Timeline of Events
El Paso Downtown Baseball Stadium, Arena, & Downtown Plan SCAM
Updated May 21, 2017
Main
Players
Joyce
Wilson - El Paso City Manager
Paul
Foster – Western Refining CEO
Paul
Sanders – Verde Group
Myrna
Deckert – Paso del Norte Group (not Borderplex Alliance)
Alejandra
De La Vega Foster – Wife of Paul Foster and daughter of Cd. Juarez mogul
Woody
Hunt – Various Hunt Industries
Ann
Morgan Lilly - City Representative for District 1
Carl
Robinson - City Representative for District 4
Eddie
Holguin City Representative for District 6
Steve
Ortega – City Representative for District 7
Cortney
Niland - City Representative for District 8
Representative
Michael Noe
Rep.
Suzie Byrd
Mayor
John Cook
El
Paso Tomorrow PAC – Political Action Committee organized to push the ballpark
Rick
Harrow – consultant from Harrow Sports Ventures; goes around selling the ides
of sport arenas to cities.
Deborah
Hamlyn – former Assistant City Manager long known for her racism toward people
of color in El Paso. She was hired by El Paso Tomorrow PAC after her retirement
from the city in Aug. 2012
Bob
Moore – Editor of the El Paso Times
Rep.
Beto O’Rourke
TORA
– Texas Open Records Act
Notice: We have gathered information
from many sources, which some include grammatical errors and typos. We reprint
this information as is and work to correct any errors. This is s a work in
progress.
1990s
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Late
1990s
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Oklahoma
City builds a voter-approved Triple A baseball park
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1999
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City Council adopted the
recommendation of El Paso’s elite Ad-hoc Bond Committee, which said all
quality of life initiatives, such as parks, zoos and stadiums, must be
approved by voters. Report: Staying Put but Still in the Shadows:
Undocumented Immigrants Remain in the Country Despite Strict Laws,
Accessed Aug. 17, 2012:
http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/02/22/11126/staying-put-but-still-in-the-shadows/
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2003
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2003
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Bill Sanders is invited to redevelop
downtown El Paso by El Paso mayor and group of developers.
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October
2003
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Bill Sanders is invited to redevelop
downtown El Paso
Mayor Ray Caballero and a group of
El Paso businessmen ask real estate tycoon Bill Sanders to come redevelop
downtown El Paso. He accepts on the condition that “downtown revitalization”
is part of a broader regional development plan. “I felt that a redevelopment of Downtown at
that time would be frankly a waste of time. One was that there, really, I
felt you had to put together a dynamic plan for the region in order to have a
successful downtown,” he would later to the El Paso City Council.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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December
2003
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Sanders establishes the Verde Group
headquarters in El Paso.
In December 2003, Sanders “completes
the capitalization” of the Verde Group, a real estate company that invests in
binational projects along the entire U.S.-Mexico border, including
maquiladora manufacturing plants in Mexico.
The Verde Group was founded by
William Sanders in the second quarter of 2003. [See Ron Blankenship testimony
in Crowder bankruptcy case, December 23, 2003].
The Verde Group bought 21,000 acres
from Paseo Del Norte Ltd, owned by Santa Fe developer Chris Lyons. It also
purchased 18,000 acre-feet of water rights for 6.4 million dollars out of the
U.S. Bankruptcy court through a deal that has been criticized by
environmental groups for its total lack of public process.
The Santa Teresa land will be
part of a “master-planned binational
city” involving Santa Teresa and San Jeronimo, a 40,000 acre parcel of land
owned by Verde Group board member Eloy Vallina Lagüera.
The purchase included all of the
Santa Teresa Real Estate Development Corp.’s industrial parks.
Those parks include the Santa Teresa
Border Park and Intermodal Park, which includes a Union Pacific rail line.
According to an El Paso Times
article published in August 15, 2004, “the Verde Group also has plans to
develop thousands of acres of vacant land in San Jeronimo.”
The New Mexico Business Journal quotes Mark Lautman,
economic commissioner, District 7, and general manager of Santa Teresa Real
Estate Development Corporation. "An unprecedented bilateral cooperation
is going on,” Lautman says. In the
same article, he also said Eloy Vallina regularly meets with Mexican and U.S.
developers and planners to lay the groundwork for the binational city.
In 2003 Eloy Vallina becomes a
member of the Verde board of directors. Other board members include William
Sanders, Ron Blankenship, Texas oil man Ray L. Hunt and five others.
The Verde Group also acquired more
than 5,000 acres of undeveloped land along the road to the proposed border
entry port.
In El Paso, Bill Sanders founds the
Paso Del Norte Group, using the Commercial Club of Chicago as his model. The
PDNG is made up of more than 350 business and political leaders from both
sides of the border.
On the El Paso side the group
includes his son-in-law City rep Robert O’Rourke, Army housing developer
Woody Hunt, and Chris Balsiger who was indicted by the FBI for an alleged
$250,000,000 coupon fraud scheme.
The Juarez and Chihuahua City
members of the PDNG include:
1. Sergio Bermudez-president and CEO
of Bermudez International. His family owned 600 hectares in Juarez. His
father Jaime Bermúdez Cuarón (PRI) was mayor of Juarez when he brought those
lands for Sergio. Jaime was in charge of the Plan de Desarollo Urbano, an
urban development plan, and through craft and corruption put his own acreage
place to get services while skipping other colonias like Satelite, that
should have had priority for services.
2. Jorge Contreras Fornelli- owner
of Sofamaster, member of the Juarez Strategic Plans Steering Commitee.
3. Carlos Fernandez-Fundación del
Empresariado Chihuahuense, member of the Plan Estratégico de Ciudad Juárez.
4.-Miguel A. Fernandez Iturriza—
Property of the Iturriza family, is the Coca Cola bottling company in Juarez,
Sonora, Baja California and Sinaloa, as well as being an important
construction company in Ciudad Juarez.
He is the president and director
general of Sistema Argos, which in 1997 had an income of 2 billion, 569
million pesos.
With a long history in the PAN, he
is the archetypal businessman who likes to get involved in politics. He was
alternate to Luis H Alvarez as municipal president of Chihuahua (1983-86) and
then, after losing the election to the same position in 1986, he was in
charge of the national finances of the party for seven years (1987-1994) He
was a member of the state committee and the national committee of the party,
presiding over its national Public Finances Commission.
In 1997 he was included in the list
of the 100 most important businessmen in Mexico. Fernandez Iturriza
coordinated the gubernatorial campaign of Enrique Terrazas, one of the owners
of Chihuahua Cementos, a subsidiary of Cementos de Mexico (CEMEX).
In 1995 he had co-ordinated Jose
Antonio Badia San Martin’s campaign for municipal president of Ciudad Juarez,
a notorious member of DHIAC (Wholly Human Development, an extreme right-wing
organization). In 1992 he was the treasurer of Francisco Barrio’s campaign.
5. Miguel Fernandez- Founder of
Trans Telco Juarez.
6. Alejandra De La Vega Arispe -
daugher of Freire de la Vega and the fiancé of fellow PDNG billionaire Paul
Foster. (The wedding is scheduled for April 5, 2008). Her family is involved
in the beer and condom business.
7.Ing. Héctor Murguía Lardizábal-
Former PRI Mayor of Juarez (2003-2007). Calls himself a good friend of Pedro
Zaragoza Fuentes. There are accusations of corruption and conflict of
interest surrounding the construction of the Camino Real highway.
8. Carlos Murguía- restaurant owner
“Barrigas” in Juarez and El Paso presidente de Desarrollo Económico de Ciudad
Juárez y representante del Consejo Coordinador Empresarial.
He argues that the word focus on the
Juarez femicides are part of a complex conspiracy flamed by the Chinese to
give Ciudad Juarez a bad name in order for the maquiladoras to leave the city
for China.
9. Lucinda Vargas-is chief executive
officer if Plan Estratégico de Juárez, A.C. –a private –sector led,
non-profit organization aimed at formulating and implementing a long-term
development strategy for Juárez.
10. Eloy Vallina Garza- Son of Eloy
Vallina and vice-president of Grupo Chihuahua.
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2003 - 2006
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The Paso del Norte Group, a
consortium of developers, business and political leaders from both sides of
the border founded by William Sanders, Woody Hunt and Paul Foster develop a
plan for the redevelopment the El Paso-Juárez-Santa Teresa-Gerónimo
Borderplex. They design their plan with City and federal funding without
consulting with or informing any of the residents or small business owners in
the area targeted for their “redevelopment plan.” The membership list of the
PDNG consortium is confidential.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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December
2003
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Sanders forms the Verde Group and
the Paso Del Norte Group in El Paso.
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2004
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January
2004
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Verde Group obtains millions of gallons
of water rights for Santa Teresa binational development project without any
public process thanks to governor Richardson’s intervention.
The approval of the bankruptcy
settlement agreement allowed the Verde Group to co-own water rights with Dona
Ana County. The Verde Group develops commercial, industrial properties and
residential properties in what they call “New Towns.” The company’s master
plan calls for New Town developments on both sides of the border from
Brownsville, Texas to San Diego. The Verde Group and the county co-own 18,773
acre-feet of water. Verde pays 6.4 million dollars for the water rights. It’s
quite a deal. The going rate for an equal amount of water today would be more
than 40 million dollars. Many believe the substantial contributions the Verde
Group makes to New Mexico governor Bill Richardson—in 2006 alone, Verde
officials and associates contribute more than $66,000 to Richardson’s
gubernatorial campaign— has a lot to do with the special deal and the total
lack of transparency.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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2005
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2005
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A family who are members of the PDNG
purchase property in the Duranguito neighborhood before the Downtown
Redevelopment Plan is presented to the public.
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February
15, 2005
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City of El Paso votes approves
contract with PDNG to create downtown redevelopment plan. City Council grants
them $250,000. Some of this is federal money in the form of HTGB grants.
The El Paso City Council, under
mayor Joe Wardy, votes to approve contract with Paso Del Norte Group to
create a downtown redevelopment plan. Before the vote took place, however, a
series of questions emerged about the scope of the project.
Rep. Robert Cushing asked Bill
Sanders whether the city's money would pay for the first part of the plan. In
the process of responding to the question, Sanders explained that "What
we hope to end up with is No. 1 the key drivers that will have a dramatic
impact on the area. I would also tell you that strategically our planning
zone goes from Interstate 10 to the border from Union Station to the new
Texas Tech facility because if you do this right you’re going to have waves
of value creation and we hope to basically have that done in as logical a way
as possible.
"… You have political
considerations, you have ownership considerations, so in a perfect world the
planners are going to come in and they’re going to say this is the area of
the city where this should take place, and we are going to look at that and
say you’re right but it isn’t feasible to put it there, we need to go to an
A- area and basically revitalize that instead. "So I would hope that by
the, after Labor Day we will actually be able to show you Plan A and B, i.e.
the optimal locations and the practical location or zones where the various
types of development will take place."
Toward the end of the discussion, El
Pasoan Ric Schecter brought up the question of whether the contract was specific
enough." Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re voting on a contract with
this entity to carry out something and your contract doesn’t actually specify
other than the dollar amount what it is that you’re getting," he said.
Wardy responded: "Mr. Schecter, you know what I think? You bring up a
good point. You bring up the greatest point of all, and that’s why many of us
ran for public office, because we get so tired of debating bureaucratic, I
can’t use that word here council, bureaucratic bleep, we sit there and we
shoot ourselves in the foot every time.
"We’re being asked to
contribute funds to a public-private partnership, council has been briefed in
entirety, the council is totally comfortable in how we go forward with this. (sic.)There
is some discretionary ability on the Paso del Norte Group on how the funds go
forward and the phases and other studies that tie into this and you got to
believe a little bit, there has to be a little faith in this exercise. And
you know what? The less the city has to do with it the better off we are
because we’re not good at this kind of stuff, So I’m going to tell you that
there is a motion and a second on the floor, you do bring up some valid
points, but we’re not going to, we’re not going to beat it to death here
today."
Before they could vote, however,
Schecter made several other comments. One of them was that "you have a
separate private entity that is going to develop a community plan there
doesn’t seem to be any necessary direction to them to involve the
neighborhood associations and to look at the neighborhood association plans
that they’ve developed for their own."
Wardy said: "Mr. Schecter, this
is a Downtown master plan. What does that have to do with the
neighborhoods?" Schecter replied: "Because you’re talking about Chihuahuita
and other neighborhoods and you’re calling it a community plan for the
Downtown neighborhoods, so, I ... "
Wardy jumped in: "We’re getting
the cart ahead of the horse here, Mr. Schecter. The scope hasn’t all been
laid out yet. We can do what-ifs here until about midnight, but it’s not
going to do anybody any good. Why don’t we let the professionals that know
how to do this, give them the opportunity to execute. You know, we are our
own worst enemy in this community. We continue to shoot ourselves in the foot
and then look around and want to know who did it. You know, why don’t we just
dare to dream a little bit and allow the professionals, with the proper
guidance, with input from the public and the private sector, to do a
comprehensive exercise for us?"
Schecter said: "Mr. Mayor, I
was simply suggesting to you that the people that are the experts in their
neighborhoods are the people that live in those neighborhoods."
Then Cobos spoke: "Are you
speaking on behalf of the Chihuahuita Neighborhood Association?"
Schecter replied: "Did I say I was speaking on that?"
Cobos said: "No. But you’re
saying they have concerns, that those neighborhoods should be taken into
consideration when you don’t represent them in any way shape or form."
Schecter replied: "Representative
Cobos, what I said, you’re talking about neighborhoods, those neighborhoods
have associations, and those know, why we don’t just dare to dream a little
bit and allow the professionals, with the proper guidance, with input from
the public and the private sector, to do a comprehensive exercise for
us?" (sic.)
Schecter said: "Mr. Mayor, I
was simply suggesting to you that the people that are the experts in their
neighborhoods are the people that live in those neighborhoods."
Then Cobos spoke: "Are you speaking
on behalf of the Chihuahuita Neighborhood Association?" Schecter
replied: "Did I say I was speaking on that?"
Cobos said: "No. But you’re
saying they have concerns, that those neighborhoods should be taken into
consideration when you don’t represent them in any way shape or form."
Schecter replied:
"Representative Cobos, what I said, you’re talking about neighborhoods,
those neighborhoods have associations, and those associations are making
neighborhood plans. They should all be considered by these experts as they
try to change those communities."
