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CITY, COUNTY OFFICES ARE CLOSED FOR CESAR CHAVEZ DAY
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WILL PALM VALLEY AGREEMENT TURN OUT LIKE SANTA ROSA'S?
G. CONSIDERATION AND APPROVAL OF AN INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN CAMERON COUNTY AND THE CITY OF PALM VALLEY. (GR COMMISSIONER PCT. 4)
Agenda Item on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Cameron County Commissioners Court meeting.
By Juan Montoya
The last time that a city came before the Cameron County Commissioners Court it was cash-strapped Santa Rosa in Commissioner Gus Ruiz's Precinct 4 pleading penury and placing itself at the mercy of the court.
The court, wanting to help out the residents of the newest commissioner was more than generous. An Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between Cameron County and the City of Santa Rosa that cost $65,676 and which the city agreed to pay the county in two payments by by 2017 was approved in 2016.
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The county had agreed to pay $25,707 for its share of the road reconstruction and pavement improvements" on N. Parker Road from the railroad to San Roman Avenue. It paid another $135,000 for the entire length of the road not stipulated for in the agreement.
Santa Rosa incurred a $65,000 bill owed to the county.
At the time the road construction was completed, Ruiz, in hard hat, shook hands with Santa Rosa Mayor (his former boss) on the city-county agreement. Ruiz was the city's attorney and recused himself from voting on the item.
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"Mayor Andres Contreras said the city had been waiting for this to be completed," the Valley Morning Star reported at the time.
“We have needed this for the past two years,” Contreras said.
He said he was pleased the community was very patient with the city to complete the project.
“This is a nice Christmas gift for the city of Santa Rosa,” Contreras said. “Commissioner Ruiz wanted to finish before Christmas and he got it done.”
Then on February 12, 2018 an information request by Gary Thornburg on whether Santa Rosa had paid its share of the ICA two years after the work had been performed generated a reply Feb. 20 by County Auditor Martha Galarza that "The County Auditor's Office has reviewed it files and has determined that there are no responsive documents to your request."
Now Ruiz is coming again for another raid of the county's cookie jar with another ICA, this time for silk-stocking city of Palm Valley.
Why is Ruiz - who complains of the shortage of Road and Bridge and Public Works funds - so willing to offer the public funds to this financially-solvent city?.
Is the county so well off that it can afford to share its road and bridge funds with all the cites in the county? And is Ruiz using county funds to win over Palm Valley and pave the way for his reelection? And will it take another two years and legal reminders to get the up-county dead beats to fork over their fair share of the cash?
Agenda Item on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Cameron County Commissioners Court meeting.
By Juan Montoya
The last time that a city came before the Cameron County Commissioners Court it was cash-strapped Santa Rosa in Commissioner Gus Ruiz's Precinct 4 pleading penury and placing itself at the mercy of the court.
The court, wanting to help out the residents of the newest commissioner was more than generous. An Interlocal Cooperation Agreement (ICA) between Cameron County and the City of Santa Rosa that cost $65,676 and which the city agreed to pay the county in two payments by by 2017 was approved in 2016.
The county had agreed to pay $25,707 for its share of the road reconstruction and pavement improvements" on N. Parker Road from the railroad to San Roman Avenue. It paid another $135,000 for the entire length of the road not stipulated for in the agreement.Santa Rosa incurred a $65,000 bill owed to the county.
At the time the road construction was completed, Ruiz, in hard hat, shook hands with Santa Rosa Mayor (his former boss) on the city-county agreement. Ruiz was the city's attorney and recused himself from voting on the item.
"Mayor Andres Contreras said the city had been waiting for this to be completed," the Valley Morning Star reported at the time.
“We have needed this for the past two years,” Contreras said.
He said he was pleased the community was very patient with the city to complete the project.
“This is a nice Christmas gift for the city of Santa Rosa,” Contreras said. “Commissioner Ruiz wanted to finish before Christmas and he got it done.”
Then on February 12, 2018 an information request by Gary Thornburg on whether Santa Rosa had paid its share of the ICA two years after the work had been performed generated a reply Feb. 20 by County Auditor Martha Galarza that "The County Auditor's Office has reviewed it files and has determined that there are no responsive documents to your request."
Now Ruiz is coming again for another raid of the county's cookie jar with another ICA, this time for silk-stocking city of Palm Valley.
Why is Ruiz - who complains of the shortage of Road and Bridge and Public Works funds - so willing to offer the public funds to this financially-solvent city?.
Is the county so well off that it can afford to share its road and bridge funds with all the cites in the county? And is Ruiz using county funds to win over Palm Valley and pave the way for his reelection? And will it take another two years and legal reminders to get the up-county dead beats to fork over their fair share of the cash?
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FORGET THE THREAT TO SHUT BORDER, IT'S SHUT NOW
"Coming from mojado land it took me 6 hours to cross to trumplandia. His henchmen had only one hut open..."Comment to this blog
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Special t o El Rrun-Rrun
The Trump closed-border nightmare has begun.
All the way from Brownsville to Paso the accounts of bottlenecks at bridges have been mounting since Donald Trump threatened to shut down the border in a tiff over Central American caravans of asylum seekers and Mexico's response to their arrival and trek across their country.
