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2010
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WHAT'S YOUR JUSTICE?
by Jay Valles
12.10.10. What solution is being sought? At this point, what is it that we all really want? A new gas board? A new city council? Answers? Why was Melvin Davis fired? Why do you want to sell the gas company? Are we looking for an accounting? Should charges be filed and investigated? Should some sort of compromise be agreed upon? Is this situation irreversible by some sort of action by the gas board or city councils? The list goes on and on. Each one of us that feels affected wants justice, and for each one of us it could be different. Whatever happens, I’m quite sure not everyone will be satisfied with the outcome.
A for-profit and co-op business lives for its owners. A non-profit lives for itself and not its owners. A proper board can insure that it serves the community. It’s been suggested that the gas company has outlived its structure. Any business model will have problems if the people running it insert their own agenda. For example, selling the transmission line was probably a bad business decision no matter what type of business model. If a non-profit can generate surplus, pay off its dept and grow while providing the service that it was created to provide, then it seems to me the problem does not lay there. Or does it? Perhaps now that the gas company does so well, everyone wants to get their hands on it. A non-profit status could be a good way to help insure people and/or entities keeps out of the gas company's surplus. I don’t believe the gas company should ever be placed in a position of subsidizing a public entity, such as a city council.
What appears for me to be an easy solution is for the city councils to amend the bylaws making the majority of gas board members an elected position. Perhaps keeping the Mayors as is, but adding that a city council member may not simultaneously serve as a gas company board member. Allowing city council members to simultaneously serve as gas company board members propagates micro-management. Changing this also protects the city council. What if at some point the gas company wants to impose its own agenda on the city council? It appears on the surface that this solution would keep the structure of the company as is. A clarification regarding the gas company board and its obligation to company surplus would also be in order. It could be possible to achieve this rather quickly, but I concede, easier said than done.
"WHOA THERE TRIGGER"
by Jay Valles
12.8.10. It seems the reins have been pulled back a bit. The council decided to postpone any action on the dissolution of the gas company. It appears city manager Garcia said a sale could take 6 months or even a year. Are cooler heads prevailing? I’m not so sure. A valid complaint to the Attorney General might not automatically bring action. Their staff is limited and they receive many complaints from all over the state. There might even be cases worse than ours out there, but, as I understand it, the Attorney General does review the sale of non-profits.
I surely hope a sale never materializes. While it could be the only way to involve the Attorney General, it would apparently happen after the fact. I feel irreparable damage would have already occurred with money and assets dispensed.
A few weeks back, I downloaded, filled out, and faxed over a complaint to the Attorney General. Perhaps he could be convinced if he received enough complaints from SWTMG customers. I say gas customers, but because the city councils are the ones that have drawn money from the gas company, and because they seem to be the ones initiating all this action, maybe any local citizen can file a complaint.
If all this is really happening, the sale I mean, to cover up illegalities, those involved might begin to feel like they are being cornered, like options are starting to dry up. A nice stall tactic might be in order. Maybe after 6 months or a year the climate will be different. Maybe by then all will be forgotten.
View and download the complaint form to the Attorney General here.
Get more info here.
SWTMG, WHAT NOW?
Part Two by Jay Valles
12.6.10. A lot of people have some excellent ideas about what to do with the gas company. Unfortunately, a willing board is required in almost every case. I’m totally amazed it has come to this point, but our gas company is in real danger. I just never believed it could go this far. How can people flagrantly act in direct violation of the laws set upon us? In never ceases to amaze me but it’s done everyday by all sorts of people, especially by those that are supposedly looking out for the rest of us. It seems unfair, and it is.
At this point, I feel there are two basic options. One, get the Attorney General involved. I see a good case for misappropriation of funds. Someone with the ability to get their foot in the door at the AGs office could make a difference. Two, some kind of injunction by a judge for the board to cease actions, perhaps while the AG gets involved. But, of course for a judge, there has to be some kind of legal basis. Could the same case for misappropriation of funds be made to a judge? Could it be argued that the sale is to cover up illegalities? As I understand, SWTMG was created with the public voting on a bond issue, maybe there has to be a public vote before it can be dissolved.
Some sort of legalese needs to happen right now; action has to be taken immediately. It is obvious the board and city councils feel they can just pass any amendment and take any action, whether legal or not. Considering all this, would any company in their right mind really want to get involved with SWTMG? Seems like a big can of worms to me.
SWTMG, WHAT NOW?
by Jay Valles
10.19.10. There are many good points made in the argument against the Gas Company. We are all amazed in disgust at so many of things the Board has done. The community has risen up and demands action, however, apart from voting these players out, my feeling is that the only entity that could possibly bring any real action against the Gas Company is the Texas Attorney General, and I'm pretty sure the only thing that is going to grab his attention is the fact that a non-profit company is drawing funds from surplus. The one thing that will turn him off would be a complaint about the labor dispute between Melvin and the company. The Attorney General does not get involved in labor disputes.
It has been written that the Gas Company legally terminated Melvin and that the state protects employers from any reprocussions. That is not true anymore. These days employees have tremendous power. I feel Melvin would have a good case to take to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), you just don't mess around with them. The reality might be that only actions by Melvin himself, either through the EEOC or through a lawsuit, will get him his job back.
Download the complaint form to the Attorney General here.
Get more info here.
A case might also be made in a complaint to the Texas Railroad Commission. They would mainly be concerned with the buying and selling aspect of the natural gas business. Possibly whether the markup is too much?
Get more info here.
TOPOLOBAMPO, CHIHUAHUA'S NEW PORT
by Jay Valles
UPDATE 10.15.10
This summer saw the election of new governors for the states of Chihuahua and Sinaloa. On October 11, 2010, the governors of the state of Chihuahua, César Horacio Duarte Jáquez, and the state of Sinaloa, Mario López Valdéz, reaffirmed the commitment to the highway between Chihuahua and the port of Topolobampo. A contract was signed to move forward on the plans to finish this new highway. The total money committed by both states: 2 billion pesos or about $200 million. A headline in a newspaper in Chihuahua boasts, “Topolobampo, Chihuahua’s new port”.
A few months ago, the expansion to four lanes of traffic (two in, two out) from the port of entry in Ojinaga to the city limits on the new route to Chihuahua was finished. Recently, contruction was finished on the expansion to four lanes and the bypass of "devils curve" on the free highway to Chihuahua. The free highway is the old route through the mountains. Also recently, the improvements at the port in Ojinaga were also finished. These were the required improvements the city had to make in order for the state to finish the last leg of the Chihuahua highway into Ojinaga. The word is construction is about to resume on the highway. Signs and billboards along the highway boast of the commitment to the new infrastructure. So, I’ve pulled this article from the archives. -- what followed was my article on La Entrada which is further down below.
HOW CIRO BLEW IT FOR US
by Jay Valles
11.8.10. Ciro literally blew it for the Democrats of our district. Sure, he claims he was set up, and that may be true, but no matter how frustrated he may have been, you still can't lose your temper with any constituant. That just isn't the sign of a seasoned politician. You just knew Republicans were going to jump all over this.
I wish the above video was a one-time occurance, but unfortunately, he does it again right here in our own backyard, and this time, he even swears. If a constituant swears at you, you just can't lower yourself to that level and swear back. What was he thinking? Obviously, he wasn't thinking, there was even little children present. Again, just not the sign of a seasoned politican. If he was set-up, he should have been ready for it. If he was set up, it just goes to show how far Republicans will go to win in an election. These videos were all over San Antonio and of course all over the Internet. I even saw them on CNN.
GASSED UP YET?
by Jay Valles
8.26.10. I’ve received two more letters from Dale Christophersen and Pete Smyke regarding the gas company. Other recent letters from Susan Dungan of Marfa and Pete Smyke also stating more of the same, amongst other things, we customers should be paying much less for our natural gas. Susan states how as gas customers we are currently paying $19.20 per BTU when we could be paying half that amount. Pete Smyke questions why the Alpine City Council continues to delay a vote on a rate reduction for customers of the gas company and why the gas company board is apparently so anxious to remove Melvin Davis from his position as the General Manager. He also wonders why funding for local sports teams has been withheld while the cities of Alpine and Marfa draw funds from the gas company’s surplus. Being a non-profit, the legality of an “Interlocal Agreement” that allows the cities of Alpine and Marfa to draw those monies has also been questioned.
