Mr. Amigo

Great choice for this year's Mr. Amigo - Telenovela actor Arath de la Torre. He attended all the events, took as many photos as requested and signed many an autograph. Miss many speeches praised Brownsville and thanked our City for the honor of being chosen as Mr. Amigo. Not only did he bring his wife, but he brought his mother and siblings. Kudos to the Mr. Amigo Association.

At the End of the Day

I'm so tired of this phrase that arrived in Brownsville about three years ago. It's only getting worse.

Brownsville Receives Positive National Media Coverage

Brownsville, this was on Page 3 of the Washington Post. Be Proud!

Cutline: Cromack Elementary School pupils march in the Children’s Charro Days Parade in Brownsville.

My Vote on the City Commission

Since the last City Commission meeting when the voting majority on key issues consisted of myself, Commissioners Rick Longoria, Tetreau and Villarreal, I've had some heated discussions on the so-called "split vote" on the Commission.

I do not, nor will I ever, vote for the sake of having the majority vote on the Commission. I have on many instances been the sole vote or voice against an issue on the City Commission, i.e., Fly Frontera, the Sports Park, zoning variances and contracts, etc., because I've felt strongly on those issues. I have also walked into a meeting believing I was going to vote one way, but after hearing everyone's concerns, I take a very different approach. That is my right as one of seven votes on the City Commission.

I will not adopt this "us-against-them" mentality that has for so long plagued our City and its various elected bodies. We must move away from this to move our City forward.

Tonight's City Commission Meeting

It was an interesting meeting.

There were several appointments to be made to the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation tonight. There were four board appointments that expired on 12/31/11. And, upon adoption of the new board appointment's policy at the last meeting, which I did not agree with, the City Commission was now poised to make appointments.

There were several applicants, and all but two were representative of District 3, my district. I would love for my district to have several representatives on that board, and any board for that matter. However, I didn't find that the representation would be representative of all districts. Commissioners argued that the intent of the new board appointment policy was to have the "best" representation on all boards. Still, this conflicted with the intent of creating district commissioners -- to provide city-wide representation.

After a heated discussion, it was decided that the board appointments be tabled to allow for district representation on BCIC. I know this was not the intent of passing the new board appointment policy, but in my opinion, it was the right thing to do.

In other business, the BCIC bylaws were revised to allow for removal of board members should they miss three meeting either regular or special meetings. I do agree that this was needed, but I was disappointed that when I proposed something similar for GBIC prior to the last city election, I didn't have any support on the commission. There were GBIC board members who had missed several consecutive meetings, yet remained on this board that makes multi-million dollar decisions. I expressed my frustration today, too. Why did we allow board members to remain on GBIC when they were frequently absent? Politics. Pft.

Coffee Break

Love, love, love this place -- Italian Coffee Company located on 802. Lower prices, coffee and food are great! This is a nice alternative to Starbucks. Check it out, folks.

I Took Advantage of My Elected Position

I had the opportunity to visit the new library at Harmony Science Academy today! The school didn't have a library, and its administrators expressed to me their frustration with collecting books a couple months ago when I was a guest speaker. With just one phone call to HEB, they shipped more than 5,000 books collected from customers and employees! These are the moments I so much enjoy! Did I take advantage of my elected position to solicit the books? Heck yeah! It's for the children!

An Award With a Message

Sometimes, when the Mayor's unavailable, I get the opportunity to represent the City Commission at various events.

He was to unable to attend tonight's 41st Annual International Art Show. I was tasked with providing the welcome to artists and guests. I was also asked to choose one piece to receive the "Mayor's Award."

I went during my lunch hour to make the selection. Although there were many pieces, I found myself returning to the same piece.

“Generation Boom” by Angel Cabrales.

This piece consisted of a plastic gun, a helmet and combat boots. All were colorfully painted and adorned with children's stickers.

It was a timely piece. My interpretation was that society -- through media, television shows and even cartoons -- has desensitized weapons and war so much that our youth see their use to be more acceptable and having minimal consequence.Of course, everyone's interpretation is different.

