Facts took a back seat in the hearing before Judge Arturo Nelson's 138th District Court Thursday.
Foremost among the fibbers was none other than City of Brownsville contract attorney Mark Sossi, who clearly taxed the credulity of the people assembled in the audience and the lawyers and the bench.
Sossi at any one time argued against the truth. Here are some of the beauts:
1. The City of Brownsville had not decided whether it was actually going to sell the 48-acre Lincoln Park property to the University of Texas System for $6.5 million.
Fact: After the November 4 City Commission meeting, where the commission voted to authorize the city staff to negotiate the sale of Lincoln Park, 4-3, with Mayor Martinez breaking the tie, the UT Board of Regents met in El Paso November 5 and 6.
A press release concerning the regent's meeting indicated they viewed their purchase of Lincoln Park as a done deal with an agreed upon price. The exact wording was:
"The property (Lincoln Park) is critical for the growth of the institution due to its size and proximity to the academic core of the campus; there is no alternative site of equal benefit available. The City of Brownsville has indicated that it plans to use the BARGAIN SALE proceeds to replace the park facilities at locations (note - plural) more convenient to the public.
Bargain Purchase Price: $6.5 million
Appraisal: Appraised by Acquire and Patterson, Inc. (July 23, 2014) market value range from $8,860,000-$9,360,000
Lease back at no cost to the City of Brownsville for a period not to exceed 5 years, so that the City of Brownsville will have time to construct alternate park facilities elsewhere."
2. Commissioner Rose Gowen, who voted to go forward with the sale, does not work for UTB or the new UTRGV. She is the medical director for UT Health research unit related to the UT Brownsville and UT-Houston, which Sossi said is a "totally different entity" that has nothing to do with UT-Brownsville.
Fact: As Luis Saenz said, "UT is UT" whether it's in Brownsville, Austin, San Antonio, or El Paso. The entire UT System is run by the UT System Regents and is under their authority."
Sossi later stipulated that Gowen was a UT employee and that she received more than 10 percent of her income form the system.
3. Sossi and Texas Attorney General representative William Deane questioned the appraisal skills of former Mayor Pat Ahumada and his assessment of the land on which Lincoln Park is located saying that the comparables made his comparisons not credible.
Fact: Ahumada was using the same methodology that was used to push forward the sale of half a block and and empty building belonging to Abraham Galonsky in moribund downtown Brownsville for an unjustified $2.3 million. With 17 years experience as a certified appraiser, Sossi and Deans's arguments that he didn't qualify as an expert on local real-estate appraisals didn't hold water. Why didn't Sossi question the methodology used by the city to purchase Galonsky's property then?
It was obvious to many there that Judge Nelson was more bent on protecting Gowen's professional reputation as a doctor and a city commissioner than of respecting the rights of the people who were trying to defend the giveaway of the city's assets to the UT System.
Would you buy a used argument from contract lawyer Sossi or an abused mayorship from Tony Martinez? Watch the noses grow some more.
19 comments:
Get a job, Juan. Ya, buey. Que se acabe tu pedo. Get a job. GET A JOB!!!
NELSON IS JUST ANOTHER DIRT-BAG AND IS AS CORRUPTED AS HIS COMPADRES...AND AT ONE TIME HIS NAME SURFACED DURING THE LIMAS' RAT-PACK TRIAL!!!
This person predicted it correctly Johnny Boy. This person posted this on your blog from day one.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
The people did not elect Luis Saenz as the Cameron County District Attorney to turn around and act as a private citizen. This only proves that he is scared to ruin his political career by acting as a DA proving he is an incapable Prosecutor out for justice for the victims. The Victims are the Children (Children being Brownsville)quoted from his own words.
Think about it he now has Bobby Wightman and Erasmo Castro Brownsville Cheezmeh calling him a hero to the tune of guranteering his re-election because he gave the time of day.What people don't realize is OUR DA CAN'T ACT TO PROSECUTE THEM... He would have to appoint a Special Prosecutor in which the Special Prosecutor would drop any charges or get a No Bill from the Grand Jury giving Mr. Saenz the excuse to say Well I tried but the Law was not in our favor.
He is playing us ALL. Just wait NOTHING WILL HAPPEN TO GOWEN, PORTILLO AND THE MAYOR TONY MARTINEZ. Lincoln Park will be sold for a different dollar amount maybe 9 million with the Citizens of Southmost area getting screwed for the 3rd time.
Galonsky will make another killing increasing his bank account. This is all a smoke screen. Puro Politics as usual.
November 11, 2014 at 4:36 PM
M. Cowen, L. Saenz and M. Kendall knew they didn't have a chance of winning because if they did they would have filed criminal charges on Gowen but they didn't they knew they didn't have a chance of ever winning.