You may ask, “what can I do?” Well, we could remember who these players are and vote them out, but that is going to take some time. And, will anyone even remember come voting time? A complaint can also be filed with our states Attorney General; they have a department that looks into charities and non-profits. Maybe its time to let them decide what that “smell” is or if any funny business is going on.
Download the complaint form here. Much of the information you'll need to fill out the form is right here on this webpage.
Get more info here.
A case might also be made in a complaint to the Texas Railroad Commission. They would mainly be concerned with the buying and selling aspect of the natural gas business. Possibly whether the markup is too much?
Get more info here.
MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS?
by Jay Valles
7.28.10. Has the SWTMG company board already broken the law in drawing funds from the gas company’s surplus? I believe Melvin Davis and Avinash Rangra have been trying to enlighten us.
From the Alpine Avalanche, July 22nd, 2010 issue. A letter to the editor from Avinash K. Rangra, board member of the SWTMG company, “the cities of Alpine and Marfa took $100,000 on February 2001; $200,000 in November 2001, $120,000 in November 2002, and $315,000 in October 2005 out of the SWTMG reserves — a total of $735,000 with a 60:40 split between Alpine and Marfa.”
I suppose its possible that the gas company was paying for some sort of service provided by the cities of Marfa and Alpine. If this is the case, perhaps there are invoices from said entities. As far as I know, a non-profit is by definition “an organization that does not distribute its surplus funds to owners or shareholders”. (Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-profit_organization). There are no provisions for profit, which is called surplus in a non-profit organization, to be distributed such as in a dividend payout. Surplus must be maintained to provide for stability and future expansion. This doesn’t mean that board members cannot be paid but, are there current provisions for SWTMG to pay its board members? If the board has created provisions for drawing funds in an "Interlocal Agreement", is that legal? Those funds that were drawn out could have been booked as a loan, but isn't this also highly inappropriate?
When the gas company hired Melvin Davis, they charged him with making the gas company, which was at the time $2 million in debt, a profitable business. One of the things Mr. Davis found was apparent sweetheart deals with entities such as the cities of Alpine and Marfa as well others. Another thing he did was to properly invoice the cities, or the county for work done or expenses incurred. For example, anyone doing any digging is required to call the gas company after which they will come out and make sure there are not any gas lines in the vicinity of your dig. If you don’t call and you hit a gas line, you are responsible for the cost incurred to fix the damage. I think everyone knows this. Remember when the County was doing work on their new firehouse and county workers hit a gas line because they hadn’t called the gas company, the Christian School had to be evacuated and the gas company had to come into an emergency situation to fix the problem, which they promptly did. Mr. Davis then properly invoiced Brewster County for work done to fix the line. Mr. Davis stated to me that a certain county employee then came to him and said that Judge Val Beard wanted the invoice to “go away”. Mr. Davis said that the City of Marfa similarly tried to ignore an invoice from the gas company.
These are the things that Mr. Davis has had to deal with in making the gas a profitable business, and now, certain board members are trying to oust him. There’s no telling how much in rate decreases, if not out right rebates, gas customers could have had. What about all the lost support the gas company could have provided to other non-profits such as Little League and Softball?
THE BEARD'S MCELROY RANCH IN HOT WATER
by Jay Valles
8.15.10. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the McElroy Ranch housing development, owned by Tom and Val Beard, is in violation of 22 state regulations.
In accordance with a complaint filed with the TCEQ, on May 27, 2010, Ms. Andrea Silva and Mr. Joe Castro, Environmental Investigators for the TCEQ El Paso Region Office, came to Alpine and investigated the McElroy Ranch water supply. Currently, the development provides water to 5 homes, with a 6th home under construction. The investigators visited and took readings and samples from different locations including the well and two of the homes on the development. As a result of the investigation, the development was issued an NOE (Notice of Enforcement) on 7/1/2010 for the 22 violations.
TCEQ investigators have recommended that, because of insufficient levels of chlorine, McElroy Ranch residents should boil water before drinking it. According to the complaint, residents are charged for water. The TCEQ is calling this a Public Water Supply (PWS) and it should be maintained and chlorinated according to state regulations. According to the Big Bend Sentinel, "Beard said that now that the TCEQ has been given all the facts, the McElroy Ranch system will be determined to be private and in compliance.
“There’s no way in hell it cannot be,” Beard said."
The Complaint - click here
The Violations - click here
Source: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/
SAME OL SAME OL
by Jay Valles
7.12.10. It would appear that nothing has really changed at the Alpine Avalanche. Why would a story about Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White visiting Alpine be buried in a small paragraph in the Rockslides section? Bill White will be at Judy's Bread & Breakfast this Saturday the 17th at 9am. I was glad to hear that the Avalanche was getting a new editor, but needless to say, I was skeptical. How can someone who is unfamiliar with the area and its people come in a run a “community” newspaper? It’s just another slap in the face from Granite Publications, the publisher of the Alpine Avalanche. I am certainly going to continue my boycott of the Avalanche.
5.20.10. WATER: MANIFEST DESTINY OR EMINENT DOMAIN
Either one works for me
by Jay Valles
We are expending resources to exploit our Earth’s resources for personal and private gain. If this is the level to which humans have evolved, there is little hope for our survival as a species. The worst part is we feel we have a right to do this and we seem ready to fight for and defend that right. We’ve all heard Clayton Williams quote Mark Twain, “Whiskey is for drinking, Water is for fighting”. He, along with those that share his view, considers this to be a property rights issue.
After the birth of America, did we consider Native American’s property rights when executing the ideals of Manifest Destiny? What about the idea of Eminent Domain, did we consider our own citizens property rights when taking their land for the betterment of all and the expansion of the railroad or to build a wall along a border? Where the rights of Africans considered when they were sold into slavery? Were the rights of southern plantation owners considered when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation? Were the rights of homeowners considered when the banks foreclosed on millions of homes? Considering we are a country born of people that came from somewhere else, do we consider illegal immigrants rights when we arrest them for coming here for the same reasons?
I’ve heard comments by people who say they are reluctant to tell a property owner what they can or can’t do with their property. Well, as a country, that’s what we were born of, and that’s what we do. So, what’s the big deal, just tell him he can’t do it and that’s that. No permit.
THE CASTLE
by Jay Valles
4.20.10. I could be talking about the strategically placed dwelling a ruler might build, which might also fit, but in this case I’m talking about the chess move. It’s just another way of arranging the pieces on a chessboard. Too often though, we forget these chess moves are also played out in real life.
Coming up on May 8th are the citywide elections in which we will be voting for Mayor of Alpine as well as the seat on the city council for Ward 2. The candidates for Mayor are the incumbent Jerry Johnson and his opponent Clarence Russeau. Running for the seat in Ward 2 is Mike Davidson, Susan Curry, and Stephanie McGraw. These are important races if you are concerned about our City Council possibly being influenced or managed by outside entities with unknown agendas. The City Council should be working for the citizens of Alpine as a whole and no one else.
During the primary race for county judge, it was revealed that County Judge Val Beard and her rubber-stamping commissioner’s court pays a lobbying firm in Austin, VA Stephens, to apparently work against the City of Alpine. It was also argued that there was little or no effort by the County to work together with the City (The City Council) on the firehouse project. For whatever reason, it appears Judge Val Beard has an agenda with the City Council. We know there are members of the City Council that support Val Beard and supported her campaign, as citizens of Alpine, do we want to take a chance and have another Val Beard supporter elected to the city council? Do we want to take a chance and have any Val Beard supporters remain on the council?
During the campaign, the appraisal of The Beards development property using the ag exemption was also questioned. One of the City Council’s duties is to appoint someone to represent the City on the Board of Directors of the Brewster County Appraisal District. The current appointee of the city, who has silently sat there since his election, is mayor Jerry Johnson. Lets not forget what happened when the City Council appointed someone Judge Val Beard apparently disagreed with. Clarence Russeau, current candidate for mayor, did not support Val Beard in her candidacy. You can be sure he would never become part of her agenda.
Mike Davidson received his appointment on the Tourism Council from Judge Val Beard, who also created said Council. Didn’t he just get back from a trip to Germany for the Tourism Council? A side trip to Paris as well, according to a story by the Avalanche. Who paid for all that? Stephanie McGraw or Susan Curry, also candidates for City Council Ward 2, are good choices if you want to be sure of the lack of any puppet strings. During the primary race for County Judge, Stephanie published a full-page ad in the Big Bend Sentinel, after a biased turn down by the Avalanche, showing the appraised value of her property in Alpine to be $112,537 and her taxes to be $2452.62 for the year, while one of Val Beard’s properties, the McElroy Ranch development, appraised at over $2.2 million, was only charged $176.94 in taxes for 2009.
