BND - August 20, 2008
posted by Chris Davis at 8/24/2008 10:05:00 AM
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Why Annexing the Port of Brownsville Is a Dumb Idea.
Did I just fall victim to an April Fools Gag?
GoodTime Charlie® displayed a shocking lack of business/economics sense Tuesday night. The below was excerpted from the Commissioners' Report segment of the agenda.
Adding insult upon injury, GTC® commented elsewhere that:
- The "seaport" actually ISN'T in his district, or we wouldn't be talking about annexation to begin with. What IS in his district however, is an arguably greater proportion of residents who make a living at the "seaport" than in any of the other 3 city districts. But more on that in a bit.
- GTC® actually gets this one right, in that the Port IS its own entity. And Brownsville can no more annex the Port than it can annex Rancho Viejo, the City of Harlingen or the Town of South Padre Island. These things don't often happen unilaterally and the denizens & officials of the coveted entity (unfortunately for GTC®) kind of have a say on annexation. My guess on their views on annexation: no chance.
- GTC® then goes on to state "it's hard to invest in it (the Port of Brownsville), when we're not getting anything out of it". Is he serious? I can't tell anymore. Where's HIS business sense? Ballpark estimates of number employees at Amfels, the Port's largest employer, hover around 3,000 people. Percentage estimates of those employees residing in Brownsville hover around 70%. That's BROWNSVILLE RESIDENTS, GTC®! And that's just at Amfels. These folks don't exactly take their earnings and invest them in out-of-state hedge funds! They spend them HERE! On mortgages, rent, and taxes. And groceries, clothes, cars and sales taxes.
- "Taxes go to Port Isabel", explained GTC®. But that's not quite accurate. The Point Isabel School District is the entity that receives property taxes from the "seaport". But GTC®, take a drive around your district; particularly around the Rivera cluster/zone. Have you SEEN the residential development out there? All the countless neighborhoods southeast of Hwy 48? Can you imagine more than a few of those residents paying their property taxes (county & BISD) off of "seaport" wages?
GTC® touted total support from our area's legislators on Port of Brownsville annexation, but my research shows that's not quite accurate either. The state legislators and Congressman Ortiz know a little better than to just recklessly plunge into such folly. Here's an email addressed to principals at the BND, from Wednesday morning:
But if you're a GTC® constituent and reside in District 2 , shouldn't you expect more basic business sense from your "common sense guy"?
ETA 4/6/08: The Herald weighed in on GTC®'s premature confabulation.
GoodTime Charlie® displayed a shocking lack of business/economics sense Tuesday night. The below was excerpted from the Commissioners' Report segment of the agenda.
Adding insult upon injury, GTC® commented elsewhere that:
"Anybody with real business sense can see that (his critics are) full of crap. Read the statement again. What proof is mentioned that Brownsville is benefitting(sic)from an entity that doesn't pay taxes or help Brownsville grow."I'd want to break down his "report", piece by piece:
- The "seaport" actually ISN'T in his district, or we wouldn't be talking about annexation to begin with. What IS in his district however, is an arguably greater proportion of residents who make a living at the "seaport" than in any of the other 3 city districts. But more on that in a bit.
- GTC® actually gets this one right, in that the Port IS its own entity. And Brownsville can no more annex the Port than it can annex Rancho Viejo, the City of Harlingen or the Town of South Padre Island. These things don't often happen unilaterally and the denizens & officials of the coveted entity (unfortunately for GTC®) kind of have a say on annexation. My guess on their views on annexation: no chance.
- GTC® then goes on to state "it's hard to invest in it (the Port of Brownsville), when we're not getting anything out of it". Is he serious? I can't tell anymore. Where's HIS business sense? Ballpark estimates of number employees at Amfels, the Port's largest employer, hover around 3,000 people. Percentage estimates of those employees residing in Brownsville hover around 70%. That's BROWNSVILLE RESIDENTS, GTC®! And that's just at Amfels. These folks don't exactly take their earnings and invest them in out-of-state hedge funds! They spend them HERE! On mortgages, rent, and taxes. And groceries, clothes, cars and sales taxes.
- "Taxes go to Port Isabel", explained GTC®. But that's not quite accurate. The Point Isabel School District is the entity that receives property taxes from the "seaport". But GTC®, take a drive around your district; particularly around the Rivera cluster/zone. Have you SEEN the residential development out there? All the countless neighborhoods southeast of Hwy 48? Can you imagine more than a few of those residents paying their property taxes (county & BISD) off of "seaport" wages?
GTC® touted total support from our area's legislators on Port of Brownsville annexation, but my research shows that's not quite accurate either. The state legislators and Congressman Ortiz know a little better than to just recklessly plunge into such folly. Here's an email addressed to principals at the BND, from Wednesday morning:
Good Morning,And a direct statement from Congressman Ortiz, himself:
I hope everyone is doing well. This morning you may have read that Congressman Ortiz supports the annexation of the Port of Brownsville by the city (excerpt below). I want to make sure you all know the Congressman didn’t discuss this during any of the meetings with the City and I don’t believe he has actually spoken to Atkinson about it. I don’t know where this is coming from, so I wanted to make sure you all heard from us.
Patricia Villarreal
Deputy Chief of Staff
Congressman Solomon P. Ortiz
Ph: (202) 225-7742
Fax: (202) 226-1134
Web: http://ortiz.house.gov
STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN ORTIZRene Oliveira even weighed in with:
"Any discussion about annexation of the Port of Brownsville would first need to be worked out between local officials, and then should be presented to the people for their approval. I have not taken a position on this issue."
