BROWNSVILLE STANDS UP FOR ITSELF AGAINST MERGING PRESSURES

Pedro Alvarez, Texas Department of Transportation, Pharr District,  Makes Case for Merging MPOs

It seems so simple to advocates of merging the three RGV Metropolitan Planning Organizations, one in Harlingen, another in Hidalgo County and, of course, one in Brownsville.  Merge and get much more revenue from the state for highway and other transportation projects.  

Even the Port of Brownsville, they say, could easily get a largesse to dredge its channel from a 42 to 52 foot depth if only Brownsville would just merge, or, as Mayor Tony Martinez prefers to say, realign itself with Harlingen and Hidalgo(McAllen).

The numbers seem to make it a no-brainer to merge/realign, with currently 80% of the transportation funding going to the largest 5 MPOs and the remaining 20% split among the 17 smallish MPOs, including Brownsville.

Alvarez, who claimed not to have a dog in the merger fight, said that, should the 3 RGV MPOs join, they would vault past El Paso into the 5th spot, sharing an 83% pot.(Alvarez issued a veiled threat, indicating he'd been advised that talks had taken place suggesting an even larger pot for the largest MPOs, "maybe even 85 to 90% of the total funding," hinting that, should Brownsville vote AGAINST merging, they might find themselves in a group of 17 or so splitting only 10 to 15% of the transportation monies.)

City Commissioner Rick Longoria laid down before Alvarez what may be the merging dealbreaker for Brownsville in asking why in the hell the urgently needed East Loop around Brownsville, redirecting heavy trucks away from International Blvd. and the Padre Island Highway 48 has not even been partially funded or included in the MPOs ten year plan.  

Following Alvarez's non-answer Rick added that "he was tired of the run around," and pointing to Mayor Tony Martinez, added:  "and I'll tell you right now, as of right now, he's voting 'no!'"

The current estimate for the East Loop is $60 million, while TxDot has approved over $150 million for a tiny segment of an eventual toll road bypassing Pharr, McAllen and Edinburg.

Brownsville seems to get shafted here.

Mayor Tony Martinez, in his opening remarks, reminded the audience of how sharing a college, UT-RGV, with the upper valley had worked to Brownsville's detriment, with Edinburg getting the lion's share of the university including the administration.

I joked before the workshop with four militant anti-merger cyclists, Edgar Gaucin, Gene Novogrodsky, Mssrs. Burke and Holzman.

I asked Gene what he was "against" tonight.

"The merger.  Tony's right for once.  A merged MPO will not respect the environment, the planet, just build roads," added Novogrodsky.

The cyclists' heroine, Commissioner Rose Gowen, did gamely try to remind the TxDot Power Pointer Alvarez that, not only did a second causeway need funding, but also a bike lane to accommodate the throngs of Cameron County residents who want to cross the Laguna Madre on two human-powered wheels.  

Alvarez reminded Gowen that years ago the "Texas Highway Department" had changed its name to the Texas Department of Transportation to accommodate ALL forms of transportation, not just cars and trucks."

Since Mayor Martinez, in his opening remarks, used the word "compromise," let's offer one:

Guarantee the funding of the East Loop in Brownsville as a non-toll road and Brownsville agrees to merge its MPO with Harlingen and McAllen.

The Ricardo Longoria, Jr. East Loop Freeway has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

"SOUTHMOST NEEDS ME!" STATES WILLIAM GARZA AS HE DECLARES FOR CITY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1

From the editor:  Local political fixture William Garza is well known in Brownsville for several reasons:

1.  His tenure on the City Commission ending in 1991.

2.  Numerous attempts to gain local office since.

3.  Being the father of Porter High School football star Billy Garza.

4.  Reportedly kidnapped in 1998 by "two Hispanic males," left buck naked just outside the city limits.

Mr. Garza is, once again seeking office, jumping from his longtime home in District 3 to respond to a groundswell of public support from the residents of District 1 to represent them on the city commission.

Within the last hour, Garza has announced on Facebook his campaign for City Commissioner, District 1, 2019.

We publish his statement below without editing:

William Garza with Politiquera Herminia Becerra in
Mayor's Race 2015 

"For many years residents of Southmost have asked me to run in their district 1 for Cty Comm, well , this May I rented a place in La Posada and am declaring my candidacy for this position. 

Theirs a sitting Commissioner and a sitting BISD Trustee that also have had their residency questioned and a previous Commissioner even lived in Los Fresnos. 

