2.8.2005

This week, it was calming devices, flash back to REM, and fuzzy math. But the icing on the cake…a new candidate!

So Who’s Being Empowered, Exactly?

The following item was placed on the agenda by the Executive Director of the El Paso Empowerment Zone:

1. Presentation of Empowerment Zone Annual Report. (Attachment) [Phyllis Rawley, El Paso Empowerment Zone]

According to their website (www.elpasoez.org), their mission is to “help realize a community that will take advantage of NAFTA by creating a grassroots, community-based system of long-term economic opportunities, improving the quality of life through self-sufficiency, emphasizing strong cultural, educational and family values.”

Phyllis Rawley, wearing beaucoup beads around her neck, greeted Council in French and told them that “every day is mardi gras” for her because she recently won her bout with cancer.

Once she finally began her presentation, Rawley stated that the Empowerment Zone (EZ) represents 46,000 citizens of El Paso, 10.8 square miles, and “in our fifth year of funding represents $2.7 million in program projects either in grants or loans.” She listed a good number of scholarships, jobs, loans and 13 neighborhood associations created (among other things). She mentioned that because of Bush Administration cuts, the EZ is looking at ways to remain sustainable, and they are preaching that same message to local non-profits: sustainability.

She said their current projects include “Read El Paso Read” (sounds a lot like the Paso del Norte Foundation’s waste of funds and annoying jingle called “Walk El Paso Walk”) and a Texas Avenue Street Festival.

John Cook asked if the Zone would help fix the poor condition of Texas Avenue and Rawley said she believed the Texas Department of Transportation had put out bids to repave Texas from Campbell to Cotton.

Not So EZ Money

Susan Austin asked why the Empowerment Zone could not provide technical assistance to non profits that want to get grants from the EZ. Rawley said that when they had done that in the past and when the organizations didn’t get approved for funding, the organizations reported feeling “led on” by the staff, so EZ’s moving away from that.

Austin also asked, “Is it fair to say that the EZ still has on hand the difference between the $20.8 million and the $23.9 million that it could still award?”

“Correct,” replied Rawley. Wow. That’s a lotta millions they’re still sitting on.

Austin also asked about their 5 to 1 leverage requirement (making it less EZ for potential grantees to get much money from the EZ). Clearly, the EZ is trying to spread its funds as thinly as possible.

Cobos and Wardy, the usual suspects, praised Rawley for her work.

While I don’t profess to be anywhere near an expert on the issues related to the El Paso Empowerment Zone, I have some basic knowledge and some definite opinions.

Tight Grip

It seems to me that there are a couple of organizations, including the Empowerment Zone and the Paso del Norte Foundation, which I mentioned before, that sit on enormous chunks of money. This money could do a heckuva lotta good tackling serious issues facing El Paso.

Instead, what do they do with those millions? Well, the Paso del Norte Foundation uses it to pay for staff and to advertise programs like the ineffective, uninspired and basically worthless “Walk El Paso Walk” campaign. Instead of creating annoying jingles, why not address the lack of health insurance among large sectors of our community? Why not spend it on funding scholarships for pre-med students to stay in our community once they become doctors? Why not help recruit medical researchers and labs to El Paso?

In my humble opinion, the Empowerment Zone is the same kind of animal. Their federal funding—which is supposed to empower and enrich a community—is now being used for a street festival? Hey…I love street festivals as much as the next person (you’ll always see me in line for elótes)…but that $2.9 million could be used as seed money for a lot of businesses downtown and throughout the zone, thereby creating jobs and wealth. Instead, it’s being used for a glorified party. Good Lord.

Call me crazy, but there’s gotta be a better way. Are these folks hoarding these enormous chunks of money so that they can perpetuate their jobs and the jobs of their staff? Maybe not…maybe they’re just trying to stay afloat as long as possible. But I’m a gambler, my friends…I say let’s get all of that money out and working for the community as soon as possible!

¡No Lo Comprendo!

