New Stadium for PSJA Update...well, sort of...we'll need to keep digging...

It's Friday, and I know I let some people know that I'd keep them updated on the PSJA New Stadium article that ran in Sunday's edition of The Monitor. Please refer to my post written on the article Sunday April 23, 2006. One anonymous commentator wrote, "rumors running around that the board is split right now", referring to the vote the school board had taken on Saturday morning concerning the addition of constructing a new stadium with some of the funds that would be made available through the $70 million bond proposal set for election in May. I sent Wade Baker, Deputy Sports Editor and author of the original report, an email asking for any clarification regarding some of the rumors going around in PSJA. Here is what I sent him:

"Mr. Wade Baker,

my name is Hector Gomez, author of the blog site RGV Politics and contributor to the East Texas political blog site Capitol Annex authored by Vince Leibowitz.

I'm writing in regards to your article "PSJA looking at new stadium" which ran in Sunday's edition of The Monitor.

As authors of blog sites around the country, the main source of our material comes from the mainstream media outlets, newspapers, television, radio, etc. For the most part, many bloggers seem to take great liberties with the details provided in such reports. Mine, nor the one I contribute to, do that. Sites like ours depend on facts that are printed, or presented to the public. We give credit where credit is due, at least speaking for my own blog site, and the one's I'm affiliated with or link to.

Being as such, your article that I referenced to on Sunday, has garnered some attention from the citizen's of PSJA. There are rumors to the effect that call into question some of the quotes and facts presented in the report. I'm not here to question whether you provided accurate information, as you would not be in the position you're in, if you had not. I'm writing in hopes to clarify any questions the readers of RGV Politics may have.

To be fair, some of the rumors abound include:

No one from The Monitor was present at Saturday's meeting.

Superintendent Guajardo was misquoted.

The vote taken was to renovate the existing stadium. No new stadium was discussed.

A discussion of building a new stadium was left in the context of purchasing land for the "possibility" of a new stadium some time in the future. A future that at this point did not include the details of a new stadium.

Please note that even though these are some of the rumors, many of the claims have been made by reliable sources in the PSJA community. This is why I find it necessary to clear up any confusion the citizen's of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo may have. The very few of us in the blogging world have taken a serious stance in using these outlets as tools to provide the public with information they may not otherwise get. And by the looks of the reaction we've received, it seems to be working.

So please, let me know about any clarifications you might have regarding your article, or stand by it "as is". The main concern of the citizens of Pharr-San Juan-Alamo isn't so much whether we've been presented the facts by your report, as much as we fear that some leaders in our community would like to make it seem that you didn't.

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

Sincerely,

Hector Gomez"

-email sent 4/25/06 11:47 a.m.

Subsequent emails sent were to ask whether they had received this email, and whether they had any clarifications. I have not received any response.

For the citizen's of the community, I assume we'll have to take someone's word for it, once the bond election comes around. Who's word depends on whether or not we do our homework on this one. Get some additional knowledge on the bond proposal. I'll continue to look into any information regarding the issue. As for the rest of the PSJA community, consider the floor yours via the comment section. Let me, and the rest of us know some facts, if you find out before we do.

The Men's Resource Center of South Texas...A Guest Post by Cesar J. Alvarado...

The following is a guest post by Cesar J. Alvarado regarding the importance of the Men's Resource Center of South Texas to the Rio Grande Valley:

"My journey to manhood has been interesting. After being born and raised in San Juan, Tejas, I moved to Central Tejas where I sincerely realized everyone was not Latin@. Life experiences took me through a lot, colegio-no colegio, work-no work, partying-no partying, dating someone-not dating someone. Overall, I cherish the eleven years I lived in between Bryan-College Station, Austin, and Houston.

Today, I walk with much gentleness and respect. After recoginizing I was living a destructive life, I knew I had to change. The Men's Resource Center of South Texas is a place where I have personally seen and felt radiating light. This safe place in Harlingen, Tejas, is one where males can discover "growing, sharing, connecting, and building community with other males".

I genuinely invite you to the Center and its website, www.mrcofsouthtexas.org. The Men's Resource Center of South Texas is one of the Valley's best assets. Emiliano Diaz DeLeon and the rest of the all volunteer staff will welcome you with love. Hopefully, more people will recognize the magnitude a place like this has in providing safe opportunities for el Valle."

-Cesar J. Alvarado.

Cesar J. Alvarado is a Community Organizer for the NGO, The Texas Council on Family Violence, in Austin, Texas. For an additional essay written by Cesar J. Alvarado, titled "People of Color, and the Color of Love" please visit http://www.mensresourcecenter.org/coloroflove.html

If you'd like to learn more about this important organization here in our very own Rio Grande Valley, click on the link provided by Cesar in his guest post, or follow the link I've added to my sidebar.

PSJA...The Line Between Sports and Politics is a very, very thin one...

