FOR AN ARTSY EVENING, SEE FELICIA AT CURIO409.COM

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Pedestrians in the area around Washington, 12th Street, and Market Square in downtown Brownsville were surprised to see advertising spray painted on sidewalks inviting them to buy tickets for a artist's exhibition, leading to business owners there to question whether the defacing of public thoroughfares was done the with the approval of city officials.

The spray-painted invitation to attend an "art evening with Picasso" on city sidewalks has led to several business owners to ask whether everyone who wants to use the sidewalks to boost their business can also advertise on the sidewalks. Curio 49 is an art gallery owned by John Edge and Felicia Fruia located at 409 E. 13th Street.

"Can everyone do it, then?" asked one caller to this blog. "Before  you know it, the sidewalks will be filled with advertising from anyone doing business downtown. I can just see ads inviting people to go have a drink at the Sportsman bar, or the Palm Lounge, or even invites to rent a room at the Cameron Hotel. If the can do it, why can't everyone?"

Questions to some city commissioners and city administrators failed to reveal how the ads came to approved for the Fruias and painted on the sidewalks. 

"I think they just decided to do it on their own," said another. "These guys and the board members of the BCIC (Brownsville Community Incentives Corporation) pretty much do what they want downtown like it belongs to them."

Remember when then-mayor Trey Mendez sent the police after activist Rebekah Hinojosa for painting graffiti on a city building? Will mayor John Cowen send the cops after the Fruia sign painters on a public sidewalk? Somehow, we doubt it.

The BCIC board, in particular, has been very generous with the Fruias, and in 2023 dished out some grant money to establish their buildings, including the carcass located at the corner of E. Levee and 13th streets – really 1259 E. Levee. The building was red-tagged by city inspectors as constituting a hazard to the public. 

A city permit was issued to remove the asbestos from the Levee building, but the contractor removed all the roof beams and the roof as well. That the address (409 E. Levee St.) doesn't exist mattered little to the BCIC board or its members who approved the award.

BCIC meeting minutes reflect that on December 17, 2021, the board approved a $75,000 application for 409 E. Levee St. to Felicia Fruia/Edge along with and husband John and her father Luke Fruia for exterior facade, interior capitol improvements, and vertical activation (activate second floor.)

According to its mission statement, the BCIC "initiatives, endeavors, programs, and incentives revolve around the human capital that’s within our community and improving the community through funding quality of life projects."

According to the minutes of the BCIC board of directors for their April 27 (2023) meeting, the Levee Street project is listed as "completed" and allowed the Fruia-Edges to apply for an additional $125,000 for their building across the alley at 409 E. 13th Street, formerly Mark Cark's 409 Galeria (now Curio 49), which the board granted.

Will other businesses follow suit and turn the public sidewalks into concrete billboards to promote their business as well?