CONSIDER THIS: Put down the Kool-Aid

By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com

Michael Rodriguez

Michael Rodriguez

I love a good argument, but what I enjoy more is the opportunity to correct someone whose pride is so badly wounded that they’ve resorted to spewing absurd rhetoric in a desperate attempt to gain the upper hand. Consider for a moment an anonymous comment made Wednesday on the popular Brownsville blog, El Rrun Rrun.

In response to an article by Juan Montoya regarding the San Benito News investigation that raised questions as to the legitimacy of PowerCom International and Telemark Development Group Inc., the companies involved in the proposal to build a $225 million power plant in town, a person cowardly commenting under the name “Anonymous” called me an “idiot,” among other things, in defense of the project.

Now, I’ve never had a problem with people questioning our work. In many cases I often welcome the criticism, if for nothing else because it keeps me on my toes and reinforces the fact that our readers care enough about their community newspaper to hold it to a higher standard.

Still, this person appeared to know details that were exclusively shared with officials of the City of San Benito and San Benito Economic Development Corporation. Granted, I’m sure there are plenty of insiders who’ve blabbed about a number of things, ergo an acquaintance of someone associated with the project being the culprit. But something tells me (perhaps the anger evident in the person’s remarks?) that Anon is someone with a vested interest, and that lends a degree of intrigue to an already intriguing story.

I’m getting ahead of myself here. Let’s just get down to brass tacks.

The following are Anon’s comments—unedited (with the exception of one derogatory term I omitted) and sans the cheerleading for the developers—to which I’ve responded directly.

“The bottom line is San Benito risked nothing. All they had to do was sell the unproductive airport property and gain dozens of jobs and tax revenues and a 3000 seat arena that Telemark was going to donate to the city. Michael Rodriguez never mentioned that, did he?”

I did make mention of all of the above in numerous pre- and post-controversial articles.

“Michael Rodriguez was trying to play Sherlock Holmes and screwed up a good deal for San Benito.”

I’m often blamed for many of the City of San Benito’s woes for merely doing my job, so that’s nothing new. People have a tendency to pass the buck around here. And by the way, I prefer Columbo.

“Telemark gave references to at least 10 previous power plant projects that it was involved in. Did anyone from the city call any of them? No. Did Sherlock call any of them? No.”

I was unaware of the 10 references until Telemark President Peter Del Mastro informed me that he had provided them to the City. I’ve requested the references from City Manager Manuel Lara, who appeared unconvinced of their legitimacy when I spoke with him about it. Of course, I’ll be making those determinations myself when given the opportunity. What’s interesting, however, is the fact that this information was available to you, Anon.

“This (expletive), Rodriguez, screwed his community. Why do people do business in Nevada? Tax purposes, idiot.”

I didn’t question why the developers do business in Nevada, but I did ask why they superimposed their company logo onto a building that didn’t belong to them. What I didn’t ask that I now regret is how no one within the company noticed the bad Photoshop job.

Okay, okay. To be fair, let’s give these folks the benefit of the doubt and assume there’s a perfectly good explanation for everything. Let’s say, for instance, that you’re associated with a company that’s proposing the construction of a $225 million power plant in San Benito, yet when at the rudimentary level of vetting you become defensive, evasive and insult the community where the multi-million dollar project you’ve proposed will be constructed before just bailing out of the whole deal altogether.

And I’m the idiot? Anon, put down the Kool-Aid and step away from the computer. It’s been nice.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2013/09/27/consider-this-put-down-the-kool-aid/

5 comments

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    • Nice Job on August 26, 2014 at 12:17 am
    • Reply

    Nice job. Compliments on your reporting, critical thinking/inquiries and writing style. I’m new to your publication but I will be back. Again, NICE JOB!

    • WeThePeople on September 30, 2013 at 9:43 am
    • Reply

    The ‘anon’ character is obviously someone connected to the scam! It would be interesting to track the IP address of ‘anon’ to see where the comments really came from. Maybe a post office box in Nevada?? Or maybe even from one of those ‘officials’ claiming ‘no knowledge’?? Hmmm.

    • Enough on September 30, 2013 at 2:23 am
    • Reply

    NO, ANONYMOUS! The bottom line is, You don’t do business with shady people. The thought that you have this type of mentality is SAD! That is why SB is the way it is. No progress, just Bad Business. Michael, you did a great job. No millions or temporary jobs are worth going into these types of deals. They all end bad. What good would an arena do if we don’t have the money for the upkeeps. Ah! Get over it Anonymous!

    • sbperson on September 28, 2013 at 1:16 pm
    • Reply

    I wouldn’t worry about el rrun rrun, all the people who usuallycomment on there are a bunch of low life politiqueros who are mad because they can’t get things their way, like the writer Juan Montoya . El rrun rrun is nothing but Brownsville crap reporting at its best.

    • Loca-Greyhound on September 28, 2013 at 12:09 am
    • Reply

    It seems you hit a nerve or two, Mr. Rodriguez. Hey Anonymous, na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye!!!!

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