Update 10.5.05

Well, folks, once again, spurred by recent events at City Hall and in the surrounding political world, I’ve temporarily left my peaceful retirement. I feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather III—“Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in!” Well, I’m back just long enough to give you some tidbits of information…just to keep you connected to the inner world (or is it the dark underbelly) of El Paso politics?

I’ll keep this short and sweet...the fish are biting.

“If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice”

Although we can file this in the “It ain’t news anymore” category, I’m going to discuss this most controversial item from the October 18, 2005 agenda anyway. As anyone who has had to traverse the east side of El Paso knows, the congestion in that entire part of town is awful.

As you might have heard, homeowners filled Council chambers during a very lengthy discussion a few weeks ago when it came time to make the final decision on the proposed Lee Treviño extension.

While there were some effective arguments on both sides (even an argument Lasagna made–that we must stop condemning homes, putting in wide roads, and destroying neighborhoods—was pretty effective), there were also some inappropriate and unnecessary attacks on Steve Ortega, the City Council representative who appeared the most willing to move forward on whatever position would best help the entire community. (Thankfully, Representatives Beto O’Rourke and Presi Ortega rose to his defense.) Most of the arguments made by the residents were of course centered on the impact the road would have on their lives. Some folks even said they’d be happy to live with the traffic ignoring the fact that the rest of us have to live with it, too.

As you’ve heard, the Council voted 8-0, with Eddie Holguin making the motion that killed the project altogether. When Holguin made the motion, he of course received applause from the homeowners – music to his ears, I’m sure, as I have come to see that Mr. Holguin has assumed the role of Prince Pander-Meister on that Council.

But before the final vote was taken, Representative Steve Ortega, who had been demonized by the crowd because he wasn’t just pandering to them, asked Council what solutions they would offer up instead.

Ortega said, “If we’re gonna have a motion to deny, I would at least like to have some sort of alternative options since it’s my understanding from Ms. Adauto that we’re going to have to present something to the MPO if we decide to do nothing. I would like to at least hear an alternative…that would alleviate traffic along the area of Zaragoza and I-10. I don’t know if anybody has any ideas, but I think that if we all acknowledge, or at least most of us acknowledge there is a problem, we need to at least talk about a solution.”

No one said a word.

Postponing the Inevitable

So, after an awkward silence, Municipal Clerk Richarda Momsen read Holguin’s motion into the record; Steve Ortega said, “And can I add a friendly amendment, to seek expansion of Zaragoza and other alternative routes to mitigate traffic in the area?”

And what was Prince Pander Meister’s response? “Sorry, Representative Ortega, I cannot do that.”

And that shouldn’t surprise anyone. Eddie Holguin “cannot” solve problems. Eddie Holguin “cannot” provide any thoughtful leadership that will help come up with answers. Eddie Holguin “cannot” even accept leadership coming from another City Council representative. That’s because Eddie Holguin’s sole purpose is to be the biggest nay-sayer we’ve ever seen, be the biggest panderer we’ve ever seen, and act as if he’s representing “the people” because he votes against, well, almost everything, particularly if it involves change. I guess in Mr. Holguin’s mind, the status quo in El Paso should be enshrined forever.

I wanted to rush the podium and pronounce, “Ah, yes! Away, ye progress! Sir Eddie will slay you dragons of progressive government with his mighty swift sword!”

Presi Ortega spoke, and his support of Steve Ortega greatly surprised and impressed me.

“There’s a problem here,” said Presi, “and we have to address it...I understand the issue here and how these people don’t want it here, but ultimately it’s going to have to go somewhere. And then in the future, if we look at Zaragoza, we’re gonna have another full house here…we have to have a solution for the future.”

He’s absolutely correct.

“I don’t think it’s responsible just to say to ‘no’ without any other alternatives on the table, that’s not the responsible decision given the data that we have,” added Steve Ortega. He, too, was absolutely correct.

