6.7.2005

This week, departing demagogues receive embarrassingly effusive encomiums, Council does something illegal—say it ain’t so!—and Sid unloads on certain soon-to-be-former Council members and selected others (so what’s new?).  It truly is time for Sid to retire.

 

The Love Affair is Over

The first two public items this week were nauseating examples of what happens when people like…

                     

1. Jane Ratcliff of Northeast El Paso, would like to express her gratitude and appreciation to Rep. Robert A. Cushing, Jr.  [Jane Ratcliff]

 

Ms. Ratcliff, a retired teacher who helped both the Cushing and Wardy campaigns, has been a staunch supporter of these guys since they took office.  She started out by sarcastically congratulating KVIA, the El Paso Times and other media outlets for ousting Robert Cushing, whom she called the best representative they’ve ever had.  She then began discussing a long list of “qualities” that she admired in Cushing, including his sense of humor and generosity.

 

Sorry, Ms. Ratcliff, but, I watched every one of Cushing’s appearances on Council and Cushing provided not one whit of humor…unless you consider his entire stint on Council as one long sick joke.

 

Ratcliff mentioned that Cushing generously gave of his salary.  Really, Ms. Ratcliff?  Based on information I have received from informed parties, he did this because of a disability settlement he has with the railroad company; if he had received a salary, he would not have been able to collect the railroad money.  Like everything else having to do with this guy, his so-called “generosity” was nothing more than a self-serving lie.

 

Ratcliff continued her speech by reading straight out of Cushing’s campaign materials.  She said that he never “turned to dirty politics,” despite what she called “the slander” used against him.

 

She claimed that “the community has no idea what they’re losing.”

 

Sorry, Jane.  But not only do we know enough about this guy to oust him, many of us believe he should be in jail.

 

She closed by saying, “Good luck with choosing one of the many job offers that you have; also, we look forward to the book that you’re writing.  And to you, Mayor Wardy, what a joy and privilege it’s been to work for you and to represent you on assigned boards.”  She called him “honest and ethical,” as well as “humble.”

 

Job offers?  Interesting.  Did the local butcher shop call on Bob?  Or was it the humane society?  Or maybe it was the anger management clinic that needs someone to demonstrate how not to deal with seething, demented anger.  And that book.  Hmmm.  Wonder what it’ll be about?  Cronyism or dog disembowlment?

 

I can see it now.  Craven Vanity Press is proud to announce the publication of Confessions of Bob the Ripper.  Or maybe it would come from Macho Man Press, Little Women:  An Owner’s Manual for Macho Men.

 

Nowhere in Ratcliff’s speech was there a mention of the fact that Cushing is a brutalizer of women and small animals, that he is a bully at City Hall, that he is a corrupt crony and a Wardy sycophant.  But why let those minor details get in the way of a sappy goodbye?

 

And yes, Joe Wardy—“honest, ethical and humble.”  This ethical guy Joe Wardy is the same desperate candidate who was fined by the ethics commission and who used push polls against Carmen Rodriguez and never reported their expenditure or in-kind donation (if that’s what it was); he’s the same guy who gave Luther Jones free rein inside the City Attorney’s office until the City Manager came to town; and he‘s the same guy who told the El Paso Times that he was not ashamed of the obscene amounts of money he had collected from fat cat contributors.  And in his arrogance, he told everyone around him that the election was “in the bag.”  But again…details, details.

 

Ratcliff thanked Wardy for his “positive campaign” and for not “resorting to dirty or deceptive politics,” adding, “It seems people who succeed in El Paso are condemned.  It’s called class envy.” 

 

Lemme tell ya, Jane ol’ girl.  Wardy’s campaign was so negative (remember the builders’ mailers and the “don’t get COOKed” signs?) that it turned off regular folks.  In short, Wardy has no class and his opponents have no envy.  I was hoping Ms. Ratcliff had had her say at this point, but like a girl with a crush on her teacher, Ratcliff then breathlessly listed all the occasions she had had to be near her man Joe Wardy.  Yuck.  Dee Wardy, you’d better watch your back.

 

Ray Gilbert was also there and said that public life is hard.  He said Cushing always returned his calls, and called him a “perfect example” of a City Representative.  He said he hoped that they all would come back again.  Good Lord!

 

Charlie Wakeem, President of the Coronado Neighborhood Association, gave them a “heartfelt thank you,” and said that he tried to stay out of the election.  He said that he looked forward to working with Mayor-Elect Cook and the new Council members.

 

Then came the next one:

 

2. The Central Neighborhood Association and the Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Association, would like to present a Certificate of Appreciation to Rep. Robert A. Cushing, Jr. and thank him for all his hard work.  [Jorge Almada]

 

Jorge Almada, President of the Central Neighborhood Association, thanked Cushing for running good Council meetings, “not the circus types of the past administration.”  Huh?  Were we watching the same Council meetings where Cushing would burp and chomp on his gum and spit into a cup and Wardy would allow Theresa Caballero to turn a public meeting into her own personal therapy session?  Note to Ms. Caballero:  Primal scream went out of fashion years ago.

 

He also said he didn’t “have enough words” to describe his gratitude and claimed that District 2 was “a disgrace” before Cushing was elected.  He was clearly angry at the media and said they never gave Cushing credit for the salary he donated.  (See above.)

 

Two elderly women presented Cushing with a plaque and thanked him for all the projects he created, including many that were initiated and funded by previous administrations (like the Memorial Park swimming pool and the book store at the Memorial Park library, initiatives created by the Ramirez administration and passed by voters in the 2000 Quality of Life Bond election).  Do these folks have any idea what they’re thanking him for?  Then a line of elderly folks went up to hug the woman beater/dog disemboweler. 

 

Almada was one of the folks who went up to shake hands with everyone, and when he shook Presi’s hand, he leaned in near Presi’s microphone and said, “You’ll make a great Mayor Pro Tem.”  Presi laughed nervously and said, “Well, we’ll see.”

 

Indeed, Presi.  We’ll see.

 

Becky Friesenhahn (forgive the misspelling), President of the Manhattan Heights Neighborhood Association, said “words cannot express” how grateful she and her counterparts are.  “We truly are going to miss you,” she said.

 

You know, these folks probably do a lot of good for their neighborhoods, and I’m sure they are indeed grateful to Cushing for whatever help he provided them.  However, it’s beyond me how they can simply ignore the fact that he was a public disgrace to the office he held.  These people put their own small private interests ahead of what this community needs and deserves and “words cannot express” how such behavior disappoints me.

 

Anna Dueñas of the Cedar Grove Neighborhood Association and one of the stars of Wardy’s political ads, also thanked Wardy. 

