Make that Several Strings...

Addendum to Dr. Zavaletta's (vid - 4 secs.) notes to self:

• Remember to actually ask Knights of Columbus for endorsements and actually receive them before printing them.

Just doing my part with the good Dr.'s strings. Hope he can help himself from here on out.

If Only a String Was Attached...

Among the good Dr. Zavaletta's (vid - 13 secs.) notes to self:

• Remember to pay back taxes before campaign time.
• Remember to require potential political appointees to do same, or face City charter violation.

Early Voting Starts Today

As a sort of public service, here are the four polling places for the City Commission and BISD elections (click for interactive maps):

• Cameron County Courthouse, 954 E. Harrison St.
• Brownsville Public Library, 2600 Central Blvd.
• BISD Admin. Building, 1900 Price Rd.
• Christ the King Church, 2255 Southmost Rd.

The early voting polls will be open on weekdays from 8:30AM to 5:30PM; and on Saturday, April 30th from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Earling voting ends on Tuesday, May 3rd at 5:30PM.

Here's hoping voters can beat the turnout of 2,490 early votes back in late April 2003. At the time, that was roughly 3.5% of Brownsville's registered voters. (Total voter turnout for the 2003 municipal/BISD elections was about 13%) We can definitely do better than that.

Help. I'm Stumped.

There was a question posed at last Friday's Kappa Lambda Chi debate that left me and several of the audience members scratching our collective head. I've put it forth (vid clip - 47 secs.) for any potential enlightenment from the surfing public.

The Legend of ExpungeBob ShrimpPants

Coming soon to a blog near you.

The Candyman Can't.

...and then there were two in the District 4 Commissioner's race. Justin Ramos is outta here.

And to this member of the scoring audience, it comes as no surprise. He choked out of the starting blocks at the STfGG debate on March 16. He then was a no-show at both the Center for Civic Engagement (March 30) forum and the excellently managed Kappa Lambda Chi (April 15) debate. Let's wish him all the luck in his pursuit of those pesky identity thieves in Kleberg County. He had little of it in Cameron.

The Cap'n's Poor Batting Numbers

For those that didn't attend and are curious, Robert Sanchez came to bat at Wednesday's STGG debate with a tableful of figures and stats (20 sec. clip). Let's see how well he fared at the plate:

Here's the first pitch: the Brownsville Airport. The Cap'n swings (21 sec. clip)...and...

Strike 1! Twelve of those employees are fire-fighters at the airport. Does the Cap'n think emergency and fire services aren't needed in that area of Brownsville?
---
Then came the hotel/motel curveball, where the Cap'n blamed Carlos Cisneros and the City Commission (6 sec. clip) for the decrease of $24,000 (less than 2.5%) in incoming hotel/motel tax revenue. Did he forget about the inferno that decimated one of Brownsville's most successful motels in early 2003? Motel 6 was typically 75% full year-round, compared to the 64% annual occupancy rate citywide. And what of 9/11/01? The tourism industry is still recovering from its aftereffects.... Strike 2!
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Crowding the plate on his last chance, the Cap'n gives these figures on city finances (11 sec. clip).
Uh-oh, looks like he got caught looking. His numbers only pertained to the General fund, but even then he omitted the accountants' conservative projections. Perhaps Mr. Sanchez forgot there's more to the city's revenues than just the General Fund. Heck, total revenues in FY2004 were almost $90 million. Strike 3. He's out.

Stay tuned for the Cap'n's next at bat...

District 3 Debate - Serving the Community vs. Serving Shrimp

vs.

It's the debate that never really was. One side focused on the positive issues in and around the city and highlighted his service to the community (video - 2.5 mins.), while the other decided his time was best served to crassly promote his business (video - 3 mins.).

And what of the issues of character and integrity? While sturdy planks in any campaign platform, one side chose to dismiss their relevance (video - 12 secs.) altogether.

Just Another Case of the Blind Leading the Blind?

The Cap'n's other wall, his online messageboard, seems to be lacking in viewers of late, so let's give it the boost it so desperately needs. Yesterday, Cap'n Sanchez altered his campaign strategy to pursue that largest and most elusive of voting blocs, the nearsighted. He reasons thusly:

To date I have had 38 signs stolen of mine through out the city. Today in my neighborhood, everyone woke up to see the Robert Sanchez signs with curly mustaches and eyeglasses. Folks tell me they are kids, I tell them that they are adults acting like kids. My opponents campaign team just offended everyone that wears eyeglasses.

Can anyone enlighten me on how'd he get from kids --> to adults --> to a campaign team? And why the heck did everyone that has barbershop mustaches get a free pass from offense? They've got feelings, too.

A Sense of (Ins)Urgency

I've criticized the Herald when I thought they'd missed their mark, but I'll sends kudos their way when they hit their target. Today they threw a bullseye. It missed today's paper, but here's hoping it serves as a supplement to tomorrow's feature(s). I encourage all to go to the above link and read this fine editorial. Here are a few morsels:

- Zavaletta’s club of agitation and angst...
- Gamez, the group’s legal conscience and sugar daddy...
- loud and cocky...

and the main point:

Insurgency makes for good political drama, but does it lead to good governance and leadership? That, in part, is what Brownsville voters will decide on May 7. Brownsville, it would appear, will have to wait for another election cycle to come before issues that will shape this city’s future are legitimately discussed. First, the grownups and insurgents have a game to play.

Well done, Brownsville Herald. "Writing on the wall", indeed.

Calling It Quits

That's it. I've had it.

Between all the anonymous comments and the constant friction between opposing viewpoints, I don't think I can blog Brownsville any longer.

As readers can probably tell by the change in header, I've sold all image and posting rights to a local blogging peer and don't expect I'll be picking back up a keyboard anytime soon.

Goodbye, cruel blogosphere.

April Fools.