ValleyCentral.com
Brownsville residents should not have to worry about having their lights cut off for now.
In a special meeting Monday, the Brownsville City Commission unanimously approved the first vote to freeze any electric disconnections, late fees or penalties from Brownsville Public Utility Board.
To take effect, Monday’s vote requires a second vote, which is scheduled Tuesday (today). If passed, the freeze would take immediate effect, barring BPUB from cutting power to homes through Feb.28, 2023. The ordinance also prevents BPUB from charging late fees or charges for delinquent payments during the freeze.
BPUB officials were already operating as if the disconnection freeze was in effect, the commission was told.
Residents have been faced with significantly higher electric bills attributed to increases in natural gas prices in recent months.
On Monday, the city commission voted to approve a second reading of an ordinance to speed up reductions to BPUB’s electric rate. The 11 percent rollback, combined with an 11 percent already in place, is intended to slash electric rates by 22 percent total.
(PUB board members unanimously suspended CEO John Bruciak a week ago Monday for 60 days with pay pending his response to a forensic audit performed on the Tenaska plant project. The real increases in electric power to PUB customers added up to 35 percent not counting water and wastewater rates since April 2013 when the first installment of the five-year rate increases went into effect.)
That would restore rates to what consumers paid before BPUB’s failed $188 million power plant project, officials said.
These rate cuts will be effective Dec. 1, rather than the scheduled date of May 3, 2023.
BPUB electric consumers saw their electric payments increased by 41.5 percent over four years to fund the failed power plant deal, which has been heavily scrutinized in recent weeks following the release of a forensic audit by the city on Oct. 5.
The outcry continued in public comments Monday as a residents continued to criticize BPUB and the failed power plant project.
“The current BPUB board has failed us in every aspect so far regarding Tenaska and the aftermath. You and the commissioners are ultimately responsible. In your words, they are an extension of you,” Brownsville resident Susan Ruvalcaba said.
Ruvalcaba urged city commissioners to vote to remove Chair Sandra A. Saenz from the BPUB Board of Directors.
“[Saenz], as I see it, should have never been appointed,” Ruvalcaba said. “Why? Well, she was a longtime legal secretary for [former Brownsville Mayor Tony] Martinez. She became his mayoral secretary while he served in office and his business partner. That screams conflict.
“Still to this day a tight band between them exists. This conflict impedes her decision-making as a board member. Ex-mayor Martinez is mentioned in a negative light 26 times in this forensic report—words like ‘heavily involved,’ ‘influential,’ ‘not forthcoming,’ ‘false pretenses.'”
In response to the critical forensic audit, BPUB on Oct. 17 voted unanimously to place its CEO John Bruciak on administrative leave with pay for 60 days.
“Mayor Martinez should be held just as accountable because he appears to hold equal responsibility,” Ruvalcaba said. “Hence, [Saenz], his longtime employee, friend and business partner can’t possibly be expected to make fair decisions regarding Bruciak when her confidant Martinez is equally implicated. They were a tag team in a sense.”
On Monday, city commissioners appointed members to form a new charter review committee.
City leaders want to amend the city charter in particular to make changes related to the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Changes to a city charter must be made through an election.
To meet the required timeline for a charter amendment election in May 2023, the city would need to appoint a charter review committee by Oct. 24 or Nov. 1 this year. Charter review committee would traditionally have seven members.
These rate cuts will be effective Dec. 1, rather than the scheduled date of May 3, 2023.
BPUB electric consumers saw their electric payments increased by 41.5 percent over four years to fund the failed power plant deal, which has been heavily scrutinized in recent weeks following the release of a forensic audit by the city on Oct. 5.
The outcry continued in public comments Monday as a residents continued to criticize BPUB and the failed power plant project.
“The current BPUB board has failed us in every aspect so far regarding Tenaska and the aftermath. You and the commissioners are ultimately responsible. In your words, they are an extension of you,” Brownsville resident Susan Ruvalcaba said.
Ruvalcaba urged city commissioners to vote to remove Chair Sandra A. Saenz from the BPUB Board of Directors.
“[Saenz], as I see it, should have never been appointed,” Ruvalcaba said. “Why? Well, she was a longtime legal secretary for [former Brownsville Mayor Tony] Martinez. She became his mayoral secretary while he served in office and his business partner. That screams conflict.
“Still to this day a tight band between them exists. This conflict impedes her decision-making as a board member. Ex-mayor Martinez is mentioned in a negative light 26 times in this forensic report—words like ‘heavily involved,’ ‘influential,’ ‘not forthcoming,’ ‘false pretenses.'”