 

I wonder if these folks are grateful to Wardy and Cushing for throwing out fair competitive practices through their bid rigging; for their despicable efforts to drive out our new City Manager; for their callous treatment of veteran and experienced City staff; or for their total obedience to Luther Jones and the Bowlings and their ilk.  There’s just so much to admire about these crooks, eh, folks?

 

Flipping the Switch

After a brief discussion on whether or not the following items should be postponed, Council decided to delete them and let the new Council deal with them:

 

8A. Discussion and action to direct the proper distribution of monies commonly referred to as "Palo Verde Rewards", in an amount of $5.8 million dollars, and to evaluate the utilization of the Housing Authority of the City of El Paso (HACEP) as a source for distribution of a part of said funds, not to exceed 50%, since the HACEP serves as the most prominent and distinct institution, with the necessary existing resources and infrastructure, to execute part of these funds, not to exceed 50% to the intended benefit of ". . . low income customers of El Paso Electric Company . . .", absent the current existence of the intended recipient for such funds or any existing successor entity. To additionally direct the proper distribution any remaining monies, to assist small business and commercial customers for demand side management programs, consistent with the intent of the agreement for said monetary distribution, and to prohibit the utilization of any such remaining monies for any public or quasi-public projects.  Any distributions as set forth would be subject to the direction and approval of the Mayor and City Council.  [Representative Robert A. Cushing, Jr., (915) 541-4996] POSTPONED FROM 05/24/05

 

9. COMPTROLLER: (Attachment) [Comptroller, Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, (915) 541-4435] Discussion and action on a resolution to authorize the City Manager to accept approximately $5.8 million in Palo Verde Rewards from the El Paso Electric Company, determine how the Palo Verde Rewards will be used, and establish any requisite criteria for directing the use and accounting of  the  Palo Verde Rewards. POSTPONED FROM 05/24/05, 05/17/05 AND 05/10/05

 

1B. Discussion and action to direct the office of the City Attorney to enter into discussions and or negotiations with proper parties to investigate the legal ramifications of allowing for the distribution of part, if not all of the monies related to the Palo Verde Rewards, i.e. 5.8 million dollars, to be strictly dedicated to either direct payment/s to the ratepayers in the form of a bill reduction, or for the utilization for the payment of existing bond debt of the City of El Paso. [Representative Robert A. Cushing, Jr., (915) 541-4996]

 

That was a good decision. 

 

They Gave Good Path (to Corruption)

Approved with no discussion:

 

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: [Municipal Clerk, Richarda Duffy Momsen, (915) 541-4127] Approval of Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting of May 31, 2005.  (Attachment) Minutes for the Regular City Council Meeting May 31, 2005

 

Once the Consent Agenda was approved, Lozano gave a gift to two of his “good friends,” Cushing and Cobos, about whom he said, “They gave a good path that we can follow.”  When he shook Cushing’s hand, he said, “We’ll continue your good work.”  When he walked over to shake Cobos’s hand, Cobos plugged Lasagna’s restaurant, mentioning its name and address.

 

More than once, Cobos said, “Can you feel the love?”  Tony, can you feel my disgust?

 

Cobos turned to Cook (who said, “Can we sing Kumbaya?”) and asked, “Where’s the gee-tar, John?”

 

The Fate of Elephants

Council Chambers was packed for the following item:

 

8B. Discussion and action to direct the El Paso Zoo to relocate elephants Juno and Savannah to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or similar quality elephant sanctuary facility as soon as feasible, with arrangements to be made by September 1, 2005. [Representative Susan Austin, (915) 541-4886 and Mayor Pro-Tem Anthony W. Cobos, (915) 541-4123]

 

Wardy determined that they would hear only ten minutes for each side.  Nine

people signed up against and 20 people for.

 

Cobos said that Wardy should not assume that he would “rubber stamp” a postponement of the item—Tony, it’s a little late to eschew the Wardy Rubber Stamper role you’ve played so faithfully for two years.  Maybe that was a factor in your humiliating loss to Beto O’Rourke.  Whaddya think? 

 

Cobos said he wished to be recognized to speak once the presentations from both sides were over.  Ever the master of the obvious, he added, “This is my last day on the El Paso City Council [to which I wanted to stand up and scream to the heavens, YES!”], but that doesn’t make this vote any less valid.”  Nothing you could ever do, sir, would make anything you do or have ever done on Council in any way valid.  He then added, “I promise that we will not let this City Council meeting turn into a zoo!”  Presumably, he was trying to be cute, but the man has absolutely no sense of irony.  Once again, Tony, it’s a little late for you to be promising not to turn Council into a zoo.  You, Wardy, Cushing and Lasagna did that a long time ago.

 

Carol Buckland, executive director of the elephant sanctuary, played a lovely video (which had to be cut off at 10 minutes) that had little to do with the elephants in our zoos and which was more of an infomercial about their sanctuary.  It was beautifully done, but offered no specific information about our own elephants or why El Paso should relocate its elephants to their sanctuary.

 

Angie White, President of the Zoological Society, said that Juno and Savannah’s care and welfare were very important to them.  She then presented her own video about the elephants.

 

She noted that the AZA rated El Paso’s Zoo as “excellent” and that the USDA says that the space “exceeds standards.”  Further, she claimed, the Tennessee sanctuary has no federal oversight, while the El Paso Zoo does.

 

Mark Reed, Executive Director of the Central County Zoological Society in Wichita, Kansas, opined that “political forces came in to usurp the professional staff here about what their opinions or thoughts were on the elephants and they were never asked for their opinion.”  He explained that Savannah is 53 years old and the animals are in great shape.  He said there is a great risk to moving them and the El Paso Zoo provides excellent care, diets, etc.  He called the proposal to move the elephants “ludicrous.”   He added, “Please let the staff make professional decisions…this should not be a political position.”  He was absolutely right.

 

The Elephant Man

Wardy recognized Cobos, but asked him to be brief and warned that he didn’t want to get into a lengthy discussion, a request that Cobos ignored.

 

Cobos asked, among many other questions, how much the zoo exhibit costs to maintain.  Dr. Hutchinson, the Interim Director for the zoo, said it costs about $147,000 a year, and that’s without major repairs.

 

After a series of other questions, Cobos finally asked, “Are these animals highly intelligent when it comes to the animal kingdom?  Where do you rank these among beetles, cockroaches…”  I can answer that, Tony.  Elephants rank as far above cockroaches as cockroaches rank above you.  To quote Cushing, “Does that answer your question?”

