(Ed's Note: After we posted out note on the new 7th and Park Coffee Shop being the only business to receive a Bicycle Friendly Business campaign advertising promo from the City Planning Dept. for an upcoming meeting to be held by the City Planning Dept. to promote cycling in Brownsville, the reelection campaign sign for La Chisquida Rose Gowen has disappeared.
Some critics have complained that it was Gowen's personal relationship – and the owners' support for her reelection – that got them the opportunity for free advertising in ads that appeared in the local Cimemark theater at Sunrise Mall.
According to commissioner Debbie Portillo, the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation (GBIC) on which she seats as does John Villarreal (who is also running for reelection), had nothing to do with the selection of the bicycle shp being chosen to be featured on the ads.
"The Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Program is a ) campaign to attract businesses to participate in workshops to learn about how to become a BFB and for the city to take the opportunity to try to become a silver level Bicycle Friendly Community," Portillo replied to a critic's query on the apparent cozy relationship between the business and Gowen and Villarreal.
"The BCIC promotional award was awarded to the City's Planning Dept. The BCIC is not promoting a business, we only provided funding under the promotional cycle for the city to promote a bicycle friendly community. The video is only an invitation to attend a meeting at that establishment."
Others were not so sympathetic.
One commenter said :
"Rose Gowen went to St. Joseph Academy.
Dolly Sevier went to St. Joseph Academy.
Rose Gowen is the bread winner of her household and financially supports her husband.
Dolly Sevier is the bread winner of her household and financially supports her husband.
Rose Gowen wanted to give a way our tax payers money and property to UTRGV in exchange for a $5 million grant.
Dolly Sevier got BCIC to give our tax payers money to her husband a grant to promote her business.")
Others were not so sympathetic.
One commenter said :
"Rose Gowen went to St. Joseph Academy.
Dolly Sevier went to St. Joseph Academy.
Rose Gowen is the bread winner of her household and financially supports her husband.
Dolly Sevier is the bread winner of her household and financially supports her husband.
Rose Gowen wanted to give a way our tax payers money and property to UTRGV in exchange for a $5 million grant.
Dolly Sevier got BCIC to give our tax payers money to her husband a grant to promote her business.")