By now it has become clear to the political observers in Cameron County Precinct 1 that this position has become the most popular sought-after political venue.
Since we last visited this story (two days ago), there has been yet another entrant into the fray.
This time is' Joseph Cantu, a 1983 Hanna graduate who owns a martial arts business on South Padre Island where he lives.
Cantu's supporters say he will not mince words (in contrast to the other three commission candidates) on his stand on the construction of LNG (Liquefied natural Gas) export terminal plants on the Port of Brownsville Ship Channel.In short, he is against them.
Cantu, an Air Force veteran, entered the race yesterday by submitting his treasurer's name with the Cameron County Elections Office.
Already on the ballot to be commission for the precinct are incumbent Sofia Benavides and challengers Bea Rosenbaum and Fausto Martinez.
Except for Cantu, the three others live near or close to the Sothmost area, the most populated section of the precinct.
As director of Industrial Development at the port, Rosenbaum said the LNG companies have only an option to lease the land they are proposing to build the plants on. If they do not comply with all the regulatory requirements, she said they will not be given the permanent lease. Benavides has said that the issues of environment and jobs have to be balanced to achieve the greater good. Martinez has not issued a statement on the subject.
Precinct 1 is one of the most demographically and socio-economically diverse jurisdictions, with an area encompassing two international bridges, the Port of Brownsville, Boca Chica Beach, The Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas Southmost College, South Padre Island, and parts of downtown Brownsville.
It runs along the Rio Grande west to Palm Blvd., then to Boca Chica Blvd, angles north on Old Port Isabel Road across Coffeeport Road, and then east to FM 511 and then continues on to Highway 100, skirts around Port Isabel, and encompasses all of South Padre Island.
The filing period for the March 1 primaries is from Nov. 14 to Dec. 14.
4 comments:
HALLELUJAH!!!
Alamo, is he running on the democrat or republican ticket? Makes a big difference there juan. CB
LNG is a HUGE issue.
On 08-07-2015 the Laguna Madre Water District voted against LNG!
On 08-11-2015 the Surfrider Foundation, South Texas Chapter, sent a comment to FERC opposing LNG!
On 08-18-2015 the South Padre Island Economic Development Corporation rejected a Texas LNG request for a Letter of Support!
On 08-25-2015 the Port Isabel City Commission voted to oppose LNG!
On 08-26-2015 the South Padre Island Business Owners Association voted to oppose LNG!
On 09-01-2015 the Laguna Vista Town Council voted to oppose LNG!
On 09-02-2015 the South Padre Island City Commission voted to oppose LNG!
On 09-03-2015, the RGV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce submitted a letter to FERC opposing LNG! [Reversing their previous position in favor of LNG]
On 09-03-2015, the LRGV Sierra Club Chapter submitted a letter to FERC opposing LNG!
On 09-03-2015 the Chair of the Lower Laguna Madre Foundation submitted a letter to FERC opposing LNG!
On 09-10-2015 the Cameron County Commissioners' Court tabled a proposed property tax cut for Annova LNG pending an assessment by an outside financial expert!
On 09-15-2015 the Port Isabel School Board unanimously rejected a request from Annova LNG for a Chapter 313 tax break!
On 09-15-2015, the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation passed a resolution against LNG!
Most recently, the Long Island Village Board of Directors (next door to Port Isabel) voted to oppose LNG!
Those advising that we put our trust the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the 26 permits each of the three LNG companies must obtain haven't been paying much attention to how many communities are challenging the way things FERC does what it does and the failure of the permits to adequately protect local community health, safety, and other interests. Check out We Are Cove Point at www.wearecovepoint.org. Check out the Jordon Cove opposition to LNG at www.nolngexports.org/.
Visit saveRGVfromLNG on Facebook.
Joseph Cantu is the right candidate. He is not interested in selling off our quality of life for temporary jobs and 130 (maybe) permanent jobs with slick deals on the side out of the public eye.
Joseph worked in the imposing industry and realizes the stink of it all should our elected leaders forsake our quality of life. He moved here to get away from the industrialized zones in Texas.
People need to realize that the majority of jobs offered to our locals will be the contract service jobs, janitorial, etc. Those contract jobs will not offer living wages nor medical health benefits, putting the burden back onto our community to absorb via welfare. While the LNG companies will rake in BILLIONS if this monstrosity is allowed to happen in our port.
Do Brownsvillians realize the majority of people working on the island live in Brownsville and across the county not on the island? Their jobs will disappear as ecotourism declines. So will our birders who come to visit the migratory birds whose landscape will be destroyed day by day due to toxins and 40ft smoke stacks.
We all want jobs for our citizens, but at what cost are you all willing to pay?
No Tax Abatements/NO LNG
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