The following item was placed on the agenda by a South-Central El Paso resident. She only spoke Spanish, so I knew I had to brace myself for Wardy’s (and possibly other City Rep’s) broken Spanish, and I did that by turning my ear piece on “low”:

2. Discussion and action regarding the $16.00 charge from Solid Waste Management for picking up trash/debris left by unknown parties in the alley behind my property located at 3826 Tularosa. [Maria Herrera]

Ms. Herrera explained that she and her neighbor were there to express their displeasure with the fact that unknown individuals are dumping garbage in the alley behind their homes. Someone had recently dumped old furniture behind her home and because her husband was physically unable to dispose of it immediately, the City cleaned it up, and now she was being charged.

She also said she had tried reaching Anthony Cobos, her City Representative, who hadn’t bothered to return any of her calls and whose secretary had said he’s just too busy during “this time” (it’s campaign season, my friends…for Anthony Cobos, constituents come second to collecting fat campaign contribution checks). Herrera said that Cobos was too busy on personal business to help her and her neighbors and she implored them to do something.

Warning: For those of you who have taken the time to learn Spanish, or for you native speakers out there, a word of caution. What you are about to hear is a brutal butchering of a beautiful language.

Anthony Cobos addressed Mrs. Herrera, saying, “Señora, buenos días. Primeramento quiero pedir su permiso por no regresando la llamada en tiempo.”

Translation: Ma’am, good morning. [Of course, he meant “primeramente” not “primeramento”] First of all, I want to ask your permission for not returning your call on time.” (Note to reader: I have cleaned up the problems with tense switching in order to spare Anthony further embarassment.)

He complained that it is a “very busy time of the year for me,” and translated his statement saying, “Este tiempo del año sí es muy ocupado por mi. No es excuso, es la verdad.” He continued his butchering of the language, saying, “No estoy contento que está pasando con usted y sus vecinos.”

Translation: This time of year, yes, is very busy for me. It’s not an excuse, it’s the truth. I am not happy what is happening with you and your neighbors.”

I’m not happy what is happening with your “Spanish,” Tony. I know, I know…some of you out there are shaking your head, wondering why I’m making fun. And you may even be saying, “Hey! If you’re going to criticize Anthony Cobos for his less than perfect Spanish, why aren’t you criticizing people who speak absolutely no English? Isn’t that a double standard?”

And you’re right, it probably is. And it’s also true that English is our country’s lingua franca. But the reality on the border is that we live in a bilingual, bicultural world. And to be honest, your old buddy Sid is torn…I appreciate the fact that Cobos and Wardy make an attempt to speak in Spanish…but I guess where I draw the line is when Wardy and Cobos proudly market themselves as “bilingual.” They’re not. They can get by, yes, but only painfully. And just as I criticize Alexandro Lozano for butchering the English language, hey, I’m an equal-opportunity critic.

Robert Cushing: For whom 10 months of research means…nothing!

The conversation went on for several minutes (in the same incredibly embarrassing and painful manner, with misused and mispronounced words and consistent use of the wrong tense).

When Cobos was done, Cushing announced to Council that the researcher he has on staff has been looking into restricting access to alleys by placing gates at each entrance for the last ten months. Ten months? And where’s the progress, Bob?

Lozano said he, too, is concerned about alleys.

Ms. Herrera asked them to take action, not make promises.

Ellen Smyth, Director of Solid Waste, said that the department is looking at revising the way they work out illegal dumping issues so that property owners aren’t billed.

Alexandro Lozano then told Ms. Herrera that next time this happens, he should call Cobos every day.

Wardy, who was a little miffed by that, said, “Alex, Alex, Mr. Lozano, please don’t do that, okay?”

“Why not, Mayor?” said Lozano, “I tell my constituents, if you don’t hear from me, call me, continue to bother me until I do something about it.”

Ms. Herrera walked away, smiling and happy, perfectly content with the answers she had received.

Austin suggested that the City work with Keep El Paso Beautiful, a local clean-up organization, in order to get help on this issue.

Y como siempre, Council took no action.

Minutes, As Usual

Passed on the consent agenda was the following item:

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: [Municipal Clerk, Richarda Duffy Momsen, (915) 541-4127] Approval of Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of February 1, 2005 and Special City Council Meeting of January 28, 2005 (Park Fees). (Attachment) Minutes for Special City Council Meeting held on January 28, 2005

Getting the Lead Out?

