By Juan Montoya
Who would of thunk?
Who would have thought that none other than the illustrious publisher of the Brownsville Herald – the paladin of the First Amendment – Danny Cavazos would come
to provide aid and succor to the community action group Acción America and its president Carlos Quintanilla?
That group and Quintanilla filed a counter suit this week against Brownsville Independent School District trustees Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez in their suit against them for libel.
But there it was, smack in the heart of the daily's emasculated editorial page complete with the mug of smiling Danny.
Cavazos, who recited his own troubles with libel and defamation lawsuits – Othal Brand, Conrado Cantu, etc. – basically castigated the two trustees for being so thin-skinned about the criticism they have received from Quintanilla, Acción America and Care Brownsville.
In the Acción America case, Cortez and Zayas' feelings were hurt when these plaintiffs said that as far as they were concerned their campaign to remove the superintendent, their use district funds to quash two reports critical of their pal Athletic Director Joe Rodriguez, and their pressuring the administration to change vendors in an insurance contract worth some $38 million and nudge it toward their political contributor smacked to them of corruption.
Were their claims true or simply opinion?
In either case, Cavazos said, it didn't much matter because having an opinion – even an erroneous opinion – is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
"What is the truth in these instances when individual Americans voice such strong opinions of their public officials, be they the president of the United States or the local mayor?
In truth, there is no truth when it comes to individual opinions about politicians, be they national, state, or local figures. To quote from a Texas Supreme Court ruling in 2005, 'Nothing in the (U.S.) Constitution requires the press (or public) to adopt a favorable attitude toward public figures.'"
Cavazos goes on to comment that in the Zayas-Cortez case, the two board members didn't like someone questioning whether they were fit to serve on the board guarding the public's interest.
So what to do?
Why, file a lawsuit and quiet the critics, of course. Isn't that the Brownsville way?
There are currently, several lawsuits underway – one involving another trustee, Joe Colunga – basically for someone (me) disclosing information that was readily available to the public. In short, for saying the truth.
Cavazos then listed historical cases where presidents were pilloried by critics who sometimes called them nasty names and questioned their humanity and manhood.
"And yet, two local school board members can’t tolerate someone accusing them of being corrupt?" Cavazos asks.
He predicts that the trustees (and Colunga) would probably get local like-minded judges to go along with them in the first stages of the case, eventually sending the case to Austin to find " a more intellectual, savvy and non-political court before these silly libel lawsuits by public officials get thrown out. You have to travel that far, as a rule, before you encounter judges who believe and understand that the First Amendment entitles American citizens to have just about any opinion they want of local elected officials. Until then, it’s a fact issue that has to be proven."
In short, what we are to make out of Cavazos' missive is that like Othal Brand and Conrado Cantu's legal actions against him, these latest cases involving BISD trustees won't fare much differently.
Or, as Quintanilla himself said when he and Acción America counter sued and opened a can of worms – BISD counsel Mike Saldaña getting caught and charged for smoking pot, Zayas defending him, Zayas and Cortez receiving political contributions from insurance mogul Johhny Cavazos who would benefit from the change in insurance contracts, etc., – it's plainly an attempt to harass and intimidate criticism and they are ready and itching for a long fight.
Let's get ready to rumble.
Who would of thunk?
Who would have thought that none other than the illustrious publisher of the Brownsville Herald – the paladin of the First Amendment – Danny Cavazos would come
to provide aid and succor to the community action group Acción America and its president Carlos Quintanilla?That group and Quintanilla filed a counter suit this week against Brownsville Independent School District trustees Rick Zayas and Ruben Cortez in their suit against them for libel.
But there it was, smack in the heart of the daily's emasculated editorial page complete with the mug of smiling Danny.
Cavazos, who recited his own troubles with libel and defamation lawsuits – Othal Brand, Conrado Cantu, etc. – basically castigated the two trustees for being so thin-skinned about the criticism they have received from Quintanilla, Acción America and Care Brownsville.
In the Acción America case, Cortez and Zayas' feelings were hurt when these plaintiffs said that as far as they were concerned their campaign to remove the superintendent, their use district funds to quash two reports critical of their pal Athletic Director Joe Rodriguez, and their pressuring the administration to change vendors in an insurance contract worth some $38 million and nudge it toward their political contributor smacked to them of corruption.
