May 21, 2010
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF PHARR
After an unequivocal experience of the inefficacy of the subsisting All-America City of Pharr (2006) Municipal Government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Charter Amendment proposing the establishment of Single Member Districts to provide Pharr with modern leadership, free from the vestiges of corruption and nepotism, which relegates Pharr citizens to second fiddle behind special interest groups in the private sector which are dependent on city contracts.
All it takes is 295 citizens (100 must be registered voters) to sign a petition for Proposition 23, Single Member District Charter Amendment Proposition, which would establish an election to create a better Pharr, where commissioners must reside and be elected to represent a determined city “zone” or “district,” much like children in PSJA attend a school based on their determined “school zone.”
Lupe Chavez, Jr. and others are currently collecting signatures for a charter amendment special election.
To organize a family or neighborhood signing party, contact deuxpublius@gmail.com.
Proposition 23
Single Member District Proposition
Adoption of the amendment of Article II. Governing Body, Sec. 2. Election and tenure of Mayor and Commissioners of the Charter of the City of Pharr to read as follows:
Section No. 2 (amended)
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS-The governing body of Pharr shall consist of a Board of Commissioners composed of the Mayor and six (6) commissioners, who shall be elected to serve four (4) year terms, as hereinafter provided
OFFICERS-ELECTION OF AFTER MAY, 2010: The City shall be divided into six (6) single-member districts for the purpose electing one city commissioner from each single member election district. Candidates for city commission shall have resided in the district from which he or she seeks election for at least twelve (12) months prior to the date of the election. The Mayor will continue to be elected from city at-large.The six (6) single-member election districts shall be drawn according to state and federal laws.In the first election held pursuant to this provision all six (6) single-member election districts shall stand for election. After the election and canvass of the returns and declaration of results the six (6) commissioners elected shall meet and determine by lot which three (3) commissioners shall serve two (2) year terms and which three (3) commissioners shall serve a full four (4) year term. Thereafter each commissioner elected from his or her respective single member election district shall serve four (4) year terms."
PHARR BUSINESS AS USUAL
PHARR-For the second time in two months, the City of Pharr has edited public comments which include the amount of campaign contributions made by city staff and paid consultants to the re-election campaign of Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios. These comments are public information and do not violate any section of city resolution regulating public participation at city meetings.
“Nearly $50,000 came from city staff and paid consultants working for the City of Pharr, or 66 percent of total expenditures, were paid by special interest groups interested in maintaining a voting majority,” Lupe Chavez, Jr., a political advocate for Pharr residents interested in creating single member districts, told The Citizen. “Clearly, this represents a conflict of interest for the Mayor and his slate when reviewing job performances and services provided to the citizens and taxpayers of Pharr.”
According to campaign finance reports filed by the committee to re-elect Palacios and his party with the city clerk, $47,620 came from city staff and consultants. The mayor’s campaign spent $72,060.52.
Sam and Saul Maldonado donated $6000 and from their business SAMES Engineering, $1,620. Eddie Saenz Engineering, $1,500; J.E. Saenz, $2,500; Perdue Brandon LLP (city tax collectors), $4,000; JD Franz, Hidalgo Mayor and Perdue rep, $2,500; Ambiotec, $500; Godinez Communications, $500; Bryan Godinez (owner of Godinez Comm) $1,500; Hollis Rutledge and Associates, $1,500, Hollis Rutledge (bridge consultant), $2,000; Michael Pruneda, city attorney, $5,000; Law office of Michael Pruneda, $500; Michael Pruneda, Sr., $500; Javier Hinojosa Engineering, $3,500; JF Lopez, $1,000; Chris Vela, $1000; Law office of Sergio Munoz, Jr., $1,500; Sergio Munoz, Jr. campaign (Commissioner Oscar Elizondo, treasurer), $5,000; VDP Healthcare, $1,500; Linebarger, Goggun, Blair (city tax collectors), $4,000; Fred Sandoval, city manager, either $1,000 or $250, (campaign paperwork unclear as to amount).
DOES PHARR COMMISSIONER HAVE ENLARGED PROSTATE?
Does Commissioner Oscar Elizondo have an enlarged prostate? Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include urinary retention (an inability to completely empty bladder), and increased urinary frequency and urgency. Elizondo averages more than two trips to the bathroom during city meetings. Or perhaps Elizondo is fielding calls concerning his recent legal troubles stemming from an alleged assault on Lupe Chavez, Jr., at the Pepe Salinas polling location during early voting? Chavez is awaiting word from city prosecutor to see if the municipal court will take the case to trial.
Chavez thinks it is unlikely that the city will move forward on the charges after providing written statements that Elizondo allegedly called from an unknown number and in his familiar voice told the former mayoral candidate, “You know you’re a piece of ****, don’t you.”
Elizondo’s frequent trips may also be a innocent cosmetic touch-up to look good for the cameras, visiting the restroom for powdering his nose and combing his hair to appear more dignified and respectable to voters watching at home.
The Citizen hopes that these observations will provide readers with an opportunity to visit with their health professionals and learn more about prostate health issues.
MCALLEN FLEXES MUSCLE; DWARFS pharr
Have you seen the commercials on cable Channel 12, Pharr’s local government channel? These low budget productions feature Frank’s Graffix, a local DME, Cuali’s Restaurant, and the plaza at the intersection of Jackson and Ridge. Additionally, Mayor Palacios appeared in two restaurant commercials on Channel 12 asking persons to come sample the menu. Recently, one restaurant closed, which begs the question as to how effective these free, Pharr taxpayer produced for-profit commercials are for local businesses?
Most importantly, it appears these commercials may violate the City of Pharr’s franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable, that prohibits for-profit commercials from airing on public education/government (EG) channels like KTRI 17 (PSJA’s public channel) and Channel 12. Time Warner Cable is still reviewing the matter, however, sources told The Citizen that this investigation has been ongoing since October.
However, McAllen recently debuted a commercial that leaves Pharr in the dust, much like it has in commercial development along Expressway 281. Several Mediterranean chefs tout McAllen’s fine dining experience at upscale locations in a high quality commercial production. McAllen’s brand image, the three vertical bars representing the letter ‘M,’ really shine
McAllen’s unique advertising and aggressive marketing campaign seems to spell doom for Pharr’s small-town mentality. The city commission seems unable to plan or coordinate long-term. Witness the last minute road repairs to Rancho Blanco and Hall Acres Road. School opens this fall for schools that were not built or planned overnight.
Our sales tax revenue has declined steadily over the last year with only a small bump during spring break months due to vacationers and the mass exodus of Winter Texans. December was also a positive month.
Bridge revenue is safe at the moment, yet, McAllen is stepping up attempts to secure a presidential permit for commercial truck crossings at the Anzalduas International Bridge before 2015, when Pharr’s exclusive permit expires.
George Ramon stepped down as McAllen’s bridge director to work full-time as a $2,500 consultant to lobby for commercial truck crossings. Although Pharr’s crossings may recently have set records, McAllen and its host of economic interests, combined with Sharyland’s high profile executives, and Mission’s expanding empire, may prove too much to overcome when Pharr wages battle with its neighbors-growing cities of San Juan and Alamo-over border real estate along Military Highway.
CHOKED JUNCTION
The recent Pharr Hubfest was recently successful in barring customers from visiting one of Pharr’s most visible iconic restaurants. Family members said that the day of Hubfest resulted in very few customers.
When confronted by the owner, city officials said it was the committee’s fault for the inconvenience. Too bad for elected officials when most city administrators were on the planning committee.
