By FRANCISCO E. JIMENEZ
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
US Rep. Filemon Vela is seen inside the San Benito Municipal Building Wednesday, when he met with local elected officials, city dignitaries and citizens. (Photo by Joe Bocanegra)
United States Congressman Filemon Vela visited the San Benito Municipal Building on Wednesday morning to meet with city officials and members of the community.
Vela, who was elected to the newly formed 34th Congressional District of Texas, spoke for about 20 minutes to an audience that included the San Benito City Commission, past and present, Mayor Joe H. Hernandez, citizens and other dignitaries, outlining plans for the community and the Rio Grande Valley.
A particular topic of interest to Vela is the economic development of the area.
“I take my obligations as representative very seriously,” Vela said to a packed Cesar Gonzalez Meeting Hall inside the municipal building. “I view my role as a partner with fellow representatives of the state, county municipal and schools.”
Mayor Hernandez showed excitement about Vela taking the time to visit with members of the community as well as working with the congressman in the future.
“It is huge for the City of San Benito to have a congressman that close and available to us, not only the elected officials, but the community,” said Hernandez. “He is going to be accessible from not even a mile away from here.”
Hernandez was referring to one of Vela’s three district office, which will be located at the Cameron County Annex Building off Williams Road and Expressway 83 Frontage in San Benito.
“It is critical for the public and elected officials to understand that he is our representative,” said City Manager Manuel Lara. “We (city officials) need to make ourselves available to him as he is making himself available to us.”
Lara echoed Vela’s sentiments about the numerous possibilities for economic and agricultural development in the area during a short power point presentation. Lara said that as someone who isn’t originally from the Valley, he acknowledged San Benito and the Valley as “a beautiful jewel that has not been developed.”
“My primary objective was to make sure that the community knows that I’m here to represent everyone here in the district, San Benito is part of that district, and I want everyone to know that I’m here for them,” said Vela. “I plan to work extremely close with Manuel Lara, as I do with every other city manager in my district.”
This story will also be published in the Feb. 3 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
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@RoyMaggard…..
Seriously, you are aware that Congressman Vela was just recently sworn into Congress the 1st week in January. He may not have had enough time to have a fully staffed administration office.
It is not really a fair comparison between newly elected Congressman Vela and an incumbent like Congressman Blake Farenthold, who has been in office since 2010.
I don’t think you should lay blame on Congressman Vela for the lack of communication regarding his public appearance in the City of San Benito. If there is any blame it should be directed at the City of San Benito. They have a “public relations officer” who is responsible for reporting these events to the local media within a reasonable time to allow for public dissemination.
The reason Congressman Blake Farenthold is able to alert the media and his constituents regarding his schedule is due to his congressional “Franking Privilege” or “free postage” perk.
“Franking” refers to the privilege in which certain government officials send mail by signing their names rather than affixing postage (the word comes from the Latin word “francus,” meaning “free”). But “franked” mail isn’t free.
Per Bloomberg Report [Source: U.S. House of Representatives}, from 1st Quarter of 2011 throught 2nd Quarter of 2012, Congressman Farenthold spent $153,687.29 of taypayer dollars on “franking privileges”.
Per the “STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS OF THE HOUSE”,Congressman Blake Farenthold has also spent $39,453.62 in the last reported quarterly report (July through September 2012).
That would be a total of $193,140.91 for twenty-one months with a monthly average of $9,197.19; all just for postage.
My intent is not to pick on Congressman Farenthold because as you can see in the Bloomberg Report, he is not the only one who takes advantage of the “Franking Privilege”.
I am merely putting the comparison by @RoyMaggard in its proper perspective!
Mr. Maggard, generally, visiting “dignitaries,” like Congressman Vela, usually announce their visits adequately in advance for local authorities to notify local media and the public to ensure a large turnout of constituents. The main reason Congressmen make these trips is for voters to see and hear and know them. Otherwise, they’d stay in their bathrobes and issue press releases. This isolation is typical of this city’s administration and commission modus opernadi, exposing only those they control to these events while denying the rest of the people of this community the opportunity to hear firsthand Congressman Vela’s message and see him out of his bathrobe.
I am enclosing a link below to Congressman Vela’s website, Mr. Maggard, where you can send him email. I have also forwarded him a link of this article with the hope he will see what he’s up against in this city and will know who to notify directly for future events. Please take the time to express your disappointment.
Did anyone notice any Veterans in attendance? I have always read about Congressman Blake Farenthold’s visits to San Benito and have traveled from Harlingen to meet with him and his staff and lobbied him for a full service VA Hospital. I have numerous pictures of him and I.
The Valley Morning Star would always publish an article informing the public of Congressman Farenthold’s visit
inviting his constituents to meet with him before his scheduled visit.
I found out about Congressman Vela’s visit after the Valley Morning Star informed the public about his visit.
Can someone from the public please tell me the name of Congressman Filemon Vela’s press secretary and I will send him an email complaining to him or her not informing the public about Mr. Vela’s visit.
The electronic sign is ugly, small, cheap and unreadable to drivers, (if you are keeping your eyes on the road). This expenditure is a total waste of taxpayer monies! Gee, I wonder if they bought it in China?
I am not a supporter of Vela but when he talks about upgrading out VA facilities to a full hospital with ER I am listening. Putting an office in SB is also encouraging. Hope he follows through with promises.
