By Juan Montoya
While Hizzoner Da Mayor Tony Martinez is out begging alms from the poor in Brownsville to offer as tribute to the Almighty UT System Regents to lure them to stay in Downtown Browntown, the third-wealthiest institution of higher education in the United States is lavishing more than $420 million on other campuses in the state.
Martinez has issued Reqests For Proposals to local property owners to offer their land at market value "for the good of Brownsville" to entice the mighty univeristy to deign and remain – and revitalize – the carcass known as downtown Brownsville.
He knows that a Better Block celebration here, a Mercadito there, and even the transformation of Market Square into a highbrow artsy-fartsy center ain't gonna cut the mustard and resurrect what once was a bustling market center for Brownsville.
While the fortunes of downtown have headed south, commerce and real estate speculation – fueled by the construction of US 77-83, PUB utilities extensions, and business expansion – have all headed north.
Da Mayor – as have previous Texas Southmost College and University of Texas at Brownsville supporters– are counting on the UT System to rush in at the last moment like the Ft. Brown Cavalry and save the day. But how realistic is that hope?
We're after all, speaking of a deadbeat university system that has up to now refused to pay more than $12 million in back rent to the community college as was agreed to in the "partnership" contract it signed with TSC more than 20 years ago. In fact, it has been in arrears since back in the 1990s (1994, we believe) and when cornered, has shifted the responsibility to the Texas Legislature, which in turn has shunted off the debt and said the UT System is responsible, not them.
We're after all, speaking of a deadbeat university system that has up to now refused to pay more than $12 million in back rent to the community college as was agreed to in the "partnership" contract it signed with TSC more than 20 years ago. In fact, it has been in arrears since back in the 1990s (1994, we believe) and when cornered, has shifted the responsibility to the Texas Legislature, which in turn has shunted off the debt and said the UT System is responsible, not them.
And while the UT System seems content to await what gifts Martinez and UTB President Juliet Garcia, its plantation overseer, can scrape from the local taxpayers and property owners, it has announced that it is spending close to $430 million in other locales other than in the the heavily Hispanic populated campuses of UT Pan American in Edinburg and UTB, Brownsville.
These are the totals announced by the System's Regents. Now Mayor, don't let anyone see your mouth water.
UT-Permian Basin approves new 10-year facility master plan
Along with renaming the campus in Midland The University of Texas Permian Basin-Midland (UTPB-Midland), regents of The University of Texas System recently approved a 10-year facility master plan that calls for building new facilities for the Midland campus and the UTPB campus in Odessa.
The new facilities plan calls for about $264 million in capital improvements at both the Midland and Odessa campuses, with $88 million allotted for new housing units, $73 million for academic and engineering facilities, $60 million for infrastructure and $43 million for an events center.
The new 10-year plan calls for building three large academic buildings, an athletic building and residential housing units at the UTPB-Odessa campus, said David Watts, UTPB president. The plan also calls for a 6,000-seat events center to host community and sporting events for the Odessa campus. The new facilities plan for the UTPB-Midland campus includes a 95,000-square-foot engineering building, on-campus housing and additions to existing buildings at that campus, Watts said. Regents must approve any plans to build new facilities before construction can begin at either campus, he added.
UT-El Paso approves $25 million project to upgrade campus
The University of Texas at El Paso officials recently approved a $25 million project to renovate the campus to make it friendlier to pedestrians, add bike paths and provide more green spaces, including a plaza for community events.
University officials began working more than 10 years ago with the city, the El Paso Water Utilities and the Texas Department of Transportation to develop plans to make the campus more environmentally friendly and attractive to students, faculty and staff, regents said.
UT regents approve new $45 million center for UT-San Antonio
Regents for The University of Texas System recently approved construction of a new $45 million Academic Learning and Teaching Center at the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Regents also approved the design plan for a new $95 million, 198,000-square-foot clinical building for a dental school to be built in the South Texas Medical Center, the patient care facility for UT Medicine San Antonio.
Plans call for the 125,000-square-foot academic and teaching center to be a state-of-art teaching facility for the study of the anatomy to train medical, dental, nursing and other health professional students, said Kenneth L. Kalkwarf, interim president of the Health Science Center in San Antonio. The new academic facility will allow more medical students to train at the Health Science Center, he said.
Regents also approved the design plan for a new $95 million, 198,000-square-foot clinical building for a dental school to be built in the South Texas Medical Center, the patient care facility for UT Medicine San Antonio.
Plans call for the 125,000-square-foot academic and teaching center to be a state-of-art teaching facility for the study of the anatomy to train medical, dental, nursing and other health professional students, said Kenneth L. Kalkwarf, interim president of the Health Science Center in San Antonio. The new academic facility will allow more medical students to train at the Health Science Center, he said.
7 comments:
There is no doubt that Juliet has informed the UT System that her plan is to rape, ravage and pillage for property in Brownsville and then UT will come in with money to develop the "donated" location. Tony Martinez is a pawn to that ploy and, like many others in this community is willing to kiss the Queen's ass in the name of "old friendships". Juliet learned well from the Kardenas Klan how to scavenge from the community to nourish their need for greed. Juliet seeks a downtown location so that she can make UTB, the "Univ. of Matamoros in Brownsville". She seeks an international student body at US expense and downtown Brownsville would therefore be a comfortable setting for Mexican students. She could set up a ferry to get them across the river every day. This is all about Juliet....not about this community.
Juan, I have to say, that is a very, very funny photo.
Julieta is bubbling with joy as the touts UTB.20 around campus. In due time UTB will shell out hundreds of millions of dollars for her dream campus where ever it might be built.
The student body is heavly weighted with Mexican citizenship students, many here sin papeles. Where every she builds it she will need to keep it south of where a ICE checkpoint might be built.
I sure hope it is not in that piss hole garbage can called "downtown Brownsville". That section of town has gone so far down the sewer pipe there is no coming back. Just give it over to the ropa segunda stores and transvestite hooker. Oh yes, keep some really low class dives open for Juan and his drinking buddies.
Juliet is the "new" Mary Rose Kardenas of Brownsville.....taking from the poor to enrich herself; without concern for the people...especially the tax payers.
Juliet has learned from the Kardenas Klan how to be a leach and she has been successful because she has surrounded herself with other blood-suckers or just suckers who owe her something. Juliet has lost touch with Brownsville and her "agenda" is one that will take advantage of Brownsville to benefit her ambitions and ego.
HWY 100 AND EXPRESWAY 77, the old fruit stand corner.
This is inside the City of Brownsville.
All Cameron County can then have easy access to the new UT - Brownsville campus.
Some St. Joe boys now own this property . . . so come on Mayor
Martinez . . . do some ass kissing
to your buddies.
Come on Harlingen, San Benito Los Fresnos, La Feria city commissioners . . . speak up about a central location . . ..
I always heard that UT system had millions in oil revenue from the permian basin but this funds from this area are never allowed to comingle with other campusues throught the state. time to use some of tha tmoney down here in south texas UT adm.
jajajjaja Juan te sacaste un 10!!!! La foto esta padrisima!! you have really made me laugh allot!!
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