Save Jerry McHale: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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IF AT FIRST RECOUNT YOU DON'T SUCCEED, COUNT, COUNT AGAIN
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By <b>Juan Montoya</b><br /><div>A funny thing happened on the way to an election recount.</div><div>This time the recount didn't involve justice of the peace races, the Brownsville Independent School District Board, or even the county judge's position.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzArdjuzzjZI4y-_So_vjLCmj3bAE6DhFw91ViOum56J_i_ILAYjhDLor3k_WxEf3dG1j8Ekh5ftJ-MR9PMnna5n2qsfacFHh_oL7d4TthaAdsi1oIrCpHItHomatfuKcp7LLEJI2gQ6s/s1600/Pete-Delgadillo-thumbnail-150x150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzArdjuzzjZI4y-_So_vjLCmj3bAE6DhFw91ViOum56J_i_ILAYjhDLor3k_WxEf3dG1j8Ekh5ftJ-MR9PMnna5n2qsfacFHh_oL7d4TthaAdsi1oIrCpHItHomatfuKcp7LLEJI2gQ6s/s1600/Pete-Delgadillo-thumbnail-150x150.jpg" /></a>This time it involved the Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 race between Democrat Horacio Zamora and Republican Pete Delgadillo.</div><div>If you remember, the original totals from the election were 2504 to 2501 with incumbent Zamora ahead of challenger Delgadillo by three votes. That totals 5,505 votes even without the provisional and missing ballots thrown in for good measure. The recount of the votes was scheduled after the provisional votes and missing ballots were accounted for, officials said.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivq2Sa2sVxDPIxlfUuQOE2sdBd1IRmCrPGiAYquOiQ03FwecxXti7zys4-6zDAnERTI3POpWwU5rucz0aR2UJGBBHFwh3snr4oOX3P0bz9-1qRfh23yl7IWZJicEdmCghY3S5PaqkfOM0/s1600/HoracioZamora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivq2Sa2sVxDPIxlfUuQOE2sdBd1IRmCrPGiAYquOiQ03FwecxXti7zys4-6zDAnERTI3POpWwU5rucz0aR2UJGBBHFwh3snr4oOX3P0bz9-1qRfh23yl7IWZJicEdmCghY3S5PaqkfOM0/s200/HoracioZamora.jpg" width="200" /></a>Then, after three recounts, guess what? Delgadillo, the Republican, came away with the win by  2486 to 2479. </div><div>Whaaat?</div><div>That's right, 40 votes less than the election day totals even after the provisional and missing ballots were thrown in.</div><div>The canvassing authority must now conduct a canvass for the office as soon as practicable after completion of the recount, using the committee report in the supervisorâ€™s possession because the recount changed the number of votes. The new canvass is the official canvass for all purposes, including calculating election contest filing deadlines.</div><div>The term for Cameron County Constable Precinct 1 begins January 1, 2013.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-5546948713764255709?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/if-at-first-recount-you-dont-succeed.html

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ZAYAS SUMMONED BY HANEN ON JUAREZ SETTLEMENT
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Whether he liked it or not, a former trustee defeated in his run for the board of the Brownsville Independent School District two years ago has been called to the carpet today to appear before federal judge Andrew Hanen to explain why he had not signed off on the settlement of the case brought against them and the district by former CFO Antonio Juarez.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7P73puMKiEQk3IqQG0sX5wGfVn4hS_KAuL7UPceA3T46zf_Vtkkyk2Yn5ejnVVDq6uvAIfN_onqVNRzCACeuYqY9sP1pzS8T5WI92XxnV7IRLqzUs01S4pAWgYllgMuAeo-lyRQemmE/s1600/zayas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7P73puMKiEQk3IqQG0sX5wGfVn4hS_KAuL7UPceA3T46zf_Vtkkyk2Yn5ejnVVDq6uvAIfN_onqVNRzCACeuYqY9sP1pzS8T5WI92XxnV7IRLqzUs01S4pAWgYllgMuAeo-lyRQemmE/s200/zayas.jpg" width="155" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh066eJmq6pwEfupek3GN5RTF_59_ewArmavGhusqBtOim4APozQnSQEcgy8FGc5fvhJ2kFo1iqlZpBugyvVdoBHIG1DM3cufAP3aDinG3aU47KwRdJVxxf92wLgd3GmdxeDSU155w4qyo/s1600/cortez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh066eJmq6pwEfupek3GN5RTF_59_ewArmavGhusqBtOim4APozQnSQEcgy8FGc5fvhJ2kFo1iqlZpBugyvVdoBHIG1DM3cufAP3aDinG3aU47KwRdJVxxf92wLgd3GmdxeDSU155w4qyo/s200/cortez.jpg" width="156" /></a>The unusual summons came about because  Rick Zayas had not signed off on the agreement that gave Juarez back employment with a contract as a Human Resources specialists and a cash settlement.<br />Juarez was fired from the district on a vote by Zayas, Ruben Cortez, Rolando Aguilar and Joe Colunga after they claimed that he had given the wrong recommendation on the district's lucrative Stop-Loss insurance contract. Briefs in the case indicated that the former board majority had favored the company represented by their political supporter and benefactor the late Johnny Cavazos.<br />Juarez tape-recorded conversations with former trustee Otis Powers â€" since reelected to the BISD board â€" that indicated that a conspiracy existed to use the grievance process to turn one employee against another and to allow the majority to justify terminating others.<br />Juarez, instead of participating in the conspiracy, went to the FBI and filed the lawsuit when he was terminated.<br />Cortez has since been elected to the Texas State Board of Education and Zayas filed a lawsuit â€" which in turn generated a countersuit â€" against the forensic auditing firm Deffenbaugh and Associates on behalf of former DA Joe Rodriguez and Rivera H.S. coach Tom Chavez. In that case, the duo alleged that the audit results defamed them when it outlined the way in which Chavez allegedly steered business toward a sports-supply company of which Rodriguez turned out to be a sales representative.<br />In turn, Deffenbaugh and Associates charged Rodriguez and Chavez with defamation and asked for $1 million in damages.<br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-5221111030926237532?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/zayas-and-cortez-summoned-by-hanen-on.html