Wardy said: "Sure. We agree
with you." With that, the motion was made by Cobos to authorize City
Manager Joyce Wilson to negotiate a contract for a Downtown Plan. It passed
unanimously.
The city gave $250,000 toward the
plan’s approximately $750,000 cost. Another third came from federal funds,
and the PDNG raised the rest. It was the PDNG Downtown Redevelopment Task
Force that oversaw the plan development. The SMWM firm from San Francisco is
hired to develop the plan associations are making neighborhood plans. They
should all be considered by these experts as they try to change those
communities."
Wardy said: "Sure. We agree
with you." With that, the motion was made by Cobos to authorize City
Manager Joyce Wilson to negotiate a contract for a Downtown Plan. It passed
unanimously.
The city gave $250,000 toward the
plan’s approximately $750,000 cost. Another third came from federal funds,
and the PDNG raised the rest. It was the PDNG Downtown Redevelopment Task Force
that oversaw the plan development. The SMWM firm from San Francisco is hired
to develop the plan.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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September
13, 2005
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City grants PDNG an extension to
develop plan. Representative Beto O’Rourke (U.S. Representative) defends plan
secrecy otherwise residents and small business owners would “tear it apart
and you’d never be able to keep it together.”
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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September
13, 2005
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City grants PDNG an extension to
develop plan. Representative O’Rourke defends plan secrecy.
When asked why City Council members
needed to sign confidentiality agreements that they will not divulge the plan
to the public or why even the names of the members of the PDNG involved in
the planning process is kept hidden from the public, Council member Robert
O’Rourke, son in law of Bill Sanders told El Paso internet magazine Newspaper
Tree:
"There will be a process to
bring people in. You can't do something this big with everyone involved up
front or we'd still be talking about what we're going to do. So we get the
advice and sit down and figure out how to implement it and then start
bringing in the partners," he said. "If you brought in every single
stakeholder from day one there would be so many special interests pulling it
apart you'd never be able to keep it together."
O'Rourke, who seconded the motion
from East-Central Rep. Alejandro Lozano to approve the contract extension, is
a member of the Paso del Norte Group. He said he did not feel it was a
conflict for him to vote on the issue. "I'm not really an active member.
I'm a dues-paying member but I haven't been able to attend a meeting since I
got on the council," O'Rourke said. He did not disclose his membership,
he said, "because the Paso del Norte Group isn't getting anything out of
this. I feel that the group is helping us get something done we wouldn't have
been able to get done ourselves.
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2006
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February
6, 2006
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The SWMW Architect firm drafts a map
for the Paso del Norte Group/City of El Paso redevelopment plan for downtown,
Union Plaza and Segundo Barrio marked “Not for Distribution.” The
confidential map planned by the secretive consortium of about 360 binational
developers, entrepreneurs, political and civic leaders show the location of
the future arena. In 2006, the map shows that the arena will located exactly
where El Paso City Council decided to construct it ten years later.
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September
13, 2005
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City grants PDNG an extension to
develop plan. Representative O’Rourke defends plan secrecy.
When asked why City Council members
needed to sign confidentiality agreements that they will not divulge the plan
to the public or why even the names of the members of the PDNG involved in
the planning process is kept hidden from the public, Council member Robert
O’Rourke, son in law of Bill Sanders told El Paso internet magazine Newspaper
Tree:
"There will be a process to
bring people in. You can't do something this big with everyone involved up
front or we'd still be talking about what we're going to do. So we get the
advice and sit down and figure out how to implement it and then start
bringing in the partners," he said. "If you brought in every single
stakeholder from day one there would be so many special interests pulling it
apart you'd never be able to keep it together."
O'Rourke, who seconded the motion
from East-Central Rep. Alejandro Lozano to approve the contract extension, is
a member of the Paso del Norte Group. He said he did not feel it was a
conflict for him to vote on the issue. "I'm not really an active member.
I'm a dues-paying member but I haven't been able to attend a meeting since I
got on the council," O'Rourke said. He did not disclose his membership,
he said, "because the Paso del Norte Group isn't getting anything out of
this. I feel that the group is helping us get something done we wouldn't have
been able to get done ourselves.
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March
31, 2006
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The PDNG Plan is unveiled by William
Sanders and the City Council at the Plaza Theater before an audience of
enthusiastic business leaders on the same day of a large immigrant rights
march on Cesar Chavez Day.
Two years, $759,875 and thousands of
man hours in the making, the Paso del Norte Group Friday makes public its
Downtown Redevelopment Plan before a special meeting of City Council. William
Sanders unveils the plan at the Plaza Theater before an audience of
enthusiastic business leaders on the same day of a large immigrant rights
march on Cesar Chavez day.
The PDNG plans designates a 127.5
acre “Redevelopment District,” intended to create so-called
"drivers" to draw people and commerce to Downtown, Union Plaza
neighborhood, and Segundo Barrio. The plan envisions major demolitions and
the acquisition of private property through the threat of eminent domain. A
major project of the PDNG “Downtown 2015 Plan” is an arena and entertainment
hub, to be built adjacent to the El Paso Convention Center that includes the
Union Plaza neighborhood.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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April
12, 2006
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Bill Sanders tells 500 downtown
businessmen eminent domain will be used if they refuse to sell. Rep. O’Rourke
says he has no conflict of interest because his father in law does not own
property in the development zone.
Bill Sanders tells 500 downtown
businessmen eminent domain will be used if they refuse to sell.
The property owners saw a
presentation of the plan at a Central Business Association lunch, where more
than 500 people packed a conference room at the Camino Real hotel. Sanders told the mostly small business
owners that the plan does not entail “one project breaking ground on Day 1.
It will be a sequential series of major projects.” Building owners will be
contacted as their property is needed, and shown locations to which they can
move, Sanders said. “It won’t be an easy conversation. Hopefully it will be
compelling enough it will convince you to choose one of three options,”
Sanders said. The options are to sell the property, trade it for shares in
the REIT, or swap it for other property. If none of those happen, the next
step is eminent domain.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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April
13, 2006
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Sanders and O’Rourke face stiff
opposition from South El Paso residents at Armijo Park meeting May—City holds
meetings to sell plan to the public. Most people there speak out against the
plan. Police have to intervene to stop protests.
Sanders and O’Rourke face stiff
opposition from South El Paso residents at Armijo Park meeting.
Bill Sanders and his son in law City
rep Robert O’Rourke tried to sell their plan to South El Paso residents
during a meeting at the Armijo Center, about 10 blocks outside the zone
targeted for major demolitions in the Segundo Barrio. They both bomb. Sanders,
the major driver behind the plan, explained that the home and business owners
within the “redevelopment zone” in downtown and the heart of the Segundo
Barrio will be given an option to sell their businesses to Real Estate
Investment Trusts, an entity to be formed as a master property owner,
initially would take roughly $15 million to $20 million to capitalize at $10
a share. He said that he had planned to invest in it, but decided not to
because he doesn’t want people to think he’s promoting the plan for economic
self-interest. Trini Acevedo, Magoffin neighborhood activist, said that there
was no reason to trust that the plan would include protection or benefits for
residents. “I would be all for it but I think we should be invited to the
table. It's apparent that no one with our socioeconomic status is at the
table now. I myself see it as a plan for the rich. We must be realistic. Mr.
O'Rourke, listen to the voters; we don't want it." Acevedo also
criticized Council members for some of the details in the plan he said didn’t
make sense. For example, the Centro De Los Trabajadores Agrícolas Fronterizos
is shown on the map of the Redevelopment District as a parking lot. “How
ironic of Miss (city Rep. Susie) Byrd, O’Rourke, all of them marching with
them on Cesar Chavez day. How can you march with those people and try to
demolish their structure?”
She said perhaps the farmworker’s
center relocation is a benefit to the farmworkers: “It has become almost a
full-time shelter instead of what it was originally intended to be, a place
for hang out while waiting for jobs, so maybe it’s an opportunity to build
housing for farmworkers. As for Acevedo’s charge of irony, Byrd said, “My
understanding is Cesar Chavez was about building opportunity, and that’s what
this plan is about. We can go Mr. Acevedo’s route, which is keeping things as
they are, locking people out from opportunity and a continued decline, or we
can grow.”
Like Acevedo, the overwhelming
majority of the South Side residents at the meeting expressed strong
opposition to the plan. Bill Sander’s later told the El Paso Inc., a
pro-business newspaper owned by a fellow PDNG member, that the neighborhood’s
opposition took him by surprise.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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April
19, 2006
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City Manager Joyce Wilson sends her
staff an email instructing them how to "downplay" displacement,
"neutralize the losers" and "pacify" the opposition.
City Manager Joyce Wilson sends City
Attorney Sylvia Firth and City Staff an email that systematically lists the
strategies to eliminate the opposition without changing the PDNG plan.
“Without these items being addressed effectively," Wilson writes, "I
believe it will be difficult to get this plan through...without substantial
changes." She instructs Firth to
deemphasize the displacement of residents, "pacify" the Koreans
separately, take photographs only of the worst buildings in the demolition
zone, "pressure" and discredit the downtown business owners, and
"engage and neutralize the losers" who will have their homes and
businesses forcibly expropriated. The City Manager also instructs her staff
to "downplay the high cost to the taxpayers for the proposed arena”
since this is "the lightning rod for the tax increase folks.”
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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May
2006
|
City holds meetings to sell plan to
the public. Most people there speak out against the plan.
Public meetings take place where the
City tries to sell the plan to the public. While plan proponents try to
downplay the opposition as a few loud naysayers, the majority of the hundreds
of people who show up oppose the plan. The planners from San Francisco have
participants at some their meetings play a kind of monopoly game with a map
of South El Paso and Downtown. They are instructed to pretend the Segundo
Barrio and Downtown are currently uninhabited and to place cards showing the
kinds of coffee shops, restaurants and big box retail stores they would like
to see there once the residents and current business owners are relocated.
Protesters who want to speak out against this are prevented from speaking. In
one case a microphone is stripped away from an El Paso Community College
administrator who is questioning the legitimacy of Westsiders playing a board
game on the map of a Segundo Barrio in which the current residents have
disappeared. The police are called in by Mayor Cook to remove the protesters.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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May
25, 2006
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More 250 Southside residents
organized by La Campaña and Sin Fronteras farmworker center meet at Senior
Citizens center to defend their neighborhood.
More than 250 Segundo Barrio
residents and farmworkers meet at the senior citizens center in South El Paso
to plan ways to defend their community against the plan. Members of La Campaña pro Preservación del
Barrio, the farmworker center Sin Fronteras and Paso Del Sur are
organizations represented at the meeting. Salvador Balcorta, a PDNG executive
committee member who is closely allied with Bill Sanders, sends his employees
to disrupt and videotape the meeting. There is a physical altercation and the
police are called to remove Balcorta’s employees.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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June
7, 2006
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El Paso Catholic Diocese writes an
open letter to City Council declaring the plan as unjust and divisive.
El
Paso Catholic Diocese writes an open letter to City Council declaring the
plan as “unjust and divisive.” The letter concludes: “We are not opposed to
progress, economic development, improvement and construction of buildings. We
are opposed to any plan that disregards and displaces the poor, that ignores
the plight of the immigrant, that divides the community, that perpetuates
injustice and inadequate housing, that diminishes low-cost housing; one that
seeks to enrich a select group.”
OPEN
LETTER TO CITY COUNCIL:
REGARDING
VALUES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH THAT THE DIOCESE OF EL PASO UPHOLDS; DEEP
CONCERNS THAT WE AND OUR LOCAL PARISH, SACRED HEART, HAVE and GENERAL
COMMENTS with regards to the DowntownSegundo Barrio Re-Development plan
presented by the Paso del Norte Group.
1.
The Catholic Church, Christian tradition (not to exclude other faiths)
building on the Jewish Scriptures and the Gospel upholds the value of
welcoming the immigrant. The Gospel of St. Matthew reminds us that Jesus
himself is welcomed in the person of the immigrant, “…for I was a stranger
and you welcomed me.” (Matt. 25: 35). With a great deal of national attention
focused on immigration, the Church insists that we will be judged as to
whether we followed Judaeo-Christian, biblical values or others that are in
conflict with it. The Catholic Church has initiated a national campaign,
“Justice for Immigrants”, which the Diocese of El Paso will officially launch
on Saturday, June 10th with a pilgrimage to the top of Mount Cristo Rey.
2.
The Segundo Barrio in South El Paso has traditionally been the welcoming land
for the poor immigrant from Mexico. In particular, Sacred Heart Church was
founded in 1893 by Jesuit Father Carlos Pinto, along with Sacred Heart School
(1892) for the purpose of serving the Mexican population of this area, who
were predominantly of low income. Sacred Heart has consistently served the
poor and the immigrant, generation after generation, and continues to do so
today. It is predictable, given the growing economic disparity between Mexico
and the U.S., that poor persons from Mexico, drastically seeking work to
support their families, will continue to come to El Paso and settle in the
Segundo Barrio. Many of those immigrants have chosen to live in the Segundo
Barrio for decades because they have found comfort and formed cherished
relationships in this vibrant neighborhood.
3.
Downtown and South El Paso do need re-vitalization. The outcome of re-vitalization
should take into account the hopes, dreams and desires of all affected,
including the poor. There is a rich heritage, a unique culture, a true sense
of neighborhood and historical architecture in the affected area. The plan
should consider all of these as valuable realities and not focus only on
economic benefit and tax revenue. It was disturbing to learn that the present
plan was conceived without any consultation with residents, area businesses,
key institutions. We are in disagreement with a re-vitalization program that
was planned without public backing or the input from those affected. A
planning process typically places consultation and input prior to drawing-up
a plan; just the reverse of the Paso del Norte Group’s way of proceeding.
4.
In the present plan/drawing for re-vitalization, proposed by the Paso del
Norte Group, four Catholic Institutions are eliminated from their present
location, namely, Sacred Heart Church’s gymnasium and classroom facilities
(S. Mesa and Fr. Rahm St.); Villa Maria, which is presently being equipped as
a home for poor women in crisis (S. Oregon and 8th St.); Las Alas
Prayer/Christian Community, founded by Jesuit Father Richard Thomas, (Paisano
between Kansas and Campbell); Annunciation House, guest house for immigrants
(San Antonio and St. Vrain), and serving approximately 80,000 guests since
its founding. These institutions focus on service and ministry of various
types to the poor and the immigrant. What population does the plan envision
residing in the affected area if it considers these institutions dispensable?
We uphold that these institutions are much needed in the South El Paso
community.
5.
