Stephanie Townsend Allala and many others, including myself, filed numerous open records requests trying to get the information behind the ballpark scheme. Townsend Allala had to sue the city to force them to release many of the record we now have about the ballpark. Even with the lawsuit and pressure from members of the community, there are still numerous public records that remain hidden from public view.
Steve Ortega, who, according to the email uncovered by KVIA, benefited politically from the delay of the sales of the bonds, has publicly admitted that he has public documents in his possession that he has refused to release to the community.
The San Jacinto fiasco is another example of the city government keeping certain information hidden from you through the apparent misuse of executive session. They continuously discuss the fiasco behind closed doors. We now know, thanks to Cortney Niland, that the city is at least partially responsible for the delays and added costs to San Jacinto. We only know this because of her outburst in a recent city council meeting, not because the city government has been transparent about the ongoing fiasco.
KVIA has now exposed that the delay of the ballpark bonds was the result of political expediency.
According to KVIA, “several council members raised concerns about the timing” of the sale of the bonds “in relation to the upcoming general election, specifically because of the ongoing controversy over the project.” KVIA was quoting from an email dated August 26, 2013 from Joyce Wilson, city manager at the time.
KVIA also let us know that John Cook, the mayor at the time, and Ann Morgan Lilly were apprised of the situation. Therefore, we can conclude that Cook and Morgan Lilly were at least two of the “several council members” referenced in the email. We also know that Steve Ortega was in the midst of an election between him and Oscar Leeser during this time. We know that Ortega lost by a significant margin and that many political observers agree that it was because of the controversy of the ballpark.
Because of this, whether Steve Ortega remembers or not being part of the consideration for the delay of the bonds is immaterial because the fact is that the ballpark had a significant effect on his political race.
Unfortunately, the most important issue for the taxpayers is that they are now saddled with an additional $22 million in debt because “several council members raised concerns about the timing of this activity in relation to the upcoming general election.”
Now ask yourself this very simple question; who decided that it was better for you to spend an additional $22 million to help a political effort.
You are unlikely to ever receive a conclusive answer because the whole ballpark fiasco was done for political favors and behind closed doors because you, the taxpayer, were just needed to fund the whole fiasco, not contribute to the decision. That is the only thing anyone needs to know about the ballpark, today, tomorrow and well into the future.
These people have no respect for their office not the taxpayers. They gamble with tax money like it was a monopoly game. They scheme, trade, invest, move funds around to cover shortage, borrow (code for bonds), spend on items that are pet projects as though El Paso is one huge Toys R Us and they want a particular toy they saw or heard about in another’s city. After all do they want to be the kids on the block that doesn’t have what other cities have ?
The city and county is forever involved in some scandal or stupid decision. Are they really that stupid or are they stars from America’s Dumbest Criminals TV show?
Despite all the chaos, backstabbing, cronyism, self enhancements the 3 % of the registered voters and the drones continue to elect and re-elect the same people that are always involved in bs. Doesn’t anyone see that electing the same ones or not voting is exactly why El Paso is ship in a hurricane. There are better organized and qualified high school student councils.
Incredible, it’s never ending and no shame in their game as they flash cheese eating grins for the media or as they receive an award that wasn’t earned. But nonprofits need money so awards are automatic. Silly, how some of these organizations don’t even hide that it’s an “as- kissing” award. Speaking of awards, notice that although the city and county are in a disarray, we don’t hear about the Safest City anymore. Could it have something to do with being disingenuous for two years ?
People of El Paso, build all you want, pay for their toys. However, that doesn’t buy pride of living here. There is nothing but shame because we allow them to do as they please.
We have officials taunting us with the fact that they can refuse to release public records. We have cons that actually believe they are something to be reckoned with. The con wears the sleazy reputation as a badge of honor. And maybe he should because they still have free rein of government offices and unrestricted access to officials. And they all grin when seen in its presence. No Shame.
Good management is rare here but there are places where it does exist. It seems to me that people enter office with no idea of what to do, so they start dramas like Ordaz and Gonzales and Chavez in order to get attention. “Look at me, look at me. I don’t know WTF I’m doing but isn’t it interesting and entertaining.”
Really, there needs to be some formal program like Leadership El Paso that prepares candidates for office.