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Brownsville Noise

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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TURKEY TROT, OTHER RUNS, A HUGE SUCCCESS WITH YOUTH
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<div class="Body">Special to<i> <b>El Rrun-Rrun</b></i><br />It's not often that we have the opportunity to praise the work done with our youth in Brownsville, but when we do, we are glad to write something about somebody who is doing something that leaves a lasting and positive impact on our youth.<br />The Turkey Trot held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving was a huge success and we congratulate its promoters. Hundreds of young (and not so young) boys and girls braved the wee morning chill to strut their stuff and compete against others and themselves. Their parents sipped on coffee cups while the kids took off and returned minutes later huffing and panting toward the finish line. It was great stuff.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZbvPf_AgoWIg7enLJEAD3fVDFMdoK0h0gmAh0MEVFRGs8DdGGWzfDAoJviQDOqoGsZ5_oQWxGa8I3LmZOj4ahiNVEJeHY5UZYY0PXwCCmZl5S8QGn-puCxou2xnbQqKaAOO9Q0UpZUI/s1600/RUNNERS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSZbvPf_AgoWIg7enLJEAD3fVDFMdoK0h0gmAh0MEVFRGs8DdGGWzfDAoJviQDOqoGsZ5_oQWxGa8I3LmZOj4ahiNVEJeHY5UZYY0PXwCCmZl5S8QGn-puCxou2xnbQqKaAOO9Q0UpZUI/s400/RUNNERS.jpg" width="400" /></a>The Turkey Trot was just the latest of the many runs held here. Some are for the benefit of worthy causes. Others just because these people love running.<br />On that particular day, the news accounts below indicate that more than 1,000 runners and their families packed into a field by The Heart Institute of Brownsville for the 30th Annual Turkey Trot Run for Your Heart.</div><span class="paragraph-1"></span><br /><div class="Body"><span class="paragraph-1">The Brownsville Marathonerâ€™s Club organizes the event and planner Alonso â€œTinyâ€ Barrientes said he couldnâ€™t be happier with the huge turnout for the event, which promotes healthy active living, because of all the young people who showed up.</span></div><span class="paragraph-1"></span><br /><div class="Body">â€œThatâ€™s our clubâ€™s goal, to motivate kids and start them early,â€ he said while standing on McAllen Road directing traffic. â€œThey are future runners and future leaders.â€</div><div class="Body">Kendall Sales, 10, and Kaitlyn Capistran, 9, of Los Fresnos Elementary, were among a group of excited young girls from Girls on the Run, a curriculum-based running program that teaches life skills to young girls.</div><div class="Body"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW1FNGEDON4J9gq1n3oO1CxasiW-2Nitzkv915E324zCGVdjB0FTtg2PAbSpVF9AYXDuKSajfBQOzUQo2r5mpT-0nS2b9ex1eon4wv0WaJ5fG0OWITRBMmEDFQEyq6CewOdioPbenPhE/s1600/runners1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW1FNGEDON4J9gq1n3oO1CxasiW-2Nitzkv915E324zCGVdjB0FTtg2PAbSpVF9AYXDuKSajfBQOzUQo2r5mpT-0nS2b9ex1eon4wv0WaJ5fG0OWITRBMmEDFQEyq6CewOdioPbenPhE/s400/runners1.jpg" width="400" /></a>They were in attendance for the grand finale of their 12-week program, a 5k and 1 mile run.</div><div class="Body">â€œItâ€™s important because it helps you get motivated and you just donâ€™t stay being lazy and playing games,â€ Capistran said. â€œYou get to run and be healthy all the time.â€</div><div class="Body">The Turkey Trot offered fun for all ages. The top runner in each category received a turkey. Barrientes said that results and photos would probably be posted to The Brownsville Marathonerâ€™s Club Facebook page.</div><div class="Body">Money raised from the event will be given away in five $1,000 scholarships.<br />Congratulations to all.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-2426158288334203068?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/turkey-trot-other-runs-huge-succcess.html