In the midst of the anti-immigrant sentiment by many in the U.S., the
residents of South El Paso face yet another obstacle in the re-vitalization
plan proposed by Paso del Norte Group. This plan, if implemented, would
displace numerous area residents, as well as small businesses. The fact that
the proposed low-cost housing will be subsidized only for four years
predictably will force those lower income residents to move to another area
of the city after the subsidy is over. Where? The poor from Mexico typically
prefer closeness to downtown and to Ciudad Juárez. The inevitable result of
the present plan will be less affordable housing opportunities for the poor,
especially the poor immigrant in the South El Paso area. We reject a plan
that diminishes the number of low-cost housing units.
6.
The plan of paying an owner “market value” as opposed to a real “replacement
value” will leave those affected in a very difficult situation if they plan
to continue their business elsewhere and were forced out of their present
location by eminent domain. The same with housing. Those who own a home will
be paid very little according to “market value”. What are they to do if they
– who are typically poor and many elderly – need to buy a new home elsewhere?
Compensation based on market value for an area such as the Segundo Barrio
will be unjust in many cases.
7.
The proposed use of “eminent domain” to force downtown, Segundo Barrio and
Union Plaza land owners into a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), managed
by a select, few individuals, negates the possibility of cooperation by a
present property owner (and the tenant), from improving their property, if
the free, legal choice of the owner is in conflict with the plan and its
goals. If a landlord desires to cooperate and improve the building for
low-cost housing, it appears that he/she would have to sell if his/her
building is not in-line with the present plan. Eminent Domain should only be
used for the “common good” of the community as in the building of a public
hospital, fire station, public school, etc.; not for exclusively personal or
corporate profit.
8.
We have very serious concerns with the Real Estate Investment Trust approach
to re-vitalization. A Real Estate Investment Trust is a business entity which
exists to maximize cash flow of the real property in the Trust in order to
maximize profit. Decisions by a REIT are made by the Officers of the Trust
and are made to accomplish its maximization of-profit goal for the benefit of
the investors in the Trust. Therefore, a REIT appears to not be accountable
to the community or to the City government, other than to abide by applicable
laws and regulations. The City government, on the other hand, is accountable
to the community and its citizens. Moreover, decisions by the City government
are based on considerations of different factors such as: quality of life;
respect for culture; historic preservation; betterment opportunities for its
citizens, such as low-income housing, job training, small-business
opportunities and growth, development of industries, maintaining
infrastructure, etc.
9.
Taking advantage of the immigrant occurs in our South El Paso community, in
particular by apartment owners who maintain their rental property in
substandard conditions. This unjust practice of renting inadequate housing
has gone-on for years without any effective intervention by City Inspectors
or Officials. Any plan for a South El Paso re-vitalization must NOT diminish
the number of units of affordable, low-income housing. Instead, if the
Segundo Barrio and the Union Plaza District are to be included in a downtown
re-development plan, their residential character MUST be maintained and
improvement of the quality of housing and an increase in the number of units
of available, affordable housing for low-income persons in those two
residential communities should be adopted AS A GOAL OF THE RE-DEVELOPMENT
PLAN. The City should also adopt an effective, aggressive plan that demands
apartment owners to maintain their units according to acceptable standards
and codes.
The
City presently has the power and mechanism to force negligent landlords to
improve sub-standard housing, i.e., by the “Municipal Regulation of Housing
and Other Structures, Loc. Gov’t 214.003; Receiver.” Landlords should relate
to their tenants in a way that is just and non-threatening.
10.
Also, the Paso del Norte Group’s membership of 300 plus, was kept secret
until very recently. The list of members was available from the City through
the Freedom of Information Act. Why were the names of the members withheld
from public knowledge if the Paso del Norte Group’s plan received public
funding?
11.
If maximizing profit and land value is the driving force of the plan, there
is a threat of major chain stores, i.e., Walmart or Home Depot being able to
purchase land from the REIT and moving into the Segundo Barrio-downtown area.
Although the residents of the Segundo Barrio may benefit from Walmart’s lower
prices, we are aware of the certain elimination of area small businesses –
many existing for many years and part of the tradition of the neighborhood - attempting
to compete. We oppose the establishment of these mega-stores which would also
destroy the unique cultural and historical character of the Segundo Barrio as
well as small businesses.
12.
As Church, we want to stand in solidarity with the poor, with the immigrant,
with the marginalized, with the rejected one. There is a long history of
neglect and discrimination with regards to the Segundo Barrio. We are not
opposed to progress, economic development, improvement and construction of
buildings. We are opposed to any plan that disregards and displaces the poor,
that ignores the plight of the immigrant, that divides the community, that
perpetuates injustice and inadequate housing, that diminishes low-cost
housing; one that seeks to enrich a select group.
Most
Rev. Armando X. Ochoa Bishop, Catholic Diocese of El Paso Rev. John Stowe,
O.F.M. Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia Diocese of El Paso Fr. Rafael
Garcia, S.J. Pastor, Sacred Heart Church
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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July
10, 2006
|
Council votes to postpone use of
eminent domain until 2008 for owners who do not wish to sell.
The Glass Beach firm was a branding
consultation firm that the City paid $100,000 of public funds for a focus
group study. It is available in the form of a power point presentation from
the City Clerk's office. Mr. Patrick Buchanan, president of Glass Beach, made
the presentation before a special City Council meeting that was held on
7-19-06 at a special executive meeting at the Convention Center that was not
open to the public. The study was criticized for being unprofessional as well
as prejudiced against the elderly Hispanic population of El Paso. The study
includes images of an elderly Hispanic man with the words “dirty, lazy,
gritty, uneducated, Spanish speaker.” It represents the image of El Paso that
the Glass Beach firm would like to replace with images of an Anglo-American
actor—Mathew McConaughey and a European actress—Penelope Cruz—as the models
of the new upwardly-mobile creative class of young people who “enjoy
entertainment.” These are the young hipsters who will replace the current
residents of South El Paso once the PDNG plan is implemented. Glass Beach no
longer exists, at least under that name. Glass Beach also did not exist
before this study. It appears to have been formed for the sole purpose of
conducting this focus group study. The study was approved unanimously
although the City Council reps had no opportunity to ask questions.
On the City website the minutes read
as follows:
MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
JUDSON F. WILLIAMS CONVENTION CENTER, ONE ClVlC CENTER PLAZA WEDNESDAY, JULY
19,2006 11 :00 A.M. The City Council met at the above place and date at
approximately 11:09 a.m. Mayor John F. Cook present and presiding and the
following Council Members answered roll call: Jose Alexandro Lozano, Presi
Ortega, Jr., Steve Ortega, and Beto OIRourke. Late arrivals: Ann Morgan
Lilly, Melina Castro, and Eddie Holguin, Jr. Absent: Susie Byrd.
AGENDA Presentation, briefing, and
discussion by Glass-Beach Brand Consultants relative to El Paso Brand Market
research, findings, and preliminary recommendations. Mr. Bill Blazieck,
General Manager with the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau and the El
Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, introduced Mr. Patrick Buchanan,
President of Glass-Beach Brand Consultants. Mr. Buchanan presented a
Powerpoint presentation (on file in the City Clerk's office) and answered the
questions of Council Members. A quorum of City Council was lost at 1:50 p.m.
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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July
19, 2006
|
The Glass Beach marketing study that
adopts racist imagery to support the PDNG plan is approved by City Council.
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July
19, 2006
|
During a closed executive session
called by City Manager Joyce Wilson, City Council votes unanimously to adopt
a branding strategy that would “revitalize” the image of El Paso to the rest
of the country. The City of El Paso
contracted with Glass Beach, a firm that did not seem to exist either before
or after the city paid them $100,000 for the branding study. Several slides
were included as part of the study showing what El Paso should not be, and
what a future El Paso should look like. One of them showed an elderly Mexican
man with the words “50-60 years old, dirty, lazy, gritty, speaks Spanish” and
the other showed a couple represented by two Hollywood actors with the words
“Male/Female, 30-40 years old, educated, entrepreneurial, enjoys
entertainment”
The phantom firm, Glass Beach, was
sub-contracted by the PR firm Sanders Wingo.
Notably, Sanders Wingo’s major clients include the Paso del Norte
Group and their new incarnation, The Borderplex Alliance. On the City
website, the minutes of the Executive Session on July 19, 2006 read as follows:
MINUTES SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING, JUDSON F. WILLIAMS CONVENTION CENTER, AGENDA: Presentation,
briefing, and discussion by Glass-Beach Brand Consultants relative to El Paso
Brand Market research, findings, and preliminary recommendation Mr. Bill
Blazieck, General Manager with the El Paso Convention and Visitors Bureau and
the El Paso Convention and Performing Arts Center, introduced Mr. Patrick
Buchanan, President of Glass-Beach Brand Consultants. Mr. Buchanan presented
a PowerPoint presentation (on file in the City Clerk's office) and answered
the questions of Council Members. APPROVED AS TO CONTENT.
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October
5, 2006
|
City Planning Commission approves
PDNG plan, increases “redevelopment zone” to 168 acres from original 127.5.
The commission recommends that 168
acres rather than the originally proposed 127.5 acres be declared a
“redevelopment zone” where major demolitions will take place for commercial
development.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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October
6, 2006
|
Bill Sanders changes his mind and
states he will invest his own money after all at the behest of mayor.
After having stated publicly when
the plan was first unveiled that he would personally not own property in the
redevelopment plan so that his son in law would not be accused of conflict of
interest, he changes his mind at the behest of Mayor John Cook. Cook proposes
that from now on O’Rourke should recuse himself and thus allow Sanders to
invest in the plan because without his investment the plan is economically
less viable
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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October
11, 2006
|
City Ethics Commission refuses to
hear evidence of O’Rourke’s conflict of interest.
THE CITY ETHICS COMMISSION,
appointed overwhelmingly by the same politicians who support the PDNG plan,
voted yesterday that there is no "just cause" to hear any evidence
that Rep. O’Rourke should recuse himself on voting on The commission decided
that there is no need to carefully weigh the evidence demonstrating that it
is wrong for Mr. O’Rourke to vote on a plan charted by the PDNG—a secretive
organization that he was a member of that for two years refused to divulge
its list of members. The PDNG members, including public officials, were
required to sign a confidentiality agreement. Not only was Mr. O’Rourke a
dues-paying member of this organization, but his father-in-law, his mother
and his wife are members as well. His internet company has also been doing
business with the PDNG. In June 2006, Myrna Deckert—PDNG director—publicly
misinformed the community that Mr. O’Rourke’s company was not getting paid
for the services he was providing for the PDNG although he is. (Mr. O'Rourke
told the ethics commission that he and Myrna Deckert forgot that the PDNG was
paying his Stanton Street Technology Group for their services.) Mr. O’Rourke
was still a member of the PDNG while he voted on issues related to the plan.
He did not resign from the PDNG until October 2005. On September 13, 2005,
O’Rourke was still a PDNG member when he voted to extend the PDNG contract.
(O'Rourke's lawyer argued that this was perfectly okay for Mr. O'Rourke to do
because it was actually the Paso Del Norte Foundation that requested the
extension and not the Paso Del Norte Group. Sure, it's the same group of
people, the lawyer admitted, but one has 501-c3 status and the other
doesn't.) Mr. O'Rourke's vote was taken before his father-in-law Bill
Sanders, the founder of the PDNG, had indicated that he would not invest in
the plan to avoid “the appearance of conflict-of-interest.” A few days ago,
Sanders changed his mind to say he would invest after all but that he would
write-off his profits by giving them to a charity of his choice (one where
the director of the non-profit is a PDNG member such as La Fe Clinic
perhaps?). If Mr. Sanders changes his mind again and decides later that he
does want to keep the profits, or that he and other members of the PDNG (a.k.a.
the PDNF) wants to make large contributions towards Mr. O’Rourke's future
political ambitions, well by then it will be too late to point out the
conflict of interest. The vote will have already passed. At yesterday’s
meeting City committee members were instructed by the City Attorney not to
hear the entire list of alleged conflict-of-interest violations brought
before them including recent information that he "secretly received
personal financial services from a real-estate company backing the downtown
plan."
The ethics commission Chairman Jerry
Mangrum questioned the wisdom of ending the process abruptly without hearing
or seeing formal evidence. "I think there's some questions out there,
and we will never have the opportunity to clear them up," Mangrum said.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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October
26, 2006
|
200 citizens organized by Korean
business owners march against eminent domain abuse.
ABOUT 200 DOWNTOWN business owners,
workers and residents marched today from the foot of the Paso Del Norte
Bridge to City Hall in a show of solidarity against the Downtown-Segundo
Barrio demolition plan. A majority of the demonstrators were members of the
Korean business community who stand to lose their livelihoods if a Wal-Mart
is constructed in South El Paso. "Every time debate about the plan
starts, they say that only a handful of Downtown landlords are against the
plan and that most people favor the plan," said Walter Kim, president of
the Korean Chamber of Commerce, which organized the march. "As you can
see, that is not true. About 99 percent of the businesses closed today
because they are against the plan. They want to be in El Paso's Downtown.
"During the march, only five businesses on South El Paso were open; the
other 60 or so were closed. Some businesses on Stanton, Oregon, Paisano and
Overland were also closed. Juárez and Segundo Barrio shoppers said they
supported the march against the Paso Del Norte Group plan.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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October
31, 2006
|
City Hall votes 5 to 3 to accept the
PDNG plan.
City Council votes 5 to 3 to
officially adopt the plan charted by the PDNG without public input as the
City’s “Downtown 2015 Plan.”
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Nov.
8, 2006
|
Sanders sets up Borderplex REIT to
buy up downtown and South El Paso property. You must have a net worth of a
million dollars to invest in downtown REIT.
Sanders sets up Borderplex Real
Estate Investment Trust to buy up downtown, Union Plaza neighborhood and
South El Paso property Bill Sanders (father-in-law to City Representative
Robert O’Rourke who later becomes Congressman) creates the Borderplex
Community Trust, a REIT set up to buy property in downtown and South El Paso.
He sends out an invitation inviting anyone with a net worth of $1,000,000 and
who earns at least $200,000 a year, preferably $300,000 to apply. The REIT is
incorporated in Maryland because that way it will not have to make its actions
public even to its own stockholders. The current major property owner of the
Union Plaza neighborhood within the “footprint” area for the arena is a
member of the PDNG. In 2006, he begins purchasing real estate in this zone.
Recall that the “not for distribution” map drafted that same year had already
designated this zone as the future site of the arena.