While I do not question any of the candidate’s willingness to be involved and help in our community, I do believe motive should be questioned and these ties should be known. I have concerns about the placement and movement of certain pieces on this particular chessboard; please consider them when you vote in these elections. Please go vote.
THE PERILS OF YOUTH
by Jay Valles
4.29.10. This is by no means meant as a comprehensive list; just a reminder of a few items that can easily slip under the radar.
The Internet
Consider the Internet like a conference room full of strangers. You trust your child, but would you leave them alone in a large room full of strangers? Even at websites, or with services you feel comfortable with, if there’s interaction, there is danger. I know from experience, your child can be lured from these websites very easily. If you can, place the computer outside the child’s room where there is family traffic, if not, a computer in their room should be placed where the screen is visible from the door. Do not allow them to surf with the door closed. At least for my situation, I don’t feel the use of “spy”ware is necessary, but definitely be aware of these tools. I mostly feel involvement is the key.
Don’t forget about the Smartphone, or the Playstation 3, or the X-Box or any other gaming device that can surf the web.
Bullying
In the media, there have been many recent troubling cases in which children have literally been bullied to death. This is not something that is going to happen overnight. In each case, the bullying was extensive and over a period of time. It would also appear that in these cases the parent(s) were aware of the bullying. There could have been signs probably similar to depression, anxiety, and insecurity. Any amount of bullying will affect your child. Keep in mind, bullying can also happen online.
Source - http://www.k12.wa.us/SafetyCenter/HarassmentBullying/pubdocs/bullying-factsforteens.pdf
The Choking Game
This is also known as the fainting game or the pass-out game in which the basic idea is for the teen to asphyxiate themselves or each other as a way of getting a drugless high. It is often seen in higher achieving teens. Serious injury, including brain damage and death, can result.
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fainting_game
http://www.stop-the-choking-game.com/en/home.html
Predators
Unfortunately, they are found in almost every community, even ours. While you can use specific resources to find registered sex offenders, there are probably others that have not yet been caught. I’m not trying to scare anyone, this is just a reminder that we should always be vigil and involved in our child’s life.
In the Resources section of this website, you can find a link to a Public Records Directory. There, you can find another link to the Public Sex Offender Registry, a searchable database.
“All information on individual registrants is based on registration information submitted by Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Youth Commission, or various local criminal justice agencies. DPS cannot guarantee the records obtained through this site relate to the person about whom information is sought. Searches based on names, dates of birth, or other alphanumeric identifiers are not always accurate.”
Source - https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/DPS_WEB/SorNew/index.aspx
Please read and understand all of the information provided at the website before doing a search.
TRASH, WHO'S RESPONSIBLE?
by Jay Valles
5.29.10. A letter to the editor, in the March 25th edition of the Alpine Avalanche, responds to the recent criticism of Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) by city council members at the last meeting on March 16th. It states, “This criticism is misdirected at best, and at worst mean-spirited and possibly indicative of an agenda on the part of the critics”.
The letter goes on to say, “Picking up those sofas, etc., that Alpine citizens leave by the dumpsters is not part of their responsibility”.
While I agree that as citizens we should do more to clean up our community, the fact is that the city’s contract with TDS does stipulate that they provide the service of picking up bulk trash next to dumpsters. It is the main reason the city raised our garbage rates. The city provided this service to us before the arrangement with TDS, and now, TDS is supposed to provide this service, and, at the city council meeting on March 16th, Justin Gregor of TDS did agree to rectify the problem and comply. Even though this may be the only community in which TDS provides this type service, it is in the contract.
While TDS no longer provides the roll-off trash containers next to the city offices, we can take bulky trash to the city yard, which is located just past the cemetery on Cemetery Road. It is open on the first and third Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
ANDREW JACKSON MEETS PANCHO VILLA
by Jay Valles
3.5.10. Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States. He firmly believed government should be of, by, and for the people. He believed regular folks should be involved in the running of our government. Consequently, he helped shape the modern day Democratic Party. Let’s embark on a journey to revisit Jacksonian Democracy and make the introduction with Pancho Villa.
Should regular people have hands-on control in running our government? Considering the public sentiment regarding many of our elected officials, I’m pretty sure no worse can be done. What will people do if given a real opportunity to empower themselves?
Hispanics vary so greatly. It’s expected that our ways of thinking also vary greatly. I understand it may not seem fair of me to want us to speak as one. Nevertheless, my point is that if we decide we want to, there is nothing we could not accomplish. Our wants are not so different or extensive; there is room for everyone to be accommodated. No need for any kind of shame or embarrassment either, every single political group gathers for these very reasons. It’s time we gave it a try. The system works for those that utilize it.
This card, this voter registration card is more powerful than any bomb, it can stop any bullet and can overwrite any pen. Its scream can drown out any sound. We just have to use it.
The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself. -BEN FRANKLIN
I’ve been asked my thinking and motivation for writing all this.
Maybe I perceived what I felt was an injustice?
Why must I write down such blatant dis?
Maybe I felt critical of a newspaper’s prose?
Mostly though, I let my heart guide the words I chose,
because all I want is a world in which my children do not have to oppose.
THE SLEEPING GIANT
by Jay Valles
Added 3.5.10. I wrote the article below the morning after the election. Needless to say, I was pissed. I looked at the numbers and I knew what had happened. It was the kind of despair that made me look deep into myself. It was the kind of despair that, consequently, lit a fire inside me. I was now more determined than ever to make a difference. I’m determined to inspire the way I was inspired by Dr. Rangra. We will finish the work that he started.
3.3.10. I feel ashamed to be from Brewster Country, to be from Alpine and to be Hispanic. Here was our chance to make a positive change for our corner of the world and we squander it like some teenager with fifty bucks on Saturday night. We just can’t seem to speak with one voice, so, we get what we deserve, a government that does not care about us, a government that will not hesitate to take a cheap shot at one of it’s citizens or businessmen, a government that works hard to line it's pockets at our expense, a government that knocks us down when one of us tries to stand up, basically, a government that laughs in our face.
Every candidate looks at the Hispanic population and at first trembles, “what if they vote together?”. Ha! We could have anything we want and any candidate we want. However, we are able to be scattered like a shotgun blast into a bunch of quail, even more, our own as birddogs. As a race, we should all be ashamed. Why do we even keep our last names? We should just Americanize them like other immigrants. Vals instead of Valles, or Garce instead of Garcia, or Rams instead of Ramos. Sleeping Giant my ass, that’s not what I’m seeing. (I changed the last line of this paragraph because it's not my intent to insult anyone, especially our race; what I’m trying for is the “Windex” effect. I’m trying to make things clearer and I’m trying to further expand our minds. That’s all I try to do when I write.)
Some of you may be thinking; if you don't like it here, you know where you can go. I could, God knows I sure thought about it and I’ve made harder choices, but I could also make sure this is just the beginning and stand up and fight and not quit until I get what I’m after. Which do you suppose I'll do?
THE PIANO THEORY
2.24.10. I have this theory I call the Piano Theory. There is a saying, “I don’t have to have a piano fall on my head to know that it hurts”, and the basic idea of my theory is that we do have to have a piano fall on our heads to know that it hurts. We take action even though we know it is going to hurt, either others or ourselves. We have evolved to the point where we appear to have the intelligence of knowing the negative consequences of our actions, yet we still take them. It’s the same if you know not taking an action can have negative consequences.
The married man who has an affair may rationalize that he can get away with it, and he knows the consequences of his actions, yet he still does it. The banker that denies the loan he knows can help. The thieves that rob in the night and those that rob in the day. We know that burning fossil fuel has a negative impact on our world, yet we continue. Even more, we fully understand the delicate balance in which we live; yet every day we do things to negatively impact our world. Millions of people on the earth go hungry every day, yet we can’t seem to be able to do anything about any of it. All we seem to be able to do is fight about it, but war is not the answer; in most cases it is only a temporary solution.
The Theory appears to be a barrier. If we could only get past it, we might find ourselves at the next level of our evolution. There is only one of three ways we can proceed, we can conform and not do anything – not an option, we can rebel – war is not the answer, or we can innovate. We appear to be at a threshold. More and more people look for a better way of doing things. We are beginning to look at alternative energy solutions. We ask more and more of our leaders to begin to take us in a different direction.
