Did anyone perchance see the presentation made during the last Brownsville City Commission meeting in honor of Municipal Courts Week?
If you did, then you didn't miss the acceptance speech by Chief Municipal Court Judge Ben Neece. Neece accepted the award and also announced his retirement at the end of the year.
To anyone who has seen the judge hold court, these are not welcome news. Bilingual to a degree that makes himself understood to most local Spanish speakers, Neece guides the uninitiated through the legal brambles facing them and shows the the options available to them.
If the defendant's economic situation is not there to pay the fines outright or would put the household budget in danger, there are always payment arrangements that can be made or community service instead of fines.
In accepting the award, Neece glanced over at District 4 Commissioner John Villarreal and said pointedly that he would be retired but that he would still be around to keep an eye on the conditions of the city, and in particular the downtown area.
If you take a gander at the city map by district, you will see that most of the downtown area lises within District 4. Neece and his brother are already renovating a historic building next door to the Manitou Department Store, founded by Don Enrique Manitou, smack-dab in the middle of District 4. (Click on graphic to enlarge map.)
This won't be Neece's first foray into downtown renovation. He and Brownsville Society for the Arts founder George Ramirez virtually instilled life into the decrepit Market Square area with their Crescent Moon that later transformed into the Half Moon. Over the last few months, it has gone through remodeling and the installation of a kitchen to be opened in the next few months.
Before the Half Moon, it was hard to find live music downtown except for conjuntos playing at Friday and Saturday night bailes at La Movida or Carta Brava and El Callejon.
Since then, El Hueso del Fraile has built up a following for Musica Nueva and some new establishments have followed in their footsteps.
Neece's down-to-earth temperament on the bench will be missed in municipal court. But if we hold him at his word, we're sure he will be a presence in the revitalization of downtown, if not occupying one of the seats on the city commission.
34 comments:
Judge Ben Neece has been a great public official
By his legacy he will be always remember as the people's judge
A good example of a public servant and love for his city.
We will support Neece is he runs for a seat in the city commission
As long as he doesn't become as Crooked as Hillary Clinton, I sure welcome him.
He will be missed such a great judge
Will be great to see judge Neece as city commissioner
Ben Neece as city commissioner will be a voice for Brownsville
Ben Neece will make the difference, he has the experience and the knowledge of what has to be done in downtown
Commissioner Neece!!! To be continued!
I'm sure Neece is going to do an excellent job as commissioner
Conjuntos, like Tamales, keep the Mexican down.
It's time for a replacement at the city commission, John Villarreal needs to go
While judge neece will be tremendously missed on the bench. I truly look forward to him demolishing john villarreal.
neece is Old School, bro! not happenin
He's moving to a state where pot is legal.
Ben has a vested interest in the downtown area and its future development. Hopefully he will pressure owners of property downtown to invest in that future development.
ben Neece is not a lock for the city commission, juan. People have kept up with his bullshit.
Ben Neece has the qualifications and the knowledge to be an excellent city commissioner
Amen to that
The dog ate the stash! But seriously, John Villarreal is done, he is toast my friend, washed up, strike three, you're out of here! Good riddance! Don't let the door hit ya where the Lord split ya! Can I have an Amen brothers and sisters! AMEN!
:Anonymous 9:26 AM, you must one of the Einstein s from the City, Building owners for many years had their buildings rented to small businesses which were the life of Downtown, then a bunch of kids playing to be Directors came with an utopic idea of turning Downtown Brownsville into a replica of NOLA French Quarters, and without consulting downtown Building owners created an Entertainment District, invented an Ordinance that left building owner without the revenue they and their families needed to make their living, and making almost impossible to open new business with the ridiculous requirements of the new Entertainment District Ordinance. (You mess with my income you don't get nothing from me)
Aside from Neece's popularity amongst the common folk, little John has pissed off one twooooooo many families. Good riddance John.
(He's moving to a state where pot is legal.)
Ha,ha! Me too.
Jake.
Lots of good comments on judge Neece here but, wasn't he also arrested and booked in jail for drugs and domestic violence while serving as judge, as I recall? Both charges are crimes friends.
Yes he definitely did his part by being arrested for assaulting his significant other and getting caught with pot. Typical elected official in brown town.
Neece is an excellent human bean wit public service experience, he will be a good city commissioner no doubt about it
Anybody deserves a second opportunity
Have you ever done something good for our city ?
For sure you are the perfect person
Amen to that just like Amen to Erin getting voted out.
What the fuck does this post have to do with Erin? Damn..
Any opportunity to shit on Erin and her sympathizers is good. It obviously struck a nerve and it's funny because she and Norma are always reading this so I know how to piss them off.
You all kissing ben neece's ass getta hell out of here! Of course we are all not perfect, but he is not a good example to the people. We need good leading people to be the next commissioners. Not just promise the community but take action, like trump is. Smh
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