If you pick up this Sunday's Brownsville Herald, take a peek inside.
Yeah, we know, there's usually not much there.
But there is this Sunday.
Organizers for Mike Hernandez's OP 10.33, the group that has vowed to end the image of Brownsville a poverty-wracked community without hope by October 2033, have filled four pages of the daily with 3,000 signatures asking local residents and leaders to put aside trivial controversies and focus on making this community one that offers opportunity and employment for its residents.
Fanning out across the city, student volunteers have collected the signatures of some 3,000 residents who agreed with the group's message that local people and movers and shakers should concentrate on improving their city and providing opportunities for good-paying jobs for the children of local people.
"Every petition had the message on it so that people could see what they were sending to our local community representatives," said one of the students. "We were heartened by the response we got. People want positive change for their city and for their children."
The wording of the petition circulated by the students bore the headings "Join Us, For a Change, and Real Change Can Happen" and it reads:
"Let's start making a difference for the good working people of Brownsville. Now more than ever we need to set aside our differences and unite to come up with good ideas that address the real reasons holding Brownsville from the greatness within our reach. Issues that we can no longer continue to sweep under the rug."What are the real issues?
"We are tired of working class jobs that are not paying enough so that hard-working people can take care of their families.
"We are tired of our kids having to leave town and not being able to raise their families because there are too few good paying jobs.
"We are tired of living in neighborhoods that flood and streets that are full of potholes especially in the poor parts of town.
"We are tired of being called "mojados" and "Meskin" and told we should go back to Mexico, and that we need to build an expensive wall to keep us and our families out.
"We are tired of the "old guard" controlling things for their interests while our concerns and those of our neighbors are ignored.
"We are tired of corruption in our government.
"We are tired of outsiders using a local politician's inappropriate use of the "N" word for political purposes, where they haven't done anything or care enough to address the serious racial discrimination and economic injustices we and our families face every day to survive.
In the following page of the newspaper ad, under the heading "Real Change Can Happen," the petition reads:
"We need to stop wringing our hands and start getting to work to make real changes now. focusing on what's important to move our community forward for everyone, not just the few.
The ad then goes on to point out the statement by Lt. Gen. Silveria against racial discrimination and about making Brownsville a tolerant community where "our sons and daughters" don't have to move away and where they can have the opportunities to work and get good paying jobs.Organizers say the signatures – which the Herald required be accompanied by their hand-printed printed names – were gathered over a 48-hour period and did not include those gathered by Dr. Jose Angel Gutierrez when he was here doing work for his V3 organization.
OP 10.33 is also the founder of the Cameron County Education Initiative, Inc., which offers high-tech training to local students.
"The newspaper required that the signatures be validated," said one of the volunteers. "They are very careful about them being legitimate."
A spokesman for OP 10.33's Hernandez said that any allegations that the signatures were false would trigger a response from his legal representatives and challenged detractors to provide proof of their claims.
"We were surprised at the enthusiastic response from the community to our message," the spokesman said. "People are ready for real change and want the politicians to stop diverting attention from the real issues facing our community with trivial controversies. To those who question our motives, they should ask themselves: What have you done to improve your city?"
14 comments:
One day tired of my dog's barking, I told him to "shut up". My wife looked the same dog and said, "Stop being a dog". Her point was not lost on me.
Whatever you make think of the folks behind this petition, I do find it heartening that 3,000 locals are sick of the corruption, low paying jobs and other irritants of local life.
But, I do wonder if they are just telling the people of Brownsville to stop being the people of Brownsville. Is the culture they object to, so dyed in the wool that it can never be washed out? Liberals like to talk about "systemic" racism, but is this culture of corruption, poverty and ignorance "systemic"?
If they are tired of being called "mojado," then they should kick out Cesar De Leon. After all, that's what he called Dr. Sevier's parents.
We are tired of Marin being a political puppet master. Oh wait, he’s part of 10.33. We’re not tired of corruption.
We’re disgusted at the use of the N-word by Cesar de León. Oh wait, we’re not. We want him to stay and keep using it.
