(Ed.'s Note: Six years ago, when Brownsville Mayor (and attorney) Tony Martinez took office, he promised he would draft and pass a code of ethics for the city. For that lofty purpose, he tapped on city attorney Mark Sossi. In the subsequent years, no code of ethics has been produced yet, but the violations of ethics by these two has been egregious. Meanwhile, over at the Resaca City next door, one lonely crusader without a law degree fought and won the battle with recalcitrant city commissioners and had them pass a code of ethics for city employees and elected officials. The difference? Martinez and Sossi were paying lip service to the citizens while Rodriguez was dead serious.)
By Joe F. Rodriguez
By Joe F. Rodriguez
After four years of publishing Opinion Editorials on the “San Benito News” and “El Rrun Rrun” and
writing emails to the San Benito City Commission, the “fruits of my labor” have finally come to fruition.
At the regular City Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, the Commission finally adopted Ordinance #2497: an Ordinance by the City Commission of the City of San Benito, Texas, in compliance with Section 8.01 of the City Charter, prohibiting the use of public office for private gain, providing for hearing of complaints, providing for penalties, and providing for related matters (Conflict of Interest).
I wish to recognize and applaud City Manager, Mr. Manuel de la Rosa, who, after no movement by any member of the City Commission to place proposed Ordinance #2497 on the agenda, exercised his
authority granted by the City Charter and placed the proposed ordinance on the Agenda for an up and
down vote.
If you are a reader from San Benito and have not read my last “Guest Column” on the San Benito News, feel free to read my unedited version at reformsanbenito.blogspot.com
writing emails to the San Benito City Commission, the “fruits of my labor” have finally come to fruition.
At the regular City Commission meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2017, the Commission finally adopted Ordinance #2497: an Ordinance by the City Commission of the City of San Benito, Texas, in compliance with Section 8.01 of the City Charter, prohibiting the use of public office for private gain, providing for hearing of complaints, providing for penalties, and providing for related matters (Conflict of Interest).
I wish to recognize and applaud City Manager, Mr. Manuel de la Rosa, who, after no movement by any member of the City Commission to place proposed Ordinance #2497 on the agenda, exercised his
authority granted by the City Charter and placed the proposed ordinance on the Agenda for an up and
down vote.
If you are a reader from San Benito and have not read my last “Guest Column” on the San Benito News, feel free to read my unedited version at reformsanbenito.blogspot.com
16 comments:
Ethics? We don't need no stinking ethics! We got Sossi!
Finally after all these years.But I think the coming city elections had everything to do with the passing of the ethics ordinance.But for the mayor and some of the commission its a day late and a dollar short.time for new blood in San benito.
It was actually the responsibility of Estella Vasquez. But she never finished it.
This latest Rodriguez offers not a damned thing new! forget him fast.
All the city manager did was put the item on the agenda that is all he did.what Mr de le rosa can do is list all of what he has done for the citizens of San bene N maybe then the citizens will applaud.
Brownsville has failed in it effort (as pithy as it might have been) to update the City Charter to bring it into the 21st Century, it has failed in its efforts for transparency in government, it has failed to present any kind of ethics....in writing or by practice, and it has failed to serve the citizens of this city since Tony Martinez became mayor. Tony is all talk and no action....a typical trait of local politicians. Brownsville, as a result of our leaderless government, continues to swirl down the toilet while other cities in the Valley prosper.
to Anonymous March 23, 2017 @ 12:20
You have confused this Rodriguez with the other Rodriguez already on the city commission. The one who with another commissioner and the mayor shamelessly pulled a power play to get the current Rodriguez nominated for the RGV Hall of Fame over more qualified citizens.
Didn't you read this on the San Benito News?
What is it you have to offer besides an anonymous opinion?
Remember when he was rambling after the ethics code was brought up? I thought I was too dumb to understand, but I know know he was just talking out of his backside. He made absolutely no sense.
I have this to offer: You're yet another SAN BENE PENDEJO!!!!
I saw that in in city meeting live stream. The mayor,commissioner s.rodriguez and COMMISSIONER t. gonzales should be ashamed of themselves for what they did. Time to vote them out no more self serving.
THE SWAMP NEEDS TO BE DRAINED IN SAN BENITO OR SHOULD I SAY RESACA.SOME PEOPLE IN THE CITY NEED TO BE PUT TO PASTURE THEY HAVE BEEN THERE WAY TO LONG AND TIME FOR NEW BLOOD THAT THINK OUT OF THE BOX.
Code of Ethics? What is that? Unless you are referring to the ethics of putting yourself ahead by filling your pockets or those of your friends, our code of ethics in any organization in Brownsville has ceased to exist. I am #1 and to hell with everyone else. La vuerguenza ya no exsiste. Tienes valores o te vale?
The author of this piece is yet another San Benito wannabe like the other SB chronic whiner in residence, Santiago Perez. Neither have credibility. The author is also trying to get votes. He's running for City Commissioner.
The other community disgrace is the City politicians voting themselves into the Rio Grande Valley Walk of Fame. Unbelievable.
To Mr. Anonymous @ 12:55 p.m……
Credibility is defined as the quality of being trusted and believed in.
I do not know the author, however I do subscribe to the San Benito News and am aware of his opinions. I am not here to defend him but I do happen to agree with what he has written so far. His latest one was exposing the three members of the city commission who, in my opinion, conspired to nominate one of them to the RGV Walk of Fame. You called them a disgrace in your comment.
My question to you sir is: What are you looking for regarding credibility when you seem to trust and believe what the author wrote regarding the city politicians?
You also mention the author is running for City Commissioner and trying to get votes. Isn’t…. out to get votes….the objective when running for political office?
Not being critical just asking questions.
The dirty deed was done by the mayor, commissioner T.gonzales and the recipient commissioner Steve Rodriguez.
Mr.Joe F. Rodriguez yes the Code Of Ethics was passed. But now the million dollar question is will the city enforce it with equality?The people will be watching very closely.
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