 

Wardy, who was gently trying to rein in the un-reinable Cobos replied, “Mr. Cobos, I don’t know that we’re goin’ in a good direction here.”

 

“No, sir!  No, sir!  You will not cut me off,” replied Cobos.  Obviously, Tony’s humiliating electoral defeat has made him very testy and it is also straining the Wardy/Cobos “can you feel the love?” bond.  So, Tony, the answer to your question about whether we “can feel the love” is a resounding NO.

 

Wardy allowed Cobos to continue and Cobos discovered that, unlike him, elephants are indeed highly intelligent.  He then asked how big the area is where the elephants live.  Hutchison replied about an acre.

 

Cobos then asked Joyce Wilson if the City subsidizes the cost of the elephants and she said yes.

 

Wardy said, “Thank you, Mr. Cobos.”

 

But Cobos continued.  “Now, I have two children,” and as he was speaking, Wardy kept interjecting, “Mr. Cobos, Mr. Cobos,” but Cobos ignored our hapless parliamentarian and just continued.  “And I’ve taken them to the zoo, and they enjoy the elephant exhibit, but we go home and we watch Nature on Channel, on PBS, we watch nature films and we watch other things, and they get just as much out of it,” and while he was talking the crowd began to boo him; there was also some scattered applause.  He raised his voice above the crowd and continued, “And let me say, and let me say this, you know, the argument is we want to keep the elephants for our children.  What are we teaching our children?  That we keep these highly intelligent animals incarcerated in an area that is not, um, that is not even decent?  On one acre of roaming space?” 

 

“Thank you, Mr. Cobos,” said Wardy firmly.

 

There were more boos mixed with applause.

 

Rojas said she had a question, but Wardy said he would not recognize her but he allowed Presi Ortega to speak.  Presi made a motion to postpone the item and to bring it back as a special Council meeting in four weeks.

 

Lozano said he wanted to delete the item, but didn’t get a second.

 

On the motion to postpone, Cushing—very interestingly—abstained, and Austin, Rojas and Cobos voted no.  Paul Escobar, who had stepped out of Council chambers momentarily, came back to cast his vote after Cobos.  Austin challenged his right to vote after the fact and asked for a clarification of the rules, and Wardy said, “Well he was either gonna vote it or I was, it really didn’t matter, Mrs. Austin.”

 

There was applause for that, and Wardy said, “Let’s move on.”

 

As Council waited for the crowd to disperse, Cobos could be heard saying, “Well, you guys are gonna have to raise taxes to pay for them elephants!”  That’s it!  Blame the elephants!

 

Wardy told Presi that he would see “overwhelming support to keep the elephants here,” and added, “and that’s the position I’m gonna take, so I’ll help you.”

 

Help?  How?  There was other happy talk (actually, happy crap) and then Wardy informed the Municipal Clerk, Richarda Momsen, that Representative Austin wanted to submit written remarks for the record on the issue. 

 

Gas Leak From A Source Other Than Bob the Belching Bully Boy

As a reminder, Council recently approved a special permit for Kinder Morgan, a company that asked for (and received) a special permit to build a breakout station for the pipeline.  This week, the final piece of the land sale between the PSB and the company was on the agenda:

 

10.  PUBLIC HEARING - EL PASO WATER UTILITIES PUBLIC SERVICE BOARD: (Attachment) [El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board, Robert Andron, (915) 594-5506] An Ordinance authorizing the City Manager to sign a Special Warranty Deed conveying to SFPP, L.P., a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, G.P., Inc., land totaling approximately 35 acres out of a portion of Tract 5D, Section 21, Block  80, Township 1, Texas and Pacific Railway Company Surveys, and a portion of Tract 1, Section 28, Block 80, Township 1, Texas and  Pacific Railway Company Surveys, El Paso, El Paso County, Texas, located in northeast El Paso near Ashley Road and Dyer Street.  (District 4)

 

Presi asked, “Is there any opposition to this?” and there was no answer.  Cushing began the conversation on this issue by pretending, for the last time, to be a lawyer instead of a master grandstander, I mean, Council member.  He immediately asked if a representative from Kinder Morgan was present.  When the representative stepped forward, he said, “Yes, sir.  One question.  You were here two or three or four weeks ago, and there was a concern on the part of some members of Council for an additional engineering study and everything.”

 

Actually, Cushing is giving himself and his colleagues much too much credit.  It was only ONE Council member who cared about the safety issue:  Susan Austin.  For a quick review, revisit my notes from that meeting:  http://www.thestrelz.com/shm/2005_0503.htm.

 

No Council, No Cry . . . Everything’s Gonna Be All Right!

Cushing continued, “You know, we were somewhat convinced by your verbal statements to the effect, that, uh, you know, that these were pipes, and they were just sittin’ there and everything was gonna be all right.  Has anything occurred since that time in the nature of an unusual occurrence involving your pipeline that would be something that this Council should consider at this time?”

 

Clearly, Cushing knew something the rest of us didn’t, and why he didn’t just state what it was proves that he loves pretending to be Perry Mason (of course, a corrupt, misogynistic, dog disemboweling, pompous, and far less intelligent version of Perry Mason). 

 

“No,” replied the unnamed representative from Kinder Morgan, adding, “not with respect to the sale of the property for the purposes that have been approved by this Council with respect to the special permit.”

 

“Okay, have you had any type of unusual occurrence within the last two weeks?” asked Cushing.

 

“We have had a release, if that’s what you’re referring to, of a pipeline,” responded the Kinder, Gentler Man. 

 

When Cushing asked what he meant by a “release,” the Kinder, Gentler Man said that the “pipeline released product on Fort Bliss about a week and a half ago.”  Surely, Bob, you’re familiar with the release of “product.”  That’s what you force us to observe nearly every week at Council.  Thank heavens that’s come to an end!  The Kinder, Gentler man said the pipeline was repaired over the weekend and put back into operation immediately. 

 

Cushing asked how much “product” was released, and the Kinder, Gentler Man replied, “You know, I was on vacation last week, and I’ll be honest with you, I really don’t know how much was released.”  Ain’t that convenient.

 

Cushing asked if it was over 50,000 gallons of fuel, and the Kinder, Gentler man said he didn’t know.

 

Cushing then asked to postpone the item, and Cobos asked if the “release” was of gasoline and the answer was yes.

 

The Kinder, Gentler Man pointed out that Council approved the special permit for the breakout station, and observed that without the breakout station, they would not be able to replace their pipeline.

 

Susan Austin asked if the pipes would have more volume if the breakout station were approved, and he replied, “Actually, less.  As a function of this breakout station going in, that’s up for review and approval today, we’ll be able to lower our pressure by 50% on our pipeline from the El Paso station to the breakout near Fort Bliss, where we’re talking about today.”