During the routine revisions to the agenda, Representative John Cook asked that the following item be deleted:

16B. Discussion and action to authorize the Mayor to submit a letter to the Governor of Texas requesting $11 Million in funding for the remediation of residential properties in and around Kern Place, which have been contaminated with lead and arsenic. [Representative John F. Cook, (915) 541-4140]

Cook said he would be “bringing it back after TCEQ reviewed the Attorney General’s opinion.” I’m assuming that Cook is waiting to see what the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will do about designating unacceptable lead levels. Will it be at the lower level of 500 parts per million, or will it be at the same level as the rest of the state—640 parts per million?

Cobos said, “If you wanna pursue this, I’d like to invite you out to maybe some community meetings in my district, which many of the neighborhood associations in my district do not agree with what you have here today.”

“Sure,” said Cook.

The item was deleted.

How Does Joyce Spell Relief? S T A F F !

Finally, Joyce Wilson, our City Manager finally has some professional staff to assist her as evidenced by the following items (which all passed on the consent agenda without discussion):

5B. That the Mayor be authorized to sign a Contract between the City of El Paso and Rozanna M. Mendoza, to assist the City Manager as an Executive Assistant to the City Manager, at a biweekly rate of $2,461.54, for 40 hours per week. The term of the contract shall be for the period of March 7, 2005 through March 6, 2006. This Contract is subject to the concurrence of the Civil Service Commission. (Attachment) [City Manager, Joyce A. Wilson, (915) 541-4844]

7A. CITY MANAGER

Add 1.00 Executive Assistant - City Manager C

Fund Source: 01101-15010704-501000-15000 (Attachment) [City Manager, Joyce A. Wilson, (915) 541-4844]

13A. BT2005-528 FINANCIAL SERVICES

Set up appropriation for a contract executive assistant in the City Manager's Department.

Decrease $40,931.00 from 10010274/01101 Personal Svcs

Increase $40,931.00 to 15010704/01101 Personal Svcs

Our City Manager, not the Mayor, is the person who actually runs the city on a day-to-day basis, so I’m all in favor of giving her some staff and believe she probably needs the help. If you recall, your old friend Sid was pretty critical of the fact that while Wardy had retained all four of staff members, the City had only given Ms. Wilson…well…only half of one…Wilson inherited Jim Martinez’s old secretary (Blanca Gonzalez) who works from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and earns $35,000 for that hard day’s work (remember the angry email exchange incident? If not, feel free to revisit it: http://www.thestrelz.com/shm/2004_0810.htm).

I wonder if Ms. Gonzalez was ever required to put in a full-day’s work or if she still gets special treatment.

The other interesting tidbit about this was that when the revisions to the agenda were read into the record, Robert Cushing was going to take them off for separate discussion. We never learned what his “concerns” might have been. Maybe, though, he realized at the last moment that because this item related to Ms. Wilson’s staff and didn’t have anything to do with outside contracts, there was no bribery to be done so he just let it go.

Every Voter Gets His Day

The next item was also passed on the consent agenda without any discussion:

8A. Guillermo Glenn to the Workforce Retraining Advisory Committee by Representative Jose Alexandro Lozano, District 3. (Attachment) [Representative Jose Alexandro Lozano, (915) 541-4515]

And finally, Guillermo Glenn, the coordinator for the Asociación de Trabajadores Fronterizos, has gotten what he’s been asking for over the last year and a half: The committee to look into worker retraining issues.

I hope the other representatives make their appointments soon so that this committee can get working.

