"Port of Brownsville Director Eddie Campirano, port commissioners, and others, it is clear our port needs considerable financial assistance for capital improvements."

Damn. Well, let's give them $21 million. That ought to provide some capital improvements.

What?

We did that? You must be mistaken. I mean, where are the capital improvements? You'd think $21 million would be noticeable.

--stan
Stan Raines | Homepage | 04.04.08 - 6:51 pm | #

My complements.

M.
The Merovingian | Homepage | 04.04.08 - 10:30 pm | #

CD,

I do not know the first thing about the legal procedures necessary for the City to annex the Port, but I do have some thoughts on the issue. Assuming that after discussion between the two entities, it is determined that annexation can be legally accomplished:
1. I agree with Anthony, that before we go annexing the area that is already developed, we need to make sure the City can afford to service that area.
2. As for the other 40,000 acres (I could be wrong on the acres) which are completely undeveloped, I have a different view. Undeveloped land will not cost the City to annex. Also, there just happens to be a proposed Interstate that is going to travel right through the center of Port property that is not yet developed. If I were a visionary, I would anticipate the possible development along the Interstate/Industrial Corridor. This could creat a tremendous future tax base for the City. If the City were to participate in attracting these companies, which it should do anyway, the City could easily creat a tax incentive for several years to encourage these companies to locate here. Thereafter, our citizens would have the benefit of a very solid tax base. The point is, if annexation is possible, I would rather the City of Brownsville have this benefit, than to be caught with our pants down, and have the City of Port Isable annex this same area.
3. Also, it may be that some large companies would appreciate the amenities our City has to offer, especially if it were part of an incentive package. Oh, unless the Port is going to offer something more than a septic tank.

I do not claim to know it all, but isn't it worth some intelligent discussion?
Just a Friend | 04.06.08 - 9:57 am | #

Well Cris is at it again protecting special interests instead of the citizens of Brownsville as a whole. I would first like to advise Cris that Amfels hire a good portion of their employees from little towns across the border. I find it comical that the same special interests give the same reasons not to annex the port. A lot of cities in the Rio Grande Valley benefit from Amfels hiring employees. What Cris doesnt know or understand is that Mexico is benefiting more than he thinks. If Cris were to go visit each Bridge (GWB,BMB,Veterans B, Los Indios B) he would see that we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels. We have to bring people in on overtime to handle the traffic. So please Cris, give it a rest that Brownsville really benefits. Most Brownsville residents go to Mexico to shop and buy goods because it is cheaper over there. Our goal is to help the Seaport grow and spend money on new piers and infrastructure. If that is wrong then fight against it but dont be a hater until you know exactly what we want. All elected officials were contacted with the exception of Solomon Ortiz. I understand his position. At the end of the day, I want him to look good as well as all the others will when we sit down and improve the financial stability of Brownsville and the Port of Brownsville. Cris lives in Rancho Viejo so he doesnt care if Brownsville grows or not. His family is from Brownsville so he should want Brownsville to excel. One way or another, we either find ways to gain revenue or we get forced to raise taxes. I shouldnt be slammed for not wanting to raise taxes. John Reed is in BEDC. He is a candidate for Port Commissioner. Cris should talk to him and see how much GBIC has invested in the Port of Brownsville. Our tax money assist Amfels in their efforts. THe City wants to do more. PUB should do more. BEDC is pumping money into the Airport and we want to do the same at the Seaport. Chris is bias and is against me but that is o.k. I knew getting into politics would garner some enemies but it comes with the territory. Cris is too smart for his own good. This is a common sense opinion.
Charles Atkinson
Charles Atkinson | 04.07.08 - 1:33 pm | #

and by the way, you never gave a reason why it was a dumb idea. we can grandfather clause existing companies out there and collect on any new capital improvements. Give it a chance. I know"your boys" send you out to discredit people but I think I have the masses with me on this one Rancho VIejo man.
Charles Atkinson | 04.07.08 - 3:29 pm | #