Bill Sanders creates the Borderplex
Community Trust, a REIT set up to buy property in downtown and South El Paso.
He sends out an invitation inviting anyone with a net worth of $1,000,000 and
who earns at least $200,000 a year, preferably $300,000 to apply. The REIT is
incorporated in Maryland because that way it will not have to make its
actions public even to its own stockholders.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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December
18, 2006
|
City pass the Tax Increment
Reinvestment Zone that declares entire redevelopment zone as blighted.
CITY HALL PASSED the Tax Increment
Reinvestment Zone by a vote of 5 to 2 today. The TIRZ sets the stage for
eminent domain to be used on any property—blighted or not—within the 188 acre
zone. As a result of today’s vote, for the next three decades, all increase
in property tax revenue within this zone will be diverted to the Real Estate
Investment Trusts and away from the other city, county and school districts
that normally receive them. Cities cannot use the TIRZ monies to pay for
operations, public safety or maintenance, which are by far the largest share
of municipal budgets. That part of the tax increment that would have gone to
the city's general fund will now be lost, and will now be mostly for the
benefit of the new landlords in the “redevelopment zone.” After you bring in
the TIRZ, the city will have money to build a stadium, strip malls and big box
retail stores, but less for police, fire fighters and librarians. El Paso
taxpayers will have to make up the rest.
During public comment period, many of the city reps yawned, left their
seats to go to the bathroom, get a cup of coffee, stretch their legs, etc.
(O’Rourke recused himself from the vote and left the chamber. It’s not clear
why he feels he does have a conflict of interest on the TIRZ zone, but not on
the Paso Del Norte Plan as a whole.) The only surprise was that Alejandro
Lozano not only voted for the TIRZ zone but has now changed his tune on
eminent domain abuse as well. A few weeks ago he was the leading voice on
City Council against eminent domain abuse that transfers ownership of mom and
pop stores from local business owners to national chain stores. It seemed
that he was staunchly opposed to this kind of abuse based on firmly held
convictions. Suddenly today, he said this kind of forced land seizures might
be OK if the city pays “replacement value.” Representative Presi Ortega
praised Lozano for his “transformational politics.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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2007
|
2007
|
“Oklahoma City passed anti-immigrant
ordinances in 2007 and 2009, well before states such as Arizona, Georgia, or
Alabama.” Report: Staying Put but Still in the Shadows: Undocumented
Immigrants Remain in the Country Despite Strict Laws, Accessed Aug. 17,
2012: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2012/02/22/11126/staying-put-but-still-in-the-shadows/
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February
10, 2007
|
Inauguration of historic mural in
the Sacred Heart gym.
A festival attended by 800-1000
people celebrated a mural painted by Francisco Delgado, Mauricio Olague and
about fifty Bowie high school students. Several speakers including Father
Garcia, pastor of Sacred Heart Church and Los Angeles urbanist David Diaz
spoke out against the PDNG plan at the event. City rep Susie Byrd called the organizers
of the cultural festival “fear-mongers” for saying residents will be
displaced.
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March
2007
|
PDNG member indicted for 250 million
dollar coupon fraud scheme.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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March
31, 2007
|
More than 400 people chant "El
Segundo Barrio no se vende!" at the Cesar Chavez march.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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March
31, 2007
|
More than 400 people chant "El
Segundo Barrio no se vende!" at the Cesar Chavez march.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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April
4, 2007
|
Several artists are banned from La
Fe clinic cultural center by executive director-PDNG executive member because
they oppose the plan.
Segundo Barrio Under Siege – The
Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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May
4, 2007
|
Texas Observer publishes article by
Eileen Welsome titled “Eminent Disaster: A cabal of politicians and profiteers
targets an El Paso barrio.”
Segundo Barrio Under Siege – The
Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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April
7, 2007
|
National Chicano organization
denounces the El Paso downtown-Segundo Barrio redevelopment plan.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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May
9, 2007
|
El Paso Times poll shows 62% of El
Pasoans oppose the use of eminent domain for the PDNG plan.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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July
2007
|
FBI investigations shows corruption
is rampant at the city and county level in El Paso. Ten of the targets of the
FBI belong to the PDNG.
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
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July
2007
|
Public Corruption Scandal.
FBI investigations shows corruption
is rampant at the city and county level in El Paso. Ten of the twenty targets
of the FBI investigation belong to the PDNG. Two of them are Charles “Paco”
Jordan, owner of C.F. Jordan Construction Company, and Darren Woody,
President and CEO of C.F. Jordan construction company.
County Commissioner Betty Flores
pleaded guilty in July 2007 to being paid $10,000 in exchange for a favorable
vote on a contract for the $20 million El Paso County Parking Garage Annex,
and to advocate change orders to the contract. The contract was awarded to
C.F. Jordan in May 2004. The former county commissioner’s son Adrian Pena,
worked for CF Jordan. His phone was tapped by the FBI. The C.F. Jordan
company has completed nearly $4 billion in projects including border patrol
stations, health care centers, processing centers, hotels, resorts, medical
facilities, industrial plants, warehouses, sports complexes, apartments,
airports, zoological facilities and military defense projects.
Darren Woody denied charges by a
former county commissioner that his company was part of the $10,000 bribe she
received in exchange for awarding a 20-million-dollar contract to his
company, C.F. Jordan. He told the El Paso Times (7-10-07): "At this
time, we do not know the facts surrounding Ms. Flores' information or even if
they involve our company or its employees. We are attempting to ascertain
more information at this time."
The Jordan Foster and CF Jordan/
Hunt Construction Company continue to receive major contracts by the City of
El Paso in projects involving the PDNG downtown redevelopment plan including
the construction of the AAA ballpark at the site previously inhabited by El
Paso City Hall.
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November
19, 2007
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UTEP forum connects the struggles of
Lomas del Poleo and Segundo Barrio. The Binational Coalition Against
Displacement and Dispossession is created between residents of two
communities.
The Residents of Lomas del Poleo and
the Segundo Barrio Connect “It’s the same plan on both sides of the border.
It’s the same land speculators who sit on each other’s boards and who are
carrying out large-scale displacement and land grabs. If the powerful are
organized at a binational level, then those of us at the bottom also need to
join together. We need to form binational coalitions against el despojo—against
the theft of our homes and our barrios—that is being carried out in the name
of regional development.” (sic.) —Cristina Coronado, Lomas de
Poleo activist TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE attended a UT El Paso forum where they
witnessed a conversation between residents of two neighborhoods located
across the international fence from each other that are fighting against
similar threats to their communities. Panelists Petra Medrano, who has lived
in Lomas del Poleo in Juárez for 15 years and Lupe Ochoa, who has lived in El
Paso’s Segundo Barrio for about an equal amount of time, shared common
stories of struggle against developers from both sides of the border who want
to move their communities out the way to make room for binational
redevelopment projects. Petra Medrano described the feelings of fear that she
and her neighbors have experienced at the hands of armed guards hired by
powerful
Juárez developers who have
systemically terrorized them for the last four years to force them to accept
relocation. “We lived in peace Lomas del Poleo for 12 years until recently
when the Grupo Zaragoza showed up.” The sentiments of Lupe Ochoa echoed those
of Medrano. “We used to live happily in our barrio, even with all of its
defects, but now this [Paso del Norte Group] plan has us all living in a
state of fear,” she said. “The residents of the barrio have been selling
their homes because they're afraid that they will be forced out by this plan.”
I think the biggest connection between Segundo Barrio and Lomas del Poleo is
the love for our neighborhood and for our people,” Ms. Ochoa said.
|
|
November
24, 2007
|
Groups respond to City reps comments
that binational connection is “intellectually dishonest.”
The Timeline, Paso del Sur, www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
December
6, 2007
|
TIRZ board votes to expand the
“redevelopment zone” to 302 acres.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
December
20, 2007
|
Cross border alliance expands. Las Cruces, El Paso and Juarez activists
meet in Las Cruces to find common ground in their struggle against
dispossession and displacement.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
December
21, 2007
|
PDNG banker pleads guilty to bribing
city and council officials. He has obtained more than 1.5 billion dollar’s
worth of contracts from the city.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
2008
|
January
15, 2008
|
January 15—Simultaneous protest for
the Segundo Barrio and Lomas del Poleo take place before consulates in Juarez
and El Paso
RESIDENTS FROM JUÁREZ AND EL PASO
held demonstrations yesterday at the consulates of both cities in protest of
the destruction of hundreds of homes and buildings in El Paso’s Segundo
Barrio to build a commercial zone. While some of the members of the Committee
in Defense of Lomas del Poleo held a demonstration outside the U.S. Consulate
in Ciudad Juárez, some of the Lomas del Poleo residents joined the demonstration
across the river in front of the Mexican consulate in El Paso. The
Committee’s spokesperson Juan Carlos Martínez, said the demonstration in El
Paso is to denounce the barbed-wire fence put up by the Grupo Zaragoza that
surround the Lomas del Poleo neighborhood. “It’s a joint, simultaneous
protest. We are supporting each other because this is a binational struggle
against despojo—displacement and dispossession—by powerful developers, many
who belong to the Verde Group,” said Martínez.
|
|
January
19, 2008
|
PDNG unveils "Promatura,"
city-funded study supporting its gated communities in Santa Teresa.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
January
15, 2008
|
Simultaneous protests for the
Segundo Barrio and Lomas del Poleo take place before consulates in Juarez and
El Paso.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
January
29, 2008
|
Segundo Barrio residents try to
speak before City Council to support ordinance that will limit eminent domain
only to particular blighted properties, not entire areas. City Rep Robert
O’Rourke casts deciding vote not to let them speak and against the ordinance,
despite admitted conflict of interest.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
February
5, 2008
|
Residents return to City Council to
support the ordinance and denounce O’Rourke conflict of interest. The City
takes no action.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
|
February
6, 2008
|
Segundo Barrio residents try to
speak before City Council to support ordinance that will limit eminent domain
only to particular blighted properties, not entire areas. City Rep Robert
O’Rourke casts deciding vote despite admitted conflict of interest
Although City Rep. Robert O’Rourke
has signed sworn affidavits in the past admitting to conflict of interest
regarding all issues related to the Downtown-Segundo Barrio “redevelopment
plan,” he fails to recuse himself during the Council’s vote on an ordinance
that would disallow “blight” condemnations on buildings that are in perfect
condition. Instead he cast the deciding vote with the 4 to 3 majority of City
Council that wants the local government to have broad powers to condemn and
forcibly confiscate any building it wishes within the “redevelopment zone”
even if the building is well-maintained. The homes and small businesses that
are thus expropriated will be handed over to private developers including
O’Rourke’s father-in-law William Sanders.
As owner of the Verde Group, the Borderplex Community Trust (that is
currently buying property within the redevelopment zone) and founder of the
Paso del Norte Group, Sanders is the major driving force behind the plan to
demolish a 30 acre-zone of the Segundo Barrio and displace more than 1,800
residents from this historic neighborhood.
|
|
March
8, 2008
|
The North American Human Rights
Delegation Connects Displacement at Lomas del Poleo with the Segundo Barrio.
www.pasodelsur.com/new/plantimeline.
Accessed 5/29/11. Site no longer accessible.
|
2009
|
2009
|
Oklahoma City passes another
anti-immigrant ordinance.
|
|
2009
|
The City of El Paso removes the
downtown bus hub from the centrally located Plaza de los Lagartos (San
Jacinto Plaza) and moves it to peripherally located Santa Fe Transfer Center,
located on Santa Fe and Third Street. There is strong opposition from mostly
working-class fronterizo commuters who find the central location convenient
for them. Critics say the Sun Metro hub relocation is part of the
“de-Mexicanization” of the City’s downtown in the image of the City funded
Glass Beach branding strategy.
Paul Foster and Hunt family push to
bring a Triple A Stadium to El Paso.
|
|
July 2009
|
Paul Foster and
Hunt Family push to bring a Triple A baseball team to El Paso. Gray, Robert,
“Two Years to Make a Deal,” El Paso Inc., 07/01/12; Gray, Robert,
“Josh Hunt: Mountainstar Sport Group; Senior VP, Hunt Companies,” El Paso
Inc., 07/01/12;
|
2010
|
2010
|
City
Manager Joyce Wilson begins private meetings with Downtown Ballpark
supporters showing lobbyist have an open door to the City Manager's office.
|
|
01/30/11
|
El Paso Times reports that then
City Representative Robert O'Roarke and Steve Ortega are pushing to renovate
San Jacinto Plaza in El Paso's Downtown. This push comes from Paul Foster.
The article mentions the possible closing of Oregon Street in front of the
Foster-owned Mills Building. Ortega mentions redesigning the park to look
like a park in New York City. Schladen, Marty. “Downtown Evolution: Critics
plan challenge of Plaza face-lift,” El Paso Times, 1/30/2011.
January 30
Paul Foster pushes
for the renovation of San Jacinto Plaza, including the removal of Luis
Jimenez’s “Los Lagartos” sculpture
|
|
February
9, 2010
|
City of El Paso releases Segundo Barrio “Revitalization Strategy.”
|
2011
|
March
11, 2011
|
City Council votes to keep “Los Lagartos” at the center of San
Jacinto Plaza, with Steve Ortega, Cortney Niland, and Ann Morgan Lilly voting
nay.
|
|
|
Paul
Foster pushes renovation of San Jacinto Plaza including the removal of Luis
Jimenez' “Los Lagartos Sculpture
|
|
May 2011
|
The
Centro Chicano building in Segundo barrio is demolished.
|
|
11/04/11
|
City
Council votes to keep “Los Lagartos” at the center of San Jacinto Plaza, with
Steve Ortega, Cortney Niland, and Ann Morgan Lilly voting nay.
|
|
11/11/11
|
Western
Refining announced it will move 85 employees from its El Paso headquarters to
Arizona. Mayor Cook meets with Paul Foster to persuade him not to move these
employees.
Paul
Foster announces that his company Western Refining will move 85 employees
from its El Paso headquarters to Arizona. Mayor Cook meets with Foster to
persuade him not to move these employees.
|
2012
|
02/09/12
|
Bill
Burton CEO of Mithoff Burton Partners writes Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly stating,
“Truly enjoyed our lunch and visit last week. I promised I would follow up on
the wayfinding unites that have been reviewed by the DMD. (sic.)I am
concerned that you may not have seen the final drawings. You should soon be
getting the actual schematics from Veronica Soto. I have ask her to make sure
the renderings are the ones the DMD has approved, per all the changes that
have been made by us. (sic.)(sic.)The first drafts were not good at all, and
much was revised. Please let me know when you receive those, and if they are,
in fact, different from the ones you have concerns about. We want them to be
right.” Email obtained via TORA, dated Feb. 9, 2012.