Speaking of the data, as a side note, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that what did not help either of the Ortegas was City staff’s mealy-mouthed, weak presentation. Really, folks. It was thoroughly unimpressive. I’d like to recommend to anyone over at City hall who will listen that any staff member who routinely goes before Council get some good training on how to present issues before the public. I don’t know how they can expect to get much done if they can’t do this basic thing: Present a case about problems and solutions effectively and clearly.

Back to the meeting. Steve Ortega added, “I’ve proposed the extension of Zaragoza. I don’t know if anybody here on Council, including the mayor, has any other ideas, but I think that given the data that we have, something needs to be done.”

Representative Susie Byrd responded, “I agree with that, but I guess the thing that I’m wondering along those lines is that to me, the thing that needs to be done, um, I don’t know if we can say ‘we want this alternative or we,’ but to me, the real issue is the Zaragoza congestion, the missions, all those things, and it seems to me, that there’s not been anything presented in this that actually really alleviates that concern.”

What she was referring to was the fact that staff couldn’t say that the Lee Treviño extension could provide 100% relief. I don’t know if any option would, but I’m not sure that 100% relief is even possible (again, this kind of information would be helpful, if only there had been a more thorough presentation).

Small Minds Think Alike

Alexandro Lozano, who, like Holguin, is loathe to discuss real solutions, said he didn’t think it was appropriate for Council to talk solutions at that point. Oh, no! Heaven forbid. Let’s focus on the task at hand: Getting a standing ovation!

Once the vote was taken on the denial of the extension, Steve Ortega made a motion that staff explore alternatives and bring them back to Council in two months. “But I would ask only vote for this if you’re gonna have the courage to go forward with it,” he added.

“Well it depends, is it gonna take up homes?” asked fellow Small Mind Triplet Pebbles…er…Melina Castro. Yes, Ms. Castro, progress sometimes means taking homes…it’s unfortunate, but sometimes change comes with a cost. The North-South freeway you use to get to the northeast part of town you represent came with a similar cost, as I remember homes were taken back then, too.

Wondering aloud what the solution to the congestion problem staff would present, Lozano asked “What is it?” Mayor Cook responded, “You don’t know [yet],” explaining the motion to him (pssst…Mayor Cook…sometimes you have to speak slowly to Lasagna).

Well, guess who voted ‘no’ on Steve Ortega’s amendment to come up with an alternative solution?

Did you guess that it was the small-minded trio, the oblivious obstructionists, the just say no triplets: Lozano, Castro and Holguin? Why, you’re correct, dear reader!

As you can imagine, there was some significant disappointment in this whole thing on many levels.

One: We are still lacking a solution to the congestion problems in that area – severe, pollution-causing, road-rage encouraging, time-wasting congestion caused by poor planning and unbridled growth/development on the east side.

Two: While Council was willing to axe this project, no one really came up with another option. Are there other alternatives? I hope so. Maybe a good one will come up in two months. Maybe not. If not, they still gotta do somethin’.

Three: Staff needs to do a much better job on their presentations. They couldn’t sell a solution to save their lives. They need to put themselves in the shoes of the public, of the decision-makers and the aged, impatient columnists and be more thorough and effective.

A Trio of Buffoons for the Masses

And finally, number four: Instead of getting pilloried in the media for his hard-headed approach to public policy, Eddie Holguin gets his picture on the front page, getting hugged by an elderly resident. So he’s the hero? Disgusting.

What should have been highlighted and what we cannot forget is that Alexandro Lozano, Melina Castro and Eddie Holguin voted ‘no’ on coming up with a solution to the pending traffic crisis in east El Paso. Is that leadership, my friends? They’re not defenders of the people, despite their efforts to portray themselves as such. They are ostriches who bury their heads in the sand. That is the exact opposite of what this community needs.

