By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Children of the Boys and Girls Club of San Benito are seen interacting with staff and volunteers. (Photo by Linda Treviño)
The Boys and Girls Club of San Benito has been serving the community since 1977, but on Tuesday club representatives will be asking the mayor and city commissioners to help keep their doors open.
Chief Tommy Ramirez of the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department, who also serves as board president for the club, stated that the club is currently lacking funds to operate and may have no more than 90 days before it is forced to discontinue.
Specifically, Ramirez said the club once received upwards to $75,000 from City of San Benito’s Community Development Block Grant funding. Currently, however, Ramirez said the club’s CDBG allocation is $9,000. Still, Ramirez stressed that there are other factors to consider.
“We’re calling this the ‘Save The Club Campaign,’” Ramirez said Friday. “Over the past several years, the city has drastically reduced funding to the Boys and Girls Club, as well as United Way’s funds for the club.”
According to Ramirez, grants have become scarce. As a result, the revenues going into the club are not enough to cover the expenses to pay for maintenance, utilities and more, Ramirez said.
Club Director Mario Cervantes also expressed concern regarding the matter. Cervantes said, “I understand that the economy is very weak and everyone is struggling for funding, but after the services that the Boys and Girls Club provides the community it would be sad to see it close. We wish it will continue to provide those services to the community.”
“We’ve already reduced staff drastically,” Ramirez said. “The only reason that doors are still open is because the Cameron County Juvenile Justice Department went into a partnership with Boys and Girls Club and implemented an early prevention program resulting in the ability to place several staff to run the programs.”
Ramirez said he was informed that one reason for the lack of funding for the club is due to the City of San Benito having less funding available to disperse.
“Based on the current fiscal status, we have enough funds to run for approximately 90 days before we have to consider shutting the place down,” said Ramirez. “Basically, closing the facility would eliminate having the afterschool program, summer program, and many activities offered year-round for the children of San Benito and surrounding communities.”
The club currently has a membership of nearly 1,000 children between the ages of five to 18 years old.
“What we are asking from city and school district, and the community as a whole, is to come forward and help us find a way to keep the Boys and Girls Club open,” Ramirez said, adding that he hopes city officials will recommit to additional funds for the club. “It’s simple, not complicated.”
San Benito City Manager Manuel Lara said that he would make sure that the club makes its way onto the agenda for the City Commission meeting on Tuesday.
“All I know that I got a call late (Thursday) and was asked to add Ramirez to the agenda for a presentation and possible action,” Lara said. “That is the extent of my knowledge. I did leave a message with (City Secretary) Lupita (Passement) to make sure she added item to agenda.”
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 8, at 5:30 p.m. inside the San Benito Municipal Building Cesar Gonzalez Meeting Hall.
Read this story in the Jan. 6 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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The City Manager is a virus that spread to the Mayor & the City Commissioners.Cut the head of the snake and the rest will fall.
San Benito politics at its best…. Leaving the children to fend for themselves. Has this group been taken lessons from the SBCISD board of trustees? Has even one commissioner stepped into the Boys and Girls Club?
I am just offering my thoughts and maybe solution to situation. A person in change of an agency/program like Boys/girls club, would have to know funding depends a lot on support of community and private donations. I wouldn’t have waited until now to raise that awareness ,(much less waiting for city /govt to pay), but throughout year been holding some fundraising activities. Perhaps a simple 2k or 5k run/walk, auction,music-cook and much less beingout at Heavin trail,list goes on,,,
The CDBG grant for 2011-2012 was $455,664, while last year’s grant was reduced to $398,903. Two years ago, the B&G Club asked for $21,000 of CDBG funds and received $15,000. Last year, they asked for $20,000 and received $9,500. Difficult to understand why it didn’t ask for more given the fact that they are short $70,000+ now. Regardless, since 68% of FY2012-2013’s grant was earmarked to pay for previous loans for street repairs and the purchase of heavin trail properties, it leaves little to spread around for housing assistance, administrative salaries/costs, and public services such as the B&G Club. Last year, the B&G Club request comprised 14.1% of the total requested funds for public services and received 52.7% of the total funds allocated for public services. Hopefully, these figures will help in understanding the dilemma facing our community.
#twocentsworth
you are repeating the same percentages quoted at the tuesday meeting. Since you are in the inner circle, what is the base salary for staff members of the cdbg?
You hit the nail right on the head Boys and Girls Clubs are all about fund raiseing to stay open they go hand in hand along with donations. Someone better get busy and start paying attention or maybe the club needs a new conductor. It feels like the economy gets the blame for everything. A discount book for restaurant meals from the local communities eateries would be nice. Matthew 25 verses 14-30 The Parable of the Talents.