Traffic Dot Calm

Items 5H (which was removed from the consent agenda by a member of the public) and 16A were taken together:

5H. That the Engineering Department be authorized to establish and implement appropriate traffic management programs on City streets under the guidelines contained in the "Guidelines for the Implementation of a Neighborhood Traffic Management Program", attached as Exhibit "A", and That the authorization to establish and implement appropriate procedures for the placement of speed humps on the City's streets under general guidelines approved by City Council on Oct. 29, 2002, is hereby rescinded. (All Districts) (Attachment) [Engineering Department, Rick Conner, (915) 541-4200] POSTPONED FROM 01/11//05 AND 02/01/05

16A. Discussion and action to surface-paint the designated Glengarry Street Parking on both sides of Glengarry between McRae and Darlina for the purpose of providing this as a traffic calming device, and to direct the City Manager to instruct the appropriate City departments to commence this project within the next 30 days. [Representative Jose Alexandro Lozano, (915) 541-4515] POSTPONED FROM 01/11/05 AND 02/01/05

It was at this point in the meeting that I noticed something odd dangling from the side of Alexandro Lozano’s head. At first, I assumed it was a hearing aid – was it the Super Ear XLT model like mine, I wondered? Or was it some fancy earpiece like those used by television anchors. If so, was he taking a page out of the George Bush playbook and having his staff instruct him on what to say behind the scenes? (You remember that telltale lump on W’s back at the debate?) Ah, I can see it now, Lozano’s smarter, better schooled staff member talking into a microphone, feeding him all the right answers. I really couldn’t figure it out, but it was bizarre. It wasn’t just an ear piece—it had some shiny string hanging from it, and to be frank, it kept me from being able to completely concentrate on the issue at hand…that shiny string was almost hypnotic!

Anyway, back to the meeting…

Lozano explained that the City would be painting “some stripes” on the street as a traffic “calming” device, making the street appear narrower and thereby providing a soothing psychological effect on the drivers. Wow. That’s kinda like what that string was doing to me…I was feeling calmer, less agitated and less hostile…calmer…definitely calmer. It was just so…shiny.

Rick Connor, the City Engineer, soothingly explained the process by which the City investigates traffic issues within the community. When citizens call in traffic problems, he calmly explained, the City investigates; if there is no problem, they explain it to the resident. If there is an issue, the City and the residents work out a solution that will have the least intrusive effect on the area. Cooool…workin’ it out…calmly…

Shiny Happy Councilors Holding Hands

There was a lengthy (and uninteresting albeit soothing) discussion about deterring speeders and other alternatives, including increased police presence and speed humps (speed humps again—that got my adrenaline pumping for a moment or two!) and the drawbacks of these solutions. Ultimately, the best solution in this case was to create a narrower street lane while at the same time creating bike lanes. I think I like this Connor guy…he’s smart and progressive, and creating bike lanes is a solution I’m all for! I just may have to break out my rusty old Schwynn. If I ride at night, I might just call Lozano and ask him where he got that shiny, hypnotic string…maybe it’ll be my light reflector!

When Cobos asked Connor if he had discussed this option with the school districts, Connor explained that neighborhoods (not in El Paso) have been known to take control of the situation, and what they have done is “buy small plastic children…it’s very colorful…and the neighborhood goes out and during the day puts those in the front yard or at school time, and this we found to be very, very effective at the school.”

Indeed!

Do they have large, colorful plastic Council people we can seat up there until the May election?! Wouldn’t that be a great idea! No more bid rigging, no more back-room deals, and no more embarrassing behavior. Couldn’t be any worse than what we have now.

Both items (5H and 16A were approved unanimously).

Moving Along Swimmingly?

After the following item was read into the record, Susan Austin objected to it:

17. PURCHASING - RESOLUTION: Discussion and action on a resolution that the City of El Paso hereby awards Solicitation No. 2005-038 for Shawver Pool Improvements to F. T. James Construction, Inc. in the amount of $298,318.00, as this offeror provides the best value to the City based on the published criteria and on its ranking evaluation; and

THAT the Mayor be authorized to sign the contract; and

THAT the Mayor be authorized to execute budget transfers for this award and project as necessary; and

THAT the City Engineer is hereby authorized to approve contract changes which are necessary for proper construction of the work and carrying out the intent of the design, but which do not increase the scope of the contract as awarded, in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per numbered change order and 25% of the original contract price as awarded, without further authorization by City Council. (Attachment) [Purchasing Department, Byron Johnson, (915) 541-4308]

Representative Austin questioned the timing of this and wanted to know if the pool would be complete by swim season. When Byron Johnson, the Director of Purchasing, said the target completion date was June, she replied, “You’re toast!” She later conceded that if the pool is indeed completed by June, “then you’re okay.”