We are hearing stories of four to five-hour waits to cross the Gateway Bridge and other such as the B&M (old bridge) and Los Tomates (Veterans Bridge). Students coming from Matamoros to attend Brownsville schools have been reporting late to class. Produce is spoiling in awaiting customers, and employers on the U.S. side can no longer count on Mexicans with work visas to arrive at work on time.
Auto parts manufacturers in Matamoros have been slowed from and commerce has been severely affected. In other words, the slowdown is creating chaos and costing border employers and workers millions. Within a week, some economists say that it will affect car production in the United States.
Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping.
"Let's hope the threat is nothing but a bad April Fools' joke," said economist Dan Griswold at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. He said Trump's threat would be the "height of folly," noting that an average of 15,000 trucks and $1.6 billion in goods cross the border every day.
Even though the Customs and Borer Protection website states that it takes an average of 120 minutes tii traverse the 50-yard span from Matamoros at Gateway, personal accounts say it actually takes more than five to as much as six hours.
Pedestrian crossings are also delayed.
Trump is not just threatening to shit down the border. The facts on the ground is that he already has.
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Special t o El Rrun-Rrun
The Trump closed-border nightmare has begun.
All the way from Brownsville to Paso the accounts of bottlenecks at bridges have been mounting since Donald Trump threatened to shut down the border in a tiff over Central American caravans of asylum seekers and Mexico's response to their arrival and trek across their country.
We are hearing stories of four to five-hour waits to cross the Gateway Bridge and other such as the B&M (old bridge) and Los Tomates (Veterans Bridge). Students coming from Matamoros to attend Brownsville schools have been reporting late to class. Produce is spoiling in awaiting customers, and employers on the U.S. side can no longer count on Mexicans with work visas to arrive at work on time.
Auto parts manufacturers in Matamoros have been slowed from and commerce has been severely affected. In other words, the slowdown is creating chaos and costing border employers and workers millions. Within a week, some economists say that it will affect car production in the United States.
Politicians, business leaders and economists warned that such a move would block incoming shipments of fruits and vegetables, TVs, medical devices and other products and cut off people who commute to their jobs or school or come across to go shopping.
"Let's hope the threat is nothing but a bad April Fools' joke," said economist Dan Griswold at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University in Virginia. He said Trump's threat would be the "height of folly," noting that an average of 15,000 trucks and $1.6 billion in goods cross the border every day.
Even though the Customs and Borer Protection website states that it takes an average of 120 minutes tii traverse the 50-yard span from Matamoros at Gateway, personal accounts say it actually takes more than five to as much as six hours.
Pedestrian crossings are also delayed.
Trump is not just threatening to shit down the border. The facts on the ground is that he already has.
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THE SIGN WAR HAS BEEN JOINED: CABLER VS. MARTINEZ
(Ed.'s Note: For the third time supporters of former City of Brownsville Manager Charlie Cabler have placed 4' x 8' campaign signs on the lawn directly across the street from Da Mayor's house at the corner of Hibiscus and Palm (that's Hizzoner's crib in the background).
In the past, someone, no one knows who, has removed the large signs soon after Cabler's Crew erected them there. In other cases, Martinez stickers have been placed on Cabler's sings across the city. Whoever is doing this is not helping Tony, but rather showing the petty nature of the individual. Los signs no votan, the sating goes. Does Martinez know this is happening?)
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WITH SPACEX, USFW, PEOPLE'S BOCA CHICA BEACH IS GONE
By Juan Montoya
In times gone by, when the summer sun beat unmercifully on South Texas communities and barrios, the people would load the whole family in their vehicle, usually and old car or pickup, and take off to Boca Chica to cool off.
There would be a favored place reserved for the abuela, las tias, and of course, los guercos. The bunch would put on cut off shorts, and the girls and ladies knee-length T-shirts to go into the water. Then they would go to the Four Corners, head right on Highway 4 and 23 miles later maneuver past the sandy entrance and hoped they wouldn't get stuck.
(Sometimes sharpies on 4 x 4's would tear up the entrance and sit by when cars got stuck and charge them a fee to pull them out.)
There was no fee to go onto the beach at Boca Chica. The boys and men would sometimes fish using fishing string rolled around soft-drink bottles using metal nuts as weights. They would walk out into the surf away from the swimmers and try their luck. Kids would go off into the dunes and play hide and seek.
To some of the people who went there, the entry fee charged on Padre Island beaches was a fortune that was better spent on gasoline and pollo for grilling at the beach. Some used military parachutes to fashion a tent to protect the ladies from the sun.
And besides, owners of the SPI hotels and condominiums treated the stretch of beach fronting their businesses as a private beach and frowned on the unwashed masses mingling with their paying guests.
Now, speaking with local attorneys with inside knowledge with the feds, it has become apparent that as things are going, Boca Chica will eventually be restricted to the public to protect endangered species like the sea turtles and piping plovers, among others.
Already, if the clean-up crews from Cameron County's Precinct 1 want to pick up trash from the beach, they are required to call the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife so that they can send a spotter ahead of the crews so they won't disturb potential nesting areas. Unless they can get the USFW personnel on the beach, they are prevented from picking up the trash on their own.
