WHO IS ANTHONY TROIANI? (CLICK ON IMAGE TO MAGNIFY)

Update Regarding the Texas Primary Election

Update Regarding the Texas Primary Election

As a result of the actions taken by the Federal District Court in San Antonio and the U.S. Supreme Court in recent days toproperly review the issues associated with the redistricting maps in Texas, the U.S. District Court in San Antonio, the Republican Party of Texas and the Texas Democrat Party reached an agreement last Friday regarding the date of the Texas Primary Election for 2012.

The general primary election for Texas was originally scheduled for March 6, 2012, but because of the judicial review of the redistricting plans, many of the election deadlines will need to be moved. The agreement will be contingent upon the Court entering redistricting plans for the Texas House, Texas Senate, and United States Congress by February 1, 2012. If this takes place the Texas Primary Election schedule for the Republican and Democrat Parties will be:
Feb 1, 2012: New residency deadline for candidates seeking election to the Texas House and Texas Senate.
Feb 2, 2012: The respective state party chair will deliver their list of candidates to the Secretary of State.
Feb 3, 2012: County Executive Committees will conduct their drawing for candidate order on the ballot.
Feb 11, 2012: First day for a voter to submit an application for an early ballot by mail for the primary election.
April 3, 2012: Texas Primary Election for the Republican and Democrat Parties for all positions on the ballot.
April 14 or April 21: County and Senatorial District Conventions. The date will be determined by the respective party chairman.
June 5, 2012: General primary run-off election (if necessary).

KLEBERG COUNTY, TX: p PLEAD ON RAX MURDER

Kleberg County, TX -- DANIEL GONZALES On (8-21-1983) plead guilty and was the last
Defendant sentenced with involvement in the Rax Murder. As part of a
plea deal with the State, Daniel Gonzalez plead guilty to two counts
of Aggravated Assault under the law of parties and was sentenced to
the maximum of 20 years in each count. In return, the Murder charge
was dismissed. Mr. Gonzalez also plead guilty on a subsequent charge
of Possession of a Controlled Substance with intent to deliver and
received 42 years in prison, to run concurrent with all other causes.

The Possession of a Controlled Substance case evolved from an
investigation by the Kingsville Task Force, the Sheriff's Department
and the Texas Attorney General's Office when Mr. Gonzales, who was out
on bond on murder charges, was found to be selling cocaine. The
Kleberg County District Attorney's Office reviewed and the Kingsville
Task Force ran a search warrant on August 24, 2011 based on coded
telephone calls the Defendant was making at the time. Assistant Texas
Attorney General Ralph Guerrero, who was appointed as Attorney Pro Tem
in the murder case also assisted the District Attorney's Office in the
possession case.

District Attorney John Hubert said, "The assistance of the Attorney
General's Office, in combination with the cooperation from local law
enforcement, helped to reach this plea agreement. With tightening
budgets and few resources, assistance from the Attorney General's
Office in these complicated cases helped us to reach a fair plea
agreement with limited impact on other pending cases." Two other
Defendants in the August 8, 2010 Rax Murder case were previously
sentenced at trial to life in prison for their involvement in the
murder. There are still four unrelated murder cases pending in
Kleberg County.

EL VAMPIRE DE ROBESTON (THE ROBSTOWN, TEXAS VAMPIRE)

FOLKLORE: "EL VAMPIRO DE ROBE" (OF ROBSTOWN, TEXAS)

Robstown had a vampire? In 1958 or so lived in “el campo-santo” (cemetery) and he used to stand and comb his hair in the St. Anthony church area -- especially when a couple got married – even at quinceaneras (15^th year birthday).

Emiliano Carreon shared his enchanting mythological story – but he cited it as if it was yesterday. According to him, there was/is an underground chamber in the “campo-santo viejo” (old cemetery). He lived there, TV and other regular modern appliances.

“Era un hombre vestido de negro como Dracula (he was a man that dressed in black much like Dracula),” stated Emiliano Carreon at the local McDonalds. "I asked the vampire why he always placed himself in front of the bride and groom.." He (the vampire) said: 'Come here…' he showed me an espejito (mirror) and he could see the novia (bride) disrobed…”

No one ever talked to him – but Emiliano had the gumption to approach him and satiate his curiosity at a time when he --… Emiliano was there helping at church with a raffle/fundraiser.

WHY WOULD A VAMPIRE PRAY?

“The vampire would go walking to the church through the railroad tracks… I live in that area.” He would, according to Emiliano, even to inside the church and pray. A priest which I will not name would stand far away in the altar when he came in and burn 'copal": some kind of smelly incense."

“The old testament says, God is the god of both evil and good. It is up for us to decide… Like a circuit, we are, a positive and a negative wire.. our brain has a positive and a negative and it controls the body and other things.. Even the angels in heaven (like those in hell) God allows them to be mischievous. It is man which he gives liberties to while they are alive,” he shared his beliefs.

WAS HE RICH OR POOR?

“Apparently he was not a vampire pobre, because he could not afford to buy bags of blood that are sold at Memorial Hospital by the way.. todo se manija con dinero (all can be managed smoothly most of the time with money).”

“I don’t know what happen to him; if he died or not… he just disappeared. He preyed on women - especially Robstown women, Mexicanas. He loved their thick cheekbones and spunky resistance....There was another after that would dress like Freddy Fender, but when he died they didn’t like him because he was gay,” he concluded.

PHIL VELA FOR CONGRESS???

PHIL VELA FOR CONGRESS??? Just got wind of news that yes, phil vela, is considering running for the newly redistricted congressional seat 27 – runs from this area to Brownsville. Phil is 13^th court of appeals judge rose vela’s husband. His late, beloved father was a federal judge in the valley: his mom, was mayor of Brownsville… he once played a leadership on this area – first as a democrat, then as a republican. He help placed many in judicial posts – he helped open a flood gate of political opportunities for republicans here in the region. Has the whole expectional agende being messed up???

