EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/
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"DEAR DAD" I'M GETTING DESPERATE THAT I MIGHT LOSE THE ELECTION
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Those of us who saw the quarter-page ad love paean in Sunday's newspaper paid by the Erin Hernandez Garcia in honor of her father Ernie Hernandez on Father's Day now know that the Hernandez family is getting so desperate that they see threats and attacks and criticisms all around them.<br />Under the guise of a daughter's tribute to her dear old dad (and who can help not getting a heart throb and lump in your throat over that?) Erin reminds us sentimental fools that she is grateful for Ernie's "unconditional support of me running for Cameron County Justice of the Peace."<br />"I know that even though you were afraid of all your political enemies attacking me, you knew I was the right choice for this position," she wrote with her customary modesty. "Despite the attacks, criticisms and threats, I want you to know that I will continue to run our campaign on its merits. I will not resort to nor respond to baseless, childish accusations or tactics."<br />Really?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvSmHcaGhdTIN3D0M0YhAPmJeV6mo2TZ1CSOxgfipp_kjzCAb_9hOA9bVykAB0EKYcbOjZm-7T5_zIem794dBbMC3w0RQYgWYScDcAZyapOkzxM3Tj3XUc04uXlf3Tz_FvgCWq_w28B4/s1600/erasmo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvSmHcaGhdTIN3D0M0YhAPmJeV6mo2TZ1CSOxgfipp_kjzCAb_9hOA9bVykAB0EKYcbOjZm-7T5_zIem794dBbMC3w0RQYgWYScDcAZyapOkzxM3Tj3XUc04uXlf3Tz_FvgCWq_w28B4/s320/erasmo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNvNVtxZGMulrk0WjRJqH9xq9X7HSG-uCUBqsJPabjEb5abeGmfd8VKBXSWBBGGkRAdsUdDG0Xhvkot5tXsH7KFudj45d7GqHhydSW2BkqVUK11m21XlYgkRrSpDZSL4Mj_3fwNZhTgQ/s1600/begum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaNvNVtxZGMulrk0WjRJqH9xq9X7HSG-uCUBqsJPabjEb5abeGmfd8VKBXSWBBGGkRAdsUdDG0Xhvkot5tXsH7KFudj45d7GqHhydSW2BkqVUK11m21XlYgkRrSpDZSL4Mj_3fwNZhTgQ/s320/begum.jpg" width="119" /></a>Isn't this the same campaign who used proxies (the Cheezmeh torch and pitchfork crowd, for one) to ridicule her opponent Yolanda Begum because she had a Spanish accent, attacked her education, and hinted at her being a gold digger? (See their handiwork at right). Isn't this the same campaign that has hidden behind the faceless thugs who have defaced, destroyed and stolen Ms. Begum's signs from the beginning, even before there was a runoff between Begum and Erin?</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> And wasn't it Erin herself who when confronted by a television station reporter with her opponent's filing of a police report on the sign vandalism called her opponent "childish" (apparently one of her favorite adjectives), a "crybaby," "insecure," and "unqualified" to be a justice of the peace.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh, yeah, that's traveling on the high moral road alright.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Somewhere along the way Ernie's Baby Girl has confused political skulldrudgery with character and integrity. Just because you can do something doesn't mean that it's right.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Is she calling those "critics" of her dad wrong when they want to have someone represent them that won't help a relative cheat on a civil service exam (Roberto Cadriel, his brother-in-law) and perform the functions of a security guard at an international crossing even though he is a convicted felon?</div>Or how about using thousands of dollars of taxpayer funds to extend the caliche on Nogal Road where another Cadriel had a firing range business even though there were no houses that far back?<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Or changing the ownership of his vending company from his name, to his wife's, then to Erin herself just to cover up the fact that the company in question is doing business with the county, a glaring conflict of interest.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And this is not Ernie's first rodeo. He has consistently bent the rules in his long and glorious career as an elected official. Who can forget his having two tow truck companies in the city's rotation?<br />Or how about stopping the use of the Community Center at Cameron Park by a local community group because of its "political" nature but still managed to giver his daughters's campaign a boost by collecting donations to prepare a Thankgsgiving meal for colonia dwellers and hosting a gift giveaway at Christamas with Erin herself doling out the goodies? <br />Yes, Erin, dear old dad has made a difference in the community. But the difference he has made is the transfer of public dollars to his pockets which has given his family a foot up over others.