Attorneys say that USFW personnel decry the damage done to the beach by vehicular traffic and the disturbance of the dunes by people using four-wheelers or beach-goers walking among them. In May 2018, recreational vehicles were banned from the beach.Now, with the on-again, off-again "launches" of rockets (Hopper) by SpaceX, the beach has been closed continually for days and the public moved miles away from the site. It doesn't matter that they promised 12 launches a year starting in 2013. Now it's six years later and not one rocket has been launched, but the private space company retains the authority to close the beach.
The SpaceX narrative is not that the company will launch commercial satellites 12 times a year, but that Boca Chica will be the site where manned spacecraft will launch astronauts to Mars. This despite the fact that there is no running water to cool the spacecraft at launch.
The recent "testing" of a Hopper has closed the beach indefinitely, with Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino authorized to sing off on the closings when SpaceX pulls his chain.
This was the beach where local police and some office holders held their fishing tournaments as part of their campaigns. On a hot summer weekend, the sea of people would stretch from the mouth of the Rio Grande to the jetties across the channel from SPI.
If the SpaceX and USFW initiatives go through, the days of Boca Chica as the Poor People's Beach will be a thing of the past.
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WILL TRUMP ORDER BORDER CLOSING FRIDAY AT MCALLEN?
Got a dental appointment in Matamoros of Progreso?
Going to buy inexpensive prescription drugs at drug stores there as well? Or perhaps you work over the river at some of the maquiladoras.
The word is, if you have business to do there, do it the sooner the better because there are signs from Washington that portend a diminishing window of opportunity to do all those things.
The scuttlebutt wire has been burning from Washington D.C. to the Rio Grande Valley that President Donald Trump will come to McAllen on Friday and announce some form of border closing. Whether it will be a closing of Mexican products or produce, manufactured goods for automobiles here, or whether it will be limited to people crossing either way, is not known.
Some mass media outlets say they have heard from their Washington offices to expect that kind of announcement if and when Trump alights at the McAllen airport.
So if you have kids coming to attend Brownsville schools, or if you work in management in some plant in Matamoros, Rio Bravo or Reynosa, it will surely affect you and others like you.
Now we can only sit back and see whether all these signs portend the coming of some Trumpian draconian act for which he has developed a penchant as he slides into the second half of his presidency.
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SUNRISE MALL CHASE AND BUST: WAS IT DRUGS OR BOTOX?
(Ed.'s Note: Shoppers were surprised to come upon a raid on a Sunrise Mall store and a white pickup where they confiscated what appeared to be two cases of Botox which was being used illegally on customers at a beauty shop inside. Others say it was a drug bust where bricks of drugs and firearms were confiscated.
No details have been released by the authorities yet, but ICE, DEA and Brownsville Police Department were involved in the chase and arrest.)
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TAKE THE BROWNTOWN QUIZ: DO YOU KNOW LOCAL HISTORY?
Special to el Rrun-Rrun
In order to get a glimpse of Brownsville’s colorful history we must retreat and revisit its people and the historical events that shaped this city—a history that figured in the annals of our country since the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848.Those diaries, letters, newspapers, magazines, books and the stories past on by our founding fathers were the sources that helped us keep up with the civilized world then and now.
In the 1950s, the Brownsville Herald published several stories that attempted to educate its readers about local history—the following are summaries of those articles. Selected excerpts were submitted by Jo Sobrino:
Did You Know?
That the means of transit to Matamoros from Brownsville in 1890 were two row boats, the “America” and the “Mexico”?
That the first telegraphic communication linking Brownsville to the outside world was on May 1, 1871?
That the twin cities at the mouth of the Rio Grande were Bagdad and Clarksville?
That the hurricane of 1874 wiped out the cities of Bagdad and Clarksville?
That the world premier of the film “Red River” took place in Brownsville at the Capitol, in McAllen at the Palace, and in Harlingen at the Arcadia?
Why was the premier in the Valley—because the movie was the story of the “Chisholm Trial—which actually began in Brownsville?
That R.B. Rentfro was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1875, and also a member of the House of Representatives of the twenty-first session of the Texas Legislature, being elected as a Republican from this, at the time, strongly Democratic district?
That there was a school called “Little Indiana School” located on the Northeast corner of Boca Chica and Indiana Ave (now FM 511). Teachers that taught there were Zola Berry, Margaret Conklin, Edwin Hockaday, and his father. The school existed from about 1910-1922.
Did You Know?
That the famed Alice to Brownsville Stage Line was inaugurated in 1884. The line carried the U. S. Mail and it required 40 hours of riding to reach Alice.
That the Rio Grande Railway Company that operated between Brownsville and Point Isabel was founded in 1870 by Simon Celaya Sr.
That on November 2, 1863 a local vaquero—Brownsville’s Paul Revere, dashes down the main street, yelling and waving a sombrero announcing the arrival of “the Federals ( the union soldiers )
That the kids that attended the local Grammar school of the 1890s were trained in the rudiments of military tactics? The students had to stand erect in ranks and keep step to music of the piano from the time they left their rooms until the leader called “break ranks” outside of the school gate.
