WHAT NOW SAYS SOFIA?

WHAT SAYS JOEY LOPEZ? COUNTY COMMISSIONER OVER THE PORT

WHAT SAYS JOSEPH LUCIO THE SOON TO BE NEW COMMISSIONER OVER THE PORT?

I will not pretend any of these people will even respond to my questions.  They will not.  So, this becomes a matter for all social media calling each of them out until they are forced to respond. With protection checks already paid to the bloggers this will not happen?

POSTED ON THE BV2 FEBRUARY 25, 2025: THIS WAS SO PREDICTABLE

Good leadership means anticipating a problem and addressing it in advance.  

Elon Muk has already said if the city does not walk away from the land he wants, he will use eminent domain to take it from Brownsville.

"The real icing on the cake is the decision to sell out all of the Cameron County residents around SpaceX.  Once Space Port a city of some 70 people is incorporated, Elon Musk will use his money to push for eminent domain around Space Port to force people to sell their land for development of the municipality.  The Elon Musk city will use his money to declare the surrounding area as extraterritorial jurisdiction. It will not be long before the majority of the residents who are now just part of Cameron County, will be part of Space Port, paying taxed to Elon Musk. 

There must be consequences.  Sofia Benavides was front and center on giving Musk everything he wants. Joey Lopez was part of that club along with Eddie Trevino.  Both are now part of the past. It is time Joseph Lucio to step up and speak out against Elon Musk. That will certainly not happen.

Concerning claims of a DATA center, Gov. Abbott already said no new data centers unless they build their own electric generating facilities.  This means no use of the BPUB.  You can lie all you want but it does not change facts.  Also, Abbott and Paxton are hurting in the LRGV in polls leading up to the November elections.  Neither is going to come out in defense of data centers.

Daniel Cavasos was the old editor of the Brownsville Herald.  He warned against rapid economic development.  I wish I could find his old OPED piece.  He was so spot on.

This rapid growth may be good for property tax revenues, but it is really bad for the large number of people on fixed incomes, or lower wages in terms of the current economic reality.

If you earn $100,000 a year, I might be able to get you into a very small house.  Taxes and homeowner insurance on a home my size is about $700 a month.  20% down on a $250,000 home is $50,000, plus other closing costs.  The monthly load amount is about $1650, if you can get a loan at 6%.  This means a monthly payment of $2350.00.  The overwhelming majority of residents are locked out of a mortgage. 

People do not have the money even for rent.  I know of people who a few years ago could have bought a house, who cannot now afford to rent a duplex.

So ask yourself who exactly is benefiting from all this rapid economic development?  It is not the average person in Cameron County.

When I sell my home, the buyer will need upwards of $3000 a month for the full mortgage payment.  You then add in utilities, cable, and other expenses, you are over $4,000 a month.

While my mortgage payment was locked in 16 years ago, I am fine.  But every year costs go up. People on fixed income who use to be able to afford their home, are struggling to make payments.

ALL OF THIS RAPID ECONOMIC IS BAD FOR CAMERON COUNTY.  BUT WHO IS MAKING ALL THE MONEY.  

 

THE SUBDURAL HYGROMA IS GETTING WORSE AND I AM BEDRIDDEN

All indicators are my ventricle continues to over drain.  My brain surgeon's office is trying to get me in with a cancellation.  I was told if it gets worse to go back to the ER in San Antonio and the on-call brain neurosurgeon will assess the situation.  I am mostly bedridden. The VA wants me to go to the local ER first to get the referral to San Antonio.  I just got the last bill sent to the VA $14,000.  

The VA's claim they have no one locally who can do or read the lateral head shot, or properly read the CT scan is pure BS.

The VA  has an absolute policy of no emergency CT scans at the clinic.  If needed they will put you in an ambulance to cross the street to Valley Baptist.  The head CT scan is at most 2 minutes.  Only the VA can ask the neurosurgeon at the VA in San Antonio to read the CT scan.  But they will not agree to doing it at the VA Harlingen.  They also claim they have no one who can read the lateral head shot.  This is pure BS.  I can read it.  It is like a clock, and you look for a black notch associated with a time.  The online chart which is readily available tells them the setting.  I should be at 150.  I bet I am back down to 70.

My vision is in and out.  I have no control of my bladder. My gait is way off. The vertigo sensation makes it difficult to walk. In the last week I fell three times. 

My brain surgeon needs to have someone locally give him an assessment.  The only option is for the VA Harlingen to do the head CT scan and lateral headshot.  They will not.  I have verified they can ask the neurologist at the VA San Antonio to do the read and then notify my brain surgeon.

