In spite of the “flood” of finger pointing in the Rio Bravo Water System scandal (yes, I think it’s safe to call it a scandal now), reports from Rio Bravo and El Cenizo earlier this week indicate that the water is STILL green in those communities. This comes from an insider who is intimately familiar with that precinct, er, part of Webb County.
If the system has been corrected, then why is the water still green? And if it’s still green, then why not put a little swimming pool chlorine in it … it’ll clean it right up! Given the level of responsibility that’s been displayed int he handling of this fiasco, “shocking the pool” with the water supply might even be too sophisticated a solution.
This issue isn’t going away. The people of El Cenizo and Rio Bravo deserve to drink water that doesn’t give them the squirts. And someone besides Johnny Amaya will have to take ownership of this scandal. IS the water still green? Haven’t heard of any county officials who have made an on-site inspection. Only former county officials who may or may not have an ax to grind.
The underlying issue here is one that nobody will admit out loud but everybody is whispering about. Why the heck is Webb County managing the water utility for these two incorporated cities?
Political junkies argue back and forth that Webb County would be best served by leaving El Cenizo and Rio Bravo to manage their own water supply, collect their own water bills and deal with their own problems. Maybe they’re right. Maybe the residents don’t pay their water bills. But who’s going to have the ganas to stand up and deny poor children clean water?
It’s a toughie, but probably the right decision to make. Meanwhile, Judge Danny Valdez, Webb County’s CEO, is at fault for allowing this to happen. He put one of his canoneros into a position he was unqualified to handle and looked the other way while his friend turned the water green and put children at risk.
There’s a lesson here, Judge Valdez — Don’t make a bet with your mouth that your butt can’t cash. Thanks to your inadequacy, that’s where the county is right now in this situation. If you have no intention of maintaining the water system, DON’T ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT TO DO SO. If it’s better for all parties to separate the utility from the county, then ensure that your fellow citizens are covered before you leave them high and dry (literally.) Provide for your constituents. Then walk away.
Probably good advice for the coming Primary Election, too, Judge!
Anonymous
October 6, 2013 at 1:49amIt could benthat our present County Judge simply does not know that the Lizard always gets the Truth so don’t Lie Judge. Go back to Vegas or maybe another Gym so you can make it a 3 Peat. Three times your out as it stands now your on second base with 2 outs and batter has 2 strikes no Balls so far. Try your luck in Vegas not Webb County.
Keyrose
October 6, 2013 at 6:38pmWhy nobody has independently taken up the responsibility of providing the residents of El Cenizo, and Rio Bravo with water is a valid point to look into. Perhaps it’s a job too daunting to overtake. Or it could be that, financially, it’s not worth the trouble.
The mess at hand should be stressed and put squarely at the feet of the Commissioners Court, especially those who are running for re-election next year: Valdez, Tijerina, and Canales. Judge Valdez has already chosen his campaign message — that taxes have remained steady and that budgets have come in balanced. In an election year, those points have to be made, but they’re kind of disingenuous when you think about fees going up for services.
No doubt the issue of water quality will come up during debates, but it’s going to be up to the challengers to capitalize on those issues and not let the incumbents get an easy pass on what has transpired under their watch.
Honesty
October 10, 2013 at 3:09pmThe only announced challenger will do his duty in a professional manner. If the press asks Judge Valdez questions referring to water, the challenger will have a chance to expose him during rebuttal, or the challenger will be asked and Judge Valdez may try and defend himself if he so chooses too.
Judge Valdez: my advice to is not open your mouth like most all of the residents have had to open up their bottoms for the Chorro to come out. It is my understanding that a Toilet Paper Factory might be opening up in Rio Bravo to sell Toilet Paper wholesale to the residents of Rio Bravo and El Cenizo because they use tons of toilet tissue for the amount of “Chorro they have been getting.”
Maybe we ought to ask our good County Judge to keep a supply of this water at his home and office. Better yet take a few cases of this good bottled water to the Las Vegas Wedding Chapels on one of his trips. I believe that at most Gyms they offer water to their clients. Maybe the Judge and his Bride might be able to elaborate a bit on this. Webb County taxpayers have heard a lot about gym exercising so let’s try and sell water to help over come the budget deficiencies Webb County has had.