The Story of Politics continues...The Tri-City Area, and the question of whether change is coming, or not...
A recent anonymous comment on my previous post got me thinking. As far as the question of citizen involvement in the Tri-City area, the anonymous commentator mentioned there are still quite a few people unwilling to get involved because of retaliation. Namely from what he/she called the Tri-Cities main employer, the Pharr San Juan Alamo School District. Well, are we still at that stage when we as a community will only go so far in our demands for better government?
As a lifelong resident of the Valley, and the Tri-City area, I would be foolish to think otherwise. But that should not mean I should lose all hope for a better future, in spite of the consequences. For those out of Valley readers of RGV Politics, the Tri-City area consists of the cities of Pharr, San Juan, and Alamo. Now back to the question of where citizens stand.
As far as I know, there are two community watchdog groups in the Tri-City area. The SanJuanistas who keep an eye on San Juan politics, and Grupo PODER who keep a watchful eye on PSJA ISD policy. From what I gather, though as I am not a member of either group (though there is a link to the SanJuanistas from RGV Politics), the numbers in these groups are not such that they can make a sustained impact on what goes on. They've both shared their victories, but no matter how hard they've tried to make a lasting impact, it's only a matter of time before the way things used to get done makes a quick recovery. My feeling on this is because, as the anonymous commentator mentioned, many people who want to get involved, who know what's wrong, who know what needs to get fixed, and how to fix it, are afraid.
That's understandable. But the problem lies in never finding out how great our community can become without factions, without nepotism. Imagine a community where a citizens right to protest, or question policy does not fall on deaf ears. Imagine a community where these same people are not treated as naysayers, or troublemakers by those factions who continue to rely on history, and tradition to get their way, year in and year out. For that matter, imagine a community with no factions at all. Simply a community that elects certain individuals to get the job done. To do what they're supposed to do, and look out for the community as a whole, not just what we've been used to as the status quo for so long.
Something to think about, and something to question what we really want out of our community. Are there enough of us to demand positive change without fearing retribution? Or have things become so engrained in our communities spirit that to even try to change something would be at once considered foolish, and useless.
posted by Hector @ 6:42 PM
8 Comments:
It really is unfair that people in the Tri-City area afraid. I remember growing up as a little girl in San Juan, seeing the politicians hitting the streets trying to get re-elected. I can remember being at my grandparents house near Bus.83, and when the guys who were running for election would walk the streets, people would flock in their houses, because they were afraid to vote against the norm. My grandpa wasn't afraid, he didn't care because it didin't affect him. I remember asking him why people would run inside, he said, "Its because they are too afraid to stand up to the Old Guard." It's sad that there are people are still afraid of going against the grain. There are more than enough people in the Tri Cities to warrant change. I think that the change will have to come from the parents who want the change for their kids. Parents will have to take a stand..and do it for their kids.
hmm,
i thought you grew up in the La Joya area..
Hector,
I traveled to Austin to speak at the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs Board meeting held at the capitol on 07/28/2006. As you know, I am a board member of the San Juan Housing Authority and we have been trying to obtain funds from the state to build a 128 unit low income housing project off of Earling Road next to the Headstart building. San Juan Mayor San Juanita Sanchez also attended the meeting to request the funding. I saw many people from the valley at the capitol before the meeting, which seemed odd to me at first. The Mayor of Pharr Mr. Polo Palacios and Hidalgo County Republican Chair Mr. Hollis Rutledge were sitting close to each other. I know you have questioned why local politicos have suddenly turned Republican and I think you would have had you answer last week if you would have seen the chumminess between Mr. Palacios and Mr. Rutledge at the meeting in Austin. Also, the board members on the TDHCA were all appointed by Gov. Perry. The city of Pharr is trying to build some low income housing also so I guess the flip to the other party was to get funds for their project? Anyway, the article in the Monitor said that a bunch of local mayors were backing Perry except San Juan Mayor Ms. Sanchez. The article states that San Juan Mayor was backing Carol Strayhorn, but the Mayor was never asked who she was supporting. It was assumed that Mayor Sanchez was backing Mrs. Strayhorn since the Comptroller had helped the citizens of San Juan push toll roads out of San Juan. I do know that Mayor Sanchez is backing Mrs. Strayhorn, but the Mayor has not used her position to support Mrs. Strayhorn publicly (at least not to my knowledge).
