Monday, May 4, 2020

DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, MY PRETTY. DRINK! DRINK!


Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Brownsville Public utility Board CEO John Bruciak on Sunday plunked down the PUB ratepayers' good money to assure that according to the World Health Organization the the COVID-19 virus HAS NOT been detected in Brownsville's drinking-water supplies.

While that is reassuring, we know of no one in mainstream or social media, world leaders, or medical experts who have raised the question.

And in the full-color, three-page (counting front and back and the half-page overlay) ad enveloping the meager news offering of the daily, he also said that the utility's sewer treatment plants can "treat" viruses (including CODIV-19) and other pathogens" and that PUB customers don't have to boil their tap water.

The ad did stop short of suggesting that PUB customers could "treat" a virus infection if they bathe in the treatment plants.

"Consumers can continue to use and drink water from their tap as usual," the ad asserts.

This is just a guesstimate but political ads that cover three full pages cost a pretty penny. Let's call it around $5,000 unless PUB has a standing media contract where they can get a discount.

On Sunday, the PUB wrap ad covered the front and back of the daily with a number of pithy assertions by PUB's praising its tap water. (See the PUB-Herald cozy graphic at right.)

Still, dividing the $5,000 by $200 - the cap on utility assistance per account holders under PUB's SHARE program - that amount would have help 25 households with their bills.

What's more, if they are really needy, they probably have to drink PUB's tap water and can heed PUB's admonishment that there's "no need to stockpile bottled water!"

We have to admit that it's a quirky spin on the theme of May being "Drinking Water Month" adding a twist of COVID-19 just for good measure.

But John will have to excuse our skepticism if we take a pass on chugging down a couple of quarts of it even if PUB says the World Health Organization has placed its seal of approval on Brownsville's water.

Now that the Herald's COVID-19-impacted ad sales have been assuaged by PUB's "stimulus" ad, the daily's editorial management  may lose interest in asking Bruciak and the city commission what bloggers are asking now, which is:

How could PUB waste $100 million on the Tenaska boondoggle and nobody has demanded an answer?

How can BPUB raise rates for five consecutive years and nobody has been willing to demand any answers ?

Will no one demand any answers on why CFO Leandro Garcia permitted two $1.3 million payments to Texas Noble Construction when only one was required?

Come to think of it, maybe it's not water Bruciak is offering us to drink. Maybe he wants us to drink the Kool-Aid. 

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Juan, if we get enuff city rate payers to complaint to the PUC-Public Utility commission PO Box 13326, Austin, texas 78711-3326, you can submit a paper form or electronic form, maybe then maybe we can get some one to investigate. El Gran Robo, only in Cameron County, just like the Great Cameron county fajita scandal.

Anonymous said...

You need to go after whoever approved it locally. Politics, not regulation, is what fucked you.

Anonymous said...

He's buying the local daily with that gigantic ad wonder how much they paid or shall I say WE paid real sure this idiota making 350k a year plus all the perks didn't pay a penny on it but now he's got the daily on his side. CRONYISM AT ITS GRINGO BEST...

Anonymous said...

People don't be stupid this Busicack guy is spending your money frivolously he is paying his buddies back with unnecessary expensive ads on Brownsville hearld, he's been doing it for years.Find out who actually owns the paper our who are the majority stock holders you will be surprised their all local people. What is the advertising budget of PUB hmmmm.

Anonymous said...

Pitiful

Anonymous said...

Puro BPUB rats.

Anonymous said...

First thing I do is throw that useless piece of ad in the trash. I'm trying to get to our Award Winning Newspaper. Ouch, I just bit my tongue.

Anonymous said...

Great idea @8:33, I just filed a complaint with the Public Utility Commission. Everyone should get on board and let your voice be heard. We have been taken advantage of by PUB long enough. They must stop the fraudulent energy surcharge now. Here is the link to file a complaint with the Energy Commission. http://www.puc.texas.gov/consumer/complaint/Complaint.aspx
Get involved and force change!

Anonymous said...

Trump moans he has been treated worse than Lincoln, who was, uh, assassinated.

Lincoln was treated by the press, but he would hardly complain about that treatment.

How much better if you can just use the understanding of free press is part of what we are. Rather, Trump should compare himself to other presidents who’ve led us through crisis and who’ve done things that you can learn from. That would be so much better use of his time.

Former President George W. Bush’s video appeal urging unity during the challenging times imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic was swiftly rejected by Trump. You have to put past resentments aside.

Anonymous said...

My dog "cabron" uses that paper as a toilet and enjoys reading the pet section.

Anonymous said...

Juan i am surprised that Mr. PUB CEO Bruciack is not peddling apples. lol.

rita