LOS PEPES IN MEXICO?
by Jay Valles
Added 2.20.10. An interesting note; Generally I see new material come out on OjinagaHoy.com.mx on Monday or Tuesday. I’ve seen a headline run for over a week, even one about a killing, before it gets pushed down “below the fold” as they say. The last article regarding the shooting in front of the school, which appeared on Wednesday 2/17/10 just before noon (same morning as the incident), was completely removed by Friday morning. It no longer appears anywhere. Nevertheless, it is still being discussed on the little message forum of their website.
2.18.10. Could Mexico be using fire to fight fire as their latest tactic in the war on drugs? There have been many shootings in the streets of Ojinaga over the last year. The general idea is, or was, that its rival drug gangs taking each other out. And it does happen as exchange of gunfire in the streets or at some home or particular location. The key word here is exchange. Drug gangs will generally use “drive-by” tactics that usually result in shootout scenarios.
However, most of what is being seen in the way of killings in Ojinaga does not seem to fall into the above category. Sometime back, I watched a documentary called “The Killing Of Pablo” about how the Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar was finally brought down in 1993. A secret group of American-trained commandos called Los Pepes began killing everyone in Pablo’s outer circle, lawyers, doctors, accountants, and their family members. They then began working inward. They carefully planned these public executions to maximize the effect. Needless to say, it was very bloody, yet, it was very effective.
On Wednesday, Feb. 17th, 2010 (Source OjinagaHoy.com.mx) just before 8am comes the report of the latest shooting in Ojinaga. A 62-year-old man is shot in front of his 6-year-old grandson as he unloads him in front of his school. The headline reads, “Commando executes him in front of his grandson”. Two weeks before, a 26-year-old man was shot as he sat in his car at a red light. In both cases witnesses report that hooded men dressed in black took several shots from a distance, then walked up and shot point blank into the chest and head. In both cases it took the ambulance extraordinarily long lengths of time to arrive and pick up the body. In the last instance, it is reported that it took over an hour for the body to be picked up off the ground in front of the school. In the instance before, the body sat in the car at the stop light as the music blared. Some witnesses claimed the music was turned up afterwards.
These types of killings have been frequent over the last year with several of the last ones coming once every two weeks or so. Last year, over a period of time, several members of the same family were killed. Reports are that one family member may not have been involved in the drug business. My wife is from Ojinaga and I’ve been telling her that the killings seemed too brazen and public and extremely thought out to be rival drug gangs. She never thought much of it. I asked her to read the latest article about the man shot in front of the boy and school and she cringed in the same places I did. She looked at me and asked, “why did they have to do it in front of the boy and the school?”. I said, “exactly!”. I then asked her if she now thought the person that had written the article was trying to show, with undertones, the point I’d been trying to make about the killings, and she said yes.
Addendum. Pete Smyke wrote expressing his opinion. 2.24.10. I was fascinated by your piece on the killings in OJ. I'm sure the same kind of method was used in Iraq and now in Afghanistan. It would be interesting to look at it from the standpoint of who stands to gain financially from high profile killings. Without splashy violence it's hard to justify the tremendous law enforcement presence along the border, especially if they want to keep ramping it up with drones and so on. It would seem that high profile violence doesn't benefit drug cartel operations. I know there are many angles that I can't see, but these are questions that need to be asked. A lot of money is being made on this side of the border "keeping us safe."
THE HOLDER
Fiction by Jay Valles
3.9.10. I open my eyes and hear the cryo-alarm. It wasn’t a long sleep, but it’s probably my last run. I just had to shoot over to Titan to fix this couple’s starcruiser. Boy, I could never get tired of looking at Jupiter, it's just so big. Anyway, it was just some tourists that thought it would be interesting to come out to the edge of nowhere, not that it isn’t the most beautiful star system, but, it's light years to the nearest particle transporter. I dream about being able to travel anywhere in the universe in the blink of an eye and here these folks are driving their own starcruiser. Anyway, my name is Emyaj, and I’m a fixer from 4891-THREE. I fix things. I interface especially well with controller systems. When I was in school, I would take apart our personal controllers just to see what was inside. My folks would get so mad. I guess it was hard for my Mom and Dad to have spent those kinds of earnings just to see it laid out in pieces.
These days the Milky Way Comptroller governs a fixers status. I have the lowest status. I just can’t afford to travel to the Center and purchase the proper status. I’ve tried the alternatives but there are no other fixers in this sector to do an apprenticeship under and no fixers from the outer sectors want to sponsor my apprenticeship because we are just too far. So, I’m stuck doing the kind of work that falls within my status. I’m not going to make enough to buy my own starcruiser, but I provide.
Back at home we’ve got more pressing problems. It’s been dozens of revolutions since the Center Government dissolved the primary/secondary citizenship status but folks out here at the edge just can’t seem to get it through their heads. Holder-4891 of our sector still believes in the old ways as does his followers. Our current Holder has reigned for at least a quarter revolution. Recently, they won the primary against what I believed to be a man of the people, but it wasn’t to be. I had done what I thought was everything I could to support him, but I felt like it hadn’t been enough. The despair almost drove me to move my family to the Center, or at least to the next band where they have a particle transporter. However, instead it just lit a fire inside me. I was determined to stand up and fight because I was convinced it was a minority of people that actually got up and voted for the incumbent Holder.
After I finished primary education back in ‘84, I attempted secondary but I ended up traveling half the pinwheel instead, working wherever I could find work. I got married and settled back at my home sector where I thought my kids could grow up free. Now I realize that cannot be possible unless we are governed by the true majority view. So, I’ve begun a write-in campaign for the November election. I am truly determined to wake us up.
One of the things that motivates me is our Holder’s willingness to attack their own citizens and businessmen, especially those of us that were considered of secondary citizenship status, and which now oppose him. Now, of course, the Holder has turned their attention on me. This recession has affected my earnings, as I’m sure it has many other people. Business had been quite slow, but in the last two weeks I’ve had no less than 20 calls, all for work outside my status, and all from apparent supporters of the Holder. Birddoggers is what I call them. I think that is called entrapment. Any Holder that dedicates time and resources to these types of tactics has let power go to their head and deserves to rule no more. This Holder is obviously not working for, but against, the people. If they thought I would be deterred, they were terribly mistaken. It only serves to solidify my resolve as well as those who support the write-in campaign. If this is what we can expect for the next seven months, we’ll have plenty of ammunition to finish this once and for all.
11.09.10. A letter/petition drafted by Suzanne Dungan, David Lanman, Ken Whitley
Southwest Texas Municipal Gas Board,
We believe it is past time that you publicly justify your recent actions to terminate the Gas Company General Manager in the face of his most recent superior performance evaluation and to do so particularly in the face of all legal advice to the contrary.
Your actions have put our communities in harms way and in legal and financial jeopardy. The Southwest Texas Municipal Gas Company is being ‘managed’ by politicians who have absolutely no qualifications for the job of natural gas distribution.
We insist that you all step down and put the management of the company in qualified hands and proceed to elect a new Board of Directors who have some measure of credentials for the job – oil, gas, business background – to oversee the management of the company.
To do otherwise and to continue in the present mode is grossly irresponsible and not in keeping with the duties of the office you hold. And, perhaps more importantly, your continued actions jeopardize the safety of the communities and taxpayers for whom the gas company exists, to say nothing of your legal jeopardy.
We insist that you defend your actions and explain your intentions publicly.
Concerned Citizens from Alpine, Marfa and Ft. Davis
George Alexander
Bob Brewer
Betsy Burns
Josh Burns
Michael Castelli
Jack Copeland
Donna Demore
Mona Garcia
Hugh H. Garrett
Gayle Gordon
Paul Graybeal
John Green
Bennett Jones
Katie Elms Lawerence
Gina Leiss
Evelyn Luciani
Galen Mack
Alex Marks
John McCrory
Carla McFarland
David Oesper
Joan Oesper
George Pitlik
Glenn L. Ramsdale, Jr.
