BROWNSVILLE, Texas - Rather than having residents look for information about services offered by its many departments, the City of Brownsville took a different approach.
It did so during the annual One City Information Fair held Thursday, May 22, at the Brownsville Events Center.
Each and every one of the city’s 30 some departments had representatives present to exchange information with the hundreds of people that attended the nearly three-hour fair.
City Manager Helen Ramirez welcomed the crowd saying, “we have all city departments here so please take advantage.”
Some of the information provided came as a surprise to people like Angelita Leal.
“I see this as a positive thing,” Leal said. “There plenty to learn about the city services here. People often say the city keeps a tight lip about how government works but I don’t see it that way.”
For example, did you know that an average of three vehicles are stolen per week in Brownsville?
Or about Omni Fiber, the new company that merged with Lit Fiber and now operates under the new name?
Or how about today’s cost of houses offered by the Brownsville Affordable Homeownership Corporation (BAHC)?
Such questions and many more were answered and explained by some of the city’s 1,295 employees on its payroll.
Eulalio Wolfe, an officer with the Brownsville Police Department, said auto theft has been on the increase despite the current situation along the U.S.–Mexican border.
He said the hottest vehicles for theft today are the Jeep Gladiator, the GMC Sierra and the Chevy Silverado.
Asked why, Wolfe said:
“Those are the vehicles preferred by some south of the border today. So, if you are thinking of buying one today, think twice.”
Omni Fiber is the new Internet company serving the city and which now is offering cable to its lineup of services.
BAHC has nine houses available today but don’t wait too long to try to buy one as prices keep rising.
For instance, a 1,100 square foot, three bedroom house that sold for less than $120,000 a little while back is now going for nearly $200,000.
Other departments on site included the city’s Animal Regulation & Care Center.
Its motto is Every Pet Deserves a Home. But do not call them about some critters.
The animal control officer has stopped picking up opossums, raccoons, skunks and other wildlife species as it did up to last year.
Other than that, the fair was a great event for Brownsville resident Graciela Oliva.