A report out of The Monitor's sports section this morning states, "during a school district workshop Saturday it was voted that the school district may be in line for a new stadium within the next five years." The issue of a new stadium was included with the building of a fourth high school, a middle school, and an elementary, as part of PSJA's seventy million dollar bond proposal set for a May vote by the community. The new stadium is estimated to cost $7 million according to a quote in the report by Arturo Guajardo. The idea of simply renovating the current football stadium would cost the district $5 million, the report continues. Superintendent Arturo Guajardo is further quoted as saying, "There's not much difference between $5 million and $7 million, in the interest of the children, the board decided to go ahead and install the new turf, the track, and make a few renovations for now. We're being told that they can work around the football season. If the bond passes, we hope to purchase the land for the new stadium within the next year. This was just a smarter decision for everyone".

A two million dollar difference between new and renovated is no big deal? Going with a new stadium was a "smarter decision for everyone"? Excuse me, but last time I checked the universe we lived in has the Valley as one of the poorest regions in the state, let alone the country. And in a time when the special session on school finance reform will not address issues such as classroom upgrades, teacher pay raises, overall school improvements, an extra two million dollars is a hell of a lot to ask from the community for a new stadium.

Here's an idea nobody asked for, but then again, I wasn't asked if a new stadium should be part of the bond issue, either.

If the bond issue passes, use five million to renovate the current stadium. The artificial turf was installed less than ten years ago, along with the track. There's no need to spend money installing a new one at the moment, the idea of which in turn makes no additional sense because who in their right minds would want to install a new turf, only to build a completely new stadium with it's own new turf less than five years from now? Oh......well, let's carry on shall we.

As I was saying, completely renovate the current stadium from the ground up. Since we can do without the new turf, or track, the field is pretty much playable during football season which will last between September and November. Playoffs can be held in a neighboring stadium, when chances are most games would be away anyway. These other minor renovations can be done in the off-season if it hinders the possibility of conducting home games. These minor renovations can be part of the overall complete renovation of the stadium. Five million.

Those two extra million, here's an idea, let's use it to alleviate overcrowding by building additional classrooms, or upgrading some classrooms that are in need of new computers, or supplies. Let's go the extra mile, and use some of that two million to create programs to help underprivileged children with school supplies, and uniforms. Maybe set up funding for programs that would help "at-risk" children from dropping out. Start upgrading our existing elementary schools so that they all have a chance to be exemplary schools. Put money into upgrading programs for special needs children.

Two million, in my universe, is a lot of money. If this bond passes, let us at least make sure it's going towards something more practical than a new stadium. There's nothing wrong with the existing one that renovations cannot clear up. Many championships have been won in that stadium, it would be a shame to fathom what would happen to it, if a new one gets built. With everything that's been going on in PSJA lately, I can only imagine.

Quick Links for Friday, April 21...Living in "interesting" times...

Two quick links of interest this Friday.

Octavio over at South Texican has an interesting post regarding indictments being handed down on three Hidalgo County District Judges. Should raise a few eyebrows around the Valley, especially in Hidalgo County. Read more at http://southtexican.blogspot.com/

Rep. Aaron Pena has an interesting post on his site as well dealing with the ongoing special session. Read more at http://www.acapitolblog.blogspot.com/

Jesus, where's that thesaurus when I need it. Very well, then the operative word for today is "interesting". Have a good one.

Mid-Week Link Dump...A Lot Going on in the blogosphere...

If you've got some spare time, take a look at the following links:

Vince over at Capitol Annex has an excellent post on the gov' not considering electricity rate relief, and asks the question that weighs a lot on most of our minds, why does it take the Texas Legislature so long to consider one issue? Read it at http://capitolannex.com/

Couldbetrue over at South Texas Chisme has a good read about the electricity rate relief bill that Senator Hinojosa, and others, are asking the gov' to put on the agenda this special session. Read it at http://stxc.blogspot.com/

Finally, if you're not a big fan of columnist Michelle Malkin, and I know I'm not, XicanoPwr has an excellent post on "The Lunacy of Michelle Malkin". Read it at http://xicanopwr.blogspot.com/

If you have any trouble accessing the links on this post, just go to the links on my sidebar, click on them, and you're there. Enjoy.

Blame it on the Sun...Will Texas Teachers Ever Cut A Break...Constituents Must Demand More

There's is only one way to describe South Texas weather these past couple of days. Scorching.

I'm just surprised the local news media hasn't done the annual fry the egg on the sidewalk ritual that's usually reserved for months like late July and all of August. At least when we see temperatures surpass the century mark, we can say "Well, that's August for you. The Dog Days. The Canicula". But April is too early to be brooding on things like how hot it is outside. Didn't we learn in school, March winds bring April showers, or something like that. No, let April 2006 be forever known as the year of the "blackouts". So far, the Rio Grande Valley has not seen it's share of the blackouts, that I know of. But cross your fingers, because according to forecasters we're in this heat wave for the long haul.

Jesus, just when I was getting used to paying an electricity bill in the hundred to two hundred dollar range. And that's what we should be worried about. The cost of electricity, because bet your bottom dollar, some corporation is going to take advantage of this, just like they did when Hurricane Katrina hit. Dear Lord, will this babbling ever stop, I mean isn't that why I created the other blog site Palm Dreams for? So I could dedicate my time to writing about politics on this site, while publishing non-political ramble on the other?