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UNITED BROWNSVILLE TARGETING CAMERON COUNTY
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Word has reached out editorial offices that a group of schemers met over the Thankgsgiving weekend to figure out a way to include Cameron County among those entities paying homage to Fred Rusteberg and Carlos Marin's United Brownsville.<br />The poltical component, we understand, is to run Cameron County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dan Sanchez for county judge after Carlos Cascos' term expires in two years and extend the shadow government's mantle over the entire county.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL96laU7LE2HmbVHOXiWF4Mqy8ZEYCnW5a29YwberbOviUAt7TBwrOUcocH2ZvXrQ2tJKPQYXQ0nPeKC_6rueWeNo4R6gjy7Szn0oXQWaQ46_GDgOFeCNONBgoQ6I7QVTlD-9t0KGtNOs/s1600/dan+sanchez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL96laU7LE2HmbVHOXiWF4Mqy8ZEYCnW5a29YwberbOviUAt7TBwrOUcocH2ZvXrQ2tJKPQYXQ0nPeKC_6rueWeNo4R6gjy7Szn0oXQWaQ46_GDgOFeCNONBgoQ6I7QVTlD-9t0KGtNOs/s320/dan+sanchez.jpg" width="320" /></a>Those in attendance at the meeting reportedly held at the home of Carlos Marin were said to be Conrad Bodden, Dan Sanchez, and Eddie TreviÃ±o.<br />It is reported that when someone said that Cameron County Treasurer David Betancourt was himself planning to run for county judge, Marin reassured those present that he would "talk" to David and persuade him to reconsider and let Sanchez run alone.<br />Why the concern over these men plotting a takeover of Cameron County?<br />For those unversed in the United Brownsville scam, the self-appointed board answers to no one and includes members from every entity of local government and economic development. TreviÃ±o, as mayor, convinced the city commissioners then to pay Marin $1 million to foist this shadow government on the population. His work product? Rehashed U.S. Census studies and a voluminous "wish list" from gullible participants in their "town-hall meetings.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL8tzV4syvY_B5z3TkPc5wxBLEJcuvNiv54g_Ya0lznsEr86Vn7sKJBi7j5Q3ozCwIYvzQmbRUJKq_kLXNtWVjxbjMAu4_Ic8kyRVqBL8PzVPxjyexs1fQbsGhVVLshUp_t-vNq4QHhI/s1600/shadow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeL8tzV4syvY_B5z3TkPc5wxBLEJcuvNiv54g_Ya0lznsEr86Vn7sKJBi7j5Q3ozCwIYvzQmbRUJKq_kLXNtWVjxbjMAu4_Ic8kyRVqBL8PzVPxjyexs1fQbsGhVVLshUp_t-vNq4QHhI/s1600/shadow.jpg" /></a>Riding herd over all of them are two bankers, Rusteberg of IBC, and co-chair Irv Downing, a former banker now with the UTB. John Villarreal, the Do-Nothing city commissioner is another Co-chair.<br />Mayor Tony Martinez and City Manager Charlie Cabler represent the city of Brownsville. Representing the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation is Sandra Langley. The Madman with a Credit Card Jason Hilts represents the Brownsville Economic Development Council. Carlos Hernandez represents the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Delina Barrera, formerly with the GBIC, herslef. Martin Arambula represents the Brownsville Navigation District, as does the Port's CEO Eddie Campirano. The Brownsville Independent School District is represented by Enrique Escobedo and Superintendent Dr. Carl Montoya. Juliet Garcia, of course, represents the  University of Texas at Brownsville and the Greater Kingdon of God, as does Probost Dr. Alan Artibise. Texas Southmost College is represented by chairman Francisco Rendon and by college president Dr. Lily Trecero.<br />The Brownsville Public Utilities Board is represented by the pliant chairman Emmanuel Vasquez and CEO John Bruciak.<br />The At-Large members include attorney Michele Sanchez, Rolando Gonzalez Barron, Dr. Carlos Marin (Machiavelli himself), City Commissioner Rose Gowen, accountant Gregg McCumber, Jorge De La Garza, former mayor Eddie Trevino, and Chamber of Commerce front person Angela Burton.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJYBbIM60BO-cOZ2NAlSbTKpiRhMpJz5Fz7-JW0U_9uFCy9-dZlXI_HjzdOcPjo6uk84LyIJykw8K5682U1HVrDxG1C4zhMWZJURDUlv08h-zL3cEw8_gQTrP5MRUaVPKS4REzXkedsA/s1600/2010_01_21_UnitedBrownsvilleProclamation-1-725806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJYBbIM60BO-cOZ2NAlSbTKpiRhMpJz5Fz7-JW0U_9uFCy9-dZlXI_HjzdOcPjo6uk84LyIJykw8K5682U1HVrDxG1C4zhMWZJURDUlv08h-zL3cEw8_gQTrP5MRUaVPKS4REzXkedsA/s400/2010_01_21_UnitedBrownsvilleProclamation-1-725806.jpg" width="400" /></a>The brainchild of Rusteberg, United Brownsville is  a non-profit corporation that has no funds of its own. Rather, it survives and pays its staff by extracting a $25,000 "goodwill" tribute from the City of Brownsville, Greater Brownsville Incentive Corporation, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Brownsville Independent School District, Brownsville Public Utilities Board, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas Southmost College, and the Port of Brownsville.<br />In this way, the non-profit can pay its director Mike Gonzalez, the former mayor of Kyle and a conservative Republican who was handpicked by Rusteberg as the United Brownsville's director, a tidy $78,000 a year.<br />It has claimed in the past that â€" even if it was the recipient of public funds â€" it was not required to follow the requirements of the Open Meetings Act.<br />One of the only employees it can claim is "board facilitator and communications director" Brian Godinez, who will be paid some $34,000 to coordinate, whatever the hell that means. Godinez did not make a good name for himself in McAllen, where he hails from.<br /><div>Rusteberg, when questioned when he made his pitch before PUB for the 25K, said Godinez had a good track record in Baghdad, Iraq. Well, when you're a contractor there, you basically have a monopoly on whatever service you provide from the U.S. Government. How can you fail?</div><div>And the lobbying firm of Patton Boggs LLP was paid $75,000 of your for three months of work. Last we checked, this firm is from Dallas, by way of Washington D.C.<br />Who are these people and why should the entire county fund them?<br />That's the question that Cameron County asked when the UB operatives came before them and â€" getting no satisfactory answer â€" sent them packing.<br />We even hear that the cash-strapped BISD board is now questioning president Escobedo, a UB member, on why the district should give that entity money the district could use itself.<br />"Enrique wants to fit in with them and he wants the board to continue giving Rusteberg's group the cash," said a source close to Escobedo. "He's having a hard time convincing the others."<br />According to sources close to the meeting, Sanchez guaranteed the group that he could bring the county into the fold if he could count on their support.<br />So, is the public ready to continue forking over $100,000s to an entity who is accountable to no one, claims its meetings can be held away from the public eye, and which to date can point to noting that has benefitted us? Even their "Better Block" charade was nothing more than a photocopy of Melissa Castro's Mercadito concept.<br />Ask yourself this: Can you fire UB's CEO Gonzalez? Can you fire Rusteberg of Martinez or Juliet Garcia? You pay them.<br />Now with the suave Sanchez pushing for this group and savoring occupying the seat of county judge at the whim of Marin and Rusteberg, hold on to your wallet.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7662813949394257447?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/united-brownsville-targeting-cameron.html