When Father Juan Nicolas of Christ the King Church blessed my candidacy, I won by landslide in Southmost and began to bring up the area along with fellow Commissioner Pete Benavides, Butch Barbosa, Dr. Tony Zavaleta and Mayor Nacho Garza. 

William Garza has added the name "Billy" to
his campaign signs, perhaps to remind us of his
football star son, known locally as Billy Garza

We were instrumental in having The Library built on Central blvd which led to the Library in Southmost. Also Morningside park and the paving of many streets and most importantly always received everyone. 

I served as a sports announcer at Porter, Lopez and East Brownsville Little League spending my time and donating my pay back . My son “Billy” was part of the start of the “Porter Nation”. 

I’m best qualified to represent this district 1 because ' Puedo Hacer Mas.'"

RICK'S QUICK SWEARING IN, MISGUIDED GBIC APPOINTMENTS, THE ERASMO PODCAST

Commissioner Rick Longoria Signing GBIC Paperwork After
Taking Oath(Board Member David Betancourt in Foreground, Board Member John Cowen in Background)

Last Thursday's meeting of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, a high-powered city board entrusted with the responsibility of dispersing $5 million Brownsville tax dollars annually to be used in economic development projects was on the verge of cancellation.

Only two of the four current members showed up, the outgoing chairman, David Betancourt and board member John Cowen, also soon departed.  Commissioner Cesar de Leon was a no-show, while board member Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa was running one half hour late.  Former board member Nurith Galonsky was removed from the board October 16.

At that point, BISD employee/DJ/City Commissioner Rick Longoria entered the City Commission chambers still toting his school backpack.

New GBIC Director Mario Lozoya quickly moved into action, swearing in the newly appointed Longoria to create the necessary quorum of three.

Whew!  Disaster averted?  

Not by a long shot!  The city commission's whole approach to the GBIC is a disaster!

The Development Corporation Act of 1979 was set up allowing cities to separate a portion of collected monies/taxes from the general fund for economic development keeping such out of the hands of politicians.  This would prevent mayors and city commissioners from dispersing so-called economic funding to their cronies and friends, even supporters.

The idea was to keep economic development separate from politics.  

Brownsville's city commission doesn't understand this and they keep giddily appointing each other to the 4A GBIC  "economic development" board and its "quality of life" projects sister, the BCIC.  In recent years, both boards have had city commission majorities for chissakes!

If the city commission is going to control the GBIC, simply pay off Director Mario Lozoya, dissolve the board and return the monies back to the General Fund.

During City Financial Director Lupe Granado III's reading of the GBIC Financial Report, board member John Cowen asked about an item added to the budget.  Granado deferred to GBIC Director Mario Lozoya who said something about 'borrowing a car" to connection with a visiting potential investor.  

I asked Granado about the incident after the meeting:  "Did Lozoya just ask for a car?"

"Yes," responded Granado, "no set price, but through procurement."

  THE ERASMO CASTRO WEEKLY PODCAST AT ANGELITA'S CASA DE CAFE

Sunday's Podcast with Erasmo Castro, Ben Neece, Jim Barton and Trey Mendez

Sunday's weekly political and government podcast livestreamed from Angelita's Casa de Cafe at 1:30 PM on Erasmo Castro's Facebook page was a treasure trove of information filling an hour and seventeen minutes.

Commissioner Ben Neece and mayoral candidate Trey Mendez shared talking points about efforts to add security downtown.  

Neece weighed in on three separate city audits that, even one initiated by former City Manager Charlie Cabler with the results going only to him.

Castro has been receiving upwards of 2,000 live viewers with dozens of questions going to his Facebook page during the show.

An open guest invitation has been extended to ALL mayoral and city commission candidates as the show will resume in 2019.

MR. AMIGO 2019~ARTURO ELIAS AYUB

Arturo Elías Ayub (born April 27, 1966) is a Mexican businessman, currently Director of Strategic Alliances of Telefonos de Mexico, CEO of the Telmex Foundation and Director of UNO Noticias.

MARTINEZ ANNOUNCES FOR RE-ELECTION, CITES "TRANSPARENCY" OF HIS ADMINISTRATION

Mayor Tony Martinez

In a Steve Clark interview published in Wednesday's Brownsville Herald, Tony Martinez used a word to describe his administration that he evidently does not understand, fathom or comprehend.  Tony claimed that under his leadership there had been an increase of "transparency:"

"It hasn't always been easy, but along the way we've worked to build professionalism within city government and increase transparency, and we've turned a corner from the old ways of business-as-usual that held us back for far too long,” Martinez said.