 

Cushing then pointedly said, “I expected from a person in your position to be more responsive in your comments to this issue today, because it was a significant unusual occurrence that happened out there, and for you to cavalierly say ‘Well, I was on vacation, I didn’t know about it,’ I feel sure that when you got back in the office you were aware of it.”

 

Cushing made a motion to postpone the item for two weeks, and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Pension Funds

The following item was postponed for two weeks:

 

12.  PUBLIC HEARING - PENSION ADMINISTRATION: (Attachment) [Pension Administration, Robert Ash, (915) 541-4765] An Ordinance amending Chapter 2.64 (City Employees' Pension Fund) of the El Paso Municipal Code regarding the definition of final pay in the pension calculation.

 

Staff said there was no problem with the postponement.

 

Council Fought the Law And . . . Council won!

On the additions to the agenda was the following item, which will go down in history as the very last item this administration acted upon:

 

1A. Discussion and action to ensure compliance on the part of the City Manager with Council directives in the area/s of vendor payments as set forth at the 24 May 2005 City Council Meeting, found at agenda item 14a, to wit, "Discussion and action to instruct the City Manager to either: 1) make full and complete payment of outstanding invoices for services performed for the City f El Paso by a legitimate vendor, or, in the alternative, 2) provide complete and unambiguous written response to the vendor setting out the alleged reason/s for the non-payment of the invoices.  Absent immediate and proper remedial action/s in this area on the part of the City Manager, the City could be subjected to undue and unnecessary public criticism." [Representative Robert A. Cushing, Jr., (915) 541-4996]

 

Lane Riedman, attorney for VIVA Environmental, was present, as was Robert Anderson, VIVA’s CFO. 

 

Riedman began by explaining, “Essentially what we’re here for today, essentially, is there are three invoices, two of them are over four years old...for work VIVA did for the City.”  He said that they were “concerned” about the invoices, “there had been a protracted discussion” about them and on the older invoices, they’re out of pocket expenses that have not been paid.

 

He said that the item finally came before Council last week, “The City Council sent it to staff; I believe the City Attorney had it, for them to respond.  The City Attorney responded last week; we responded to their response over the weekend.”

 

He said on the first two invoices, which were for fuel remediation work done for Sun Metro.  According to Riedman, there was a “misunderstanding between the parties.  There was a letter written by VIVA back in January of 2001, relating to a meeting that happened between City staff and VIVA personnel with regard to these invoices.  Some of them were not able to be paid at that time because there was some disagreement and there was some confusion as to whether the purchase orders had been issued, which purchase orders had been issued, and whether the payment could be made prior to the time purchase orders were issued.  Apparently, work was done before the purchase orders were issued.  That’s City direction to some of this.  And VIVA wrote a letter back indicating that there was a little over $19,000 that had been approved at that time…the total invoice was about $55,000, so there was a $35,000 difference that could not be paid at that time or was in some sort of a dispute at that point.”

 

He said in early 2001, the City paid the $19,000 and VIVA looked at the remaining invoices and “decided to accommodate the City and take $10,408.75 off of those invoices, leaving two additional invoices” that added up to $25,113.

 

He said he didn’t think there were any other disputes with those invoices.

 

The last invoice that VIVA was dealing with, he said, was more recent, and relates to the household hazardous waste collection on December 4, 2004.  He said “I believe what happened is there were bids made by different entities in the city to handle the City’s hazardous household waste collection, and while the City was looking at those, the City decided to let different companies…and VIVA was simply called on the telephone and asked will you go do this on December 4th.  VIVA said ‘Sure, what do you want us to do?’  The response was, ‘Here’s what comes in, the types of hazardous waste, you’re the experts, go do what you need to do.” 

 

So on December 4th, VIVA did the work and invoiced the charge at $33,000.  On December 8th, the City created the purchase order and set the maximum charge at $24,900, but VIVA set the cost for the work at $29,000. (Friends, the reason the City set the maximum charge at $24,900 – and VIVA, a company that has a long history of doing business with the City, is well aware of this fact – is that state law requires that any amount of money spent by the City over $25,000 go out to bid.)

 

Riedman said that one of the City’s complaints about VIVA’s household hazardous waste invoices was that one of VIVA’s employees billed the City 30 hours for “planning” for that one day of work from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (only four hours of work).

 

Invoices, Lawyers and Council, Oh My!

City Manager Joyce Wilson said that she had never been contacted by VIVA regarding the older invoice, and that VIVA had never responded to the City’s questions and concerns relating to the more recent invoice. 

 

Jorge Villegas, an Assistant City Attorney, said that he had offered to meet with VIVA and their attorney and staff, to go over the issue and possibly settle the dispute.  Villegas said, “I was told that they were not interested in doing that.  That they felt comfortable that City Council would favor on their behalf and would settle this this morning.”

 

I’m sure they felt more than comfortable—in fact, I’m sure they were damn sure of it.

 

Villegas explained that the City’s position on the older invoices is that they had already been paid through a combined invoice.  The City received a letter from VIVA telling them that the invoices had been consolidated into one, and that is the one the City paid.  He said that they notified VIVA, and VIVA never responded.

 

Regarding the more recent invoice, Villegas said, Ellen Smyth (Director of Solid Waste Management) sent VIVA a letter relating her questions and concerns, among them the fact that they had a four-hour event for which they billed the City 30+ hours; another example of the concerns was that the City was being charged $200 for a cardboard box.  VIVA never responded to Smyth or answered her questions.  They also never filed a claim with the City, which is what they should’ve done.

 

Cushing, of course, said he was “concerned.”  Cushing claimed that on the Sun Metro invoice (the older one) there was no difference of opinion and that the money was owed.  With respect to the second invoice, he said he was “troubled” by the fact that the request was made by telephone to go out and do the household hazardous waste collection, and he said, “It kinda reminds me of when you go into a restaurant and you order lobster and it says ‘market price.’  And you sit down and eat the two-pound lobster and then they give you a bill for $120 and you say, ‘Well, gee, that’s too much.  I only wanna pay $80.’”  He said the vendors acted in good faith and instead of just paying an agreed amount and withholding the disputed amount, the City didn’t pay the invoice at all.  “My position is, that, uh, you know, absent some clear, justifiable reason, that we don’t owe them this money,” said Cushing, “It’s my position that we should pay ‘em.  What is your response?”

 

Villegas said that Smyth (who was absent from Council that day) sent the letter with her questions to VIVA in order that they be addressed before she could first feel comfortable with what the City should indeed pay.  Considering the 30+ hours being billed, along with $200 cardboard boxes, I think she should indeed be asking for an explanation from VIVA. 