What is also becoming increasingly clear, dear readers, (no surprises here, of course) is that emerging from this Council is a group of do-nothings made up of Eddie Holguin, Alexandro Lozano and Melina Castro. And the sad part of it is that their do-nothing, let’s-move-backward-not-forward attitude is being interpreted by some in this community as leadership…at least that’s true for the King of the Nay Sayers himself, Eddie Holguin.

This is the same guy who, last week, tried to appoint Luis Sariñana (that bad penny that keeps showing up in city affairs) to the City Plan Commission. He deleted the item, so Sariñana never got the appointment, but next week, Holguin will be appointing Rick Porras (son of Garick Electric money man Gary Porras and former Luther candidate for County Attorney) to that board instead.

6B. Richard A. Porras to the City Plan Commission by Representative Eddie Holguin, Jr. District # 6.  [Representative Eddie Holguin, (915) 541-4178] (Attachment)

How’s that for a recycled crony?

Status Quo is the Way to Go!

(Or, if Johnny Cochran were representing these bozos, “If it’s pie in the sky, you must deny!”)

Folks, indulge me as I clamber up my soap box because this is important. Eddie Holguin (and let’s throw in Melina and Lasagna) represent El Paso’s past.

Since as long as I can remember, we have had elected officials whose only purpose was to pander to the community’s greatest fears and worst instincts. No, we can’t raise taxes now, because “tax and spend” is wrong. The result? The issue is delayed and delayed and delayed until it becomes a crisis and new elected officials have no choice but to raise significantly more taxes or risk lowered bond ratings and greatly reduced services—and of course the elected official who blocked the earlier, more modest tax raise is long gone. No, we can’t provide housing to low- and moderate-income folks because residents in the neighborhood don’t want “those people” living close to them. The result? El Paso’s affordable housing crisis worsens and people move to colonias on our outskirts. (And, yes, folks, El Paso does have an affordable housing crisis).

It’s Holguin’s brand of pandering, obstructionism and instinctive recoiling from all that is progressive that has helped make El Paso, in too many areas, a mediocre city. With elected officials like Holguin, Castro and Lozano, El Paso will always be mired in mediocrity. I also see the Svengali-like hand of Jaime O. Perez in the Holguin/Castro/Lozano united front of obstruction. Jaime O.’s mantra is “We can’t aspire to greatness because, well, because El Paso wasn’t meant to be a great city and we should just be content with being mediocre. Being ambitious is elitist.”

Steve Ortega was quoted in the Times as describing this issue the toughest one he’s had to face while on Council. Unfortunately, like other tough decisions, it’s an issue that’s been pushed off and postponed because no one has had the backbone or the creativity necessary to address the problem. And unfortunately, it landed squarely on his lap and the laps of his fellow Councilors. I’m sure that the others took this issue very seriously as well; it was clearly an incredibly difficult process for everyone but the Small Mind Trio.

Having watched that particular discussion, I was very impressed by Steve Ortega’s resolve and his commitment to doing the right thing. His gutsy, relentless leadership and his unyielding desire to get to the right decision (an unusual thing in this day and age) thoroughly impressed me and gives me much hope.

And just as Eddie Holguin, Melina Castro and Lasagna represent El Paso’s past, Steve Ortega represents El Paso’s future. But again, who made the headlines? Who was applauded? And who was vilified?

Anybody Got An Asprin?

Another tidbit I want to mention has to do with money. Last week, City Council discussed a plethora of money issues under one gigantic agenda umbrella:

23. DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES: (Attachment)

[Deputy City Manager, Development and Infrastructure Services, Patricia D. Adauto, (915) 541-4853]

Discussion and action on the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including:

23A. Recommended capital budget & funding option

23B. Debt service requirements for financing CIP & recommended capital budget

23C. Policy recommendations on use of Certificates of Obligation, General Obligation Bonds, and other debt instruments.

