Where to start...
Let's see. Remember the City of Brownsville Commission meeting held Nov. 4, 2014, when commissioners passed a resolution proposing the "conveyance" of Lincoln Park to the U.T. System?
And remember that after the motion to deny made by commissioner Jessica Tetreau failed, a motion was made by commissioner Rose Gowen to approve that passed for the park to be "acquired" by the UT System for the ridiculously low price of $6.5 million to be used to relocate it to a site to be chosen by the city at a later date?
It wasn't until later that it was known that Gowen was an employee – the medical director, in fact – of the UT Health CRU at UT Brownsville. As such, the Local Government Code prohibits her from discussing or voting on the matter because it is a clear conflict of interest.
Fast forward to a meeting of the Cameron County Commissioner Court Nov. 3, 2015, where commissioners discussed the creation of a countywide transportation reinvestment zone to be administered by the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority (CCRMA)? At that meeting, then-Cameron County Judge Pete Sepulveda sat in and joined in the discussion advocating the proposal to make the entire county a TRZ zone.
Sepulveda was – and still is – the Chief Executive Officer of the CCRMA at a hefty $240,000 a year salary. By adopting the proposal, the CCRMA stood to gain hundreds of millions of dollars from incremental taxes that would go into the money available for the CCRMA and its board. And, of course, under Sepulveda's control.
During that meeting, Sepulveda echoed Pct. 3 commissioner David Garza's that the TRZs allowed the CCRMA to leverage millions to build roads and other transportation projects. After engaging in a wide-ranging discussion where he pointed out the benefits of creating the countywide TRZ, he added a caveat that he had done so as the CEO of the CCRMA, not as county judge, and abstained from voting.But it wasn't until it was pointed out that a clear conflict of interest existed in Sepulveda – who stood to benefit to gain from its passage – that he was advised by legal counsel not to participate in the upcoming public hearing and to refrain from voting.On the same day, Nov. 3, 2015, the City of Brownsville Commission held a meeting where an item dealt with the city's agreement to accept bids on the resale of tax-delinquent properties. One of those properties was one located directly adjacent to Mayor Tony Martinez's old law office at the corner of 12th Street and Van Buren.
The property was assessed by the Cameron County Appraisal District at $13,500. There is no way of knowing at what price Martinez eventually sold the law office – plus an additional 3,000 square feet of parking spaces – to the TRGRLA.
All the commission – after discussing the bids in executive session – approved the sale on Nov. 3 and the 16 properties were sold. The buyer of the half lot of Lot 3, in Block 153 with a street address of 1242 Van Buren St. was Antonio Martinez, the same Antonio Martinez who signed as mayor accepting for the city of Brownsville (See document above and the still photo of the moment the unanimous vote was cast below). Tony, in effect, signed the property over to himself with city legal counsel Mark Sossi looking on and saying nothing.
Fast forward to the May 2, 2017 meeting of the Brownsville Independent School District.
At that meeting, the board of trustees approved the administration's proposal to change the way the districts procure goods from vendors by allowing high schools to choose the providers of $1,000 rings for state championship teams.
Superintendent Esperanza Zendejas said that the administration and the students of the Lopez Early College High School Powerlifting team that won a state championship would be allowed to choose the vendor for the rings that would be bought by the district.
And taking part in the conversation to explain that the UIL on August 2016 had changed the rules on the cost of gifts that student athletes from $70 to an unlimited amount as long as the gifts came from the district and not individuals was a vendor, trustee Joe Rodriguez.Rodriguez – who has a direct interest in selling the district rings – is a registered vendor with BSN Sports, a subsidiary of Varsity Brands. Varsity Brands, in turn, is the parent company of BSN Sports, Herrf Jones, and Varsity Spirit.
Varsity Brands, in their website, states that they operate "three unique but interrelated businesses: Herff Jones, a Varsity Achievement Brand; BSN SPORTS, a Varsity Sport Brand; and Varsity Spirit. Together, these assets promote personal, school and community pride through their customizable products and programs to elementary and middle schools, high schools, and colleges and universities, as well as church organizations, professional and collegiate sports teams and corporations."On June 2013, BSN Sports and Herrf Jones merged under the Varsity Brands umbrella, making them one and the same. http://www.bsnsports.com/press_releases/merger%20-%2006-25-13.pdf
Is it just us, or is the fact that Coach Joe is directly tied to the ring maker (Herrf Jones) through the merger with BSN, constitutes a direct conflict of interest and that he should recuse himself from discussing or voting on any agenda items dealing with either company?
Local politicians play fast and loose with the rules of government, and there seems to be no one to keep them honest. City, county, and school district administrators and legal counsel pay no heed to the niceties in the law of governance. And we have learned from these egregious examples of thse politicians thumbing their nose at the law that we can expect little from the Cameron County District Attorney's Office. Will anyone else step up to the plate?
21 comments:
Y ahora entre tu y el erasmo van a sacar a brownsville de todos sus problemas? dan risa los dos.