 

After Villegas responded, Cushing said, “That, to me, doesn’t paint a very good picture of the City of El Paso.”  Well, sir, your presence as an elected official didn’t paint a very good picture of El Paso.  Fortunately, the voters in District 2 re-did the picture.

 

What Cushy fails to acknowledge is that there may be some serious over-billing issues raised by the City staff, and VIVA never bothered to address these issues.  But in Cushy’s view, we should just pay out taxpayer money, no questions asked, to one of his allies.

 

Paul Escobar asked staff if they hadn’t tried mediating with VIVA and Wilson said they offered to do that, but VIVA preferred taking this Council.  Of course.  VIVA knows this Council’s history of giving out our money, no questions asked, to campaign contributors and friends.

 

Presi, who instinctively knows when to get on the pandering bandwagon (otherwise known as the pander wagon) joined the Cowardy chorus supporting payment to VIVA.  He said, “Let’s pay them what we owe ‘em.”   The problem, dear Presi, is that the amount “we owe ‘em” is in dispute. 

 

VIVA’s lawyer said that there was a misunderstanding about the letter, and said they’d be willing to sit down to mediate.

 

Villegas read from the letter in question, signed by Robert Hein, VIVA’s Project Manager, and based on what was read into the record, it was clear that the City’s interpretation was that two invoices had been combined into one.  Villegas said that the position they’re taking now (that it didn’t include all the invoice amounts) is a new argument.

 

Cobos asked how much VIVA is saying we owe them, and the response was about $58,000.  He wanted to know how much the City is saying is valid. 

 

Villegas said that at this point, if they provided the necessary documentation address the questions, they might get comfortable with $32,500—again, if they provide information needed by the City.

 

Carmen Arrieta said the concerns were the hours worked in excess of the event, and the fact that other vendors charged the City much less for the same work.

 

“Why don’t we pay them $32,500 and then arbitrate the difference in a different venue?” asked Cobos.

 

Arrieta said that regarding Sun Metro, there is currently no allocation (i.e. an appropriation) for that expenditure in the current budget, and Cobos said that was not the vendor’s problem, it was the City’s.

 

Joyce Wilson reiterated something she said before:  The last communication on those older (Sun Metro) invoices was dated May 2004, “and there was never any contact subsequent to that.”  And from what I could gather, the lack of communication from VIVA is what initially put a stop to the payment.  Wilson also said that she had not been provided an opportunity by VIVA to sit down and try to resolve the matter; VIVA had also never filed a claim with the City about the dispute.  It seemed to me that if VIVA had a claim to make, they should’ve made it, gone through the proper channels, and resolved this a long time ago.  But with these exiting Council members came a final opportunity for VIVA to cash in. 

 

Arrieta reiterated that there was still one issue on the Household hazardous waste collection invoice that VIVA had not yet addressed; nevertheless, Cushing made a motion to pay the invoice, and Lozano seconded Cushing’s motion.

 

Lisa Turner came to the podium and said that that the City made the phone call, had the company do the work, and so now they have to pay. 

 

We Don’t Need No Stinking Laws, Part 55

Before the vote could be taken on the household hazardous waste collection invoice, Villegas said, “Approving a payment over $25,000, which we’ll be doing here, would violate the local government code, bidding statute.”

 

Austin said she was worried about the legal cap of $25,000 and they could not seek more than what was allowed.

 

Deputy City Attorney Terry Cullen Garney asked that Council allow staff to make this a high priority and sit down with the vendor “with the commitment to Council that any monies that are outstanding and the City agrees are due the vendor will be paid immediately, and anything in dispute…we’ll resolve that immediately.”

 

Cushing said this same commitment was made a year and a half ago in a legislative review committee on the Sun Metro billing.  Then the king of flowery legal words said, “And here we are now 18 months later, and, you know, no disrespect intended here, but, you know, when flowery legal words are used like ‘well, we’re gonna pay them, but what we think we owe them,’ [yeah, that’s real flowery, Bob] you know, in other words, I have a problem with that.”  Cushing also said he was bothered by the fact that this is the only vendor that hasn’t been paid.  He also complained that the fact that the City wasn’t paying the vendor constituted a bias against the company; furthermore, he also said he had a problem “when we’re talking in abstracts here.”

 

When Boobies Dance

Cullen Garney said that if paperwork is provided to substantiate the invoice, it could be paid very quickly, but she’s sure that Council knows that everything needs to be documented.

 

Wardy complained that this is the problem with the City doing business with small business, and complained that “We’ve been doing the booby dance on these guys, and this is ridiculous.”  I wasn’t sure if Wardy was once again resorting to childhood euphemisms, what with this talk of “boobies,” or was referring to the bird.  Considering that the booby dance is the dance used by the male bird to attract a mate, and considering Joe’s comment last week about “hiding the salami,” I’m beginning to think Ol’ Joe needs to work out some of that personal frustration of his.  Maybe he can do that now that he’s officially unemployed (along with all the golfing he used to do on our dime).  He clearly needs to do something.  Maybe a certain admirer can help him out?

 

“And no disrespect to you, Ms. Wilson, but the reputation we have on persecuting small business…and this is a glaring example of this situation,” said Wardy.  This is the same guy who juggles numbers and does the “booby dance” with points on bids so that his friends and contributors get awarded bids.  Whatever, Mr. Joe.

 

Cobos, the passionate yet erudite legal scholar, angrily said, “I don’t agree with your position that we cannot take action on this because of the $25,000; I don’t agree with that.  That may be your opinion,” he said, and then pointing to his fellow Council cronies said, “But we have the final authority up here…I appreciate your legal opinion, but I don’t agree with it.”  I felt much more secure about the City’s legal position after that.  Thanks, Tony. 

 

Elizondo also warned them about violating the $25,000 statute, and Cushing’s solution was to work around the law by issuing two checks.  It’s instructive, Bob (though hardly surprising), to see that your instinct was to evade the law.

 

Elizondo giggled and said she could not recommend that.  (I wonder if most attorneys giggle when they advise their clients against illegal acts.)   When Cobos explained why he disagreed with her, she relented and said, “The Council can do what the Council wishes.”  She said that the City didn’t follow the proper procedure from the get-go and that’s why the City found itself in the position it was in.  I so hate to admit this, but she could not have been more right, but where was she when this happened?

