to disagree and still speak and behave respectfully.

Many people care about downtown and there are many ideas and solutions. Honestly the real answer is not just one thing in my humble opinion.......it is a collection of things together with likely some luck added in that will turn downtown around.

I honestly do not ascribe to this practice of emails with 20 people on the chain and then forwarding and so forth. I asked you yesterday to speak with me and only One person responded. I take that to mean that none of you want to speak with me you just want the issue removed. Perhaps I am misreading all the emails.

I'm going to stop emailing now..... You have my email and phone and if you would like to hear what I have to say on this and other topics please let me know and we can set it up.

Best,
Rose

From Jaime Parra:

Dr Gowen,

I do agree with the emails, we should sit down and talk about this. But for the record I was never contacted by you or anyone else for that matter. I was attached to a group email. I apologize if this matter was not meant for my attention.

DEAL!



Jaime Parra, Jr.
Owner/C.E.O.
Parra Loan Company, Inc.

From Rey Garza:

TO ALL: I WATCHED THE PROCEEDINGS ON TV LAST NIGHT AS THE PROPOSAL PASSED 3 TO 2. I HOPE I AM WRONG THAT CLOSING A LANE ON 6th STREET WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, TRAVEL DELAYS, BACKED UP TRAFFIC, etc. AS I AM 1 OF THE THOUSANDS OF UNFORTUNEATES THAT WOULD HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THAT.

I FOUND IT INTERESTING THAT CITY STAFF NEVER PRESENTED A STUDY RE WHAT THE TRAFFIC ON 6th STREET REQUIRES, OR WHAT EFFECT THE LANE CLOSURE WILL HAVE ON TRAFFIC. THE STAFF PRESENTED SOME RECENT TRAFFIC COUNTS BUT THAT IS DATA AND NOT A STUDY BASED UPON ACCEPTED GUIDELINES OR NORMS FOR TRAFFIC. I CAN ONLY PRESUME THAT IF STAFF HAD A MEANINGFUL STUDY THAT WOULD SUPPORT THE CLOSURE OF A LANE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE PRESENTED IT, BUT, SINCE THEY DID NOT, I PRESUME THAT THEY NEVER DID A STUDY OR THAT THE STUDY TURNED OUT BAD FOR THE LANE CLOSERS.

NOTE: I TYPE IN ALL CAPS. A HABIT FROM MY ARMY DAYS YEARS AGO, AND NOT BECAUSE I AM YELLING AT YOU.
Reynaldo G. Garza, Jr.
Mediator and Attorney

Finally, Jaime Parra:

Attention:

Some of the times you can hardly blame city staff especially in this case, as it was only presented to them about 3 months prior and WITHOUT any other alternative plan for the $150,000.00. This is just another case of personal, one sided agenda’s. The 6th & 7th corridors are meant for commercial traffic, HEAVY COMMERCIAL traffic on a day in day out basis. You will never hear of a heavy traffic road being REDUCED. You hear every day that city streets are being increased with an extra lane or widen, BUT REDUCED!. Where is the logic?

By the way, thanks again to the City Commission and City Staff for giving us the heads up on this subject JUST a day prior to vote.

On a personal note I would like to thank Rick and Jessica for listening to reason.

Jaime Parra, Jr.


Owner/C.E.O. Parra Loan Company, Inc

ADDENDUM:  The way this project was approved, promoted and misrepresented gives us an inside look at how our City Government operates.  The view is not pretty.  

As in the raising of downtown parking meter rates, almost everything the city said about this project was misinformation or an outright lie.

The project cost is $400,000, not $150,000.  As for the claim that the timeline was insufficient to change the program before the August 28 deadline, that was also a lie.  Remember, the city totally changed the program in the space of two weeks between the First Reading on 6/17 and 7/1; totally altered plans with new drawings.  City administrators like Ramiro Gonzalez, Doroteo Garcia and Robert Esparza become gutless lackeys for Tony Martinez and Rose Gowen when they stand in front of the city and lie to promote ill-advised, pet projects.

The traffic counts used by Traffic Director Esparza were also skewed as everyone will see clearly during the coming Charro Days and Sombrero Fest.  Rose Gowen's contention that most vehicles turn left or right off 6th Street at Ringgold is a lie.  The vast majority of vehicles continue on 6th Street.  

Something lost on Rose Gowen is that she WORKS for constituents like Rey Garza, Jaime Parra and Marshall Ray, not the other way around.  Yet, it was Gowen taking a decidedly "bitchy" tone, disrespecting her constituents.  