As to the city of San Juan commissioners calling a meeting without notifying the public, that is against the Texas Open Meetings Act. As citizens of San Juan we can file criminal charges against the commissioners who asked for the meeting with the monitor. Mr. Bobby Rodriguez has been put on notice that he can not use the EDC as his spring board to run for Mayor in 2 years. Also, Mr. Pedro Contreras should be staying below the radar since his recent promotion from Coach to Director of Nutrition services with the PSJA ISD has raised a few eyebrows. Grupo PODER is working on an open records request asking for qualifications for this position and we are also asking how many other candidates applied to this newly formed position.
By the way, I can not speak for the entire tri-city area about being afraid but I know that San Juan has started on a new and better path without fear.
Ignacio Almaguer
Ignacio,
that's great news about San Juan. I've personally seen it, and experienced the need for change that people are feeling in our local community. What worries me, is that there is still a large segment of the population that understands, and feels the same need for change that you, or I,or aggie gal, or the numerous anonymous commentators are trying to discuss and get across. When it comes time for action, though, that same segment would rather play it safe for reasons that have been expressed on RGV Politics. That's the sad part. For me, I fear the status quo will still have a stronghold when our children grow up, and they will have to face the same issues we're dealing with today. There will come a time, then, when they feel frustrated and tired of the status quo when they will ask us what we did to change things. What are we going to answer them? That we were afraid of retribution? We should be more afraid of the time when our children will ask what we did to make our community a better place to live in, only to answer that we did nothing.
H.
If Bobby Rodriguez violated the
Texas Open Meetings Act, is there anybody going to do anything about it? What can be done to let these guys know that everybody is keeping a close eye on them? The citizens should send a message out that we will not tolerate such behavior anymore !
So then it is true that Mr. Rodriguez will run for Mayor. I heard the same thing. I also heard that a family member from the Guajardo's was running for mayor as well.
As far as Mr. Contreras new promotion, it was not even posted!
how convenient the rich get richer and the average joe gets screwed!
Ignacio is there any reason why the website of Grupo Poder is not updated?
Ignacio, Hector
I applaud both of you for your time and efforts in keeping the average joe informed. Keep up the good work.
I was going to write this anonymously but I decided since everyone pretty much knows who I am whether they've blackballed me or not I'm not going to hide.
I was raped and became pregnant, I reported my rape to edinburg PD. What did the system do? Nothing for 2 years, then no billed my rapist who came after my son. Now I am being charged with parental kidnapping my own child because I have to protect him from that rapist. The system there is corrupted, simple as that, they all thought I was just some dumb little white girl with a hispanic baby that was the product and would just walk away. But this child makes me realize that everyday I am a live is a god damn blessing, because I could have been dead. And, I refuse to let that system there tell me other wise. If you guys are so worried about your children then do something about it. Don't just sit there and watch everything fall. Please for their sakes, don't let them grow up thinking that things like this are normal or okay. I had to spend 2 days in Weslaco Jail being interrigated like a warprisoner about my son, I stuck through it, I didn't give up. I know what I did was in my child's best intrest. It's about time someone else stands up for what they know is in their child's best intrest other then me...
The retaliation that many PSJA residents fear is not being chosen for a job or promotion. If the tricity area can be called a "company town," then PSJA ISD is certainly the company. Politics is a major factor in the decision-making process of most school districts. What may distinguish PSJA is that politics is the whole she-bang. Politics and kinship is often the only relevant factor--especially when it comes to hiring and promotion. Over the years, this leads to the district having a series of "weak links" in the administration. District employees can attest to the problems that this creates. District employees and those who want to be employees keep quiet in order to stay off the blacklist. I'm trying to remember a famous quote. It's something to the effect that "...all that's necessary for evil to prevail is that good people do nothing."
tease,
so what are you doing? Nothing, or are you making a difference.
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