 

The ever inattentive and glacially slow on the draw Vivian Rojas asked Jorge Villegas if he had stated that approving more than the $25,000 cap would violate the City Charter, and Villegas said, “No, it would violate the local government code, the state procurement statute.”  “So it would be illegal?” asked Rojas.  “Yes ma’am,” replied Villegas.  And, Viv, the reason you lost the race is because more people voted for Steve Ortega than for you.  Okay?

 

Austin made an amendment, which was for the City to place a $25,000 cap on what it could immediately pay, without prejudice for the vendor to seek the balance.  Rojas seconded the amendment.

 

Wardy, who still—after two years—doesn’t understand the rules of order, erroneously told Rojas, “You don’t have to second the amendment because the other person has to second the amendment.  Who made the motion?

Cushing said, “I did.”

 

Austin disagreed with Wardy’s assessment and said, “No, Mayor.”

 

Wardy asked, “Well, are you asking for a friendly amendment, Ms. Austin, or are you just trying to amend the motion?”

 

“Either way,” she said.

 

“She’s asking for a friendly amendment,” opined legal scholar Cobos.

 

“Either way,” she said again.

 

“We as a City did something that was…inept for lack of a better word, so now we’re penalizing a small business for our shortcomings and that’s what I have a problem with,” said Cushing.  He then rejected Austin’s amendment. 

 

Austin said that she still had a motion for her amendment, and Wardy said, “You can’t!  We have a motion and a second on the floor!”

 

Austin told Wardy that an amendment takes precedence over the motion, and Wardy replied, “I don’t believe so.”

 

Austin asked that they check the rules as Wardy persisted in his bone-headed position.  Elizondo wasn’t sure and had to be handed the rules.  Need I say more?  After reading them again, she said Austin was right.  Just out of curiosity, Ms. Elizondo, on what possible basis would any rational mayor want to retain your services? 

 

Speaking of Elizondo, I am told she is desperately fighting to retain her $155,000 per year sinecure.  She is also telling friends that if she and Jimbo with the Jumbo salary are ousted, they will be demanding a big, fat severance package in exchange for “going quietly.”  These two not only deserve a big, fat ZERO, they deserve to be thrown out on their arses.

 

Rojas seconded the motion to amend.

 

The amendment was read into the record, which was to put a cap of $25,000 on that payment without prejudice to the vendor to seek the balance and for Council to make no determination on the balance. Supporting the amendment were Austin, Cook, Escobar and Rojas.  When Wardy was informed there was a tie, everyone had a hearty laugh, and then Wardy voted no on following the law and observing the $25,000 cap provided by law.

 

Once the amendment failed, the motion to pay the invoice for household hazardous waste to the vendor, Austin voted no because she called it “illegal,” and the other no votes came from Cook, Escobar and Rojas.

 

Before Wardy could vote, Paul Escobar said he wanted to make sure the company got paid, but wanted to ensure that the appropriate procedures are first followed.

 

Wardy, interrupting Escobar, broke the tie by voting yes, thus approving the motion.  He then sat back with a huge smile on his face, swinging back in forth in his chair, and looked as smug as bug in an illegal rug.

 

Later, a bitter Wardy showed his true colors when he spoke to the El Paso Times:

 

Wardy, when asked later if he had any qualms about casting the tie-breaking vote to pay the $32,500 despite the legal advice, said, "None, none at all.

"It's my last day, my last meeting."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506080327

 

Cushing made a second motion that the vendor and the City Attorney’s office get together to resolve the outstanding invoices with regard to the Sun Metro contract. 

 

And then, without further discussion, and without fanfare, the meeting—the crony crew’s final hurrah—ended at high noon.  The Asses…er…axis of evil was officially dismantled.

 

Oh, What a Night

Friends, Saturday night’s election results are nothing short of wonderful.  With a couple of exceptions, I couldn’t have dreamed of a better outcome.

 

I’d like to say thank you to the hard working candidates (who are now Council members and the Mayor) who worked their tails off to talk to and listen to constituents, to educate the public, and to embrace good government.

 

Thanks to the good folks who took time to educate their friends, neighbors, and relatives and who helped the great candidates.

 

El Paso can do really great things—when we all work together.

 

Half Million Dollar Baby

I don’t want to gloat, but it looks like the ousted City Representatives, along with Wardy cheerleaders and campaign supporters Silvestre Reyes and State Representative Joe Pickett (who, by the way, was given the coveted “Worst Jerry Curl Award” from PinkDome.com—way to go Joe P.!) are now on a losing team (it’s called the Martie Jobe/Luther Jones/Bobby Bowling Fistful of Dollars Team!). 

 

The Troika Crew’s half million dollar baby, Joe Wardy, couldn’t defeat a candidate who had a fraction of the amount of money they collected for their boy.

But that won’t stop them…word on the street is that they’ll be trying to convince Wardy to run against Senator Eliot Shapleigh.  To quote Lasagna, “Bring it on!”

 

The Agony of Defeat

During an election night interview, faced with the fact that her district overwhelmingly voted against her and for new leadership, Susan Austin said she was “puzzled” by the election results—not just hers, but those of her colleagues on Council—because she and her counterparts had been so “professional.”  When I heard her say that, dear reader, I actually guffawed.

 

I guess after two years of wandering in the fog that was Wardyland, Susan Austin’s mind has become so cloudy that she has forgotten what’s professional and what’s unacceptable.  Or maybe we just have two very different definitions of the word.  For example, I do not consider Cushing spitting into a Styrofoam cup “professional”; neither is Wardy’s public discussions about “hiding the salami;” neither is Lisa Elizondo’s gum chomping; and certainly, neither is voting to break the law to pay off a campaign supporter.  But, then, as I say, she and I must have very different conceptions of professionalism.

 

Analysis Paralysis

And there was plenty of speculation after the election (and, to use Wardy’s cliché, plenty of “analysis paralysis”) about why the losers were…well…losers.

 

Paul Escobar, whose downfall was probably linked in part to his ties to his uncle David Escobar, told the El Paso Times that the across the board losses had more to do with reappraisals.  “If there was a single issue that most contributed to Wardy's defeat and that of three city representatives in Saturday's election, Escobar thinks it was the revaluation notices homeowners received in the past month or so for the El Paso Central Appraisal District.”  http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506060342

 

Of that same opinion in that article were Vivian “Recount” Rojas and Susie Byrd, District 2 Representative.

 

Susan Austin (in classic Austin fashion) still couldn’t figure it out and said, "I don't really know what happened. I don't have an answer," adding, "I think the voters are looking for answers and for visible improvement in their lives and pocketbooks.  I think they're just grasping at anything new, something that can make a difference, and I think they will keep reaching out and wanting results immediately."