Lastly, don't forget that Mayor Martinez, despite not staying for the City Commission meeting 7/1, nevertheless, tried to steer the vote on the agenda item, even speaking out for it during Public Comment and asking City Attorney Mark Sossi if he could vote in absentia. This city administration has no regard for the rules of law and zero tolerance of citizen input.  

United Brownsville Coordinating Board Meeting 7/1/2014~Ralph Cowen Auditions United Brownsville or is it United Brownville/Harlingen/Matamoros?

Ralph Cowen, Port of Brownsville

As Ralph Cowen came through the glass doors of second floor conference room of the International Bancshares Corporation, the always hospitable IBC President Fred Rusteberg motioned to the buffet table.  Cowen complied, filling a recyclable plate with grub.

Cowen quickly joined in the conversation, which by now had gotten past City Commissioner Debbie Portillo's breathless reliving of the All-America City Award in pot-legal Denver.

United Brownsville Director Mike Gonzalez,
Explaining Bined to Ralph Cowen

By this time United Brownsville Director Mike Gonzalez had steered the conversation to the $8 billion there for the taking in the binational corridor.  A rep from Index Matamoros, a new member to the UB family, was sharing his insights on creating, rather than simply shipping products.  Index Matamoros represents 89 of 117 Matamoros maquilas.  I thought I heard Finance Director Pete Gonzalez whisper they'd paid their $25,000 entry fee to join the group.

Noon Hour Session of United Brownsville

Ralph raised his hand and was recognized:  "This is my first time with this group.  I'm not sure I'm going to be able to join as I have only so many bullets to shoot. I'm 
interested in this Bined thing.  What Brownsville needs is jobs, not minimum wage jobs, but good paying jobs."

Several members nodded in agreement with Ralph.  

Gonzalez went on to explain that United Brownsville didn't need to reinvent the wheel as U.S./Mexico partnerships already existed.  San Diego/Tijuana is one model.  

Index Matamoros Rep

Gonzalez showed a slide of the mayors of Harlingen, Matamoros and Brownsville signing an agreement or resolution to work together as a region in terms of economic development.  

City Commission Meeting, 7/1/2014~White Lies, Red Herrings, Villarrealisms, Gowen's Definition of A Road, Doroteo's Quick Turn-A-Round

What was billed at the "Battle for 6th Street" turned into a few feeble whimpers.

Tony Martinez had a plane to catch, but so desperately wanted to steer this baby home, that he violated about a dozen tenets of Robert's Rules of Order in the space of 30 seconds:  He tried to impose a time limit on public commenters after one lengthy, but logical citizen comment, mentioned his desire to vote FOR the agenda item in absentia(using his crystal ball to predict a tie vote), then went on to give his personal argument for the event, while still moderating the public discussion, but before consideration by the commission, then just a subliminal "What the Hell!" and turned the meeting over to Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioner Estela Chavez-Vasquez.  "Estela are you there?"

Below is the revised agenda item: 

6. Public Hearing, and ACTION thereafter, regarding the request to approve the narrowing East 6th Street, from three lanes of traffic to two

lanes, expanding the sidewalk adjacent to the Gladys Porter Zoo property, adding landscaping, and providing a bicycle connection from Belden Trail to East Harrison Street.(Ramiro Gonzalez-Planning and Doroteo Garcia-Engineering) [TABLED ON 06/17/2014]

Ramiro Gonzalez brought along Doroteo Garcia as a presenter to give his glib words engineering bite, but the real outfoxing was in changing the agenda item entirely so as NOT to have a bike lane parallel to the unused Battlefield Hike & Bike Trail slithering through Linear Park(I use the word "unused" because I lack the faith of those in the bike cult who see "over 1,000 daily riders on the trail."  I seldom see anyone using the trail, not being a true worshiper of the bike god.)

Commissioner Ricardo Longoria faked out no one when he argued against the agenda item, but then voted for it.  It's called grandstanding, Ricardo's version of a crossover move.  Maybe if next meeting Longoria argues FOR an agenda item, then votes against it, he will catch us leaning the wrong way and actually score.

Approval came down to smart shopping.  A store offers a one day 20% discount.  You HAVE to buy something or lose your discount.  That was Commissioner Rose Gowen's position, not losing a $150,000 TXdot grant, even if the city had to spend $250,000 to claim it.  Smart shopper, that Rose!

When Longoria and later Tetreau questioned if the rest of the $400,000 for the project, that is $250,000, was coming from the general fund, Rose reasoned:  "Oh no! 6th Street was going to be overlayed anyway, so we're not actually spending more money to get the $150,000 discount."  

Rose Gowen then defined a road:  "A road is not just for cars.  A rode is for people walking.  A road is for people on bikes.  A road is for people pushing a stroller."