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Brownsville Noise

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Brownsville Noise

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Maclovio OMalley

The Maclovio O'Malley Show
http://www.spreaker.com/show/the_maclovio_o_malley_show

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Epispode 55, November 27 - 2012
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LINK: http://www.spreaker.com/user/maclovioomalley/epispode_55_november_27_2012

Copyright Maclovio O'Malley

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Brownsville Noise

Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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CASCOS STAYS IN CAMERON COUNTY, NO SOS FOR HIM
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By <b>Terence Stutz</b><br /><i>Dallas Morning News</i><br />Gov. Rick Perry today appointed San Antonio lawyer and public safety commissioner John T. Steen Jr. as secretary of state.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5GQxPKJALmi3Pyt094dK-wRNoIo-V4q_950nY-3ndDcbsU5SrSSmqk2-4jH4HCmznjEYXMqvipCRmPSUxno6W-7_ZPyEYQfOxRlEUGqNIFnbHCjci_h8ehhlabhmLC-b8Ac49rof_kY/s1600/steen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5GQxPKJALmi3Pyt094dK-wRNoIo-V4q_950nY-3ndDcbsU5SrSSmqk2-4jH4HCmznjEYXMqvipCRmPSUxno6W-7_ZPyEYQfOxRlEUGqNIFnbHCjci_h8ehhlabhmLC-b8Ac49rof_kY/s200/steen.jpg" width="160" /></a>Steen replaces Hope Andrade, who stepped down from the post last week after four years as the stateâ€™s chief elections officer. The secretary of state also serves as the governorâ€™s adviser on border and Mexican affairs, as well as the chief protocol officer for state and international matters. Steen has been serving on the Public Safety Commission, which oversees the Texas Department of Public Safety.<br />â€œJohnâ€™s strong business background and dedication to public service throughout the years make him uniquely qualified to serve in this important role,â€ Perry said in announcing the appointment.</div><div> Steen, a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, said he was deeply honored by his appointment as Texasâ€™ 108th secretary of state.</div><div>â€œAs chief elections officer, I will make it my highest priority to preserve the integrity of our elections and ensure they are fair, accessible and secure,â€ he said in a statement.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-7805345437379321227?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/cascos-stays-in-cameron-county-no-sos.html