Rambling? Nonsense, and if it is so what? We can always blame it on the Sun, can't we? Indeed good ol' Mother Nature. Who else can we count on to insure that low to middle class citizens in our communities get the bill past to when corporations see opportunity knocking on the door?

"But halt, what light through yonder window breaks?" It is the legislature, and their bills may very well cover our own, but at what cost?

According to an article on the front page of The Monitor this morning, a group of Republicans and Democrats, including our very own State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, have asked the gov' to "allow the Texas Legislature to consider bills that would reduce electric rates across the state this summer".

Gov' says not so fast. His agenda is passing a new tax system for Texas to, in someway or another (it's an issue that's kind of become a bit muddled lately), make the current school finance system legal. Thirty days to do this. Thirty days to decide which type of tax plan would work best for businesses....Oh, scratch that, I meant school finance. But enough about school funding and getting teacher pay raises into this special session. Those issues have become so yesterday. At least to the people who don't know, remember, or give a hoot in hell what the special session is all about, or should be about. That's the way some people like it, folks. The less you know, the better. But I digress, and there's a point to be made after such a long dose of rhetoric that many people might think is going nowhere.

Point being, I'm still not in total agreement with putting issues like controlling utility costs on a special session that seems to be, slowly but surely, getting to the point where it's no longer about school finance reform. And the more legislators keep trying to put issues like these in, you can rest assured those that aren't for looking into regulating electricity costs are going to take their sweet time with tax reform by way of fillibustering the thing to death. Thirty days later, we may find ourselves, if we're lucky with a new tax system, but still no immediate way of tackling the issues of upgrading hurting school districts, and teachers who yet again, are faced with the dilemma of actually going back to class next Fall. And we sure as hell won't be looking at lower electricity costs. An issue that should have been nipped at the bud when it first started to skyrocket. Where were all these legislators then? According to the report in The Monitor, last year "the Legislature abolished the System Benefit Fund". This fund "helped low income households pay their utility bills using a fee collected on all Texan's bills." Here's the kicker, the report goes on to state that "customers continue to pay the fee on their bills but the money is directed to the general revenue, not to be a low-income assistance program". Questions are, why were they abolished? And if they were abolished, why do customers keep paying it? Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa is right on one front as he is quoted as saying, "I am very concerned about what is going to happen to our elderly and low-income families this summer if they are not able to pay their electricity bills". Tell you what Senator, if as customers Texans are still paying this fee, inform your constituents of this and have them demand from the electricity companies the right to have those fees directed to helping low income families, and tell us the names of the Senators who voted to abolish this program in the first place to make sure that when election time comes around, we have someone else to blame besides the Sun.

Is building a Border Fence really the issue?...Or are we just being taken for a ride?

A headline in today's issue of The Monitor got me thinking.

It reads, "Border Security could go private". Uh-huh. Well for those of you who like to play connect the dots with issues, this headline should give you something to write home about.

In the midsts of an immigration debate which should re-convene next week, here comes a report that states, "U.S. Customs and Border Protection is asking the private sector to help secure America's borders". The report states that the Department began a bidding process for items such as "technology and surveillance". "Detection technology like fences and infrared cameras".

"fences and infrared cameras"....

Let's call this dot point A.

The immigration debate revolves around what the government should do to stop illegal immigrants and what to do with illegal immigrants already living in the U.S. It's a debate that is even cutting through party lines. Plans to solve the immigration dilemma includes actions that most critics deem as "amnesty" for those illegal immigrants already working in the United States. Other plans call for returning all illegal immgrants "post-haste" to their native countries. Tackling the issue of further illegal immgration, there are some Senators calling for the erection of a "fence" along the U.S./Mexico border.

The erection of a "fence" along the U.S./Mexico border.....

We'll call this dot point B.

If we take point A-"Border security could go private", and connect it with, here we go, dot, dot, dot, dot, to point B-some Senators calling for a Border fence, what do we get?

I could be wrong, but what I see is the convenient correlation between the Department of Customs and Border Patrol seeking private entities through a bidding practice to provide technological support including building a fence, AND some powerful Senators pushing an illegal immigration reform act which would include building a fence along our border with Mexico. We've all seen our fair share of "honest bidding practices" in the Vallley before, haven't we?

The thing is, and the thing that seems to be weighing on me regarding this issue, is that if policies and actions of our government are at times a direct result of lobbyists pouring big money into someone's pockets, it seems to me some Senators may be, maybe, looking for a little more than just tackling the issue of illegal immigration.

After all, if they were really worried about the influx of illegal immigration, one might think they'd have started tackling this issue before they have eleven or twelve million people on their hands, and are faced with a "now what" scenario. For the full report in The Monitor, go to www.themonitor.com

Special Session on Schoo-no, Tax Reform Commences Today...Miles to go, before they sleep...

The end of another Holiday weekend, and it's back to work. Business as usual for the State Legislature today that will begin it's special session on school- um, I mean property tax reform. Somewhere between then and now, the issue has taken a turn towards concentrating on a revamp of property taxes, business taxes, and cigarette taxes. Many local Senators were reportedly optimistic about the special session and the tax reform proposal presented under the leadership of former State Comptroller John Sharp. See www.themonitor.com for the details.