U.S. REP. FARENTHOLD'S DISTRICT DIRECTOR EXPRESSING ANTI-MEXICAN SENTIMENTS? Racial Jujitsu? Expediency?

On Thursday, September 15 U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold’s District Director – that is, Steve Ray (who also owns a public relations company) was a guest on Jim Lago’s conservative radio show and consented with Lago that Hispanic Studies should be done away with at the universities though out the country. As Lago hammered away with his anti-Mexican culture sentiments, Ray bubbled back with reinforcement.

What was most upsetting to many an Hispanic listening was that during Hispanic Heritage month – September – the anti-Mexican fervor was high. Radio host Lago questioned ethnic studies so as to posture himself politically and attempted to identify a clear target to lash out at: “Why do we need Mexican American studies?” Lago implicitly and explicitly insisting further that the latter seems to be an anti-Anglo curriculum. Lago reinforcing that Anglos now when from being the majority to the new victims of oppression by minorities’ quotas and special educational programs. And U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold’s District Director (so as to repeat his name) -- Steve Ray – immediately reinforced: “I agree with you we should all just be good Americans?” Racial jujitsu.

“Good Americans” – these two words opened old historical scars in many a minority person listening who had struggled to struggle to eliminate the stereotypes and somehow Hispanics and others are not “American” enough. “In Blake Farenthold’s District Director I saw an image as if he was a wild cat trying to scratch out eyes out – so we won’t see the our own sense of who we are as a people and our way of life,” Joe Molina told this publication.

Farenthold’s District Director so as to aggrandize his anti-Hispanic sentiments and remarks went on to say he had Hispanic children and even allude to something fairly wary about Afro-American culture. Ray reinforced the myth that “whites” (or “Anglos) are racially oppressed in the area.

But Steve Ray’s echo resounds louder than most think. His boss, U.S. Representative Farenthold (who has deviated from his liberal grandma, Sissy Farethold, due to political expediency it seems) has identified not only with the growing signs of this displaced racial anxiety, but with a group of regional and state and national tea party fanatics that identify discrimination against whites as being just as big as bigotry aimed at Hispanics and blacks and other minorities.

“Good Americans” or is it Ray’s and Farenthold’s view are a growing concern in most colleges – some colleges are offering courses in "Whiteness Studies" as white Americans cope with becoming what one commentator calls a "dispossessed majority group." A Texas group recently formed the "Former Majority Association for Equality" to offer college scholarships to needy white men.

U.S. Census Bureau projections that (Anglo) whites will become a minority by 2050 are fueling fears that whiteness no longer represents the norm. This fear has been compounded by the recent recession, which hit whites hard.

Here regionally Conservative talk-show host Lago argues sometimes openly and sometimes amenably in the cited radio show that Republicans are an "oppressed minority" in need of a civil rights movement because its members willingly sit in the back of the bus and are afraid of the growing Mexican-American population.

But Ray’s, Farenthold’s and Lago’s voiced sentiments are reaching new tiers in other related movements. Not too long ago Fox talk-show host Glenn Beck led a march on Washington (attended principally by white people) to "restore honor," and once called President Obama a racist with a "deep-seated hatred for “white people” and “white culture." He later said he regretted making that reference.

The notion that many white Americans feel anxious about their race is not new. Today, however here regionally, Radio commentator Lago is capitalizing on economic anxieties -- feeding those racial fears. At one time it was mostly ethnic minorities (for the most part) that felt the first big pinch on an economic recession, but this time the recession hit blue-collar, white Americans hard, financially and psychologically.

“Many white Americans have lived under the assumption that if they worked hard, they would be rewarded. Now more white Americans are sharing unemployment lines with ‘those people’ -- black and brown,” a local professor said. “ "For the first time since the Great Depression, white Americans have been confronted with a level of economic insecurity that we're not used to… It's not so new for black and brown folks, but for white folks, this is something we haven't seen since the Depression."

La Voz reports: 11 Year Old Latina Raped by 9 Afro-Americans, Black Panter Party Blames Her

Texas court imposes gag order in the gang rape
of an 11 year old Mexican-American child

Victim was repeatedly raped through coercion
and threats by at least 19 Afro-Americans

by
Ernesto Cienfuegos
La Voz de Aztlan

Los Angeles, Alta California - March 25, 2011 - (ACN) The disturbing incident, which probably has the Reverend Martin Luther King turning in his grave, took place in the 9,000 population town of Cleveland, Texas that is about 50 miles northeast of Houston. The horrific incident is today threatening to seriously divide the Black and Latino communities in Texas and beyond.

The assaults, according to a police report, began on November 28, 2010 after a 19-year-old with prior crack cocaine convictions persuaded the child to leave her home and go "riding around" with him and two other men. The three men took the 6th grader to a house where one of them lived and ordered the Mexican-American child to disrobe. The police report says that they told the child that if she refused other girls would beat her up and would never get a ride back home.

The abandoned trailer home where most of the sexual assaults took place. It is located in the Black section of town called "The Quarters". The town's demographics is approxmately 58% White, 27% African American and 21% Latino.

The rapists then started to sexually assault the young victim, the police report said. The report added that one of the rapists used a phone to invite four more men, who soon arrived. The seven Afro-American men had to take the victim to a nearby abandoned trailer home when a relative of the rapist who lived at the home arrived.

The sexual assaults continued in the abandoned trailer home. The police report stated that as some of the men sexually assaulted the child, others used their cell phones to take photographs and videos. The photographs and videos were soon posted on the Internet where a classmate of the victim saw them and alerted her teacher. The Cleveland police was notified and the investigation began.

