Special to El Rrun-Rrun
District 37 State Representative Rene Oliveira tried to take a stroll downtown. Through the haze of the shots he had throughout the day sweating the runoff with Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner Alex Dominguez, his memories regarding Brownsville's historic heart and soul faltered and he grabbed at the corner of the San Fernando Building going back several generations to steady himself.
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The many spirits he had consumed made him imagine he saw a ghost at every corner.
"My grandfather was a longtime city cop and walking downtown was a part of his beat," said Oliveira as he passed in front of the bus terminal and admired the building's architecture as he observed the empty high-rise parking lot across the street. "Damn, for a moment I thought it was the guy in the security outfit sleeping on the bench.
"He used to run out the local Mexican shoe shine boys at their water holes like the pilot Bar and the Sportsman Lounge so the gringos could drink in peace. In those days, the Snowbirds used to make Brownsville los mecos for the entire Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.
"My grandfather spoke fondly about the trust that existed among the citizenry in those days. You hear about residents who didn't lock their homes, but merchants were so confident about the safety of their establishments that they oftentimes forgot to lock the doors to their entrances. Nowadays you can't even invite your neighbor to visit you because he might try to steal your wife."
Through his slurs, Oliveira insists that downtown's time is now. After 34 years of jaunting between Austin's Sixth Street and the French Quarter in New Orleans, he fancies that they have nothing over Brownsville.
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"We don't have the same traffic problems in Brownsville," he says. "In fact, there is almost no traffic in downtown Brownsville at all. But living in a thriving downtown would certainly be an attraction to both young professionals and retirees. I would love to see the El Jardin refurbished into a condo with a restaurant and businesses on the first floor."
His drinking buddy didn't have the heart to tell him that the city commission had already approved plans for a developer to refurbish El Jardin exactly along the lines of his inebriated imagination.
As a hometown product, Oliveira doesn't profess to have the knowledge of the experts at the Brownsville Historical Association, but he recited the contents of Bean Ayala's Visitors and Convention Bureau brochure he had seen somewhere.
"The first two battles of the Mexican-American War and the last battle of the Civil War were fought in the Brownsville area," said Oliveira. "Before Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, Juan Cortina and his followers took over Brownsville. With our wonderful weather and picturesque scenery, visitors would come in droves to experience Brownsville historically firsthand through our restored buildings. The birders are always amazed when they observe parrots living in palm trees on Washington Street. If they had the hangovers I have, they'd agree with Othal Brand and allow kids with 22s to shut them up. Gad, what a racket!"
"The momentum is here. I stopped for an early one at El Hueso de Fraile on the recommendation of my good friend State Senator Eddie Lucio, now that guy can sell an Eskimo a fridge, bro!, for a slight commission, of course.
"Brownsville is moving forward, not tottering, like I am. The movement downtown captures that spirit. And speaking of spirits, Jerry, let me buy you a couple of rounds to keep you happy and writing good stuff about me."
District 37 State Representative Rene Oliveira tried to take a stroll downtown. Through the haze of the shots he had throughout the day sweating the runoff with Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner Alex Dominguez, his memories regarding Brownsville's historic heart and soul faltered and he grabbed at the corner of the San Fernando Building going back several generations to steady himself.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The many spirits he had consumed made him imagine he saw a ghost at every corner."My grandfather was a longtime city cop and walking downtown was a part of his beat," said Oliveira as he passed in front of the bus terminal and admired the building's architecture as he observed the empty high-rise parking lot across the street. "Damn, for a moment I thought it was the guy in the security outfit sleeping on the bench.
"He used to run out the local Mexican shoe shine boys at their water holes like the pilot Bar and the Sportsman Lounge so the gringos could drink in peace. In those days, the Snowbirds used to make Brownsville los mecos for the entire Rio Grande Valley and Northern Mexico.
"My grandfather spoke fondly about the trust that existed among the citizenry in those days. You hear about residents who didn't lock their homes, but merchants were so confident about the safety of their establishments that they oftentimes forgot to lock the doors to their entrances. Nowadays you can't even invite your neighbor to visit you because he might try to steal your wife."
Through his slurs, Oliveira insists that downtown's time is now. After 34 years of jaunting between Austin's Sixth Street and the French Quarter in New Orleans, he fancies that they have nothing over Brownsville.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
"We don't have the same traffic problems in Brownsville," he says. "In fact, there is almost no traffic in downtown Brownsville at all. But living in a thriving downtown would certainly be an attraction to both young professionals and retirees. I would love to see the El Jardin refurbished into a condo with a restaurant and businesses on the first floor."
His drinking buddy didn't have the heart to tell him that the city commission had already approved plans for a developer to refurbish El Jardin exactly along the lines of his inebriated imagination.
As a hometown product, Oliveira doesn't profess to have the knowledge of the experts at the Brownsville Historical Association, but he recited the contents of Bean Ayala's Visitors and Convention Bureau brochure he had seen somewhere.
"The first two battles of the Mexican-American War and the last battle of the Civil War were fought in the Brownsville area," said Oliveira. "Before Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico, Juan Cortina and his followers took over Brownsville. With our wonderful weather and picturesque scenery, visitors would come in droves to experience Brownsville historically firsthand through our restored buildings. The birders are always amazed when they observe parrots living in palm trees on Washington Street. If they had the hangovers I have, they'd agree with Othal Brand and allow kids with 22s to shut them up. Gad, what a racket!"
"The momentum is here. I stopped for an early one at El Hueso de Fraile on the recommendation of my good friend State Senator Eddie Lucio, now that guy can sell an Eskimo a fridge, bro!, for a slight commission, of course.
"Brownsville is moving forward, not tottering, like I am. The movement downtown captures that spirit. And speaking of spirits, Jerry, let me buy you a couple of rounds to keep you happy and writing good stuff about me."