Clarence Russeau
Marilyn Sanders
Paul Schaefer
Robert P. Schwab
Roger Siglin
Gregory Smelley
Mimi Smith
Pete Smyke
Dedie Taylor
Lonn Taylor
Cecilia Thompson
Eve Trook
Jay Valles
Jonny Vic
Rev. Barry A. Zavah
Bernie Zelazny
Theresa Zelazny
Suzanne Dungan
David Lanman
Ken Whitley
DECEMBER 7th - "A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY"
by Jay Valles
12.4.10. Is this bewilderment we’ve called Southwest Texas Municipal Gas and the city councils of Alpine and Marfa finally reaching an apocalypse? I think we’ve all suspected it had to have something to do with money. On the Alpine City Council agenda for Tuesday, Dec. 7th is item number 9.
Discuss and Consider approving an amendment to the SWTMGC Interlocal Agreement and proceed with the process that will dissolve the corporation. (C. Garcia, CM)
Click here to view a copy of Tuesday’s agenda.
It’s already been reported that Marfa’s city council wants to sell their share. So now both city councils want to “dissolve” the gas company and sell it to West Texas Gas. I felt it was always about the money, but if it were such a cash cow, why would they want to sell it? It’s almost like an addict robbing a liquor store to get the next hit. After that, then what? Apparently, the city councils have been drawing money from the gas company’s surplus for quite a few years.
From the Alpine Avalanche, July 22nd, 2010 issue. A letter to the editor from Avinash K. Rangra, board member of the SWTMG company, “the cities of Alpine and Marfa took $100,000 on February 2001; $200,000 in November 2001, $120,000 in November 2002, and $315,000 in October 2005 out of the SWTMG reserves — a total of $735,000 with a 60:40 split between Alpine and Marfa.”
Perhaps a problem arose in drawing money from the gas company? Maybe his name was Melvin Davis? I'm pretty sure it is illegal to draw funds from a non-profit company as has been done. Now, everything having to do with the gas company has seemed rushed. Why now is there such a rush to sell the gas company?
With the way our local governments have demonstrated their fiscal skills, gas customers might be better off having gas supplied by West Texas Gas, but, for the community, there is no doubt it would be a disaster. A lawsuit by Melvin Davis could put a halt to things, at least for the time being.
TO PLAN OR NOT TO PLAN
by Jay Valles
10.15.10. It really is coming. You may not want to call it “La Entrada”, but south of the border "La Entrada al Pacifico" is alive and kicking and it could reach us rather quickly. The state of Chihuahua will have a total of 153 kilometers to construct and has committed to having 17 kilometers finished by the end of the year. Keep in mind; many sections of this highway are already complete. Granted what remains is the toughest, through the mountains and over the Continental Divide, but no one seems detered. The state of Sinaloa, however, might have the hardest part.
I’ve heard people in town throw the discussion around, but Alpine is not nearly ready for the amount of truck traffic that will result from this completed highway. No one likes the thought of all those trucks driving through the area but this could bring a shot in the arm for our local ecomomy. New opportunities will arise and so will those that will exploit them. A truck stop in Alpine might make a comeback.
A plan needs to formulated and enacted now. Truck traffic needs to be diverted out and around, but at the same time tourist traffic needs to be diverted in. However, with the way things are going now with our local government, it doesn’t appear this will be a priority.
OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK
by Jay Valles
11.4.10. I was recently called to open a vehicle at a property at the Double Diamond in which there was baby locked in the car. Unlocking vehicles is one of the things I do to help put food on my table, however, I never charge in situations when there is a child locked in. Anyway, as I pulled up, I saw the Sheriff’s Department (the Sheriff, and at least one other deputy), Alpine City Police, Border Patrol, and Sul Ross Police on the scene. When I saw all that, I thought something bad might have happened, but, they had just finished opening the vehicle. I got called after the mother became overly concerned, they had been on the scene for more than an hour with no luck opening the vehicle. You can’t have a car door wedged open for an hour and be poking around for that long without causing some kind of damage. Also, what was our City Police and Sul Ross Police doing way out there? It generally takes me about 30 seconds to open a vehicle, any vehicle, Porsche, Lexus, Mercedes, or just a plain Chevy, and I've done hundreds, if not thousands, and I've never damaged a vehicle in any way (knock on wood and fingers crossed).
In another instance, I was called to open a vehicle and I again pulled up only to see the sheriff’s department had already opened the car. I later called the Sheriff’s office and asked if they were now opening vehicles and the lady on the phone excitedly said yes, and at no charge. Well, it's not really for free, the taxpayer is paying for it. Should our tax dollars be going into this service provided by our Sheriff's Department? If they bend door frames or break windows, should the taxpayer be the one paying for it? Considering I campaigned against our hypocritical County Judge, I’m pretty sure I know where this new policy came from. I wonder if our sheriff ever gets tired of being Val Beard’s puppet?
This new policy really doesn't affect me that much as I'm not the lowest priced in town. Also, I learned a few years ago to sit back and wait for the unlockings that no one else can do. On those I get to charge $150 and more. The majority of vehicle unlockings done in town are done by Highland Automotive. If anyone is being affected by this new policy, it's them.
CBP's POLICIES; A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD?
by Jay Valles
10.23.10. Another drug bust at the Port in Presidio, marijuana in tires of some old tractors on a semi’s flatbed, and the media gets its pictures and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) gets its publicity. Marijuana in truck tires! What kind of drug dealer still does that? In other news media, Roger Maier, Public Affairs Officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is quoted as saying “usually it’s the other way, used equipment’s going south”, so, a somewhat obvious situation with the drugs minimally hidden, hmmm, kind of sounds like they were looking to get caught.
When was the last time we heard of a cocaine bust? What, doesn’t that stuff still come across? Also, every once in a while we will hear of some cash being found, generally a few tens of thousands of dollars. Just the other day, the same day, cash was found at the Ports in Presidio and in El Paso. At the latter location, $143,900 was found in a slow cooker. A news story by KTSM News Channel 9 in El Paso, says a “huge” amount of money was “hidden”. Please! A 5-year old could have hidden it better. When was the last time you heard of $1 million or more being confiscated? What, don’t drug dealers bring that kind of money into the United States?
Could the CBP’s technology, anticipation, and media policy be its biggest flaws? I can only imagine the excitement that must be occurring at the Port when contraband is found. Adrenaline must really get pumping when an agent finds something, all the attention being focused on the situation at hand. Obviously the media is notified in a timely manner in order to maximize the publicity. It must be a good feeling to be able to justify the expenditures and the jobs.
I would expect a drug dealer, hell-bent on getting his merchandise into the U.S., to try to exploit any possible flaw. Do you think he looks at all that excitement as an opportunity? Considering the amount of technology the Port utilizes to find hidden contraband, I’ll bet he does.
UPDATE 7.27.10
Ojinaga breaths a sigh of relief, the kidnapped woman has been returned. After a fourteen-day ordeal, she is apparently physically unharmed. I wish the same could be said for the terroristic mental anguish everyone has endured.
A CRACK OF THE WHIP
by Jay Valles
7.28.10. Lots of rumors abound regarding this kidnapping. There’s one in particular that really grabs me. It has to do with the idea that the reason for the kidnapping was to align Ojinaga with Chapo Guzman and his Sinaloan Cartel. Before in Ojinaga, drug gangs and/or any illegal activity was known to be controlled by the Juarez Cartel. I’ve heard reference to this alignment as “La Linea”.
It’s been a few months now that it was reported that the fight for Juarez was being dominated, if not out right taken, by the Sinaloan Cartel. Some said the recent killings in Ojinaga were related to this re-alignment but, as I’ve suggested, their high-profile nature say otherwise. If the Sinaloan Cartel is taking over illegal operations in Ojinaga, it makes more sense they would see everything as an asset.
A crack of the whip on a heifer’s hindquarter doesn’t only get her moving, it gets the whole herd going. Pulling out your gun and shooting her might get the same result with the herd but it doesn’t make much sense does it?
AN EXODUS
by Jay Valles
7.18.10. Some that are close to the family has said that the kidnappers have had the husband of the kidnapped woman sign over money and property, but as of today he remains alone, self-sequestered in his home in Ojinaga. It would also appear that other prominent families have apparently been threatened with being next. I suppose it doesn’t matter if this is true or not because the result of this terrorism has been that the businesses of several families are closing. Many of these people are taking refuge with relatives and friends in Presidio, several with plans of no longer returning to Ojinaga.