The police investigators were able to confiscate the cell phones of some of the rapists and identified, from the photographs and the videos, many of those that participated in the sexual assaults. The police has been making arrests ever since. The suspects range in ages from 14 to 27 years old. To date 19 suspects have been arrested and charged in the gang rape of the 11-year-old Mexican-American child. Police investigators have focused on 28 suspects, all Afro-American, and said that there may be more arrests forthcoming.

Shown are 9 of the 19 suspects arrested so far. Police investigators say that as many as 28 participated in gang rapes of the Mexican-American child and expect to make more arrests.

Five of the suspects are students at Cleveland High School, including two members of the basketball team. Another is the 21-year-old son of a school board member. Some of the others have serious criminal records ranging from selling illicit drugs to robbery and, in one case, manslaughter.

Soon after the incident the town's Black community started blaming the 11 year old gang raped victim and her parents. Some said, in a town hall meeting, that the 6th grader "asked for it" and that her mother and father should have been supervising the child more closely. The police, however, have reported that the rapists threaten her with violence if she did not cooperate. The child is an "A" student at her middle school. She has one brother and two older sisters who are in their school's Gifted Student Program. The family has recently experienced economic hard times. The father Juan, a Mexican immigrant carpenter, has been unable to find work and the mothe Maria, a house maid, has been repeatedly hospitalized for a bain tumor.

To make things worse, the Black community leader Quannell X of the Houston based New Black Panther Organization recently came to Cleveland to incite more division between Latinos and Blacks by blaming the 11 year old Mexican-American victim for the gang rape. The Mexican-American organization Mujeres Unidas promptly answered Mr. Quannell X by informing him that any sexual assault upon a girl under the age of 14 is a first degree felony in Texas punishable by up to 99 years in prison. Quannell X has been expelled by the Nation of Islam for dealing drugs in the Sunnyside community located in southern Houston. Perhaps it would be wise if the Reverend Jesse Jackson and/or the Reverend Al Sharpton made attempt to heal the deep wounds inflicted on the Mexican-American community by careless Black leaders and some of the Black residents of Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Texas Liberty County District Judge Mark Morefield has imposed a broad gag order on the case. This has made it very difficult to obtain information about the victim and her family. We do know, however, that the victim has been placed in a foster home in another county for her protection and that her family has been harassed and threaten with violence.

Brent Chesney Lies To the Governor? Scandal At County Court At Law #5

MEDARY STRADDLES THE 347TH DISTRICT COURT THRONE WHILE JOHN MARTINEZ AND BRENT CHESNEY ARE PASSED UP AND NOW THE BLOCKBUSTER: CHESNEY DISCOVERED LYING ABOUT HIS TRIAL AND COURTROOM EXPERIENCE TO THE GOVERNOR AND COSTING HIS APPOINTMENT!!!

Missy Medary has become the new Judge at the 347th District court, replacing Nelva Gonzalez Ramos who has moved onward and upward for a lifelong appointment to the Federal Southern District of Texas-Corpus Christi Division judgeship.

The appointment of Missy Medary was an upset which bypassed lower court Judge John Martinez and Brent Chesney both who reportedly thought they had it in the bag.

But, this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg as the story is leaking out that it was Brent Chesney's to lose since he was the odds on favorite because of his close ties to Todd "Tio Todd" Hunter, who is on the judiciary committee in Austin and is our own state representative. A scandal has rocked Court 5 in that Brent Chesney reportedly fabricated his record as an attorney by having stated on his campaign platform and speeches that he had tried over 75 cases and won them all. When the powers that be in Austin under Governor Perry scrutinized his record and asked for proof of the assertion of his trials it was reportedly discovered he has never tried a jury case and misled the Governor's office in charge of appointments.

This scandal has rocked the courthouse and the integrity of this Judge is now being called into question. Who is Brent Chesney and how many cases has he really tried? There was no response from his Court office or Manager or the Judge himself. This is not the first time that Chesney has been under fire, as a city councilman he was criticized for living in Dallas and being a city councilman down here. Many parents in the community who's parental rights have been taken away or are under CPS supervision have complained that his draconian methods of denying them an attorney in significant stages of their case has left them without a lawyer. As you will recall, Chesney campaigned on not paying lawyers to represent parents and apparently he has kept the promise.

Now his honesty is being questioned. Did Chesney lie to the Governors office and to the voters of Nueces County when he asserted he was a trial lawyer in order to get the bench but is now revealing he has never tried a jury trial in his nearly 15 years as an attorney?

El Defenzor is launching a full investigation into this man's record and will get to the bottom of the matter. He is reportedly licking his wounds he was past over for Medary, but Medary reportedly has been a long Republican Stalwart who ran several times and now has been recognized for her longstanding service as a municipal court Judge and as a magistrate Judge.

A local female attorney summed up Medary's credentials: With Misty Medary what you see is what you get. She is very much like Sandra Watts in that she is fair and could care less who you are, what background you come from or if you are a powerbroker lawyer; in her court you will be treated fairly and that is all we can hope for. Unlike John Martinez who is beholding to Tony and Barbara Canales and the Doug Allison and Mikal Watts crowd you will get a fair day in court.

Regarding Brent Chesney, other judges whispered to me that they were nervous with Chesney taking a bench where life and death was being decided as well as life sentences because of his questionable dealings with attorneys and complaints made against him by families and now with this question of his lying about his record he has lost a great deal of respect in the legal community and I think his political career and romance with the media is over. I think the voters need to know if a judge lies about their record"

Much more to come.

El Defenzor

Editorial: Corpus Christi Mayor Joe Adama Assisting Private Club's Agenda of Self-Service?

COLUMN: Economics and Politics and CONFLICT OF INTEREST

IS MAYOR JOE ADAME HELPING TO TRANFER CITY STAFF & RESOURCES TO A PRIVATE INVESTOR’S CLUB KNOWN AS THE “Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation” ???