When I brought this entire mess to the worthless Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, he blew me off based on the VA lying that I can get care in Brownsville.  I cannot. 

I have since learned the brain shunt I have had been recalled in select patients.  It seems to over drain on its own without an intervening event.

A note, I changed the diagnosis from hematoma to hygroma.  The local radiologist misdiagnosed the problem.  He did nothing wrong.  There are so few patients with the problem it can happen.  But the subdural fluid buildup is obvious to a trained eye.

 

THIS IS FROM BRONSBIL ESTACION

Click for a great history about our airport.  All my regular readers know I am a huge fan of our airport and its long history of connecting us to Latin America.  Everyone also knows I have been pushing hard to bring Jet Blue which will open Brownsville to all of Mexico and Latin America via Mexico City, and San Antonio and all of Jet Blue's services out of San Antonio.

 

WE NEED A LOWER RIO GRANDE MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD TO BRING BETTER CARE TO THE LRGV

Yesterday it came to my attention a local person fell and hit her head.  There was no care available, so she was medivac to MD Anderson in Houston.

Medicine is changing and our needs are changing.  No one hospital can fix the problem.  It has to be a community effort between Hidalgo and Cameron County through an advisory board.

My brain issue scares me more and more each day.  The VA doctor who treats my circadian rhythm disorder was dumbfounded the VA does not have a neurologist in San Antonio handle the read of my brain CT scan and lateral headshot.  She told me the local radiologist is to refer any read she cannot handle to specialists in San Antonio.

I am very happy with the ER help I received from Valley Regional.  The radiologist through no fault of his own could not properly read the CT scan or the lateral head shot.  On the latter it is about reading the setting on the shunt, not if the shunt is in place.  

That number will tell the ER doctor if my shunt is over draining or under draining.  This then gives context to the CT Scan read. We need to be fair.  An ER doctor and local radiologist can go their entire career and never see a patient with my problem. 

Both the radiologist here, and in San Antonio misread part of the CT scan.  Their reads got me the emergency care I needed- so thank you.  It really takes a brain neurologist to understand the subtle difference between a hematoma and a sac filled with brain fluid.  It was in fact the latter.  This is so rare it is impossible for almost any ER doctor or radiologist to get it right.  They need help and we should work together to help them.

The brain fluid sacs were even worse than a hematoma.  Mine were deemed severe requiring an immediate change of the pressure valve from 70 to 150.  That is a big change.  I can tell you based on how I feel, I am still in trouble.  

I have been sleeping 11 hours. It takes an hour to rehydrate me before I can get just a few hours work done.

THE SOLUTION

A medical advisory board can help all local hospitals to associate with specialists in San Antonio and Houston who can help with the advanced reads of MRI's, CT scans and basic x-rays. The need is there and we need a strong community-based Board to help the doctors.

The MAB also needs to work with all ER professionals to learn about rare conditions they are seeing in the ER.  We need PCP to also make such identifications.

With this data in hand the MAB can work with the hospitals to try and recruit specialists who can address these rare conditions. Our population is growing and changing.  

 

 THE SUPREME COURT EMERGENCY DOCKET IS FRONT AND CENTER WITH THE PRESS READING EACH FILING

My FRAP 8 Motion is about to be filed and will be read by the national press core. The issue is simple, are the three orders signed by the Texas Supreme Court while the case was squarely before federal judge Rolando Olvera void.  There is no dispute concerning the documents.  

I intentionally waited until after the end of the term to file my FRAP 8 motion, when there would be very little for the press to see, but with Trump filing FRAP 8 motion after motion.

It will take just one news source taking the story and the Texas Supreme Court will fall. 

"The Supreme Court's emergency docket has flared up in the thick of the justices' summer recess. 

President Trump is urging the justices to revive his mail ballot restrictions and allow White House ballroom construction to resume. It again puts the high court in the hot seat after its string of key rulings on other aspects of Trump's agenda.

And adding to the pileup this past week, a contempt fight from Apple, an execution and even an effort to save a "vicious" dog from euthanasia landed at the justices' feet."

 

GINA HINOJOSA IS CLUELESS ON THE GASOLINE ISSUE, OR WORSE IS SHE BOUGHT BY THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY?:  I DO NOT KNOW WHICH IS THE TRUTH BUT THERE IS A SOLUTION TO THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GINA IS NOT DISCUSSING

I am waiting on my body to rehydrate so I can try and get some legal work done.  The phone has been ringing all morning.  The concern for my safety and welfare is real. I think the key people now understand I have no real care options in the LRGV.

