New topic...same discussion as usual for me though, which is the following: "How can we make Brownsville better?" Simple question yet difficult to respond to since there are a multitude of options and venues that we as a city can take. I have an option that was brought up to my attention a few days ago by my loving, caring fiance (who loves you baby?). So, for today's topic...

Why don't we as a city take the "Green Challenge"? Cities around the nation and the world have taken the "Green Challenge" and have learned that it pays (both environmentally, fiscally and physically) to do so in both the short and longterm. Now, for those of you who are wondering, "Dangit boy! What in Tarnations is the 'Green Challenge'"? And my response to you is this:

#1. Please excuse that fact that I don't know how to spell Tarnations and am not sure if that is the correct grammar usage for such a word.
#2. The "Green Challenge" is as follows: a community, whether it be a group of people or an entire city, work together to make an impact in the areas of conservation, energy control, litter reduction and environmental awareness. Cities such as Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington as well as many other communities nationwide have taken this challenge and have become Meccas (I don't mean to offend any of my Muslim brothers/sisters out there by using this word in a wrong way...if I have done so, learn how to take a joke and learn the meaning of an innuendo) for clean living societies around the globe. Communities such as these promote the usage of public transit (this means that they actually make it affordable, easy to use, convenient, CLEAN and safe....Hey San Antonio! You might want to look into this...just a word of advice, you might want to clean up the buses that run the routes 94 - UTSA and 603 - Fredericksburg Rd...sorry to say it but some of those buses could use a little bit of a vacuuming).
These communities also promote and encourage something that is very foreign to other communities...TURNING OFF LIGHTS WHEN THEY'RE NOT NEEDED! I'm sorry to say this but when you leave home to go to work or what have you, your pets DO NOT need the TV or radio to be left on so they won't feel so alone or be afraid...trust me on this, I've worked with animals for the past 3 years (Vet. Tech.) and I can tell you from experience that they don't need any of that stuff on...also, we don't give them the toys and pillows and all that assorted crap that you people leave with us when you go out of town for 2 days...we just don't.

Also, another possibility could be for the City, County and major businesses in the area (B.I.S.D., Sunrise Mall, Post Office, etc.) to consider utilizing our EXPANSIVE amount of year-round sunshine and installing Solar Panels on the roofs of their offices/businesses. This could easily generate enough electricity to make a significant hit in the yearly budget that these organizations use for electricity...and good citizens of Cameron County..alot of these organizations get money for their budgets from you and me...think about it, what if the local government and the school districts MAIN OFFICES (I know that the cost would be overwhelming to install panels on every school in the district--it would be a great idea over a period of years but I'm not trying to pull a miracle out of my nether-region), the savings would be tremendous...as a matter of fact, the savings would end up paying for the installation and upkeep of the equipment as well as the equipment itself in a very short timespan.

We need to start thinking of ways to promote our city and region through innovative growth. Who knows, maybe our neighbors to the south would be interested in this as well and begin a possible bidding war between local providers (if there are any), driving more and more business as well as competitive pricing and wages...

This is my corner...what's yours?

Welcome and salutations to each and every individual who reads this deliciously interesting (according to me) revue and open forum on topics concerning Brownsville, TX and the Rio Grande Valley...I hope to write as often as possible about topics that are near and dear to my still-beating-yet-not-insured heart...Brownsville, TX.

Any and everyone is welcome to write and discuss their viewpoints about events and topics that are taking place in this wonderful "city" (we're getting there....not there just yet but we're getting there) that is home to a diverse population of people that are simply trying to get by...the only thing is that I have a few Rules to abide by and I will make sure to apply them to myself as well (most of the time)...

#1. No Racial slurs or anything of that nature...that just doesn't help anything when you get some biggot with an IQ equal to that of the amount of calories that come in a regular bottle of Ozarka water.
#2. Keep it on the grounds of actual information and that it has a point! There are WAY too many sites that have people jibber-jabbing back and forth about things that a irrelevant to one another. I don't care if you think that the new Pope is the spawn of Satan and that is why North Korea has a short dictator...just doesn't make any sense (but if you can prove it, well thenn by all means....)
#3. This is about Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley...we really don't need to know how people in Madison, WI deal with their overbearing epidimic of U of W - Madison T-Shirts that aren't selling at their local Barnes and Noble. Once again, if it makes sense to us (like, how do we sell all of the extra UTB/TSC shirts from OUR local Barnes and Noble?) don't write it but if it does, then GO RIGHT AHEAD.

Ok, now that that is out of the way and all...time for my first entry...

I was reading a interesting post on Brownsville Talk (http://brownsvilletx.blogspot.com/) about the need for a new Convention Center here in Brownsville. The article discussed a variety of options and venues that would be a suitable venture here as well as an appropriate size to accomodate a decent amount of people. Here's what I have to say to it --- GOOD IDEA! Now before anyone, especially Tony Lehmann, takes my support as any form of criticism, I want to let you know that I agree with you whole-heartedly. I feel that this is a great idea since the newest Events Center that was built on Paredes Line Road cannot accomodate anything that would be major. Yes, it does have a share of events that are very entertaining and informative but it doesn't match up to the convention centers of South Padre Island, McAllen, Hidalgo (especially since they have the Dodge Arena) and other cities that are nearby. We need something larger!

Now, if you don't know me, then you'll learn VERY quickly that I am a giant proponent for the use of existing buildings that are somewhat vacated due to past problems -- whether it be financial, ownership/tenant, etc...I am also a FRIM believer in the development of an arena for "deeper" South Texas. Yes, we (RGV-wise) have one in Hidalgo that is doing very well but we, as a county and as a region, can support another arena or convention center. I feel that the city of Brownsville should look into the creation of an arena that could possibly hold another sports franchise as well as the possibility of venturing with UTB/TSC to create a brand new men's/women's basketball program that would be housed in the arena. While we're at it, why don't we make it home to the UTB/TSC Women's volleyball team and the future Men's volleyball team as well as the FUTURE Men's/Women's HOCKEY TEAM?! C'mon people! we gotta start thinking LARGE from now on...we as a community can do it! I mean, hell, Matamoros has something like 3-4 decent size arenas (if my information is correct) and they have that somewhat brand new Estadio Olimpico...rather nice I must say.

These are just a few of my ideas/suggestions..take them as you will...anyhoot (I say that alot), let me know what you all out there in Internet land think and drop me a comment...

This is my corner....what's yours?