Corpus Christi, TX – There is a general concern expressed to this publication that the City of Corpus Christi is being used by what has been described as a well-oiled, well-fueled power group that basically wants to take over the “money-making” functions of the city council. Related to this concern is the economic situation – which Mayor Joe Adame – promised to address responsibly is the topic of discussion among many a business and politico and generally involved resident activist.

“There are a few things coming down the pipe that are stamped ‘economic development’ and the Corpus Christi Regional Economic Development Corporation might be trying to get credit, but the CCREDC (or “EDC” for short) has a record of procuring tax payer dollars for their own private agenda and getting inside info to ensure the success of the interests of their private membership. It is basically a private corporation run for the most part by public dollars. They have not brought in any major development in most of their years of experience yet how do they justify getting public dollars? Recently a new plastic company from Italy was referred to this area by the state – in an attempt for it to settle here, but it is not yet a done deal. It is still involved in sensitive negotiations,” a local insider shared.

The source continued: “The CCREDC (or EDC) has too much control over economic development and is not sharing the wealth… They get too much inside information and share it with their buddies in my estimation and business partners. Now with Mayor Joe Adame (who was a past president of the CCREDC) is starting to show his colors by pushing to have city staff under the CCREDC which is a private organization. Recently they put the Corpus Christi Economic Development Corporation (which was controlled by the city) under a private organization – that is, the CCREDC. The mayor and some of the council also allowed a city staff person that was working for the city to go work for the CCREDC. The mayor and political chums allowed for the “city funding” portion to pay her position to be transferred.”

The CCREDC is a private group. The City’s economic development corporation is now under the control of this private group -- and as cited above even a city staff person is now working the CCREDC (who was reporting to the 4A board). The problem is the CCREDC does not have the same requirements for open meetings as other public entities. This issue raises many an ethical concerns.

To repeat, keep in mind that prior to this arrangement, there were two parts to economic development: the CCREDC (a private group) and the Economic Development of the City – now the city’s has been shifted by the mayor to be absorbed by the private group – that is, the CCREDC.

Is it a new trend by the current administration allowing private investors exerting a major influence over public entities? The theme expands in these discussions to the scenario of more and more public money being put under them. “The mayor should be pushing an agenda that works the other way around,” a former city administrator shared.

“It has become more clear, day by day in every way that these guys are a private investment, and thus are using public money to further private personal agenda. How can the face and voice of the city be so befuddled by this issue. The CCREDC is private, not public. They use excuses such as, ‘We have to assure some high degree of confidentiality for proprietary reasons in reference to our investors.’ But it is all an excuse to manipulate priorities. When the dust settles after each lobby attempt, it all comes down to the fact that the CCREDC is using public money and do not even abide by the rigors of open meetings that other entities have in the region. If there is an issue of privacy or legality involve the CCREDC can always keep the meetings as public as possible and the go into private sessions like the other entities do. They should be accountable and be audit by the public. Did you know the city cannot audit them?”

One businessman, who is a critic of the CCREDC and has been researching their activities, shared: “It is my opinion that the mayor is part of that agenda. He is either being pressured or driven by his orbit of associates in that direction. Lack of performance: this historically describes the CCREDC. It cannot justify getting thousands and thousands of public dollars from the city and port and county. It can never justify so much power. The CCREDC despite funding over the years since Loyd Neal help establish their operation as mayor have never demonstrated a good performance record. “Mayor Joe Adame is one of them. The cat is out of the bag,” a current city councilman told El Defenzor off the record. “The 4A board..who represent the city part of the CCREDC, had a staff person who is now under the CCREDC – the city’s budget slice to pay for her salary was also transferred to the CCREDC. The mayor pushed for that move. He was behind it. The terrible thing is that the 4A board did not find out until the deal was done -- at least most. The mayor did not even express the courtesies to ask the 4A board for their opinion. Moving city staff and departments and resources to a private entity with voracious appetites of self-interest can never be justified. It is Fascism.”

But some claim the influence of the CCREDC transcends just the four walls of its office and official “written” terrain. Come claim it has infiltrated many a public entities with public dollars: from CCISD to Del Mar Board of Regents to the RTA and Port Authority.

On a related note: currently, there are some concerns about the bid process at the Corpus Christi Independent School District. There are some bids related to construction to architects to other companies that are directly or indirectly associated with School Board Trustee Carol Scott (who runs KAILO COMMUNICATIONS). In fact, many of these bidders are her clients (that is, being represented by KAILO COMMUNICATIONS) yet she insists on being a primary mover and shaker of many of these contracts. A lot of politics is being played out.

At the school district level, a TEA representative told this publication that any school board trustee with a conflict of interest should not be involved in the bidding process – especially if the interest of one or more of their clients in on the table. To this day, no one has asked Ms. Scott to recluse herself. “She is playing a prominent role and making rules how the company should bid. What a coincidence,” a former school board trustee informed.

Ms. Scott used to brag on her KAILO internet website that she could “connect you with the movers and shakers.” It is clear now who they are – “the cat is out of the bag” as some have put it. Her own husband sits in the city council. “It is not ‘public service’ but ‘self-service.’”

To return to the CCREDC. “The CCREDC is getting stronger funding, yet is not delivering. It has received over a million from entities and has delivered less than one percent of job growth in the area. Something that should occur naturally but are taking credit for it. But look at The Valley and San Antonio and other cities – they are all doing well; but the CCREDC continues to drag here locally. And this mayor, has to be held accountable, he is pushing that this voracious entity with private investors be given additional funding. STOP THE CCREDC at their tracks.”

