Pot, Kettle. Kettle, Pot.

"...I don't associate with people who take advantage of their position for personal gain."

-GoodTime® Atkinson
March 8, 2010

But can we associate people who take advantage of their position for personal gain with you, then?

City Commission - March 2, 2010

City Commission Meeting - March 2, 2010
Agenda.

City Commission - February 16, 2010

City Commission Meeting - February 16, 2010
Agenda.

City Commission - February 2, 2010

Part A


Part B

City Commission Meeting - February 2, 2010
Agenda.

City Commission - January 19, 2010

City Commission Meeting - January 19, 2010
Agenda.

Cluelessness on the Commission.

GoodTime didn't have a clue then, and he certainly doesn't have one now.

T-minus a year and a half.

City Commission - January 5, 2010

City Commission Meeting - January 5, 2010
Agenda.

City Commission - December 15, 2009

Part A


Part B

City Commission Meeting - December 15, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - December 1, 2009

City Commission Meeting - December 1, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - November 17, 2009

Part A


Part B

City Commission Meeting - November 17, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - November 3, 2009

City Commission Meeting - November 3, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - October 20, 2009

City Commission Meeting - October 20, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - September 15, 2009

City Commission Meeting - September 15, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - September 14, 2009

City Commission Meeting - September 14, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - September 8, 2009

City Commission Meeting - September 8, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - September 1, 2009

City Commission Meeting - September 1, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - August 25, 2009

Part 1


Part 2

City Commission Meeting - August 25, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - August 18, 2009

City Commission Meeting - August 18, 2009
Agenda.

Denial...

...it ain't just a river in Egypt.

City Commission - August 4, 2009

City Commission Meeting - August 4, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - July 21, 2009

City Commission Meeting - July 21, 2009
Agenda.

Imagine Brownsville - Final Draft

The Final Draft of the Brownsville Comprehensive Plan can be downloaded, in 28 separate .pdf files, here.

If you've got the patience to try it and the RAM to view it, a 195MB 693pp compiled version of the document, with a hyper-linked Table of Contents, can be downloaded here (right-click to Save As & view locally for better results).

Public Outcry Unchecked

There's still no resolution to the $7,000, now $9,500, that the city recklessly spent on booking a no-show for July 4th.

And now the public blowback has started. Just today, an anonymous reader submitted the below photo to CB. It depicts just one citizen's valiant, humble, grammatically incorrect, and perhaps even illegal (as sign ordinances go) effort to call shame to those responsible.



I say, "Well done, sir. Well done."

City Commission - July 7, 2009

City Commission Meeting - July 7, 2009
Agenda.

Ahumada Sneaks an Illegal non-Appointment Under Public's Nose

"OK, an announcement that doesn't require commission
approval or agenda posting: I appointed Pat Lehman
to replace Andy Muniz on the Brownsville Housing Authority.

Motion to Adjourn, please?"

The Mayor may have unilateral authority to appoint BHA board members. But no way can he do it in a public meeting when it wasn't on the agenda.

No. way.



As much as Mayor Pat likes to decry Robert Rules violations by fellow commissioners, this isn't the first time he's skirted established laws on public items & access. Nor is it the second.

Why so sneaky with your tocayo, Alcalde?

BOYSA II Men?

"We got duped," Atkinson said." I don't blame anyone."

Hey soccer-moms & dads, wanna know what those extra Sports Park usage fees you'll soon be paying are going for?

I'm guessing to cover $7,000* booking screw-ups, for starters.

*print & radio advertising costs not included, of course.

City Commission - June 16, 2009

City Commission Meeting - June 16, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - June 2, 2009

City Commission Meeting - June 2, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - May 19, 2009

City Commission Meeting - May 19, 2009
Agenda.

When It Comes to Self-Promotion...

...I just don't understand what people were thinking sometimes.

City Election Results Overview

AT LARGE "B"	DISTRICT 3	DISTRICT 4
DR. ROSE GOWEN	MELISSA ZAMORA	EDWARD CAMARILLO
CARLOS AYALA	CARLOS CISNEROS	ARGELIA MILLER
ALBERTO VELEZ	MOSES SOROLA	ROBERT URESTI
ROMAN PEREZ

Of note:

- 6% voter turnout. SIX PERCENT. That's pretty pathetic and leaves little wonder why Brownsville's stuck with an asshat as mayor.*

- Carlos Ayala got 80% of mail-in votes; an incredible rate that prevented Gowen from winning outright. Color me paranoid, but 5 will get you 10 there were bought ballots there. Even a broken clock and all that...

- Argelia Miller with nearly 33% of the Dist 4 vote? I mean, Really?