That statement is a gazillion light years away from anything resembling truth.  

Almost every Martinez move during his two terms had been done surreptitiously, on the sly, behind closed doors, never, EVER explained.  

That's not transparency, Tony, as defined in ANY dictionary!

In 2012 Mayor Martinez orchestrated the City Commission's purchase of 14 vacant buildings downtown for $3,500,000.  

The buildings were immediately removed from the tax rolls, forcing local taxpayers to pick up the slack.  All but two sit idle still, decaying, but, to this day,  NO EXPLANATION from "Mr. Transparency" as to why in the hell they were purchased.

The flagship of that gawdawful deal, La Casa del Nylon, was bought from Tony's friend, Abraham Galonsky, for $2,300,000, triple its value, in a transaction negotiated by Tony's law partner, Horacio Becerra.

Why did the city purchase a building they may never use?

Why was Tony's law partner, not employed by the city, used to "negotiate" the crooked deal?

Why did the city pay three times the building's value?

In 2013 Martinez was caught utilizing the $3,060,000 Texas AEP Settlement fund for projects in the city, bypassing the City Commission.  Even after his hands were slapped by the commission, Martinez offered no apology or explanation.  Transparency?

That same year, unannounced, the city entered into a lease with the Galonsky family for a building to be used as Mayor Martinez downtown office.  

For several months city work crews were seen refurbishing the building with $13,000 spent on materials alone.

When Mayor Tony changed his mind about a downtown office, the city erected a sign, designating the location the "Downtown Revitalization Information Center."  City Planner Ramiro Gonzalez held at least one meeting there to make the expenditure seem legit.

Still, no explanation from Mayor Martinez, "Mr. Transparency," about any of this.

In 2011, many were fooled by Martinez' "Believe in Brownsville" campaign.  

In 2015, Brownsville was not fooled, but simply foolish to vote again for Tony Martinez.

Will Brownsville make that mistake again in 2019?

QUIET CITY COMMISSION MEETING~CITY COMMISSION DOING WORK!

City Manager Noel Bernal

No hard hats or flak jackets were needed by the Brownsville City Commission Tuesday night as even sensitive issues were handled quietly.

Mayor Tony Martinez, with flu symptoms, set the tone with a hoarse voice, attired in a black clerical robe without a collar, his Mayor's Activity Update reduced to a terse "Happy Holidays" and "God bless."

Pastor Brad Burke displayed Christian charity by allowing a young minister to pray over the meeting.  All of the commissioners bowed their head in prayer except for Commissioners Gowen and Longoria, who evidently pray to a different God.

During the City Manager's Update, the newly selected Noel Bernal referenced a city departmental meeting to discuss, not strategy, but culture.

"Every city has talent," Bernal told me afterward, but without the right "culture," nothing works efficiently.  

Bernal used the analogy of a sports team to make his point, emphasizing good team chemistry.

Commissioner Neece

Commissioner Ben Neece introduced Item #18, calling for creation of a city code of ethics, helping commissioners to deal with, among other things, conflicts of interest.

Years ago, even before his first term as mayor, Tony Martinez promised that a new ethics code would be the "first priority" of his administration.  Nearly two terms later, that promise has not been fulfilled.

Amazingly, Mayor Martinez also supported something he's he's opposed in the past, discussions to form a regional Metropolitan Planning Organization.  Currently, the region is served by three independent MPOs, Hidalgo County, Harlingen and Brownsville.

BCIC Director Rebeca Castillo announced a matching grants program to help downtown business owners fix up the exteriors of their buildings.

THEY CALLED IT STORMY MONDAY, BUT TUESDAY'S JUST AS BAD

They called it stormy Monday, but Tuesday is as just as bad

Oh, they called it, they called it stormy Monday, but Tuesday, Tuesday is as just as bad

Oh, Wednesday is worst And Thursday oh so sad

The eagle flies on Friday now, Saturday I'll go out to play

Oh, the eagle, the eagle flies on Friday Saturday I'll go out and play

Sunday I'll go to church, and I fall on my knees and pray

I say, Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me

But Lord, Lord have mercy Lord have mercy on me

You know I'm crazy 'bout my baby

Lord, please send my baby back on to me

Stormy Monday

B.B. King and others

Ana Adiong

How strange to travel from one border to the other, Seattle to Brownsville in '66 and meet Nena Perez, then 52 years later half way around the world to meet another soulmate, Ana Adiong.