El Defenzor revisits TAFT, TEXAS: Evaluating TENURE OF MAYOR

TAFT, TEXAS: EL DEFENZOR RETURNS TO REVIEW MAYOR BOBBY VEGA’S TENURE IN OFFICE

Taft, TX – “Who keeps Mayor Bobby Vega (who was first elected mayor in 2009) in power?” – this is one question that resounds in the community of Taft and the region. It was not too long ago that Bobby Vega ran for mayor under the campaign slogan of “unity, stability and growth.” In two years he has managed to do exactly the opposite. Political and social factions seem more apart today due to his own poor judgment and ruthless decisions. His leadership – many more sum it up in one word: questionable.

Vega promised stability. He hired a lawyer for the city – than (after using him to execute the path for his agenda) fired him. Mayor Vega hired a city manager – then (after using him to restructure the city for a path of selective hirings and power mongering positioning) was forced to resign. Vega declared an “annexed” area to be “de-annexed” – only to face condemnation by the U.S. Department of Justice. He went on to hire a police chief – Paul Rivera, loyal to Vega’s administration to the last cell of his tolerance. Paul Rivera, not long after his tenure, was given an option, implicitly and explicitly: resign or as Police Chief or be fired. Since then the city has had two others chiefs.

Instability, irrational caprice – these two words many observers describe his prevailing administration. But do not take this editorial on face value, if one is open minded to the issue, try to do your own research and make your own determination which we believe will be in accord with the one we have stated.

Who keeps Mayor Bobby Vega in power? Many of the residents in the disputed “annexed” or “de-annexed” area do not know whether they are part of the city or not; if they should vote or not in city elections; if they should pay or not for either county or city services; if they are under the protection of municipal law enforcement or not. Some residential pockets of the region of Taft, Texas seem more like a third world zone that seems to have been hit by an unsettling political and economic tsunami.

Residents in the disputed “annexed” vs “de-annexed” area last year were taken off tax rolls, and thus and so their garbage collection rates were raised. This past week or so (under the advice of the new attorney) the mayor and his side-kicks decided to rescind the de-annexation push and put the disputed area back on tax rolls. De-annexation is still in the mayor’s agenda – but the mentioned move was done to placate and please the concerns of the Department of Justice that has placed them under close scrutiny. .

When Vega won for mayor in 2009, Mayor Filberto Rivera’s career ended as the top representative of the city. Rivera had unseated the infamous Mayor – Jerry King, a local pharmacist.

In 2009 Vega took over as mayor and began firing many closely associated with former Mayor Rivera. Via a clever and edacious impulse Vega hired new staff everywhere he could. He settled a major law suit with a political ally: Molly Topper. She never came back as city manager. It was 3-2 council vote to reimburse her $158,000.

“No wonder the city is broke,” a local resident remarked.

Who keeps Mayor Bobby Vega in power? Vega’s major political base many insiders claim comes from the strings pulled by former Mayor King. The notorious King who was mayor for a hand full of years and was a city council before that (close to 20 years). In fact one resident said some refer to Vega as “King Jr” – but the truth is that some sources claim he has regular interaction on issues with King and is more of a “mayor by proxy”.

Mayor Vega on occasion is compared to King, being described as “snappy” and “arrogant” and “argumentative”: qualities that have much to be desired.. Vega targeted El Defenzor newspaper when it ran an editorial that was not to his liking about a year ago. He pushed for an ordinance to be drafted basically banning the paper from being distributed in the region. This was something that former Mayor King had attempted but failed due to legal admonishments from the then-city attorney.

Mayor Bobby Vega is struggling to keep a majority – even the new city councilman, David Trevino is straddling the fence (Trevino is the one that won against Lucy S. Lopez who lost by 13 votes in what has been described as an “illegal” election). Keep in mind that residents in the “disputed” area were not allowed to vote in this race for office.

El Defenzor spoke to a few community activists to obtain a pulse in regards to Vega’s tenure in office and most voiced one theme: “The community is divided and is thus looking for leadership in the city.” They added that Vega and his clan capitalized on the insecurities and lack of resources of ordinary citizens to obtain justice or to recruit viable candidates to seek office. “The King machine still seems to be eating away at growth in this region via Bobby Vega,” one activist opined.

There are 526 households in the disputed “annexed/de-annexed” area cited above – mostly Hispanics. This disputed area has been subjected to mind-boggling oppression and tyranny by the Vega administration. Former Mayor Filberto Vega who ran under an agenda of growth pushed for the annexation of these households. But the course was a detailed one and accordingly meticulous attention was given to meeting all the tinges and stages of the process. When the process was in place, utility rates were reduced to coincide with the city residents; law enforcement of the area was initiated. But when Vega won for Mayor in 2009 (with assistance from the King machine), he declared the annexation null and void. Then again Vega was neither an attorney nor an authority in this complex area of law and thus received a backlash from the Department of Justice (after residents complained that they were not allowed to participate in free elections).

Under Vega’s tenure, these 526 household were taken off tax rolls and turned over to the county’s. Their utility rates were raised to those prior to Mayor Rivera’s annexation adjustments. Vega insisted that even law enforcement be sponged out from this area.

On May 10, 2010 and August 2010 and March 11, 2011, via written declaratives and memos reinforced to the City of Taft that the De-annexation Ordinance (#839) was unenforceable; however, as of today, Mayor Vega nor the city officialdom have not complied with the requirement of the Department of Justice.

The Department of Justice has been gravely concerned that many a resident might have been disenfranchised – this was expressed in a memo in 2010, and said that many a resident in the disputed area should at least vote provisionally until a decision was rendered. In the last election the Department of Justice send representatives to make sure that the Vega Administration allowed residents in the disputed area to vote.

Thus in the last city council meeting which took place a little over a week ago, Mayor Vega had no choice but to declare and rescind his de-annexation move as not valid. Vega by making such a move is saying, he did not abide by the law and de-annexed a sizeable geographical residential community unlawfully. He is asking some of his friends to begin to begin from zero and start a de-annexation move – one move that is segmenting the community all over again.