In response to the critical forensic audit, BPUB on Oct. 17 voted unanimously to place its CEO John Bruciak on administrative leave with pay for 60 days.
“Mayor Martinez should be held just as accountable because he appears to hold equal responsibility,” Ruvalcaba said. “Hence, [Saenz], his longtime employee, friend and business partner can’t possibly be expected to make fair decisions regarding Bruciak when her confidant Martinez is equally implicated. They were a tag team in a sense.”
City leaders want to amend the city charter in particular to make changes related to the Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Changes to a city charter must be made through an election.
To meet the required timeline for a charter amendment election in May 2023, the city would need to appoint a charter review committee by Oct. 24 or Nov. 1 this year. Charter review committee would traditionally have seven members.
42 comments:
Always, residents of Brownsville get crumbs.
Sell PUB and free the people. There are dozens of utilities providers out there, most way cheaper than what Brownsville pays.
Queremos toda la semita!
Juan can we file a complaint with the TEXAS PUC-PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION, IAM SURE THEY HAVE TO HAVE SOME JURISDICTION? JUST AKSING FOR A FRIEND.
First order of business should be to replace any push back from anybody and that means to replace the BPUB board PERIOD!!! NOW NOT TOMORROW OR AFTER ELECTIONS BUT NOW!!!!!
SECOND we need to have a choice of who we want to offer electric services to this community. NOT JUST ONE COMPANY WE WANT A CHOICE AND WE WANT IT NOW NOW NOW! The city of brownsville commission can make changes now, do it!
THIRD The ceo of pub must be fired immediately no monkey business anymore, fire him do it NOW.
THIRD We must have an FBI investigation completely done and the city MUST take action on the results of the FBI investigation or leave it to the FBI to charge anyone.
The city must stop all these cronyism immediately no more compadre hirings STOP IT, hire the best qualified. NO FAMILY, NO FRIENDS, NO CAMPAIGN HELPERS, OR CONTRIBUTORS NO MORE STOP IT AND MAKE IT ILLEGAL.
STOP THE STEAL AND FIRE HIS ASS, NO MORE 60 DAYS WITH PAY, DO IT NOW AND GET RID OF THAT SELL-OUT BPUB BOARD. PUROS CRONIES PUROS COMPADRES. REPLACE THE WHOLE BOARD DO IT NOW...
VOTE EVERYBODY OUT DO NOT RE-ELECT NOBODY EVER AGAIN.
get rid of the bpub board now, full of compadres y comadres panzonas y feas.
Boycott list is growing
Spankys hamburger.
1848 BBQ
Dodichi Pizza
Dodichi Provisions
Spread the word.
STOP THE STEAL
MONEY FROM BPUB?
Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville, Tx.)rises to No. 1 this week for ratas activities in US: report
report from: HANDS IN THE WRONG POCKET, INC. gov funded.
Ratas to include BPUR and its board. cozy relationship. Travel world wide and only rent one-uno bedroom everywhere they go. hummmmmmm and the husbands(they stay home)?
Abbott backers cheer governor at Harlingen GOP rally
The KKK city at it again. The mob was all white.
Time to push Montoya into running for mayor, or county judge.
Juan at least knows whose crooked.
Go Jmon!!!
...
Think outside the box for candidates/public servants -
Montoya: Mayor, County Judge
Jim Barton, city commission
Ben Neece, police chief
Nurith Galonsky, sheriff
El Jerry McHale, city public information officer
Caty Presas-Garcia, citizen advocate at City Hall
Lose these losers -
Jessica Tetreau
Roy de los Santos
Trey Mendez
Rose Gowen
Joey Lopez
Sofia Benavidez
Gus Ruiz
Eddie Trevino
Eric Garza
Luis Saenz
Helen Ramirez
Tony Zavaleta
And, for Chrissakes, DO NOT vote for Republican guppy Caros Cascos!!!
try a write-in campaign for Montoya!!!!
...
Galonsky and her daddy won't allow it. She and Gowen running cover for the rats.
Been years that they have been funneling money to their accounts. This why bill were up the ass expensive. To recover what they were stealing. I personally know this cause I’ve rubbed shoulders with these assholes. They will only get a slap on the wrist and live lavishly with the money they stole from Brownsville citizens. As much as I love Brownsville, I’m glad I moved. You’re not going to make it with all the Lacras that live there. If you live there, move.
Be careful understand the frustration look at the big picture thats what they want is to sell PUB so they can fill the city coffers with millions so they can do more scams., that's the easy way out for these ratas don't be fooled.
Welcome to Browntown, widely considered the most corrupt city in Texas. There is not one honest politician here and people identify and except corruption as normal behavior. Ungodly Brownsville will always be looked down on.
