Bill Conner out. James Kachele (sp?) in.

Those for replacement: Commissioners Charlie Atkinson, Leo Garza, Rick Longoria and Mayor Pat Ahumada.

Those against removing Conner: Commissioners Carlos Cisneros, Anthony Troiani and Edward Camarillo.
Melissa Zamora | Homepage | 11.18.08 - 10:48 pm | #

The meeting was pretty civil, except for two awkard moments. There was Ahumada explaining his opinion on GBIC change (which was fine), then Camarillo explaining why he disagreed (which was also fine), and then, of course Ahumada questioning Camarillo's motives and that was not fine. Then was Longoria's weird warning to Garza. What the heck was that about? He wasn't even able to explain the reasoning for his warning.

On the GBIC change, Troiani said the Conner was GBIC's representative on BEDC. Is this part of the bylaws, to have someone from GBIC seat on BEDC? If this is the case, then it doesn't matter who they appoint, they'll always be the suppossed conflict of interest. If it's not part of the bylaws then perhaps the change was appropriate.
Patricia A. | 11.20.08 - 11:56 am | #

Here are the GBIC Articles of Incorporation. (BTW, why should I have to put these online? Shouldn't they be on the city's website already? Pathetic.)

It's outlined, in Article VII, what the director qualifications are. It's important to note that some commissioners (guess who?) initially, privately claimed Conner shouldn't serve because he is not a Brownsville resident. Once Bill showed, at the 11/4 meeting, that he owned property in the city (and paid significant city taxes), the numbskulls felt they needed another reason.*

So as you witnessed, Patricia, during this most recent 11/18 meeting, they first claimed that he served on TWO city boards simultaneously, an established No-No. Well, that's not quite accurate either, the BEDC general membership elects their own board. City commissioners (thankfully) have nothing to do with it.

Perhaps realizing their folly (but I doubt it), they then threw out the straw-man argument that it's a clear conflict of interest to have a BEDC board member serve on the parent board that gives BEDC funding.

Yeah, straw-man I say. Troiani was spot on with his own analogue: City Commission & BCIC(4B). He could've even added City Commission & PUB (Mayor serves on both) to hammer home the point. What's inherently wrong (and/or statutorily illegal) with a BEDC board member having a 1-in-5 vote to affect BEDC funding? Don't they have a legitimate interest in what GBIC does, being the primary vehicle in assigning development funding?

And there's the rub. This was a power play, pure and simple. GTC/Leo et al. want to be the ones, thru THEIR appointments, to dole out the econ-development funds. On their own, no-business-experience-necessary terms.

*Commissioners can, of course, remove GBIC members without cause. It would've served GTC/Leo best to keep their mouths shut after motioning for removal. Alas, a physical impossibility.

Chris Davis | Homepage | 11.20.08 - 12:59 pm | #

For the record,

Bill Conner didn't prove he lived or owned property in Brownsville. Now, he is part of a corporation with two other people that own a business in Brownsville but that doesn't make him. as an individual, a property owner. This information was given to us and we had to respond to it. Bill is a good man and is still on BEDC. Jose Herrera is said to be on both GBIC and BEDC. It is not confirmed but if this is true, with a five man board like GBIC, BEDC had 2/3 of the votes needed to approve projects. That is a definite conflict of interest. All commissioners agreed with what was done but you seem to just want to blast me. It ok because most people who read Cafe Brownsville know you are bias and protect the special interests. It skinda like you Chris Davis. Your dad's business is almost in the city so you cant sit on boards either. You live in Rancho Viejo and that is not Brownsville. Stick to filming city meetings. That is what this website is useful for anyway. Everyone knows you are bias and protect your friends, who by the way, are the special interest that keep sucking the life out of the progress of Brownsville. I'm surprised you didn't attack me on the baseball stadium fiasco. What happened? Oh I forgot, you best friend ex-mayor Eddie Trevino was the lawyer who was working with the United Baseball League and the developers who wanted to screw the citizens of Brownsville. I wonder why you stayed out of that. You can't stand it when honest people make mistakes and you blast them on your website when they do but when one of your own purposely sets out to fuck the city you stay quiet and play pendejo. You are the pathetic one. You told mutual friends that the baseball stadium was a horrible idea but couldn't comment on it because of your friendship with Eddie Trevino. How your wife stays with your skinny ugly ass is beyond me. You give a new meaning to pathetic. Joe Rod is embarrassed that you are related to him. Ask him Chris. He tells us that so I don't think he would deny it to a little weasel like yourself.

Charlie Atkinson
charles atkinson | 11.25.08 - 4:58 pm | #

Where's your comeback Chrissy? You really are second guessing your intentions uh? You're a joke just like your website.

Charlie Atkinson
charles atkinson | 12.03.08 - 1:50 am | #