Commissioner John Villarreal had heard enough:  "I wish some of the commissioners had mentioned their concerns earlier instead of waiting until the last minute."  Villarreal had used that argument at the town hall meeting on the proposed parking rate increase.  No one threw tomatoes at him then and so he used the argument again.

Mayor Pro Tem Estela Chavez Vasquez closed public comment on the issue in a way that would not have made her 8th grade English teacher proud:  "Is there any other people that have public comment?"

Commissioner Debbie Portillo yearned for the free 150 grand like the rest, but wondered if it was needed elsewhere.  "What about sidewalks on Ringgold Street or improvements in Southmost?  When is the deadline?"

"Well, it's August 28.  But, you understand that, for a new project, plans have to be created.  Then, putting it out for bids, procurement, etc.  We'd maybe have a timeline of only two weeks," Engineer Doroteo countered, winking over at Planner Ramiro.

What Doroteo didn't say(Ramiro will be proud) is that

they had just reworked the original project within two weeks with new drawings, new specs, etc.  and could easily have done it in a day

"Yabba, dabba, dooo!"  

City of Brownsville Tolerates Mediocrity, Rejects Expertise for Transit System

Daniel Lenz

Daniel Lenz seemed bemused that his second attempt in eleven years to secure the management contract for Brownsville Metro, according to Aviation Director and chairman of the review committee Larry Brown did not even meet the Request for Proposal, the RFP, to go into negotiations with the City of Brownsville.  That means that the city will simply used the next three months to create a new contract for First Transit, holders of the contract for the last eleven years.

At today's City Commission meeting, Assistant City Manager Pete Gonzalez will introduce an agenda item to negotiate solely with First Transit to manage Brownsville Metro.  First Transit also enjoys the $1,400,000 maintenance contract, just renewed by the City of Brownsville in January despite Brownsville Metro buses experiencing major breakdowns every 825 miles.  The contract calls for 8,000 miles between breakdowns, but that's irrelevant since the City Commission and City Administration are not concerned enough to enforce the contract and protect Brownsville Metro riders.

"What's funny Jim is that I was called in to inspect the buses for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, trained 1,500 mechanics, drivers and other employees for New Jersey Transit, called to Egypt to train personnel in conjunction with U.S. aid to that country, managed systems far larger than Brownsville Metro with greater success and can't get consideration in Brownsville," stated Lenz over the phone.

Lenz is someone seldom seen in Brownsville, a world class expert with 40 years experience in his field.  He's worked in every aspect of the bus transportation business, including Production Manager for the Eagle Coach Corporation, which during his tenure manufactured over $20,000,000 worth of intercity coaches per year.

Lenz' articles on Eagle suspension and alignment are used to this day as the most authoritative reference on the subject.

His expertise in the field has been acknowledged by his consultant work with the Federal Transit Administration, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, American Bus Association, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Safety Administration and more.

He has been called as an expert witness in litigation involving bus safety issues.

When Brownsville Metro's head of mechanics, James Campbell, complained to Lenz about unfixable AC systems in some of the buses, Lenz said "bring them to me."  Lenz had all the buses ice cold in just a few hours, repairing one "dangerous" electrical system.

Unfortunately, Brownsville's city administration suffers from cronyism.  Mediocrity, not expertise, is rewarded.   
Today the city missed an opportunity to have a far superior transit system, content to just muddle along in mediocrity.  

El Nuevo Palm Lounge at 8th and Elizabeth St., Edwin Hernandez' Dream

Since the picture at the left, taken through the wrought iron of the front door two weeks ago, renovation on El Nuevo Palm Lounge at 8th and Elizabeth St. has proceeded considerably.

"This is my dream, my life," stated Edwin Hernandez, the new proprietor and lessee.

"We're going to serve the same hamburgers, the same beers as always."  stated Hernandez.

"You'll be able to see through into the kitchen where everything is made just like before."

Hernandez found room for a second
floor to accommodate a band.  The
wrought iron railing is part of the
original decor.

One quick observation is that Hernandez seems to have found a lot of room in the old building, a large second floor stage for bands, and two very large restrooms.

"The owners used a lot of the space for storage.  We emptied nine tons of junk from the building.  I know because I was charged by the ton," laughed Hernandez.

"So far, everything has gone smoothly.  We have our beer and wine license and passed the inspections.  We just await the final inspection and Certificate of Occupancy."

One thing Hernandez is held off on is the outside sign.  He's been searching for a picture of the original sign and wants to use the same design.  He's been asking local historians and consulting old phone books and newspapers for the original look.

Edwin Hernandez