It's early, way too early for most of us especially, to be writing about politics. The weekend was good for the most part, but now let us address the issues once more. Good luck to the legislators, and a safe trip to those who have to travel the extra mile to get there.

San Juan Police Raises...A Dire Step in the Right Direction

According to a report out of The Monitor today, police officers in the City of San Juan will have to wait until the next city council meeting to be held in two weeks to see if their "demands for a twenty-five percent pay raise" will go through. The Monitor continues by stating that the hourly wage of the police officers "has only increased 25 cents over the last three years and leaves them one of the lowest paid departments in the area". How's that for employee morale?

Imagine knowing full well that the same job you're being asked to go above and beyond for is paying sometimes twice as much somewhere else. You're tired, you're stressed, and the only thing you have to fall back on is that you enjoy the city you work for too much to take a chance and try to work somewhere else. You can't even try to convince yourself that the pay makes it worth it, because it doesn't. If only you could get your boss to see that you're worth more than what they're presently giving you. But for the last three years, all the boss cares about is the bottom line when it comes to making a profit, and it's your salary that bears the brunt.

Don't know if local law enforcement feels this way, but I doubt I'm too far off the mark.

In the same report, Sgt. Albino Rodriguez is quoted as saying, "We barely make it. We're pay check to pay check. They (other officers) have friends in other departments who talk about the salary they're earning over there and they try to convince you to leave".

Considering the circumstances, I wouldn't blame anybody for trying to leave. After all, when you're caught between the battle of your employers fiscal responsibility and your own, especially if you have a family to support, the choice is sometimes a no-brainer. The fact that we haven't lost the whole police force because of this, is in my opinion, a miracle. As a citizen, I'm all for putting aside any other issue on the board agenda to make sure we're done with all this 25 cents every three years business.

Let's see what the city council thinks of this in two weeks.

Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senator...But, was win too close for comfort in RGV?

Looks like this November will be a humdinger of a battle for U.S. Senate. Barbara Ann Radnofsky eliminated Gene Kelly yesterday for the Democratic nomination in a run-off election that garnered Radnofsky 103,819 votes statewide. Kelly, a candidate most Texans believed was running on name recognition alone, received 72, 408. That's a 31,411 vote victory for Radnofsky, and an overall total that should be raising more than a few eyebrows over at Republican Senator Hutchison's camp.

But the outlook for Radnofsky is a little dimmer once you get further south than Corpus Christi.

In Hidalgo County, Radnofsky received 9,418 votes, while Kelly received 8,565. That's a difference of 853 votes.

In Cameron County, Radnofsky received 3,212 votes, Kelly received 2,478. A difference of 734 votes.

These types of numbers, at the very least should have more than a few eyebrows raised in Radnofsky's camp as well. Especially if, as most Democrats across the state will tell you, Kelly got this many votes by name recognition alone.

Last week, I asked Vince Leibowitz of Capitol Annex to contribute a piece that may give Valley voters insight into who Barbara Radnofsky is, and what she stands for. If you haven't done so, I encourage you to read it again. It's a very good piece, and hits every issue on the mark. In essence, it gets the message across that Radnofsky will be the best choice for the next U.S. Senator. This was my intention, and for the most part, I think many of you voted for Radnofsky because of it. Of course, I would like to feel that you did.

But that's the problem facing Radonfsky in the Rio Grande Valley. Information provided to voters by way of this blog site, or any other South Texas blog site, is limited. The numbers reflect that. Because, honestly, of the 8,565 votes that Kelly got in Hidalgo County, how many people actually know who or what this candidate represented? If you are one, I encourage you to drop me a line via the comments section. I may be going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing that the same thing many Democrats across the state were fearful of Kelly getting by on his name alone, came really close to the truth here in the Valley.

Radnofsky narrowily won the nomination, as far as South Texas votes go. But the word narrowily could also be a synonym "worry" or "disaster". Especially against a highly recognized, highly influential candidate like current Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. If name recoginition alone nearly garnered Kelly the vote down here, you can rest assured, Hutchison, Republican or not, will get the same treatment. Regardless of the Valley's historical leanings towards the Democratic Party. I've listened to enough voters, educated and otherwise, to know that at the heart of every vote cast, is the spirit of who will help us make the Rio Grande Valley a better place to live.

In a word, I think Radnofsky better start making her name, and her stand on the issues clearer to Valley voters who may or may not have access to a computer. Blogging is one thing, and in my mind it definitely works, but it's not enough for those who are not in Radnofsky's or any other candidate's line of site when it comes to campaign stops. If she doesn't, we could very well see Hutchison's smiling face come that Wednesday morning in November when all the votes have been counted and the only thing worth remembering about this year is what could've been.

Hidalgo County Election Totals...Low Numbers...Big Results

The official vote count is in, according to the Hidalgo County Elections Department, here are the numbers.

In the run-off race for Hidalgo County District Attorney, incumbent Rene Guerra received 12,461 votes. Opponent Alma Garza received 10,135.