The recent shit show speaks a clear message: it’s time to get rid of the B PUB and their board members! Why doesn’t someone take a stand and say that?? At this point they could be replaced with some of the monkeys at the GP zoo!
The entire organization is infested with political flunkies and criminals, (has been for years!). Sleep with dogs, get fleas.
Fire that suspended RATA NOW. Send the audit to the D. A. for review and action arrest him otherwise he will want to stay and sue pub and the city. Fire that crony at the pub board
Excuse me but Democrats created the KKK after the civil war. So don't try and tie Republicans to your sick democratic ideas that still exist to date. The Democratic Party remains a party of hate. Democratic DNA.
Nurith Galonsky and her father made money off the PUB ROW purchases for Tenaska. She should not vote on any PUB issue and should be booted off the city commission. Pay it back, Galonsy! Conflict of Interest Cochina! Come on FBI!
This Brusikak is on Paid vacation while he and Martinez are counting there money at the Island. WOW!! they raised are rates in combined water and electricity 41% need I say it again 41% DAUM!! NOW ITS TIME TO REALLY FKING GET MAD.Its amazing I don't see business leaders demand more action they got pinched twice at home and there business.
Get the Kettle of Peanut oil to temperature people.
It's not just "light" disconnects, Montoya.
Electricity, like to power the fridge, washer & dryer, stove, toaster, microwave oven, vacuum cleaner, anything that connects to a power outlet.
facts for you.
For years the COB commissioners, PUB board members were all sucking on the money and laughing at utility customers of Brownsville.
No longer eating at Spankys and no longer going to vote for the husband.
BS
They gotta pay
What's next no prosecuting thieves like California based on inflation
bS
We're all adults
Turn off the AC and TV if you can't pay bills
Pura pinche rata de dos patas en Brownsville politics
You're forgetting other businesses in Palm Blvd., and downtown owned by the same inner group. The list gets bigger!
These people are CROOKS!
I will boycott all of their fucking businesses. May God bless all they have done to the poor.
Remember "I'll say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24
May we see justice done here on Earth as well.
And what they do with those funds from(pub)??? BIKE TRAILS so there really is no need for those funds, stop the funds from pub and stop the bike trail constructions. simple!
SELL BPUB NOW and stop their funding to the city no more bike trails, no more paving alleys in the rich and famous areas, no more free money for the construction of fancy old building to entertain the gringos, stop the funding to racist foundations and useless organisations like the museum the opera house and other gringo recreational places sponsor by the city.
BPUB members talk reimbursement: $29 million remains in Tenaska equity fund
Most citizens here made a lot of sacrifices to pay their electric bills.
At times I had to borrow, pawn and apply for loans to pay my electric bill.
NOW I WANT MY MONEY BACK TO PAY ALL THE INTEREST I HAVE ACCUMULATED FOR BORROWING AND PAYING PUB. I NEED IT IN CASH LIKE THE WAY I PAID IT.
October 25, 2022 at 11:35 PM
Show us the list we like to know...
i want to know what happen to the other 100 million dollars.
I wonder if the crooks are paying utility bills?
1. Dissolve the BPUB board and PUB entirely. Give the citizens of Brownsville a choice as to who they want as a power provider. Dissolving the PUB will rid ourselves of all the compadrismo and corruption in that filthy organization.
2. to another Blog responder: the early SOUTHERN Democrats may have supported the KKK early on but, surely you acknowledge that the Republicans wholeheartedly took over this "support" and have run with it since the 70"s through today. Republicans cannot hide from this, OWN IT, fool.
If you want them to feel it, hit them where it hurts, their wallets.
STOP SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS:
Spankys hamburger.
1848 BBQ
Dodichi Pizza
Dodichi Provisions
Pass it on.
SOME AT THE CITY COMMISSION AND ALL OF THE PUB BOARD HAVE LOST INTEGRITY OUR TRUST AND ARE COMPROMISED. PUB IS BROKEN TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND CITY COMMISSION MUST REPLACE BOARD AS INEFFECTIVE AND CORRUPT IF NOT COMMISSION SHOWS THERE COMPLICITY IN THIS FRAUD.CITY COMMISION KNOWING THAT A FRAUD HAS ACCURED THEY STILL GIVE INMATES KEYS TO THE CASTLE AND THAT IS STUPID AND WRONG. IM SURE THE FBI ARE DEFINITELY READING ALL THESE COMMENTS AND ARE EDUCATING THEMSELVES BEFORE THE BIG SWEEP. SOME OF YOU ARE ACCOMPLICES AT THIS POINT STIFF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AND ALMOST 3 WEEKS LATER CITY COMMISSION STILL DRAGGING THERE FEET. THERE MUST BE A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OF EVERY DOLLAR OF THE $140 MILLION PUB FRAUDED FROM THE RATE PAYERS. NO ONE IN THIS TOWN TRUSTS ANY INFORMATION COMING FROM PUB OR COMMISSION THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE STAGGERING.
