Thursday, August 10, 2017

ELIZONDO MAKES CAMEO ON AMBULANCE AT VMHS MEET

By Juan Montoya
It was advertised as an administrators' conference to be held at the Veterans Memorial Early College High School this morning and the participants from throughout the Brownsville Independent School District heard Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas welcome them to new school year.

The session was nearing the end when Zendejas told them to wait around a bit because a school board member was on his way to welcome them, too.
No one knew who it was, but they dutifully waited for the board member to arrive.

Soon enough, a Brownsville Fire Department ambulance unit arrived at the school and Brownsville Fire Chief Carlos Elizondo arrived in full regalia. This threw off some administrators who questioned the fact that Elizondo was on city time and had taken the ambulance out of commission (with a crew?) to make his grand entry.

They also questioned why he was in full uniform and if the city was paying him while he was on district business. This is not the first time Eizondo has been criticized for using city emergency vehicles to attend to BISD business. Some readers have sent us photos of his use of a hazardous materials response truck to attend the BISD board meetings. (See graphic)

Some grew irate that they had to wait around until Elizondo got there to make his entry and called Brownsville City Manager Charlie Cabler to inquire on the appropriateness of Elizondo using the city emergency vehicle as his personal transportation and whether he was being paid by the city on a non-city event.

Reports indicate that when Cabler called Elizondo, the chief was overheard saying that he had to deliver some materials to his daughter who attends Memorial. But the administrators questioned this because some said that his daughter had already graduated. Elizondo left soon after Cabler's call.

We have pointed out repeatedly on this blog that the obvious conflict of interest that the city administration has chosen to overlook so far in the case of a city employee holding an elective office within the city's jurisdiction. And some have pointed out that the city and BISD meetings are held on the same Tuesday of the month and Elizondo must decide which master he will serve.

Elizondo's holding the elective office and the fire department position has been questioned before by those who said it is contrary to the city personnel policy manual that states:

Section 702: Political Activity
"B. Specifically, City Employees may not engage in the following activities:
4. Hold an elective City office or hold an elective or appointive office in any other jurisdiction where service would constitute a direct conflict of interest with City employment, with or without remuneration. Upon assuming such office, an Employee shall resign or shall be dismissed for cause upon failure to do so."

Art Downey, a local attorney representing a group of concerned Brownsville residents, wrote in a letter he sent City Attorney Mark Sossi that:

"The Brownsville City Charter Code of Ethics, 38-38 provides that:
b) Employees. A city employee immediately forfeits employment with the city if the employee:
(1) Becomes elected and takes office to an elective public office where the holding of that office will conflict with the full and proper discharge of the employee's duties with the city; or
(2) Is a managerial or supervisory city employee and becomes elected and takes office to an elective public office of an entity having direct or indirect contractual relations with the city that involve the employee's department.

Another section (38-37) applies when a city employee becomes involved with another political entity and makes use of government time and/or property for the benefit of another entity. He cites the section:

b) Employees. A city employee immediately forfeits employment with the city if the employee:

(1) Becomes elected and takes office to an elective public office where the holding of that office will conflict with the full and proper discharge of the employee's duties with the city; or

(2)Is a managerial or supervisory city employee and becomes elected and takes office to an elective public office of an entity having direct or indirect contractual relations with the city that involve the employee's department.

Although the personnel policy still applies and Elizondo should not hold both posts, Downey and the concerned citizens may not have known – though Sossi, who had been entrusted with formulating a new code of ethics for the city did – that the city code of ethics was allowed to expire years ago and had never been revised.

When Mayor Tony Martinez came into office in his first term six years ago, he promised to implement a code of ethics and appointed Sossi to make one. So far, nothing has been heard from Sossi on the issue. In fact, he also sat on Downey's complaint and has done nothing on the matter so far.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

You forgot to mention this rat is making money under table with the BISD ambulance class contract.

Anonymous said...

I'm okay with Elizondo doing both jobs if he's doing both well. Schoolboard is not complaining, juanito.

Anonymous said...

Sossi, Tony Martinez, and Esperanza Zendejas along with the city and county commissioners should be held accountable for not upholding the law.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Elizondo is an intelligent man who understands guidelines and procedures in his line of duty. Therefore, given his knowledge of the situation, it would serve him better to resign from his present position as a member of the BISD Board of Trustees for which he was elected and continue serving the Brownsville community in his present position of Fire Chief. The BISD Board of Trustees should nominate and approve Mr. Robert Rodriguez to replace him on the Board of Trustees until the end of Mr. Elizondo's term in office. Mr. Rodriguez was the candidate who lost to Mr. Elizondo in the election for Board of Trustee. Mr. Rodriguez is a very capable individual who will serve his community to the best of his abilities.

Anonymous said...

Once in office, these rats have more rights and protection than the taxpayers who pay for these fools of Brownsville.

Anonymous said...