Lilly
knew of and was being lobbied for a Downtown Ballpark but failed to inform her
constituents.
|
|
04/03/12
|
Brian
Finkel, Creative Director of Horrow Sports Ventures writes Leanard Goodman,
Ruben E. Guerra, Bill Burton, Peter Fraire, Steffen Possiger, Russel Autry,
Bill Barnhouse, Assistant City Manager Deborah Hamlyn, and Rick Harrow: “If
it works for everyone's schedules, I'd like to set a meeting for next Tuesday
at 10am for an all-hands-on-deck, roll up the sleeves to prepare for the City
Council presentation on April 18. The goal will be to organize the
presentation (overview, projects, financing mechanism, etc.) under the them
lines that we're using for the campaign, as well as conceptualize other
marketing material we'll want in the near future. I'd ask, if at all
possible, we not set a meeting end time, so were're not constrained by a hard
out.” (Sic.)(Sic.)Email obtained via
TORA, dated April 3, 2012.
This
email point to the fact that the City Manager's office has opened its doors
to lobbyists in that a meeting is arrange between a lobbyist with no City
Council member present. It's no wonder that the ballpark issue was a surprise
to many of the representatives. It is knows that Deborah Hamlyn who would
later retire in August 2012 and go straight to work with the PAC supporting
the ballpark, attended this meeting. Email obtained via TORA, dated April 5,
2012 from Deborah Hamlyn. This was an all-day meeting. City Manager Joyce
Wilson also attended this meeting. Email obtained via TORA, Dated April 5,
2012, 12:24pm and 12:42pm.
Joyce
Wilson and assistant City Manager Deborah Hamlyn have an all-day meeting with
Baseball Park lobbyists with no City Council member present. Deborah Hamlyn
is charged with planning the Quality of Life Bond ballot in 2012 for the
City. She would later retire in August 2012 and go straight to work with the
PAC supporting the ballpark.
|
|
04/11/12
|
Hamlyn
writes Bill Burton, “ Bill, Attached is the back up for the 4 main categories
of request that relate to the specific slides that list the proposed project.
So, what you have is a Zoo; Parks; Library and Museums. These projects are
what make up the totals that appear on the sheet.” Email obtained via TORA,
dated April 11, 2012, 4:19pm writes Deborah Hamlyn, Assistant City Manager
and future El Paso Tomorrow PAC consultant: “Our #1 needed now: the digital
rendering of the Downtown sites plan. Showing baseball, Union Plaza, etc. We
have print but need digital.” Email obtained via TORA from Bill Burton via
TORA, Dated April 11, 2012, 4:29pm
Deborah
Hamlyn's office would be accused of “cheating, ballot stuffing, ...fraud” by the
El Paso Inc. in a Sept. 16, 2012 article. Of the items listed above,
including zoos and parks, many Quality of Life Surveys were forged. Records
show when this was brought to light, Hamlyn choose to disregard. Crowder,
David, “Stadium Tainted,” El Paso Inc., Sept. 16, 2012.
|
|
04/12/12
|
Assistant
City Manager Mark Sutter writes William Studer and Linda Roa: “Bill Please
find attached the ppt slide we talked about showing property tax impact of
issuing additional $500 million in debt. (Graph only goes to 2036, but tax
rate continues to decline through the last year of the debt service in
2055.)...Key feature in graph – current property tax rate per $100 assessed
value for debt is about $0.23 and then increased to approx $0.26 when
currently authorized is issued; the max when the new issues begin is about
$0.27.” Email obtained via TORA from Mark Sutter, Dated April 12, 2012.
In a New 7 Extra
Debate, Former Mayor Ray Salazar would get City Manager Joyce Wilson and Bill
Studer to admit the City of El Paso is $850 million in debt.
|
|
04/17/12
|
Bill
Burton writes Joyce Wilson and William Studer regarding the presentation that
will be given during the Quality of Life Special Meeting by the City Council:
“There are two changes, based on comments from the Task Force today; 1. We
remove the map, “How El Paso Might Look”. Was contentious and was the ONLY
slide that got negative feedback (caps in original). 2. We changed the
heading on the Downtown Projects to read, “Quality of Life/Jobs”. Its our
belief that “Signature Projects” means different things to people – let's
talk about what these project REALLY do (caps in original). (sic.)Joyce, we
will have one of our guys there to run the show, if that's oky with you. (Sic.)We
will all meet at MBP to rehearse at 9:15 a.m. Tomorrow. Everyone is invited.
Confirmed is Rick Horrow, Tripper Goodman, and technician.” Emai obtained via
TORA, from Bill Burton dated April 15, 2012.
|
|
04/19/12
|
El Paso Times: “El Pasoans may be asked to vote for a $655 million to $835
million bond issue that could include a new multipurpose arena and stadiums
for major league soccer and Triple-A baseball teams, as well as parks, pools
and community centers and the reconstruction of streets.”
“Among the signature Downtown projects that
may be included in the bond are a $150 million multipurpose arena; $10
million to $20 million for general Downtown improvements; and $30 million for
new museums and museum upgrades.”
“Also
proposed is a $45 million Triple-A baseball stadium, which would be
contingent on securing a team, and up to $50 million in Sun Bowl upgrades,
which would be contingent on a long-term commitment to retain the annual Sun
Bowl game and host major league soccer tournaments.”
“East
Side city Rep. Dr. Michael Noe said that he "wholeheartedly"
supported the bond and all the projects in it, but not at the expense of his
district not getting any new community centers.”
“Reps.
Ann Morgan Lilly, Cortney Niland and Emma Acosta each asked specifically that
recreation or senior centers are included in neighborhoods in their
districts, while others said they had provided Wilson a wish list of projects
for theirs.”
“Officials with EPISO, a nonprofit inter-religious
organization, strongly advocated that street improvements be included in the
bond.
Street
projects will probably be on the ballot for up to $200 million to completely
rebuild aging and deteriorating roads, Wilson said.”
“Street
improvement projects will be discussed in more detail during a special
council work session May 24.”
· Multipurpose sports
and entertainment facility: $150 to $180 million
· (*)Major league
soccer stadium: $100 to $120 million
· (*)Triple-A
baseball stadium: $45 to 55 million
· Museums: $30 to $40
million
· (**)Sun Bowl
upgrades: $25 to $50 million
· General Downtown
improvements: $10 to $20 million
· Parks, recreation
and open spaces: $100 to $125 million
· Zoo upgrades: $25
million
· (***)Neighborhood
improvement projects: $10 million
· Library upgrades:
$10 million
· Street
reconstruction: $150 to $200 million
Total:
$655 to $835 million over 15 years
Ramirez, Cindy. “El
Paso City Council eyes $600-$800M bond: New arena, stadiums part of Nov.
ballot plan,” El Paso Times, April 19, 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
04/29/12
|
Rabbi Larry
Bach of Border Interfaith and Temple Mount Sinai; and Tina Vasquez, for EPISO
and Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church write the following opinion
editorial for the El Paso Times:
“EPISO and Border Interfaith, two organizations which together
represent 25 religious congregations, neighborhoods, and labor unions, spent
a good deal of time and energy organizing meetings in many of our
congregations over the last several weeks. “
“More
than 700 people came out to talk about what 'Quality of Life' meant to them,
and to share stories about why that is so.”
“Here's
what we heard:
Infrastructure
is essential. Again and again, our constituents voiced their frustration with
streets in dire need of repair. Gaping potholes, nonexistent sidewalks, and
inadequate striping make for unsafe conditions which negatively affect
people's lives.”
“While
many of us are excited about parks and libraries (for example), we believe
that moving forward with these projects ought to be contingent upon a real
commitment to renewing our weak and failing infrastructure all over town.”
“If
your child has no sidewalk around her elementary school, the Triple-A
ballgame or MLS soccer matches taking place Downtown doesn't bring nearly as
much joy.”
“Accountability is critical. Given the high-profile
corruption cases that have touched other local taxing entities in recent
years, it is not surprising that a call to raise and spend hundreds of
millions of dollars is being met with healthy skepticism by many in our
community. We heard, loud and clear, that El Pasoans demand transparency throughout
this process.” Bach, Larry
and Vasquez, Tina. “Bach and Vasquez: EPISO, Border Interfaith gather input
on 'quality-of-life' bond,” El Paso Times, April 29, 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
05/08/12
|
Mountain Star Sports Group files incorporation papers with the
Texas Secretary of State. Gene Wolf is listed as the initial organizer.
Initial managers listed are Paul Foster, Joshua Hunt, Woody Hunt, and Scott
D. Weaver.
Three “sports” groups formed within a few days of each other by
the group (See attached): Mountain Star Sports Group, Franklin Mountain
Sports Group, and Hunt Holdings Sports.
|
|
05/24/12
|
Franklin Mountain Sports Group, LCC files incorporation papers
with the Texas Secretary of State with registered agent Sandra Mendez and
organizer Gene Wolf. Initial manager named is Paul Foster.
Hunt Holdings Sports Group, LCC files incorporation papers with
the Texas Secretary of State. Gene Wolf is listed as organizer and Woody Hunt
and Joshua Hunt listed as managers.
|
|
Early
June, 2012
|
City's tax office moves to the Well's Fargo Building. Move
sparks investigation by the El Paso District Attorney. Flores, Aileen.
“Consolidated Tax Office to get larger location,” El Paso Times, June
1, 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
06/11/12
|
Mojito Email
Joyce Wilson writes Rick Harrow her famous “Mojito and Condo
Email”: “Hi Rick. Got your voice message and nice comments-which are
appreciated. Thanks.”
“I will let you know ASAP as soon as I have a firm schedule for
the council actions on the bond questions. We are meeting today do discus
schedule and draft questions. I will make sure you have all of that
information.”
“ I will coordinate with Tripper about arranging meetings for
you with Council members of (sic) others on 5th and 6th
while you are in town. I'll also make myself available as needed to ensure
good coordination.”
“I'm excited about the great possibilities the election will
bring to El Paso. Just watching OKC (Oklahoma City) and the Thunder and all
the PR about the team and the city and the fans is really cool. I'm curious
who you are rooting for now that the Heat are in the finals. I'm torn but
hope that Heat prevails. They worked hard against Boston to get there. Keep
the mojitos chilled for me in FLA. Will let you know about my condo ventures.”(underlining
added for emphasis). Email obtained via TORA from Joyce Wilson to Rick Horrow
dated June 11, 10:35 am.
|
|
06/19/12
|
City Manager Joyce Wilson checks with Bill Burton to see if the
City Council agenda is in the order that he wants it. Asst. City Manager
William Studer writes, (536pm) “Bill, Thanks for guiding me on this. If you
see anything out of place or out of order, let me know and we'll change it.
The public speakers is a rough outline – we don't have confirmation on any of
them.” Emails obtained via TORA.
|
|
06/20/12
|
City Manager Joyce Wilson checks with Bill Burton to see if the
City Council agenda is in the order that he wants it. Bill Burton to Joyce
Wilson (2:02pm): “Joyce, Can you let me know two things, via phone or email:
1. When do you expect the Council Agenda to be posted tomorrow? 2. Is this
order what you have in mind for the Council presentation?” Email obtained via
TORA.
Wilson writes Burton when he asks when the agenda will be
posted: Wilson (3:21pm), “It should be posted by noon – normally – so you can
expect inquiries after. I think the items generally are correct in terms of
order but will defer to Bill and Carmen to confirm I will be reviewing the agenda tonite and
may post this item not to be heard before 11 AM so that everyone can show up
at that time and not sit around waiting for it. I will confirm that. Bill
Burton writes (4:09pm), “Just heard from some in the Owner Group...Since
there are so many of the presenters/non-presenters coming in from out of
town, they had planned on thing being first on the agenda. Any way to leave
is as the opening item?” Email obtained via TORA.
|
|
06/22/12
|
Details of the City Council's coming vote on the ballpark are
released in the City Councils, June 26, agenda. City Manager Joyce Wilson pushes to
relocate city services to building owned by the ballpark proponents, namely
the Paso Del Norte Group and Paul Foster. Buildings named include the
Foster-owned Mills Building and Blue Flame Building. “The El Paso Independent School District occupied that building
(Blue Flame) on a temporary basis,” says Rep. Robinson in an El Paso Inc.
interview. “The question you need to explore is: 'Why did they move out
abruptly?' There are problems with that building. You talk about this
building needing upgrading? That building is in much worse condition.” Gray,
Robert. “Carl Robinson: Northeast City
Representative,” El Paso Inc. July 29, 2012.
|
|
|
|
|
06/26/12
|
After
a five-hour City Council Meeting, and hours of public comment to the
contrary, City Council votes to demolish City Hall and the Insights Museum to
make way for a Downtown ballpark. They include a non-compete clause to keep
the Ysleta del Sur nation from using Cohen Stadium. At the end of the
meeting, city representatives Niland, Lilly, Noe, Ortega, and Byrd pull
baseball hats from under their desks and pose for a photo. Demolishing City
Hall would require the move of 600 city employees and scatter them across El
Paso. The Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and the Hotel-Motel Association speak to the
contrary. Representatives Holguin and Robinson vote nay. To fund the stadium,
the city wants to increase the Hotel Motel Tax to make it the highest in the
nation. Gray, Robert, Ballpark Questions Abound, El Paso Inc.
06/24/2012; Paredes, Martin, “Stadium for El Paso,” El PasoNews.Org,
06/25/12; Gray, Robert, “Two Years to Make a Deal,” El Paso Inc., 07/01/12.
Josh Hunt tells the El Paso Inc.,
“In order for us to acquire a Triple-A team, we need the approval of Minor
League Baseball and its
leagues. Now that we have approval from the city that a ballpark
will be built, league approval will be our next step. But, for us to secure
that approval, we must showcase El Paso as a preferred Triple-A baseball
market. And we feel to do that, we need a non-compete clause in our term
sheet with the city.” “Josh Hunt: Mountainstar Sport Group;
Senior VP, Hunt Companies,” El Paso Inc., 07/01/12.