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It has gotten to the point that you now feel that the people are obligated to elect you to be our next justice of the peace.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"You have taught me that at the end of the day, the reward for your work should be not the money you make, but the friends you accumulate and the satisfaction in knowing that you have made a difference in the community. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then, the poetic wax: "The road to travel is not measured by how many coins you collect but how many hands you have shaken and how many lives you have improved in one way or another."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As political drivel goes, this is just a maudlin and cynical way to present a candidacy totally ignoring the acts that follow Ernie and carry the stench of self-dealing and personal benefit wherever he goes.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We, alas, Erin, are also witnesses of your daddy's work.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-409471941691465989?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/06/dear-dad-im-getting-desperate-that-i.html
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TEXAS, BROWNSVILLE, BEDC, AND NOW FLORIDA UP THE ANTE FOR SPACEX
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />We hate to say we told you so, but we told you so.<br />Dangling a promised 600 jobs (source: BEDC's Gilbert Salinas) or is it 400 (source: BEDC's Jason Hilts) jobs starting at $55,000 before a hungry desperate population, mutlitmillionaire Elon Musk and his space exploration start-up SpaceX have started the bidding war between Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.<br />And local and state elected officials have jumped into the acution with zeal. <br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdhq3ogEoy3PkBNbKw67KVg8zXbF8N1h6BBrM-KhADwjzA5mZJYWeYeb93S99br1z1ACcaGNHSwblnCJ_6_N1TnNPkvRru3OK_RBB2nwl91tbf_NnNV5wDLt4fBAUI2qfgDknBBX6DYA/s1600/musk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdhq3ogEoy3PkBNbKw67KVg8zXbF8N1h6BBrM-KhADwjzA5mZJYWeYeb93S99br1z1ACcaGNHSwblnCJ_6_N1TnNPkvRru3OK_RBB2nwl91tbf_NnNV5wDLt4fBAUI2qfgDknBBX6DYA/s320/musk.jpg" width="320" /></a>But, because "negotiations are under way," the public can't be told what exactly these "incentives" are. Hiowever, we now know that Gov. Rick Perry has rolled out the red (or is it dollar bill green?) for SpaceX, AKA as Space Exploration Technologies.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“Please know that I strongly support the efforts of SpaceX and the Brownsville community to bring this business to Texas," Perry wrote the Federal Aviation Administration which is conducting an Environmental Impact Statement on the proposal to build a rocket launch pad on Boca Chica.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"I ask you to favorably approve their application for a South Texas launch site,†he wrote.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Texas is said to have been working on an incentives package to help lure the company to Cameron County. Perry expressed his support for the SpaceX launch site coming to the Brownsville area. He states the project could mean “well-paying jobs and economic development to South Texas.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Initially, there was some criticism at what some thought was a lukewarm effort by the governor's office and area legislators scurried to correct that impression. Now, with Perry on board, the whole word knows we're in the bidding war for good. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Musk in the past has said that Florida and Puerto Rico have made stronger cases than Texas for the new launch site, he also said that things were changing.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Sources" (which ones?) have reported after Texas appeared last week to be gaining the top spot in the competition to lure the new SpaceX launch site, Florida is trying to sweeten the deal they offered the company.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"We are no stranger to competition,†Nashed, Perry’s spokeswoman said. “If Florida wants to step up their game, then of course we are certainly open to that. We really want this project to be here and we are committed to doing what we can to get it here.â€</div>Funny how people act like they're just dying to throw their dollars at Musk. <br />NASA, for example, on December 2008, awarded a $1.6 billion contract for 12 flights of their Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station, replacing the Space Shuttle after it retired in 2011. This contract has a minimum value of $1.6 billion and a maximum value of $3.1 billion.