Now, why staff felt the need to discuss so many enormous issues in one meeting and under one agenda item is beyond me. These huge issues are enough for one meeting alone and some thought needs to go into just how unwieldy these discussions can be when they’re melded together this way.

Anyhow…the upshot? We’re in big, big, big, big, big trouble when it comes to the underfunded pension funds. I’ve discussed this issue in the past, but it appears the police and fire pension is so underfunded (by hundreds of millions of dollars, literally), we could probably run a small country for a decade on the amount of money we need to infuse in it. (Here’s another one of those multi-generational problems that has been postponed and postponed and postponed.)

But based on what I’ve heard, most of the new City Councilors are some of the most dedicated reps we’ve had in a long time (with a few exceptions, of course), so I’m sure they’ll burn the midnight oil to figure this one out.

Nevertheless, I’ll keep a close eye on this and you should, too.

Housing Authority Harassment

And speaking of keeping an eye on things, have you wondered what Mayor John Cook’s most controversial Wardy-crony/Luther Jones partner/appointee to the Housing Authority board has been up to lately?

Well, for the full scoop, check out this formal complaint between Representative Susie Byrd and Mayor Cook. I have edited out curse words that could send my email to your spam in box (I can sense your eyebrows rising!).

Dear Mayor Cook:

You, as Mayor of El Paso, have the sole authority to appoint individuals to the Board of the El Paso Housing Authority of El Paso. I would contend that all elected officials with appointing authority should recruit and appoint individuals who will protect and defend the interests of the community and who will conduct business in these appointed positions in a professional, fair and ethical manner.

It is with this in mind that in July of this year I asked you to reconsider your position on re-appointing David Escobar to the Board of the El Paso Housing Authority of El Paso. I was not alone in asking you to reconsider this action. I asked you two questions about your appointment of David Escobar to the Board of the Housing Authority. I asked you if you thought he would protect and defend the interests of the housing residents who he would be appointed to represent. I asked you if you believed him to be an ethical person. You were not able to answer either of these questions in the affirmative.

At that time, you indicated that you would take Abraham Lincoln’s lead and “hold your enemies close.” You further indicated that you would appoint four other individuals who would defend the interests of the housing authority residents so that Mr. Escobar could not undermine their interests. As a failsafe to this political accommodation, you indicated that you had obtained a letter of resignation from Mr. Escobar and that if at any time he conducted himself in a manner that was unethical you would remove him from the board.

After the last Housing Authority meeting, I believe that Mr. Escobar conducted himself in a manner that was unethical, unprofessional and abusive and so I ask you to keep your word. I had heard about this incident from a number of people, but it was your assistant, Matt Briones, who filled me in on the details. Mr. Briones was a first hand witness to the encounter. He told me that he also briefed you on the details of the incident.

According to Mr. Briones, Mr. Escobar was approached after a recent meeting by a housing resident who is a vocal activist. She challenged him on a position he took during the meeting, citing the position as conflicting with an earlier position. Mr. Escobar told her to “go to he-l.” She shot back, “If I’m going there so are you.” She then walked off. Mr. Escobar tried to get her attention and when she refused to grant him this attention, he called her a “f---ing bi--h.”

This is behavior that is meant to demean another. This is behavior that shows contempt and disrespect. This is unethical and abusive behavior. I believe that as a community, we become what we tolerate. If we tolerate this type of behavior from appointed leadership, this is who we will become.

To date, you have taken no action that I am aware of, other than to state through Matt Briones, that you will take care of this issue by getting rid of the whole board when their terms lapse in February. You have received several complaints about this issue and your assistant witnessed the encounter, but you have taken no action. You have asked the resident to file a formal complaint, shifting the responsibility to righting a wrong to the resident who has been harmed rather than taking responsibility for it yourself. You have also told the resident that you think I should take care of it, again shifting responsibility.

