Both Ruben and Mark Anthony Cortez are sons of JP 2-1 Linda Salazar, who at one time was a member of the BISD board.
The large trailer-perched sign was parked off Paredes Line Road. Just this morning the inspectors placed the red tag. We have learned that the trailer did no belong to the Cortez brothers, but that it was loaned to them by Brownsville Navigation District commissioner Tito Lopez, who owns a transport company.
Candidates are well aware that the city has sign-size restrictions, and offenders are regularly cited for not following the rules.
In fact, the city's sign ordinance is quite specific.
The ordinance chapter states that the signs must not be illuminated. They must be “no larger than 36 square feet” and “shorter than eight feet in length.”
Signs must also “be placed at the consent of the owner on private property. Private property also means that if you have an easement up front for utilities, etc., you can’t place signs on that easement.
Signs also cannot be displayed in the public’s-right-of-way. Placement of signs in these areas along with signs containing moving elements will result in the sign being removed.The Cortez sign, as was Cascos' before him, were obviously a little larger than the 36-square foot limit.