The numbers for statewide run-off elections show that Barbara Ann Radnofsky held off opponent Gene Kelly to take the Democratic Nomination for U.S. Senate. Radnofsky received 9,418 votes in Hidalgo County. Gene Kelly received 8,565.

In the run-off race for Democratic Nominee for Texas Lt. Governor, Maria Luisa Alavarado took a whopping majority of the Hidalgo County vote. Alvarado received 15,134. Her opponent, Benjamin Z. Grant received 3,030.

The votes are in...Four more years...

Quick post to announce the winners in Hidalgo County run-off elections

Rene Guerra maintains his seat as Hidalgo County District Attorney.

Barbara Radnofsky is the Democratic Nominee for U.S. Senator.

Maria Alvarado is a winner as well.

More details on numbers, and percentages as the official count is presented tomorrow.

Slow Run-Offs...Delayed decisions...What's our alternative?...No free lunch for these candidates...

Slow morning at the polls as I drove around town this morning. Which wasn't entirely unexpected. In a county where only 13% of the more than two hundred fifty thousand eligible voters turning out for the March primary, this decline was bound to happen. What is unexpected is this sudden flopping back and forth in my mind as to who I should vote for the next Hidalgo County District Attorney.

On one hand we have an incumbent District Attorney who isn't the most personable human being on the planet. But so what, right? If we're voting a person to elected office on the premise that we have a guaranteed smile and a handshake every time we see them at the local convenience store while grabbing our favorite breakfast taco, we're in bigger trouble than I thought. It shouldn't be about that really. And in most cases, it isn't for me, except when it comes to how these elected officials get it into their heads that all of a sudden our voice isn't important anymore. And at twenty three years in office, I wonder if Rene Guerra has forgotten that, i.e. how he handled the Irene Garza case, "if you believe pigs can fly", etc. Frustration is what I felt. Here was a man, in essence, and maybe he didn't mean it this way, but it came across this way, who made it seem to us that his office is his business and we as citizen's have no right to second guess his decisions. Well, maybe, or maybe not. But one thing's for sure, this is an elected position that most of us have grown tired of the same treatment from a District Attorney who finally realises he has to do the whole smile, dog and pony show for us if he wants our votes. Hence the negative campaign ads against his opponent, Alma Garza.

That's our alternative. An opponent who is married to as Rene Guerra put it, "his nemesis" on Valley Newsline this past Sunday. He also went on to say that the reason he moved Alma Garza from the one office to another while she was at the D.A.'s office was because of his newly found knowledge that Garza was connected to Hector Villarreal. Talk about not giving someone the credit they deserve to stand on their own. To make the decision to run for District Attorney on her own terms, on her own record. No, Guerra had to bring in the issue of her husband being behind the decision to run for District Attorney all along. Which is at most, an unfair assessment of her decision to run. But then again, maybe our District Attorney knows something we don't. In which case, it was pretty naughty of him to just give us a tidbit of the whole picture, the tip of the iceberg to what the citizens of Hidalgo County would be in for if we elect Alma Garza. Should we worry then, that because Garza is married to a powerful attorney, this may lead to a conflict of interest somewhere down the line? Maybe so, maybe so. Then we're back to square one.

Trying to figure out who is the best alternative, or as most political enthusiasts would say, "the lesser of the two evils" is not an easy task, especially this year, when my vote for another elected official didn't get me what I thought our county deserved. Jesus, this whole run-off fiasco just causes headaches and ulcers. One of which I already have, the other is just a matter of time, and enough of these types of situations to get it going. Ben Franklin is quoted as saying, "the only sure things in life are death and taxes". Yes, but add that to a law of economics which states, "There's no such thing as free lunch".

I suspect our candidates got a taste of that during this run-off election.

The San Juan Hotel...Ignacio Almaguer...The call for better responsibility...

"The San Juan Hotel was completed and opened for business in 1920. Its construction reflected the plans of the town's early business leaders to establish San Juan as a Rio Grande Valley commercial center. Originally constructed with little ornamentation, the mission revival details were added in 1928. These included the red tiled parapet along the roofline and the curvilinear parapet over the entryway. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1985"-Text to Texas Historic Landmark Plague at location.

San Juan, Texas. The small South Texas town, nestled comfortably between it's two sister cities, Alamo in the east, and Pharr to the west, makes up the heart that is the Tri-City area known as PSJA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, population estimates as of 2003 record a citizenry of 28,894 inhabitants. As far as towns in the Rio Grande Valley, a community this size is fairly medium ranged when compared to smaller towns like Edcouch, or La Feria, but still lacking in numbers when compared to McAllen, or Brownsville. In spite of it's size, or maybe because of it, this community has grown tight-knit over the last couple of years, and has essentially split into two factions of civic and political power.

On one hand, you have the "old-school" mentality of the majority of the people who hold public office, and perhaps it was that same mindset that got them elected there in the first place. A sort of blind-trust you have on a neighbor who only smiles and waves when he wants something, but hardly knows your name if you come across him at the grocery store, or gas pump when he doesn't. It would be futile to go into a debate of what is "old-school" compadrismo, and what isn't, in the Rio Grande Valley. You have those that believe it still exists, those who say it doesn't, those who think nothing can be done about it, and those who don't care at all.

