CITY SCRAMBLES IN FALLOUT FROM CITY PROPS ELECTION: FREELOADER ROSE GOWEN MOVES IN FOR THE SPOILS

 Special to El Rrun-Rrun

The dust hasn't settled from the negative results of the city's May 4 special elections to consider the creation of the Greater Brownsville Municipal Development District whose passage was contingent upon the voters' approval to abolish the existing Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation. 

The Proposition A vote for the creation of a GBMDD failed with 3,944 "for" and 4,536 "Against."

Then, on Proposition B, 4,518 voters blackened the "Against" oval on the ballot to dissolve the GBIC and BCIC, with 3,042 voting "For."

Since the dissolution of both was contingent on then passage of Proposition A, things stayed the same.

Now, in what some feel is a prepared fall-back option, the city commission, in a "special" meeting called for today, will consider a new ordinance (2024-1743) guiding the GBIC and BCIC and will consider approving the taking half of the GBIC's annual sales-tax revenues from one-half cent (1/2 ) to one-quarter cent (1/4), and allowing the BCIC to increase its share of sales tax revenue from (1/2) and adding the (1/4) cent from GBIC.

If the new ordinance is adopted at first reading Tuesday by the city commission and the second reading at the next meting, it will hand over half of th34 GBIC's annual budget from its share of sale tax to half of the $6 million it receives annually to $3 million. The BCIC, in  turn, will see the $3 million  added to its budget to $9 million. The change will also require that half of the $9 million be dedicated to those so-called "quality of life" projects.

And the primary areas listed under the new ordinance for the BCIC's  new cash will be: 

                            Master Plan List

• City of Brownsville Sidewalk and Trails Master Plan;

• The City’s Comprehensive Plan;

• The Caracara Trails (formerly the Active Plan);

• Brownsville Parks & Open Space Master Plan; and

• The City of Brownsville Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Parks and Recreation

In other words, commissioner Rose Gowen – with only a year left and prevented from running for commissioner again by the term limit restriction approved by the voters – will require the BCIC to funnel those millions into her cherished hike-and-bike trails for perpetuity unless two-thirds of the GBIC board members and two-thirds of the city commission approve any deviation. Although term limits prevent "future" city commissioners from serving more than two terms (eight years), the ballot item excluded her because it came upon her unfinished term and she's been on the commission for the last 13 years with one more to come (14) ending May 2025. 

This is (hopefully) Gowen's last raiding of the city treasury to fund her pet projects and establish her legacy of Brownsville's paladin against obesity and diabetes, and defender of the wellness and health of city residents, even if only a very select recipients benefit from her extravagant hike-and-bike trails in this poverty-wracked city.

Given the fact that Gowen and her husband have paid no city-property taxes during her 14-year tenure because of a historical recognition of her house, she says she is "passionate about public health and its relationship to the economy and the built environment," she is more than willing to spend other people's money to satisfy her "passion." 

In that sense, she is a fine representative of her socioeconomic group who consider themselves the city's elite and feel they are entitled to receive tribute from the unwashed masses.

If a majority of the other commissioners cave in to this freeloader, the city will be saddled with diverting public funds to fund her hike and bike trails long after she is buried under the toxic West Side Trail...and beyond.

With a $3 million cut to be taken from the GBIC and given to the BCIC to support Gowen's money grab, it is no surprise that the GBIC's special meeting agenda scheduled for Thursday, May 16, includes an executive session item to evaluate and/or terminate its Chief Executive Officer Brett Gardella who was hired a little over 10 months ago on August 2023.

Did Gardella acquiesce to the gutting and undercutting of his budget without a whimper, or did he object and ended as  collateral damage  casualty to Gowen and her silk-stocking pals on the city commission?

At the time of his hiring, there was effusive praise for his skills from the mayor and GBIC Asst. CEO Jerry Briones in a local business mag. And will Briones peacefully go along to get along and succeed his boss in as "interim" CEO, later to be named formally to that position once the dust settles? 

“Bret’s vast experience and proven leadership in economic development make him an exceptional choice for this critical role,” said John Cowen, Jr., Brownsville City Mayor and GBIC Chairman. “His expertise will be instrumental in our pursuit of sustainable economic growth and development in Brownsville.”

“We are confident that Bret will lead the GBIC group to new heights, and we look forward to working with him to fulfill the corporation’s mission and achieve its goals,” said Interim Executive Director of GBIC, Jerry Briones.