After months of dissembling about where he stood on the Tony Martinez – and United Brownsville Shadow Government – District 4 City of Brownsville Commissioner John Villarreal has finally made it clear he is on board the mayor's candidates' slate.
He was asked point blank about whether he supported the Martinez initiatives of massive real estate speculation downtown, his attempt to donate city-owned property to the oil-and-gas wealthy University of Texas System and the continued subsidy of the Carlos Marin-IBC's Fed Rusteberg- and UTB's Juliet Garcia troika running the shadow government nonprofit called United Brownsville.
And he has said nothing and went along with the increase in utility rates for the foreseeable future to pay for the questionable purchase of one-fourth of a 800 MW electric power plant between the city and Tenaska. We are now paying higher electric bills while the newsletter PUB sent its ratepayers with their bill clearly states that the plant is still an iffy proposition."The project would move forward after Tenaska secures appropriate permits and agreements with other wholesale customers to purchase the remainder of the plant's capacity," the newsletter reads.
And, even as our rates rise and the plant is not a done deal, Villarreal's answer to whether he supports the mayor was unequivocal, succinct and to the point.
"Yeah, I support Martinez," he told the questioner.
Things have come to a fork in the road for Villarreal, whose family owns La Milpa Tortilleria on St. Charles and it is clear that he has chosen to throw his fortunes with those of Martinez, Rose Gowen and Deborah Portillo. That's Gowen's campaign sign above Villarreal's on the white picket fence on his family's business. Of such nuances are political allegiances discerned.
He is facing Letty Perez-Garzoria in District 4 and has by his demeanor chosen to portray himself as she has described him: a silent voice who won't speak out in the issues that affect his district and who will make nary a peep as Martinez and the United Brownsville bunch make a grab for the reins of power from the voters in the city of Brownsville.Her slogan?: "Your issues, my voice," just about tells it all and lays bare the contrast in their approach to represent the residents of District 4.
"John has done nothing while he has been on the city commission," says one of his mildest critics. Others, like his opponent Perez-Garzoria, blame him for not only doing nothing, but for not standing up to Martinez and the commission's majority as they encumber the city's residents with debt through the issuance in millions of Certificates Of Obligation based on future taxes on their properties without going to the public for their approval.
Whatever independence Villarreal might have had in the past, that, alas is gone. The saying that blood is thicker than mud takes on new meaning when you realize that in the coming days – and in the heat of the campaign – Villarreal will leave it all and go to Las Vegas to see his sister wed the son of Cameron County Pct. 2 Commissioner Ernie Hernandez. He has let it be known that he will stay with the party in Las Vegas for 12 days.
Will his gamble to put his eggs in the Martinez basket and gamble his chances of the Hernandez political machine resonate with the voters of the district. We wouldn't bet all our tortilla dough
on it.
15 comments:
Have fun John! We'll hold down the fort on st Charles st
Chingas a tu madre perro! !
As much as you would hate to admit it, Commissioner Zamora was the only one to vote against real estate purchases and land donations. But you writing about that doesn't follow your prolific blasting of her. Right?
JOHN NO POLITIQUERAS THIS TIME,VA HABER MUCHA VIGILANCIA ES TIEMPO DE RETIRARTE ES PURO PEDO, LOS HERNANDEZ NO VAN APODER HACER CHINGADERAS. SE VAN A CULEAR
MY GOODNESS THIS YOUNG MAN IS VERY HANDSOME,NICE AND QUIET BUT HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO RUN THE CITY OF BROWNSVILLE. HIS ACQUAINTANCES,TONY MARTINEZ,GOWEN,ERNIE,ERIN,AND NORMA HERNANDEZ DO NOT HELP EITHER. TO TOP IT OFF HIS SISTER IS MARRYING ERNIE HERNANDEZ JR.,THIS MAN WILL BE A COMPLETE PUPPET.
Does Johnny boy cares about the race or the campaign?
He is parting in Vegas?
Maybe he is too sure tony and Ernie will fix his race with the politiquera vote?
Do you perform any actual research or do you simply regurgitate "facts" from your fellow bloggers? Anyone who keeps up with the commission knows that the commission usually votes unanimously. When they are split, it is usually Longoria, Tetreau and Villareal voting against Martinez. I have never seen Gowen or Vasquez vote against him. In fact, when they are one vote short the mayor bails them out like he did on the smoking ban and the vote to keep public comment from being televised. Zamora loves attention so she relishes on being the swing vote but we all know how she'll vote at the end of the day. Her loyalty to Martinez is disgusting but inevitable because he played a big role in her landing the job she did. I would like to know a little more about that interview Villareal had. Who conducted the interview and do you have proof or should we simply take your word? I really doubt he would say that but please show me where he did so I will not vote for him again if it is true. As a writer, you should know the importance of citing quotes. Also, coming from someone who interacts with Villareal often and knows more about him than you or most of your readers, where do you get that the is leaving to Vegas for 12days? He was at last night's commission meeting, his sister gets married on Friday, he'll be at Oliveira Park on Saturday afternoon helping with my son's soccer team fundraiser and I will be helping him block walk on Sunday. Last time I checked, Vegas and Brownsville were only two hours apart, not 12 days. My friendly suggestion to you is that you return to being that excellent investigative reporter you once were. You are still a great writer but the fact that your stories are for sale to the highest bidder really hurts your credability--credability that is being questioned by a more informed audience that performs their own fact-checking.
