Way back on September 11, 2013, Cameron County Drainage District #1 granted the City of Brownsville license to use its drainage easements abutting local properties so it could build its Trails to Rails hike and bike trials.
At that time, nothing had been constructed, and no one – in particular property owners who would be affected – knew that someday the city could swoop in and demand that the residents living along the DD #1 drainage easements remove any fencing, sheds, or any other structure that they considered to be encroaching on their hike-and-bike trail plans. Certainly, the residents on Gloria Street had no idea they were in the cross hairs of these plans.
There was no individual notice by the district to these property owners that they had reached a licensing agreement with the city that might result in the taking of property they considered to be part of their easements.
The plans, to the credit of Mayor Tony Martinez, commissioner Rose Gowen, planner Ramiro Gonzalez and others in the Charlie Cabler administration, were well set.
Just the year before, the city commissioners passed the Complete Streets Resolution #2012-056. Adopted on October 2, 2012, one of the provisions adopted by the commission was that 10 percent of any transportation-related Certificates of Obligation (COs) go to bike and hike trails like the one planned for the rear of the properties along the drainage easement on Gloria Street.
Martinez and the commission favors issuing COs because it does not require voter approval as would a bond issue.
The hike and bike trail advocates not only had the plans, they also had the cash, compliments of local residents like the low-income families on Gloria Street. That resolution has resulted in millions in taxpayer-funded monies to be placed in bicycle and pedestrian fund.
By the end of 2017, $2,007,133 had gone to Gowen's pet projects. Then, in 2018, yet another CO issue netter her an additional $500,000 that increased the total take to $2,507,133. If the rate of issuance of debt based on ad valorem (property) taxes under the Martinez administration in the form of COs is any measure, we're sure there will be more money for Gowen's plans.
Well, the chickens have come to roost.
The 2013 license agreement includes a map of not only planned hike and bike trails, but also of "potential" drainage district easements that the city could use for its recreational plans.
The original map included with the agreement did not show that the city's planned contemplated the Gloria Street drainage easements as a use for hiking or cycling. (See map.)
Notice also, that the original legend on the map included in the licensing agreement did not show that a hike trail would be constructed there, instead, it shows it on ManzanoRoad (the two blue rectangles between the yellow ones).
When did the plans change? Or does the vague and over-broad agreement give the city the right to consider any easement on the drainage district's system within the city a "potential shared use path corridor"? And if it was to be a Rails-to-Trails, how close are the rails to this site? As best we can tell, the nearest tracks are miles away and do not connect to this area in any way imaginable.
The licensing contract reads that the plans for the hike and bike trails (and the use of the expansion of the drainage easements by as much as 40 to 50 feet into the Gloria Street properties) must first be approved by the Drainage District #1 engineer. So it will not be up to an elected official, or a representative of the people, to approve the taking of the property. It will be left up to a bureaucrat to give it his blessing.
In fact, the Drainage District has never had an election since the first board was appointed way back when it was created on the initiative of the late Cameron County Pct. 1 commissioner Pete Benavides in 1998. At the time, two new directors were appointed by County Judge Gilberto Hinojosa.
The district is basically run by directors appointed by a vote of the Cameron County commissioners court at the recommendation of the sitting district directors. In other words, the board is self-appointed.
Under chairman Ernesto Gamez, it has annexed hundreds, if not thousands, of properties that it has the power to tax for its operations. Alberto Barreda, who is one of the directors, is also wearing the hat of district manager. Mercedes Cantu is the treasurer.
Ever heard the term "taxation without representation is tyranny?"
Seventeen low-income homeowners received their notice of encroachment from the city this June 4 and – under threat of legal action – have been told that if they don't comply within 60 days, they will be cited by the 90th day. These residents, the majority elderly on fixed-incomes, must pay for the cost of removing fencing, sheds, or other structures and to give up any use of portions of their properties for the city to build its hike-and-bike trail.
Is this any way to run a representative government?
13 comments:
Does this bitch Gowen claim milage for her bike trail, of course she does she have a bike paid for by the city.
too many ads!
So what, Juan? Tell me how this affects my pocketbook!
Most homeowners would be extremely happy if the city would decide to clean up backyard easements that have devolved into overgrown, weedy dumps and create a family friendly, paved trail that everyone in the neighborhood can use. One would think the lowest income who may not own cars, would appreciate a great, convenient, literally steps away from their back door private paved corridor to walk, skateboard, bike, or get around to the stores without their kids being at risk from traffic.
Look, there are places where we really, REALLY want these trails. These people do NOT want them. All you hear is complaining. They want to keep their backyard easements a dumping ground for falling apart sheds, trailers and trash and they are going to complain and complain the more you try to give them trails, so PLEASE consider moving a new awesome trail development project to a location where it is very much wanted and will be appreciated and used!! They will be happy to keep their sheds and stuff and others really want a paved trail!
Places where trails are very needed include Price Rd, where most bike fatalities happen. There are many nice residential neighborhoods off Price and it needs its own trail, near St. Lukes, that area. Coffee Rd. has lots of bikers near the HEB and the all along toward Thor's Hammer but there is not even a sidewalk, it is only uneven gravel with fast 2 way traffic and very dangerous. If you could work out a separate trail that would get pedestrians/bike a private access to cross the expressway at 6th street trying to connect to the trail to downtown. I would go downtown more often except having to cross the trail through the expressway in the middle of multi direction traffic,is a terrifying place to walk or skateboard. There are places that really WANT trails I'd say don't waste time or resources if people are against having such a great thing in their own backyard, let them be and put your resources where they are wanted and needed.
I truly can not believe she would go this far she truly is a malicious princess sitting on the city of Brownsville commission. You can not stoop any lower. When you attack the poor, the helpless and the elderly there really are no works to describe this type of behavior. SHAME ON YOU...
In Brownsville, under Tone, it sure is the way to run a government entity.
Walmart better start stalking out on bike and used car lots better get rid of the cars they now have cause the bikes are coming to town, come hell or high
water. I guess I will set up my bike shop on Southmost to start selling bikes to everyone in the barrio. Then, Rose Gowen can make Southmost Blvd
a complete bike trail. Gowen, please get off you hinney and write out some data to show us EXACTLY how many people in Brownsville are using bikes for anything else but recreation. The only bike trail that makes sense it the one down Linear to Palo Alto to enjoy the outdoor nature and certainly now through neighborhoods or dirty down town.
More useless bike trails and bike lines, wish the city commission stops wasting tax payers monies into building more bike lines downtown that nobody uses, the only thing they create is more traffic. The only thing these bike lines and trails are doing is creating more work to already stretch thin city crews. So please stop this nonsense of more bike lines or trails. We already have enough.
"St. Lukes, that area. Coffee Rd. has lots of bikers near the HEB and the all along toward Thor's Hammer"
Bunch of liers l live in that area and I NEVER SEEN ANY BIKE RIDERS, NEVER!!!
The same people that show up at the city meeting (abt 10) with their clown costumes are the only ones using the bike trails. If you want data hire an independent surveyor (data collector) not a city employee or an elected official.
Trail running would be an excellent project, there are a lot of excellent places to develop a tail a running park, and I know a lot of people will use these type of trails.
If these residents dont want a trail, I say don't force it on them. There are many, many neighborhoods that would love a trail! A win-win if you move it somewhere else
Juan what the city should do is fix the streets that flood with all of these public funds, fix the drainage instead of building these bike trails no one uses.
Running (or walking) trails, not bike trails. There is a difference. No fancy equipment or special gear needed.
Post a Comment