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 Published Brownsville Herald December 9, 2007

A year ago, on December 17, 2006 , my Christmas article, hoping for a “Miracle” of the Season was published in the Brownsville Herald. The Christmas party I described, impressed me with opportunities for a number of our community leaders and new County Judge Cascos, to break the gridlock of personal power obsessions, and long standing political animosities. I hoped would get some of the reforms needed by “the folks”, accomplished. I had a genuine possibility that the spirit of the season would actually encourage  “Good Will” toward our neighbors that might support the real changes at PUB and  the “Unity” that would be needed to accomplish the peoples’ work in the city and county.  “The folks” did their job by voting in higher than normal numbers and effected the political change that was advertised as the solution for the city. The actual result has been anything but unifying; the Utility Connection Fees, one of the most touted issues during the election still have not been dealt with and any change seems to be getting more distant; the PUB itself is becoming less and less stable in staff and operation. My PUB bill has a different monthly pay schedule with each billing. I appreciate the lower rates but cannot get away from the feeling that it will all come crashing down. I wonder where the money came from when we were supposedly losing thousands in debt costs and lost connection fee opportunities. While all of this is “not going on” our city leaders seem to be lost in jousting for personal advantage and one-upmanship. The personal priorities have taken precedence over the good of the community.  More »