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ARE FIRES AT WILKINSONS LEGIT? OR DELIBERATELY SET?
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />With a handful of fires reported at Wilkinson Brothers Recycling Company on 3145 E. 14th St. in the past few years, local residents have become suspicious of their convenience and frequency.<br />"It seems that every time they get a large amount of rubbish and trash that can't be recycled, there's a fire in the middle of the night and it's gone in a few hours," said a woman living on Taft Street near the recycling plant. "It's too convenient for my liking."<br />The latest fire occurred in the early morning hours of Nov. 3, a Saturday, where Brownsville Fire Department dispatchers report that a call came in at 1:55 a.m. of a fire of an undetermined type had erupted again at the back of the recycling yard. The firefighters remained at the blaze until the last entry was made at 6:36 a.m that morning.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTtvgfX0k_8NJ6h1IqilP-bPaoDxSpn-OugwmTyoTj_ktQnKJFAUi7coCmDCcWRhrNU3H4r3f8Z-P1tIP-5aDnXVm6wYf9s-yjlAqKStWGAKisesPPsDotznO1xDUDDK54RIciitcGUo/s1600/firephoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTtvgfX0k_8NJ6h1IqilP-bPaoDxSpn-OugwmTyoTj_ktQnKJFAUi7coCmDCcWRhrNU3H4r3f8Z-P1tIP-5aDnXVm6wYf9s-yjlAqKStWGAKisesPPsDotznO1xDUDDK54RIciitcGUo/s400/firephoto.jpg" width="400" /></a>In their report, firefighters indicated none of them or any civilians were hurt..<br />The report also noted that upon arrival, they found a large pile of debris consisting of trash metal, "foam, plastic and other discarded material on fire...no known property loss occurred since pile was basically made up of rubbish."<br />This last entry is what has made local residents suspicious of the reoccurring blazes at the recycling plant. They note that the fires â€" spaced at about six months apart (April to November) â€" usually occur in the wee hours of the morning when there are no workers on the site. They say the fires usually involve the foam and moldings from cars and other objects from which metal is removed. The only thing that burns is the trash, with none of the recyclable metal reported damaged.<br />"Why does it always happen that it's only the trash that gets burned, and not the valuable copper and aluminum that is stored at the plant, too?" asked a neighbor. "It seems like everytime the trash starts to pile up and it's going to cost the plant money to get rid of it at the landfill, a fire erupts and just like that it's gone."<br />However, since none of these suspicions have spurted in the minds of the local fire chief Lenny Perez or his Fire Prevention investigators, the reoccurring trash fires at the plant will probably continue, despite the fact that the resultant clouds of toxic smoke and fallout rain down upon the adjacent neighborhoods. At the time of the Nov. 3 fire, residents reported chemical droplets raining down on their homes and people having to go inside to avoid getting splattered by the toxic rain.<br />So far, no investigation into the suspicious nature of the fires there or the potential health effects on the residents in nearby neighborhoods has been reported.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-8604974239754192310?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/are-fires-at-wilkinsons-legit-or.html