- Sorola shocked many with his better-than-expected showing of 30%. How else does a 7-year incumbent get only 1/3 of the district vote?

*Sure, the charter's recall threshold was finally lowered to 10% (from 25%) of registered voters. And that'd help send Ahumada packing, if only one could find 8,000 voters to vote the same way. On anything. Fat chance.

City Commission - May 5, 2009

City Commission Meeting - May 5, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - April 21, 2009

City Commission Meeting - April 21, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - April 7, 2009

City Commission Meeting - April 7, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - March 25, 2009

City Commission Meeting - March 25, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - March 17, 2009

City Commission Meeting - March 17, 2009
Agenda.

P.o.t.D.

Candidates for the May 9th City Commissioners Election

AT LARGE "B"	DISTRICT 3	DISTRICT 4
DR. ROSE GOWEN	CARLOS CISNEROS	EDWARD CAMARILLO
CARLOS AYALA	MELISSA ZAMORA	ARGELIA MILLER
ALBERTO VELEZ	MOSES SOROLA	ROBERT URESTI
ROMAN PEREZ

City Commission - March 9, 2009

City Commission Meeting - March 9, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - March 3, 2009

City Commission Meeting - March 3, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 17, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 17, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 19, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 19, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 12, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 12, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 10, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 10, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 6, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 6, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - February 2, 2009

City Commission Meeting - February 2, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - January 20, 2009

City Commission Meeting - January 20, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - January 6, 2009

City Commission Meeting - January 6, 2009
Agenda.

City Commission - December 9, 2008

City Commission Meeting - December 9, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - December 2, 2008

City Commission Meeting - December 2, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - November 18, 2008

City Commission Meeting - November 18, 2008
Agenda.

Ripping it (off) from the local programming guide, so you don't have to.

City Charter Review Committee - November 4, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - November 4, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - October 30, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 30, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - November 3, 2008

City Commission Meeting - November 3, 2008
Agenda.

City Charter Review Committee - October 28, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 28, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - October 23, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 23, 2008
Agenda
Joined in progress.

City Charter Review Committee - October 21, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 21, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - October 21, 2008

City Commission Meeting - October 21, 2008
Agenda.

City Charter Review Committee - October 16, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 16, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - October 14, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 14, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - October 9, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 9, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - October 7, 2008 Incomplete

City Charter Review Committee - October 7, 2008
Agenda
Joined in progress.

City Commission - October 7, 2008

City Commission Meeting - October 7, 2008
Agenda.

City Charter Review Committee - October 2, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - October 2, 2008
Agenda
It's important to note that this meeting did NOT meet the quorum requirements of 8 (out of 14) committee members present, so no official meeting was held. The public was still given a comment opportunity before the members who did show up, however.

City Charter Review Committee - September 30, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - September 30, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - September 30, 2008

City Commission Meeting - September 30, 2008
Agenda.

City Charter Review Committee - September 25, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - September 25, 2008
Agenda

City Charter Review Committee - September 18, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - September 18, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - September 16, 2008

City Commission Meeting - September 16, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - September 15, 2008

City Commission Meeting - September 15, 2008
Agenda.

This Almost Gives Me Pause. Almost.

Ugh.

This scary notion, even if exaggerated, comes from today's Herald. And it's one I've struggled with before:

When it comes to the City Commission, is the goal of government transparency, by way of posted & archived meeting videos easily found via Internet, at odds with the perhaps real, far and wide exposure of the irresponsible buffoonery?

If so, is it worth the risk of lost opportunity?

I still think so.

City Charter Review Committee - September 9, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - September 9, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - September 9, 2008

City Commission Meeting - September 9, 2008
Agenda.

City Charter Review Committee - September 4, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - September 4, 2008
Agenda

City Commission - September 2, 2008

City Commission Meeting - September 2, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - August 26, 2008

City Commission Meeting - August 26, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - August 19, 2008

City Commission Meeting - August 19, 2008
Agenda.

District 2. Represent'in.

Got a friendly note from a pal, today. Thought I'd share:

Chris, You and your family benefit from AD Joe Rod being in charge at Sam's stadium. You are not charged at the gate. You enjoy free refreshments and eat all the food you want paid by the district. No conflict? Your piss poor announcements of high school games is reason why maybe change is needed. Joe Rod has to wonder if your constant one-sided view of politics trickled down to his demise. I for one hope Joe Rod remains in BISD because it is not his fault he has a son-in-law that draws criticism of the Rodriguez family. Chris, you blew it. Maybe next time you will rethink the way you attack people. Your constant attacks has come back to hurt someone who doesn't deserve what he has to go through. You need to let Joe Rod read this message so he can know that you and only you sought out haters who would retaliate against your love ones. I won't throw it in your face but you and your website thought you were invincible and when you come across arrogant like you do, there are people out there that will bring you back down to earth. You are such a dumb ass. You fucked your father-in-law because of your stupid arrogance. The district will suffer with the loss of Joe Rod. You stupid asshole!!!!