“This is strike two for us as a City,” piped in Wardy, adding, “We already did a number on Memorial Park pool by the timing on that project; here we go again.”

Johnson replied, “I can tell you it’s on the schedule that we were given, and we put it out on schedule and got it on time.”

Austin wanted this item bumped until the end of the meeting. Cushing pointed out that the pool is located in District 7 and encouraged Vivian Rojas, the representative for that district, to voice her opinion. Thanks for waking her up, Bob. Maybe she, too, was mesmerized by Lozano’s shiny…pretty…string thing.

Rojas awoke from her hypnotic state and said she wanted this approved and the work to be done “the sooner the better.”

The item was approved unanimously, and after the vote was taken, Richard Garcia, the Park Operations Manager, explained to Council that all the swim teams are being moved to the newly renovated Marty Robbins pool, which will be open soon. City Manager Joyce Wilson explained that the Shawver Pool was left open for the winter swim season while the Marty Robbins pool was completed.

I Saw the Light (in Your Skies)

The following item was the much-anticipated dark skies ordinance–an ordinance in the works for six years:

18. PUBLIC HEARING - BUILDING PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS: An Ordinance amending Title 18 (Building and Construction), by creating Chapter 18.18 (Outdoor Lighting Ordinance), of the El Paso City Code, the penalty being as provided in Section 18.02.107 of the El Paso City Code. (Attachment) [Building Permits and Inspections, R. Alan Shubert, (915) 541-4557] POSTPONED FROM 01/25/05

Alan Shubert from Building, Planning and Inspections explained that in 1999, the Building and Zoning Advisory Council (BZAC) began the process to create an El Paso dark skies ordinance. In 2003, the ordinance was delayed because of the 10-year compliance issue. Apparently, the body raising a stink about the 10 years was the City because of the cost that the City would have to bear to come into compliance. Making the City compliant would take $14 million investment.

Shubert further explained that the ordinance itself covers glare, light “trespass,” energy efficiency and the sky glow—cutting down on light pollution that inhibits sky watchers.

I won’t get into the particulars about the ordinance (you can view those on the attachment).

When Shubert began discussing “light trespass,” which happens when bright light spills from one property onto another, a giggly Wardy jovially said, “In jest, Representative Ortega made a comment, but it’s probably pretty appropriate. You know, when we have somebody decides they wanna be Clark Griswold and create an entire Christmas effect for their home, is that gonna be included in this also?” (I think Presi would be perfect as the Chicano version of Clark Griswold in “National Lampoon’s El Paso Vacation.”)

Well, had you read your homework, Mr. Mayor, you wouldn’t have asked that question. I know, I know, I’m so demanding…I expect my mayor and Councilors to actually read the backup attached to items before they walk into Council meetings.

“All of that lighting is exempt and it’s listed in the ordinance,” replied Shubert.

“Oh, okay,” replied Wardy. Duh.

Cowardice and Convertibles

Then Alexandro Lozano decided to share his perception of the whole thing with us:

“I’m sitting here, wondering, you know, all the projects and all the proposals we have, no wonder we don’t get nothing done ‘cuz we study everything to, you know, look at this work you have done, not your fault, but, you know, I’m surprised, you know, we have so many issues, we don’t have streets in the City of El Paso, we don’t have any funding for the City of El Paso for streets, and we’re thinking about lights here? I mean, please, Mayor, this is to me observe [he meant to say absurd, but it came out “observe”…really…I kid you not] that we have so many needs. It’s like me, I cannot afford tires on my car, but I want a brand new convertible ‘cuz I wanna see the sky. You know, if I don’t have tires on my car, why should I buy a convertible, this is crazy. I’m sorry.”

Been “lighting the flag” again there, Alex? Maybe if you didn’t spend so much money on loco weed you could afford to buy new tires. Just a thought.

Representative Cook responded to some of Lozano’s “concerns,” pointing out that while this ordinance was being developed, the City was already retrofitting fixtures to meet the dark skies ordinance. In addition, the City saves $1 million a year in electricity consumption with these fixtures.