 

I don’t think any of them are right on this one.  I have seen far more letters to the editor regarding the special interest issues involved in this election than I ever have before.  And certainly, there were more “anti-crony” letters than there were letters complaining about the re-appraisals.  While I agree about the fact that the re-appraisals certainly were on the minds of voters, the sweeping changes to the positions of mayor and Council, in my humble opinion, were a rejection of special interest groups and the individuals who answer to those special interests. 

 

The only reason Presi is back is because he didn’t have a strong challenger; Lasagna is back because, well…you got me on that one.  Why a district would choose such an inarticulate, unprofessional bozo to represent them is beyond me.  And Melina Castro…well, I think the northeast was cursed with two bad candidates.

 

And to Susan Austin…I believe the voters were looking for folks who will best represent the people, not just the “business community” or the builders and developers or Luther Jones and Martie Jobe exclusively, but the people—everyone equally and fairly.

 

Even the developers saw the writing on the wall:  "Contributions may have hurt, developer says"
http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506070356.

 

How the Other Side Thinks

And in an interesting glimpse into the mind of a small sector of the “business community,” this week’s El Paso Inc. demonstrates that certain “business community” types are clearly reeling from the defeat of their yes-man, Joe Wardy.  In their article, “Is El Paso Still Open for Business,” the Inc. has gone the way of Bowling-style fear-mongering:

 

“With the embattled Caballero’s departure came a sense of relief among local business leaders and a flowering of community progressive ideas and plans to boost the economy… Before the most recent election, local developers, business types and others were in agreement that El Paso might be on the verge of an unprecedented growth cycle that could lead to more and better jobs and a more sophisticated urban environment.
However, Wardy’s defeat at the hands of City Rep. John Cook, and the political demise of all but two of the other incumbent council members – Presi Ortega and Alexandro Lozano – triggered jitters among some business people, although many remain cautiously optimistic.”

            http://www.elpasoinc.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=175

 

First of all, are they serious when they say Wardy’s administration brought “a flowering of community progressive ideas?”  How would the Inc., a periodical that serves the most fanatically conservative, wealthy and west-side-centric members of our community, even know what progressive means?  I’d like them to name a single progressive idea created and passed by Wardy (a guy who rests on other people’s laurels!). 

 

“Growth cycle”?  Even their hand-picked front man, Joe Wardy, conceded, in connection with the pandering over the CAD, that there hasn’t been anything close to significant growth in El Paso when he observed that there had been no “economic boom” in our community (http://www.thestrelz.com/shm/2005_0517.htm).

 

And if this “growth cycle” they are talking about is the loss of our Air Defense Artillery School (and all the high-tech work that comes with it) and the importing of thousands of soldiers in its place, then it’s clear that this faction of El Paso that reads the Inc. and lunches and golfs at the Country Club has a conception of growth that is very different from those folks I talk to every day.

 

The Inc. article, which is a must-read for those of you who want to see arrogance in action, raises an important issue for this new Council.  What does “open for business” or “business friendly” really mean?

 

For the Inc. and for the Bowlings and Luther Jones and others, “open for business” and “business friendly” means that elected officials are controlled by special interests, a handful of folks routinely receive help killing competition, and unfair bidding practices are the norm.

 

There’s a world of difference between fair and open business, and I believe many of the candidates who won and will be sworn in as City Representatives and the Mayor understand that crucial difference.  When Joe Wardy and the outgoing Council voted to manipulate points on bids, had secret back-room deals, ignored legal opinions about bidding statutes, and demonized a state agency to benefit one developer, they were actually exhibiting extreme anti-business practices and showed that you have to pay to play in their game.

 

That is NOT “open for business,” and if this select group ever complains that this mayor and Council aren’t business friendly, you know that means that they’re not corruption-friendly.

 

And finally, it is my hope that our newly elected officials will understand that while the small group of individuals quoted in the El Paso Inc. article are indeed a part of El Paso, they are a small fraction of what El Paso is about and who we are.  The rest of us—you, me, your neighbors, the checkout clerk, the school teacher, the teller at the bank, the guy who mows your lawn, and the soccer coach—we, too, are El Paso, and we deserve a voice.  After all, it was not a dozen folks who put our new leaders in office…it was the thousands of us who said we’d had enough of the old ways of doing “business.”

 

Big Announcement?

These same folks who worked overtime (and overspent) trying to get Wardy re-elected are some of the same folks who, just one day before the election, announced a big win for El Paso:  150 high paying jobs by Aerospace Missions Corporation (ASMC).  What a coincidence, you say, that this big announcement happened the day before the election?  Well, I’m with you…coincidence, indeed.

 

Some in town are speculating that this “big win” for El Paso, and this big announcement that included Wardy and Silvestre Reyes, is nothing more than a sham. 

 

In an El Paso Inc. article last week, writer Dan Huff gushes, “Sometimes fairy tales really do come true.” (I still can’t figure out if this guy thinks he’s supposed to be a journalist or the “business community” fan club president …with all the love Huff feels for these guys, maybe he should change his name to Dan Hugg!) 

 

Anyhow, Huff writes:

 

“Although he declined to say at what level ASMC is currently capitalized, Morgan predicted that within the next five years the company's El Paso operation would employ 150 highly paid scientists and engineers, at an average salary of $85,000, and provide a $35 million annual boost to the local economy.”

http://www.elpasoinc.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=173

 

Wow!  Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?  Like a dream come true…and just in time to get some great press for Joe Wardy, who was seeking re-election.  Huff also points out that the company CEO, Ricky Morgan “added [that] ASMC currently has contractual partnerships ‘with some of the best laboratories and universities in the world,’” and that the company has been in operation in El Paso since 2002.  Huff adds,             

 

“Reyes’ staff said the congressman worked to get the company $6 million in defense authorizations, some of which have yet to be funded.” [emphasis added]

http://www.elpasoinc.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=173

 

A little bit of research, my friends, goes a long way and raises interesting questions.  If Huff had done any research whatsoever, he would have found a Dun & Bradstreet report (http://www.dnb.com/US/about/index.html) on this company, Aerospace Missions Corporation, that shows that they have been in operation only since December 11, 2004 (not 2002 as stated in the Inc. article), has only two employees right now (including officers), and the highest credit the company has ever held is $250.

 

So I guess the question is, how legitimate was this big announcement (the day before the election) if most of the defense authorizations are “yet to be funded,” the company doesn’t have a significant line of credit and employs only two people (including the CEO)?

 

While I’m not ready to say that this whole thing was a sham, and I need to do more research on this whole thing (since the El Paso Times and the El Paso Inc. did virtually none), I have no problem speculating that Silvestre Reyes, the “business community” that believes it should call the shots for all of us and is demanding a seat at the table with our current City Representatives (http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506120356), REDCO and others might just have pulled one over on us in order to help Smilin’ Joe win some votes.

