Street repair talks continue

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
Reporter@sbnewspaper.com

The San Benito City Commission held a special workshop Monday, Feb. 2 to discuss the rehabilitation of three private streets which had been previously placed on the agenda of a regularly-scheduled meeting last month.

The streets up for discussion were Railroad Road (paving and utilities), Roberts Drive and Schneider Road (paving and utilities). “I put Schneider Road on the agenda,” said City Commissioner Joe D. Gonzalez, “because I was called by a citizen regarding a garbage situation. But then I noticed that the street has fillings. Another citizen stopped by referencing the water line. I started questioning why we were putting in water lines. I think that is totally unethical.”

Gonzalez further said, “Schneider (Rd.) was annexed by the county in 1976. It’s a public road, but not dedicated to the City. I took it off the agenda because I saw (City Manager Manuel) Lara had already put it on the list.”

To that end, Lara said, “It’s my fault. All three of those are private roads. We cannot spend tax dollars on a private road.”

Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

 

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2015/02/04/street-repair-talks-continue/

5 comments

Skip to comment form

    • Karma is a ***** on February 6, 2015 at 4:48 pm
    • Reply

    Quote by Commissioner Joe D. Gonzalez on the San Benito News:

    “….. Another citizen stopped by referencing the water line. I started questioning why we were putting in water lines. I think that is totally unethical.”

    This is “PRICELESS” coming from a member of the City Commission who, as reported in this newspaper in a previous edition, is dragging their feet placing the “ETHICS ORDINANCE” back on the agenda for a vote after they tabled it what 2 1/2 or 3 years ago. I believe it was also reported the ethics ordinance was a strict requirement by the City Charter.

    By the way, I don’t believe Mayor Sanchez was in office at the time or is even aware of it.

    I, for one, do not believe it was the administration’ fault for this. Unfortunately, it is the city commission who maintains the “purse strings” and carry the power to terminate the city manager. Just ask the previous city manager. I too would take the blame to keep my job.

    Message to Commissioners Joe D. Gonzalez and JD Penny who are up for re-election:

    “You can fool SOME of the people ALL of the time, and ALL of the people SOME of the time, but you can not fool ALL of the people ALL of the time.” ABRAHAM LINCOLN

      • And that is the truth ... on February 9, 2015 at 9:39 am
      • Reply

      One thing for sure. JD Gonzalez KNOWS unethical.

  1. The fix is easy tax payers, do not re-elect Joe G or Penny. Joe D’s egotistical ways of wanting to control the city has really set us back. All moves are to benefit Joe D and his control of everything. Enough, let’s vote him and his puppet out.. Cava will be watching Lupita closely this year, so we should have a much cleaner elections.. 2015 Joe D and Penny out..

    • Zembar on February 4, 2015 at 2:48 pm
    • Reply

    Oh boy, this issue of street repairs goes on and on with nothing getting done. Lets hold a workshop to form a committee to find a committee to find a consultant blah,blah,blah. Lara’s reaction to complaints has been “oh we have a street problem?”. I’ve got to get a hold of Gonzalez’s phone number apparently if you call him about a street needing repairs it gets bumped to the beginning of the list. And speaking of list, what happened to the list the was formed by a citizen committee a few years ago. I recall the city posting a large sign on swanson st. with great fanfare. It listed the streets in order of repair. The previous mayor called it “the biggest street repair in SB history”. Truly, the streets are awful . I’m getting to know the city workers that putter by on their truck filling potholes with asphalt. ,I wave to them , they wave back, I see them often down my street .

    Thank you Ms. Cox for excellent reporting. Thank you editor and staff. I love investigative reporting.

      • Mr. & Mrs. Fedup-Taxpayer on February 4, 2015 at 3:25 pm
      • Reply

      Actually, you can call any of the city commissioners and your street will be added to the list. Don’t you know, it is election time for commissioners JD Gonzalez and JD Penny. It now seems the city commissioners are having the citizens submit petitions for street repairs. Commissioner JD Gonzalez says he was contacted by a citizen regarding a garbage situation. Could that be the owner of the property, Mr. Schneider? It is the spinning of the truth that is unethical. …..ergo, the truth will set you free.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.