On the other hand, you have a "new wave", if you will, of second and third generation citizens in this town that are fed up with the status quo, and want to do something about it. A generation, mainly in their thirties, and forties, who have seen and learned enough about how things "work" around town to know things need to change. Their voices are still small, but like all things, if you're relentless enough, the day will come. And that, in my opinion at least, is what scares the old regime of business men who may or may not be looking for the fast buck when it comes to talking "brass tax". Perhaps, the word scare is too harsh. Maybe "worried" would suitably fit, but one things for sure, after the commissioner's meeting on March 28 of this year, there are some on the city council that have pretty much shut the door on any citizen that carries words of dissent in their armory.

At issue is the councils motion to study the viability of purchasing the historic San Juan Hotel from PSJA School Board Member Roy Rodriguez in the amount of $575,000. City commissioners Rick Rodriguez, and Pete Contreras, who are employed by the school district, moved and seconded the motion according to local activist, Ignacio Almaguer. Mr. Almaguer also stated that this action was in total disregard to those citizens in attendance who at the very least questioned if such a study would be ethical in the first place.

Good question.

I did not personally attend the meeting, but I did contact local activist Ignacio Almaguer about the situation. Ignacio Almaguer is president of the local school board watchdog group Grupo PODER, and member of the community watchdog group the SanJuanistas, whose most recent victory came in the form of barring any measure regarding toll roads through the city of San Juan, (link to the site on my sidebar). I asked Ignacio if it was too late for the citizen's of this city to do anything about the motion to study the purchase. He said it wasn't, informing me that "We need to get people to the city meeting on 04-11-06 to voice opposition". When I asked him that as a community leader, what would he recommend the next course of action be, he replied, "Stop all studies and all attempts to purchase the hotel. We need to pay our police officers a decent salary, finish the library and bring in more business to San Juan. I will be the first to push an initiative to purchase the hotel after we have the basic infrastructure stabilized." I agree. It's time to ask our local governments to act on issues they were put in office to do in the first place. We've reached a point in Valley politics where promises of better communities, and better financial opportunities are all but "lip service" agendas set forth by certain politicians just out to hustle your vote, then hope that you either are one of those people who forget very easily, or in the worst case scenario know the whole "song and dance" routine well enough to understand they were bluffing all along. But in my mind, hustling a vote is one thing. Not following through on your promises is another.

And when you've got a city of medium sized population, at least by Valley standards, paying more than half a million dollars for a historic site under what some would call "questionable" circumstances, all the while the police force is hurting, and the local library is nothing more than a portable building with sub-par resources, priorities need to be straightened out around here.

District Attorney Run-Off Drama unfolds...The New Catch Phrase for 2006...The Rounds Keep Coming...

Seems like the District Attorney's recent missive against opponent Alma Garza is getting some attention. According to an article appearing in today's edition of The Monitor, Garza and her husband, attorney Hector Villarreal have a few words of their own regarding a campaign ad that began it's rotation on local television channels Wednesday. The campaign ad deals with forty thousand dollars worth of taxes owed by Villarreal. The ad slogan, "People who don't pay their taxes, should keep their hands off ours". District Attorney Rene Guerra is quoted in the article as saying, "The campaign is getting heated. We are at the last gate of the race. This was a negative fact ad on something we need to alert the public". The new catch phrase for the 2006 Election is "Negative Fact Ad".

Well, at least Guerra admits it's negative, not like...well, what's done is done. But when are facts pertinent, and when do they border on childish, name-calling nonsense? After all, Villarreal is not running for District Attorney, Alma Garza is. The article states that the television ad asks, "What do you do if owe you more than $400,000 in taxes? If you're Hector Villarreal, you run your wife for district attorney." Yes, well, maybe. To me this type of "negative fact" falls under the 'I know that, and you know that, but we'll just keep it on the wink, wink, nudge, nudge level' type of innuendo. The same type of innuendos that most people are scared to speak of in public, or within earshot of anybody from the opposing side.

Or libel lawyers.

Which is exactly what Hector Villarreal must have in mind when he was quoted in the article as saying, "...I intend to file a lawsuit against (Guerra) quickly."

Alma Garza, taking the more professional approach to these types of tactics, is quoted in the article as saying, "I think it's done in desperation. Usually when a candidate gets dirty, it's because he's desperate and he doesn't know what to do". Indeed, and give her campaign manager a much deserved raise for leading her down this path. It takes a certain individual to steer clear of these types of tactics, and if Garza is unphased by the attacks on her husband's private financial matters, or why Guerra would have the public believe these are the reasons for running in the first place, then you know more or less what type of person you'll be dealing with if she get's elected. End of Round Two.

Let the mudslinging begin..Local ad blasts candidate for Hidalgo County District Attorney Alma Garza.