<br />Hiowever, the flights scheduled to be launched from the Boca Chica launch site if it meets with FAA approval will not visit the ISS or launch manned flights to space.<br />Instead, if Texas and Brownsville throw enough money at SpaceX and gets the nod over Florida and Puerto Rico, the company plans to launch private payloads (weather and communications satellites and such) for private customers.<br />As late as two months ago (April 22) Gilbert Salinas, executive vice president of the Brownsville Economic Development Council, said he believed the Boca Chica was chosen as a finalist simply because it is farther south than any other Texas option.<br />The closer to the earth’s equator the better for launching satellites or launch vehicles to carry cargo to the International Space Station, he said. The earth’s rotation helps boost the vehicle into space, he said.<br />Now we know that SpaceX never intended to launch cargo vehicles to the space station. If that was never true, why on earth would Salinasand the BEDC crowd repeat it as fact?<br />Now we know that SpaceX was also looking at an existing site in Willacy County, but didn't follow up on a county proposal. The Willacy County site was closed after objections were made by the Dept. of Homeland Security said it was too close to the border. The Boca Chica site is only about three miles from the Rio Grande. <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-3555259059563695092?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-brownsville-bedc-and-now-florida.html
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I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE A POEM AS LOVELY AS A...
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<i>The city of Brownsville currently has one of the oldest and strongest urban forest programs in South Texas, having started 13 years ago, Alemany said. They have had an urban forester since then and recently bought their second tree spade, a large implement used to dig up and transplant large trees.</i><br /><i>“For the second time since 2003, Brownsville this year hosted the 123rd State Arbor Day Observance, a huge honor that moves from city to city and last year went to Houston. To qualify, Brownsville had to have been already designated as a Tree City USA, an honor not even San Antonio has received.â€</i><br /><div class="entry-byline"></div><div class="entry-content">By <strong>Salvador Alemany</strong>, 956-969-5654, <a href="http://www.myharlingennews.com/wp-admin/salemany@tfs.tamu.edu" title="blocked::salemany@tfs.tamu.edu">http://www.myharlingennews.com/wp-admin/salemany@tfs.tamu.edu</a><br />EDINBURG â€" Increasingly, citizens and their elected officials are realizing the value of a healthy urban forest, according to Salvador Alemany, a Texas Forest Service regional urban forester in Weslaco.<br />The 6th Annual RGV Community and Urban Forestry Conference was held recently at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.<br />“It’s a constant educational effort, but people are realizing just how important trees are to our quality of life, and they are asking their public officials for help in planting more trees and maintaining the ones we have,†he said.<br />Case in point, Alemany said, is the growing popularity of tree conferences he and others have organized to bring knowledge and awareness regarding the benefits and proper care of trees.<br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP44Tavw3Lc5oyzILLxrRDNtJapqn0NxmGwu-Z0Z95Lp031ieFYj4KoRqVZdRfWDEKwTdq9nMG8k-8Ci92eGWj7ywt6UZy9iW7EEkc-zbiL2gBXUWIFIw9AyCHtXJwNu_MM0GVky8yM4/s1600/MONTEZUMA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" pca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGP44Tavw3Lc5oyzILLxrRDNtJapqn0NxmGwu-Z0Z95Lp031ieFYj4KoRqVZdRfWDEKwTdq9nMG8k-8Ci92eGWj7ywt6UZy9iW7EEkc-zbiL2gBXUWIFIw9AyCHtXJwNu_MM0GVky8yM4/s400/MONTEZUMA.jpg" width="400" /></a>“This week marked the third tree conference I’ve helped organize in the three years I’ve been on the job here in the Lower Rio Grande Valley,†he said. “We had just over 100 registered participants who were treated to several outstanding speakers, experts in their fields.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The 6th Annual RGV Community and Urban Forestry Conference was held recently at the Edinburg Conference Center at Renaissance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“Edinburg Mayor Richard Garcia kicked off the day,†Alemany said. “He told us how a living memorial tree had been planted in honor of a city councilman, Noe Garza, who passed away in January. The tree will stand as a reminder to future generations about his years of service and the need to give back to the community.