BATTLE LOOMS OVER CO ISSUANCE, ATKINSON PERSISTS

By Juan Montoya
First there was talk about the City of Brownsville issuing about $19 million in certificates of obligation to fund street improvements, drainage, landfill improvements and Sports Park amenities.
That was whittled down to a little over $9 million, then to $5 million.
Now it's back up again to a little more than $11 million.
When the commissioners said they would issue $5.25 for city projects and another $3.13 for the Sports Park in separate issuances, it triggered a petition drive to stop the commission from issuing them without voter approval. But since the city had changed to the amount to $5.25 million, it caused the petition drive to stop because the wording on the petition protesting the original issuance would have been incorrect.
Now that it's back up to around $11 million, the word is out that a number of private citizens are contemplating the filing of a lawsuit if the commission continues the process to issue the debt.
"There's going to be four of us involved in the lawsuit," said a participant. "The papers are already being drawn up to be filed."
Our source confirmed that among those involved with the lawsuit is Moses Sorola, Robert (Capt. Bob) Sanchez, and two others.
Sanchez and Sorola also participated in filing a successful lawsuit against the city to stop the commissioners from continuing to receive benefits not specifically contained in the city charter. Judge Janet Leal said commissioners were not entitled to free health or life insurance coverage, a $300 monthly car-allowance stipend and unrestricted use of cell phones. She said that commissioners could receive r cell phones and the car allowance only if they could document that they were on city business.
Meanwhile, a credible source close to the city commission said that commissioner Charlie Atkinson, the strongest proponent of the Sports Park CO issuance, has not stopped trying to recover the $3 million that were lost when the rest of the commission decided to exclude the Sports Park from the issuance.
"Have you ever known Charlie to quit trying?" he asked. "He'll look here and there trying to get the money."
Some have hinted that if the city issues the $11 million in COs, the administration will find a way to pass along the funds for the improvements Atkinson said are necessary for the park such as bathrooms and showers for the soccer fields and other infrastructure.
"What's to stop the city from lending the park the cash?" asked a commenter to a local blog. "How are we to know where the money came from?"