Cook is right. It makes absolute sense to do this, and there’s no reason not to. I think, though, that Alan Shubert could’ve done a better job heading off money issues by discussing the ordinance’s cost savings, something he really didn’t do.

City Manager Joyce Wilson echoed Cook’s assertion that for the last seven years, the City has been replacing old fixtures with shielded lighting. She said the challenge would be going back and retrofitting everything immediately—that would cost at least $14 million. But no one was asking the City to do it immediately.

Susan Austin suggested having a different policy for the City than for the private sector. Wilson said, “We typically try to adhere to the standards that we enforce for the community.” Exactly. You’re my kind of city manger, Ms. Wilson.

Austin replied, “It seems like governmental entities carve themselves out of statutes all the time.”

“It’s the American way!” said Wardy. He should know.

Lozano suggested holding an election to allow the citizens to vote this ordinance and expenditure up or down. How ridiculous. This is what passes for leadership on this Council. When in doubt, punt. Take a stand, Alex, one way or the other. That’s one of the things you were elected to do. This is akin to Wardy’s strategy of spending thousands and thousands of dollars having voters approve basic infrastructure spending (which delays the projects until the elections are held). Let’s see a show of hands. Who wants the potholes in our streets filled? Amazing! Everybody’s hand went up.

Alan Shubert explained that there is no longer a ten-year compliance period, as there was in the draft ordinance.

Susan Austin tried to point out that the City is the party holding up the process and she pointed out that the Greater Chamber of Commerce is “okay” with moving forward on this ordinance. Well, in that case, I guess it’s okay for us to proceed.

The Ambiguity Principle

Wardy interjected, saying, “There are other organizations in this community that feel that that ten years…is extremely vague and ambiguous, and kinda like, well, where did ten years come from?” What?

Austin replied, “Ten years is not vague, it may be punitive, but not vague.”

Susan, don’t bother. Wardy’s obviously been borrowing Lisa E.’s “Barbie’s Fun Words Dictionary” again. Or is it her “fuzzy math” book…where 10 years doesn’t mean ten years…and where numbers are too “ambiguous” to understand.

Shubert wanted direction from Council about when this ordinance should take effect.

Flushing Out the Details

Cushing likened this discussion to the low flush toilets—people fought them, he claimed, but now, those are the only kind of toilets that are available. He said he didn’t want to force people to change things that were already in good condition. (In Cushing’s case, I’m all for low-flush spittoons…now that would be an improvement over the soda pop cans and Styrofoam cups he currently uses).

Several speakers addressed Council, urging them not only to approve the ordinance, but to speed up the timeline on requiring compliance.

Alexandro Lozano clearly is not comfortable with El Paso being a leader in the state. He pointedly asked John Peterson, the citizen who spearheaded this effort and drove it through municipal government, if any other cities in Texas had such a dark skies ordinance. When Peterson pointed out that most small west Texas towns and most major southwest cities do, Lozano pointed out that no other big cities in Texas like Houston or Dallas have them. You’re right, Alex. Why should we take the lead in anything?

That’s the problem in El Paso, folks. We have leaders who fear the exercise of leadership.

Presi Says, Be Careful What You Wish For

When Alberto Rivas of the Five Points Neighborhood Association spoke in support of the ordinance, Lozano reminded him he had previously presented a resolution on behalf of a coalition of neighborhood associations in support of the ordinance. Lozano challenged that coalition support and said, “The President of the Lakeside Association called me personally and told me he didn’t know nothing about this.” (I cringed at Lozano’s use of the double negative.) Rivas insisted that they spoke to him; nevertheless, Rivas pointed out that the support for a neighborhood association action item doesn’t have to be unanimous—it just needs majority support.

Then Presi Griswold, er, Ortega had the audacity to suggest to Rivas that the neighborhood associations pay for the new fixtures, adding, “Maybe that’s something the neighborhoods could help us with if they really are, um, wanting to accept this concept.”

So listen up neighborhood associations, if you come before Council to voice your support of progressive policies, Presi might ask you to pay for them!