 

I Will Not Be Ignored, People!

Enough of those guys. 

 

This week, Vivian Rojas, who demanded (and paid for or had someone pay for) a recount after her blistering loss to Steve Ortega last week, still doesn’t get it and has hinted to the El Paso Times that she may run again for the District 7 seat.  Good Lord!  This woman needs to go back into dark obscurity, never to return.  She preaches fear, kills progress, begins class warfare, serves as the hand-maiden to the Bowlings, and cannot grasp the simplest of concepts.  I really do believe that El Paso has had enough of people like her (but then I thought that when Luis Sariñana departed the scene).  Rojas should be banished, politically speaking, as this community needs and deserves hopeful, progressive, thoughtful leadership.

 

What’s Next

I received two requests from two loyal readers.  One asked that before I retire I cover the first Council meeting for the new Council.  I think that’s a good idea, and I’m willing to do it especially considering the significance of this first meeting.  Another emailed and asked me what advice I would give the new mayor and Council, if I had an opportunity to give that advice.  So here we go.

 

This first Council meeting will a very important one and a few big determinations will have to be made. 

 

Who will serve two years and who will serve four?  It will come as no surprise to my regular readers that I am praying that Melina Castro, Alexandro Lasagna and Presi Ortega get the two-year terms.  We know the damage those folks can do already.

 

I’m withholding judgment on Eddie Holguin, and I’m pulling for four-year terms for the others.

 

The other big question is who will be the Mayor Pro Tem, a title that comes with enormous responsibility and power.  The Mayor Pro Tem determines who will be assigned to various important decision-making committees at the City.  Don’t forget, Vivian Rojas was assigned to be Chair of the Planning Legislative Review Committee (by former Mayor Pro Tem Anthony Cobos), and she totally dropped the ball on the notification ordinance.  There will be numerous issues that will come before these LRCs and it’s important that the decision about who gets on which committee be made by a fair and ethical individual. 

 

According to the Times, two Councilors are vying for the Mayor Pro Tem position:  Presi Ortega and Susie Byrd (http://www.elpasotimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005506110321).  This is a no-brainer.  The ethically-challenged, grandstanding, Wardy-rubber-stamping, cronymeister-in-training Presi Ortega should be automatically ruled out.  The fact that he has, according to more than one source, even gotten Martie Jobe to lobby on his behalf should seal the deal for anyone interested in good, progressive government.  If the (almost completely new) Council gives Ortega the position, it would demonstrate that the new leadership is content to keep the old guard in control.  Such a move would be an absolute repudiation of the will of the voters.

 

So, it is my fervent hope that there is a unanimous vote for Susie Byrd and that Council quickly moves on to other issues.

 

But this first vote will be a real test for our new Council.  And, I must ask, if it is truly a Presi Ortega vs. Susie Byrd decision, and if word on the street is correct in labeling this a tug of war between the old-school leadership headed by the “business community” (which, my friends, is not truly the entire business community, but a few wealthy rich west-side types who are used to pulling strings and controlling folks with a phone call) and what many around town consider the leadership we need for the future, then you know what side I’m rooting for.

 

And make no bones about it, there are sides in this town. 

 

There is a group of people (not just the elected officials, but folks like you and me) who want to work for the improvement of all El Paso, and there is another group that wants to dictate and determine our future on our behalf, for outcomes that benefit them, and that thinks they know best.  Well, I hate to break it to them, but they don’t know what’s best. 

 

Except for a two-year interregnum during the Caballero administration, they’ve been in charge for decades.  What does their “leadership” consist of?  What do they espouse?  I’ll be happy to tell you:  Backward business models resulting in low wages for the majority and enrichment for them.  What else have they brought us?  I’ll tell you:  Corrupt mediocrities like Joe Wardy whose only function is to maintain the status quo.  If you like where these guys have taken us, then you probably voted for Joe Wardy.  If you don’t, then you need to do everything you can to support the newly elected progressive members of Council.

 

It is my hope that the group on Council that represents the vast majority of us remembers that with every vote they cast, with every decision they make, and with every deal they strike, they are doing it on our behalf.  While they will, of course, have to compromise on some occasions—that’s the nature of politics—I hope they remember that they are our leaders now.  And as our leaders, they have to be tough when they need to be.  Frankly, I also hope they never give in simply for the desire to strike compromises.  If our leaders in the 1960s had waited for unanimous votes before fighting for civil rights legislation, our country would still be segregated.  Sometimes, leadership means drawing lines, taking sides and showing strength and resolve. 

 

For example, I understand from insiders at City Hall that Eddie Holguin, Representative-Elect for District 6, is considering bringing in Jaime O. Perez as a staff member in his office.  This is the same Jaime O. Perez who ran for mayor unsuccessfully several times, has initiated recalls against folks he considers easy targets, was the chief spoiler for the Larry Francis campaign, and who was ousted from City Hall two years ago for misuse of government equipment.

 

Someone needs to tell Eddie Holguin that this is a bad, bad idea, and we’ll have to see what happens with this one.

 

Order in the Court!

Finally, Council will have to decide on rules of order.  While I believe it is vital that they continue to allow the public to speak, I hope that they create fair rules and that the mayor enforces those rules (including rules of decorum) consistently.  Wardy certainly never did that, and I’m cautiously optimistic that John Cook will.

 

I can guarantee that Theresa Caballero and her ilk will be back.  This time, the Mayor and Council will need to control these folks who want to use our public meetings to denigrate others, perpetuate their politics of hatred, and engage in tasteless self-promotion.  The Council Chambers is a place where people need to come together for the greater good and offer solutions.  Insults, innuendo and slander have no place in Council chambers. 

 

At the same time, while I believe that that it’s imperative that folks like Stuart Mitchell, Lisa Turner and Ric Schecter be allowed a forum, there should also be fair, consistent limitation placed on those discussions.  I happen to think the 3- minute rule is fair and is plenty of time to articulate a position.  I have no concerns over Mitchell, Turner and Schecter’s abilities to be fair and appropriate—they are always respectful and always offer a good balance between criticism and offering solutions.

 

So, my friends, next week I’ll offer my final column.  We’ll see what happens with this new Mayor and Council, and we should also be prepared to work.  After all, they need our support, our advice, our input, and our ideas.  We should never put all our expectations into a small group of people.  If we want to help this community progress, they need our help.

 

Until next week.

 

 

Comments or questions: shmaven@yahoo.com

 

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