Were their claims true or simply opinion?
In either case, Cavazos said, it didn't much matter because having an opinion – even an erroneous opinion – is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
"What is the truth in these instances when individual Americans voice such strong opinions of their public officials, be they the president of the United States or the local mayor?
In truth, there is no truth when it comes to individual opinions about politicians, be they national, state, or local figures. To quote from a Texas Supreme Court ruling in 2005, 'Nothing in the (U.S.) Constitution requires the press (or public) to adopt a favorable attitude toward public figures.'"
Cavazos goes on to comment that in the Zayas-Cortez case, the two board members didn't like someone questioning whether they were fit to serve on the board guarding the public's interest.
So what to do?
Why, file a lawsuit and quiet the critics, of course. Isn't that the Brownsville way?
There are currently, several lawsuits underway – one involving another trustee, Joe Colunga – basically for someone (me) disclosing information that was readily available to the public. In short, for saying the truth.
Cavazos then listed historical cases where presidents were pilloried by critics who sometimes called them nasty names and questioned their humanity and manhood.
"And yet, two local school board members can’t tolerate someone accusing them of being corrupt?" Cavazos asks.
He predicts that the trustees (and Colunga) would probably get local like-minded judges to go along with them in the first stages of the case, eventually sending the case to Austin to find " a more intellectual, savvy and non-political court before these silly libel lawsuits by public officials get thrown out. You have to travel that far, as a rule, before you encounter judges who believe and understand that the First Amendment entitles American citizens to have just about any opinion they want of local elected officials. Until then, it’s a fact issue that has to be proven."
In short, what we are to make out of Cavazos' missive is that like Othal Brand and Conrado Cantu's legal actions against him, these latest cases involving BISD trustees won't fare much differently.
Or, as Quintanilla himself said when he and Acción America counter sued and opened a can of worms – BISD counsel Mike Saldaña getting caught and charged for smoking pot, Zayas defending him, Zayas and Cortez receiving political contributions from insurance mogul Johhny Cavazos who would benefit from the change in insurance contracts, etc., – it's plainly an attempt to harass and intimidate criticism and they are ready and itching for a long fight.
Let's get ready to rumble.
9 comments:
wow, who wuda stunk,Zayas and Cortez on this one
Pinche, Juan. Dales en la madre, Guey! Dales en la madre diario. Dales en la madre todo momento de tu vida. Dales en la madre cuando no quieren que les des en la madre. Eso es ser Periodista De la Revolucion. Te voy a enviar una Adelita, cabron!
Juan el Matador
here a new one
Windstorm Insurance original costs $2,7 million, December 15,contract is expanded to $3,8 million.
Covers old portables as old as 35 years, value not more than $50,000, being generous.
Deductible: $50,000
Cost of the policy: More than the buildings are worth.
Winners: Zayas, Cortez, Cavazos, Colunga
Losers: TAXPAYERS OF BROWNSVILLE
I say take this thiefs to jail, now!!!
Wow! it is incredible, but these board members really must think that every citizen in Brownsville is as stupid as they are. We are nOt, come election day, we'll see if "GED Cortez, and Slick Zayas continue to milk not only the BISD, but the county as well, or don't you all know about the million/year jail commissary contract these two had (and will have again this year) with Omar Lucio, the corruption king? Such contract was clinched as a done deal during a borrachera between "Slick" Zayas, and Omar Lucio in a restaurant bar in Austin, Tx. Go figure!! WE HAVE TO COME OUT AND VOTE THESE ASSHOLES OUT!!!!
Omar Lucio's time, time for him to go. He is just as corrupted as Conrado Cantu, and the midget Gus Reyna isn't any better. He reminds of me of the side kick in the old western movies, where the sherrif, had a fool, doing the wrong things all of time so that the sherrrif could look good. Lambiscon.
Don't forget about that other asshole, GED Cortez
Son puros mamones, todos esos cabrones, lla es tiempo de sacarlos de la officina, Lucio lla devia de estar en le nursing home. y Gus Reyna chiniandole los zapatos.
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