Rivas said that he thought the associations would be open to that. Geez! Clearly, bad leadership isn’t limited to City Council.

Conrad Conde, a representative from the Building and Zoning Advisory Committee (BZAC), told Council that the committee felt perfectly comfortable placing a two-year time limit on this ordinance because the changes were already happening.

While it seemed that some Council members weren’t at all interested in passing this ordinance at all, Representative Cook was, and he made an amendment to the motion to put the ten-year clause back in and Susan Austin seconded the motion.

Instead of voting on the issue, Robert Cushing did his best to be an obstacle and began rehashing some of the same questions that took place during the extremely long and detailed discussion.

Cobos, who is well known for opposing progressive and modern policies (he voted against the no-smoking ordinance and he supports Robert Cushing’s ongoing efforts to delay the protection of arroyos), complained, “I think that requiring all fixtures to be compliant within ten years, you know, is not realistic, you know, I understand it’s campaign season, I understand that.”

“You’re kidding,” replied Cook, who has been the single, consistent voice against corruption and for progressive policies during this abominable administration. Then, sounding mayoral, he said, “Let’s call the question.”

Wardy took issue with Cook’s calling the question, saying, “I was Mayor last time I checked here, we’ll still have some discussion here.”

Austin agreed with Cook and said that ten years would be a reasonable amount of time for compliance. Voting against the ten-year requirement were Cushing, Lozano and Cobos (the three amigos), but the amendment passed.

Fighting for Typos

Schubert wanted to fix up ten “clerical” errors, and Wardy said he was “uncomfortable” with that and wanted each clerical error to be voted on separately (geez, people…can you spell “stalling tactic”?). All eight of the fixer-uppers passed. The only bozo to vote against all the very basic, clerical amendments was Lozano. Now that’s a courageous stand. Let’s join the fight for clerical errors in ordinances!

Once all ten amendments were approved, the item passed; the only dissenting vote was Alexandro Lozano’s. (Yes, even Cobos and Cushing, who complained about this ordinance, voted for it. It really is campaign season.)

Once the final vote was taken, John Peterson (the activist who got the issue going) came to the podium to thank Council. Lozano scolded him for his activism, first by following Presi’s lead by asking him if he was willing to pay the $14 million required by the City to become compliant, and then telling him that when the City raises taxes next year, it’ll be because of the dark skies ordinance.

¡Idiota!

Diablos Baseball Is Coming Back

Passed unanimously with very little discussion was the following item:

20. PUBLIC HEARING - QUALITY OF LIFE SERVICES: An Ordinance amending Ordinance Numbers 009918, 010482, 010544, 011098, 011779, 012468, 013481 and 015805 which established and amended the Andy and Syd Cohen Stadium Lease between the City Of El Paso and the El Paso Diablos, Inc., which was subsequently assigned to El Paso Baseball Club, LLC, a Limited Liability Company which has been converted to a Texas Limited Partnership under the name El Paso Baseball Club, LP, to revise the obligation to pay rent as set forth in said Lease; to approve the assignment of Lessee's interest to El Paso Professional Baseball, LP; add two option periods; delete reporting requirements, and remove rental rates charged for outside events be approved by City Council. (District 4) (Attachment) [Quality of Life Services, Deborah Hamlyn, (915) 541-4686]

And that was that, and the meeting adjourned about 1:00 in the afternoon.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire!

I’d like to revisit something that came up at the January 11^th Council meeting. It’s an important issue because it goes to the deceptive and dishonest nature of this administration. Those of you who are loyal readers of mine will remember the following details from those notes when a discussion about the City Attorney’s Office came up:

“Lobbing a friendly softball question at her, Paul Escobar then asked [Lisa Elizondo], ‘You’ve also cut down on staff attorneys, is that right?’ Responding, Elizondo bragged: ‘By a significant number. We’ve reduced the office from 27 [attorneys] down to currently 17 [attorneys] if you approve this appointment.’”

http://www.thestrelz.com/shm/2005_0111.htm

I said it then, and I’ll say it again. She was lying, and here’s the proof. The following is a specific breakdown of City Attorney Office staff before and after Elizondo’s reign of terror and incompetence came to City Hall (my thanks to a helpful alert reader…gotta love those alert readers!):

