Brownsville's City Government: Beyond the First 200 Days
By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. He took office during one of America's darkest periods — The Great Depression. In a bold measure to get the United States out of the economic troubles it was in, Roosevelt proposed an initiative that became known as "The New Deal." He would create dozens of alphabet agencies designed to put jobless Americans to work.
During Roosevelt's first 100 days in office, he passed 13 major laws designed to stimulate the American economy and get people back to work. Since then, the first 100 days have served as a benchmark to measure a government head's early success.
Brownsville's city government, in its current incarnation, has been in power for 223 days, well beyond the first 100 day measuring stick. Mayor Juan "Trey" Mendez III was sworn in as mayor on July 2nd of last year, along with District 1 Commissioner Nurith Galonsky and At-Large Commissioner John Cowen.
Looking at Mayor Mendez's first 200 days in office, we can't say there has been a whole lot of positive, forward momentum.
There are some promising items on the horizon, but most of them have to do with entertainment and leisure. Downtown's revitalization is definitely something to be proud of. Several business owners are investing in many of downtown's historic buildings, refurbishing and renovating them and turning them into restaurants or popular night spots. Just a few months ago, downtown Brownsville was dead after the sun went down. Today, downtown buzzes with live music venues, watering holes, and eateries.
Another entertainment spot is starting to take shape in the old North Park Plaza. Members of the Yturria family are trying to inject new life into the aging shopping plaza. Other entertainment venues and eateries have popped up around town, including two food truck parks. Several new restaurants are also slated to open on the north side of town.
The Crossroads festival also seems like an interesting event, however several Brownsvillians have expressed their displeasure with the ticket prices.
Ecotourism is also on the rise, as news of a new project designed to extend and connect trails from Port Isabel, to Brownsville, and points north. Construction on The Caracara Trails project is scheduled to start soon.
These are all good things for Brownsville, and they are definitely steps in the right direction. However, leisure and quality of life projects are not the only thing this city needs, and I don't know that our current city administration has done much to improve or address any of the other issues that ail Brownsville.
Traffic and Infrastructure
With the exception of a repaving project on Military Highway, Brownsville's infrastructure still needs serious improvements. The bridge recently reopened on Old Port Isabel Road was a county project. Boca Chica Boulevard's eastbound lanes have been reduced by one, creating a massive traffic choke point where one already existed. Traffic lights continue to operate unsynchronized, several roads throughout the city are in disrepair, and the public works/traffic/city engineers don't seem to be in any hurry to address any of these issues.
Economic Development
Economic development is also a massive area where improvement and forward progress is needed. One of the mayor's platform planks was streamlining the process for new businesses to start operating in town. These new businesses were supposed to bring jobs to the area. To date, there have been no big businesses opening up shop in Brownsville.
The SpaceX Debacle
Elon Musk has been screwing with Brownsville for more than five years now. When he announced Texas as the site for his private launch facility, he painted a very pretty picture. High-paying jobs would be available for locals, and Brownsville and the surrounding communities would be making money hand-over-fist when thousands of people would make their way to South Texas to see all those rockets being launched into the sky. Space X has been promising a lot since 2015, but to date, they haven't delivered a whole lot other than lies and broken promises. That didn't stop our city leaders from going out to the launch facility for a photo-op, however.
LNG at the Port
Many people believed the construction of liquefied natural gas pipelines and transfer stations at the Port of Brownsville was a good thing. Companies were going to pump millions of dollars into the area, and these companies would create high paying jobs. However, several organizations have began sounding the alarm on these LNG companies, saying irreparable damage could affect the local environment and ecosystem causing the loss of millions in revenue from ecotourists who visit the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
GBIC and Industrial Parks
The city and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation keep touting master plans for companies to occupy one industrial park that sits abandoned and, in their infinite wisdom, have plans on the drawing board for another industrial park. They can't fill one industrial park to occupancy, but they want to build another one. Mario Lozoya, the Executive Director of GBIC has been on the job for a year. He is quoted in an article in yesterday's Herald. He says, “I think we’re ready now to start really doing our work.”
Public Safety
There haven't been a whole lot of improvements in public safety. Recently, the Brownsville Fire Department, who are responsible for operating EMT and ambulance services for the city, purchased a fleet of new ambulances. However, these aren't the large, box-style American ambulances. The previous set of ambulances purchased were Medix-MSV II Type I models (the ones with a large box). The new ambulances were the smaller Type II Ford T350 Transit model. EMT's say these newer ambulances are cramped and are hard to navigate when they're trying to help patients.
