By Juan Montoya
Back in January, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) notified the City Planning Department that it was the recipient of a $5,000 grant to promote bicycle friendly businesses in the city.
But quietly, the city commission had approved that 10 percent of all Certificates of Obligation that they approved for street repair and other transportation-related items would go to the Bike-Ped Division. Last year alone, this amounted to more than $500,000.
The BCIC notified the City of Brownsville Planning Department Bicycles and Pedestrian Advisory Committee their application for the $5,000 in unds had been approved. The committee had tentatively planned to hold their first meeting to attract businesses to apply for grants at the Brownsville Civic Pavilion back in December 2016 or early January 2017 . But instead, the members decided – for some unspecified reason – to hold it at the as-yet-unopened 7th and Park Coffee Shop in April or May 2017, four months later and in the midst of the reelection campaign of bicycle advocate Rose Gowen.
That business did not open until February and is run by the owner who is closely associated with Gowen. This drew a pointe remark by Michael Cowen who wondered why "we should tax people and then use their money to promote private businesses. Shouldn't businesses be responsible for their own marketing rather than asking others to pay for it?"
And as far back as November 2016, the city planners had contacted the local Cinemark theater to run a video spot promoting the work of the committee. The promo video was set to run in Cinemark theaters for 4 weeks ($3,730), on COB.TV, and on social media during January and February 2017, advertising a February 17, 2017 workshop/event.
The goal of the workshop/event ostensibly is to attract business owners/managers to learn about the BFB program.
So why was it that the plan was adjusted to include the new coffee shop and bicycle business in the promo and the projected meeting of business owners changed to accommodate the new business?
According to the planning department grant application, the fee for businesses to apply is based off the size of the business and ranges from $50 to $500. The designation has several application cycles, with one opening in January 2017. Applications awards are be announced in May 2017. After awards have been announced by the League of American Bicyclists, the Bike/Ped division would promote a "Bike to Bicycle Friendly Businesses" ride/event for late May or early June 2017. Instead, the Cinemark advertisements say it will be April 19, five days before early voting for the city commission elections'
In addition to the Cinemark advertisements, there will also be $1,270 in advertisements for the program and accompanying rides/events that will run in print ads and newspapers.
Committee members said most of the amount received this year was committed as matching dollars for grants awarded for bike/ped infrastructure.
The Bike-Ped Division plans to reach over 3,000 people through the promotional videos discussing the BFB program. At the first event, they hope to reach at least 25 business owners/managers and gather the numbers through sign in sheets. Their aim is to aim to submit between 5 to 10 applications and have at least 50 cyclists participate in the second event/ride.
Some business owners wonder whether the awarding of the grant, the selection of the coffee/bike shop that belongs to Gowen's friend and its promotion by the city as the site to hold their delayed meeting amounts to nothing more than subsidizing her reelection campaign at the expense of the public.
Those are legitimate questions that need answers as the early voting period approaches later this month on the 24th. Has the promo project been tailored to be the outreach arm of the Gowen campaign? Or are we being overly cynical about the changes and the motives for them?
Those are legitimate questions that need answers as the early voting period approaches later this month on the 24th. Has the promo project been tailored to be the outreach arm of the Gowen campaign? Or are we being overly cynical about the changes and the motives for them?