I caught the last piece of a political campaign ad on television that accuses attorney Hector Villarreal of owing more than forty thousand in taxes. Hector Villarreal is candidate Alma Garza's husband. The ad states, "People who don't pay their taxes, should keep their hands off ours." So far, this is the first negative campaign ad I've seen in the run-off, but if history is any indication, this won't be the last one. I am curious if Alma Garza will remain on the higher path towards election day, or take the low road and go tooth and nail against this one, or any other mud slung her way.

The first punch has been thrown, does Garza walk away?, does she counter? Whatever she decides, she better do it quick. The election is less than one week away, and her slogan "It's time for a change", may not be enough to take her over the top. Negative campaign ads are tricky. It's touch and feel. Drop this one, see if the public bites. If it does, there's plenty more ammunition where that came from. Drop the next one. Does the public bite? If it does, drop the next biggest one, and so on and so forth. The biggest piece of mud, is saved for the last round, maybe it's needed, maybe it's not, but it is there, waiting for that precise moment before election day to spread through Hidalgo County like wildfire.

So much for a peaceful run-off? We shall see.

An Important Must-Read Message from Captiol Annex...Vince Leibowitz has the floor...

"Dear Rio Grande Valley Democrats:

My friend Hector Gomez, who authors this blog and frequently contributes to my blog, Capitol Annex, asked me to say a word about Barbara Radnofsky, who is in a run-off with perennial candidate Gene Kelly for our party's nomination for United States Senate.

I appreciate that Hector asked me to write this. He may not realize it, but I was honored to have had the privilege of being among the first voters in my part of the state-East Texas-to meet her, get to know her, and hear her speak back in the summer of 2004. And, I was honored by being the first Blogger to break the news to the world back in 2005 that Barbara had ended her exploration and would, in fact, be a candidate for United States Senate.

I am honored tonight to tell you why I support Barbara Ann Radnofsky for United States Senate.

The first time I ever heard Barbara Ann Radnofsky speak, she was standing on a flat-bed trailer in a small town in rural East Texas as the keynote speaker for the opening of the Van Zandt County Democratic Party's headquarter's in 2004. She even took off her heels to make her ascent up to the trailer more swift. As soon as she took the podium, the crowd-myself included-were captivated by this intelligent, outspoken Houston attorney. She spoke passionately about healthcare and education. She touched on issues like foreign policy and veteran's care. The speech had substance more like that of a sitting United States Senator than a political unknown testing the waters and exploring a statewide race.

I could talk to you all day about Barbara Radnofsky's positions on healthcare, foreign policy, veteran's affairs, and national defense. I could tell you about her positions on this or that. But those are things I am going to encourage you to find out about on your own, by visiting her website www.radnofsky.com. Unlike her run-off opponent, perennial candidate Gene Kelly, Barbara Radnofsky has something to say, and she's saying it-all across the state.

What I want to tell you about are things you won't read about on her website, and that you'll only hear from people who have met her, spoken with her, or heard her address an audience of any size-from two to two thousand.

Barbara Radnofsky has a passion for the people of Texas. This was evident to me the first time I heard her speak. You don't spend months exploring a race, traveling from city to city (and all small towns in between) meeting people, shaking hands, and listening to the most basic of human concerns unless you truly care about the people of Texas. And I can tell you: Barbara cares about Texas.

I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to meet Barbara Radnofsky, so I tell you this: if you meet her, you will be infected with the "disease" that sometimes those of us in politics get that is often jokingly called TB: True Beliverism.

Barbara Radnofsky will make you a true believer: in her, in her passion for the people of Texas, in her campaign, and in her vision.

And from the minute she shakes your hand and starts talking to you about veteran's affairs or education or healthcare, you'll believe.

You'll believe that Texas can be better.

You'll believe that Texas doesn't have to settle for second best when it comes to the care of our veterans in South Texas.

You'll believe that one day, truly no child will be left behind.

You will believe that it is time to take a stand on issues that are important to us.

You'll believe that Barbara Radnofsky is the one who will take a stand for Texans.

This may sound sappy to you or even hokey-perhaps the over-poeticized ramblings of one of those Texas Democrats who still believes in the good works of the New Deal, teh Fair Deal, the Great Society, and in the promise of progressive legislation like the Family and Medical Leave Act or healthcare reform.

But, as one Democrat to another, I feel compelled to tell you that Barbara Radnofsky symbolizes the best that our party has to offer: a strong, tough, intelligent candidate unafraid to tackle the toughest of issues, and go to bat for the people of Texas.

I have been privileged not only to witness Barbara Radnofsky interact with regular people like you and I, but with the media. I was never prouder of a Democratic candidate than I was of Barbara Radnofsky when she visited the Tyler Morning Telegraph in January of last year. Since she was up in my neck of the woods and I formerly worked for that paper, I asked Barbara if she would like for me to go with her and introduce her around, and she did. When she was interviewed for a story that later appeared on that paper's front page, she was marvelous. She cut through the journalistic rhetoric and questioning and got right to the point, telling her beliefs and why she believed as she did.

In that interview, Barbara Radnofsky wasn't talking to a reporter. She was talking to the people. She communicated her message in such a way that, upon reading the printed version, it seemed to seamlessly cross through the "filter" of the reporter and editors and leap off the page and tell the voters: "This is what you'll get from me. These are my positions, this is what I want to do, and I have a vision."

