Tuesday, May 5, 2020

COULD CAMERON COUNTY AND COB HAVE FOUGHT ABBOTT?

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Everyone questioned the remarks made by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott when he called for a "soft opening" of the texas economy, especially since COVID-19 cases were on the rise in South Texas and across the state and the flattening curve was nowhere in sight.

Just today, Cameron County issued a press release shere it announced that 11 more people tested positive for the coronavirus bring the total to 443 confirmed cases. They were identified as five residents from Brownsville, four from Harlingen, one woman from Los Fresnos, and a woman from San Benito.
All across the county, the pressure was on from some quarters by vociferous groups who advocated the immediate lifting or personal restrictions like wearing a face covering (mask) and maintaining social distancing to lower the likelihood of contracting COVID-19.

And so last week - as Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino and City of Brownsville Mayor Trey Mendez urged residents to stay at home and restrict their travel to essential purposes like getting medical services and acquiring groceries - Abbott removed the Stay at Home and travel restrictions by fiat.

And if Trevino and Mendez - both attorneys, by the way - had challenged Abbott on the declarations he made that those measures were no longer in place, some say they may have succeeded. According to the Texas Government Code, Abbott just cannot unilaterally tweak some orders and not others unless he adheres to the provisions in the code.

The only way he could have removed the city and county policies would be to, according to the code: 

GOVERNMENT CODE
TITLE 4. EXECUTIVE BRANCH
SUBTITLE B. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLIC PROTECTION
CHAPTER 418. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the state of disaster continues until the governor:
(1) finds that:

(A) the threat or danger has passed; or

(B) the disaster has been dealt with to the extent that emergency conditions no longer exist; and

(2) terminates the state of disaster by executive order.

Abbott did neither A nor B (said the danger has passed, or that emergency conditions no longer exist) and has not terminated the state of disaster by executive order.

If Trevino and Mendez felt that Abbott was flying by the seat of his pants and endangering the citizens of their county and city, they very well may have prevailed because he was acting outside his own disaster declaration.

The question is: If they still feared for the health and safety of their citizens, why didn't they?

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's all about what people will let their government do to them. They're rioting in Michigan and California. Here, puros ratoncitos...

Anonymous said...

Mendez is a mollusk, no backbone, no fight. What a zero.

Anonymous said...

OK, Brownsvillians, we saw some of you this weekend — cautiously venturing out at the limited reopening of restaurants, taquerias and golf courses. You shopped in the mall and patronized the stores and other businesses that were open.

Those were hopeful signs that at some point, we can return to some semblance of life as we knew it before this pandemic.

But freedom comes with responsibility. As more restrictions are lifted, it’s critical that we continue to be smart and safe to avoid worsening the spread of coronavirus and a return to sheltering in place for all of us.

We’ll say it again: That means wearing masks in public. That means social distancing in restaurants. That means resisting the urge for mass gatherings in backyards and parks.

Anonymous said...

They don't fear for the safety of the residents; they're okay with a few thousand dying. Seems clear to me. They're not hiding their disdain for Covid-19, are they?

South Texas - El Valle - got how many testing kits, testing sites?

Anonymous said...

Could it be because of the $54 Million in FEDERAL FUNDS that Abbot received in the CARES ACT and signed by Abbott in April 23, 2020. CARES ACT stands for Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Act. This Act was to be used for additional funding support programs and services administered by the state's 28 Area Agencies on Aging. ADDITIONAL FUNDING such as Home delivered meals, help with household chores,assistance with groceries and respite care or other services for the family caregivers. The Reason was so that they could stay home and not venture out to to get these items and contaminated themselves with the Covid-19 virus . Texas leaders claim that," OLDER TEXANS AND TEXANS WITH DISABILITIES FACE A HIGHER RISK OF SEVERE ILLNESS FROM COVID-19, and THEY need continued support during these trying times said ABBOTT. These funds will help provide higher risk Texans with ADDITIONAL support and resources to meet their everyday needs while allowing them to stay at HOME and stay safe. Abbott thanked the U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES FOR PROVIDING TEXAS WITH THIS CRUCIAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR FELLOW TEXANS". Abbott signed this Act on April 23, 2020 and yet,four days later on the 27th. lifts the restrictions on allowing the state to open. Money is the real reason Why Texas's older community will suffer and pay for these so called leader to control their lives. Also the Mayor and the county judge and all other Texas's leaders are very much aware of this corruption. God Bless Texas and specially our older community in this pandemic crisis. Keep in mind that these funds are for our older community living at HOME to keep them safe. This is my opinion

Anonymous said...