A group of people (close to Vega) have filed a new petition to de-annexed and it has been placed in the November election – the vote will decide to keep the city “in” or “out” of the city.

Final notes: As of February of last year at least $13.32 cents for utilities and garbage fees have been charged to households in the disputed are per month. A total of 526 households come to about $126,113. Every month that goes by it increases the calculation. A group of residents in Taft have united in the disputed area and want what they call the “illegal” charges to be stopped immediately. Additionally, they are prepared to take legal action if necessary, but currently are asking (it was done the last city council meeting) that every household in this area be paid all the money they are owned within sixty days.

In the last meeting cited above, the request for reimbursement by a group of residents – a total of $126.113 -- was denied. They (the residents in the disputed area) were however placed back in the tax rolls of the city.

Edward "Eddie" Valadez Announces for Constable in Jim Wells county

Jim Wells, TX – Edward “Eddie” Valadez, 35, has announced for Jim Wells Constable Precinct #6. He feels that he can fill a void – a void of concern expressed by many in the community. It can be phrased in one sentence: “There needs to be more visibility and frequent visits from law enforcement in the precinct.”

Valadez – likeable, approachable, nimble-minded – said: “There are some pockets of neighborhoods in this precinct that feel so isolated. Many are raising families here. Law enforcement needs its presence here and other places to serve as a cloud of security.”

The concerns expressed by Valadez are some that are growing by the day. Valadez, who has a hefty resume in law enforcement and community service, is not a newbie to tackling tough problems. He has worked in law enforcement departments ranging from San Diego to the Jim Wells Sheriff Department (ten years) to the City of Robstown Police Department (going on two years). From the specialty of drug interdiction to solving burglaries to inspiring young students in school to elevate their grades and shape a better world – how many are the things that surface in the minds of those who have known him for a while.

Currently there is only one full-time job in the department – that is, that of the constable. This is why he feels the constable needs to religiously abide by time management and try his best to be ever-present when the occasion arises for the need of law enforcement. Valadez wants “advance safety” measures in place when the kids get out of school – this comes through meticulous planning. He wants parents to know that there will be an added hand of support to serve as a glue that a functional family should have. In youth he sermonizes daily: “schooling is the way to improve once station in life in many ways. But sometimes, there is no easy road, and many a time you have to give it 110 percent. The more you work for it, the more you will appreciate it.”

The constable serves also as an assistant to the Justice of the Peace. Sometimes functioning as a bailiff, serving subpoenas, duties of peace officer, duties of civil processor, a supportive arm for truancy programs – there are other hats a constable has to put on to fully meet his job description.

With an encouraging tenure of 15 years in law enforcement, he has learned tremendously to recognize complex patterns that might be either detrimental or positive to a community. He also wants to try and make some of the positions full-time by bringing in new monies via grants and state and federal funding for rural-like areas. “There are also monies out there for infrastructure and for recreational endeavors to keep kids out of trouble – even to make side-walks for them believe it or not. We live in progressive times. It just takes a person that is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty to bring in the essential resources,” he explained. “This is where I live. This is my community. I have two step-children and a new born. In a sense it is us against the world. Either we do for our community and precinct or no one else will. I ask the people to jump in my humble band wagon of a campaign. I plan to get a lot of things done. Give me a chance.”

Where does Valadez get his entrepreneur spirit and larger cause to serve the community? Valadez does run a trucking business while off duty. He is used to solving day in and day out problems; moreover, he is used to dealing with a constantly changing environment and is able to think of his feet to make critical and judicial and wise decisions. He wants to use it to bring out the best in the community. Something optimistically charge radiates from him. As one resident put it: “It shines from him. From his face, words; it has to come from deep inside him. From his heart and soul. A native’s soul does not lie.”

Valadez, who worked in the Jim Wells Sheriff Department for about a decade and was promoted to corporal and then patrol supervisor and then canine officer and even earned quite a name working drug interdiction in the highways and later working as a narcotics investigator -- knows the limited resources he has if elected constable. He plans to use an immediate interagency approach to address the visibility issue and concerns in his precinct. He will work alongside other law enforcement agencies, encouraging regular team works and endeavors to address issues anywhere from narcotics to disruptions to traffic. The residents, the parents, those that orbit his precinct will also be his eyes and ears and conscience to help him determine what issues and concerns carry emotional weight and should be priority – a pulse and soul that every community has but is ignored sometimes due to the apathy of politicos who displace their goals.

“I have a strong background in working with other agencies in my regular duties as a peace officer. I have positive goals and thus I feel I can turn this ‘one-man” job as constable into a powerful department,” he said passionately. “I know I will have some deputies which function as part-time but with diligence and hard work and research we will have a fully functional department.

“Where does Edward ‘Eddie’ Valadez come from – what is his bio?” – some have asked. He is 35 years old and was born in La Bandera Ranch. His mom and dad and sister work for a school district in the area. Valadez – who worked both at the Orange grove High School and Jr. High as a COPS Program Officer and graduated from the Dell Mar Police Academy -- feel his work-ethic comes from his first close-knit and value oriented structure -- that is, his family of upbringing. “I was taught that a strong neighborhood, a strong precinct is a reflection of strong families --- and vice-a-versa. This is one my goals to reinforce this spirit as a constable.”

His last words echoed in the interview: “My life story clearly shows that I can do what I have said. I respectfully and humbly ask the voters and constituents to allow me that chance to serve them.”

He is married to Veronica (Valadez) and has two step-children and recently a two-month old little boy.

ON ATTORNEY HOMER CANALES' STUGGLES (a resident of Alice, Tx) by ATTORNEY JOE FLORES

I was asked to say a few words about a great man and I will do so. I always believe in telling a person how you feel and what you think of them while they are living not when they are dead.:) The following is about my good friend and mentor Homero Canales, Esq. of Alice, Texas.

