By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Sandra Tumberlinson expressed shock and disapproval Friday when she learned of her removal from the San Benito Veterans Advisory Board, action she argues is politically motivated.
According to Tumberlinson, who served on the board since 2003, she has yet to receive formal word of her removal from City of San Benito officials or members of the board.
“I had no idea I was removed,” Tumberlinson said when asked to comment on her removal. “My term doesn’t expire until 2015; the terms that expired this year were Victor Garza and Pilar Vega’s.”
The San Benito City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to replace Tumberlinson on the Veterans Advisory Board with Guadalupe Ayala, a veteran and recently retired San Benito Police Department officer.
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Based on my brief research, the fee is $129 for attending this workshop!
http://www.tcre.org/TexasLeadershipInstitute/Workshops/BoardOperations.aspx
I don’t know if that is a fee per city commission member or per workshop. I won’t know until the city cuts him a check!
I have taken similar courses ”for free” on the internet. Basically it is just exercising your common sense at meetings. The TML (Texas Municipal League) also offers free classes on their web page.
Here are some helpful links:
Texas Attorney General – Open Government & Related Publications:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/publications_og.shtml
Open Meetings Training Video:
https://www.oag.state.tx.us/media/videos/play.php?image=2005openmeetings&id=149
My web page:
http://resacacity.blogspot.com/
On Tuesday the city commission is having a workshop from some company on “The Ten Best Practices for Effective Board Operations.” I wonder how much the city is paying for this workshop. Maybe this workshop should have been held BEFORE the mayor and commissioners unjustifiably replaced so many citizens from our boards.
How ironic!! Now that the commission and mayor have replaced anyone who disagrees with them, they are paying someone to come in and tell them 10 best practices. Hello!?!
How about:
1. Dont replace educated people.
2. Dont replace people who contribute to the board
3. Dont get quoted in newspaper saying that the mayor and commissioners only want people who agree with them
4. Dont appoint people and then kick them off the following year.
5. Don’t replace board members before their terms are up
6. Don’t be prejudice
7. Remember that as mayor, you represent ALL the communmity, not just theose you like
8. If you are going to make a motion that a board member gets replaced, KNOW WHY… don’t just do it because you were told to do it.
9. If you are going to 2nd a motion, KNOW WHY…don’t just do it because a motion was made.
10. Respect the opinions of others
Now the commission is having to pay someone to come in and tell them what they should already know before they ran for office– and we are having to pay for it.
The meeting begins at 5:30, the public is invited.
Somone needs to video tape this meeting and hold the commissioners and mayor accountable for what they will be told by these experts.
See you at the meeting.
Why are you all talking about the school district? This blog is for what the Mayor did to a board member on the veterans board. I’m an old timer, but I don’t have alzheimers!!! I remember a time when people were grateful for the work volunteers did for our city. The mayor and commissioners should be ashamed of themselves. They are too young to remember the sacrifice our families made during WWII. They don’t appreciate the work Mrs. Tumberlinson did for the city. They are the ones who should be removed from their post.
The school buildings were built to insulated we need AC’s but lets cut the free rides and free breakfasts I wonder how much food and drink get thrown away because kids do not fininsh the meal.? My mom use to pack me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast and sliced two skillet cooked hotdogs in half sandwich for lunch and give me 2 quatesr to buy a pint of milk. Man those were the good old days sometimes I just could not wait to get home after football practice for the meat and potatos. Sometimes we just need to move a little sideways and backwards to get results. Hey! sounds like a play we us to call in a footbal huddle!
Where were the rest of the VA Board Members during this close up meeting ? They were practually siting face to face to close for comfort if you ask me . Every meeting should give members space it creates a better atmosphere when debateing on decisons.
The school board will not vote to increase taxes and they will not touch reserves. Question: How did kids get to school before there were buses. Walk, car pool, parents take them to school. How about cutting the intire school transportation system for kids getting to school? No more gas to pay or
maintance crew to repair buses sell the buses get money in return. No need to pay drivers no more insurance to pay. Stop it your spoiling me!!!