At 11:48am, Rep. Steve Ortega writes Wilson during the meeting:
“Is there specific action that we need to take today regarding a specific
plan for relocation?” “Yes,” emails Wilson, “Direct me to develop a short and
long term relocation plan (sic) Also if you want authorize me to explore
existing facilities first before recommending new .”structure/construction
(sic)”
Demolishing
City Hall requires to move 600 employs and scatter them across El Paso. The
City Manager pushes to relocate city services to buildings owned by the
ballpark proponents, namely the Paso del Norte Group and Paul Foster.
|
|
06/29/12
|
Stadium
proponents speak before the Pacific League's executive committee in Dallas.
Bill
Burton writes Joyce Wilson, William Studer, Cortney Niland, and Ann Morgan
Illy at 9:10am mentioning a photo of them with baseball caps at the June 26,
2012, City Council Meeting. He mentions to Joyce Wilson: “Joyce, will you
forward this to Steve, Susie, and Dr. Noe? I can't find their personal
emails.” Email obtained via the TORA.
This
is possible evidence that the El Paso City Council used personal emails to
conduct city business which is against the law as it circumvents the Texas
Open Meetings Act.
|
|
Late
June 2012
|
“Stockton, Calif., made a slew of public investments, including a
sports arena, and moved its City Hall in an effort to stimulate its Downtown
area. It filed for bankruptcy last week.” Gray, Robert, “Josh Hunt:
Mountainstar Sport Group; Senior VP, Hunt Companies,” El Paso Inc.,
07/01/12;
|
|
|
“Cook threatened to veto the sale of tax bonds to pay for the
$50 million stadium and the demolition of City Hall – if a November ballot
measure to raise the hotel tax on visitors fails.” Crowder, David. “Cook:
Ballpark del is locked in,” El Paso Inc. 07/09/12
|
|
07/05/12
|
Mayor Cook meets
with Rick Harrow and Tripper Goodman. (Records obtained via TORA request)
|
|
07/09/12
|
Mayor
Cook flips and declares his support for the stadium. Crowder, David. “Cook:
Ballpark del is locked in,” El Paso Inc. 07/09/12. Rep. Eddie Holguin states,
“Yes, there is discrimination against the tribe (Tigua), there has always
been discrimination by the government against Native Americans...” “Ven racismo en trato a Tiguas,” Diario de El Paso,
07/09/12.
City
Attorney Sylvia B. Firth states in an email to Joyce Wilson (11:00am) “I
spoke to the Mayor this morning about his statements in the media regarding
financing the stadium. He did not understand that there are alternative financing
methods in the event the 2 percent HOT increase does not pass and that
council essentially has decided to move forward whether or not the voters
pass the HOT tax increase. He (mayor) needs someone to explain to him how you
plan to pay for the construction in the event the HOT increase does not
pass.” Texas Open Records Act Request of E-mail correspondence.
11:25am.
Wilson emails Representatives Steve Ortega and Cortney Niland a “draft of your
press release....” “let me know if this is close to where you want to go. I
can get staff to assist (underlined for emphasis).” Wilson's press statement
for the representatives admits that the “ability to host professional sports
in El Paso for the foreseeable future” is “jeopardized,” “perhaps in our
lifetime” she adds. “This has been a two year process (sic), not something
that just came up recently. Yes, it is a risk. Yes, it will be disruptive in
the short-term.” Wilson states that “City Hall needs between $12-30 million
to modernize it for long-term use. We can either spend that money for the
current site or the same amount for an alternative site.” Email obtained via
TORA.
At
this point in time, she is referring to the Blue Flame Building which is 45
years older than the City Hall Building.
11:35am.
Wilson writes Bill Burton on advice how to word a press statement from City
Council. “It appears the mayor did not realize there was an alternative
funding option outside of CO's.” Email obtained via TORA.
David
Crowder of the El Paso Inc. writes to Joyce Wilson: “Well what can I
say? It seems that the mayor was wrong all around and that Inc. (El Paso
Inc.) was as well. The veto override issue is now corrected and we will be
following that up. Cook now says that Cos (Certificates of Obligation) would
not be used if the hotel-motel tax fails because it would not be legal,
according to Brandon, based on state law. So, if voters turn down the HOT tax
(Hotel Occupancy Tax) increase, it appears there is a back up mechanism in
place over which the mayor would have no power. He said today that, as he now
understands, the stadium deal is now a fait accompli, a done deal, on the
basis of council's action two weeks ago.” Email obtained via TORA, 11:57am.
12:16pm.
Joyce Wilson writes to Bill Burton, “...it is being diffused now Mayor fully understands that he make a big
mistake (sic) He doesn't want to kill the project He wasn't here on 26th and did not really
understand council's action.” Email obtained via TORA.
At
2:30pm, Bill Burton send Joyce Wilson an email that contains evidence that
his firm “edits” her letters regarding the ballpark. Email obtained via TORA,
Dated July 9, 2012.
Around
July 9, Bill Burton and possibly Joyce Wilson meet with the Insights Museum
Board of Directs. She later tells Bill Burton: “Also had a great meeting with
Insights Board They will be a player
and supporter of the larger vision.” (sic.) Email obtained via TORA, dated
July 9, 2012, 4:15 PM.
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07/10/12
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Astronaut
Daniel Olivas pays his last visit to the Insight Museum saying that his
visits to the museum inspired his career. “Possible
última visita de astronauta a Museo de Ciencias Insights, “Diario de El Paso,
07/07/12. On the demolition of the Insights Museum, Joyce Wilson says,
“"Insights leadership has been aware for some time that their tenure on
that site would be limited. Even if this would not have come forward, there
had been other plans to build out that site and make better utilization of
the acreage than what exists now." Smith, Mathew, “Petitioners question downtown ballpark,” KVIA Channel 7. July 25,
2012.
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07/11/12
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Joyce
Wilson sends email to Juliet Lozano, Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, Deberah
Hamlyn, Bill Studer, and Ramon Herrera focused how to promote the bond via
the Facebook, websites, and Twitter. The City Manager also send email
regarding how to lobby the El Paso Chamber of Commerce (email obtained via
TORA)
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07/17/12
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Joyce
Wilson writes Rep. Cortney Niland an email subjected: “The crazies in this
city are going to kill the B-Ball deal I bet”. Wilsons writes, “I hope we can
hold them up so they miss the November ballot.” (Email from Joyce Wilson to
Cortney Niland, 07/17/12, via Texas Open Records Act).
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07/18/12
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El
Paso Times
reports that City Manager Joyce Wilson plans to create a “One Stop Shop” for
city services in the 1940s era Blue Flame Building, which is owned by Paul
Foster. “El Paso City Hall: Employee Relocation Organized,” El Paso Times.
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“An internal city of El Paso audit that was
released Thursday shows nearly $1.2 million in accounting irregularities in
the city's Consolidated Tax Office, which collects property taxes for the
county's 34 taxing entities, officials said.”
“The audit, which was first reported by KFOX, shows that
money from the Property Tax Overpayment Account -- where overpayments are
supposed to be held for at least three years until taxpayers request a refund
-- was instead used to pay for operational expenses in connection with the
tax office. That resulted in the office's annual budget being under-reported,
officials said. “
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07/22/12
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Voters
opposing the undemocratic process of the City Council regarding the
demolition of City Hall and the building of a ballpark, gather at Memorial
Park to begin a petition initiative to recall the June 26 vote. “Reúnen firmas vs estadio de béisbol,” Diario de El Paso, 07/22/12.
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07/24/12
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In
a 2:49pm email from Bill Burton to William Studer, cc to City Manager Joyce
Wilson, Burton admits that he does not want the public to know the true cost
of the Downtown Ballpark: “I need to have an 'official' number that we can
use for the estimated tax increase of an average-value home in El Paso. When
Horrow was here we talked about “less then 5 cents” per $100 valuation... it
that still correct? I just need a figure to plug in to get people from
thinking this is going to be a huge number. Help...?” Email obtained via
Texas Open Records Act.
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07/25/12
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Quality
of Life Voters for Democracy hold a press conference in front of the El Paso
County Court House announcing the start of their petition. They allege closed
meetings in violation of the Open Records Act, access by lobbyist to the city
manager, and that voters should make the decision regarding quality of life
issues. Although the City Manager and ballpark supporters state that they
have been working on the ballpark two years, and did not informed the public
about this or had no time to take the issue to the voters, Joyce Wilson:
"I believe in an ideal world, the Council would have liked to put it on
a ballot, but throughout this process when we started the whole Quality of
Life bond election, we were very clear publicly that there was a possibility
or prospect of Triple-A baseball. The reality is the opportunity came forward
and a commitment and a decision had to be made by the city." Smith,
Mathew, “Petitioners question downtown ballpark,” KVIA Channel 7. July 25,
2012.
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07/27/12
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Even though not disclosed to the voters or city
representatives, City Manager Joyce Wilson tells the El Paso Times:
“"The perception is that there was no transparency, and that is absolutely
not true,' said Wilson, who added that the possibility of a baseball team and
a new stadium had been discussed for about two years. 'I believe it's the
most extensive analysis anyone has ever done on any project in the city.'”
“Officials with the Coalition for Responsive Government said they want to
rescind the council's decision to demolish
City Hall and to finance a Downtown sports complex. The
coalition said it supports a ballpark but objects to the demolition of City
Hall.” “City Rep. Cortney Niland, who represents Downtown and voted in favor
of the resolution, said...the problem may lie in poor communication.” “'Where
we have failed as a council is to communicate well. I don't think we've done
a good job at getting our message out to the community...' Niland said.”
Ramirez, Cindy. “Groups seek signatures to save El Paso's City Hall,” El
Paso Times, July 27, 2012.
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Questions arise
whether the ballpark will fit in the City Hall premises without closing Sante
Fe Street, demolishing the Scottish Rite Temple, building over the Union
Pacific right of way, and demolishing the Sunset Heights Historical District.
(sic.)Former City Council Representative Alejandro Lozano. Molinet, Jugo. “¿Cabe estadio en terreno del City Hall y museo que serán tirados?, Diario
de El Paso, July 28, 2012.
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07/29/12
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Rep. Carl Robinson
states that he is “worried the growing backlash could
impact the success of the quality of life bond, which he supports.” “If you
disrespect the citizens and you alienate them, they may not come out and vote
or they may vote down the bond. This issue with the baseball stadium and
tearing down City Hall could be a lightning rod and the lightning could
strike down the quality of life bond.” Grey, Robert. “Carl Robinson: Northeast City Representative,” El Paso Inc.,
July 29, 2012. After receiving criticism that Foster wants taxpayers to
renovate his buildings, Foster tells the El Paso Inc. that about
rumors that he is offering to “vacant Blue Flame to the
city for $1 a year as a new City Hall and to remove the asbestos, install new
heating and cooling and replace the elevators.” Foster says the city could
have to upgrade the HVAC and get new elevators. Crowder, David. “Foster:
Baseball Deal on Track,” July 29, 2012.
El Paso Inc. reports
“Organizers are accelerating efforts to form a political action committee to
back the proposed
$468-million quality of life bond, concerned that growing
opposition to a new Downtown ballpark might spill over into the bond
election. Although the ballpark is not part of the quality of life bond
issue, organizers of the El Paso Tomorrow PAC say the backlash against the
city’s decision last month to build one in Downtown has made them aware of
the need to get out and educate people on why they should approve the bond in
November...The PAC is launching an advertising campaign in newspapers this
weekend and has just begun raising
money...The PAC is an offshoot of the El Paso Tomorrow Advisory
Board, a group that includes members of the influential Paso del Norte Group
and the Downtown Management District.” Gray, Robert, “New PAC to Promote
Quality of Life Bond,” El Paso Inc., July 29, 2012.
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07/30/12
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Quality
of Life Voters for Democracy announce they have collected over 1500
signatures on their petition to make it mandatory that quality of life issues
like arenas and stadiums have to go to the voters. Molinet, Julio Antonio.
“Completan mil 500 firmas contra estadio en el Centro,” Diario de El Paso,
July 30, 2012.
“The Pacific Coast League's executive committee...announced it had unanimously
approved the preliminary application review (PAR) application by MountainStar
Sports Group, bringing a Triple-A team one step closer to being moved to El
Paso.” Martinez, Leanard, “City Could Buy El Paso Times Building in City Hall
Deal,” KVIA News 7, POSTED: 07:29 PM MDT Aug 06, 2012 UPDATED: 03:43 PM MDT
Aug 07, 2012.
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07/31/12
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Quality
of Life Voters for Democracy turn in over 2500 signatures to the El Paso City
Clerk.
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08/01/12
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The
Triple A baseball league, the Pacific League announced that it has given
preliminary approve for MoutainStar to purchase the Tucson Padres. Molinet,
Julio Antonio. “Aprueban equipo Triple A para EP… y crece oposición,” Diario
de El Paso. Aug. 1, 12.
Border
Interfaith representatives meet with Mayor Cook regarding the wording of the
Quality-of-life Bond and Project Arriba.
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08/04/12
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El
Paso Times publishers and Paso del Norte Group member Sergio Salinas
announced that the second floor of the El Paso Times building is for lease. Martinez, Leonard, “City Could Buy El Paso Times Building in City
Hall Deal,” KVIA News 7, POSTED: 07:29 PM MDT Aug 06, 2012 UPDATED: 03:43 PM
MDT Aug 07, 2012.
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08/05/12
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Mayor
John Cooks sends an email to Joe Muench of the El Paso Times criticizing his
op ed. Cook says: “And now that is seems we'll be making municipal government
less friendly than we've eer been by scattering it around the city, I have no
ambition to serve another term as mayor. (sic.)(sic.)Ask people who drive
downtown to pay their taxes at the Wells Fargo how they like having to sear
for their local government offices first then have to search for parking too.
They ain't happy campers, Joe, but the Wells Fargo folks are happy to have
the tenant in their building.”
“(I
may have trouble raising money from all the fols who have been drinking the
'demolish city hall kool aide')...And now that I'm finally privy to the third
piece of the real estate puzzle about the relocation of 'Cit Hall', I
understand why 'weasel bonds' (ie certificates of obligation) are no longer a
target of criticism for the Times on its opinion pages. (sic.)Can't be biting
the hand that might be feeding you down the road now can you? As Gomer Pyle
would say” Surprise, surprise!”
“So,
let's see if we can find a prominent businessman who wants to take the helm
of a local government that demolished a perfectly good building ($40 to $50
million) so they could purchase and renovate older ones (another $40 to $50
million) and build a sports stadium (another $40 to 50 million) that may or
may not attract thousands to downtown 71 times a year (by the way, last time
I checked there were 365 days in a year. Do you think I should invest in a
downtown restaurant in my retirement? Well's only be open 71 days a year so I
can still be like semi-retired)
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08/06/12
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City
announced that it may purchase the El Paso Times building. The El Paso Times
had been pro-ballpark and had been known for its lack of in-depth reporting
regarding the ballpark controversy. Martinez, Leanard, “City Could Buy El
Paso Times Building in City Hall Deal,” KVIA News 7, POSTED: 07:29 PM MDT Aug
06, 2012 UPDATED: 03:43 PM MDT Aug 07, 2012.