City Attorney’s Office before Lisa E: After Lisa E:

City Attorney 1) Rita Rodriguez RESIGNED/REMOVED Litigation Attorneys 2)   Laura Gordon RESIGNED/REMOVED 3)   John Gates RESIGNED 4)   Perry Piñon RESIGNED/REMOVED Transactional Attorneys 5)   Lupe Cuellar 6)   Kevin Elkins RESIGNED 7)   Sylvia Borunda Firth (Airport) 8)   Marvin Foust 9)   Terri Garcia 10) Elaine Hengen 11)  Lee Ann Koehler RESIGNED 12)  Lupe Martinez 13)  John Nance 14)  Ruth Reyes RESIGNED 15)  Raymond Telles RESIGNED 16)  Matt Watson Municipal Court Attorneys 17)  Al Avila (City Prosecutor) RESIGNED 18)  Luz Walker RESIGNED 19)  Reginald Bussey RESIGNED 20) Stephanie Osborn RESIGNED

City Attorney 1) Lisa Elizondo Litigation Attorneys 2)   Jim Martinez 3)   Michelle Little Locke X)   Michael Moffeit RESIGNED/REMOVED Transactional Attorneys 4)   Jennifer Farleo Callan 5)   Lupe Cuellar 6)   Sylvia Borunda Firth (Airport) 7)   Theresa Cullen Garney 8)   Lisa Hayes 9)   Elaine Hengen 10) Lupe Martinez X)   Jeff McElroy RESIGNED 11) John Nance 12)  Ernie Rodriguez 13)  Jorge Villegas 14)  Matt Watson Municipal Court Attorneys 15)  Mark Briggs (Part-Time Municipal Prosecutor – never went to Council for approval) 16)  Terri Garcia 17)  Marvin Foust

As my alert reader pointed out, there were not 27 attorneys in the office when she “took over.” A recent addition to the City Attorney’s Office is Mark Briggs, who is now the Municipal Prosecutor. But guess what, folks? Mr. Briggs’ appointment never went to Council for approval…AND…he only has to serve the citizens for half a day because Lisa E. allowed him to retain his private practice. Wonder how much Mr. Briggs is being paid for half a day’s work.

Also, please note that only 8 attorneys from the original group remain – and that means (yes, yes, I know I sound like a broken record) that valuable and significant institutional memory and legal expertise is gone.

So what’s the harm in that, you ask? Well, folks, it harms our pocketbooks and eats up valuable and precious taxpayer funds.

Here’s a prime example: Lisa Elizondo openly admitted at a Council meeting (after she had fired talented veteran attorneys) that her office had neither the experience nor competence to handle 40 cases. As a result, the 40 cases had to be outsourced to Carl Green, a local private practice attorney. Yes, those cases have since come back to the City Attorney’s office, but I still wonder – what was the final pricetag? I’d love to know how much money we taxpayers had to pay; I know that in the first three weeks alone, the cost to us was $200,000. I’m sure the cost in the end was way above that.

Another interesting point is that two of the thirteen attorneys who resigned were attorneys SHE HIRED! Even those guys couldn’t take it! One of them ended up walking away with taxpayer funded gift of “hush money” and promised to keep Lisa E.’s incompetence a secret. Sorry, Lisa, your secret was out long ago.

So, my friends, this ain’t no example of fuzzy math…it’s deception through and through.

On the Campaign Trail

And in case you didn’t read about it, Steve Ortega, a local attorney, has decided to run for District 7. That’s Vivian Rojas’ seat.

I did a little research on Ortega (http://www.elpasotimes.com/education/stories/braindrain10.html and http://www.stevecleanup.com/), and what I will say is…things are looking up!

Finally, I was very interested by the story this week that Mayor Wardy refused to participate in a neighborhood association meeting on preserving arroyos (http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20050208-20945.shtml). That didn’t surprise me in the least. I hope those arroyo preservation folks remember that when they’re making up their mind about who will support them and who won’t (http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20050209-21280.shtml).

Until next week, my friends!

Comments or questions: shmaven@yahoo.com

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