Editorial boards across the state have commented on the uphill battle Barbara faces in November against a popular incumbent Kay Bailey Hutchison. I've seen Kay Bailey Hutchison speak several times, and met her in person. There is a world of difference between Barbara Radnofsky and Kay Bailey Hutchison.

There is, in a word-compassion.

There is, in a word-grit.

There is, in a word-intelligence.

There is, in a word-understanding.

Compassion for people who are less fortunate than ourselves. Compassion for veterans. Compassion for all races and cultures.

Grit--the fortitude and determination--enough to make this race and give the people of Texas a choice, a real, live, hand-shaking, door-knocking, speech-giving choice.

An intelligent voice for a new and bright future emboldened by the promise that our country can be great once again.

A true understanding of Texas and its people and that what they need isn't more party-platform rhetoric, but a real problem solver: someone to make us believe again. Barbara Radnofsky is that person.

If you are upset about the state of our nation and our state, disenchanted with the political process, or don't feel that your vote makes a difference, find out where Barbara is going to be speaking next, hop in the car and go see what she has to say. She will make you believe in the greatness of Texas again. She will make you believe in the greatness of our party. She will make you believe that Texans deserve better than the incumbent Senator hiding in her ivory tower or the perennial candidate sitting home in his recliner hoping his famous name pays dividends at the ballot box.

But, Barbara cannot get to Washington-or even on the November ballot-without our help. No candidate can meet every voter in Texas, but if Barbara could, I know she'd win so many over it'd be a landslide come November. But, before we can tackle Kay Bailey Hutchison, we've got to help Barbara win on April 11.

Please vote for Barbara Radnofsky on April 11. Encourage your friends, family, and co-workers to do the same. Tell them it is time to believe agian.

I often wonder, as a blogger, what impact my words have on people who read them. It is my hope tonight that they have in some small way, informed you about Barbara Radnofsky, and why she deserves our votes.

It turns out I am penning this on a historic night. As I was about half-way through this, a news alert flashed across my MSN Messenger telling me that U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will step down, and cease campaigning for re-election. But I truly believe that isn't the most important "history" that can be made this year.

I believe the most important contribution that we can make to history this year is by making Barbara Radnofsky our party's nominee for United States Senate. And, I believe that with all my heart.

In spite of the numbers, in spite of the polls, in spite of KBH's massive war chest, I believe that, if we as Democrats give the people of this state the opportunity to view Barbara Radnofsky on a larger scale, that they will be impressed. And, I believe that, given a choice between more of the same and Barbara's fresh, bold, new vision for the future, voters will make the right choice.

I still believe. I believe in Texas. I believe in BAR."

-Vince Leibowitz, April 3, 2006

The Race for Hidalgo County District Attorney...Who Will Bring Out the Voter?...

One key race to keep a close eye on this run-off will be the race for Hidalgo County District Attorney. Locally, we have an incumbent D.A. who finds himself playing catch-up with his constituents. At only a 45% vote count this past March, Rene Guerra had to dig deep inside, swallow some hard earned pride, and head back to the drawing board if he hopes to remain this county's District Attorney. Not an easy thing to do considering that part of the reason for his low vote totals came courtesy of the proverbial "red herring" of his tenure in the form of the Irene Garza murder case. Hot on his boot heels is the challenging opponent, Alma Garza, a former prosecutor turned candidate who is vowing to change the District Attorney's office for the better. As her campaign ad touts, "It's Time For a Change". Indeed, and Alma Garza may be the one to bring that change. Garza is the first woman to run for District Attorney in Hidalgo County, according to reports out of The Monitor. At 32% of the vote in the primaries, she proved at the very least to show Guerra that the people of Hidalgo County are questioning his style and manner through which he handles criminal cases. At best, she has proven that she is a force to be reckoned with. But all this leads to that last run down house on the street, where no one dares to enter, if only because the reality is too much to bear. And that is voting numbers. Of the more than two hundred fifty thousand registered voters in Hidalgo County, only thirteen percent showed up to cast their ballots. Compared to the statewide average of 11%, the county did better, but we must take into consideration that the hot oven which was the County Judge's race, brought most of us into the kitchen. History shows us that these numbers are going to shrink. By what and how much depends on how good a job the candidates can do to stir enough interest to keep bring you out once more. Not an easy feat, but one that will guarantee victory for the candidate who pulls it off.

Quick Post, Early Voting begins today...

Just a quick post to let everyone know early voting for the run-off election between incumbent District Attorney and his opponent candidate Alma Garza starts today. Early voting will run through Friday, April 7. The actual election day will be next Tuesday April, 11.

"Capitol Annex" contribution...The Valley in the Age of Activism...

Quick post regarding a post I contributed to Capitol Annex this morning. The post revolves around the Rio Grande Valley and the question of activism on the immigration debate in Congress. To view it, follow this link to Capitol Annex http://capitolannex.com/ Heard there would be more marches today to commemorate Cesar Chavez and deal with the issue of the new proposed immigration laws. Damn good thing for us in the Valley who really feel it's important to have our voices heard.