By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Heather Cathleen Cox
Staff Writer
Reporter@sbnewspaper.com
Over the past few weeks, I have heard from dozens of citizens who don’t feel they have a voice at city hall. They say they feel at a disconnect between the issues they consider of utmost importance and those being addressed by city officials.
I hear citizens and officials, alike, say they’d like to see San Benito revitalized and brought back to its former heyday, and while I may not have been alive during her truest glory days, I have indeed grown up with an affinity for what the City of San Benito once offered.
Many moons ago, my maternal grandparents, John and JuaNita Brodecky, frequented the Stonewall Jackson Hotel to attend swanky dinner parties. Even the stories of said events were grand.
My father, Douglas Cox, grew up in the metropolis of Lantana, and it was San Benito — not Harlingen — where his family drove to purchase necessities. In fact, when my paternal grandmother, Nanny, moved to Harlingen in the mid-1990s, she continued banking at the San Benito Bank and Trust, now Capital One. Even the floors of that bank were a sight to behold.
Until it closed, Nanny continued purchasing fuel at the Texaco on Business 77, way before Valero existed – during the years when South Texas summertime saw fuel sales drop to $.89 a gallon. In between banking and fueling up, we would stop off at the Family Dollar store where she’d buy me a Fanta Pineapple Soda; in my earliest memories those came in glass, rather than plastic, bottles. Nothing tastes that good anymore.
On special occasions, she and I would stop off at the San Benito – not Harlingen – DQ for a strawberry Blizzard, back before you could get the kitchen sink added to a Blizzard.
Like any city, San Benito has her fair share of grievances, just like she has wonderful attributes. My job as a reporter is not synonymous with judge or jury. And I’m glad of it. I in no way wish to presume who is innocent or guilty of which allegations.
Some of my sweetest childhood memories were in San Benito. And like the folks I speak to regularly, I’d love to see San Benito restored to her former glory. While it’s my job to hold officials accountable for their actions, the truth is it’s up to you to claim the revival of your town. It’s up to taxpayers to make sure the right woman or man is elected to serve.
For example, school board and city elections are coming up this May. If you don’t want a certain public official to lose their office, form a team to help them campaign. There is also still time to establish a meet-up group with likeminded citizens and work to ensure a fresh candidate takes over the position. The deadline to run is February 27, at 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, did you know that citizens are free to comment at any regularly scheduled meeting of the City Commission? According to City Manager Manuel Lara, anyone can sign up to pose a public comment so long as they arrive early and sign up at least five minutes before the meeting begins.
Fifty voices are easier to hear (er…harder to ignore) than one, lone voice, so why not bring all of your friends and family members with you to the next city meeting? The commission meets every other Tuesday evening in the Municipal Building. You won’t be alone. There are a few activists in this city whose names are well known (perhaps cursed, but known nonetheless) in the administrative building.
Additionally, there’s a new Chamber of Commerce forming in San Benito, and there are several other longstanding clubs and organizations pretty much anyone can join. Why not join one if you haven’t already? At the very least, my editor and publisher still print letters to the editor. Write to us.
But whatever you do, get yourself to the polls for the upcoming elections. If you are not voting, you should not be complaining.
It’s up to you to ensure that your voice is heard. It’s your job to hold your elected officials accountable, or to elect people who can be held accountable. San Benitians, you can get your city back if you take action and stand together. The future depends on you!
Want the whole story? Pick up a copy of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
2 comments
This is an excellent piece, Ms. Cox. I did not know your grandmother, Mrs. Brodecky, but from what I have heard of her, you have conjured her spirit; she would be proud.
This is a theme you will do well repeating over and over to our citizenry. Not because you’re an activist against the current regime, but because the people need to be empowered, educated and reminded that they get back what they put into the process of electing officials.
You’re in a great position to do that, Ms. Cox. You, your co-workers and the SBNews can do more to shape this community into the image the citizenry desire than what has been done in the past. Please continue to hold allin this community accountable — myself included As a child of God, He has blessed you with the courage and ability to change what can be changed, and the wisdom to know the difference. You know the difference. Please continue.
Thank You Ms. Heather Cox for an excellent commentary “Reclaim your City!” . It is an excellent slogan for the upcoming city elections.
Your article “Officials at Odds over Street Repairs”, more specifically,
is a perfect example of how the City of San Benito is being “MICROMANAGED” by certain members of the City Commission. It is this “micromanaging” that has morphed into a stumbling block for Mayor Celeste Sanchez and the city staff to deliver the VISION the Mayor promised the citizens of San Benito.
I am proud of you Heather, Editor Jacob Lopez, and the entire staff at the San Benito News for your delivery of “Excellent News Reporting!” that the Citizens of San Benito deserve and need.