By PATRICK ALCATRAZ
Editor-In-Chief
HARLINGEN, Texas - Suddenly, one of the hundreds of area politicians is doing something. Robert Leftwich, progressive city commissioner in this one-horse town, has gone on record as saying much needs to change here...and change quickly. And just as suddenly, local naysayers have raged against him.
Welcome to The Town That Just Couldn't Stand Itself.
Leftwich this week took-on the city's water utility, leading the effort to remove problem boardmembers he feels simply do not have the community in mind when making decisions that have proven costly. And perhaps to be expected in the town's politically-charged atmosphere, he drew the ire of those who saw him as being pushy, uppity and a rabble-rouser. Not that Leftwich did not have his supporters. Some on his side of the ledger fought back against the naysayers, labeling them as being naive and ready for the grave.
No one disputes the fact that a monstrous, dark cloud hangs over Harlingen, one ready to drown the community in even larger problems. Sales tax revenues are down, leading some to wonder where the budget axe will eventually fall. Layoffs in the making? Without question. It is being said that the screaming from a thousand drownings will be haunting, foreboding scenes already being imagined right & left.
Leftwich's action has been seen as political grandstanding. The case could be made that he is merely the local Dutch boy with his finger in the breaking dike. Is Harlingen not believing its huge problems? Can there be residents who do not see the mess? Is analysis the answer? Is the theatre really dead?
A comatose mayor and one recalcitrant city commissioner (Ms. Marra) may stall or delay action. But action will come, because action is part of the deal. It'll come from efforts such as that exhibited this week by Commissioner Robert Leftwich, or it will come from the rain-fat clouds breaking. Apres Leftwich, Le' deluge.
Harlingen is a small town that cannot afford its people to be small...
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1 comment:
In Harlingen even the city commission meetings are seperated. The old guard supporters sit in the north side of the assembly hall. While the people who want changes sit on the Southside near the entrances. The old guard sit and hiss and make comments while the progressive side sits and listens to the meetings.
There is nothing but old timers on the old guard. Mostly anglo and one or two cocoanuts.
There is no doubt Robert Leftwich is the peoples commish. The wich and the mayor are old guard. Vieja loca, sits and mumbles, makes facial gestures,shakes her head, like the way puppets do. Puro pinche old guard. Vieja sonsa, safada. Korry should resign.
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