The Port is a Special District. It is its own entity, but I believe that portions of it could be annexed by whatever city. It is not unlike the Drainage District that overlays Brownsville and Los Fresnos. Although the BND is tax exempt, the industries that populate the channel are not. Do I think it's a good idea? Probably not. The lower the property taxes on an investment, the more attractive the investment. On the other hand, if the City does already provide fire and/or EMS protection, how are we compensated? Also, if the PUB provides water for industrial processes, should that be a factor? Just some food for thought? Charlie should have initiated this idea more subtly though.
Scott | 04.07.08 - 5:01 pm | #

"f Cris were to go visit each Bridge (GWB,BMB,Veterans B, Los Indios B) he would see that we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels."

There are no competent welders/ fitters/ etc. in Brownsville? Or Amfels can't afford US wages?
Stan Raines | Homepage | 04.07.08 - 11:26 pm | #

What?

"If Cris were to go visit each Bridge (GWB,BMB,Veterans B, Los Indios B) he would see that we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels. We have to bring people in on overtime to handle the traffic."

What??
"Questions regarding the work performed here surfaced amid an investigation into allegations that lease labor corporations, including LAMC and CPEP at the Port of Brownsville, were providing AmFELS with undocumented immigrants to work on contracts, including the SBX project. "
kurgan | Homepage | 04.08.08 - 3:32 pm | #

"Well Cris is at it again protecting special interests instead of the citizens of Brownsville as a whole."

Wanna talk comical, GoodTime®?

You use the label "special interest" as prescribed in a Special Ed class. Which is to say, for anything you can't come to terms with.

"...that Amfels hire(sic) a good portion of their employees from little towns across the border.... What Cris doesnt know or understand is that Mexico is benefiting more than he thinks. If Cris were to go visit each Bridge (GWB,BMB,Veterans B, Los Indios B) he would see that we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels."

GoodTime®, you've spent too much time in your "other" office, away from the bridge these last 18+ months and are clueless. Your numbers are way, waaay off and you know it.

The BEDC Director of Communications, Gilbert Salinas, puts Amfels employees in the shipyard at close to 5,000, with 70-80% of them living in Brownsville and the outskirts of Los Fresnos & San Benito. He should know, as you yourself admit that BEDC & "the city" brought them here. And that's just blue-collar shipyard workers, GoodTime®. The kind your hallucinations blame for bridge overflow traffic. Where do you think management & administration live, work, eat and spend? Valle Hermosa?

"All elected officials were contacted with the exception of Solomon Ortiz."

More than one legislator you mentioned says you grossly over-reached, GoodTime®.

Just a tip for future reference: a 30-second conversation with a politico's handler does not a supported proposal make.

"...you never gave a reason why it was a dumb idea."

I gave several, GoodTime®. You must've missed them. Commenter Scott, above, even brought another one up. Whatever benefits & incentives the city can come up with probably pale in comparison to tax abatements industrial employers receive now and could receive hereafter in an autonomous District. Take away those, and these companies will simply go elsewhere.

"..but I think I have the masses with me on this one, Rancho VIejo man."

Your repeated argument of my disinterest in Brownsville rings hollow. I've just as much, if not more, stake in Brownsville succeeding as do you. And as for your "masses", I think the old poker saying applies here:

"If, after the first twenty minutes, you don't know who the sucker at the table is, it's you."

Chris Davis | Homepage | 04.08.08 - 5:08 pm | #

"What??"

@Kurgan:

Not sure what your angle is, but let's assume there were MANY (even a MAJORITY of, which I don't believe) undocumented immigrant workers supplied via subcontract to AMFELS. And they send/wire funds home to their faimilies south of the border. So what? (And I mean so what in a specific economic impact sense.)

How does annexation solve that?