30K for that sign and Boys Girls club get the boot? 10K raise for CM. Choices are made by city and not prioritized well. Voters need to show up next May.
I don’t know what Mr. Crane has been smoking or if he is just intentionally trying to incite citizens to wake up.
If I remember correctly, the total cost quoted when the electronic sign was approved by the City Commission was in the $6,000 to $7,000 range. After seeing the sign, I think they paid too much!
FYI, the City Commission is meeting next Tuesday, Feb 5, 2013. Of particular interest is Agenda Item #8.
8. Consideration and discussion of potential contract with the San Benito Chamber of Commerce and the City.
I guess it is “Adios” to the Boys & Girls Club and “Welcome” to the non-existent non-profit Chamber of Commerce.
Also of interest is the fact that they are planning another “Retreat Meeting” like the one they had last August at Rancho Viejo. It was an all day affair on a Saturday. It is open to the public so If you can make it, show up!
Click AGENDA to view the agenda!
WOW 30 GRAND for that small sign,i thought it came from CHINA.That is a waste of money if it did come from us taxpayers.Maybe the public was not invited to visit with Congressman Vela as the GREAT City Officials were affraid the public might ask him why the city is in such bad shape.Just drive north toward Mcallen and see the growth the smaller cities have.San Benito not even with THREE CITY MANAGERS and their ASSISTANTS have been able to do what these smaller cities are doing.OUR GREAT CITY OFFICIALS don’t have to travel to CHINA or WASHINGTON just travel north and get schooled by the smaller cities.PLEASE!!! and save our taxpayer money instead of spending it unwisely.
From the looks of the photos published on this event, the welcome visit was attended by City employees, with very citizens in attendance. Typical. So who is minding the City?
Why was the “community” excluded or not included? The city knew far enough in advance to plan a reception; why was it not announced through the media? The media was there, they knew in advance. This paper publishes “web exclusives;” why did it not notify the community of our newly elected congressman’s visit so we could listen to what he had to say? Was this by invitation only, the way it was when the Chinese delegation came to town and when Joe Ochoa came to town?
Congressman Vela was done a disservice when he was denied the opportunity to speak to the entire community.The citizens were done a greater disservice when they were denied the opportunity to hearin person the Congressman’s message and feel as though he was personally addressing them. Does anyone truly believe the citizens of this community now feel that the Congressman’s office here in SB will welcome them and care about their concerns when the Congressman didn’t care enough to speak to them in this all-important address to the community?
There is no open government in SB, no tranparency. It’s the elected officials and their few hand-picked associates vs. the rest of the community. This is not the way government is supposed to be executed.
Author
The Congressman’s visit was indeed open to the public and, according to the City of San Benito, not an invitation-only event. The San Benito News did not publish this information in advance because we did not receive the invitation until after presstime Tuesday.
Ok, it was open to the public. How did the public know to attend? It was not posted on the city’s website, and this paper was notified until after presstime. Isn’t the city’s designated person to disseminate information to the media and public, a former editor of the SBNews and a current contributor to the Port Isabel Press, owned and operated by the very same publisher as the SBNews? Do you think this person would have some understanding of the presstime deadline? That’s typical of this administration, say one thing while actions reveal something else entirely.
Certainly, Mr. Editor, you must agree that it was a bit odd that you, as the one media outlet in the community, did not receive the information in more timely manner. (You should have been the first oneto get such information).
Since the City is supposed to have a media expert in residence, if anyone should know about deadlines, this person should and know how to get information to the local media in a timely manner.
Good point, Reforming SB.
Author
It actually happens quite often. All local government entities, nonprofit organizations and associations have been guilty, at one time or another, of informing the media about upcoming events with very short notice. I can think of a few that have called us with only an hour’s notice, some even as the event was occurring. This is absolutely not uncommon, and some of you are well aware of this.
The city has a web page and a Facebook page that one would think they would use it wisely to more efficiently notify the citizens of all meetings and events.
I heard they paid close to $30 grand for the small electronic sign on Bus Hwy 77 by the resaca. It is difficult to read the sign when you are driving 35 to 40 mph. Who is going to stop to read that the K of Columbus is having a VD (Valentines Day) dance.
What a waste of money! The city has a web page,,,,,USE IT…..to inform the public on meeting announcements, or maybe they didn’t want the public to know! Whoever is updating the city web page is doing a LOUSY LOUSY job and probably getting overpaid.
“Nice Gig”, if you can get it.
“In 2013, the House will be in session for a grand total of 126 days. Congress will spend roughly two-thirds of the year not working. In January, Congress will be in session for eight days—which, compared to August where they will be in session for two days, is considered a “full month.” June will be Congress’ busiest month with 16 whole days of work.
If only we could all give ourselves 239 days off every year.”
They also get full benefits, retirement, and airplane fares, and free postage to flood our mailboxes with all the work they did in 126 days or 34.5% of the year!
“It is huge for the City of San Benito to have a congressman that close and available to us, not only the elected officials, but the community,” said Hernandez.
That sound bite about sums up the mayor. He views the elected officials separate from the community.
So everyone in the community is an elected official? Stop trying to make an issue by twisting the mayor’s words. I’m not a supporter of his, but this is getting ridiculous.
Didn’t twist his words; quoted him exactly as printed. Was not making an issue, just an observation. No, not everyone in the community is an elected official. But elected officials are part and representative of the community. They need to accept that fact and not make distinctions between themselves and the rest of the community. Thank you for the exchange, SBR.