“City
manager says putting City Hall into multiple buildings will save taxpayers'
money” says the title of a KFOX news story. “Mayor John Cook told KFOX Friday
that he doesn't like the plan. Cook said that too much money has been put
into City Hall to simply demolish it and he thinks the stadium could be built
elsewhere.” Dupont, Ric. KFOX, Updated: 9:03 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 |
Posted: 4:26 p.m. Monday, Aug. 6, 2012.
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08/07/12
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The
Texas Watchdog reports: “El Paso City Council rejects open discussion
about aspect of $50 million stadium plan.”
“Possibly
inexplicably oblivious to the El Paso area public corruption scandals that
have destroyed public trust, half of El Paso City Council quashed a move to
bring a discussion into the open about the planned baseball stadium.
“'We
use this term all the time that we want to be transparent,' City Rep. Carl
Robinson was reported saying. 'If we really believe in the word being
transparent we should be transparent to the people that have filed the
petition and let them know whatever they’ve done is all for naught.'
Robinson’s comment came during an effort by council to waive its
attorney-client privilege and discuss the stadium vote petition timeline in
public, just as they had earlier in closed session. Council’s legally allowed
to do that, but the move died, 5-4, with Mayor John Cook casting the deciding
vote.” Olson, Kurt. “El Paso City Council rejects open discussion about
aspect of $50 million stadium plan; petition likely too late,” Texas
Watchdog, Aug. 9, 2012.
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08/08/12
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El
Paso City Council votes to purchase the El Paso Times building and the
Gallery San Isidro for $22 million. The Gallery San Isidro is conveniently
one block from bookstore/press (Cinco Puntos Press) of the parents of Rep.
Susy Byrd, who have convincingly just put it up for sale. Rep. Suzy Byrd made
a motion for the city to buy the Galeria San Ysidro building 801 Texas Avenue. Byrd has been a critic of
EPISD transparency? Owned by Karam Properties, the city recently overpaid for
a building from Karam whose appraisal value was lower than the purchase
price. The City hired RJL Real Estate Consultants & TVO North America to
recommend property for the city to buy in which to move city services. RJL is
currently the agent for 701 Texas — Cinco Puntos Press. Both consultant
companies have executives who are members of the Paso del Norte Group.
Connecting the Dots: El Paso Ballpork Chart, Anonymous; “Estiman pagará
Ciudad más de 22 mdd por edificios de EP Times y ex galería”, Diario de
Juarez, Aug. 8, 2012.
Activist
Lisa Turners mention the conflict of interests in that the El Paso Times
editorial board had endorsed the stadium and demolition of City Hall.
Molinet, Julio Antonio. “Estiman pagará Ciudad más de 22 mdd por edificios de
EP Times y ex galería,” Diario de El Paso, Aug. 20, 2012.
Mayor
Cook admits that he belies that the stadium will not be the economic catalyst
that is being portrayed. Molinet, Julio Antonio. “Se opone el alcalde al
proyecto… tardíamente,” Diario de El Paso. July 8, 2012.
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08/09/12
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Diario
uncovers that the El Paso Times has appealed its building tax appraisal since
2004. Figueroa, Lorana. “Evade EP Times pago real de taxes,” Diario de El
Paso, Aug. 9, 2012.
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08/12/12
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Former
Mayor Larry Francis writes an op editorial to the El Paso Inc. He states:
“...the baseball stadium, which in my
opinion is an absolutely disastrous idea that will lead to both a financial
and a structural Armageddon to the detriment of our city for decades to
come.”
“The baseball stadium is being proposed as the cornerstone of a
new revitalization for El Paso’s Downtown; however, the economic and
structural drain on city government and ultimately the taxpayers is
horrendous. The list of problems with this deal is massive and
well-documented in the past two weeks by our citizens. The investment
percentages by the city versus the team owners are lopsided and unfair, to
start. There is zero return or repayment by the team owners.”
“Albuquerque, N.M., gets about $700,000 rent per year and a
percentage of all concessions. We get $50,000 per year – not the $200,000
advertised. We are giving them the stadium and parking garage for free. The
most troubling aspects of this are the scattering of city government around
town, the secrecy of
negotiations, the lack of disclosure to our citizens of the cost
and impact, and an apparent deliberate attempt to conceal the whole process
from our citizens. We can no longer trust city government. Since this will
not work, we will be faced with building a new city hall at some time in the
near future.
Paul Foster, possibly unwittingly, summarized our problem in a
recent interview. It will take a repopulation of Downtown by business and
government, filling our buildings and drawing private investments in order to
rebuild Downtown. He had admitted that the employees of his own company “did
not like living in El Paso,” so the company moved to Phoenix.”
“If we cannot keep his company, who can we get to come to
Downtown?...the baseball stadium, as proposed, is a bad solution. As a former
mayor, I would ask Paul Foster and Woody Hunt to step back and re-evaluate
this entire deal. The burden on the city is much too one-sided.” Francis,
Larry. “City Hall Armageddon,” El Paso Inc. Aug. 12, 2012.
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08/13/12
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Rep.
Susy Byrd writes Joyce Wilson and Silvia Firth Subject BOAC: “Joyce: I don't
understand the recommendation in the ordinance that the bond ordinance
oversight committee be selected from nomination from particular
organizations. What is the rationale for this? I can think of a tone of
organizations that would have good nominees. We can ask them if we want, but
I don't know why you would constrain the organization by limiting it to only
people nominated from a select group of organizations. How are these groups
selected? Susie.”
Wilson
responds: “As I understand it was organized similar to how the last one was
done in 2000. Names were submitted (sic) from various city boards and
business groups. You can change nomination process if council wants. The key
is to committee to create the board upon approval of bond. Debbie worked with
legal and drew from the past process.”
Susie:
“Ok. I'm going to recommend that we provide our own appointments. Susie.”
Wilson:
“Sure. However if we can cap the number so its manageable board that is our
preference. The bigger issues is committing up front to create the oversight
body.” (sic.)(sic.)
(Emails
received via Texas Open Records Act request, posted at www.chucoleaks.org)
“The
Paso del Norte Group has announced its support for the three propositions in
the November quality-of-life bond referendum, including the $473 million in
projects and the proposed hotel occupancy tax increase to support the
construction of a Downtown ballpark.” (need source)
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08/14/12
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Rep.
Susy Byrd writs Joyce Wilson and Silvia Firth: “EPISO asked if the ballot
language could make it clear that ballpark will be built anyway so that
people understand that they are not voting for or against the ballpark but
just voting on how you are going to pay for it” (Email received via Texas
Open Records Act request, posted at www.chucoleaks.org).
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08/19/12
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David
Crowder, writing for the El Paso Inc. states points out that in Oklahoma
City, the ballpark was voter-approved. This is unlike El Paso: “It was the first of three ambitious Metropolitan Area Projects,
or MAPS, that Oklahoma City voters approved between 1993 and 2009, totaling
$1.8 billion.” “OKC: It started with baseball,” Aug. 19,
2012
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08/19/12
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El
Paso Times
published guest column by Stephanie Townsand Allala: “There is zero return or repayment by the team owners.
Albuquerque, N.M., gets about $700,000 rent per year and a
percentage of all concessions. We get $50,000 per year --
not the $200,000 advertised. We are giving them the stadium and parking
garage for free."
“Contractual negotiations apparently covered a two-year
period with no public knowledge. Even assuming some part of the negotiations
had to be kept private, the city did a poor job in ending up with one of the
worst deals for any municipality in Triple-A sports. Joyce Wilson, a member
of Paso Del Norte Group, proponent of the stadium, acting in conflict as El
Paso City Manager and chief negotiator for the city, had two years to discuss
this with Paul Foster and Woody Hunt.
Those meetings apparently sometimes included select City
Council members -- in particular, Susie Byrd, Steve Ortega, Cortney Niland.”
“And after two years, suddenly there's no time for a thorough
public vetting?” Townsand Allala, Stephanie. “Stephanie Townsend Allala:
Group circulates new petition on stadium,” El Paso Times, August 19,
2012.
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08/20/12
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Voters
occupy City Hall hall by setting up tents and tables at the Insights Museum
parking lot near City Hall. Former Mayor Ray Salazar speak to the crowds.
Guavara, Karla. “Inicia actividades movimiento 'Occupy City
Hall' en El Paso,” Diario de El Paso, Aug. 20, 2012.
At City Hall, Occupy City Hall reads emails
of City Manager Joyce Wilson that were obtained via the Texas Open Records
Act. In an email from Bill Burton to Wilson, he says that the city does not
want to scare the public to the fact that they will be destroying the
Scottish Rite Temple, closing streets, to make way for the ballpark.
Occupy City Hall reads emails from an
attorney for the MountainStar Sports Group telling Wilson how the order of
the agenda for a City Council meeting should be.
They also include a 3 in the morning email
from Wilson to Burton expressing her “excitement.” Según emails,
administradora de la Ciudad respaldó estadio, Diario de El Paso, Aug.
20, 2012.
In another email, Byrd writes Rep. Steve Ortega surprised to learn
that Cd. Juarez is also building a baseball stadium: “Bill and Steve: did you
see this info about the Juarez ballpark? Have we looked at this will be
competitive with what we are doing? Do you know what level of play it will
be?” Steve Ortega responds: “It is the difference between academics at Austin
H.S. vs. Coronado H.S.” (Emails dated 08/20/12 Subject: Juarez Baseball
Stadium between Rep. Suzie Byrd and Steve Ortega via Texas Open Records Act,
available at www.chucoleaks.org)
Ann Lilly pulls out from attending Town Hall Meeting regarding the
stadium. (Email dated 08/20/12 Subject MEDIA ADVISORY – City Reps to Hold
Town Hall Meetings. Obtained via TORA).
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08/21/12
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Occupy City Hall is
asked to vacate after City pressures board of director of Insights Museum not
to continue giving permission to occupy its parking lot. Occupy City Hall
moves across the street to Cleveland Square.
Mayor Cooks meets
with Bill Studer and Tripper Goodmand regarding the Elderly Homestead
Exemption POC (Records obtained via TORA request)
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08/22/12
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Rep. Suzie Byrd
writes Reps. Steve Ortega and Cortney Niland that Occupy City Hall “folks”
are planning to attend their townhall meetings and not to let them “bait
you.”
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August 28, 2012
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Bloomburg News announces the City of El Paso, “to spend
an extra $17 million on bonds to finance a minor-league baseball stadium
after an initial attempt to sell the debt failed.”
“Goldman Sachs
Group Inc. took over marketing of the debt this month after the mayor said
Morgan Stanley couldn’t find buyers when interest rates were lower in June and
July. The delay, during a period when local-debt yields reached the highest
since 2011, means higher interest costs for the municipality of about 673,000
across the Rio Grande from Mexico, William Studer Jr., deputy city manager,
said in an interview.”
“The city skipped a
feasibility study and a public vote on tearing down city hall because Hunt
and Foster said any delay might cost El Paso the team, Studer said in May.”4
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-08-29/el-paso-ballpark-bond-delay-costs-17-million-extra-muni-credit
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09/09/12
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TIRZ #5 board member Ron McGinnis published an op ed in
the El Paso Times critical of the stadium. He says:
“1. The project is very costly, and how to fund it is not
clear. Current estimates range between $80 million and $130 million: Destroy
and scatter City Hall, purchase replacement buildings and a city block for
parking, remodel and retrofit them, destroy Insights Museum, de-commission
Cohen Stadium. What more?”
“2. Regardless of revenue generated from a 2-percent
increase in the Hotel Occupancy Tax, the city must pay bond
premiums.”
“A project total cost of $80 million requires $6MM in
annual payments. Using 2011, El Paso's hotel taxable income of $127MM, a
2-percent extra tax would earn the city approximately $2.5 MM, well short.”
“Since 2006, El Paso's annual hotel revenue growth
averaged only 2.3 percent, and has not grown this year.”
“Tourism must grow an unrealistic 230 percent from today's
level to raise this amount, and unmet expectations will create a shortfall
the city must cover elsewhere.”
“3. "The stadium will not fit at City Hall!"
After a meeting with the city engineer, I conclude that architects could
shoehorn a stadium onto the City Hall site. But, as one designer has said.
"It is snug." A better question is at what design cost does it fit?
More land is needed, including Missouri and Durango streets and part of the
railroad right of way. More critically, the ball field dimensions will be
short, with left field 315 feet or less, backstop distance shortened, and
bleachers between home and first base may have only 10 or 15 rows.”
“Field distances are more important for stadiums at
altitude. No stadiums at altitude, and few new stadiums, have a left field
this short; generally, they are 340 feet, like Cohen Stadium.
For $80 million, El Paso doesn't deserve a pitch-and- putt
stadium.
“4. The Club Term Sheet resembles contracts successful
cities avoid. The team does not share in capital expenses, it receives nearly
all revenues, a non-compete clause prevents any form of competition, Cohen
Stadium is banned. El Paso should do better.”
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09/13/12
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El Paso's Immobiliare,
“The Paso del Norte Group has announced its support for the three
propositions in the November quality-of-life bond referendum, including the
$473 million in projects and the proposed hotel occupancy tax increase to
support the construction of a Downtown ballpark.” Ramirez, Cindy. “Paso
del Norte Group backs all 3 ballot issues,” El Paso Times, Sept.
13, 2012.
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09/14/12
|
City Council considers approves $63 million in
certificates of obligation, including $2.4 million to purchase the Galeria
San Ysidro building on Texas Avenue to move city services to.
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09/14/12
|
After several news organizations
threaten to publish information about the over-valuation of the El Paso Times
building, the El Paso Times admits that the city is paying $3.7
million too much
for its building. (“Pide EP Times 3.7 mdd más de lo que vale su edificio;
pospone Ciudad adquisición” El Diario, 09/14/12). “The city had the
83,000-square-foot building and a parking lot across the 300 N. Campbell St. location appraised for $10.3 million in August.
The appraisal report had not been read by the City Council and brokers for
TVO North America, the real estate company handling the deal, until Thursday
after being requested by a reporter for the Times.” (“El Paso Times alerts public to potential waste -- $3.7
million of it for building owned by El PasoTimes, ”Texas Watchdog, 09/14/12)
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09/22/12
|
Codes Inspection
begins harassing occupiers at Cleveland Square over a sign.
