"Regardless of anyone's opinion of Commissioner (Gus) De Leon, the central issue should be accountability and transparency. If taxpayer money is being used to settle this matter, the public deserves a complete explanation of the facts, the legal basis for any payment, and the evidence supporting the amount.
An independent appraisal, a clear timeline of events, and documentation showing who authorized the work and why would go a long way toward restoring public confidence. Personal attacks and name-calling don't answer those questions. The focus should remain on ensuring that any decision is based on verified facts, sound legal advice, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars..." Anonymous CommenterBy Juan Montoya
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
After we published our posts on the ongoing controversy regarding the demand by District 3 city commissioner Gus de Leon to get a money settlement (which started at $1 million, then $700,000 to $900,000, etc...) for city Engineering and Public Works crews spreading (he called it illegal dumping) of asphalt millings on a road on his family's 10.5-acre property next to the old bridge, we received the comment above.
After we published our posts on the ongoing controversy regarding the demand by District 3 city commissioner Gus de Leon to get a money settlement (which started at $1 million, then $700,000 to $900,000, etc...) for city Engineering and Public Works crews spreading (he called it illegal dumping) of asphalt millings on a road on his family's 10.5-acre property next to the old bridge, we received the comment above.
He is threatening to sue the city taxpayers he represents if he is not paid Big Bucks for the "damage" done on the property by city Public Works crews using city equipment and road materials to make improvements on a road inside his property.
News coverage of the controversy included statements by De Leon such as: (Valley Central) "A land survey commissioned by the family estimates more than 17,500 square feet of asphalt millings were placed on the property...(KRGV) 'This is probably .94 acres, almost one acre of millings that were thrown on here and about five inches deep,'" De Leon said.(Interestingly, the Cameron County Appraisal District places the taxable value of the property at $250,000 and the family has been offering it for $825,000 in local real estate listing since 2018 without any takers.)
De Leon's assertions to news media, in turn, elicited a comment from another reader who said he calculated a ballpark guesstimate based on De Leon's comments. They point out that the road in question was not built by the city, but rather that the entrance and parts of it were improved by the spread of the millings with city equipment and trucks and crews from the entrance on Mexico Blvd,. to the extreme southern end of the property where the Department of Homeland Security has started to build sections of the Border Wall starting last Thursday.
A commenter stated that the costs are estimates of what contractors could expect to pay on the local market.
Estimated Fair-Market Cost of Asphalt Millings Road Project
Purpose: The following is a general contractor-style estimate of the fair-market value to furnish, haul, spread, and compact asphalt millings for approximately one acre at an average depth of five inches.
Purpose: The following is a general contractor-style estimate of the fair-market value to furnish, haul, spread, and compact asphalt millings for approximately one acre at an average depth of five inches.
*This is an estimate of what a private contractor could reasonably charge, not necessarily what the City actually paid.
Assumptions
Approximately one acre of roadway covered with asphalt millings.
Average thickness of approximately 5 inches.
Approximately 38 truckloads of 20 cubic yards each.
Estimate represents fair-market contractor pricing, including equipment, labor, and
mobilization.
The city commission considered a settlement offer during their July 7 meeting, but were unable to reach consensus and delayed the decision until their meeting today, July 21.
Meanwhile, the finger pointing has started as residents ask who ordered the crews, machinery, and materials to the site. They stayed for almost a week delivering and spreading the asphalt millings on the private road inside the property. De Leon said he had filed a complaint to the police May 6, two days after he "discovered" the crews working n the road and let them continue there for another two or three days.
Guerrero, by the way, has no engineering degree, but specialized in public relations before she was appointed as assistant EPW director under Garcia and when he was promoted to Deputy CM, director of the department. As director with authority to order work crews, has she been interviewed? Did she clear it with her ex-boss? What role did she play? The buck stops there."
If there was an "unwritten" verbal agreement to send the crews in the property and make the road improvements, the city commissioners paying De Leon one red cent in taxpayers' money before ascertaining who was involved would be tantamount to engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the public. At what point does this become a felony (value over $2,500) and someone like the Cameron County District Attorney's Office has to step in?