That the Brownsville Market bell announced the opening and closing of the market, fire alarms, times of stress, police calls and for the saloons to close at night?
That the Opera House in Brownsville was inaugurated in November 1881 with a formal ball and included a buffet supper?
That in November 1920, Oscar Dancy was elected Cameron County Judge, a post he was to hold with only one interruption (1933-34) for the next fifty years?
That in 1914, W. A. “Snake” King, rode a burro from Brownsville to Austin and up the steps of the state capitol to invite the governor to the annual Mid-Winter Fair in Brownsville? Governor O.B. Colquitt came to the fair.
That in the period shortly after the Civil War many of the houses in Brownsville ere prefabricated; that is they were designed and partially assembled in New Orleans, shipped to Brownsville and here put up through the cooperation of the entire town?
That in 1893, Hon. William Neale was 85 and the oldest inhabitant in Brownsville?
That in 1898, Cipriano Cardenas Sr., opened his first grocery store at the corner of 15th and East Jackson Streets?
That in 1918, the three leading theaters were the Dittman, Dreamland and Queen?
That in 1893, one of the most popular social clubs in the city was the Brownsville Casino Society, headed by Louis Kowalski?
That Brownsville was right proud of its 1890s “Cinderella parties” where a dainty pair of Turkish slippers was given the lady with the smallest feet?
Did you know?
That the first mayor of Brownsville was Israel Bigelow elected on April 8, 1850—but was removed from office on September of the same year following allegations of election fraud and other irregularities.
That a major improvement in health care facilities occurred in 1923, when Mercy Hospital was constructed on two blocks of land donated by James Stillman?
That higher education came to Brownsville in 1926 in the form of the Junior College of the Lower Rio Grande Valley? Renamed Brownsville Junior College five years later and eventually it became Texas Southmost College.
That in 1925, a Brownsville citizen hotel committee was responsible for contracting to erect a hotel? The El Jardin Hotel took two years to complete; that the roof of the hotel was the site of radio broadcasting tower for KWWG, the first in the Valley?
That the steamer “Bessie” made trips about every 10 days from Brownsville to all up-river points such as Santa Maria, Rio Grande City, Reynosa, Meir and Camargo?
That in 1875, W. S. Dougherty established “The Daily Cosmopolitan”, a newspaper devoted to the trade interest of this section and the Welfare of the Rio Grande country?
That the chandeliers that hung in the Immaculate Conception Church were the gift of Jeremiah Galvan?
That the “Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized in 1875?
That in 1880, the bill for the year for feeding prisoners in the city jail was $11.01?
That in 1889, there was a school for the Negro children in Brownsville at the foot of Jefferson Street in charge of a white teacher, Miss Mary Wallace?
That in 1890, there was no theaters in Brownsville because we were too far off the beaten track for any manager to risk the danger—but at the well equipped Opera House, local talent endeavored to lessen our regrets?
That in 1890 “Summer Whites” were worn at Fort Brown by troops from April 15 to November 15?
That in 1893 the drug store “Botica de Leon” owned by Joseph L. Putegnat carried a full line of drugs, chemicals, patent medicines, surgical instruments, perfumery, toilet articles, paint, paint brushes, oils, combs, hair brushes and tooth brushes?
Did You Know?
That in 1920 famed baseball managers Branch Rickey and Connie Mack brought their St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics to Brownsville and the Valley for training camp?
That Henry Martin Schmidt, born in Brownsville 1873, played with the Brooklyn Superbas/Dodgers of the National League in 1903?
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HAIL! HAIL! LINDA'S POLITIQUERO(A)S FRIENDS ARE ALL HERE!
Judicial Canon 2B of the code of conduct states “a judge shall not lend the prestige of judicial office to advance the private interests of the judge or others,” and 5(2) of the code of conduct states “a judge or judicial candidate shall not authorize the public use of his or her name endorsing another candidate for any public office, except that either may indicate support for a political party.”
By Juan Montoya
Why is it that things happen in Cameron County which are not allowed in other parts of the state?
Take the endorsement of political candidates for office by local justices of the peace and judges.
We saw it in the case of the Sanchez brothers when David Sanchez, a district judge, not only endorsed his bother Dan for Cameron County judge, but now JP 2-1 Linda Salazar openly endorsing City of Brownsville mayoral candidate Charlie Cabler.
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We can't blame the candidate for accepting anyone's endorsement. That's what campaigning is all about. But Salazar, who's been a justice of the peace for the last 16 years should know better.
On June June 6, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand of Rio Grande City Municipal Judge Leonel “Leo” Lopez Jr. for violating the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.
This was before he was indicted for operating a bribe scheme with contractors of the Weslaco Water Plant. What did he do that garnered the reprimand from the commission?
News reports indicate that "he lent the prestige of his office in support of J.M. “Chuy” Alvarez, the current Democratic nominee for Starr County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 who was running for 229th District Attorney at the time, by sharing one of Alvarez’s campaign advertisements on his Facebook page sometime around Jan. 21, 2016.
The commission found he also lent his support to Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal and City Commissioners Rey Ramirez and Dave “Chachi” Jones, when they ran for re-election in 2016.'