I have a conflict of conscience on this issue. It’s my understanding that the CDBG is partially funding the drainage repair project currently underway in SB, with the work being done by CUBCO Construction. It’s also my understanding that the wife of the CUBCO principle is none other than the sister of the CDBG Director, who is living with the city manager. And therein lies my conflict, that the CDBG can’t find funding to help the hundreds of children of SB, yet can find funding to help a family member receive a lucrative contract from the city and those needy families of the city. Not sure what to think. Maybe the conflict is not mine.
I have no idea if the Mayor or the City Commissioners are going to provide funds to the Boys and Girls Club but this I know. They provided hefty pay increases to the City Manager and rewarded other individuals. They knew the Boys and Girls Club needed help. They never formed committees to fund the pay increases. They are forming a committee to fund a necessary club? Forming committees is done when they want to redirect blame for decisions. It’s a no brainer…. Did anyone notice the City Manager placed a “Just Cause” in his contract in case he is released? 105K dollars. This is done by smart people who see the horizon and it doesn’t look good. His purpose now will be to distract the community with other issues of lesser importance. He will promote trivial issues and make them seem important goody-goody things. Poor guy. It took him three years to become a seasoned politician. I hope he looks in the mirror and sees he has become like those around him
The commissioners need to show that they truly care about this city and its youth.
out the whopping 52% how much does that actually equate in $$$$$
52% makes it sound like $10K, $20K or more… or was 52% a few hundred dollars… who really knows the figures.
Boys Club was running fine for the last few years.. i remember seeing games on the weekends and the concession stands going at “full throttle” i didn’t see that this year.
I attended the commission meeting and bottom line is the City Commission made a motion to set up a committee to look into the issue.
Mr. Ramirez from the Boys & Girls Club gave a nice presentation on the benefits being provided to the roughly 900 registered kids of the club. They serve roughly 70 to 75 kids on a daily basis. They provide recreation, baseball league, tutoring, etc.
Basically, some members of the Commission and the CDBG took a defensive posture. Some members of the Commission spoke on what big supporters they are of the B&G Club. The Commission invited Mr.Morales from the CDBG to defend the CDBG and provided a bunch of percentages (no dollar amounts) of the total monies the CDBG has provided to the B&G Club.
Not once did I hear anybody say they will continue to support the B&G Club and do everything possible to keep funding the B&G club.
It was interesting to hear the comment that the B&G club received more non-financial support from the City of Harlingen business district than others.
Losing the B&G club would be a huge loss not only to the kids but a negative public relations fiasco for the City of San Benito.
Anonymous: So did they approve any funds for the Club from the city budget? Mr. Editor, will you keep up posted please. The children of this community are our future. Just wondering if any of these elected officials ever had their children attend the Club?
Author
We’re on it!
Can someone find out how much bang for the buck did we get from the trip to China to promote the city?
The country has been in an Economic down slide since 2008, why did our leaders choose to take a vacation to China? (I”m sorry, a Business Trip to China) to be FAIR.
Shirley, your jest!
You didn’t really think the taxpayers would receive a bang for their buck on the China trip. This was nothing more than a BOONDOGGLE (a project that is considered a useless waste of both time and money) for all those who made the trip. Politicians call it a fact-finding-tour. I call it the Fleecing of the American Taxpayer!!! You don’t hear the mayor or anybody else talking about it anymore. The little bird says their next trip is to Washington DC.
It truly sad that the city doesn’t step up and help out the club the way they are suppose to. Clubs from surroundings places get full support from their cities. In today’s meeting they stated that the club gets, and I quote, “A WHOOPING 52% out of 15%” from cdbg. If I’m correct that is only between 7-8 percent in total and for them it’s more than enough. Wow this city needs to get their priority straight!!! Our children are our future. If we don’t look out for them then who will. The club has been a home for thousands of members for more than 20 years. The city commissioners need to realizes that saving the club is the best thing for this city!
I believe if this director would tighten his expenses and watch that the lights won’t stay on too long maybe they wouldn’t be in this situation .to cut some expenses maybe they can install lighting inside the parks .
The City Adminstration of San Benito have money to give increase in salaries. As a taxpayer, I hope each commissioner votes to fund the Boys and Girls Club. It is the RIGHT THING to do for our children. The taxpayers’ eyes will be watching. San Benito News, please keep us updated on Tuesday’s night action.
The CBDG has some monies set aside for some nice projects to enhance the community, at this point, keeping the BOYS N GIRLS CLUB open should take precedence over upcoming projects. Lets see how this new commission handles this much needed organization that ensures our children are off the streets and doing something positive. Everyone should jump onboard and call your commissioner and mayor. Their are several board members that are not PRO Boys N Girls Club, by that I mean “Dont Support their Program”.
LIGHT THE FIRE, CALL YOUR COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR.
now a days we have enough money for juvenile detention centers but we do not have money to keep kids off the streets. if its not making the city money, good luck on getting help.