(Ed.'s Note: After we ran Jim Barton's post on the monthly meeting of the greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the report on a new economic development plan for the organization, we received a divergent point of view from GBIC supporters. In the interest of fair play, we insert their comments in the Barton post for our seven readers' consideration.)
By Jim Barton
The Brownsville Observer Blog
The Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation,frequently called locally by its acronym, the GBIC, should never be left alone without a babysitter.
Entrusted with skillfully using 4A funds, actually 1/4 cent of every taxable dollar spent in Brownsville, approximately $5 million annually, to promote economic development, the GBIC has time and time again proven itself gullible, easily conned, a baby with candy there for the taking, inexperienced and irresponsible, ripe for the taking by every snake oil salesman from Big D or the Capitol.
Notice just a few of the cons financed in whole or in part by the GBIC in recent years.
2009: $900,000 for the Imagine Brownsville Comprehensive Plan
(1. GBIC only funded in a very minor way the imagine Brownsville plan
2. Imagine Brownsville plan won the award for the best comprehensive in Texas the year it was completed.)
3. A number of initiatives m in the IB plan were implemented by entities that participated in putting the plan together and that have been a crucial part of moving the community forward including the cross valley power line; Resaca restoration; upgrading the Robindale wastewater plant; creating the BiNED cluster-based economic development strategy that’s become the cornerstone of the OP10.33 economic framework (light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, hospitality and tourism) and recently became a committee of the LRGVDC; and the $1.5 million "All In" educational/career development grant to United Way among others.
2013: $454,592 for the Greater Brownsville Infrastructure and Development Plan
2014: $750,000 to Jacobs Engineering to "implement" the above infrastructure plan(partially funded)
(4. The Jacobs $750k study was never funded by anyone.)
What did Brownsville taxpayers receive for funding these ludicrous plans? Absolutely nothing. "Nought, nil, nada, nothing, zero, zilch and zip."
So, imagine my surprise walking into Thursday's GBIC meeting to hear yet another plan "presentation by TIP Strategies and McDaniel Strategy Ecosystems pertaining to the GBIC strategic planning process."
The plan was unveiled, somewhat clumsily on the big screen, with power point platitudes. As we got to pages 3 and 4, it was obvious the plan was not even for Brownsville, but for Fort Worth.(The two firms had sold a similar bill of goods to Fort Worth and had never even tailored the plan to Brownsville.)
(5. TIP strategies was pushed by John Cowen, Nurith Galonsky and Gilbert Salinas way before current CEO Mario Lozoya was hired.)
Finishing their presentation, the firm's threesome quickly exited through the city commission chamber doors, but I followed them out into the hall.
"Has GBIC already paid for this plan or is this just a presentation?" I asked.
"How much?" I asked.
"$120,000," was the response.
(6. TIP strategies has only started their data collection work and they have not been paid $120k.)
Mary Helen Flores of CAVA, who'd accompanied me to the meeting, then asked: "Do you guys know this plan wasn't even for Brownsville? It's for Fort Worth."
"Yeah. Sorry about that. We're going to change that."
Back in chambers, despite a quorum of 3, acting chairman Cesar De Leon called for a tabling of agenda items 7-15 until "all 5 of us are here." Missing from Thursday's meeting were board members Jessica Tetreau and John Cowen.
Mario Losoya, the GBIC's new administrator at an annual salary reportedly nearing $250,000, gave the "Administrator's Report," but his volume was so low we could only make out something about Brownsville not having enough skilled workers.
13 comments:
Barton is untrustworthy. His wife just died!
When? Car accident? Was there a story?
Now GBIC has a new yes man at the helm, a scumbag Rene Oliveria as their legal eagle, Salinas as the fraudster,The Jackass Jason Hilts as the BEDC tour guide using the BEDC credit card,taking the sex watcher Tony the tiger Martinez back to Columbia to show if it was a scam or not. The scumbag Oliveria said that he will point out to Lazoya if it was a scam as there is not a scam out there that he has not done. He said he would take his hat off to The Jackass Jason Hilts for scaming GBIC and the BEDC for all these years and getting away with it for so long. Now that GBIC has a new yes man at $240k plus benefits and perks, that Salinas and Hilts will show him how to claim, he can make at least $10k per week, not bad for a YES MAN. The scumbag Oliveria said that he will take what he can before he goes to jail, The Jackass said that he is doing the same. Welcome to GIBC Mr YES MAN.
Good morning to you, I am Mr. Lazoya and I am the new yes man for GBIC, I am glad to have Rene Oliveria and Jason Hilts as well as Gilbert Salinas with me on my quest as the GBIC new yes man.
What a great team to have to work with as they have not been caught in over 20 years, Jason told d me that I can take a thousand dollars a week on my credit card, wow all that I have to do is say yes.
Report from the first meeting of GBIC.
Do you agree to hire the scumbag Rene Oliveria, as the lawyer for GBIC, Yes.
Do you agree that Jason Hilts should still fund Columbia out of GBIC money Yes.
Do you agree that Tony Martinez should go to Columbia to watch, Yes. You are the right person for the job.
Point - Counter Point
You're an ignorant s__ Mr. Counter Point. You are basically regurgitating what Mr. Barton already reported.
So basically, What is your point?
They should void that insane $230,000 a year salary for GBIC CEO. Totally unacceptable and unjustified salary for a city the size of Brownsville. We the taxpayers should not be subsidizing this type of salaries, especially when you only have a handful of employees to supervise.
2.52pm
My point is that we're paying $240k plus incentives and perks, for another YES MAN LIKE GILBERT SALINAS. Disband GIBC and the BEDC and give it out to the consultants on a no jobs no pay you will not have to pay for GBIC or the BEDC thus saving millions in salaries. That is how it is done in other states.
Mario Lazoya stated that he thought Fort Worth was between San Benito and Harlingen, it was not until Gilbert Salinas pointed out to him he knew that he was had made a mistake. Never mind he would have said YES ANYWAY.
The elected leaders must be iout of their minds for offering that massive $240,000 salary plus benefits. And worst, with the responsibility to supervise four or five employees is just plainly unjustified. Ms. Galonski was perfectly right to object to this contract. Wake up city leaders, it's time to take charge and start making wise decisions for us the taxpayers. After all, that is why you got elected. Do what's right and do us all a huge favor, please void this contract, totally unacceptable, other qualified person will do the job for less than half.
Thank fuck they are leaving me alone for a while, I have my celebration to get ready for, now that the DA Luis Saenz has fucked up with the blood work.
This guy they just hired is making 5k "A WEEK" (think about it, $5,000 A WEEK)this is insane and he's not even WHITE!!! This is the valley where the average pay is 7.50 an hour.
Its not his fault its the elected babosos THAT "WE" ELECTED and their gringo friends. All thinking they will look good. Its not your money its the taxpayers monies. La
abuelitas that are scraping and saving their pennies to pay their taxes so their property will be confiscated to built bike trails and other useless projects (duck ponds). Vergüenza an de tener taking from the Poorest city in the USA THINKING THEY ARE HIGH ROLLERS BOLA DE MENSOS
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