I am tired of rich people getting richer, poor people getting poorer, people writing in this blog about other people instead of doing something about the "crooked local politics". Criticism by writing or spewing bad words will NOT remove a commissioner or a mayor. Those people that got the 3,000 signatures can show those that just curse and criticize how to get another set of 3,000 signatures to remove people from our local government, but THAT REQUIRES WORK and It is Easier to keep complaining and criticizing.
Citizens,
Brownsville has no life, look at our downtown and around the community. Brownsville has suffered because of our political leaders. We need to have the leaders that will raise their own expectation of growing and retaining business and have a plan to better our economy and quality of life. This city has much work to be done, economically we are probably a segregated cycle of poverty and how much longer will it continue? Our entire city is being held back from progress. Families are held back by working minimum wage jobs. If we want to be better we must be boulder and look at the vision ahead of us for generations to come. What industries do we really have and our local economy isn't really that good. Our politicians only interest and the investment has been for self interest and financial gain, what have we really achieved if we aren't growing? We are dying as a city, we are in a critical time and we truly need our leaders to lead. What is the goal and vision for this community? What we do now, will matter tomorrow including fostering great schools for the betterment of every child's education. Brownsville voters are tired of the same town that brings nothing and our city is needing much change. Our leadership has not sparked the growth and our work force is not prepared we have to improve our education it's imperative to focus on the needs of our children and what we will leave behind. Meeting challenge with conviction we are dreamers and doers determined to take risk we can make it happen by electing the leaders/politicians that will truly work for all citizens. Strong partnership with every business owner and who are not affiliated to self interest groups would allow this city to succeed. We have a Port, Boarder, Land and Air the Global Economic Opportunity is in our hands if we get the leaders that will work for us and truly build Economic partnership this commitment between citizens, education, and leaders would make Brownsville a great city and get it right by leveling the playing field.
Sad but true this city will not get it together when you have too many people with their hands in the cookie jar and or the same families running this community because they feel entitled to take from the Middle Class...
OP1033 is still outside money trying to buy its way in to exploit and make more money off the stupid tax payers here.
It really does seem like more of the same. If De Leon hadn’t been OP 1033 friend, they would pursue it, but since he is part of them, then lets all forget about it and move on. De Leon is part of the Matamoros/Brownsville privileged, born with a silver spoon, and belittling those who are not part of his “circle”, like many people from “high society” do. He’s probably never set a foot on the poorest areas of Brownsville, yet we’re supposed to believe he has the city’s best interest in mind. If you listen to the audio, aside from calling people the N word, he also said, “what are YOU going to do for ME”. So I can clearly see what OP 1033 is doing for him, trying to divert attention. It’s all the same, but with new faces. They say they want to get the corrupt people out, but it sure seems like they only want to replace them with others whom they can control. It’s sad that at some point, I felt hopeful of OP 1033.
fighting corruption isn't easy- at some point those who want to keep the status quo will question the motives of those wanting change
Progress always will be faced with some inertia
The level of corruption in BRownsville is only rising
At least this group has the courage to say STOP the insanity and let's push for progress
Yes, help Brownsville, eat more stolen fajitas! Keep those taxes high, so the wealth can be redistributed under the table.
I don't see how this is true ? I see millions being donated ---how will they make money?
"Stupid taxpayers" - if they allow the corruption to continue -- then I guess we wear that crown well
If these people had voted in the last election we would not have this mess or can these people vote? I wonder if OP1033 part of the problems in Brownsville too?
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
Oh, and don't sell your vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Educate yourself with the concerns we need to tackle and let's get rid of those
who refuse to do what they were elected to do.
What a bunch of BS!
I am a long time resident of Brownsville, and I agree with some of what the petition says. Specifically, we desperately need to foster economic development and stop pandering to local elites who seem more dedicated to either preserving the status quo (such as it ts) or advancing various schemes that put me in mind of Potemkin’s Village (bike trails, bag bans, etc al). Racism is, of course, a factor, but focusing on it is simply a diversion that does nothing so much as promote it. The obligatory inclusion of references to “mojados” and “mezkins” is offensive and says more about the archaic and cliche ridden racism of the signers than that of the community as a whole. Further, the document reeks of Valley and Brownsville provincialism (big bad outsiders vs. the sainted local community). Wake up people!
We have met the enemy, and thy are us!
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