So if Lopez gets formal reprimand from the commission for allowing his name to these local contests, how can Salazar flaunt her position endorsing a local candidate for mayor and there are no consequences? Could it be because Cameron County D.A. Luis V. Saenz is also in the photo? If you have the DA on your side, what prosecution can you fear?
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And that's not all. She and local politiquero Amadeo Rodriguez Jr. have
been making the rounds of local adult day care centers trying to ingratiate herself into their good graces currying their vote. Rodriguez and other members of his family were an important cog in the Erni-Norma Hernandez-Erin Garcia vote harvesting machine. One of his sisters, Gracie, is also in the photo.
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Rodriguez and others have been linked with harvesting mail-in votes from elderly residents. In fact, in her recent announcement for reelection, Salazar pulled out all the stops and took photos of herself surrounded by well-known politiqueros and politiqueras.
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Most candidates have been approached by the likes of double-dealing Natividad "Nati" Arzola, Ramiro Amaya, and the school bus union leader Petra Ramirez, Minnie Leal, Minnie de los Santos, Marisa Leal and political operative Linda Castro and her husband. The people in the photo labled "GK" are her grandchildren used as fillers to give the impression of a large following.
In one picture of her supporters under a tent, Margarita Rangel Ozuna
who pleaded no contest to illegally assisting the elderly in voting in 2010. She admitted she prepared ballots without their direction, and then deposited the carrier envelopes without providing the proper information on the envelope. She received a sentence of probation. She is sitting directly behind Arzola.
If this is "Team Salazar" does this mean we should expect the Bad Old
Days of vote harvesting, mail-in voting fraud, and abuse of the elderly at day care centers to rear their ugly heads again on behalf of Linda's campaign?
By Juan Montoya
Why is it that things happen in Cameron County which are not allowed in other parts of the state?
Take the endorsement of political candidates for office by local justices of the peace and judges.
We saw it in the case of the Sanchez brothers when David Sanchez, a district judge, not only endorsed his bother Dan for Cameron County judge, but now JP 2-1 Linda Salazar openly endorsing City of Brownsville mayoral candidate Charlie Cabler.
We can't blame the candidate for accepting anyone's endorsement. That's what campaigning is all about. But Salazar, who's been a justice of the peace for the last 16 years should know better.
On June June 6, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a public reprimand of Rio Grande City Municipal Judge Leonel “Leo” Lopez Jr. for violating the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.
This was before he was indicted for operating a bribe scheme with contractors of the Weslaco Water Plant. What did he do that garnered the reprimand from the commission?
News reports indicate that "he lent the prestige of his office in support of J.M. “Chuy” Alvarez, the current Democratic nominee for Starr County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 who was running for 229th District Attorney at the time, by sharing one of Alvarez’s campaign advertisements on his Facebook page sometime around Jan. 21, 2016.
The commission found he also lent his support to Rio Grande City Mayor Joel Villarreal and City Commissioners Rey Ramirez and Dave “Chachi” Jones, when they ran for re-election in 2016.'
So if Lopez gets formal reprimand from the commission for allowing his name to these local contests, how can Salazar flaunt her position endorsing a local candidate for mayor and there are no consequences? Could it be because Cameron County D.A. Luis V. Saenz is also in the photo? If you have the DA on your side, what prosecution can you fear?
And that's not all. She and local politiquero Amadeo Rodriguez Jr. have
been making the rounds of local adult day care centers trying to ingratiate herself into their good graces currying their vote. Rodriguez and other members of his family were an important cog in the Erni-Norma Hernandez-Erin Garcia vote harvesting machine. One of his sisters, Gracie, is also in the photo.
Most candidates have been approached by the likes of double-dealing Natividad "Nati" Arzola, Ramiro Amaya, and the school bus union leader Petra Ramirez, Minnie Leal, Minnie de los Santos, Marisa Leal and political operative Linda Castro and her husband. The people in the photo labled "GK" are her grandchildren used as fillers to give the impression of a large following.In one picture of her supporters under a tent, Margarita Rangel Ozuna
who pleaded no contest to illegally assisting the elderly in voting in 2010. She admitted she prepared ballots without their direction, and then deposited the carrier envelopes without providing the proper information on the envelope. She received a sentence of probation. She is sitting directly behind Arzola.
If this is "Team Salazar" does this mean we should expect the Bad Old
Days of vote harvesting, mail-in voting fraud, and abuse of the elderly at day care centers to rear their ugly heads again on behalf of Linda's campaign?
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MENDEZ TAKE MAYOR TO WOODSHED AT REALTORS, AT BPOA
By Juan Montoya
If the City of Brownsville mayoral race was a two-man contest between incumbent Tony Martinez and Texas Southmost College trustee Juan "Trey" Mendez, it would be slam dunk for the pizza parlor owner.
But there is a third candidate, former city manager Charlie Cabler. But if the give and take between Mendez and Martinez is any indicattion of who is taking the fight to the incumbent, Mendez would win hands down. For example, during the mayoral candidates' debate before the Realtors, Mendez scored some major points when he:
- pointed out the average cost of a house in Brownsville is 85k compared to 125k for McAllen. For realtors this is a big deal when you factor in a 6 percent commission.