I know its hard for anyone from another country to imagine how anyone could get away with this type of extortion but I expect part of it has something to do with Mexican law that allows businesses to be formed while keeping the owners completely anonymous. With an income tax rate comparable (I’ve heard general rates to be around 38%), if not higher, to the United States and state-owned oil and mineral rights, believe it or not, I feel this keeps the Mexican government as one of the richest in the hemisphere. I believe this system has allowed corruption to infest itself deeply in government and rooting it out is at the heart of the violence we are now seeing. I have no doubt the current Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, is deadly serious about his commitment to this fight on corruption.
OJINAGA HOLDING ITS BREATH
by Jay Valles
7.14.10. A new level of violence has shown it’s ugly self in Ojinaga. The kidnappings that have plagued other areas of Mexico has finally made its way to our border. A woman has apparently been abducted in an attempt to extort money. The kidnapping apparently happened Monday, July 12th. The family, owners of a local hardware store, is being very silent about the details and this is causing the rumor mill to churn. As far as I know, as of today, she is still missing. My initial reaction is that this could be some other action masquerading as a kidnapping. Time will tell.
My brother-in-law, who sells security equipment in Ojinaga, such as video cameras and recorders, has seen a sharp increase in business in the last few days. He says people are genuinely scared. While the family of the abducted women is prominent, they are not particularly "rich". There are many other families who are considered to be wealthier.
EDUCATION PROBLEMS
by Jay Valles
8.17.10. Well, it’s almost back to school time. Having two boys home for the summer is fun and I really don’t want it to end, but as my attention turns to their school, I remember last year, being my oldest son’s first year in Middle School, he never brought home any books and rarely any homework. I came to understand this was part of what the school called the C.O.R.E. curriculum. Something stuck in the back of my head, it just didn’t seem right.
I feel having a time specified as homework time helps my children develop good study skills. Having my children ask me for help was good quality time between us and certainly helped in our parent-child bonding. We always supplement their homework with our own book reading or studying but, without the homework, it just seems like something is missing.
So what is this C.O.R.E. curriculum all about? Here is a description of the Instructional aspect I found online, “Rather than focusing on discovery, teaching revolves around imparting a predetermined body of knowledge. Although the core curriculum method does not preclude using critical thinking, problem solving, and team learning, it prompts teaching toward the “correct” answer.” To me, that is a long way of saying that they are teaching what is going to be on the test. I wonder what teachers think about C.O.R.E? Do they feel stifled? Do they feel they have sacrificed integrity?
Have our schools sacrificed educating our children to satisfy their addiction to money? It seems too much emphasis is placed on the classifications our schools are given based on the TAKS tests the students take, Exemplary, Recognized, or even Non-Acceptable. Shouldn’t schools be more concerned whether our children are exemplary or non-acceptable? These classifications can have a big impact on promotions and firings as well as state and federal funding. If Principles and Superintendents don’t produce, they don’t get raises and promotions or better job offers. Is too much money being allocated to the administration of our schools? Superintendents earn six-figure incomes and are even given housing or housing allowances, all this while teachers struggle to earn $30,000.
This all begins at the state level with the Texas Board of Education; a board that cut Thomas Jefferson from history, a Board that has removed history relevant to Hispanics from textbooks, and the list goes on and on. Mary Helen Berlanga, one of the Board members, stormed out of a recent meeting saying, “They can’t just pretend this is a white America and Hispanics don’t exist.” Well, if the Board has a Republican majority, they can and they did.
SQUEAKY WHEEL OR LEAKY FAUCET?
by Jay Valles
7.9.10. It can’t be both because oil and water don’t mix. Power and greed, for the most part, is why business exists and therefore most times it’s not illegal. Unfortunately, that’s also true for arrogance and ignorance. Unless you’ve caused an oil spill, the public’s opinion of the executive operation of a business, like the gas company, does not factor in, even in a co-op. Stimulating the public may raise legitimate questions but in the end, what can we do? Why aren’t these questions being raised at board member meetings? If a certain faction of board members feels another faction is mismanaging the company, it’s their responsibility to bring these things up at meetings. It’s their responsibility to lobby other board members or work to bring in sympathetic board members. All we can do is go watch the show. Sure, at election time, we could go vote some of these players out, but no one cares or even remembers these things when voting. After all, this is the home the status quo.
Apparently, many people showed up to the last gas company board meeting because they were led to believe Melvin Davis might get fired, but nothing happened. The public was stimulated, but to what end? Seemed like the perfect forum and a wasted opportunity for interested board members to raise the very questions in Mr. Smyke’s letter. If there is illegal activity, then perhaps the proper authorities are the ones that need to be stimulated.
E-TIQUETTE
by Jay Valles
6.10.10. To me, the whole point of etiquette is to keep our actions in check, away from excess, to help keep us civilized. Anything in excess can bring us to ruin.
Of course, in the early days of cell phones, few people had them so it appeared rude to interrupt a live conversation to answer your cell phone and that became the etiquette. I suppose as the cell phone became more indispensable, especially for business, it became OK to be rude. Believe it or not, it’s also OK to still have manners. My cell phone is always on vibrate. I don’t believe cell phones should even have ringers, much less ringtones. I don’t interrupt a conversation with a real person to answer my cell phone, I will wait until I can excuse myself. With certain businesses, it’s an easy way to set yourself apart because clients notice things like this.
Texting is not an acceptable way to conduct any type of business. I liken it to standing outside my front porch and yelling out my message. How do you know whose read it? I regularly lend my cell phone to my children. I’m pretty sure I’ve missed messages because of this. I, as many, still carry a “regular” cell phone. Sure the phone receives messages, but with the small screen they are hard to read and even harder to compose. I never got into Instant Messaging or Chatting so I never learned all those abbreviations. Sometimes I have to stare at a message a long time to understand it and sometimes, if there are too many abbrev, I never do understand it.
Now, we have all-in-one smart phones. You can email, text, sext, surf, game, and take and send pictures or video. In one little package you get every form of communication available, except one, live human interaction. Is this excess? What’s going to happen after a few generations of this? Carpal tunnel syndrome before you graduate high school? Is human disassociation possible? Are we in danger of becoming schizophrenics? Is the interaction with a cell phone real? Heck, this whole article reeks of schizophrenia - Ha! Ha! Sorry, I meant lol.
THE FORGOTTEN
by Jay Valles
5.20.10. It’s been a little over three years since Mexican President Felipe Calderon took office and began his war on drugs. Since that time, it is believed there has been as many as 18,000 drug related deaths. With many of those occurring in Juarez, Calderon has been forced to deploy resources, including thousands of Mexican soldiers to the area. Since then, the internal fight of the cartels, along with the Army’s assaults, combined with the flight of the people of Juarez, has left parts of Juarez looking like a Afghanistan.
With all this going on, it’s hard to believe that killings and disappearances of young women in Juarez is still happening. “Since January, about 50 more girls and young women have been killed in Juarez, according to estimates, and nearly 100 have gone missing in the past two years.” I’m sure those are the ones that have been reported. I’ve heard several different theories, but the cases go unsolved.
It is believed that since 1993, there have been as many as 5000 women killed or missing. Articles and books have reported that high-level police officials as well as prominent citizens in Juarez are either involved or know who is involved. Of course the drug cartels have also been implicated. With so many killings since 1993, over a dozen a month since this January, it is hard to believe someone out there doesn’t know the truth about what is happening to all these missing or dead women.
Sources
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-02-27-mexicodrugwar_N.htm
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/Mom_fights_Mexicos_injustice_system.html?showFullArticle=y
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1532607
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_homicides_in_Ciudad_Ju%C3%A1rez
A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER
by Jay Valles
5.21.10. An Associated Press article states that the Sinaloan Cartel, headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, has won the cartel battle for Juarez. Many in Ojinaga believe that the killings there are related to this struggle for the northern smuggling routes. However, I, as others, believe the public executions in Ojinaga are different. They appear more like a government or military action.
I believe Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon, is serious about the war on drugs and if I’m correct, we are about to see just how serious. I believe the killings in Ojinaga are effectively severing the cartel’s arm that extended into this isolated region. You might say they are preparing the battlefield. Because the killings in Juarez have mostly been the result of the war between the Juarez and Sinaloan cartels, it is probable that the Mexican government has simply been waiting until a clear victor emerged. In the meantime, the cartels are utilizing tremendous resources in killing each other. That’s not to say the Mexican army hasn’t been carrying out operations, they’ve been fighting the war on drugs in Juarez for two years and have killed many traffickers and gang members.
