Monday, August 24, 2026

WHAT DO CPS SAN ANTONIO AND BROWNSVILLE PUB HAVE IN COMMON? MELLIE ZAMORA LANDIN!

Special to El Rrun-Rrun
MYSA, San Antonio News

Only a handful of major Texas metros are forced to use city-owned electric providers. San Antonio, Austin and Brownsville are among them, but Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is now vying to take on these municipal “monopolies.”

Abbott vowed to make a legislative push next year to break up local markets and introduce private power producers to San Antonio. He expressed frustration that CPS's Energy's service area exceeds San Antonio’s city limits, yet 14 percent of the agency’s gross revenue funds nearly 30 percent of the city’s general fund budget.


In Brownsville, the Brownsville Public Utility Board transfers an average of $10 million – sometimes an additional million or two – to balance its annual municipal budget each year. Its members are appointed by the city commission. Abbot says that  – if he gains reelection in November – he will take on CPS and PUB to end their "monopoly." 

But when we looked at the CPS website, we noticed a familiar face. It was Melissa Zamora Landin, the Pleasanton native who first came to Brownsville as a reporter for the Brownsville Herald, a mentor at the Texas Southmost College newspaper the Scorpion, a city commissioner, public information officer for the Cameron County Judge's Office, a PIO for the District Attorney's Office and an ad agency executive, to name a few.

She also had a stint as the director of the City of Harlingen Convention and Visitors Bureau also served as the city’s public information officer in 2016 but left in February 2017. 

Landin was fired for “insubordination or other disrespectful conduct,” according to the city’s notice of termination. Neither the city nor her office provided details for her dismissal. 

In July 2019, Landin managed to get hired by the the Falfurrias Board of Aldermen to supervise city departments, support maintenance of the city budget and to represent the municipality vis-a-vis community groups and state and federal governments. She has been working in different places across the state, and now she is with CPS.

Now, she is identified as a business strategist, a "changemaker(?)," Scenario Planner, Inclusive Leader and People Advocate."  

It is possible that if Abbott succeeds in getting reelected and going after CPS and the BPUB, attorneys and administrators for the utilities will work together. If so, it is very possible that Landin will work in tandem with PUB reps to defend their entities. If so, the unsinkable Mellie Z. will have come full circle. 

15 comments:

Vietnam 1968 said...

I served with 4th Infantry Div. at Camp Enari , next to Dragon Mountain, At the many LZ's and F. Bases along Hwy QL-19 and QL-14 to pla-Durang, M-48 tank crew. It took about 20 minutes to load the great 175mm LONG TOM with a max load of powder. 155mm and 8" HOW were faster, like 10 rounds per hour.

Anonymous said...

Melissa has enough skeletons in her closet for a Halloween festival.

Anonymous said...

I remember Mellie Z! She was a lot of “fun”!

Anonymous said...

Years ago, did BPUB not try to construct a desalination plant that ultimately did not materialize, resulting in a financial burden on taxpayers? Subsequently, the resaca fees were introduced, which also incurred costs for us. What actions were taken? Where did the funds go? In my view, BPUB should be privatized. The private sector has the expertise to generate profit, whereas the public sector seems only adept at expenditure. BPUB appears to be tainted by corruption, with excessive funds and too many individuals involved in the process.

Chelsea is back! said...

@6:06 am hey Vietnam boy, can your dementia-laden ass quit posting NAM comments on every article? Nobody cares. At least you are still here, more than likely you got govt checks your whole life and wear a “veteran” cap to justify your scheme. My grandfather served in Korea, I lost two uncles to NAM and I served in Afghanistan. I would go again just to not read comments by you. -😘

NAM Here said...

Different Viet veterans are posting, it's not just one.

But dickless idiots like this weirdo Chells do insist.

Anonymous said...

I still remember that black widow tattoo staring at me….

Anonymous said...

Why are you so obsessed with her?

Anonymous said...

Right on her bum, yup I remember it too

Velazquez said...

Because there is a long list of local women who told farmworker Juan Montoya to get lost: Among them, Adela, Helen, Melissa, Salazar, Jessica Tetreau, Mary Flores, Nurith Galonsky. . .

Anonymous said...

@ Vietnam1968, Don't ever quit, keep it up, say your peace. Doesn't bother me one bit.

Anonymous said...

Some of us dont age well

Anonymous said...

I remember those thongs she would wear, anyone else get to see them, first hand??

Anonymous said...

Yup they’d stick out of her skirt …. Mmmmmmm good times

Anonymous said...

I know some veterans are still at war after 55 years.

KXIQ Request, Hollies - Long Cool Woman

rita