Charlie Atkinson
08.13.08 - 3:00 am

And a follow-up:

Where is my comment faggot? Post it! For someone who comes across like a know it all, you sure lack balls boy. Its alright, I saved it and I'll show it to Joe Rod. He has to feel somehow your blog has caused damage to his legacy. Dumbass!!!! If I were your wife, I would leave your ass!!!!!

charles atkinson
08.13.08 - 12:05 pm

Guess I hit a nerve. Huh. Who knew?

City Commission - August 12, 2008

City Commission Meeting - August 12, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - August 5, 2008

City Commission Meeting - August 5, 2008
Agenda.

CIAC: 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan Draft Released

Just in time for the planned August 14th CIAC meeting (Agenda), a final draft of the proposed 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan has been released.

Here's the hard data:

Capacity Only Projects spreadsheet (totaling $110 million).

Combined Renewal/Replacement & Capacity Projects spreadsheet (totaling $218 million).

And here's the project-by-project breakdown

The meeting will take place next Thursday at 5:30PM in the Main Conference Room at the PUB Building on 1425 Robinhood Dr. The public in encouraged to attend and ask questions.

City Charter Review Committee - July 29, 2008

City Charter Review Committee - July 29, 2008
Agenda

Present Members:
Carlos Ayala, Jr. (Garza appt.)
Hilario Diaz (Ahumada appt.)
Elizabeth Dierlam (Camarillo appt.)
Edward Moore (Ahumada appt.)
Dr. David Morales (Atkinson appt.)
Francisco Rendon (Garza appt.)
Eddie Sikes (Cisneros appt.)
Mark Sossi (Troiani appt.)
John Villarreal (Camarillo appt.)
Melissa Zamora (Longoria appt.)

Absent Members:
Richard Atkinson (Atkinson appt.)*
Norma Castellano (Longoria appt.)
David Fisher (Cisneros appt.)
Henri Nicolas (Troiani appt.)

*Perhaps Richard Atkinson is aware that his appointment violates the City Charter's Nepotism Clause:

Article V, Section 30. Nepotism.

No person related within the second degree by affinity, or within the third degree by consanguinity, to the mayor or any of the commissioners, shall be appointed by the city commission, nor a person thus related to the city manager shall ever be appointed by him to any office, position, clerkship or service to the city.

Next scheduled meeting is on Wednesday, August 13th on 4th floor conference room at City Hall.

City Commission - July 15, 2008

City Commission Meeting - July 15, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - July 1, 2008

City Commission Meeting PART A (1st half) - July 1, 2008
Agenda.


City Commission Meeting PART B (2nd half) - July 1, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - June 17, 2008

City Commission Meeting - June 17, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission - June 3, 2008

City Commission Meeting - June 3, 2008
Agenda.

Respect His AuthoriTAH!!!

The Herald beaned GTC with yet another pitch.

City Commission - May 20, 2008

City Commission Meeting - May 20, 2008
Agenda.

UP NEXT: Handicapping GTC®'s Foot-In-Mouth Syndrome

Currently at 2 to 1 against, and rising.

Should/Could Commissioners Receive Benefits?

UPDATE 5/9/08: Corpus NBC affiliate, KRIS-TV, reports:

Results Of Texas City Charter Survey Show Large Differences

CORPUS CHRISTI-A charter review committee recently conducted a survey comparing Corpus Christi's city charter to dozens of other Texas cities. The purpose of the survey was to determine if any changes need to be made as far as how much the mayor is paid and whether or not council members should get health insurance.

Here is the link to the spreadsheet info they compiled. I took the liberty of adding Brownsville data to it for the sake of comparison and contrast.



--.--.--

So, as all have no doubt read, a literal interpretation of the City's Charter with regards to compensation and benefits won out.

And at the end of the day, that's a good and correct thing. The City's attorney(s) even concurs:

Mark Sossi, the attorney representing city officials said, "I think the public wins when there is clarity on the issue."

What's disappointing is that it took this long for clarity to settle in. Again.

