Special to The Tribune
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - It's been eons since the days of Mayor Ruben Edelstein, the last non-Hispanic to hold that office, and that was - what? - 30 years ago, back during the Urban Cowboy craze. Yep, it's been one sad going-nowhere corrido after another ever since then, this city sashaying from the days of Mayor Emilio Hernandez, the used car dealer who beat Edelstein out of the job, to current Mayor Pat Ahumada, the anti-Border Wall crowd's crusader and a man well-known to city cops.
Drive into this falling bordertown with Los Tigres Del Norte blaring out of your car dash's radio, lower the electric window and get a whiff of boredom. Nothing is happening here. The noise you hear is the death rattle of a dusty town oblivious to good government, ideas of a bright future and something - anything! - to crow about. Harlingen, not that much better, is giddy this morning as some sort of celebration takes place ahead of the arrival of retail giant Bass Pro Shops. The store is famous for its wide selection of poles and hooks, so, yeah, you can feed a man for one day if you hand him a fish, but he can feed himself forever if he learns to fish. Ja ja ja. Guns also fit the geography. Guns and roses, baby. Gotta off my wife's lover or put down my movida's husband.
But Brownsville. Ah, Brownsville. It'll break your Chicano heart.
Here's the list:
1.) Candidates for Mayor: Michael A. Garza, Edward C. Camarillo, Evaristo Cardenas, Tony Martinez and incumbent Patricio "Pat" M. Ahumada Jr. (shown wearing vaquero hat in photo below)
2.) The candidates for the At-Large A seat: Leticia Simone Perez Garzoria, Robert L. Lopez, Martin Sarkis and Estela Chavez Vasquez.
4.) The candidates for the District 4 seat: Pankaj Patel, John L. Villarreal and Anthony N. Zavaleta.
Perhaps Brownsville, unlike McAllen to the west, does not get the influx of newcomers, professional newcomers, we mean - new residents who would bring new ideas and no "vatos del barrio" hangers-on. Maybe everybody across the nation knows Brownsville is the pits, the state's last-known outpost, the Rio Grande Valley's lower colon.
We try, but, dang it, we just don't ever see progress in this socio-ragged town, and we certainly do not see any of these candidate being up to the job...
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26 comments:
Vicious article. but it's true. the Tribune tells it like it is. About time for the valley. we need a news media that isn't afraid to write the truth. Thanks.
loved he part about giving a man afish. I'd heard it a few times. What do you have against Brownsville? Some woman back there or something like that?
Every town has its clown. Pat ahumada in Brownsvile and Kori Marra in halringen. simple as that.
never heard of the Patel dude seeking the Brownsville commission seat. Anyone know anything about this guy? What does he do?
Harsh words Mr. Editor, Brownsville needs new people in elected positions. The same crap over and over.
I hope, the citizens change leadership. AuHamada needs 60 days in the slammer and his drinking binges will come to an end. Quickly, Ruckers/Carrizales is very unforgiving.
Korriana Marrana will found out residing in the county slammer is no joke. And larry galbreath, he isn't out of the woods yet. Both are Harlingen politicos.
Patricio Auhmada para ay a vas, papacito, para aya vas, a la carcel del condado.
Mr. Editor; that picture of the people dancing, looks like the people that go dancing, at la Pulga in Pharr. Puro tacauchito, puro low lifing.
I think Anthony Chapapote, found himself another girlfriend, he is dwarfy looking, is obese, eats donuts, and can't spell. The moron ran for county commissioner twice and lost. Someone on Jerry's blog called him a failed politiquero. Does anyone know who he is???
Mr. Editor, not to belabor the point but when do we read another story about the styling and profiling man, known as Klement, could you post the article, you first introdced him to the bloggers. Thanks!!!!
By the way bloggers, Korri is incognito.
Harlingen is a bit highter than Brownsville. About an inch. But Bronsvil has the best viejas for movidas. They moan it, dude.
Are yu saying chapaneco is from Matamoros? No one knows cause he won't show his papers. Until he does, chapete is from Mexico. LOL!!
ANONS:...Interesting comments from our readers, as always. About Tribune writer Ricardo Klement, we're unclear as to what story you refer to. And, do you mean Harlingen Commissioner Kori Marra is "incommunicado;" that is, not talking. If yes, then you're right... - Editor
that drive in McAllen for Vets is cool. About time. City of Palms leads the pack.
What? i didn't know Jerry Deal was complaining here? what happened, Jerry?
Longhorns blow. they'll choke sooner or later. that's their pattern. Go aggies!
Checking in from the proletarian faction of the RGV. No bourgeoisie except for the wanna-bees seen wafting around the pompa on each end of our metropolis. Ah, what a sweet microcosm of our very own left-coast right-coast world with the drive by folks from san benito to pharr longing to move on up to bigger and better things.
The old-timers tell me of days past when the RGV was special, not like now...my grandparents used to say that the lower east side (manhattan) was special as well.
I guess what I'm saying is that we need to wear our strengths on our shirtsleeves and leave all....never mind, I give up. Let the RGV have what they vote for.
signed...Gavroache
Chapanenco is from Chiapas Mexico, he probablys swam the river, and learn a little english, he doesn't vote, for all we know he is wanted by the police.
Matamoros is to good for Chapatote, he hails from the sewer line of Matamoros or Reynosa.
Jerry Deal was probably on his 3rd Margarita when he wrote that post, tomorrow he won't remember.
By the way, the illustrious, and happy go lucky city commissioner was at the Bass Pro Shop ceremonies. Anything to make herself look important. Vieja loca.
I hear through the grapevine, heat is getting most of the paperwork in place. And Fundraisers are next. Good time to start, setting the landscape in place.
Patrick, the Trib has to be the most progressive Blog in Harlingen. I was surprise the hear how many people read the blog at the coffee shop this morning.
Well, some people might not admit it, or believe it, but the editorials are very well written. And the editor, is a real class dude. Good job Mr. Alcatraz.
I don't know who told Pat Auhmada he looked cool in that Cowboy hat. When you are in orange attire at Carrizales, you won't be smiling.
Mr. Editor, how do you reconcile the comments by Jerry Deal, in where he ask, attack the message, not the messanger.
Comments by a blogger who blogs under the initals of jjo, are so idiotic, they are insults to first grader's intellegence.
His writings empitomize ignorance, and the worst in the Valley. He comments are not only dumb, they are insane.
Mr. Editor: you run a first rate blog. No one here make libelous comments, eveyone who blogs at the Tribune, dislikes Toni El Chapete Chapapenco. I am not going to deny that, but he usually starts the war of words.
And the only time he is rediculed, is when he attacks the Trib.
I think Jerry is spending to much time at Medussas. Chill out Jerry, tomorrow you will feel better.
I have been reading Jerry's blog, and one particular blogger does write horrible comments. I know a couple of bloggers have been on his case, because of his out of this orbit comments. I have seen him at city hall, at commission meetings. The poor fellow looks kind of re%^*ded.
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