I was contacted by Commissioner Atkinson who indicated the annexation proposal could be beneficial to all interested parties.One might inquire of Rep. Oliveira precisely what "certain city services" can Brownsville provide more efficiently and cheaper than BND. But that's for another post, another day.
In meetings with Port of Brownsville Director Eddie Campirano, port commissioners, and others, it is clear our port needs considerable financial assistance for capital improvements. If made, those improvements could aid large-scale job creation and economic development that would greatly benefit Brownsville.
Further, the port may benefit by receiving certain city services in addition to city-supported infrastructure improvements. Likewise, the city could potentially benefit by increasing its tax base.
I stated to Commissioner Atkinson that all the stakeholders need to do their own cost benefit analyses, iron out many issues, and be in agreement, before I would commit to carry legislation regarding annexation. Above all, I would want voter approval of any proposed annexation.
Respectfully,
Rene O. Oliveira
State Representative
District 37
But if you're a GTC® constituent and reside in District 2 , shouldn't you expect more basic business sense from your "common sense guy"?
ETA 4/6/08: The Herald weighed in on GTC®'s premature confabulation.
posted by Chris Davis at 4/06/2008 12:05:00 AM
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 07, 2008
Thursday, March 06, 2008
John Reed for BND Board, Place 3
John Reed, a Brownsville banker and former chairman of BEDC, has filed for Commissioner, Place 3, on the Brownsville Navigation District Board. Place 3 is currently held by Luigi Cristiano.
His resume includes:
EDUCATION/WORK EXPERIENCE
1979 Graduate – James Pace High School
1983 BBA – Texas State University
23 years banking experience
Former Adjunct Professor of Business, UTB / TSC
Senior Vice President – Capital One Bank
CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS
Board of Directors – El Jardin Water Supply Corp.
Board of Trustees – Valley Regional Medical Center
Board of Trustees – Episcopal Day School Endowment Foundation
Advisory Board Member – Brownsville/SPI International Airport
Member – Brownsville Metropolitan Planning Organization
Former Chairman – Brownsville Chapter American Red Cross
Former Chairman – Rio Grande Valley Chapter American Red Cross
Former Chairman – Brownsville Chamber of Commerce
Former Chairman – Brownsville Economic Development Council
Former Chairman – Episcopal Day School Board of Directors
Former President – Brownsville Boys & Girls Club
Former President – American Cancer Society, South Cameron Unit
Former Board of Directors – Dean Porter Park Renovation Committee
Former Vestry Member / Treasurer – Church of the Advent Episcopal
posted by Chris Davis at 3/06/2008 05:33:00 PM
Monday, March 03, 2008
Friday, February 08, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Conflicted? Hellz Yeah!
Brownsville Navigation District Commissioner Peter M. Zavaletta said that his vote to further negotiations with Bay Bridge Texas — whose employee joined him in his lawsuit against Dannenbaum Engineering Corp. — does not pose a conflict of interest.No, the article in the Herald wasn't surprising in the least. And, in a way, serves as an intriguing segue from the point brought up elsewhere of judging politicians by how they treat folks in normal life.
Namely, judging politicians by how they act in PUBLIC life.
Answers.com defines "conflict of interest" simply:
A conflict between a person's private interests and public obligations.And now, more from the article:
Chambers said Thursday that after Aug. 29 and before Bay Bridge hired him, Zavaletta asked him if he was interested in joining his lawsuit. “I reacted and said ‘sure’. I never signed anything. Being interested doesn’t mean I signed on,” Chambers said, adding –that he will remove his name from the lawsuit.How can this NOT pose as a conflict? How else should Chambers have replied? In typical quid pro quo fashion, Peter Zavaletta asked Mr. Chambers for a private quid, Chamber's name on a lawsuit, only after Zavaletta performed a public quo on August 29th, voting to start negotiations with Bay Bridge.
This clearly creates an appearance of impropriety, folks. And ironically, it's precisely what Zavaletta has championed against, via BND ethics code implementation, in the past.
IMHO, a tiger doesn't change its stripes.
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posted by Chris Davis at 11/16/2007 09:50:00 AM
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Speaking of Ethics...
Thinking out loud, I wonder if consistently (as in about 9 out of the last 22) failing to uphold both your oath and service to those who elected you might be considered a breach of ethics?
In the following pledge:
"I, Peter Zavaletta, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute (the duties of) the office of Navigation and Canal Commissioner - Place 1, of the Brownsville Navigation District of Cameron County in the State of Texas and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution and laws of the United States and of this state. So help me God."where does it read that one reserves the right to take their ball and go home if matters don't go their way?
Labels: bnd
posted by Chris Davis at 2/10/2007 01:24:00 PM
Friday, February 09, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - November 8, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 11/21/2006 02:56:00 PM
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - October 25, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 10/31/2006 01:27:00 PM
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - September 20, 2006 INC
posted by Chris Davis at 10/04/2006 09:05:00 AM
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - September 6, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 9/14/2006 08:29:00 AM
Monday, August 28, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - August 22, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 8/28/2006 08:47:00 AM
Friday, August 04, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - August 2, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 8/04/2006 10:42:00 PM
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Brownsville Navigation District Board Meeting - July 19, 2006
posted by Chris Davis at 7/25/2006 06:06:00 PM