Aside from the benefits imbroglio, City Charter (mis)interpretation has been a recurring theme with this city commission for a while. To wit:

• July 3, 2007 - the commission "passes" a mandatory $2 PUB tax for all customers by MINORITY vote, when they clearly needed a majority to get it through.
• October 2, 2007 - the Mayor attempts to have the commission acknowledge him as PUB's appointment to the CIAC, when according to city charter & resolution, PUB has no appointing authority.
• October 18, 2007 - PUB board insurgents willfully ignore the term limits of its members, limits established by city charter, and proceed with an ILLEGAL meeting without a quorum.
• April 1, 2008 - a sitting commissioner appoints his brother to serve on the Charter Review Committee, violating the nepotism clause of the very same charter.

But back to commission benefits: Now that supplemental benefits have been ruled as not provided for in the Charter, can an honest discussion on their merits & faults begin?

JUST WHAT IF the newly-formed Charter Review Committee deliberated on supplemental compensation or even (gasp!) salaries for commissioners? There exists the gripe that more-qualified (a relative term) folks don't run for these spots. Would salaries for these spots draw out better candidates, and thusly better leaders? If salaries are put in place, would the level of compensation preclude commissioners from holding second jobs? Should there even EXIST a preclusion of second jobs (e.g. the County Commissioners).

These are tough questions, but I see the Charter Review Committee as capable of deliberating and promoting answers to them.

Votes? Thoughts? Comments?

Here's a poll for starters:

City Commission Part I - May 6, 2008

City Commission Meeting - May 6, 2008
Agenda.

City Commission Part II - May 6, 2008

City Commission Meeting - May 6, 2008
Agenda.

Strike 3: Loose Lips Sink Ships

From today's article:

"We lost it," said Atkinson, a Brownsville city commissioner. "I am very disappointed, but that is business..."
The intended purchase, publicized by Atkinson, apparently caught the attention of prospective buyers.

"But that is business", GoodTimeCharlie® said.

But was it good business? Check out the 3/18/08 City commission meeting, folks. Around the 2hr17min mark. Why did GTC® open his mouth in public before any contracts (contingent on financing) could be signed? If any deal was meant for executive session(s), this was it.

And why is the chairman (God help us all) of the 4B BCIC Board concerning himself with land for commercial development, clearly 4A GBIC/BEDC turf?

Lastly, THIS is the guy who wants to annex the BND property and lead development there. Who needs "special interests" to screw up a deal, when a city commissioner does just fine by himself?

Included & Related links:
Herald 4/30: Landowner backs out of deal with city
Herald 4/5: Sports Park still generating interest from retailers
Herald 3/21: Atkinson: Sports Park site generating commercial interest
City meeting 3/18 (2:17:00 mark): GTC® spills the beans & inadvertently ups the asking price (formerly $3.2 million) of the Wheeler acreage

City Commission - April 15, 2008

City Commission Meeting - April 15, 2008
Agenda.

GTC® Appoints Brother to Review Charter.Thereby Violating Same.

Oh, sweet Irony. Thou art a fickle and cruel mistress.

GoodTime Charlie® whiffed again.

This time he skirted established nepotism laws with the appointment of his brother, recently canned by the Mercedes School District.

Emma Perez-Trevino reported yesterday:

Another appointee, Richard Atkinson is Commissioner Charlie Atkinson's brother.

Richard Atkinson, the former principal at Mercedes High School was fired at a special board meeting March 22, an MISD staff member verified Friday. Herald archives reflect that this was in connection with the alleged treatment of students.

Commissioner Atkinson said Friday that he doesn't believe appointing his brother represents a conflict or concern.

"He's a fair guy," the commissioner said of his brother. "They are just boards. They just recommend. It's not a board where they issue thousands of dollars here and there. They are an advisory board."

Commissioner Atkinson also said his brother lives in Brownsville and did not know if he had been fired or not.

I guess, as EP-T reported, it's "no concern" to GTC® that Article V (Administrative Provisions) of the Brownsville City Charter reads:

Section 30. Nepotism.

No person related within the second degree by affinity, or within the third degree by consanguinity, to the mayor or any of the commissioners, shall be appointed by the city commission, nor a person thus related to the city manager shall ever be appointed by him to any office, position, clerkship or service to the city.

Folks, I swear, these blog posts sometimes write themselves. The 1hr 5min mark of the below City Commission meeting video captures the moment in all its... whatever.

City Commission - April 1, 2008

City Commission Meeting - April 1, 2008
Agenda.

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:

"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,

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

And a direct statement from Congressman Ortiz, himself:

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN ORTIZ

"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."

Rene Oliveira even weighed in with:

I was contacted by Commissioner Atkinson who indicated the annexation proposal could be beneficial to all interested parties.

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

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.

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.

City Commission - March 18, 2008

City Commission Meeting - March 18, 2008
Agenda.

Flaking defined.

Article.

City Commission - March 3, 2008

City Commission Meeting - March 3, 2008
Agenda.