Various Sources
This week heralded the opening of a police bike patrol substation in Market Square. For years, the city commission has been promising to beef up security in the score of Brownsville which has become synonymous with homeless, crack queens and transvestites. The homeless seek out a doorway for shelter and set up shot. The crackheads panhandle passersby or drunks for the $3 dollars fro their rocks. The transvestites, well, need we elaborate?
The chisca cops look lean and mean and will probably make miscreants think twice before committing any dastardly deeds. There was an honor guard and a large contingent of Brownsville's finest attending the event, but conspicuous by their absence were Mayor Tony Martinez and the city commissioners except for commissioners Ben Neece and Rose Gowen. Come to think of it, most department heads did not attend. Neither, we might point out, did one of the interim city managers Michael Lopez.
Acting Police Chief Commander David Dale was present at the ceremony to bring more security to the heart of downtown. It should be noted that when former Chief Orlando Rodriguez retired, he commended Neece for making the long-promised substation a reality.
"I've heard about that for a long time from former city commissions, but this time it is becoming reality," Rodriguez said. In addition to the substation, the city commission also approved the installation of $480,000 surveillance system consisting of 40 cameras strategically located in the downtown area.
City officials and business people hope it will encourage residents to patronize downtown and attract new investors to the area. It's a first step and a positive one for historic downtown.
CASCOS AND THE SPAZMATICS-AUSTIN DO BROWNTOWN
Former Texas secretary of State Carlos Cascos – in his bid to regain the Cameron County judgeship – held his premier fundraiser Thursday in Brownsville. Cascos filled the house as local luminaries that inlcuded, according to him – Republicans, Democrats, Independents, and Vegetarians – an a table for local bloggers and pundits for good measure.
Cascos, who resigned the judgeship after he was appointed SOS by Gov. Gregory Wayne Abbott, is facing incumbent Eddie Treviño, the former mayor of Brownsville. Before the event, it was announced that Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, the first Hispanic First Lady, would be present.
The Spazmatics were a big hit playing the favorites of the 1980s for the post-boomer crowd.On Wednesday they were in Austin, Thursday here, Friday in Boerne and Saturday will be at Louie's Backyard on the Island. A fine time was had by all, including local blogger and man-around-town Robert Wightman, who can be seen dancing the night away and shaking his longitas (or is it longotas) around before his spinal surgery later this week.
And Barton (yes, this time it is Jim) also shakes it up.
If the music makes these guys dance, it can't be all bad, can it?