-Pointed out that Tony promised an ethics code in 2011 and didn't deliver until 30 days before the election
- and defused Martinez's criticism of the TSC board's firing of former president Lily Tercero and asserted he would vote to fire her again if given the chance. He pointed out not one penny has been paid Tercereo yet.When it came to the debate before the Brownsville Police Officers Association, Mendez again took Martinez to the woodshed when he:
- knew the statistics about the number of police officers in the city (244) and how that number has not increased in the last 8 years while Martinez has been in office and while Cabler was CM. No other candidate had an idea on this number and did not offer any real solutions on fixing the issues that exist within the department.
- told the police officers they were being ignored and that their commission doesn't listen to them. If so, they would have more officers, more equipment and resources.
- pointed out that he has met with new city manager Noel Bernal and discussed the possibility of increasing the number of police officers right away, at least incrementally, on a yearly basis.
- told them he met with PD officials and reps and discussed concerns about the department and efficiency.
- discussed the use of data to track where people are at a given time as a means to efficiently dispatch officers to certain areas.
- stated that listening was the biggest difference between him and many other public officials who say they will, but don't
It was somewhat disconcerting to hear the normally staid, quiet Mendez go on the offensive in these forums, but it does give one a glimpse of his potential for assertiveness as a public administrator and office holder. In contrast, Martinez could only look on helplessly as his deficiencies were laid bare before the audience.
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SUNRISE MALL CHASE/BUST YIELDS DRUGS, FIREARMS
(Ed,'s Note: After we posted the little available information on the chase and arrest of two drug smugglers when the event occurred Wednesday afternoon, we started receiving photos taken by mall-goers that showed the object of the persecution by local cops and Border Patrol.As can clearly be seen, the two men in the white pickup were carrying a sizable amount of what appears to be marihuana and loaded for bear with a a Glock and at least nine magazines and hundreds of shells (in baggie).
Fortunately for everyone, the arrests were executed without a shot being fired, But it makes you think twice of letting the kiddos spend the day at the mall when things like this are going down. Doesn't it? Thanks to our readers for the photos.)
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IS SWEARING A SIGN OF MORE, NOT LESS, INTELLIGENCE? DOES THAT MEAN THAT MACLOVIO O'MALLEY IS TRULY A GENIUS?
By Richard Stephens
The Conversation
The use of obscene or taboo language - or swearing, as it’s more commonly known - is often seen as a sign that the speaker lacks vocabulary, cannot express themselves in a less offensive way, or even lacks intelligence.
Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more, rather than less, intelligent use of language.
While swearing can become a habit, we choose to swear in different contexts and for different purposes: for linguistic effect, to convey emotion, for laughs, or perhaps even to be deliberately nasty.
Psychologists interested in when and why people swear try to look past the stereotype that swearing is the language of the unintelligent and illiterate.
In fact, a study by psychologists from Marist College found links between how fluent a person is in the English language and how fluent they are in swearing.
The former - verbal fluency - can be measured by asking volunteers to think of as many words beginning with a certain letter of the alphabet as they can in 1 minute.
People with greater language skills can generally think of more examples in the allotted time. Based on this approach, the researchers created the swearing fluency task. This task requires volunteers to list as many different swear words as they can think of in 1 minute.
By comparing scores from both the verbal and swearing fluency tasks, it was found that the people who scored highest on the verbal fluency test also tended to do best on the swearing fluency task. The weakest in the verbal fluency test also did poorly on the swearing fluency task.
What this correlation suggests is that swearing isn’t simply a sign of language poverty, lack of general vocabulary, or low intelligence.
Instead, swearing appears to be a feature of language that an articulate speaker can use in order to communicate with maximum effectiveness. And actually, some uses of swearing go beyond just communication.
To read rest of article, click on ,link below:
The use of obscene or taboo language - or swearing, as it’s more commonly known - is often seen as a sign that the speaker lacks vocabulary, cannot express themselves in a less offensive way, or even lacks intelligence.
Studies have shown, however, that swearing may in fact display a more, rather than less, intelligent use of language.
While swearing can become a habit, we choose to swear in different contexts and for different purposes: for linguistic effect, to convey emotion, for laughs, or perhaps even to be deliberately nasty.
Psychologists interested in when and why people swear try to look past the stereotype that swearing is the language of the unintelligent and illiterate.
In fact, a study by psychologists from Marist College found links between how fluent a person is in the English language and how fluent they are in swearing.
The former - verbal fluency - can be measured by asking volunteers to think of as many words beginning with a certain letter of the alphabet as they can in 1 minute.
People with greater language skills can generally think of more examples in the allotted time. Based on this approach, the researchers created the swearing fluency task. This task requires volunteers to list as many different swear words as they can think of in 1 minute.
By comparing scores from both the verbal and swearing fluency tasks, it was found that the people who scored highest on the verbal fluency test also tended to do best on the swearing fluency task. The weakest in the verbal fluency test also did poorly on the swearing fluency task.
What this correlation suggests is that swearing isn’t simply a sign of language poverty, lack of general vocabulary, or low intelligence.