Homero Canales and his brother Wallace have always been men I respected and looked up to. Since I was a boy growing up in Alice, Texas, selling the Alice Echo Newspaper at the courthouse in the 70's, I had heard of Homero and Wallace Canales and their representation of clients and their trial skills.

My father, a teacher and political activist, always spoke highly of Homero, and in my dad's retirement he loved to watch trials and hang around the courthouse, even though he was battling a terminal illness, and he always kept me up to speed while I was in law school with the latest on Homero Canales, Attorney at Law. I had always dreamed of being a lawyer and Homero, among other prominent attorneys and Judges in Jim Wells county, were positive role models for me and inspired me to attend law school many years ago. My dad said it was a great gift to him to see me graduate from law school and I made him proud. Those words alone made it all worth it.

As a young man, I myself often went and watched Homero try a case and it was and still is as exciting and action packed as ever, to say the least. He has always been a mentor of mine, and always offers his office when I come from Corpus on legal business or to visit my mother, and to this day he also offers his sound advice, just like when I first got out of law school. Now that I am a seasoned trial lawyer with complex civil and criminal cases to handle, I need that advice more than ever and he is ready to help. I always need and appreciate the advice of a seasoned attorney like Homero with over 40 years of legal experience.

My understanding is that Homero's background was being raised in the tough streets of Laredo. His light skin and light eyes did not apparently hide the pride in being Mexican American and how he defends his clients in and out of the courtroom today. He was also reportedly known in those days to defend he and his culture with words, and fist if necessary, at Texas A&M College Station as an undergrad student. Homero is often seen with his dog walking around the Jim Wells County courthouse and across the street from his office. His no nonsense approach and plain truth has brought him many accolades and hundreds upon hundreds of clients who could not afford expensive fees. Often he waived or reduced the cost of trying a case in order for those whose very lives and freedom were at stake to place their fate in his competent legal hands and that of the justice system.

Homero has faced many battles in and out of the courtroom including his present battle against cancer which he reportedly has the upperhand on. He is a man who is still of great physical strength and a formidable character and who can be defined as a man of quality or true grit. His quick wit and smile provide an avenue for easy conversation and he quickly puts a person at ease, no matter what walk of life they come from. He is a man who has many stories to share regarding South Texas history and courtroom drama.

I want to remind many of my generation born in the 60's and 70's that we should never forget the many sacrifices that men like Homero have made in our Mexican American and collective South Texas community, and who forged a path for our people to attend schools of higher learning and become lawyers and doctors and men and women of industry. Many Americans want to live in denial that racism, sexism and inequality no longer exist, but indeed they do, and we must always be vigilant against injustice, like the lawyers and judges in our community such as Homero, who studied law and championed causes in the 60's and 70's and do so to the present day. I never forget that Homero Canales is truly a man to be reckoned with and a living legend and walking history book of our culture and our times here in our part of Texas.

Therefore, I honor a lion of a man while he is living and thriving, not when he is dead, for then it will be too late and he will not need to hear these words because he has gone on to something much, much greater.

Respectfully Submitted,

Joe Flores, Esq.

Mr. Humerto Lozaon passes on

Humberto Lozano Lopez 1937-2011 Today Mr. Humberto Lozano Lopez, the founder of Lopez Broadcasting including Magic 104 in Corpus Christi, Magic 95 in Victoria, and KLMO in San Antonio and the TMV network, passed away today after a long illness at Christus Spohn Hospital. Mr. Lopez was a pioneer in Spanish radio and television who started his broadcasting career with a 15 minute program entitled the American GI Forum Show with Dr. Hector P. Garcia. Mr. Lopez had a national television show broadcast through the predecessor to Univision in the 1960’s that was seen coast to coast- nationwide. His rich career also included the dubbing of epic movies in Spanish for Latin American audiences including Patton and Bruce Lee movies among many others. He was a longstanding member of the Screen Actors Guild and impacted the Hispanic culture profoundly in politics, broadcasting and in shaping culture. He was also a champion of civil rights and educational efforts for Hispanics. Many artists such as Selena, Mazz, Emilio Navaira and others received a great following in major part due to the Lopez family broadcasting and through the auspices of Humberto Lozano Lopez. He leaves behind his beautiful wife Minerva R. Lopez, married over 50 years, and 12 children, many of whom are actively involved in radio and television broadcasting. Humberto Lozano Lopez was a lifelong resident of Robstown and a proud cottonpicker, and held a track record that still stands today at RHS. MR. HUMBERTO LOZANO WAS ALSO INDUCTED TO THE TEJANO HALL OF FAME IN 2005. Viewing at Robstown High School Auditorium (Wednesday and Thursday, 5:30 -9pm viewing and rosary ) and funeral Friday at St. Anthony’s in Robstown, Texas (TBA). Contact person: Carlos Lopez, Manager of the KTMV Network: 904-1762

FDA Investigating Various Drugs and Medical Devices

EL DEFENZOR REPORTS ON ALARMING DRUG AND MEDICAL DEVICES! (FOR PUBLICATION ONLINE AND HARDCOPY:

FDA INVESTIGATING VARIOUS DRUGS AND MEDICAL DEVICES!

As reported last month, El Defenzor has been monitoring FDA approval or recall of various drugs and medical devices that may be endangering the public. As a priority of public concern we have discovered the following information:

Accutane

1) Proof of use of Accutane the drug used for acne. Many adolescents and young adults used this drug to treat acne and damaged the intestines and gastrointestinal tract (other names for generic drug: Sotret, Amnesteem, Claravis)

2) Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, or Crohn’s (not IBS)

3) Latency period (time when symptoms of damage show up) can be as long as 7-10 years.

4) Damages from this drug can lead to surgeries, but many people manage disease with medication (Remicade, Asacol, Prednisone, etc..) or by monitoring diet.

.