If the Sinaloan cartel has truly taken control, interested parties now have their clear target and what could follow may be very bloody. Los Pepes-style attacks, like those seen in Ojinaga, could become more prevalent, and, as Pablo Escobar did when confronted with such tactics, “El Chapo” will fight back. In Columbia, Escobar retaliated with several bombings killing hundreds of regular citizens, including the bombing of an airline flying over Bogotá that killed 110, and a downtown bombing so powerful, it brought down buildings over several city blocks.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medellin_Cartel
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_14851786?source=email
DOES THE VIOLENCE IN MEXICO TOUCH ALPINE?
by Jay Valles
6.1.10. Some of the latest media reports indicate that the violence in Juarez, and presumably in the Reynosa and Nuevo Laredo area, will affect the July elections for the governor, municipal governors, and mayors, as well as other officials. They are having trouble attracting candidates for various positions.
While the violence in Ojinaga has been very visible, with the last public execution occurring on Wednesday night March 31st just a few blocks down the street from the bridge, sources tell me they have plenty of candidates in Ojinaga for all the positions. However, there’s no doubt the violence has its effects there as well as here in Alpine.
In the last commando-style shooting in Ojinaga, the 46-year old manager of the Cañon Del Peguis Hotel, was shot as he exited his vehicle in front of a taco stand just a few blocks from the International Bridge on Calle Libre Comercio (Free Trade Boulevard). We were down for a funeral and it was much earlier and further up the same street, my wife, my two boys, and myself ate at a restaurant. There was a time we ate at the different food stands and restaurants every chance we got, but it had been close to a year since we’d gone out when in Ojinaga, so when we were invited, we accepted.
The violence wasn’t so much in the back of my mind as it was in the front of my mind but we enjoyed the meal with my bother-in-law, his wife and kids, and as always the cousins enjoyed each other’s company. Other patrons did come and go, however, it appeared most of the business that was occurring during the time we were there was take-out, but the owners of the restaurant are good, hard-working people I know, working hard to make a living for their family. I wonder how they do it? The restaurant business has to be one of the hardest hit.
It was the next morning we heard the news of the shooting. My wife and I haven’t talked about it because we both know it hit too close to home. This is her hometown and she’s justifiably saddened. These are the places she hung-out at, and the same places I took her, or we met at, as I courted her, but it can’t be denied.
If the violence continues, the effects will grow and will continue to spill into the communities on this side of the border. Right now, it’s hard to tell what to make of it. As with everything, there can be positives as well as negatives. There are recent arrivals in Alpine fleeing the violence from the states south of Chihuahua. Ojinaga businessmen are looking here in Alpine for possible businesses they could start or invest in. Other citizens from Ojinaga and beyond are looking for homes and property as they look for more secure places in which to live in.
There’s no doubt in my mind, for many Mexicans caught up in the violence, right now political agendas are overshadowed by a primordial sense of survival.
Source - fnsnews@nmsu.edu New Mexico State University News
YOU ARE A SOCIALIST
by Jay Valles
3.23.10. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott will join at least 10 other GOP states in filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the health care bill that President Obama will sign into office at 10am today. This means the debate could move to the Supreme Court. A constitutional lawyer, on the radio show “The Osgood File”, stated, “This could be a good thing”, meaning it would settle this issue once and for all. He believes the bill is constitutional and will hold up.
The heated debate in Washington now reaches to every corner of our United States, every town shop and Internet blog included. If you are for health care reform, then you are a socialist. We justifiably and generously spend billions helping other countries, however, a country’s wealth and prosperity is also measured by how well it can take care of its citizens. We are not socialist; We are Americans and Democrats who believe in the rights and freedoms fought for by our heroes in chamber and on the battlefield, from the American Revolution to the war in Afghanistan to the vote on the health care bill.
“Sell not virtue to purchase wealth, nor liberty to purchase power.” – BEN FRANKLIN
THE FISHERMAN
by Jay Valles
3.14.10. A few days back, I was introduced to a Congressman’s representative, as well as a two other office holders from our neighboring county. They were curious as to what had happened in the election. Why did the Hispanic vote split? I didn’t have an answer. At the time it seemed mind-boggling. Needless to say, it’s been the only thing on my mind since the election. The more I think about it though, the more I begin to realize that there is not one particular reason.
It’s like my previous analogy with the shotgun blast, some quail are scattered by the noise, others because their neighbor’s haste provokes them, others are hit, and still others watch helplessly as some are brought down. After a few generations, you get birds that will fly off and they’re probably not even sure why. Well, we can’t possible undo all that, but we have to try and it all starts with the first step, register to vote, click here. We can speak for ourselves and we can speak together at the same time.
A fisherman in a far away bay hires a boy to help him. As the fisherman brings his net in, he sorts the fish into two containers, one is covered and one is not. The puzzled boy asks, “Why do some fish go in this container and some fish go in the other container?” The fisherman responds, “the fish in the covered container are north-shore fish, if one tries to get out, the others will help him, and, the fish in the other container are south-shore fish, if one of them tries to get out, the others will pull him back in”.
This is the saddest joke I have ever heard and I’ve heard it in several different forms during the course of my life. This type of thinking is what I’m determined to change. ¡Ya basta con la envidia!
TONYA NADINE
by Jay Valles
I believe it all started at this place on the north side.
I’m quite sure I met her just a few days after Eleazar.
They were already seeing each other. Two hearts collide.
Oh what it was to be young and in Austin with your own car.
It was basically a date that would never end.
He never knew what hit him, he never had a chance.
His heart was hers, he had no way to defend.
In the beautiful Austin nights it was young romance.
Then came marriage, then one, then two, then three.
Few people have hearts the size as she.
The most loved girls no one can disagree.
She took motherhood to the 10th degree.
I was so honored to be asked to be a godfather.
I was still single and had no steady girlfriend.
But I took my vow seriously to look after her daughter.
So here I’ll be, a friend to the end.
Three became 5, then 10, then at the center 50 a day.
The days it was closed, I still had to take my son to the door.
He would stubbornly refuse to believe it was Saturday.
Maybe throw a little tantrum and just sit on the floor.
She absolutely loved all and not accusable of trite.
She never backed down, she tried everything once, even twice.
For what she believed in she would put up a fight.
It just isn’t enough if you say she was nice..
Now God has called her to the heavens above.
We all know she’d go with or without her Maybelline.
No doubt the heavens just received a big boost of love.
We are all going to miss our friend Tonya Nadine.
THE TEXAS PROPERTY TAX AGRICULTURAL USE EXEMPTION
by Jay Valles
3.1.10. It’s not really an exemption so much as it’s an adjustment in the appraisal that allows the property to be taxed well below it’s fair market value, in some cases a discount of as much as 90% of the value. If property appraised as agricultural loses that designation, for example, ranch land that has been turned into a development, the property owner must pay a rollback tax (with interest) for the prior five years the land got appraised as agricultural.
(Source-http://www.poconnor.com/property_tax
_agricultural_timberland_appraisal.asp)
If a development remains appraised as agricultural and continues to grow, fair market value should also grow, which means, the longer it takes for the property to be appraised at fair market value, the higher the rollback tax should be. However, if the development is completely sold before it is ever appraised at fair market value, what happens then? Does the county and school system get cheated out of those possible funds? Or, does that just get passed to whomever bought into the development?
THE IMMORALITY OF BUSINESS
Originally written in 2003, revised 2.12.10.
What happened? There was a time when businesses and entrepreneurs operated with more morals and ethics than they appear to utilize today. Did all that really need to be sacrificed for the bottom line? Have businesses gone too far for the sake of the almighty dollar and shareholder? Of course, there's nothing wrong with making a profit, which is why business exists, however, at some point it all started to change. There was a time companies balanced the support of Americans with their profit margin. Now, it’s about the greatest possible profit margin, at any and all costs. CEOs and other executives wash their hands by claiming they have to compete in a global economy and it’s all for the best interest of the shareholders.
There was a time when Wal-Mart sold only items “Made In The USA”. It was there mission. That was the reason people shopped at Wal-Mart, to support fellow Americans. Does anyone even remember the “Made In The USA” tags? How did Sam Walton's vision become so warped? Some of the problem does lie with consumers. At some point, Wal-Mart decided that the consumer didn't really care where items were made as long as they could get them at the lowest possible price. So, Wal-Mart and their suppliers first built factories in Mexico because they figured they could get cheaper labor at about a quarter of what it cost in the US. But then they said, “why stop there”. They could get even cheaper labor in China for pennies on the dollar. So now, when we go into Wal-Mart and purchase something, we're helping Chinese support their families.
