By Juan Montoya
On its face, Mayor Tony Martinez's participation in secret discussions and public vote Nov. 3, 2015, where the city commission considered and accepted his bid for a tax resale property that directly benefited him would seem to be a slam dunk case.
There seems to have been no affidavit of conflict of interest filed as required by law, and even if there was, the code prevents the public official from further participation in the discussion or vote on such an item before the city commission.
The Texas Local Government Code §§ 171.001-.010. states that: A public official who has such interest is required to file, before a vote or decision on any matter involving the business entity or real property, an affidavit with the city’s official record keeper, stating the nature and extent of the interest. Id. §171.004(b).
In addition, a public official is required to abstain from further participation in the matter. Id. However, a public official that is required to file an affidavit is not required to abstain from participating in the matter if a majority of the members of the governing body have a substantial interest and are required to file and do file affidavits of similar interests on the same official matter. Id. §171.004(c).
The evidence is in the city's agendas and minutes for all to see, Further, the taped meeting of the Nov. 3 meeting presided by Martinez and the vote on the item is available on the city's website and shows that Martinez voted to make it a "unanimous" vote.
So who will step up to the plate to force the issue?
Where is city manager Charlie Cabler?
Where is the Brownville Chief of Police Orlando Rodtiguez?
Where is the city criminal prosecutor? (It used to be Bobby Lerma, but that has changed since he was appointed presiding municipal judge.)
Where is the Cameron County District Attorney Luis V. Saenz and his much-vaunted Public Integrity Unit headed by former DEA hotshot George Delaney?
Where are the Texas Rangers?
Where is the Texas Attorney General?
We have been told that a packet of this information was left at the office of the FBI in Brownsville, but so far, nothing has come of it.
Is this the ideal case for Mike Hernandez's OP 10.33 organization which came into town guns blazing tsaying that it was here to stop just this kind of public corruption?
If so, hay viene el perro negro?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
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16 comments:
In the case of allegations of ethical violations, there has to be a CITIZEN complaint filed with the Brownsville Police Department. They are required to respond to any allegations. Otherwise, nothing will happen!
Politicians will repeat what Trump uses as an excuse for not releasing his TAXES; The people (that voted for him) don't care about his taxes. Although, Trump lost the popular vote by 2.8 million votes.
Why would the FBI look into this issue. The Mayor is participating in a Program that the FBI is holding with monthly meetings to introduce local officials of FBI work and procedures. Maybe they are on his side in this case?
Tony Martinez has been a terrible mayor and has consistently looked to benefit his friends and himself using tax dollars. He campaigned about transparency in government, but has eliminated public comments at commission meetings and has cloaked himself in a "hijab" of isolation during his tenure. Tony Martinez is not a mayor of the people...he is a oligarch who seeks to promote himself. Tony has no idea what the people/voters think, or want. Brownsville continues to swirl down the toilet....flushed by Tony Martinez.
You had me at George Delaney,,,, that guy can't even put up a solid case against las maquinitas, he's just there to pick up Saenz lunch at noon!
Where is the city of Brownsville code of ethics ? O forgot it hasn't passed just like it's neighboring city San benito. No accountability in either city.
The law doesn't say a citizen must come forward, it says a public official will take action before the vote and recuse him/herself from any votes. Tony has failed to take action required by law, so why can't the authorities take action....not wait for a "citizen" to come forward. The public officials are sworn to uphold the law....so why don't they act when
it seems obvious that Tony Martinez continues to be a scum bag....just looking out for himself.
Ask Kori Marra
You can't take it with you Tony. You can fit only so many bills in your coffin.
Double standards in Cameron County. It is how well connected that determines what is legal or illegal. Pete Gonzalez signed the complaint against me. The DA Luis had no problem going after Kori Marra, but again-it is how well connected that matters.
I can't believe that the city of brownsville has allowed this sleeze ball to continue representing the city and attract all this negative attention. Why is the brownsville mayor and the commission and the city manager not doing anything about this negative attention he brings. I am sure that there are MANY other attorneys who are more respected and a lot more qualified than this piece of crap. Maybe he has some dirt on each of the city commissioners and mayor that they are afraid to get rid of him and he exposes them. What a waste of my tax money. As a taxpayer I would like to know how many times has Sossi defended the city during trials against the city or how many times has he himself has stepped into a courtroom and defend the city? It's time to wake up people and stop voting for these people who bring these types of people to represent the city. And then we want to criticize they way Trump behaves... Who's worse Trump or the city commissioners and mayor for keeping these losers to represent the city?
TOLD YOU SO...NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MAYOR!!! WASTING YOUR TIME PEOPLE DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH!!! NONE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THE AGENCIES NAMED IN THIS STORY AREN'T GOING TO A DAM THING ABOUT IT!!! ITS ALL ABOUT WHO YOU BLOW AND NOT WHAT YOU KNOW??? ALL WORTHLESS CORRUPTED INDIVIDUALS AND AGENCIES...THAT'S BROWNSVILLE AND CAMERON FOR YOU PEOPLE!!! YOU VOTED FOR THEM NOW EAT THEIR SHIT AND QUIT COMPLAINING!!!
Because you posted in all caps it must be so.....chill out!
Charlie Cabler is a stooge that goes along with anything he's told. Maybe that's why they keep giving him raises even though he's not improved the city in any way. Just to keep him as their puppet signing things off he has no idea about.
Don't ask stupid questions Juanito,for you know what is going on. It is called "palanca". If you got it, you get away with it. If you don't got, if you don't get away with it. This is the Mexican way of the world.
Poor city of Brownsville, Tony is a thief as well as you Pat
Pat the Rat, who are you to speak on ethics? Go away, dude.
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