Again, you, as Mayor of El Paso and representative of the entire community including the residents of the Housing Authority, are the only one with the authority over these appointments. Taking no action would mean that you find this type of behavior acceptable. I would hope that this is not the case. If you indicate through inaction that you find this behavior acceptable, it will send a damaging message to residents that they don’t count and that political accommodation is more important to you than according them dignity and respect.

I know you to be a decent and honest person who is concerned about each and every El Pasoan. I know that you would expect the same of those people who you appoint to positions of authority in our community. I ask that you honor your commitment to do the very best for residents of the Housing Authority of El Paso.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Susie Byrd

City Representative

District 2

Great letter. She’s absolutely correct. What a crass putz Escobar is.

I emailed Mayor Cook this week and, as usual, he promptly responded. He said that he had been waiting for Escobar to return from his long vacation (I’ve been told Escobar went to Europe for the month…can we at least have the guy quarantined while we make sure he didn’t bring the bird flu back with him?).

Cook has asked Escobar to make a public apology at the next HACEP board meeting and that this apology, he believed, “would be satisfactory” to Escobar’s victim.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get contact information on the victim by the time of this update, so I cannot confirm whether a public apology is all she would want or if she, like me (and clearly, like Representative Byrd), believes that Escobar should be booted off the board so quickly, it would make both his faces spin.

She Stoops To Conquer

And speaking of recycled cronies, to add insult to injury, I have been informed that recently ousted City Representative Vivian Rojas has been hired by Vince Dodds, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority, to be a liaison for the residents of public housing.

That’s right, my friends. The liaison for the residents of public housing.

This is the same woman who stopped not one…not two, but three low-income housing proposals (two of which were not in her district), and who joined Anthony Cobos in denouncing the poor in their respective districts, and who equated their presence in neighborhoods with destruction, crime and dropping property values.

Right. A liaison with low-income housing residents. Amazing. Vince, do you know what the word irony means?

I emailed Vince Dodds to ask him if he knew about her record of verbal attacks on the poor and about her salary but I have yet to get a response to my email. Insiders have informed me that Dodds hired Rojas at Escobar’s urging because he (Escobar) saw it as a good way to punish the residents who have opposed him. I don’t know if there’s any truth to that, but I can’t say it sounds outrageous.

If we needed any more evidence that the Escobar appointment was a big mistake (with a capital B), here you go.

The Hounds of Hell Herald

And finally, to be filed under “Colossal Disappointment” is El Diario. A loyal reader emailed me this week to ask me if I’ve been keeping up with the goings-on at the El Paso Times’ competition lately. Sadly, I have.

Folks, I was probably more excited about the fact that El Diario would be printing an El Paso edition than I was about the latest developments in fishing tackle. I had high hopes for the newest daily and thought, “Heck…at least it can’t be any worse than the El Paso Times.”

How wrong I was. How incredibly wrong I was.

Those of you, who, like me, read El Diario, have probably been extremely disheartened by the fact that this so-called newspaper’s darling is none other than self-described Hound of Hell Theresa Caballero. If I had a dime for every time her photograph and her “expert” opinion has polluted that paper…well, I’d be richer than a narcotraficante. I asked some questions of a few newspaper insiders and they confirmed my suspicions…not only do a couple of the reporters and editors believe she is credible (yes, folks, don’t choke on your bagel…the Hound of Hell is considered credible!), but she is also feeding them gossip that they believe is fit to print.

That’s right. Theresa Caballero is helping direct stories for that newspaper.

I don’t know if it’s too late, but it would be my hope that El Diario would change its tune (and its dedication to Ms. Hound) and would instead spend time cultivating real sources with legitimate information so that they can truly be competition to the Times. If they don’t, then they’ve becoming nothing more than a rag several levels of awfulness below the English daily. Now that’s pathetic.

Anyhow, my friends, enough of that Hound.

Please keep sending me your tidbits, inside information and your questions. I may be retired, but I ain’t dead!

Have a great autumn. Until the next update.

Comments or questions: shmaven@yahoo.com

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