Gina Hinojosa needs to explain why she does not openly campaign with her father, Gilberto Hinojosa.  We all know the answer.  She is no more qualified to be governor than her father was qualified to be the Chair of the Texas Democratic Party.

Gina tried through paid bloggers to convince you she took the lead on Data Centers.  The record was clear.  Before Gina read in the paper they had become an issue, Governor Abbott has already called for additional regulation and a mandate they produce their own electricity.  Documented facts matter. 

HOW IS IT GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THE LEGISLATURE CANNOT BETTER REGULATE THE COST OF GASOLINE?

Now pay attention, I am putting the blame on Abbott and the Republicans, but why is GINA not calling them out for doing nothing.  She has proposed nothing to address the issue of how Texas and the US can be net exporters of gasoline, and not find a way to cap the price of gasoline.

"The United States is the world’s largest exporter of motor gasoline (finished gasoline plus gasoline blending components), supplying over 16% of total global exports. U.S. motor gasoline exports in 2023 averaged 900,000 barrels per day (b/d), equivalent to about 10% of domestic consumption and enough to fill up the tanks of over 1.5 million SUVs per day,"

 WHAT TO UNDERSTAND

Our gasoline surplus is so large, we export the equivalent of 10% of our consumption.

Texas can control the price of gasoline coming from Texas fields.  There can be a higher price for exports.  But Texas can mandate a price range for Texas consumption, with the price going up after the needs of Texans are met.

So why is Gina Hinojosa not calling out Governor Abbott on the issue?  It is either ignorance, or she is bought by the oil and gas industry.  This is a very winning issue, and Gina is dead silent.  Why?

 

A VERY SLOW AND SCARY RECOVERY FROM MY SHUNT VALVE FAILURE

Walking around the house gives me the sensation of vertigo.  The ventricle over drained and leaves the brain without the proper cushioning.  It is estimated it will be the 28th before the ventricle recovers.  Then a week later I go back to my brain surgeon for a new CT Scan, to see if the subdural hematomas are decreasing in size.  It is simple, the full ventricle puts pressure on the subdural hematoma. 

This is the scary part and it is important people understand it is really no one's fault the proper care does not exist in the LRGV.  But the VA Harlingen can insure better care no ER doctor can ever provide, no matter how good they are.

Key to my care is coordination between the VA Harlingen and my brain surgeon.  I am going to have to do a second congressional complaint on the issue.  The VA's position is "we do not have anyone trained to care for the veteran so local services will not be provided.  The VA Harlingen is the only entity which can assure me proper care.

It is important everyone understand there are so few people with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus an ER doctor can go their entire career never seeing NPH.  For sure they can go their entire life never seeing a failure in the valve.

Once you reach the point of subdural hematomas caused by a failure in the shunt valve, you are approaching stroke conditions.  The radiologist did find evidence of ischemia.  

The subdural hematoma by itself is a basis for an emergency referral to my brain surgeon.  But the actual data makes it easier to assess the patient.  Over drainage by itself is a basis for an emergency referral, but this is where local care is not available.

The radiology tech did a perfect lateral headshot as I requested.  But no one on staff knew how to read it.  I am being objective when I say it may have been the first lateral headshot the radiologist on duty had ever seen with a brain shunt.  There never would have ever been cause to train them into how to read the valve.

When I looked at it I estimated the valve was at 60, when it should have been at 90.

You have to look at it like a clock.  The setting is where you see the black notch.

If you view it as a clock, just shy of 6 o'clock, the setting is 90. That is where it should have been.  In fact it was between 4-5 o'clock, which is a setting of 60.  This meant I was overtraining.

The emergency referral to my brain surgeon would be the valve changed from 90 to 60, with evidence of subdural hematoma and ischemia.  With this my brain surgeon would have concurred in my emergency transfer to San Antonio.  

The repair requires use of a very expensive specialized ultrasound which ER's do not have, and no local surgeon would have.  It is very specific to the Codman shunt.

The potential malpractice issue is clear to me.  An ER doctor cannot diagnose a change in the value setting based on the patient's representation of the proper setting.  The VA can have this verified in my medical records, thereby making it possible for their radiologist to make the finding. 

So even if there are no subdural hematomas visible in the CT scan, the finding of  the valve setting failing becomes a basis to send the patient to the brain surgeon for an emergency correction before subdural hematomas develop.

This can only happen under the care of the VA.  I will try an meet with the Chief Medical officer to go over this, before I ask for Congressman Gonzalez to help.