The problem for the sizable majority of people who support state lockdowns is that we're all quietly staying in our homes and not attracting TV cameras and headlines. We are, however, being polled. Turns out, most of us aren't clamoring to be gathering together again in close quarters. A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll shows that we "clearly oppose the reopening of restaurants, retail stores and other businesses, even as governors begin to lift restrictions that have kept the economy locked down in an effort to combat the coronavirus pandemic." The Post finds that Americans in "states with looser restrictions report similar levels of discomfort as those in states with stricter rules."

The majority of people — 56% — are fine with going to the grocery store, an activity that has been allowed in every state during the lockdown because it is essential. But we don't want to go clothes shopping by a 67% majority, and we really don't want to eat in a restaurant: 78%. We are equally uncomfortable being exposed to stranger's sweat as eating with them, also 78%. The only thing people are more fearful of doing is sitting in a movie theater with them, according to 82%. The only thing a plurality of us are okay with, at 41%, is opening up golf courses. There is a partisan gap in this poll, with Republicans and lean-Republicans being significantly more willing to be out infecting people. A third of them would go to a movie, and nearly half want their gun stores and barber shops/salons open.

Anonymous said...

Treviño no vale verga!

Xochil

Letee Rodriguez said...

Why didn't they ?

Anonymous said...

Because they saw the anger of their constituents with the regulations they implemented. Keep it up essential assholes and see how long you stay in office.

Anonymous said...

In the immortal words of Ernesto De Leon .... “Eddie Treviño es un Pendejo”. He is a follower not a leader. He is more preoccupied in chasing skirts and getting a raise than putting time in to be a full time County Judge. La mera neta.

Manny V.

Anonymous said...

Eddie Treviño is a great leader and family man. I have one million reasons I can think of to get him re-elected. Great job Eddie!

Carlos M.

Anonymous said...

juan you are correct, if dumb and dumber didnt agree with the governor file a suit take it to court or do something. No need to be crying now after the spilled milk.

Anonymous said...

Happy Tuesday!

Now, it’s the 5th of May, so it’s time to pretend Cinco de Mayo is an important thing in Mexico!

This Cinco de Mayo, perhaps Mexicans are celebrating having a “wall” between them and all the coronavirus-infected Americans.

Anonymous said...

Attorneys that run for public office is because they can't make it on their own in other words they are very poor attorneys they need public funding to make a living, and to challenge a siting governor is out of the question and they just threw everybody under the bus.
The problem OUR PROBLEM here is they know how stupid we (voters) are and they know they will get elected again and again.
We just keep electing these idiotas they just keep screwing us again and again...

Anonymous said...

Don't want to go out stay home.
If you want to go out, go out. Its really that simple.

Anonymous said...

El Trey no compone nada. No sabe nada el vato!

Anonymous said...

Most people are NOT going to the mall, only certain stores open after 12 pm, most are following the wear a mask and keep your distance. NO Matamoros crowds.
The beach is a different story; we have the beach 12 months, 24 hrs and only men that went to fish paid any attention to it. Now that the beach is clean, here we go, we just LOVE to litter and throw or trash around. We can't blame the Mexicans from the other side, some Mexicans from this side are just as bad or worse and some white anglos are REALLY dirty rascals . Can't wait for the Fall; 2nd round, not only we will have CV 19, but also the seasonal flu, H1-N1, dengue; hope that by then we have learned to KEEP OUR DISTANCE, COVER OUR FACE, and REMEMBER, Don't think it will not happen to you. Many that thought that are not in the land of the living anymore.

Anonymous said...

Texans Brace for a COVID-19 ‘Explosion’ Just Days After Reopening
Its ok they're all hillbillys anyway, maybe a red neck here and there but who the shit cares
They'll call it a redneck,hillbilly,white trash shitdig

Anonymous said...

@9:31 Callete la boca Eddie Trevino! This virus isn't worst than the flu pendejo! I bet you are receiving unemployment benefits or a pinche huevon! Ponte trabajar pinche huevon!

I'm not a robot. said...

Texas Governor Abbott caught on hot mic admitting his reopen order will worsen the andemic

Anonymous said...

@6:58 You rather have complete encomony collapse pendejo? The would cause more deads idiot! Pinche flu kills more than this bullshit made up virus! Vote for Trump again!!!

rita