Making a 1:58 AM pot of coffee has been the norm recently, especially with 3 videocalls with Ana daily.  BTW, to be on Philippines time, just change from AM to PM or PM to AM, then add two hours, a simple formula I finally figured out.

Jim Barton, Carlos Rios

My second day back from Asia, I got a Facebook invite to a "Celebration of the Life of Carlos Rios," the 25 year old TSC candidate recently passing away.

The tragedy was mentioned on Erasmo Castro's Sunday podcast with newly announced mayoral candidate Trey Mendez saying that, while he sent flowers to the celebration, he seldom attends funerals of people his age or younger as he finds them "extremely depressing."

Matamoros attorney Jerry Danarche was at the celebration, though, extending comfort and condolences to the family of Carlos Rios.

Jerry,  who also does a weekly radio show with studios in Brownsville and Matamoros, said he wants to do a show soon with bloggers Juan Montoya, Jerry McHale and myself.  When I told Danarche that McHale will freeze me out by speaking only Spanish, Danarche said:  "I will take care of that."

Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

After seemingly spending half my life in the Taipei's overwhelming Taouyan International Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the Houston Metro driver dropped me off two blocks from the Greyhound Bus Terminal in downtown Houston at 4:00 AM.  A black man out front asked me for money to buy a "cup of coffee."  

The last leg of my trip, not actually in a Greyhound, but a Valley Transit Company bus, landed in Harlingen with only 4 passengers.  About a dozen more were added for the trip from Harlingen to Brownsville as we changed buses.  Conditions at the VTC office in Harlingen were beyond deplorable, easily the worst of my entire trip.

What I retain from the trip comes largely from conversations, the family from United Arab Emirates, in Houston to avail themselves of world class medical care for the wife's cancer, the Vietnamese family returning to Ho Chi Min City for their mother's funeral, the savant microbiologist I met on the return Cebu to Taipei leg and the homeless school teacher in Houston, who sleeps at IAH at night, then teaches English at a middle school during the day.  The teacher, who I met at a bus stop outside the airport, wished me "good luck" as he was dropped off by Houston Metro at his school.

TREY MENDEZ MAKES IT OFFICIAL! HE'S RUNNING FOR MAYOR!

Trey Mendez

Trey Mendez made clear his intention to run for Mayor of the City of Brownsville on Erasmo Castro's Whine with Cheez podcast today.  The show is broadcast each Sunday at 1:30 PM from Angelita's Casa de Cafe on Boca Chica Boulevard.  

MY LIFE ON GOOGLE BLOGGER~ANA TELLS HER FATHER ABOUT "US"

I once had a girl, or should I say, she once had me...

She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?

She asked me to stay and she told me to sit anywhere,

So I looked around and I noticed there wasn't a chair.

I sat on a rug, biding my time, drinking her wine

We talked until two and then she said, "It's time for bed"

She told me she worked in the morning and started to laugh.

I told her I didn't and crawled off to sleep in the bath

And when I awoke, I was alone, this bird had flown
So I lit a fire, isn't it good, Norwegian wood?.

"Norwegian Wood(This Bird Has Flown)" 

(Lennon/McCartney) 

Ana in Bukidnon Province

Just as many Dallas, Houston and San Antonio residents migrated to those cities for jobs, Filipinos do the same.

My fiance' Ana spent several years working in, first Manila, then did a nurse internship in Cagayan de Oro, before getting a small house in the Bugo section of Cagayan de Oro. 

She supports herself now in a variety of ways, including a sari-sari store in front of her house. where she doles out portions of rice from 25/50 KG bags, sells canned meats, washing powder, individual beers, shaving razors, etc.  During certain times of the year, she adds baked goods, ice cream and spring rolls. 

Ana told me two days ago she was headed to Bukidnon Province to tell her father about "us."

"I'm taking a jit," Ana stated.  Jit is short for jitney the colorful minibuses with seating for 20 or more with zero headroom.  The 3 hour round trip to Bukidnon costs 50 pesos, one U.S. dollar.

Ana's Sister, Brother

Ana's brother, who stayed in Ana's house with his girlfriend during my visit with Ana was already there in the province, but had been ordered to say nothing until Ana arrived.

"I'm scared about my father's reaction," Ana told me, "but I'm going to tell him that I'm doing this."