Texas Criminal Code
Abuse of Official Capacity (Texas Penal Code § 39.02): A public servant intentionally misuses government property, services, personnel, or funds. If the value involved is high enough, this offense can be a felony.
Official Oppression (Texas Penal Code § 39.03): A public servant intentionally subjects another to unlawful treatment or denies a legal right while acting under color of office. This is generally a misdemeanor, not a felony.
Tampering with a Governmental Record (Texas Penal Code § 37.10): If someone knowingly created false work orders, invoices, inspection reports, or other government records to conceal what occurred, this can be a felony.
Theft (Texas Penal Code § 31.03): If government materials, labor, or equipment were intentionally diverted for private benefit, prosecutors could examine whether the facts support a theft charge. Whether it is a felony depends on the value involved and the circumstances.
Theft (Texas Penal Code § 31.03): If government materials, labor, or equipment were intentionally diverted for private benefit, prosecutors could examine whether the facts support a theft charge. Whether it is a felony depends on the value involved and the circumstances.
Conspiracy (Texas Penal Code § 15.02): If two or more people agreed to commit a felony and took an overt act toward it, conspiracy charges could be considered.
Today, at 5 p.m., this hot-potato issue comes before the city commission in an agenda item in executive session. It is the first item at the start of the meeting to be discussed and action taken in executive session. Will they cave in to his litigation threats and "settle" with de Leon for the "damage" to his property? Or will they perform their due diligence and represent the taxpayers who elected them to look out for their interests? 
25 comments:
It
could be
Serious
or
maybe not
All
I know is
what I'll
here
from Diego Lee Rot. . .
So technically the city improved a road on his property. The improvement increased the value of his property. De Leon should be paying the tax payers, not suing them.
I sure wish the city would come and improve the alley behind my house.
Mamón
Va ver putasos!
Opinion: Good Governance Requires Facts, Transparency, and Accountability
Just weeks before the current controversy surrounding Commissioner De Leon’s property, the City of Brownsville took an important step toward strengthening public trust. The City engaged Strategic Government Resources (SGR) to conduct a Governance and Visioning Retreat with the City Commission and senior leadership. The purpose was straightforward: review governance norms, discuss best practices, and establish a framework for transparency, accountability, and responsible decision-making.
That effort could not be more relevant today.
Regardless of anyone’s opinion, this controversy should not be about personalities. It should be about whether the City of Brownsville is meeting the fundamental principles of good governance.
If taxpayer dollars are being used to resolve a dispute involving improvements allegedly made by City crews on private property, the public deserves a complete accounting before any payment is authorized.
Several questions remain unanswered.
Who authorized City employees to perform work on the property? Was the direction given through the Office of the City Manager? Were written work orders issued, or was the work performed based on an unwritten verbal directive?
These are not political questions. They are management questions.
Equally important is understanding why the work was performed in the first place.
If City-funded road improvements were made to facilitate federal access, the public deserves to know whether that work served a legitimate public purpose, whether an intergovernmental agreement existed, and whether the City was reimbursed or otherwise authorized to undertake the improvements.
Before any settlement is considered, several basic governance principles should be satisfied.
First, the City should obtain an independent appraisal or engineering estimate of the value of any alleged damages or improvements.
Second, the City should prepare a complete timeline documenting when the work occurred, who requested it, who approved it, and under what authority.
Third, all relevant work orders, invoices, equipment logs, employee time records, emails, and communications should be made available for review to the extent permitted by law.
Finally, the City Attorney should publicly explain the legal basis for any proposed settlement and why paying taxpayer funds represents the City’s legal obligation rather than a discretionary political decision.
These are the minimum expectations of transparent government.
The discussion has also raised questions regarding potential legal implications if public resources were intentionally used for private benefit or if official records do not accurately reflect what occurred. Texas law contains several statutes addressing misuse of public office, including Abuse of Official Capacity (Texas Penal Code §39.02), Tampering with a Governmental Record (§37.10), and Theft (§31.03), among others. Whether any of those statutes apply depends entirely on the facts established through a competent investigation. Determining whether criminal conduct occurred is the responsibility of independent law enforcement authorities—not elected officials, political commentators, or the public.