Aren't they still living/paying/eating/buying here? Or are they risking detention/deportation on their daily commute to/from Mexico before GoodTime's® impressionable eyes?
Chris Davis | Homepage | 04.08.08 - 5:21 pm | #

CD,

Mr. Atkinson is claiming that "we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels" and that "AmFELS (was supplied with) undocumented immigrants".

No specific comment or opinion, just remarking on the lost irony.

K
kurgan | Homepage | 04.09.08 - 12:10 am | #

I never said they were undocumented. They all have legit resident alien cards an/or have h1h2 visas. Stop by any bridge around 6am and see how many amfel employees cross. We bring officers in on overtime to handle the morning traffic and the majority work at the Port of Brownsville, not just Amfels. The point is that the intent is not to hurt businesses out there. The objective is to help them grow and help Brownsville grow as well. What is wrong with that. The board will stay in tact. The police force will remain the same. Why get your panties in a bunch Chris. Look for solutions, dont make crap up to block something that can make our city explode with economic development. Your right, I not the smartest guy but I do that if we dont do something in the near future to spark growth, we will be forced to raise taxes. It is inevitable. Help me find other avenues and I will listen. If you had to pay taxes to an entity that does not benefit you or your city, why the hell would you accept paying it. There is legislation coming up that will force brownsville to give up portions of its ETJ around the Laguna Vista area,Los Fresnos area, Port Isabel area, and Port of Brownsville area. If this legislation passes, Brownsville will miss out on any opportunity to enhance its economic development. Oil was found just 10 miles east of South Padre Island that can give us reserves for 20 years. There will be oil riggs all over the south part of the Gulf of Mexico and who do you think will benefit from all that? We will if we act now. Im securing Brownsville future. We will be annexing all those areas in the near future to block whatever legislation is trying to take that away from us.
Charles Atkinson | 04.09.08 - 4:58 pm | #

CD,

Under certain conditions, permanent residence status can be lost. A Resident Alien can be found to have abandoned their status if he or she moves to another country to live there permanently.

A person who loses permanent residence status is immediately removable from the United States and must leave the country as soon as possible or face deportation and removal.

The H1-B is the most common work visa and relates primarily to skilled labor, primarily those with advanced degrees. H1B visa program is a temporary workers visa in "specialty occupations."

A specialty occupation requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in the specific specialty (e.g., engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, computer sciences, medicine and health care, education, biotechnology, and business specialties, etc.).

An H-2A visa allows a foreign national entry into the U.S. for temporary or seasonal agricultural work. There are several requirements of the employer in regards to this visa. The H-2A temporary agricultural program establishes a means for agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature.

As temporary or seasonal agricultural employment, the work is performed at certain seasons of the year or for a limited time period of less than one year when the employer can show that the need for the foreign worker is truly temporary

k
kurgan | Homepage | 04.10.08 - 12:19 pm | #

Any contest of these facts?
kurgan | Homepage | 04.12.08 - 9:10 pm | #

Not from me.

Chris Davis | Homepage | 04.12.08 - 10:50 pm | #

So, let's start by recognizing that I agree with the annexation concept.

My only question would be, when it is stated we process thousands of crossers that go work at Amfels, and then later they all have legit resident alien cards an/or have h1h2 visas, the previously stated (and as of yet unchallenged facts) could throw a shadow on those statements?

K
kurgan | Homepage | 04.12.08 - 11:20 pm | #

Look for solutions, dont make crap up to block something that can make our city explode with economic development.

Ok, now I have to ask, exactly how? I have seen niche,no,zero,none, (getting the picture?) model of how this works. If you want my support, you are going to have to show me, in a published report, the analysis of the cost/benefit ratio over the next 10 years. Think of it like an impact study. The city seems to get those done on a timely effective schedule. BTW, if the thought crosses the mind of someone involved in such a study of lying or spinning, tell them not to take the trouble. I promise it won't be worth it.

"Of course I know. It is my business to know." -The Merovingian
The Merovingian | Homepage | 04.13.08 - 11:43 am | #