Howard Johnson,
Well, why don’t we just remove all ac/heating and get rid of the cafeterias while we’re at it! lol! Let’s move FORWARD not BACKWARDS. 🙂
I say we cut salaries from the TOP, not the bottom. Many were recently told that their salaries would be cut- RIGHT BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS! That is so sad! Que Locura! Praying for my fellow teachers and the rest of the SBCISD staff.
howard johnson your are getting carried away with ways to trim the school budget. She’s right, your going backwards. Take those opinions to your legislators, senators, govenors. They can cut ac from the prisons, cut their meals, cut their allowed visits, cut, cut, cut on the prisons. Or am I going backwards?
Wow concerned; no raises for paraprofessionals and staff? When was it last that paraprofessionals received a raise? I don’t think the voters will go for a tax increase if recommended by Mr. Limon. I believe it will be up to the school board to vote on it. But prior to this vote they will receive plenty of phone calls from registered voters that vote at every election.
As I said before, now Mr. Limon wants a tax increase so, maybe there will be no job cuts, never raises for para’s and staff, who help cut budget expenses when teachers are out so they do not have to hire substitutes.
Reading the SB Paper and VMS about the budget shortfall once again this year, I am wondering why Mr. Limon recommended and the board recently approved a 12K (?) raise to an administrator? DID SHE ASK FOR THE RAISE? we are not a business that produces income like a successful company like Chuy Aguielera’s T-Shirt business. Oh my gosh, I read that the low paying employees have not seen an increase in two years? And a top administrator receives a huge raise? Watch out new school board members that wanted change.
I am wondering why “the little man” Mayor Hernandez is so upset. He did not pay his taxes, it was in the charter, the charter was read, analyzed, and re-read. Had he paid his taxes he would have not been removed. And he said it himself, he learned his lesson. His learning a lesson that we should pay our taxes? Isn’t he like 65 yrs. to old to be learning a lesson that you should pay your taxes!
Your right “Reforming San Benito”. Was it last year that that I believe Victor Garza proposed not allowling any political demos out there? Did he think he was going to see Sandra Tumberlinson, Bob Tumberlinson, Oscar Medrano, Oscar de la Fuente, etc. up there. I DON’T THINK SO SIR! THESE ARE A FEW OF MANY FINE, HONEST, INTELLIGENT, HARD WORKING CITIZENS OF SAN BENITO THAT VOLUNTEER their time from this short life the Lord has given us. And speaking of intelligent, “What intelligent mayor would remove from city boards a CPA with extensive knowledge and years of experience. A former commissioner with extensive knowledge and experience in the business world (globally), a former school administrator and school educator that do so much for the community. A mayor that desires the best for the city would definitely not have taken this action as Mayor Hernandez did. OMG!
I watched the videos. OMG!!! It is very obvious that Charlie Wilson and the others had already decided what they were going to vote on when Charlie tells Mrs. Tumberlison that he was there to vote on getting it done, not to discuss things. WHAT? According to the way meetings are conducted in the United States, members are enouraged to discuss a topic before voting— unless of course, its already a done deal and Charlie Wilson didn’t want to listen to a woman expose him/
I do not believe this is about lifestyle and money. How else can one explain the retaliation against the others? This is not strictly about haves and have nots. This is about pure vengeance and lust for power. There are “benefits” that can be obtained by unscrupulous people and groups as a result of power and control. Removing from boards and committees those who do not follow and replacing them with ones who do, solidifies the unscrupulous persons objectives.
Senior analyst….. 1. Who she’s married to. 2. accusations towards her at work…( I agree politically motivated…) 3. Gutsy- Outspoken ( is it wrong to say things that are true and publicly?) 4. Plain JEALOUSY!!!!( of the Tumberlinsons…they have $$$$ and a good lifestyle …something that will take many of us years to acquire..personally speaking…lol)………senior analyst..thats my opinion…
Few years back victor garza would have gotten my vote because of his education, business background, and family values. But he has changed and so have I.Victor was a person that I once admired for his kindness that has been replaced by ill will feelings. He has let someone blurr his vision. Why all the animosity toward Sandra Tumberlinson?
Imagine the treatment Mrs. Tumberlinson would have received had it not been for the camera!