Instead, swearing appears to be a feature of language that an articulate speaker can use in order to communicate with maximum effectiveness. And actually, some uses of swearing go beyond just communication.
To read rest of article, click on ,link below:
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TRUMP BLINKS; BORDER CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT PUT OFF
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
He was supposed to come to McAllen today and give the momentous announcement that in face of the caravans of asylum seekers from Central America traveling across Mexico toward the U.S. and drugs flowing across the Rio Grande, he was closing the border.
Instead, after listening to his advisers, elected officials and economic developers from the border states, and even his Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump stepped back from the precipice he himself created.
Instead, he said he would give the Mexican government a one-year respite on the closing but that they could expect tariffs imposed on cars coming into the U.S.at the southern border if Mexico does not do enough to prevent illegal immigration into the U.S. and if it does not crack down on drugs traffic.
After a year, he said that if Mexico did not prevent immigrants from entering the U.S. , he would follow through on the auto taxes. What he didn't explain was that implementing tariffs on cars would violate the new trade agreement that replaced NAFTA.
Meanwhile, the pressures on federal agencies managing the border (I.C.E., C.B.P, etc.) have them scrambling to process the thousands of Central American asylum seekers who are "caught and released" at the border. They, in turn, travel north to join relatives and sponsors.
The shortage o manpower at the bridges has resulted in wait times of up to two hours or more to cross from Matamoros to Brownsville and other ports of entry between Brownsville and El Paso, a de facto border slowdown, if not closure.
Their release at the Good Neighbor Settlement House and Multimodal Bus Terminal has placed Brownsville squarely in the middle of the border "crisis" epicenter. Each morning, large blue buses stop at the bus terminal and unload hundreds of immigrants where they can purchase bus tickets to head off to their destination.
At any one time, there are hundreds lined up at the counters and other milling around the building.
The responses from locals have been varied.
Some say that Central Americans cannot expect that they can enter the country at will. Others say people escaping violence and economic hardship should be lent a helping hand. Volunteers have collected clothing and other material assistance. Others help them hook up with relatives through their cell phones or to purchase the right tickets for their trip.
When will this end? Trump, the master of brinkmanship, now says he will act in a year. We're in for the long haul, it appears.
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JOBS, WORKER TRAINING IN WAKE OF GBIC-AMFELS PACT
strategically located in the Port of Brownsville and the Gulf of Mexico, in partnership with the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, is pleased to announce the expansion and growth of their business operations.
Established in 1990, Keppel AmFELS has built up a solid track record and capabilities in the construction, refurbishment, conversion, life extension and repair of a complete range of mobile drilling rigs and platforms. Keppel AmFELS is strategically located in the Port of Brownsville channel, with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico.
Keppel AmFELS has expanded its marine segment to include a wide variety of vessels ranging from LNG Bunker Vessels to dual fuel container vessels for the Jones Act market. Keppel AmFELS
currently has over 600 employees with several hundred more to hire by 2020, next year.
Simon Lee, Keppel AmFELS President, stated, “Working together with the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation has provided us with a great opportunity to continue our growth. As a result, today, we are the preferred offshore and marine shipyard in the Gulf of Mexico, backed by comprehensive facilities and a highly-skilled workforce.
currently has over 600 employees with several hundred more to hire by 2020, next year.
Simon Lee, Keppel AmFELS President, stated, “Working together with the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation has provided us with a great opportunity to continue our growth. As a result, today, we are the preferred offshore and marine shipyard in the Gulf of Mexico, backed by comprehensive facilities and a highly-skilled workforce.
These qualities have enabled us to deliver premium rigs on time, within budget and safely, placing Brownsville on the global map for world class offshore and marine solutions.”
Brownsville Deputy City Manager, Helen Ramirez, AICP, stated, "Brownsville is experiencing momentum in its path towards attracting new market sectors, which is great for our economy and job creation,
Brownsville Deputy City Manager, Helen Ramirez, AICP, stated, "Brownsville is experiencing momentum in its path towards attracting new market sectors, which is great for our economy and job creation,
Will work closely with ISD and Technical College to prepare workforce.is an example of this great business climate that is allowing existing and new companies to innovate and flourish in Brownsville, thereby demonstrating that we are prepared for strong economic growth!"
Mario Lozoya, GBIC Executive Director, said, “GBIC is working on strategies to develop a stronger and relevant workforce in Brownsville. Initiatives such as ‘We Grow Our Own’ are connecting major employers with local schools and students. Resulting in the creation of high paying jobs and social mobility for our citizens.”
Losoya said that Keppel AmFELS has committed to create 700 new high-demand and high-pay jobs in its new ship-building function. He said the GBIC will work closely with local ISDs and technical colleges to prepare the workforce.
GBIC, is the type A economic development arm for the City of Brownsville, has a mission to promote and increase the economic and industrial competitiveness of the region. For more information visit the website at www.Greaterbrownsville.com
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YOU JUST IGNORE THOSE SHOWOFFS AND EAT YOUR FOOD, JR!
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B.U.C. TABS PRESAS-GARCIA IN DISTRICT 2 ENDORSEMENT
(Click on graphic to enlarge.)