An artist and judge for the show said the piece conveyed a woman's struggle in the military.

Let's see if I get asked again by the Mayor to represent him at another art show.

I'll Take Moral Turpitude for a $1,000, Please

The City Commission tonight will decide on a policy for the selection of board/committee appointees. There's been quite a hold-up on appointments with many boards having vacancies because of this proposed policy.

I missed the special meeting held earlier this month while away at a marketing conference.

Here are my thoughts on board appointments:

1. I believe boards should be equally represented by the commissioners, hence, the respective districts.

2. I do not believe in setting up a new board/committee to review applicants.

3. I do not believe in appointing folks who do not reside in Brownsville.

4. And, according to the proposed policy, individuals with a felony conviction or who have over the past 10 years been convicted of any crime of "moral turpitude" may not appointed. I don't believe this should be included in the policy. Some folks make mistakes at a young age, and later become contributing members of society via volunteerism/civic engagement. Why should these folks be excluded?

Besides who defines "moral turpitude," and what makes that person better than the next? I found this on one Web site: "Moral turpitude is usually vague, in a context where it's vitally important not to be vague."

We'll see how this goes tonight.

No Good Reasons ...

“There is no good reason. Don't waste your life waiting for good reasons ... You'll wait and wait.”
― Susan Minot, Evening

Great movie. Bought it for $3 at Big Lots. What a find. Can't wait to find the book.

New UTB Land Purchase to Support Growth

New UTB Land Purchase to Support Growth

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS – JANUARY 13, 2012 – The University of Texas at Brownsville has recently acquired additional land to support the growing needs of the university.

Dr. Juliet V. García, President of UT Brownsville, made the announcement on Friday, Jan. 13 at the annual Spring Convocation for faculty and staff held at The Arts Center.

The property consists of 20 acres on the corner of East Avenue and Expressway 77/83 adjacent to 80 acres of existing UTB property at the site of the university soccer field. The UT System Board of Regents approved the university’s purchase of the land last year.

“This latest acquisition will be the site for much-needed expansion at UT Brownsville,” García said. “We are greatly appreciative for the support of the UT Board of Regents and Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, for their genuine enthusiasm in helping build the new UTB and for the many UT System and UTB staff who generously lent us their expertise to help negotiate this latest acquisition. Every step forward creates new momentum and excitement.”

This most recent purchase is one in a series of decisions that the UT System Board of Regents has approved to move the university forward, from planning for physical expansion to the approval of a new university mission.

In May 2011, the Board of Regents approved UTB’s purchase of new student housing as well as several tracks of adjacent land for university expansion.

In August, the regents also approved UTB’s new mission statement, admission standards and a $30 million investment focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in the Rio Grande Valley. The new logo and school colors were approved in November.

Last semester, Casa Bella, the new student residence apartments, welcomed its first class of almost 400 students in affordable and student-centered residence halls with amenities that include private bedrooms, full kitchens and many shared spaces to enhance student life.

Demand for more housing quickly exceeded supply, so the university immediately began to develop a waiting list for students who had not been fortunate enough to get into the housing on the first round.

Last summer, UTB purchased an additional three acres of land in front of the Casa Bella residence halls with plans under development for additional housing to be added in the future.

SOURCE: UT-Brownsville Press Release

Just Say No to Robocalls, Candidates.

I never understood why local or even regional candidates find the need to hire folks to send a pre-recorded message via a telephone call. It happens here. Call me Old-Fashioned, but I'd like a knock at my door. I'd like to shake your hand. I'd even be grateful for one of those expensive mail-outs.

Give me SOMETHING that doesn't take me back to the frustrating experience of pressing 1 or 2 or 3 or 7 to finally speak to a real customer service representative with a cable company.

If I'm making dinner or rushing out of the shower just to answer a Robocall that asks me to vote for a candidate, I'd be inclined to do the opposite.

Obviously, I'm not the only one who feels this way. Check out the video below. If it's this annoying in a presidential race, imagine a local race?

Like my son, Sammers, says, "Imaginate"?