By Juan Montoya
When Mayor Tony Martinez lobbied for the $2.3 million purchase of the Case Del Nylon from his buddy Abraham Galonsky, he sold it as a way to lure the UT System to keep UT-Brownsville downtown.
That turned out to a hoax because when other city commissioners asked then-UTB President Julieta Garcia about Martinez's assertions, she said the UT System wasn't interested in occupying the building.
Now that UT has for all practical purposes and abandoned Brownsville for greener pastures in Edinburg, the building has become a warehouse for materials being used for city projects such as the new fine arts building being constructed and an ad-hoc shelter for the homeless who call downtown home.
On Tuesday's city commission agenda, there is a proposal for commissioners to add another $100,000 to the building's cost with the hiring of an architect to design additional features that the original shell of the structure did not contain. City staff is recommending that architect Roberto Ruiz be hired to design other amenities such as a new roof, an elevator, and fire suppressing system to make the building habitable.
There is no estimate of what the new amenities will cost to install, but we have heard that elevators are not cheap and neither are new roofs, fire-suppression systems and electrical generators. The general public view has been that paying $2.3 million for the building was excessive to begin with. With the new additions, people who know construction say that it will cost another $2 million or maybe more to add them on.
And shouldn't the city have required that those amenities have been installed in the building before they bought it for all that money?
Some commissioners are lobbying for a fire-training school to be housed at the spot and we will be asking if that is the purpose of the improvements.
What a deal, hey Tony?
34 comments:
Shame on you Martinez Gowen Longoria Villarreal ang gang
Nobody in their right mind, nor person who wants to do good for the city would overpay for that ugly worthless building. It's obvious these so called leaders do not want good for us. They are only serving themselves and buddies. Let's get these suckers out!
The gang that couldn't steal straight.
Shame on us for electing them and double shame if we elect them again.
I'm okay with the Nylon deal. And unlike Juan Montoya I pay property taxes.
I am having the last laugh, LOL!
Great city management Tony and friends; turning a building worth possible $600,000 into a money pit costing the public approximately $3.3 million (mas o menos).....and what do we get, NOTHING? Pure mismanagment of finances, poor judgement and loyalty to Julieta Garcia before loyalty to the public. Tony Martinez has spent multi-millions of tax payers dollars and has gotten almost nothing in return...few jobs, few new businesses and little to hope for in the near future. We should be shouting "Tony is not my mayor"....he needs to go.
To get this Casa Del Nylon up to occupancy standards is going to cost taxpayers another couple of million dollars. Who in their right mind would want even to consider rebuilding it, its present condition is deplorable, not worth of investing a penny. It was a terrible mistake purchasing it in the first place. The city should just demolish it and make it a green area, no more careless spending.
Tony needs to be in jail
Fire training wtf the department doesnt need that they have one with classrooms at fire station 8,stop waisting tax payer monies.
I voted for Erasmo Castro last election. He is the only one who can bring a change, and he is the only one who has the guts to go out and doing. Call Erasmo Castro whatever you want, but he has the guts (no pun intended) to challenge this Harlingen tyrant.
Erasmo is no different than what we have. Erasmo is not a person of honor and fails to keep his word, just like William. Both are not leaders, but are opportunist. Erasmo cannot be trusted and will sell himself given the opportunity. Don't expect change if Erasmo wins, but I am voting for Minnie Mouse for At Large.
LOL I SEE WILLIAM SCREWED YOU OVER PAT LOL
LOL I SEE WILLIAM SCREWED YOU OVER PAT LOL
LOL I SEE WILLIAM SCREWED YOU OVER PAT LOL
NOT TOO LONG AGO ON A POST YOU SAID HE WAS THA SHIT, AND THIS AND THAT LOL..
In about a month we will start with the local politiquing. Please give us a list of positions and people running in those positions. I have a feeling that the democratic list is the same as always. I AM TIRED of the same people. Can our current mayor run for a 3rd term? That would be a total EMBARRASSMENT and worst of all, if he won. He has been one of the WORST mayors in Brownsville history.
The only ones that like him are the people who have benefited $$$ from him being mayor.
I always vote against him hoping that just once someone would give him a taste of his own medicine.
William did not screw me over, nor did Erasmo. They screwed over the citizens of Brownsville one more time by selling themselves and in essence did it to help Tony Mtz. So, I have the last laugh.... LOL!
The county got the old Wells Fargo Bank building on Levee street for much less. And!!... Still had money left to fix it and add on. A beautiful high-rise building worth it, compared to the overpriced piece of shit Casa Del Nylon!
Tony's excuse, "to attract UT" Really man! You wanted to attract a major university with that piece of shit building! Good job Tony, and commissioners.
The sad part is that the people that are running for office or no better than the one's that we have in there.
Pat are u drinking again?
Of course he screwed you over Pat, by not succumbing to your power and going with someone else -
LOL HE SCEWED YOU OVER AND BROWNSVILLE TOO LOL.
HE SCREWED YOU OVER AND BROWNSVILLE TOO LOL.
HE SCREWED YOU OVER AND BROWNSVILLE TOO LOL.
Que dijiste!! Im making a come back ....NOT!!! LOL
Anonymous 10:10 AM, No he did not screw me over. I never ran for the title or position for power. I ran to serve knowing I could do a better job, but voters preferred Tony which was okay by me. I accept God's will for me and it was not to be elected. There is always a reason, perhaps to wake up the community as to stand up for themselves, because I tried and failed or perhaps he has other use for me. Who knows, but I accept the outcome and God's will for me.
I am not a religious person, but a person driven by faith. After having lost, I wanted the mayor to succeed, whether you believe it or not, but his actions and the commission indicates our shadow government with special interest Carlos Marin are in control and we should all speak out against those who fail to govern with transparency and integrity.
This is my opinion and how I believe, whether you agree or not.
Let's bring in Castro, Garza and Ben Neece. They will clean up house, there is just too much corruption going on. If you care about your tax dollars being spent wisely like on street improvements, drainage and quality of life issues, then they are the right choice. There has been uncontrolled spending on needless real estate purchases, bike lines that are hardly used and very expensive to maintain and useless cylovias that drain budgets on overtime pay. Need to mention that the farmers market are also a cause for concern as city workers are utilized every Saturday to help set up. Why don't these produce sellers just don't go to the flea market to sell their products? Because there is a fee to pay and they rather sell their products at linear park and don't pay a fee. Enough is enough, lets boot them out and get new and honest leades that truly care.
Pat the rat, everybody knows you are a thief
Pat you have a serious ego problem
And Brownsville is laughing at you idiot
Ahumada you are totally insane
Erasmo has my support, you Pat are gone from public office for ever because nobody support you because your intolerance and selfish sytal of life
Patricio your OPINION Means nothing
Pat do yourself a favor Callate pendejo, you are always looking for attention You must be very unhappy
The city should also purchase El Jardin hotel since it is used to buying deplorable buildings and wasting hard- earned taxpayers monies.
What do you expect he is a waino
At least Pat Ahumada cared about the city he has balls . We would vote for him again .Erasmo is a joke to Brownsvile i doubt he wins anything .
you look like you like to gag on his balls bro.
Hate Ahumada all you want, but atleast elect someone who will do something for the city. Ahumada had balls and was smart, but you prefer a pendejo like yourself who likes to get shafted.
Pinche lamehuevos
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