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LOCAL TIES IN FINAL FOUR TEXAS TECH-MICHIGAN ST. GAME
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
When Texas Tech and Michigan State meet tonight to decide who will go Minneapolis for the national championship individuals on both teams or their relatives have ties to Texas.
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One, Mark Adams, the defensive assistant coach for the Red Raiders under Chris Beard, was the head coach at Texas Pan-American now Texas Rio Grande Valley (1992-97), now UTRGV.
His bio states that Adams has won at every level he has coached and amassed a 554-244 career record over his 23 seasons as a head coach.
His head coaching stints include Clarendon College (1981-82), Wayland Baptist (1983-87), West Texas A&M (1987-92), Texas Pan-American now Texas Rio Grande Valley (1992-97) and Howard College (2004-13).
He was inducted into the Wayland Baptist Hall of Honor in September 2017.
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Across the court, Michigan State head coach will have his constant fan Lupe Marinez Izzo cheering on her husband's team. Marinez has been married to Izzo since 1992.
In her brief bio at the MSU page, she is said to have been born in Texas (doesn't say where), but her family moved to East Lansing as a young girl. She is a business woman who met Izzo when he was an assistant coach at MSU.
Dr. Rene Perez Rosenbaum, a Brownsville native and brother of former Cameron County Precinct 1 commissioner Lucino Rosenbaum who is an Associate Professor, School of Planning, Design and Construction at MSU, said she hails from the Uvalde-Crystal City area.
A former farm migrant worker, Rosenbaum said she, too, comes from an migrant family that resettled in the E. Lansing area and worked in local automotive factories. Her parents were some of the original founders of the Cristo Rey Cultural Center and she periodically hosts fundraisers in the Izzo residence.
Marinez has been Izzo's number one fan during his stint as head coach there and has been specially supportive of Hispanic staff members and students who attend the school.
When Texas Tech and Michigan State meet tonight to decide who will go Minneapolis for the national championship individuals on both teams or their relatives have ties to Texas.
His bio states that Adams has won at every level he has coached and amassed a 554-244 career record over his 23 seasons as a head coach.
His head coaching stints include Clarendon College (1981-82), Wayland Baptist (1983-87), West Texas A&M (1987-92), Texas Pan-American now Texas Rio Grande Valley (1992-97) and Howard College (2004-13).
He was inducted into the Wayland Baptist Hall of Honor in September 2017.
Across the court, Michigan State head coach will have his constant fan Lupe Marinez Izzo cheering on her husband's team. Marinez has been married to Izzo since 1992.In her brief bio at the MSU page, she is said to have been born in Texas (doesn't say where), but her family moved to East Lansing as a young girl. She is a business woman who met Izzo when he was an assistant coach at MSU.
Dr. Rene Perez Rosenbaum, a Brownsville native and brother of former Cameron County Precinct 1 commissioner Lucino Rosenbaum who is an Associate Professor, School of Planning, Design and Construction at MSU, said she hails from the Uvalde-Crystal City area.
A former farm migrant worker, Rosenbaum said she, too, comes from an migrant family that resettled in the E. Lansing area and worked in local automotive factories. Her parents were some of the original founders of the Cristo Rey Cultural Center and she periodically hosts fundraisers in the Izzo residence.
Marinez has been Izzo's number one fan during his stint as head coach there and has been specially supportive of Hispanic staff members and students who attend the school.
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IN THE DISTRICT 1 RACE, YAWNS, CROSSED ARMS, ALLEYS
(Ed.'s Note: There are four candidates for the District 1 position held by 16-year incumbent Ricardo Longoria, at left with crossed arms trying his best to act indifferent as his challenger Nurith Galonsky makes her pitch at a recent candidates' debate. The really bored guy in the middle is former city commissioner William Garza. Missing from the photo is the fourth candidate Michael Rodriguez.
The core constituency in the district is the Southmost area, a sprawling barrio community in the city's southeast reaches extending east toward the Port of Brownsville and south along the Rio Grande. That area's is notorious for low voter turnout,. Can anyone of the candidates light a fire under the electorate this year? The challengers are counting on it, and Longoria hopes it doesn't happen.
Meanwhile, we are getting reports that after years of asking the city to clean their weed-overgrown, litter-filled alleys, city crews have suddenly appeared in District 1 alleyways as the election nears.
City commissioners are infamous for pulling out all the stops right before the election to impress the people that they are actually doing something. Will it work for Longoria again? Or has he gone to that well too often and despite all his machinations is it a case of too little, too late?
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CABLER HALTS SPACEX! ANGLING FOR VOTES AT BOCA CHICA
(Ed.'s Note: Yes, it was a chilly, clammy morning Saturday, but the Charley Cabler faithful were bundled up and wetting their lines at Boca Chica Beach. Pictured with Cabler is incumbent District 1 city commissioner Ricardo Longoria who is locked in a four-way contest for the seat he's held for the last 16 years. We don't now who walked away with the top prize at the fishing tournament, but we understand that those attending didn't mind getting a little wet. After all, that why you go to the beach.)
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SAN BENE ACCIDENT LEAVES TRUCK OVERTURNED, FOLKS HELP
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