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ACCION AMERICA'S QUINTANILLA LEADS POLICE ABUSE FIGHT
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<strong>HURST (CBS 11 NEWS) -</strong> A performance review for a Hurst police officer under investigation, notes he can be overzealous and it can cloud his judgment. The release came as another resident filed a complaint Monday about Officer Disraeli Arnold.<br />Hurst Police officials used the word â€œembarrassingâ€ to describe the videotaped, expletive laced arrest thatâ€™s made one the uniformed officer the latest YouTube tarnished star. Arnold was placed on administrative leave Monday, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.<br />A May 2010 review says: â€œOfficer Arnoldâ€™s enthusiasm may make him overzealous at times, which can cloud his judgment when it comes to policy, procedure and tactics. Sometimes he needs to step back and see the big picture to weight the risks involved.â€<br />Future reviews donâ€™t mention the issue. His only discipline was for damage to a patrol vehicle, losing a cellphone of someone arrested, and problems with showing up on time for his shift.<br />Arnold has received mostly positive reviews for his work for the department, referred to by superiors as a â€œteam playerâ€ interested in being promoted to supervisor. City employees wrote letters commending him for his patience dealing with an upset couple, and for his concern over a subjectâ€™s ongoing panhandling and drinking.<br /><strong>VIEW THE ENTIRE, UNEDITED VIDEO BELOW. </strong><br /><strong>WARNING: CONTAINS PROFANITY</strong><br /><span class="embed-youtube" style="display: block; text-align: center;"><iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="267" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LJV2BsM12sY?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent" type="text/html" width="420"></iframe></span><div class="entry-injected-ad narrow"> </div>Last week, Officer Arnold came to the aid of a fellow officer who was struggling with a teenage suspect, Andrew Rodriguez. The cell phone video taken by a friendâ€"also arrested for being a minor in possession of tobacco and drug paraphernaliaâ€"appears to show Officer Arnold tackling the teenager who was already on the ground.<br />Recordings of police radio traffic released Monday contain a calm call for backup from Officer Miguel Jimenez. Arnold responds by simply saying, â€œcoming around the corner now.â€ The taped incident that followed show Arnold repeatedly cursing at the teen, and asking him at least three times if he wanted to die.<br /><em><strong>â€œWeâ€™ve never seen this kind of aggressive behavior by a police officer against a member of our community,â€ said Carlos Quintanilla, a local civil rights activist. â€œThere was no justification, there was no reason for that officer to act that way.â€</strong></em><br /><em><strong>Quintanilla and a group of local civil rights activists joined the teenagerâ€™s mother, Kelly Pope, for an afternoon meeting with Hurstâ€™s Chief of Police Steve Moore. Pope says she is pleased with what she is hearing from department leaders thus far. But, insists that when their internal investigation confirms that they believe the video shows, the officer should be fired and face criminal charges.</strong></em><br />During the expletive laced videotaped arrestâ€"that quickly went viralâ€"Rodriguez was taken into custody for a 4-year-old disorderly conduct warrant that his mother says had already been resolved. She says Andrew got a ticket for being on school grounds after hours.<br />â€œHe didnâ€™t have the money to pay it, I didnâ€™t have the money to pay it, so it turned into a warrant,â€ says Pope. â€œSo, yeah, it was from Junior High.â€<br />Pope says she does not excuse the role her son played in the incident. The videotape also shows him ignoring the first officerâ€™s demands. But, supporters stress that more should be expected of those professionals sworn and paid to protect and serve.<br />Hurst Police, meanwhile, are promising a thorough investigation.<br />â€œI donâ€™t think you can define the Hurst Police Department by just one act; but, you can define us by how we react to it,â€ says Asst. Chief Niecamp.<br />The teenager is expected to file a formal complaint against Officer Arnold on tomorrow.<br />Monday night another man met with Hurst police and indicated he plans to file a complaint regarding an incident with Arnold in August. Gared Matusz was pulled over for speeding and said the officer asked to search his car for drugs. He agreed and Arnold responded as backup. Matusz said Arnold forced him to the ground, cursed at him to be quiet, then detained him in a patrol car for several hours. Matusz said his elderly mother, who he was taking to the airport, was forced to stand against the truck during the search.<br />â€œIt hurts me so bad because I didnâ€™t keep following up on it,â€ he said. â€œHeâ€™s damaging someone else.â€<br />Matusz said he filed a complaint in person immediately after the incident in August but police said they didnâ€™t receive it.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-6965095506741506000?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/accion-americas-quintanilla-leads.html