There are no "ethics" in Brownsville government. Tony Martinez promised a code of ethics....yet he is the most un-ethical of all the city officials. Elizondo is a DICK....and as I have said before, if he had a dimple in his head...he would look like a DICK. Sossi is perhaps the most un-ethical "character" in city government. Before he was appointed to his current position, he sat on a committee to update our outdated city charter. He was an asshole on that committee (not as much of an asshole as Norma Linda Castellano...."an expert in everything) and continues to be self-serving in all his actions. The city of Brownsville seems to be doomed because of the ineffective, inefficient, and corrupt city government. This city continues to swirl down the toilet of life.

Anonymous said...

The only good lawyer is a dead lawyer

Anonymous said...

Too many clowns not enough circuses

Anonymous said...

Question why we don't have enough ambulances to service our growing population????
We need to do something to fix our broken city government!!

Anonymous said...

I heard he used to work at Sears back in the day, and got fired for stealing. Dishonest, dishonest, dishonest!

Anonymous said...

I will forward all these articles,including pictures like the obe above, to the Federal Bureau of Investigations....goodluck BFD !!

Anonymous said...

Complain all day long, nothing will change

Anonymous said...

He even drives that red Tahoe (it's awesome, yes I'm jelous) to family parties, and.... refreshes himself with adult beverages while there!!!

Anonymous said...

Clear violation of city policy, an employee cannot hold an elected office. This is conflict of interest at its best but city leadership and the legal department do not enforce its own policies, so why have them in the first place?

Anonymous said...

Vicente Fox and The Blimp. Go fuck each other

Anonymous said...

McHale Brownsville Republic and Voice we have three moving semi trailers ready to load your shit . it should take less than a day cuz you three have Very little. Grab your computers and hit the road jack. Free hot dogs as you travel bendejos. Get outta here.

Anonymous said...

You know what Montoya. Hail to the CHIEF PAPPA. Your blog is more of a jewel than the Port of Brownsville to our area. Our economy would do better if we all lived in tipees on the flats and we would not need the PUB

Anonymous said...

You know what? No one wants to read about Bobbys personal life or his bad health. It is stupid

Anonymous said...



what is it going to take to get rit of him in the school board.

Anonymous said...

Brownsville Voice is getting boring

Anonymous said...

American Indians #1

Anonymous said...

You know what? It is a damn shame the Indians that ran this land before settlers are are not governing BROWNSVILLE. But you know what, they are. Thru Juan Montoya.

Anonymous said...

Stupid ass kissing voters

Anonymous said...

Remember Cafe Brownsville. The guy was basically a racist. Disguised however by marrying a Mexican American. Nothing but a hypocrite . Davis caca

Diego lee rot said...

Yeah just crank up the nitrous oxide while not having to stop for lights

Anonymous said...

Sossi writing a "code of ethics?" is an oxymoron, no? The kettle calling the pot black. Why does everyone insist that what Elizondo is doing is wrong and nothing is done about it? Is it or is it not wrong? Oh, and when Norma Castellano served on the City Charter Committee, she was the only one who knew what she was talking about and telling it like it is and so now you
criticize her. What did you do? Let those who have the guts to serve do their jobs and stick your nose where it belongs.

Anonymous said...

Please splane why Carlos can not work some where and serve on the board at the same time. Does that apply to Sylvia who serves on the board and works in Rio Hondo? What is the difference? Todos hijos de Dios o todos hijos del
diablo. Cual as cual? More power to them who have the blanquillos to do so since so many of us just sit on them.

Anonymous said...

Poor Carlos Elizondo. He has said that he is the reincarnation of General Patton. I think nay. He and his foul smelling breath wife think they are royalty here in our fine city;socialites if you will. Mrs Huerta Elixondo has often said that they will one day rule the world. As you can see they both have serious mental issues and are not playing with a full deck.

Anonymous said...

Sossi, has got to go.

Anonymous said...

juan, identify Sanchez as the idiot writing crap against oliveira! No one gets a free shot, no!

Anonymous said...

Mark Sossi is a dick

Anonymous said...

Just as bad. Charlie Cabler has a car accident while drinking at a party and has his PD friends cover up for him. Nadie vio, Nadie supo.

Anonymous said...

Very true...focus on real issues.

Anonymous said...

Fuck off I'm sure the FBI has better things to do than to investigate bullshit politics

Anonymous said...

The first Tuesday of each month, both BISD & COB hold respective council meetings. At BISD, a cover for C Elizondo to mentioned to excuse the
Fire Chief for another repeated absence. The BISD meeting run till about
1 AM: the COB meeting run for about 1 !/2 hours. Why can the Chief not
attend BISD meeting after the COB meeting ends ? Also, the Chief does not
make appearances or presentations before the COB meetings. Does Elizondo
think the Brownsville taxpayers will not figure this out ? Elizondo cannot
even serve "ONE MASTER", LET ALONE A "SECOND MASTER" !
Please COB commissioners...please enforce the charter rules on this conflict of interest.

rita