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Residents publicly accuse city leadership of meddling in airport hires and safety oversight
Summary
Multiple public commentators accused city leaders of improper interference in airport hiring and safety matters and raised concerns about resignations, FAA investigations and possible misuse of city resources; the commission did not take formal action on those allegations during the meeting.
Several Harlingen residents used the citizens communication portion of the agenda to air heated criticisms of city leadership and airport oversight. Dawn Ray Leonard said the city had "ignored safety protocols" and alleged the mayor "deliberately muddied the waters" during an airport-board hiring process that preceded recent FAA scrutiny. "If the FAA cites the airport and the city for violations, will the taxpayers be required to pay the exorbitant fines?" she asked.
Robert Leftwich raised separate but related concerns, alleging possible nepotism at Harlingen Water Works, claiming that an uncle of an official was hired after an outside search and suggesting city resources had been used against political opponents. "Is it illegal for any of y'all to use city resources to go after political adversaries as you have, Mary?" he asked the commission.
Other speakers, including Raymond Reyes and Desi Martinez, raised questions about procurement and infrastructure planning — Reyes queried why a lighting project appeared to cost about $49,000 when he found alternative pricing nearer $10,000, while Martinez urged better coordination on drainage and floodplain matters in Latino neighborhoods.
The transcript records these items as public comment; no formal motions or votes addressing the allegations were recorded. Mayor Norma Sepulveda and the commission did not announce personnel actions in response during the meeting.