Sometime in the eighties, companies began to think differently. Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Dell, along with many other companies, began to export jobs. Whatever it took to increase the bottom line. The excuse was that companies needed to protect the shareholder and increase profits for them. I think the character portrayed by Michael Douglas in the movie “Wall Street” says it all when he states “greed, for the lack of a better word, is good”. Executives became greedy. They also did everything to increase their salaries and bonuses. Nothing was off limits.
So now we've come to see the largest corporate corruption cases ever. This immorality has infected bankers, shareholders, and even the consumer. So we're all to blame. The Enron debacle was financed by bankers who wanted to make money so badly, they were willing to believe the creative accounting of these accountants. The same kind of thinking in our housing market almost took our economy into a serious depression and had the potential to adversely affect the global economy. As we saw in the Bernie Madoff case, society is starting to hold executives personally accountable for their actions. It's a beginning. Nevertheless, we've got a long way to go.
"LA ENTRADA IS DEAD!"
by Jay Valles
1.16.10. I’m not so sure because all I’m seeing is that it is growing right under our feet this whole time. A few years back, area folks started having meetings and discussions and voicing opposition regarding the proposed Interstate extension to be called “La Entrada al Pacifico”. About that time, the largest leg of the new toll road from Ojinaga to Chihuahua was finished. Also about that time, construction started on many of the area roads, most notably, the stretch between Presidio and Odessa. Some of that is still going on today. In Ojinaga, there are now four lanes (two in/ two out) from the bridge, all the way to the outskirts of town. The unfinished stretch of highway from the outskirts is also currently being worked on. The port in Ojinaga is currently expanding their facilities, and, the port in Presidio was recently expanded, especially the areas that service cargo trucks.
I’ve traveled this area and down to Chihuahua very regularly over the last 20 years and the one thing that I know for sure is that traffic has steadily increased. I think the reality is that roads, highways, and related infrastructure are built and expanded based on current needs and current trends and not some commissioned study that attempts to look through a crystal ball twenty years into the future. Area traffic continues to grow as facilities are expanded to meet the growth, which then allows for more growth, which keeps the vicious cycle churning. I don’t think there is much choice in the matter as the major port in our area, El Paso, is becoming increasingly congested with these U.S. bound trucks loaded with cargo from Asian container ships calling at one of the now strategic deep-water ports on the eastern shores of the Gulf of California. Consequently, more cargo traffic is being diverted through this area everyday. You can bet that the new highway from Ojinaga to Chihuahua was not some sort of gamble. They waited until traffic volume was sufficient to make the toll road profitable, and then they started building, and, there are no apparent signs that they are letting up any time soon.
According to a story in the Avalanche, the port at Topolobampo is “yet to be made suitable”. (Source www.worldportsource.com) “In 2008, the Puerto de Topolobampo handled 865.5 thousand tons of foreign commercial trade cargo. A total of 700 vessels called at the Puerto de Topolobampo, including 461 commercial cargo and 221 petroleum vessels.” That may only be one-tenth compared to the Port of Los Angeles, nevertheless, considering it’s Mexico’s youngest port, established in 1991, I think it’s well on its way. On a side note, Mexico has plenty of it’s own oil, so for whom do you suppose all those petroleum vessels are for? However, those trucks are generally headed to the Houston area refineries and mostly cross at the ports south of us.
While a highway between Los Mochis and Chihuahua might be one of Mexico’s future intentions, I don’t think they see that as a priority or requirement in continuing to build a major commercial highway between Ojinaga and Chihuahua, or with the continuing development of Topolobampo, which seems to serve well in keeping commercial traffic away from the beaches of Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. A highway between Los Mochis and Chihuahua would be an incredible accomplishment. It would be similar to building an Interstate through four Grand Canyons and over the Continental Divide. Currently, U.S. bound trucks loaded at Topolobampo drive about 200 miles south to Mazatlan where they cross the mountains to Durango, Durango and begin the trek north.
According to the following link, in 2008, El Paso saw just under 800,000 incoming cargo truck crossings.
http://www.bts.gov/publications/americas_freight_transportation_gateways/2009/
highlights_of_top_25_freight_gateways_by_shipment_value/port_of_el_paso/html/figure_01.html
A finished highway from Chihuahua to Ojinaga will only act as a traffic relief valve. As they say, “traffic is like water, it will follow the path of least resistance”.
RESPONSE TO THE BEARDS HALF-PAGE AD IN THE AVALANCHE
From the Beards half-page paid ad that appeared in the Avalanche on 2/4; “based on the letters…in this issue…about our political contributions”, “we note that negative criticism about our…contributions made us chuckle”, “Who cares and why should they?”, “that fact is preferable to fiction”.
2.5.10. (submitted on 2/8 for 2/11s paper but not printed - new policies initiated by paper) I’m flattered my letter elicited a half-page paid advertisement, especially before it was printed, and I’m glad it was read with amusement, but many voters don’t find it a funny topic and many voters do care. Political contributions are a matter of public record and cannot be brushed off as fiction. I’m sure it would have been preferred that “Parties and partisanship” stay out of the campaign, however, today we are a more informed public. No one denies Val Beard her accomplishments, what is in question today is her motivation and way of thinking.
From the Beards half-page paid ad that appeared in the Avalanche on 2/4; “no one with any real appreciation for civil discourse wants to inject parties and partisanship into local government”.
On September 9th, 2009, Congressman Joe Wilson(R) , showing his appreciation for civil discourse, yells out to President Obama, "you lie". (source-www.opensecrets.org) On September 16th, 2009, The Beards sent Congressman Wilson a contribution of $250. Asking a candidate about such a contribution has nothing to do with rancor or partisanship, it is a question of motivation and way of thinking.
Neighbors place signs supporting Avi Rangra . “Supporters” of Val Beard, showing their appreciation for civil discourse, pressure and even threaten them to remove their signs. Granted, people will act on their own. Nevertheless, no effort has been made by the candidate to distance herself from such actions.
It may not be unimaginable that such a threat could be made, but it should not be acceptable in any manner. Dr. Rangra said to me, “if we are in any way fearful of an elected official because of our political beliefs, then we are in no way different than a country like Iran”. That is the kind of thinking we need working for us.
The Avalanche demonstrated bias by showing the letter below to the candidate before it was printed. The candidate must have accepted it because they took out a half-page paid advertisement in response, which appeared in the same edition as my letter. Are those the actions of a newspaper with integrity? What does that say about the candidate?
1.25.10. Appeared in Point of View column in Avalanche on 2/4/10. If you look for the definition of being a Republican, or a Democrat, you’ll find a variety of answers. This is especially true in this area. However, there may be an easier way to tell the difference and that’s through financial support. I mean if you give money to one particular party, I think you can safely say that you are literally supporting that party. The Beards (Val and Thomas) give money to Republican candidates and the Republican Party; 2005-6 Henry Bonilla (R) - $6000, 2008 Lyle Larson (R) - $4000, 2008 The Republican National Committee - $4000. Since 1990, I found a total of over $50,000 in donations to various Republicans and the Republican Party, and during the same period only $2000 given to Lloyd Bentsen (D) in 91-92 and $500 given to Shane Sklar (D) in 2005 and not a single cent to the Democratic Party (source www.OpenSecrets.org).
Val Beard lives in a multi-million dollar home on a multi-million dollar ranch. She is running as a Democrat because she would not win as a Republican, however she does not support the Democratic Party financially. A vote for Val Beard is a vote to support the “Good-Ole-Boy” system that has held Texans back for generations.
Avi Rangra is one of us. He’s a local business owner that has worked hard to obtain what he has. He literally supports our local community with his time and with his hard-earned money, giving plenty of both. He’s given thousands of hours and thousands of dollars to our community and schools. I don’t know of any sports field houses named Beard, but I do know of one with the name Rangra.
It really is time to bring Brewster County back to the people. Vote for Avi Rangra for Brewster County Judge.
George Washington said, “those that are deceitful in small affairs will also be deceitful in large affairs”. I read that as a young boy and have since always been proud to be from a country founded by men who lived, fought, and died for those types of values and principles. Call me what you will, but I believed it and still do. Sure, today few in our government could live up to that kind of standard. I say “few” because I do believe there are some, and Dr. Rangra is one of them.
