By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Michael Rodriguez
We still don’t know anything. At least that’s been my thought when faced with the barrage of coverage the Stonewall Jackson Hotel has recently received. Sure, there have been plenty of articles published by other local newspapers and TV stations since the San Benito News first broke the story almost two weeks ago. But looking at it from the perspective of a reader, I have to say that I’m often left with the same thought after reading these stories: Why is this important to me?
Do I really need to know when the fire escapes and door frames have been painted a lighter shade of maroon, or be told that tenants have been “evicted” when they really haven’t? And how many times do we have to hear about people having nowhere else to go when, in the event of displacement, agencies such as the San Benito and Brownsville housing authorities and Loaves and Fishes have already expressed potential solutions regarding possible living accommodations.
Still, if there’s one bit of information that was reported in which we all could have done without, it was how superhero editors demanded the release of public records that were “readily available.”
Not one of the brightest moments in the history of journalism.
Allow me, if you will, to tell a few not-so riveting stories that, while not compelling, offer a different view of Stonewall Jackson than what you’ve been subjected to these last several days.
With a camera in hand, I walked the building’s hallways with another reporter and photographer to find these notices that I had mentioned earlier. Frustrated, hot (there’s no air condition at the building) and suffocated by the stink of urine, mildew and smoke that lingers, I was ready to call it a day after just 30 minutes. This, believe it or not, has been my most pleasant experience at Stonewall Jackson – ever.
Take into consideration an encounter I had at the hotel with a man who pretended to know me. “Hey! What’s up, dude?” he jived. In an attempt to utilize this newfound friendship to my benefit, I went along with it and reciprocated the friendly conversation. And if I had $2.00, he would have told me everything I needed to know about the hotel, including introducing me to the manager who I later identified on my own, anyway.
Then there was Thursday, when I escorted fellow reporter Heather Cathleen Cox into the building. She wanted to see the reported code violations for herself, and I was still in search of those notices. It’s too bad that the manager, Edwin Talavera, approached us and asked that we leave. While we would normally acquiesce such a request, a young man who was translating for the non-English speaking manager displayed hostility.
At first, the youngster informed us that we can no longer enter the building as per the advice of their attorney. When I asked for the attorney’s name, they changed their story and said it was the fire chief who had supposedly refused reporters entry into Stonewall. All the while, this kid became increasingly agitated with my questions. Naturally, I asked him another one. “Why are you angry?” I inquired, and to which he replied, “Well, because I am. Do you have a problem with that?”
Oh, thems fightin’ words!
I smiled and informed him that I did have a problem, but when you’re inside a building like Stonewall Jackson, you don’t want to attract too much attention to yourself. So in the interest of keeping the peace, Heather and I walked out. I made a few phone calls and later discovered that they had lied to us about the fire chief.
All that aside, we actually resolved the issues the following day, when we returned with police escorts who were gracious enough to provide an authoritative presence. Talavera, meanwhile, welcomed us with open arms (hairball’s note: it helped when we informed him that we weren’t from the Valley Morning Star).
What we found in an hour-long tour of the building that followed were used syringes, old spoons that had been used to melt down certain substances, and open windows on the second and third floor that a Chihuahua mix almost jumped out of.
Folks, whatever Stonewall Jackson was or used to be it is no longer. That’s been obvious for years. Our interests should focus on the families who remain there and whether or not such an environment is indeed harmful, as city officials would argue.
To read this story in print, pick up a copy of the September 16 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
1 comment
Bravo, and well said!