Health Care
A recent online study ranked Brownsville as the unhealthiest city in America. Our health care education in this city is atrocious. Instead of arguing the points of this online study, maybe the city's Public Health Director, Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, should be implementing programs designed to educate people on making healthier lifestyle choices.
Responsibility and Accountability
Finally, our elected officials are not following through on listening to the wishes of their constituents. Trash, brush, and debris collection is a problem in the city. When people call their elected officials, they're given the run-around and their issues are not addressed in a timely fashion. Brush collection trucks often times pile up brush at the entrance of an alley, blocking people's access to their driveways. Brush collection trucks also leave plenty of debris in their wake, causing damage to tires and vehicles.
The mayor's administration also oversaw the East Fronton Street renaming catastrophe. I understand the mayor, along with Commissioners Neece and Galonsky, voted to rename McNair Family Drive back to its original name of East Fronton Street, but the commission failed the city and the residents of East Fronton Street. The residents of East Fronton Street overwhelmingly were in favor of renaming the street, but the majority of the city commission hid behind a mountain of bureaucratic red tape and ignored the will of the people.
I understand Brownsville's problems can't be fixed in 223 days. However, it would be better for all Brownsvillians if our city government would look beyond their master plans and pipe dreams; and start implementing policies and procedures that will move Brownsville in a better direction.
Restaurants and bars are nice, but we need more than that to fix Brownsville. I hope our elected officials realize that and do better than they have in the next 200 days and beyond.
*Editor's Note: Hopefully our friend, Jerry McHale, and the McHale Report, can convince the South Texas Independent Journalist's Association (STIJA) to tack on a question to their next poll.
Question: If you could give Brownsville's city government a "letter" grade for how the new administration is doing, what grade would you assign them?
We here at the Beacon give the current administration a C-minus.
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States. He took office during one of America's darkest periods — The Great Depression. In a bold measure to get the United States out of the economic troubles it was in, Roosevelt proposed an initiative that became known as "The New Deal." He would create dozens of alphabet agencies designed to put jobless Americans to work.
During Roosevelt's first 100 days in office, he passed 13 major laws designed to stimulate the American economy and get people back to work. Since then, the first 100 days have served as a benchmark to measure a government head's early success.
Brownsville's city government, in its current incarnation, has been in power for 223 days, well beyond the first 100 day measuring stick. Mayor Juan "Trey" Mendez III was sworn in as mayor on July 2nd of last year, along with District 1 Commissioner Nurith Galonsky and At-Large Commissioner John Cowen.
Looking at Mayor Mendez's first 200 days in office, we can't say there has been a whole lot of positive, forward momentum.
There are some promising items on the horizon, but most of them have to do with entertainment and leisure. Downtown's revitalization is definitely something to be proud of. Several business owners are investing in many of downtown's historic buildings, refurbishing and renovating them and turning them into restaurants or popular night spots. Just a few months ago, downtown Brownsville was dead after the sun went down. Today, downtown buzzes with live music venues, watering holes, and eateries.
Another entertainment spot is starting to take shape in the old North Park Plaza. Members of the Yturria family are trying to inject new life into the aging shopping plaza. Other entertainment venues and eateries have popped up around town, including two food truck parks. Several new restaurants are also slated to open on the north side of town.
The Crossroads festival also seems like an interesting event, however several Brownsvillians have expressed their displeasure with the ticket prices.
Ecotourism is also on the rise, as news of a new project designed to extend and connect trails from Port Isabel, to Brownsville, and points north. Construction on The Caracara Trails project is scheduled to start soon.
These are all good things for Brownsville, and they are definitely steps in the right direction. However, leisure and quality of life projects are not the only thing this city needs, and I don't know that our current city administration has done much to improve or address any of the other issues that ail Brownsville.
Traffic and Infrastructure
With the exception of a repaving project on Military Highway, Brownsville's infrastructure still needs serious improvements. The bridge recently reopened on Old Port Isabel Road was a county project. Boca Chica Boulevard's eastbound lanes have been reduced by one, creating a massive traffic choke point where one already existed. Traffic lights continue to operate unsynchronized, several roads throughout the city are in disrepair, and the public works/traffic/city engineers don't seem to be in any hurry to address any of these issues.
Economic Development
Economic development is also a massive area where improvement and forward progress is needed. One of the mayor's platform planks was streamlining the process for new businesses to start operating in town. These new businesses were supposed to bring jobs to the area. To date, there have been no big businesses opening up shop in Brownsville.
The SpaceX Debacle
Elon Musk has been screwing with Brownsville for more than five years now. When he announced Texas as the site for his private launch facility, he painted a very pretty picture. High-paying jobs would be available for locals, and Brownsville and the surrounding communities would be making money hand-over-fist when thousands of people would make their way to South Texas to see all those rockets being launched into the sky. Space X has been promising a lot since 2015, but to date, they haven't delivered a whole lot other than lies and broken promises. That didn't stop our city leaders from going out to the launch facility for a photo-op, however.
LNG at the Port
Many people believed the construction of liquefied natural gas pipelines and transfer stations at the Port of Brownsville was a good thing. Companies were going to pump millions of dollars into the area, and these companies would create high paying jobs. However, several organizations have began sounding the alarm on these LNG companies, saying irreparable damage could affect the local environment and ecosystem causing the loss of millions in revenue from ecotourists who visit the Lower Rio Grande Valley.
GBIC and Industrial Parks
The city and the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation keep touting master plans for companies to occupy one industrial park that sits abandoned and, in their infinite wisdom, have plans on the drawing board for another industrial park. They can't fill one industrial park to occupancy, but they want to build another one. Mario Lozoya, the Executive Director of GBIC has been on the job for a year. He is quoted in an article in yesterday's Herald. He says, “I think we’re ready now to start really doing our work.”
Public Safety
There haven't been a whole lot of improvements in public safety. Recently, the Brownsville Fire Department, who are responsible for operating EMT and ambulance services for the city, purchased a fleet of new ambulances. However, these aren't the large, box-style American ambulances. The previous set of ambulances purchased were Medix-MSV II Type I models (the ones with a large box). The new ambulances were the smaller Type II Ford T350 Transit model. EMT's say these newer ambulances are cramped and are hard to navigate when they're trying to help patients.
Health Care
A recent online study ranked Brownsville as the unhealthiest city in America. Our health care education in this city is atrocious. Instead of arguing the points of this online study, maybe the city's Public Health Director, Dr. Arturo Rodriguez, should be implementing programs designed to educate people on making healthier lifestyle choices.
Responsibility and Accountability
Finally, our elected officials are not following through on listening to the wishes of their constituents. Trash, brush, and debris collection is a problem in the city. When people call their elected officials, they're given the run-around and their issues are not addressed in a timely fashion. Brush collection trucks often times pile up brush at the entrance of an alley, blocking people's access to their driveways. Brush collection trucks also leave plenty of debris in their wake, causing damage to tires and vehicles.
The mayor's administration also oversaw the East Fronton Street renaming catastrophe. I understand the mayor, along with Commissioners Neece and Galonsky, voted to rename McNair Family Drive back to its original name of East Fronton Street, but the commission failed the city and the residents of East Fronton Street. The residents of East Fronton Street overwhelmingly were in favor of renaming the street, but the majority of the city commission hid behind a mountain of bureaucratic red tape and ignored the will of the people.
I understand Brownsville's problems can't be fixed in 223 days. However, it would be better for all Brownsvillians if our city government would look beyond their master plans and pipe dreams; and start implementing policies and procedures that will move Brownsville in a better direction.
Restaurants and bars are nice, but we need more than that to fix Brownsville. I hope our elected officials realize that and do better than they have in the next 200 days and beyond.
*Editor's Note: Hopefully our friend, Jerry McHale, and the McHale Report, can convince the South Texas Independent Journalist's Association (STIJA) to tack on a question to their next poll.
Question: If you could give Brownsville's city government a "letter" grade for how the new administration is doing, what grade would you assign them?
We here at the Beacon give the current administration a C-minus.
C- as in average. Maybe Mayor Mendez can explain why the grade should be better? And, No, talk about revitalizing downtown with more eateries will not raise the grade.
ReplyDeleteRoads, EMT, and serious stuff only Mr. Mayor!
Good work.
ReplyDelete