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MEDIOCRITY REWARDED: BEN REYNA NAMED UTB'S TOP COP
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<br />By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Benigno G. Reyna, the Brownsville Chief of Police who got the boot as director of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in 2005 and left Washington in disgrace, has been named interim Chief of Police of the University at Texas-Brownsville by UTB president Juliet Garcia.<br />In a release made available to <em>El Rrun-Rrun</em>, Garcia made the announcement today. It is expected that he will continue to draw his current salary of $108,233.<br />Some say the "interim" prefix is just the tried-and-true bureaucratic method of circumventing the Equal Opportunity Commission's hiring guidelines and after a "search" Reyna will remain at the UTB helm. How many times has that happened in local governmental entities?<br />Reyna, who left the Marshals Service after he failed to adequately protect the families of federal judges even after he had been instructed specifically to apply funds provided by the U.S. Congress, currently holds the title of Special Assistant to the Provost for Governmental Relations. <br />Reyna went to Washington in 2001 after President George W. Bush nominated him to the post.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2005/06/24/PH2005062401640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="bottom" alt="Outgoing U.S. Marshals Service Director Benigno G. Reyna, with Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, background, has led the 4,200-member Marshals Service since October 2001." border="0" height="241" src="http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2005/06/24/PH2005062401640.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Immediately after the small-town cop in charge of some 130 officers found himself at the head of an agency with a staff of 4,200 and a budget of $733 million, trouble was afoot.<br />Reyna had navigated the bureaucratic waters of the BPD for some 25 years before being named Chief of Police in 1995, a position he left in 2001 to go to Washington at the behest of W.<br />According to a<em> Washington Post</em> article, he almost immediately faced skepticism from judges and regional U.S. marshals about his experience for the job.The US Marshals Service had come under fire from judges over the issue of security of judges and their families when Reyna headed the agency. He was soon the target of criticism about judicial security lapses and his leadership from federal judges and some members of Congress.<br />Then â€" only three years into his tenure â€" the Justice Department's Inspector General issued a report in 2004 critical of the way the US Marshals assessed threats against judges. Congress felt strongly enough about the issue that it authorized $12 million to spent on security systems for the homes of federal judges. Of 1,700 judges who requested these systems be installed, only 500 have received them before an event galvanized protest against his leadership.<br />The straw that broke the camel's back and which drove Reyna to resign came after typically reserved judges publicly criticized his management to Congress after a frustrated litigant broke into the Chicago home of U.S. District Judge Joan H. Lefkow in February and killed her husband and mother. <br />They complained that Reyna had failed to devote staff and money to the service's primary duty of protecting judges and was channeling resources into other projects. <br />When Reyna could not weather the congressional onslaught, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales announced his resignation without explanation and thanked him for his service. <br />"Benigno Reyna has served as director of the U.S. Marshals Service with integrity and skill," Gonzales, who would also take his turn at the resignation podium later, said in a statement. "As a law enforcement officer with more than 29 years of experience, he has shown steadfast leadership in directing the Service in the months and years following the September 11th attacks, as well during its work with state and local law enforcement in Operation Falcon, which resulted in the arrests of more than 10,000 fugitives." <br />Leaving Washington D.C. in disgrace and heading home, Reyna was soon taken under the wing of University of Texas-Texas Southmost College partnership President Juliet Garcia and a position was made for him in the Office of the Vice-President for Academic Affairs as a Special Assistant to the VP for Administrative Affairs at $100,000 a year.<br />That increased to $102,000 in 2006-2007, $104,040 in 2007-2008, $106,000 in 2008-2009, and finally to $108,233 from 2010 until today. However, he was no longer is assistant in academic affairs. His niche was described as Administrative Asst. to the Office of the Provost for Governmental Affairs.<br />As interim Chief of Police for the UTB, we expect that Reyna will now hav to do more than ride around in his golf cart inspecting the real estate at UTB. <br />Meanwhile, decorated academics and researchers have begun looking toward a legal remedy after they have been put on the chopping block as the downsizing of the UTB staff continues wholesale. Those Garcia favorites like Reyna, however â€" with minimal contributions to the academic or communitys' well-being â€" continue to flourish and prosper in her dwindling empire.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-3396262772406490015?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/mediocrity-rewarded-ben-reyna-named.html

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Brownsville Noise

Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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GORDITAS, BARBACOA, TAMALES BANNED IN GREASE-FREE BROWNTOWN
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />Taking a page from <em>Fahrenheit 459</em> and under the guise of collecting donated cookbooks from the past, Healthy Communities under Executive Diet Director Rose Timmer has declared Brownsville a grease-free zone.<br />Ostensibly, the call went out for the community to donate its old cookbooks, but the real purpose, according to grease-war insiders, it was to rid local residents of books advocating the use of delicious fat e in all its manifestations â€" carnitas, menudo, gorditas, barbacoa de cabeza, tortillas de harina, saturated fat, bacon, and just about every food product made from the flesh of the filthy pig.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7ckGjE24_hEuHtRNb1BKXHOuzTan7S-Om5PZi9Nzi5Y3IuPLi9tdWY98LvWtMK2G-Npsgtk4a5kg-0JXaQ8bOkT0VO8OlMNejr5ga19VGdBX4sTO86-NFNnfOKiNxZX14pBwgbmcfUc/s1600/timmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7ckGjE24_hEuHtRNb1BKXHOuzTan7S-Om5PZi9Nzi5Y3IuPLi9tdWY98LvWtMK2G-Npsgtk4a5kg-0JXaQ8bOkT0VO8OlMNejr5ga19VGdBX4sTO86-NFNnfOKiNxZX14pBwgbmcfUc/s320/timmer.jpg" width="320" /></a>Timmer told the local daily that her call to the community seeking donations of cookbooks for a fundraiser she knew there would be a response, and it was a good one. She said <span class="paragraph-1">residents always are ready to help out the community and they have turned out in a big way by donating hundreds of cookbooks for HCBâ€™s Cookbook Sale fundraiser.</span><br />â€œI probably get one or two phone calls a day from people that want to donate cookbooks. Some people donate one or two. The other day I picked up grocery bags of cookbooks from one lady,â€ she told the Herald.<br />Timmer, who looks like she hasn't missed many meals herself, said the donations included some from the days of rationing in WWII that provided meatless family meals. <br />As a testament to the appeal to donate the cookbooks, Timmer said the diversity of the cookbooks indicate that many residents have been pouring over some of the bad grease-culprits that have brought about the obese characteristics of the local populace.<br />â€œWe have some wonderful cookbooks â€¦ some from Julia Child, James Beard, and Oprah cookbooks. They are all in good shape. They are all treasured items that people are willing to give up and donate for this fundraiser,â€ Timmer said.<br />Money collected from the event will go to fund programs HCB supports such as environmental protection projects such as educating gum chewers into not throwing their spent gum on the city's sidewalks, smokers hanging on to their cigarette butts instead of tossing them in the city's gutters, and, of course, the ongoing battle â€" overtly and covertly â€" against Mean Old Fat.<br />â€œWe have a lot of things that we have to support and we hope that we can raise enough funds to go on for another couple of years,â€ Timmer said.<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-8335840798916178728?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/gorditas-barbacoa-tamales-banned-in.html

