Everything GBIC CEO Bret Gardella said at Brownsville Chamber's municipal development district event

Rio Grande Guardian's Podcast

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS - Bret Gardella, executive director and CEO of the Greater Brownsville Incentives Corporation, was in the audience for a presentation about the possible creation of a Greater Brownsville Municipal Development District.

The presentation was made by Brownsville City Attorney Guillermo (Will) Treviño at a breakfast event hosted by the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce.

Brownsville voters are currently being asked if they support the creation of a Greater Brownsville Municipal Development District (MDD). If they do, both Gardella’s group, GBIC, and the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation would be collapsed to make way for the MDD.

Gardella was not slated to speak at the event. However, Brownsville Chamber President Esmy Villarreal asked if Gardella would answer a question in the Q&A portion from Larry Jokl, a real estate agent and former chairman of the Brownsville Chamber board of directors. Gardella obliged.

Jokl asked if any jobs would be lost if voters said “yes” to the creation of the MDD and the termination of GBIC and BCIC. Gardella responded:

“So that is not my decision. I am not the director of the MDD. I have not been told I'm going to be the director of the MDD if it's created. So, it would be my anticipation, if the commission does create this, that they're going to combine forces. Are there going to be some redundancies? Probably.

“But, the nice thing that the mayor and the city commission have told both organizations (GBIC and BCIC) is that nobody loses a job. Nobody loses their title and nobody loses their salary.

“Now that does not mean they're all going to be combined under the MDD umbrella. Some people may transition to go to work for the city. So the goal is not to fire people, alright, to put people out in the street. The goal is to make sure that the resources, the folks, are brought together to do what is in the best interest of the City of Brownsville. How are we going to grow this? So that's what I've been told.”

Gardella stressed he was providing information about the two propositions currently before Brownsville. He said he was not advocating for or against them.

The election for the propositions is May 4. Early voting starts April 22.

Here is an audio recording of everything Gardella said from the stage at the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce event. The emcee is Esmy Villarreal, president of the Brownsville Chamber.

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