What you witnessed in these videos and in these persons actions since that meeting last September in removing Jack Garcia’s name from the plaque, is vigilante justice – they have taken the law into their own hands. Rather than challenging the legitimacy of Garcia’s mayoral status in a court of law, Hernandez withdrew his suit and these three took it upon themselves to declare Garcia never the rightful mayor. The video does not lie – Wilson blurts out that he has “three legal opinions” to support his claim. But a court of law never validated their claims as they apply to San Benito. By taking the law into their own hands, they have violated the law and the constitutional rights of those who they have retaliated against.
These three men stand before this community waving the American flag and touting their actions on behalf of fallen veterans as something noble. Perhaps it started that way but their actions over the past year has tarnished this community’s tribute to veterans and all they sacrificed to preserve our freedoms and our ideals. They have taken the law into their own hands, played judge and jury, and decided amongst themselves that Jack Garcia was never mayor of San Benito. Without the benefit of a court of law, they have stripped Jack Garcia of his rightful place in the history of San Benito, and deprive Mrs. Tumberlinson and others the opportunity to serve their community for merely disagreeing.
Last year these three men proposed an ordinance to make the Memorial “hallowed” ground, to make it illegal to have political demonstrations at the Memorial. The commission went along with it, in spite of questions raised by the ACLU. What do these three do? Make their own political demonstration under the guise of the Memorial.
The San Benito Veteran’s War Memorial belongs to the people of San Benito, not these three. They are misusing and abusing the property that rightfully belongs to this city and all its citizens, to carry out their unlawful scheme to trample rights of citizens of this community, and defy the very ideals this Memorial was built to honor in the men and women who died in preservation of American ideals.
ACLU, are you paying attention?
After viewing these video snippets of the Veterans Advisory Board meeting of 6-Sept-2011 posted by REFORMING SAN BENITO facebook account, it is painfully ironic that Mayor Joe Hernandez booted Mrs. Tumberlinson from her UNEXPIRED appointment to the VAB because, in his opinion, “her behavior would not be tolerated”.
The bad behavior and complete lack of decorum in the sense of tact and politeness displayed by Mr. Charlie Wilson and Mayor Joe Hernandez is beyond the pale.
Even with the presence of a video-tape camera they still did not hold back in their animosity toward Mrs. Tumberlinson!
“The truth really does hurt!”
Check out these video briefs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iSyaj02L2Gk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UrdHz7XtHOU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y1ipsOCKViE
With overhelming opposition on this board to what the Mayor and his subjects do, no one supports him at all. But when it comes to voting time, ignorance wins. Is it because they have figured out how to get the votes? Small but effective political machine. Favors are done so is it for votes? Take down the plaques and give credit only to those who gave all.
Were the voters fooled by comments during election time that they were going to be open minded. BS….they are there to continue the corruption and make money.King Joe is not educated and it really shows…if you keep looking back, you are not going forward…..There was waste during the King’s last term and deals were made….Nothing is going to surprise anyone anymore…
This action by Hernandez is not “politically” motivated, it is criminally motivated. Hernandez, the current commission and VAB members Wilson and Garza, are acting in concert to retaliate against those who Hernandez’ believes wronged him. For a sampling of the motive for conspiracy between Hernandez, Garza and Wilson, view the video link below.
Hernandez is retaliating against Mrs. Tumberlinson because she is the lone dissenting vote to removing the name of Mayor Jack Garcia from the Veteran’s Memorial plaque.
Hernandez is retaliating against Mr. Garcia on account of his status as a public servant who recognized Hernandez forfeiture of his office for non-payment of taxes in 2010.
Hernandez has also recently retaliated against former Commissioners Elliott and Sanchez, on account of their status as a public servant who recognized Hernandez’ forfeiture for non-payment of taxes in 2010. Hernandez, conspiring with commission members, removed Elliott and Sanchez from the EDC board while their terms had not yet expired.
Hernandez, conspiring with existing and newly appointed San Benito Housing Authority board members, retaliated against former City Attorney Jan Cassidy who, on account of her status as a public servant, gave the opinion that Hernandez forfeited his office as mayor for non-payment of taxes in 2010.
Hernandez, with the help of his fellow co-conspirators, has now retaliated against just about everyone Hernandez feels politically wronged him. Now that he has completed his mission of retaliation, there will be a new criminal complaint filed against him and his co-conspirators in the coming days.