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Rrun Rrun

EL RRUN RRUN
http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/

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THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: FIL JR. MOVES INTO NEW (FREE) DIGS
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By <strong>Juan Montoya</strong><br />The partitions in the office above the parking garage at the City of Brownsville Municipal Court are being moved to make room for a new tenant at the former Duffy Bank Building at 1034 E. Levee St.<br />All preparations are being made to welcome newly-elected District 34 Congressional winner Filemon Vela Jr. to his new digs.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQR94w1O1XDgFmSfpnhOqkBRZDgsxmGueQyDWI73JHXj2rgAoufRQkKKXn8Jq3zIKcr-ORB5iW_nPR47xI3IJVpTTzg9P7FcNbKnaXMvTMPVendnwvCbP_osDHNafRE4vD3DVS3Ei1NU/s1600/chentone.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQR94w1O1XDgFmSfpnhOqkBRZDgsxmGueQyDWI73JHXj2rgAoufRQkKKXn8Jq3zIKcr-ORB5iW_nPR47xI3IJVpTTzg9P7FcNbKnaXMvTMPVendnwvCbP_osDHNafRE4vD3DVS3Ei1NU/s200/chentone.png" width="200" /></a>We are trying to elicit information from city administration on the terms of the rental agreement with the new congressman.<br />So far, all we've been able to find out is that such an agreement has not been finalized between the parties and that no such <em>"agreement between Congressman Vela and the City of Brownsville (has) been approved. The agreement you are inquiring about will possibly be placed on the City Commission Agenda on December 4<sup>th</sup> or December 11<sup>th."</sup></em><br />The improvements going on now, then, are being done in the assumption that the full approval of the rubber-stamp commission is  a bygone conclusion.<br />In the past, Democrat Solomon Ortiz and Republican Blake Farenthold rented from Bill Hudson in his office complex off Bob Torres (FM 802).<br />And State Senator Eddie Lucio Jr. rents his office space in the mall where <em>El Globo</em> is located. His son the state rep also rents his office, as does Rene Oliveira.<br />But we are told (and we will confirm once we get the documentation) that Fil Jr. will take over the space now occupied by Asst. City Attorney John Chosy for a mere $1 a year courtesy of Mayor Tony Martinez's largess with the public's resources.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eeBTGb7n1Z_JVKk7x2gjnvUj55-M-DLS1PJyz_sEDCU3aI74UfjANIbAjnugblCKIK3BZuVMruxfQ0_MFmzcBLVNyaZIvZc40RBSejiHrWf4AUF7579QLe-axECFzLnuu9dRh5e2p8o/s1600/vela.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3eeBTGb7n1Z_JVKk7x2gjnvUj55-M-DLS1PJyz_sEDCU3aI74UfjANIbAjnugblCKIK3BZuVMruxfQ0_MFmzcBLVNyaZIvZc40RBSejiHrWf4AUF7579QLe-axECFzLnuu9dRh5e2p8o/s200/vela.jpg" width="200" /></a>Average rental rates in town average about $1 per square foot, and in the case of Farenthold, with some 1,800 square feet in Hudson's building, rent would average somewhere about $2,000 monthly with other amenities included. That's part and parcel of the beast and congressional budgets take that into account.<br />Now, what makes Fil Jr. so different from the rest of the public officials? That he is a wealthy attorney? That his father was a federal judge? That his mother is a former City of Brownsville mayor? That Martinez is angling for some kind of appointment with the federal government?<br />Does that pedigree entitle him to get the choice space in a downtown public building at a steal?<br />With the scarcity of parking space downtown, we wonder how many reserved spaces will be allotted to Fil and his staff free of charge from the city while the rest of us have to scurry around fighting for a precious space to park?<br />At $1 a year, that wouldn't even pay for parking for a day to the rest of us mere mortals.<br />And does the $1 include the utilities and maintenance of his office?<br />All this, we hope, will be included in our request for information from Asst. City Manager Jeff Johnson or barring that, his secretary Rachel. If not, we might be put through the hoops to elicit information from the city as usual.<br />That much we can confirm because in the reply from the city for our questions, we were told that <em>"Please note that</em> <em>"any documentation request will need to be referred to the City Secretaries (sic) office for an open records request."</em><br />With the 10 days that the city has to answer our request, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 might well go by before we get an answer and it's a done deal.<br />Mayor Martinez has been currying the favor of the current Obama administration, and Vela, who ran as a Democrat despite his Republican track record, just might provide the leverage the mayor needs to land a position in Washington.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6016803033174468094-8990407152309839936?l=rrunrrun.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>
LINK: http://rrunrrun.blogspot.com/2012/11/there-goes-neighborhood-fil-jr-moves.html

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