Curiously, Ana brought a tape of the Erasmo Castro podcast to give her dad a glimpse of me.

Ana's dad viewed the tape:  "He seems like a man with intelligence and purpose.  I'm happy if you're happy," he told his daughter.

Ana and her father embraced.  

Later, when Ana, called on Facebook Messenger, all I could hear was laughter, squealing and static until making out the words:  "I'm so happy!"

UGLY POWER BROKERS CONTROL BROWNSVILLE CITY GOVERNMENT

Mike Hernandez III

Carlos Marin

"Let me ask you one question

Is your money that good

Will it buy you forgiveness

Do you think that it could

I think you will find

When your death takes its toll

All the money you made

Will never buy back your soul"

Bob Dylan

CABLER UNQUALIFIED FOR MAYOR, BUT MARTINEZ NO BETTER!

Charlie Cabler

Yesterday's article highlighted how Charlie Cabler, as City Manager did nada, nothing, zilch to protect the city's interests during the Intercity Ambulance fiasco.  

Cabler watched $62,000 of funds diverted from the City of Brownsville illegally and did nothing.

Yes, Charlie is a good ol' boy, one who, for many years,  happened to occupy a position for which he lacked the necessary skill set,  and was grossly overpaid.    

Tony Martinez

That is no reason for the chorus of Tony Martinez worshipers to sing "Hallelujah!.  Come Lord Jesus!


Martinez Second Coming was no better than his first and he doesn't deserve a third.

It's not just the Casa de Nylon overpay.  It was a dozen or thirteen buildings foolishly purchased in 2012 for $3.5 million to placate then UTB President Juliet Garcia, sucking up to the regents of the ultra-rich University of Texas.

Brownsville taxpayers paid twice for those buildings, the initial purchase price, plus making up for the tax shortfall as the buildings were removed from the tax rolls.  All sit in decay but two with nominal usage.

Then there was Tony's unlawful, unilateral spending of the $3,060,000 AEP Texas Settlement on pet projects before his hands were finally slapped by the City Commission.

Tony Martinez Never Used Downtown Office

Who can forget the downtown office Tony just had to have?  The City of Brownsville sprung for a one year lease, adding $13,000 worth of just materials for the refurbishment with four or five city trucks their daily doing the work with taxpayer dollars.

Spoiled Tony NEVER used the office, not ONCE!

Add to this partial sample of Martinez abuses, his arrogance, total lack of tranparency and constant violations of Robert's Rules of Order during City Commission meetings, and we have another person not suitable to hold the office of mayor.

Pastor Brad Burke

Over the years, the City Commission's unofficial praymaster, Pastor Brad Burke, has beseeched his Heavenly Father that the mayor and city commission "work together," act "unselfishly" and "resist temptation."

Neither Charlie Cabler nor Tony Martinez are an answer to that prayer.

CABLER FAILS TO PROTECT CITY'S INTERESTS AS CITY MANAGER, IS UNQUALIFIED TO SERVE IN ANY CAPACITY

Disgraced Former Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo, Hastily Retired
Former City Manager Charlie Cabler

The fact that newly appointed City Attorney Rene De Coss has stated that City Commissioner Ben Neece should not have unilaterally released the the audit review of the Audit Committee's report does not take away from the confirmed wrongdoing of former Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo perpetrated with the knowledge of former City Manager Charlie Cabler.

By diverting emergency calls to the city to his own independent, unlicensed ambulance service at $800 a pop, Elizondo was stealing from the city.

By knowingly allowing such a practice, Charlie Cabler was, if not an accomplice, very near to being an accessory to a crime.

Actual knowledge that a crime is being committed is the primary prerequisite to being labeled an accessory.  

The audit review backs up the original audit in reporting that Cabler knew what was going on.  He absolutely knew Intercity Ambulance Service was unlicensed, without a permit to operate in Brownsville as he knew he'd not signed such a permit as required.

Forget about the propriety of whether or not the audit review should have been released by Neece and just consider what both the original audit andits review by Burton, McCumber and Longoria.

Both the original report and its review show that Cabler was not protecting the interests of Brownsville taxpayers.  

Even Cabler's quoted argument that the City of Brownsville ambulance service was "understaffed" does not hold water or make diverting emergency calls to an unlicensed ambulance firm legal or prudent.  

Cabler should NEVER hold office in Brownsville.

He has betrayed the city's trust.

R.I.P. CARLOS RIOS

Jim Barton, Carlos Rios