SOME AT THE CITY COMMISSION AND ALL OF THE PUB BOARD HAVE LOST INTEGRITY OUR TRUST AND ARE COMPROMISED. PUB IS BROKEN TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL AND CITY COMMISSION MUST REPLACE BOARD AS INEFFECTIVE AND CORRUPT IF NOT COMMISSION SHOWS THERE COMPLICITY IN THIS FRAUD.CITY COMMISION KNOWING THAT A FRAUD HAS ACCURED THEY STILL GIVE INMATES KEYS TO THE CASTLE AND THAT IS STUPID AND WRONG. IM SURE THE FBI ARE DEFINITELY READING ALL THESE COMMENTS AND ARE EDUCATING THEMSELVES BEFORE THE BIG SWEEP. SOME OF YOU ARE ACCOMPLICES AT THIS POINT STIFF ACTION SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AND ALMOST 3 WEEKS LATER CITY COMMISSION STILL DRAGGING THERE FEET. THERE MUST BE A PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OF EVERY DOLLAR OF THE $140 MILLION PUB FRAUDED FROM THE RATE PAYERS. NO ONE IN THIS TOWN TRUSTS ANY INFORMATION COMING FROM PUB OR COMMISSION THE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARE STAGGERING.
"2. to another Blog responder: the early SOUTHERN Democrats may have supported the KKK early on but, surely you acknowledge that the Republicans wholeheartedly took over this "support" and have run with it since the 70"s through today. Republicans cannot hide from this, OWN IT, fool."
You cannot just rewrite history because it fits your narrative. The republican party is the abolition party that does not see race but the Democratic party continues to make everything about race, true to its core value that have not changed since they founded the KKK. There was never a switch just a lie by democrats to deflect the blame. The racist Democrats still have their colored people but instead of having them on the plantation now they have them in the housing projects and in the inner cities and pay them with food stamps in order to get them to do with their Democratic masters want. Republican support equil opportunities for all but in the outcome depends on the effort of each person.
We are hispanics who are proud of our culture and heritage (not coconuts or white wannabes, just Mexican-Americans who want the best for this country and probably speak spanish better than you who will call us names) better still smart enough to realize that our conservative values align with the Republican party. The red wave is coming and is being led by us.
October 27, 2022 at 8:03 p.m.
I consider myself an independent. You are the first Republican who's writing does not resonate with hatred.
Have you consider running for public office?
You must own up to the fact that Trump is a disgusting leader.
Tony made lots of $ on this deal. Finders fees etc.
The Brownsville City Commissioners, City Manager and all the PUB board along with the Brownsville Police Chief should all face Federal Criminal Charges.. They all knew of the Theft but all failed to take action as it would hurt their pocket books.
No leadership anywhere in Brownsville but lots of Rats!
October 27, 2022 at 8:03 PM
The only alignment here is, its true, racist towards you and your family pinche coco. Remember you are a rapist, murderers and thieves, and soon to be bussed to the north. The name KKK is gone but the racist republicans took over and are now know as the RRR party.
The racist republicans are the ones building the wall, bussing hispanics
in Texas it ranks among worst in the nation for racial disparities and its run 100% by racist republican, all offices are held by racist republicans. No wonder some hispanics would rather turn their chicks (your bud) and declare they are whites, cocos and maintain they are proud of their heritage (behind closed doors). Proud? Don't think so.
I can bet that you and your children DO NOT SPEAK ONE WORD OF SPANISH well maybe the only word would be si si mi patron well maybe four.
And you already have a gringo friend encouraging you to run of office. He most likely knows you and figures with your attitude and your gringo name (what is it randy, mike Milton). If it was jose, mateo or diego he would not encourage you.
Remember gringos don't like your ass and talk about you behind your ass.
* Early advocate of the abolitionist cause was the Libery Party NOT the republican party idiota! It broke away from the American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS) to advocate the view that the Constitution was an anti-slavery document. William Lloyd Garrison, leader of the AASS, held the contrary view, that the Constitution should be condemned as an evil pro-slavery document.
The Liberty Party later merged with the Republican Party in 1854, by which time many of the issues originally championed by the Liberty Party had become politically mainstream and republican. In its beginning the party was also known as the white party and you can guess why. No matter how many times you and your coco friens advocate scream and yell the party was intended for white people NOT FOR YOU. MESKIN...
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