City commission to discuss broadcasting public comments at today's meeting
Posted Aug 9, 2011 | By EMMA PEREZ-TREVINO, The Brownsville Herald
About a year ago today, residents’ comments during the public comment portion of City Commission meetings were censored from the televised version of the meetings and today, some commissioners want to talk about it.
Consideration and action regarding the broadcast of the city’s public comment period is on the agenda for today’s City Commission special meeting, starting at 6 p.m., at City Hall, 1001 E. Elizabeth St. The commission first meets for an executive session at 5:35 p.m.
It was in early August last year when the commission brought an end to televising the public comment portion of the meetings.
At the time, City Attorney Mark E. Sossi said that speakers appearing during the public-comment portion of the meetings would no longer be shown on television as a precaution against libelous remarks and grandstanding, and to ensure that policies regarding comments were followed.
As the Herald reported at the time, resident Fernando Ruiz, who frequently comments, said, "It’s what you call editing. I think they are in violation of the First Amendment."
Then-Mayor Pat M. Ahumada Jr. defended the move at the time.
"Nobody is undermining anybody’s First Amendment rights," he said, noting that the public could still comment at the meetings – except that they wouldn’t be televised.
But not everyone agreed. Commissioner Melissa A. Zamora said, "If we’re going to televise our meetings, I personally feel it’s poor form to turn off the cameras during public comment. Yes, there are times when misinformation is said by public commenters, and there are times when we get yelled at. It comes with the territory when one becomes a public servant," she said.
The agenda for today’s meeting reflects that Zamora and Commissioner Jessica Tetreau-Kalifa placed the item on the agenda for today’s discussion.
The public hearing on the proposed operating budget for the new fiscal year, starting Oct. 1 also continues.
The proposed budget is for $88.5 million, as compared from the $88.3 million that the commission initially approved for this year’s budget. However, data provided to the commission shows that actual expenditures for this fiscal year are expected to be at $97.3 million.
Deputy City Manager Pete Gonzalez, who also is finance director, will release the calculation of the city’s effective tax rate.
Eperez-trevino@brownsvilleherald.com
Yeah, do your own fact checking Villareal apologist.
Minutes of Aug. 9, 2011 meeting of $2.3 Million purchase of Casa Nylon.
ACTION ON ITEM DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A)
Consideration and ACTION on the purchase of Real Property located at 1304 East
Adams Street.
Commissioner Ricardo Longoria, Jr., moved that staff proceed as advised by legal counsel,
including the 90-day possession by the seller. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Rose
Gowen and carried as follows:
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Commissioners Tetreau, Gowen, Longoria, Jr., and Villarreal;
Nay: Commissioner Zamora
Absent: Commissioner E. C. Vasquez
More fact checking! February 25, 2013 meeting minutes.
2.
Consideration and ACTION on Resolution Number 2013-022, clarifying property to be
donated to the University of Texas system if a downtown location is selected for a
campus.
Mr. John Chosy, Assistant City Attorney, stated that the University of Texas System would
determine if the Lincoln Park would be better used as part of the University of Texas Campus, as
opposed to a public park and, should the University of Texas System determine the need for the
Lincoln Park property, the City of Brownsville would donate Lincoln Park for campus expansion and
the park would be relocated. He noted that the University of Texas System would cooperate with the
City to relocate moveable items within of the park to a new location and replace the park
improvements that could not be moved.
Commissioner Rose Gowen moved that Resolution Number 2013-022, clarifying property to
be donated to the University of Texas system, if a downtown location is selected for a campus, be
approved. The motion was seconded by Commissioner John Villarreal and carried as follow:
Ayes: Mayor Martinez, Commissioners Tetreau, Gowen, Longoria, and Villarreal;
Nay:Commissioner Zamora.
Commissioner Vasquez was absent.
There are pictures of Erin Hernandez at Martin Sakis' chalupa fundraiser. But then Sarkis is seen in photos, apparently supporting, Perez-Garzoria and Uresti. Things stink as usual in Brownsville during elections. The Hernandez filth and stench of corruption is certainly in the air. That Villarreal guy looks like such a little pussy. Like Martinez, incapable of any real action on his own. Always needing the attention and approval of men that they will never be.
The above comment by jhonies boyfriend.
April 17, 2013 at 8:16 AM
Is the comment above from Sergio Z.?
El otro Lambiscon
another DemoRATA rep just like the rest, only for what benefits them y va ser compadre de ernie, yikes, we are screwed. last time he ran i thought this guy would do good for the community hell i was dead wrong, im voting against this politician thats all folks pp.
Go back to making tortillas, Johnny!
You have no business sitting on a commissioner's chair.
Go sit on your mommy's lap!
Suck on that chiche!!!
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