Dupuy Medical Devices may cause pain and suffering because not designed or manufactured correctly. There is a recall on the following:

Recalled:

1) Dupuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System

2) Depuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System

Some other hip implant devices that are being investigated include:

1) Pinnacle

2) Ultimate

3) Dural

4) Summit

Zimmer: . Knee Devices: These devices are also reportedly causing the medical consumer pain in certain reported cases.

1) NexGen CR-Flex Knee (there are several versions, ie… porous femoral, cemented femoral)

2) NexGen CR Knee (several versions, ie…. porous femoral)

3) NexGen LPS-Flex Knee (primarily femoral component loosening, but may also be a claim for entire system because no difference in range of motion in regular LPS versus LPS – Flex, yet greater rates of loosening in Flex models)

4) MIS Tibial Component Implants (at this point, the ones primarily placed without a stem or low profile stem, but I want to keep them all for now).

5) Revision surgeries are going to be the best cases, meaning client got a Zimmer knee (listed above) and due to loosening or failure had to have a second surgery, or even a third or fourth surgery.

6) Mechanical Loosening cases, these are typically associated with increasing lasting pain in the knee area, stiffness in the knee area, diminished motion in the joint, difficulty putting weight on the knee, limping, etc

Paxil Birth Defects

Many unsuspecting mothers were given Paxil for depression during their first and second and even third trimesters of pregnancy. Some were referred out from Planned Parenthood facilities. They ingested the anti-depressant drug and many unfortunately had children with club feet, cleft palates and other severe birth defects.

Together many of these devices and pharmaceutical drugs are being let out into the market without little or any FDA approval or minimal investigation or being “grandfathered in”. One local attorney, Joe Flores, a family nurse practitioner and trial lawyer, stated: “ It is clear that tort reform law, proposed legislation, and the power of pharmaceutical companies in the lobbying arenas, and that of medical device manufacturers, can cause increased risk to the public on certain devices and drugs and the American people have to be ever vigilant in asking their doctors what the risks are before ingesting a drug or having a surgical procedure. The public relies on FDA and medical and pharmaceutical device research, patents and approval and are at the mercy of the reliable and safety representations made to the patient and to their doctors and nurse practitioners.”

NEXT MONTH:

El Defenzor gets the prospective of doctors and ex-pharmaceutical reps on the state of FDA approval of drugs and devices. Stay tuned…

Homero Villarreal

FDA Investigating Various Drugs and Medical Devices

EL DEFENZOR REPORTS ON ALARMING DRUG AND MEDICAL DEVICES! (FOR PUBLICATION ONLINE AND HARDCOPY:

FDA INVESTIGATING VARIOUS DRUGS AND MEDICAL DEVICES!

As reported last month, El Defenzor has been monitoring FDA approval or recall of various drugs and medical devices that may be endangering the public. As a priority of public concern we have discovered the following information:

Accutane

1) Proof of use of Accutane the drug used for acne. Many adolescents and young adults used this drug to treat acne and damaged the intestines and gastrointestinal tract (other names for generic drug: Sotret, Amnesteem, Claravis)

2) Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, or Crohn’s (not IBS)

3) Latency period (time when symptoms of damage show up) can be as long as 7-10 years.

4) Damages from this drug can lead to surgeries, but many people manage disease with medication (Remicade, Asacol, Prednisone, etc..) or by monitoring diet.

.

Dupuy Medical Devices may cause pain and suffering because not designed or manufactured correctly. There is a recall on the following:

Recalled:

1) Dupuy ASR XL Acetabular Hip System

2) Depuy ASR Hip Resurfacing System

Some other hip implant devices that are being investigated include:

1) Pinnacle

2) Ultimate

3) Dural

4) Summit

Zimmer: . Knee Devices: These devices are also reportedly causing the medical consumer pain in certain reported cases.

1) NexGen CR-Flex Knee (there are several versions, ie… porous femoral, cemented femoral)

2) NexGen CR Knee (several versions, ie…. porous femoral)

3) NexGen LPS-Flex Knee (primarily femoral component loosening, but may also be a claim for entire system because no difference in range of motion in regular LPS versus LPS – Flex, yet greater rates of loosening in Flex models)

4) MIS Tibial Component Implants (at this point, the ones primarily placed without a stem or low profile stem, but I want to keep them all for now).

5) Revision surgeries are going to be the best cases, meaning client got a Zimmer knee (listed above) and due to loosening or failure had to have a second surgery, or even a third or fourth surgery.

6) Mechanical Loosening cases, these are typically associated with increasing lasting pain in the knee area, stiffness in the knee area, diminished motion in the joint, difficulty putting weight on the knee, limping, etc

Paxil Birth Defects

Many unsuspecting mothers were given Paxil for depression during their first and second and even third trimesters of pregnancy. Some were referred out from Planned Parenthood facilities. They ingested the anti-depressant drug and many unfortunately had children with club feet, cleft palates and other severe birth defects.

Together many of these devices and pharmaceutical drugs are being let out into the market without little or any FDA approval or minimal investigation or being “grandfathered in”. One local attorney, Joe Flores, a family nurse practitioner and trial lawyer, stated: “ It is clear that tort reform law, proposed legislation, and the power of pharmaceutical companies in the lobbying arenas, and that of medical device manufacturers, can cause increased risk to the public on certain devices and drugs and the American people have to be ever vigilant in asking their doctors what the risks are before ingesting a drug or having a surgical procedure. The public relies on FDA and medical and pharmaceutical device research, patents and approval and are at the mercy of the reliable and safety representations made to the patient and to their doctors and nurse practitioners.”

NEXT MONTH:

El Defenzor gets the prospective of doctors and ex-pharmaceutical reps on the state of FDA approval of drugs and devices. Stay tuned…

Homero Villarreal

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM CHRISTUS SPOHN HEALTH SYSTEMS (CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE):