Home of Today's Common Sense

Recall them all and start over

25 Sep 2006 @ 4:32 PM

Published – Brownsville Herald 9/24/2006
In just recent weeks our “rulers” seem to be doing everything they can to help their opponents and encourage a recall. It was only in my last column “Leaders and Rulers” that this future was foretold.
Firstly, our city “Rulers” are considering a choice between acting in behalf of the people which will insure substantial and regular increases in the costs to deliver utility services to the folks. That will be the result of not assessing proper periodic fees to pay for infrastructure required to accommodate the additional users now.
This guarantees that the smaller amounts that should be paid through the developers for being allowed to participate in the city owned services, must be borne with interest by all, are currently hostages to the situation. We cannot choose an alternative.
In a story in the 9/19 issue of the Brownsville Herald, the City Commissioners that represent the developers rather than the folks chose to force the “folks” to pay a down payment of $957.00 with more to come, for each utility connection, rather than approving an amount that would reflect today’s costs.
I cannot find fault with the developers as it is their duty to get the best price possible and benefit their customers and investors. Mr. Hudson’s eloquent argument, in the Letters to the Editor of the 9/19 issue of the Brownsville Herald, speaks directly to that.
However, the only folks that are supposed to be acting in the best interests of the folks are not doing that, with one exception.
The only hero of the day seems to be “the new kid” Carlos Atkinson who was the lone holdout for the folks. It is very unfortunate that the Customs employee relations people, are so vindictively harassing him for his genuinely heroic activities in behalf of his neighbors “ (I wonder if he would like to run for office as a Libertarian, when he leaves Federal employ? I know someone that might help, as he sounds like one in this case.”)
If the “City Rulers” have so little regard for their duties, they should be recalled and be replaced with someone who will represent us and not push us into a circumstance that could lead to costs that may result in the loss of our homes.
Secondly, BISD Trustees are giving us a break on our taxes by decreasing here and increasing there to save us $0.08 per hundred dollars of valuation or $60.00 on a modest sized home that some of us on fixed incomes might own. I wonder how much we might have saved if we didn’t have to recruit a Superintendent, who may at best be as good as our last one. How much less would we be spending if the Strayhorn report had been taken seriously and the economies indicated, taken advantage of. What if the $135 million bond issue, that was recommended by the same folks that misused previous monies entrusted to them, had really focused on what was really needed, such as an elementary school and some repairs. All of this is taking place at a time when tax collections are increasing enormously every day, due to vastly increased valuations. Many of the “trustees” are not acting in the interests of the folks.
Lastly, I was saddened to find that Port Director List had been terminated from his position on that black Friday.
“It would appear that the big flies in the ointment are the political wrangling that seems incessant at the Port, with one faction angling to seize power from another faction and manage things around the professional management team in place. Perhaps this coming election will improve the situation; I certainly hope they can learn to work together, forgetting their personal wants and focus on our community needs”
Unfortunately the community needs and the responsibilities of the four members of the “NavDis Machine” took priority over the needs of the community. > (Edited in Brownsville Herald publication.)

I had the opportunity to listen to the prepared statement that Chairman Arambula presented as dialogue on the Davis Rankin Talk Show, KURV radio. The only information provided was that because it involved a personnel issue they could not discuss it publicly. That in itself says volumes and supports my presumption of political wrangling.

(Edited in Brownsville Herald publication)
Our Mr. List was not just another pretty face or a politico; he is a Certified Port Director (very rare) and a ‘for real’ Maritime expert in the things that we need right now. He has served in Central America with Crawley American, a key liner service in the trade, as Sales Manager Costa Rica and General Manager, Nicaragua. He also served with Sealand Service as Sales Manager Costa Rica. All of this is world class, hands on experience.
The piece of experience that in my mind defines his competence best is when Mr. List became an entrepreneur and developed a liner service between South Florida and the Yucatan, which evolved into a successful European style car-passenger ferry in 2003, Maya Lines. His academic paper on the subject is now a widely referred to reference on such operations. Our “Port Politicos” have certainly not been representing our best interests.
Further, in reading the story that appeared in “The Brownsville Herald”, I took particular note at the list of community leaders that supported Mr. List. It included a “who’s who” of those who depend on the well being of the port for their business livelihood not on the largess of the politicians. I have even heard rumors that a movement to recall the “Black Friday Four” is being discussed.
In the most recent elections, the winners that won rarely received votes of more than 8% of the eligible voters. Is it any wonder that these “Rulers” would think that they can do anything they please, because no one cares?
Perhaps we should recall them all and start over, as is being discussed in many circles!
More than that, a longer term vision is also needed.
It has now been clearly demonstrated that the “City Rulers” can no longer effectively manage their responsibility in representing the interests of the people and mange the PUB as well.
Further, it is just as clear that the Navigation District is so important to the livelihood of all of the communities of South Texas that it must also be sheltered from political interference.
I would like to suggest that the PUB become a co-operatively run utility, in the mold of “Magic Valley”. Each user would become a real part owner, and have a direct vote in matters affecting its operation. Each client would also have the option to select an alternative source to supply their needs, increasing choices and reducing political interference.
The Port of Brownsville and all the other public transportation facilities are so important to the economy of the whole area and the functions of each are interrelated quite substantially. Further, that South Texas is still one of the most rapidly growing areas in the United States and it depends on well envisioned and planned systems not just pieces thrust on us by State or Federal goals which may not be advantageous to the Valley. New opportunities such as the Pan American Marine Highway might just pass South Texas by, to be taken up in Houston or Corpus Christi - to our loss.
I suggest that a South Texas Transportation Authority, funded totally by its operations and the users of the various facilities as well as any state or Federal funding available, be formed to manage all operations.
If the States of New York and New Jersey can settle their political differences to do it and become the premier transportation complex that it is, surely we who need a change so badly can do it as well.
Until then; we need to recall them all and start over. Let it be one resolution and perhaps we can get the signatures in time for the next election!