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Other speakers and their topics included Grant Ehlen, AEP-Texas, chainsaw safety and planting the right tree in the right place; Steve Walker, Texas Department of Public Safety, landscaping in state highway right-of-ways; Dr. Raul Villanueva, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, native and invasive bugs threatening Texas trees; Erasmo Yarrito Jr., Rio Grande watermaster, the source of South Texas water; Dr. Andrew McDonald, University of Texas-Pan American, a history of the Lower Rio Grande Valley’s urban forest; Margaret Spencer, landscape and arboricultural consultant, introduction to arboriculture; and Alemany, proper watering of trees.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“The speakers were interesting and informative, but one speaker’s comment really caught my attention,†Alemany said. “Ms. Spencer told us that among the many benefits of trees to our health and environment, a recent study showed that expectant mothers who had access to an urban forest had less complicated deliveries. Trees are a win-win for communities, especially here in South Texas where it gets so hot.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Alemany said he has aerial photos showing the vast increase in McAllen’s urban forest between the 1930s and today.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“We’ve conducted a tree inventory in McAllen and it is truly amazing how its urban forest has grown,†he said. “The increase is dramatic, especially on residential properties, but we’ve got so much more to do because trees still cover only a tiny percentage of the area we live in.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Alemany constantly juggles many efforts in his attempt to promote urban forests, he said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“We meet regularly with city and county officials because citizens are demanding more trees and parks,†he said. “We encourage cities to hire full-time urban foresters. Currently, McAllen, Edinburg and Brownsville have filled such positions. We conduct workshops, sponsor Arbor Day events to plant trees and teach children about trees. We work with AgriLife Extension to teach Master Gardeners about trees, and we address social clubs, including Kiwanis, Lions Club and the Rotary Club.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The city of Brownsville currently has one of the oldest and strongest urban forest programs in South Texas, having started 13 years ago, Alemany said. They have had an urban forester since then and recently bought their second tree spade, a large implement used to dig up and transplant large trees.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“For the second time since 2003, Brownsville this year hosted the 123rd State Arbor Day Observance, a huge honor that moves from city to city and last year went to Houston. To qualify, Brownsville had to have been already designated as a Tree City USA, an honor not even San Antonio has received.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As for the future, Alemany said the Texas Forest Service has developed a 20-year plan to help those communities in Texas which are expected to have large population growth.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“It’s called the Emerging Community Program,†he said. “We want to help in the planning process of growing communities to make sure trees are part of that growth,†he said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">“We’re also in the process of planning next year’s tree conference in either Edinburg or McAllen, which will be international in scope with speakers from Central and South American and from Spain.â€</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The conferences include four award categories to recognize individuals and groups who promote urban forestry, Alemany said.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This year’s awards and winners include: The James Matz Award, Barbara Storz, AgriLife Extension; the Rio Grande Valley Landscaping Project Award, Don Hugo Produce, Edinburg; the Annual Tree Conference Committee Award, City of Brownsville; and the Mixed Tree and Garden Planting Project Award, University of Texas-Pan American’s Veterans Wildscape Garden.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Find more stories, photos, videos and audio at agrilife.org/today and view this story at:</div><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6m5vldc" title="http://tinyurl.com/6m5vldc">http://tinyurl.com/6m5vldc</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7669824941198385624?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/06/i-think-that-i-shall-never-see-poem-as.html
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