People need to understand POLITICS. This was ALL POLITICS. Nothing more nothing less. The poor people of Southmost were only used for the headlines.
It breaks my heart to realize how selfish our politicians are to use every angle to get their name on the front page so people could remember their name come re-election. Sad but true.
This is why Ernie Hernanedez got a slap on his wrist, Erin Hernandez didn't get indicted, Ex-Mayor of San Benito got a PTD and Rose Gowen will never be brought up in charges...ohhhh but you better not get in trouble if your not a politician because you are going to prison. Ain't that right Mr. DA?
It is sad to see Arturo Nelso give a decision, but not define the reason for his decision. Seems like Dumbokratic politics is in play again. Art failed us and his decision (without details) seems to indicate that his loyalty is with the Dumbokratic Party and not the people. Why not give justification for the his decision......bad mistake for Arturo.
Actually you can blame then governor Bush.....he vetoed a bill that would have forced judge nelson to explain his ruling.
Better not get caught at the 8 liners either or the full power of the D.A.'s office will come down on you!
To Mr. "DUMBOCRATIC:
Do yourself a favor and stop using the term DUMBOCRATIC if you expect anybody to take you seriously. It is childish, and discurages further reading of your comments.
Nice video.
It's discourages.....imbecile!
White-collar criminals running Wild in Cameron County.
Girls Gone Wild !
Defense attorneys for Ray R. Marchan prodded and prodded, and finally former state District Judge Abel C. Limas named names of other district judges in Cameron County who he alleged may have been unethical or done things that were wrong. But once he gave names, the attorneys didn’t press for more information.
Marchan is on trial in federal court, charged with racketeering and aiding extortion. Limas — who sat on the bench of the 404th District Court from 2001 to 2008 and who already has pleaded guilty to racketeering — is a key witness for the prosecution. Limas has not yet been sentenced.
Limas testified last week that Marchan bribed him and gave him kickbacks. Marchan maintains that he merely loaned money to Limas.
It also came out Friday at the trial that federal investigators, after contacting Limas in 2010, asked that he consent to a wire. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Wynne, one of the prosecutors, offered that information to presiding U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen.
“The investigation was covert,” Wynne told Hanen Friday as Marchan’s defense attorney Noe Domingo Garza Jr. pressed Limas to say what names he gave the FBI.
Marchan is being tried on seven federal counts of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering, aiding and abetting extortion, and aiding and abetting wire fraud.
The prosecution alleges that Marchan bribed Limas during 2008 with payments totaling slightly more than $11,000 in return for an appointment as attorney ad litem and to deny a motion to sanction Marchan for missing a court date.
The defense maintains that Marchan, like many other attorneys, loaned money to Limas and that Limas did a favor for Marchan, as he did for other attorneys.
Other judges
Garza cross-examined Limas on the stand Friday, stating that Limas had told the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office who he thought was corrupt.
As he spoke, Garza held in his hand the FBI summary reports of its debriefings with Limas.
Limas was allowed to look at the reports to refresh his memory, but the judge and the attorneys took special care to ensure that Limas not read out loud from the reports.
“Don’t read from them,” Limas was told a couple of times Friday by Hanen and attorneys when he would forget that he wasn’t supposed to read aloud.
“You told them (FBI) who you thought was corrupt,” Garza prodded as he questioned Limas.
Limas responded he doesn’t use the word corrupt, stressing that the reports were not his but rather a summary of FBI debriefings of him.
Limas said a word that he would have used instead of corrupt would be “crooked.”
“Who do you think is crooked?” Garza asked.
At Garza’s insistence, Limas then named 138th District Judge Arturo Nelson, 444th District Judge David Sanchez, 357th District Judge Leonel Alejandro and 404th District Judge Elia Cornejo-Lopez.
Arturo could have written a decision if he wished. The Bush veto only stopped MANDATORY written decisions. But, el guero is too lazy to write anything.
9:40am, no hay duda you're a natural Naco....
Nelson is not off the hook for not explaining his decision. Bush's law may say he doesn't have to explain it, it doesn't say he can't explain it.
Y ago Que te valga Madre. He is probably the only one that is bringing light to all the rats.
Juan, if its public land, owned by the city and taxpayers of Brownsville, isn't it required by state law that the land be put up for bids or auction? first it must be declared surplus by the city commission and then put up for sale, via a bid or auction only. I know that's state law that's all. It should be No hanky panky for the UTB system since UTB has never been allowed to tap into the PUC funds which total almost $12 billion- yes folks that's $ 12 billion, let them UTYB pay a fair market value, not a mayor tony Martinez and gang low ball price. Mayor and gang members don't be a bunch of cool arrows and give it way when you all can get $3 million more. CCA
ABTM !!
Anybody But Tony Martinez!!
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