By Juan Montoya
So what does the function of the Brownsville Children's Museum have to do with the price of rice in China?
What could one learn there that is not readily available on the Internet or through the Chinese embassy in the United States?
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According to world traveler Brownsville City Commissioner At Large "B" Rose Gowen, she is there to learn
about "language, markets, homes, exercise, and transportation in China...thanks to the Children's Museum of Brownsville."
In other words, she had the city-funded museum pay for her trip and lodging so she could have a taste of exotic China.
This justification is just about par for the course in our city. Remember when trustees and administrators of the Port of Brownsville use to jaunt over to China accompanied by U.S. Rep Solomon Ortiz and his aides and Jason Hilts of the Brownsville Economic Development Council?
After spending a nice weekend in Shanghai, China, and spending thousands of the taxpayers dollars, they had nothing to show for the expense. The late commissioner Dan Reyna used to say that now it could be claimed that Ortiz (and him) had been "made in China."
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The same thing happened when Hilts opened a "trade office" in Colombia and spent $100,000s keeping it open. He invited stare reps and their staffs, guys from the port, and even Da Mayor Tony Martinez to fly over and partake of the good life at taxpayer expense. He even hired a staff which included a sentimental companion. People were aghast when they found out that the pay sent for one of his "consultants" there was going to the address of a certain woman.
Up to today, despite the queries, there has been nothing in our economic development that came about as a result of the trips except for the fond memories of the ladies and the tropical fruit.
What will come out of China Rose's junket? That there are different colored species of rice? That there are some obese Chinese? That no one wears Mao jackets anymore? That kids play with home made toys? That the government provided free bicycles to the peasants?
Or that the trip so relaxed the commish that she might just need another public-funded jaunt somewhere else on the planet at public expense?
So what does the function of the Brownsville Children's Museum have to do with the price of rice in China?
What could one learn there that is not readily available on the Internet or through the Chinese embassy in the United States?
According to world traveler Brownsville City Commissioner At Large "B" Rose Gowen, she is there to learnabout "language, markets, homes, exercise, and transportation in China...thanks to the Children's Museum of Brownsville."
In other words, she had the city-funded museum pay for her trip and lodging so she could have a taste of exotic China.
This justification is just about par for the course in our city. Remember when trustees and administrators of the Port of Brownsville use to jaunt over to China accompanied by U.S. Rep Solomon Ortiz and his aides and Jason Hilts of the Brownsville Economic Development Council?
After spending a nice weekend in Shanghai, China, and spending thousands of the taxpayers dollars, they had nothing to show for the expense. The late commissioner Dan Reyna used to say that now it could be claimed that Ortiz (and him) had been "made in China."
The same thing happened when Hilts opened a "trade office" in Colombia and spent $100,000s keeping it open. He invited stare reps and their staffs, guys from the port, and even Da Mayor Tony Martinez to fly over and partake of the good life at taxpayer expense. He even hired a staff which included a sentimental companion. People were aghast when they found out that the pay sent for one of his "consultants" there was going to the address of a certain woman.Up to today, despite the queries, there has been nothing in our economic development that came about as a result of the trips except for the fond memories of the ladies and the tropical fruit.
What will come out of China Rose's junket? That there are different colored species of rice? That there are some obese Chinese? That no one wears Mao jackets anymore? That kids play with home made toys? That the government provided free bicycles to the peasants?
Or that the trip so relaxed the commish that she might just need another public-funded jaunt somewhere else on the planet at public expense?