Hernandez and his co-conspirators have committed numerous violations of Texas Penal Code Sections 36.06 and 39.02. As is clear in the full recording of the VAB meeting of September 6, 2011, Hernandez, Garza and Wilson committed an overt act with the intent that a felony be committed (Sect. 36.06), as defined in Texas Penal Code Section 15.02 Criminal Conspiracy. Since so many of the commissioners and board members participated in combination with Hernandez and conspired to help him achieve his retaliation, it will be alleged that they all participated in organized criminal activity, as defined in Texas Penal Code Section 71.02(a)(9).
Hernandez once chose to sue the City of San Benito to regain the office of mayor. When that did not yield the result he desired, he withdrew his suit and again ran for mayor. Since his reelection, he has set out to retaliate against those he felt wronged him, and placed on boards those who would help him carry out his revenge. He has been successful in his revenge campaign. Soon we will learn if the cost to himself and his co-conspirators was worth it.
http://www.facebook.com/reforming.sanbenito#!/reforming.sanbenito
Our men and women went to war to fight and died for the same thing that we have here in San Benito: A man who wants to take over the world with his own philosophy.
Our men and women payed for our freedoms with their lives, and our mayor couldn’t even pay his taxes.
This is the man who takes good people off boards because they DARE to disagree with him.
This is the man who HAS TO HAVE HIS NAME on a plaque before the service men and women who died get their names on a monument.
This is the man who is quoted in the paper saying that he only wants people on the boards who agree with the commission.
Isn’t this America where everyone has the right to have a difference of opinion and vote that way?
What is he going to do next? Who will he eliminate next?
How long is the community going to allow this man to be our dictator?
They will all be in jail soon! Watch out Carlos…don’t take off those rose colored glasses of yours…they will poke your eyes!
obviously he is not stupid or else you wouldn’t think he had so much influence and power!
Just smile and wave, people! This pathetic commission and mayor will be OUT soon enough. I can’t wait for election time.
Worse mayor in the history of San Benito is an understatement. WAKE UP SAN BENITO! THIS MAN AND HIS BUDDIES WILL RUN OUR CITY TO THE GROUND! SHAME ON YOU MAYOR HERNANDEZ!!!!
Ever since hernandez got caught not paying his taxes on his home, business and another property , his only focus has been revenge, meanwhile Sb taxpayers have to put up with filty grass strewn streets and stagnant city growth
shameful that the “Little man” is removing educated people who dedicated their time and efforts to better the city. He’s bickering over getting his name on a plaque. Meanwhile take a look at the city … filty streets with grass overgrowing the sidewalks, empty lots, cars parked in front yards. It normal to him , he feels right at home.
Of course it was politically motivated. King Joe Hernandez has spoken. Common courtesy says you notify somebody if you are removing them from an unexpired appointment. If you don’t support the king, you are not part of his kingdom, aka city Hall. He is using the taxpayer dollars as his own to reward his supporters. For example, as the San Benito News reported, the CDBG committee recommended a $7000 grant to the START program but King Hernandez would not have any of that. He had it reduced to $2000 and gave the $5000 back to administration, possibly for salary increases for the administration people, who are already very well paid. The new city commissioners who were supposed to be independent thinkers are nothing more that puppets whose strings are pulled by the king. I am told that the biggest puppet is Mr. Penny who has to be told by the King how and what motion to make.
The citizens of San Benito need to start voting for people with experience, education, and common sense instead of voting for puppets who will bow to the king.
King Hernandez lack of class is only exceeded by his complete arrogance. The dude just does not care what you think or that the citizens of San Benito are referred to as San Benidiots by the rest of the valley.
Victor Garza should have been the one removed! This man acts like he owns the city and runs the memorial like if its only his. He was the main guy who pushed to have the plaque changed to benefit the mayor. How conveniant!! He is so arrogant! But then again he is part of the Mayor’s click. Go figure! Removing Mrs. Tumberlinson is just another slap on the face by the current administration. The mayor and his plaque will go down in history as the worst mayor ever in San Benito. It’s time to elect a mayor elected by the people, for the people!!!!
The “Little Man” has a checklist that contains all who are not in his camp. He is relentless in removing from boards ALL who do NOT support his agenda. How said that someone with no character is in office