Monday, February 21, 2022

BERNAL BLINKS: NO ENFORCEMENT ON ILLEGAL POLITICAL SIGNS

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

When the Jonathan Gracia campaign unveiled trailer sized signs, in violation of the city's sign ordinance, the other campaigns watched and waited to see what the City of Brownsville Code Enforcement inspectors would do.

Gracia, currently JP 2-2 – is running for the Texas House of Representatives District 38 seat against attorney Erin Gamez – had placed one near the corner of Media Luna and Central Boulevard, and then another across from Burns Elementary on Alton Gloor Road. They towered over the other political signs which complied with the city's eight-foot limit.

When the city inspectors took no action against the trailer-sized signs, the others candidates began to place their own trailer-sized signs as well. First it was his opponent who followed suit by placing one on her father's property in front of the Brownsville Events Center. Then, others – including a district judge – started erecting signs that went well beyond the size guidelines.

Why the non-action by the city to enforce its own ordinance?

A reporter asked city manager Noel Bernal why the clearly illegal signs were not cited, and he reports that Bernal had placed enforcement on hold pending a review of the constitutionality of its enforcement by City Attorney Victor Flores.

Once the review of what other cities are doing had been completed, Bernal said, he would bring an acceptable ordinance before the city commission and if approved, would be applied in the November general election.

Until then, no enforcement of the existing ordinance will be conducted by city inspectors, Bernal told the reporter. 

"It's like the wild west," the reporter said. "Campaigns now know that they can just ignore the size ordinance without any worries about getting cited by the inspectors and go about their merry way. Bernal was confronted...and blinked."

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

One would think a City Ordinance is in place to control or oversee how and where a political sign/banner may be placed or erected. I believe that at NO TIME should a political sign be allowed to be displayed ON or NEAR a public street curbside, public "Right of Way", and/where it is an obstruction of view to which it may or does create a danger to pedestrians and motorist alike. Obviously, the city is very much aware of this problem but ignores the DANGER it imposes to our community. I'm calling you out City Manager, where is the Safety/Code enforcement Department, BETTER YET WHERE ARE YOU? Protect those you serve, control this political graffiti that is displayed at almost every intersection, it's a DANGER, an OBSTRUCTION, and an ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!!!

Anonymous said...

The city use to have a sign ordinance many, many years ago. Signs could only be put up 60 days before an election, and had to be taken down no later than 10 days after the election. Somewehere along the line, the ordinance was quietly swept away. All these policticals all over the city makes the city look trashy. Just look at all the signs in front of the Brownsville Public Library right now. There should be a limit as to how many signs a candidate can place at a single location. Come on City Commissoners, let's bring back that old sign ordinance and make the city look presentable again.

Anonymous said...

Charro Days kick-off at 1pm WHAT DAY? MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY? Stupid local new paper THEY NEED TO SHUT DOWN BUT ASAP THAT'S "AS SOON AS POSSIBLE" BOLA DE ESTUPIDOS!!!

Anonymous said...

The Code Enforcement Department is overseen by non other than ART RODRIGUEZ AKA "LA MARRANA NEGRA", the biggest cock/ball eater in BrownNoseTown!!! His hands are tide and his mouth full of the City Manager's flesh AS WAS HIS COUNTER PARTNER EX-HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR OSCAR SALINAS AKA "ALBINO RAT" when Charlie was City Manager!!!

Anonymous said...

7:37 a.m. - The examples you give are correct, but they do not go to size. Many candidates have horrible oversized signs. I can put a sign on my lawn which blocks the entire view of my home and there is nothing the city can do about it. As you note, it is about public safety. If an oversized sign can blow down or be blown away, then you have a public safety problem.

The solution is to not vote for people who pollute our community with these signs.

Anonymous said...

Size ordinance is ridiculous.

City knows that.

Los vatos mocosos are ones in the dark.

Anonymous said...



Capricho.


Anonymous said...

Ostensibly, there is a dearth of brains in Brownsville.

That's rich.


(I'm laughing.)

Anonymous said...



RIP El Paya Jerry McHale


Anonymous said...

They will decide AFTER the elections. Political signs become trash or garbage after elections and should be treated as such. FINE ALL THE OWNERS OF POLITICAL SIGNS ON PUBLIC AVENUES.

Anonymous said...

Another great example of "Total Alignment" Total bullshit that is as the city manager can't enforce its existing code enforcement rules. Totally pathetic.

Anonymous said...

Every time I put my signs up when I was running, the city gave me a hassle. I swear in less than a day they were on me about the 18 wheeler trailers with my signs. I've seen several candidates with signs bigger than permitted but yet no enforcement. WTF!

Anonymous said...

YES!!! YES!!! YES!!! The City Manager is turning a blind eye to our communities safety!!! He's failing on doing his diligence of duty and responsibility by allowing this political graffiti to continue defacing our city, to continue an obstruction of City Ordinance, and continue allowing an endangerment to public safety!!! City Management and Code Enforcement are FAILING!!! FAILING!!! FAILING!!!

Anonymous said...

What is this question by the a high paying city manager? the city of Brownsville has to look at other cities what they do for a sign ordinance? That is a complete stupid city manager that Brownsville has if he has to go around asking or how other cities handle the sign problems. Candidates start putting political signs years in advance. I will be running for BISD position in 2098 and will start putting my signs up at Capt Bob's restaurant.

Anonymous said...

Maybe OUR concerns about the City Manager's diligence of duty and responsibility should be redirected to COUNTY WIDE and CITY officials!!! AFTER ALL, they're responsible for OVERSEEING city government!!! Maybe the BIG QUESTION is who's telling the City Manager to continue turning a blind eye to our communities safety and allow the political graffiti to continue defacing our COMMUNITY, to continue an obstruction of City Ordinance, and to continue allowing an endangerment to public safety!!! OH SHIT, I JUST REALIZED THEY'RE JUST AS GUILTY, THEY ALSO PUT UP THEIR OWN POLITICAL GRAFFITI WHEN RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE!!! NEVER MIND!!!

Anonymous said...

Conjunto Bernal has to be the worst city manager barely in front of el otro pendejetes chale.

Anonymous said...

The city manager would probably hire a "Consultant firm" to analyze and recommend what action to take on this issue since he and his other 5 assistants can't perform the job they supposed to do. This is in spite of their overinflated salaries, totally pathetic.

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