So what?!!!!! Explain yourself better, burro!
Local officials play "fast and loose with the rules of government" in order to enhance their power and to screw the public of its tax dollars. All of the items you listed could have been resolved without breaking the rules, but it was easier and quicker to break the rules to protect individual interests; and in the case of Tony Martinez, to benefit financially. Rose Zavaleta Gowen is smart and cunning and her failure to recuse herself in the case of the park sale indicated her loyalty to protect Julieta Garcia (so was Tony Martinez); even if it screwed the community. But, remember, this city "doesn't just accept corruption, it demands corruption" and the elected officials mention surely make the city proud.
OK so what is the story here? People who run for public office in Browntown do so to benefit themselves, their families and friends and punish their enemies?
This is not news! Mexican politics on either side of the river are the same. On this side, we do have the FBI who pokes it's investigative nose into our affairs every so often and that help...a little anyway.
And they continue...
BISD had a Gala dinner where they awarded 20 students scholarships worth $1000 each tonight, Thursday. However the gala was held at the ambassador event center. BISD spent $15,000 for tge event to award $20,000 . Of course Espy, and the board were there along with their significant others and their cronies. What a waste. Could have given an extra 15 scholarships had they had it at a local school auditorium. Oh wait, then the board wouldn't have a free dinner and dance, and wouldn't be able to line the pockets of the business community one more time.
Juan ok, you made your point so now what? will justice be served on all these crooks or NADA will happen like in the past 100 years? Do the taxpayers have any kind of recourse? and if yes where? Gives us more info on where to go, not only present the problems but recommend solutions too loco.
pinche bola de llorones..
You cry about everything! but yet do nothing. And when you decide to do something you send the worst candidate you can possibly find, making your case a joke. This blog is as bad as the corruption - just a webpage with a personal opinion about everything and doing nothing.
Worst of all your fucking clueless and lack follow through of the ongoing projects -- el punto es loran y quejarte.. Why, because your lazy to do something and want to bring the people who acutely do something to your laziness level.
Yes - we are the poorest county and Its thanks lazy and crybabies, you deserve nothing if you earn nothing.
Anonymous at 2:07 The "burro " is you! All you contribute is "so what?". Lame.
Anonymous at 3:48 Being "Mexican " has nothing to do with unethical politics , don't show your ignorance .
See, now these were good and valid issues that could have been brought up before the election. But all we heard was some jealous fatso whining about those thin people who bike and burn calories, and his #1 priority was to take the trails away from them, so their asses grow as fat as his. Did not learn from the Eddie Trevino v that other massively fat guy who ran for county judge race, where Trevino strongly backed the bikers on west rail, whereas fatso who can't ride a bike, did not. Who won that one? Eddie of course. Here comes fatass #2 in the city race, not a clue about things voters care about, like their PUB bills going up 30%. What do we get? Yet another lazy fatass complaining about bike trails. Bye, felicia
Where is the "transparency" that Mayor Tony Martinez promise during his campaigns. City government in Brownsville is run like a cartel...a everything is secret.
I have to say yes to most of the comments on how some brownsville politicians are in it for themselves but dam BROWNSVILLE voters are stupid and lazy and don't vote.
Spin, spin, spin,spin the story however you like, the truth is it not about taking the trails away, it is about priorities and transparency.
Where is the $90 million that has been raised for the COB with the hikes in the PUB rates,? Where is it? How much has been spent? And on What? How much is left?
And if we are going to have trails, why aren't they citywide?
"YOU'RE fucking clueless"
Stick to one language, English or Spanish, because when you try to make your point by mixing them up, you suck. Maybe you could suck less IF YOU stick to one language.
BISD did not pay for the use of the Ambassador, for it was paid for by the businessmen who support this endeavor. Why don't you have the Rrun Rrun contribute to the cause instead of knocking down whatever someone tells you to knock down because it was not their idea. The meal was paid for by the many of us who purchased the tickets and supported the event -which happened to be packed.
I have a better Idea - Why doesn't do some investigating for a change and find out It wasn't paid for BISD.
Pinche RRUN RRUN chafo.
Honestly I ready this crap because the comic section in the Herald sucks.
Half the attendees paid half were free. The money came from the teachers that paid $1 per day to wear blue jeans. A lot of BISD employees A lot of unaccounted for cash proceeds right ms. Superrintendant. Untraceable cash......
Anonymous at 2:57. Why don't you get off the blogs and consider taking some continuing education classes? You could get your point across if you learn to articulate better.
It wasn't paid for by BISD? Then why dis BISD charge $25 a head where's the money?
Blogger at 8:50, the money went to the foundation, not BISD. The money contributed by the teachers was through payroll deduction. The half that did not pay for the tickets were awarded the tickets by the businesses and companies that purchased the whole table and invited some of us to sit with them. It has come to a point that there is always someone who believes in putting down anything that works and "it is damn if you do and damn if you don't. Instead of bitching about everything get involved so you can learn what actually happens. Either get involved or shut up!!!
Post a Comment