That distinction matters.
It would be inappropriate to presume wrongdoing without evidence, it would be equally inappropriate to authorize a taxpayer-funded settlement before the relevant facts have been fully established.
The Governance Retreat commissioned by the City emphasized the importance of trust between elected officials, professional staff, and the public. Trust is not restored through political rhetoric or personal attacks. It is restored through transparency, documentation, independent verification, and decisions grounded in facts.
The question facing Brownsville is larger than any one commissioner or any one property dispute.
The real question is whether the City will follow the governance principles it recently committed itself to embracing.
Taxpayers deserve answers, not another bill.
If the city commission capitulates to de León Brownsville citizens should never vote for these fuckers or their family members.
If the city of Brownsville has left over building materials there are thousands of things around town that need improvement. Evidently there is also a left over budget to pay employees, left over gas, and available machinery to get the job done.
Typical Brownsville Fuckup. Why act surprised, Raza?
No, not I, said the Chuco
100k???? Nada bro!!! We don’t owe him shyttt
Get a life, Mr. Secretary. Take notes and get the job. You obviously have no Life at present. Baboso.
It’s funny Gustavo made a big deal of voting no to pay increase of 20,000 Dlls a year but wants 1,000,000 up front. 😂. He wants 50 years of pay for a shitty road
No mames Gustavo
Gus is a good man, and the City administration is well run. Sometimes things just don't go as planned. There's no one to blame—this was simply one of those bad days that everyone has from time to time.
“One Fuck Up is Equal to 100 at a Boy” Means
The phrase “one fuck up is equal to 100 at a boy” is a humorous, exaggerated way of saying that a single mistake or failure can have a huge impact — so big that it’s like losing 100 points in a game or situation. It’s not literal; it’s a hyperbolic expression used to emphasize how serious or costly a single error can be.
Why it’s used
Emphasis on severity: In competitive or high-stakes situations (like sports, gaming, or even life challenges), one bad move can ruin everything. Saying “equal to 100” makes it sound like the cost is massive.
Humor or exaggeration: The “fuck up” part is slang for a mistake or failure, and “equal to 100” is a ridiculous but memorable way to stress the point. It’s similar to saying “one mistake is worth a hundred points” in a game.
Relatable to “100” culture: In many contexts, “100” is a big number — like 100% effort, 100 points, or 100% failure. Using it here makes the mistake feel like a total loss.
Example in context
If a basketball player misses a free throw in the final seconds of a close game, you might say:
“That one miss was like a fuck up equal to 100 at a boy — it cost the team the win.”
Similar expressions
“One mistake is worth a thousand points.”
“One error can cost you the whole game.”
“It’s like losing 100% of your chance.”
In short, it’s a playful, exaggerated way of saying that a single mistake can be devastating, and it’s meant to be understood in context rather than taken literally.
It’s not even a road … it’s a path
A good man? Why not just clean the mess up and call it a mistake and not cost anyone anything. No! He wants money!! This can be fixed really quick and really cheap not costing tax-payers a thing … but no he wants to sue the city and steal money from the tax-payers! Plain and simple!
You must be smoking crack bro
Estás bien tonto. Pay a million out
Of your pocket and say. It’s ok I understand you had a bad day
It's "attaboy," you witless slob!!!
Asshole. May God damn you!!!
if De Leon demanded 900k, he's self serving
Un buen hombre que tiene sangre en sus manos al participar de un asesinato en el puente
Just get a backhoe, pick it up and remove it, pass over with a roller y tantan. hacen mucho pedo.
I don't know, I can't recall. . .No, I just uh. . .no.
@3:09
LOL.
Max rata que nada, y se hace lastimado, y el mamon y mamona de la cuidad se hacen pendejos
Igualito que Pedro. Muertos de hambre. Scum of the earth. Tino tiene más clase.
How did Maribel land that job. Things that make go mmmmmm
for real.
At least she's working! Not depending on her loser ex- husband Ben Guerrero. Worthless piece of shit.
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