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09/14/12
|
Mayor John Cook,
who has flip flopped on the stadium issues, states that voters should decide
on whether to demolish City Hall. (Guavara Walton, Karla. “Votantes deben decidir si se tira el City Hall: Cook,” Diario de
El Paso, 09/14/12).
Rep. Emma Acosta states that she will not vote for the Downtown
Baseball stadium contract.
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09/16/12
|
Various
groups questioning El Paso City Council's lack of transparency in building a
Downtown Ballpark and demolishing City Hall joined forces over the weekend to
discuss recent developments. These included Coalition for Responsive
Government, Quality of Life Voters for Democracy, Occupy City Hall, El Paso
No Se Vende, Occupy El Paso, Save the Diablos, Recall Niland, Los
Lagartistas, among other groups.
MountainStar
Group which promoted the non-compete clause in the contract to exclude the
Tiguas for using Cohen Stadium now says it is willing to remove the clause
amid Emma Acosta's flip. (Molinet, Juli Antonio. “Doblan las manos: retiran cláusula que impedía a Diablos jugar en
El Paso,” Diario de El Paso).
El
Paso Inc. publishes exposé on the Quality of Life Bond Surveys that the city
used in the Spring of 2012. The article by David Crowders reveals that at
least part of the City’s 2012 “evidence” that El Pasoans wanted an arena was
fraudulent. Evidence shows the
department under Deborah Hamlyn former Asst. City Manager now consultant for
El Paso Tomorrow PAC, the organization supporting the ballpark, decided to
disregard the fraud. (David Crowder, “Stadium Tainted,” El Paso Inc., Sept.
16, 2012). Debbie Nathan, then working for Newspaper Tree, was one of the
reporters who initially worked on this investigative piece. She writes that
she and the others “took a city database of purported arena supporters and
went to their homes to ask if they had actually filled out cards, provided by
the City, expressing support. They said ‘no’ (or couldn't talk at all: at
least one card was ‘filled out’ by a four year old; at least one by someone
who'd been dead for quite a while). In short almost all the 500+
"stadium/arena" cards were fakes, fraudulent. The City used the
cards to proclaim that El Pasoans wanted an arena as a big-ticket, Quality of
Life bond feature. Once the fraudulent cards are discounted, however, it
turns out that few people opted for an arena, only a few more than were
against an arena.
|
|
09/16/12
|
Former Mayor Ray
Salazar goes 1-against-2 as he debates City Manager Joyce Wilson and Asst.
City Manager and next El Paso Tomorrow PAC employee Bill Studer. Salazar gets
to admit the City of El Paso is 850 million in debt.
Former City Planner
Nestor Valencia publishes an op ed critical of the Downtown Ballpark. He
states, “And here is the big problem. The November vote should be for the
voters to decide whether or not to proceed with construction of the stadium.
It is not. The vote on the tax hike is of little consequence. It matters not
the outcome of the vote. Taxpayers will still be responsible for the stadium
debt, which will last for many years...In the history of El Paso, projects of
this size, cost, and character have always been put before the voters for
approval or defeat. This is clearly a quality of life project and as such
should be placed before the voters of El Paso. The stadium needs General
Obligation bonds to proceed...Simply stated, a project like the stadium
should not be approved at a regular City Council meeting. Council failed in
its responsibility to its constituency. This project needs voter consent.”
“Another major flaw
is the complete lack of adequate planning, lack of alternate stadium sites to
be considered, demolition of City Hall and the lack of an adequate plan to
relocate City Hall resulting in the scattering of city functions at random.
It destroys the purpose of Cohen Stadium.”
“This
process makes no public administration or business sense. It also nullifies
the purpose of General Obligation funding through voter referendums.”
“The
citizens of El Paso are not interested in micro-managing the day-to-day
operations of city affairs. They are concerned when a large sum of taxpayer
dollars is on the table. Council’s responsibility is to listen to the people
and protect the interest of the public.” Valencia, Nestor. “Time for City
Council to Reconsider,” El Paso Inc., Aug. 16, 2012.
El Paso Inc.
publishes expose on the Quality of Life Bond Surveys that the city used in
the Spring of 2012. Stating that the overwhelming of surveys they received
were for a ballpark in Downtown El Paso, the Inc. discovers that 500 of these
ballots were fraudulent. 1000 ballots were for a ballpark and 500 of them
were found to fraudulent. Evidence shows the department under Deborah Hamlyn
former Asst. City Manager now consultant for El Paso Tomorrow PAC, the
organization supporting the ballpark, decided to disregard the fraud.
Crowder, David, “Stadium
Tainted,” El Paso Inc., Sept.
16, 2012.
Ramon Renteria
publishes a column titled “Biggest
bribe gets to name stadium”
in the El Paso Times (09/16/12).
|
|
09/17/12
|
United Opposition
to the Downtown Ballpork does a Human Bill Board at the Downtown I-10 East
Off Ramp.
|
|
09/17/12
|
El Paso Tomorrow
PAC hosts a “Let's Play Ball” event at Cleveland Square. Mostly attended by
White El Pasoans, Foster-Hunt security harasses peaceful counter protesters
and calls the police on them. Police arrive. Although they give some limited
harassment and ignored agree ballpark supporters, peace was maintained. PAC
gives attendees manufactured signs and T-shirts and “free” tickets.
Congressional
candidate Robert Roarke announces his support for the ballpork and the
demolition of City Hall.
|
|
09/18/12
|
Stadium Opposition
win victory in having the “non-compete” clause again the Tigua Nation removed
from the contract with the city.
City votes to
reject the petition calling for the non-demolition of City Hall. Emma Acosta
makes motion that the building of a stadium and the demolition of City Hall
should go to the voters. It fails 4-3 with Rep. Michael Noe, Susie Byrd, Cortney
Niland, and Ann Morgan Lilly voting against. The non-compete clause is
removed. Price tag for the ballpark has jumped from $50 million to $80
million. Rep. Niland, Lilly, Noe, and Byrd vote down a tax reprieve for
persons with disabilities and the elderly.
|
|
09/25/12
|
El Paso City Council postponed voting on the Galeria San
Ysidro building on Texas Avenue, which is welling for $2.3 million. The city
plans on spending up to $10 million to renovate it.
El Paso Times City Ramirez states, “The city was set to
pay $14 million for both Times' properties, though their value was $10.3
million, according to
an appraisal conducted for the city by a private company.
The Central Appraisal District lists the Times' building valuation at $9
million for 2012. The El Paso Times' parent company had set a purchase price
of $11 million for the building, though it had not disclosed its asking price
for the parking lot. The CAD lists an appraised value of the main parking lot
at $1.7 million, and a second piece of the lot at $1.1 million.”
|
|
09/26/12
|
Republican State Comptroller Susan Combs specifically
notes the City of El Paso debt in her report "Your Money and Local
Debt.” The report focuses on local governments and the lack of transparency
to taxpayers regarding city debt.
“Combs pointed to the city of El
Paso as an example. The city had more than 649,000 people in 2010, an
increase of about 15 percent since 2000. During that same period, the city's
debt grew from about $616 million to $1.4 billion, a 130 percent increase.
And Combs said the city's bond election this fall, seeking about $470
million, would increase debt by an additional 32 percent.” (“Texas
comptroller: Local borrowing, debt soar, “El Paso Times, Sept. 27, 2012)
|
|
09/27/12
|
The El Paso Hotel/Motel Association asks its members to
pull out of the Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce after the chamber goes
public with its support of the hotel occupancy tax increase to fund the
Downtown baseball stadium.
|
|
09/28/12
|
TVO Management Services, run by Paso del Norte Group member Russel Vandenburg is set to receive
$490,000 commission for their services in recommendation the El Paso Times
Building, and the Galeria San Ysidro building. Rep. Susie Byrd who made the
motion for the City to buy the Galeria San Ysidro building is the daughter of
publishes Bobby and Lee Byrd whose bookshop is a block away from the Galeria
San Ysidro and who recently put their building up for sale using Russel
Vandenburg as their real estate agent.
|
|
Week
of October 23
|
Ron McGinnis
exposes that there is a “slush fund written into the city ordinances passed
by City Council regarding the Quality of Life Bonds. ...
The Ordinance
contains the following: "City Council may, in its discretion, use
any excess funds for...". This authorizes the City to use the
funds for other things within the broadly described scopes in Prop 1 & 2.
2.
The Ordinance language fails to itemize or allocate a budget for each
improvement. Instead it merely provides a total for the bond
Prop 1: $245,000,000, Outdoor Soccer Fields, approx $5,000,000
is the only itemized budget and it is a general number without locations.
Prop 2: $228,250,000
3.
The Ordinance language does not include an itemization, other than a
general list of concepts which is generally without location and is devoid of
budgets. There is no referenced addendum.
4.
Other bond issues (Review 2004 bond election language) specifically
lists the projects with details describing the use, and precise budget
numbers.
5.
Other bond issues do not include the "discretionary use of excess
funds" language.
6.
General information listing the projects and round number budgets are
not specifically incorporated into the legal language of the Ordinances,
instead they are presented in another City Council meeting as information.
The implication is there is a connection, but there is no legal
attachment. Furthermore, the list is general with many projects having
the exact same budget of rounded numbers. This indicates there is no
design or understanding of details to be included in each concept.
The
conclusion is that Prop 1 & 2 represent a request by the City for
authorization to spend 1/2 billion dollars without further voter supervision
regarding where to spend the funds, the amount to be allocated, or limits
upon adding additional or totally changed concepts to their plans.
|
|
|
City of El Paso's
Chief Financial Office admits that the tax that voters will have to pay is
now 31 cents per 100 dollars of their property value. This is a jump from 3
cents that the city was advertising in June.
|
|
Fri,
October 26
|
Mayor Cook admits
the the City Council will have to start all over again if voters fail to pass
the Hotel-Motel Tax in November. He states that the City Council will
circumvent the voters if the voters vote the Hotel Motel Tax down and that
City Council would create a corporation and fund it through that apparatus.
|
|
November
6, 2012
|
Quality of Life
Bond. Voters approve 228.25 million for a multi-purpose cultural and
entertainment center, museum and library upgrades, a cultural heritage
center, new children’s museum and interactive digital wall. The word
"downtown" would later appear on the City ordinance but was removed
from the ballot during the election. The ballot does not specify that an
“arena” has to be constructed in downtown, but anywhere within the city
limits. Here is the precise wording of what El Pasoans voted upon.
"THE ISSUANCE
OF $228,250,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR MUSEUM, CULTURAL,MULTI-PURPOSE
PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND LIBRARY FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS,
INCLUDING NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER AND INTERACTIVE
DIGITAL WALL.”
|
|
2013
|
“C.F. “Paco”
Jordan, Chairman of CF Jordan Construction, LLC, and Paul L. Foster, through
his company Franklin Mountain JFC, LLC, announced today the formation of a
new company, Jordan Foster Construction, LLC.” This company would receive the
non-bid contract to build the stadium.
|
|
August 12, 2013
|
According to
Businesswise, “C.F. “Paco” Jordan, Chairman of CF Jordan Construction, LLC,
and Paul L. Foster, through his company Franklin Mountain JFC, LLC, announced
today the formation of a new company, Jordan Foster Construction, LLC.” This
company would receive the non-bid contract to build the stadium.
|
|
August 28, 2012
|
Bloomburg News announces the City of El Paso, “to spend
an extra $17 million on bonds to finance a minor-league baseball stadium
after an initial attempt to sell the debt failed.”
“Goldman Sachs
Group Inc. took over marketing of the debt this month after the mayor said
Morgan Stanley couldn’t find buyers when interest rates were lower in June
and July. The delay, during a period when local-debt yields reached the
highest since 2011, means higher interest costs for the municipality of about
673,000 across the Rio Grande from Mexico, William Studer Jr., deputy city
manager, said in an interview.”
“The city skipped a
feasibility study and a public vote on tearing down city hall because Hunt
and Foster said any delay might cost El Paso the team, Studer said in May.”4
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-08-29/el-paso-ballpark-bond-delay-costs-17-million-extra-muni-credit
|
2013
|
October 29, 2013
|
The Official
website of the El Paso Chihuahua falsely reports: El Paso citizens approved $500
million in “Quality of Life” bonds, including the building of a
state-of-the-art baseball stadium nestled in the heart of downtown to be completed
for the 2014 season.”
In fact, the
stadium was not part of the Quality of Life Bonds. The citizens were not
allowed to vote on the neither the stadium nor the demolition of city hall.
Elpasospeak.com
blog, 10/29/16
|
|
August 12, 2013
|
According to Businesswise,
“C.F. “Paco” Jordan, Chairman of CF Jordan Construction, LLC, and Paul L.
Foster, through his company Franklin Mountain JFC, LLC, announced today the
formation of a new company, Jordan Foster Construction, LLC.” This company
would receive the non-bid contract to build the stadium.
|
2014
|
Oct. 4, 2014
|
“DowntownThe ordinance specifically proposes a performing arts and entertainment facility located in Downtown El Paso. City council has been kind enough to publish maps telling us what they consider to be downtown.The election was held. The public voted in favor of building the performing arts and entertainment facility. One little problemHowever on May 28, 2013 (7 months after the bond election) the city signed a lease with a baseball team group relating to the new ball park.Section 15.3(c) reads: neither City nor any Affiliate of City, shall, directly or indirectly, develop, finance, facilitate or otherwise participate in the development or approval of any other outdoor concert venue in downtown El Paso that is reasonably anticipated to compete with the Ballpark, with the exception of a soccer stadium for a Major League Soccer team. Concert venue, downtownIt would appear that we could have a conflict. The city got us to vote for a downtown performing arts facility. Then they signed a lease prohibiting them to build one.Will we have to pay the sports group for this? Will the city just build it’s performing arts center somewhere outside of the downtown area. (sic.)Will the performing arts money be “repurposed” to build something different? Texas law requires that bond money be spent the way the bond ordinance specifies. The actual signed lease with the sports group is not available on the city’s web site. The document that I have quoted from was presented to city council as part of the change process when the sports group agreed to pay for any costs above $62 million. OutdoorThe key word here is "outdoor." The city agreed to not build an outdoor venue. That will limit our design of the new facility. It will need to be enclosed in a building.We deserve better Brutus” Elpasospeak.com blog, Oct. 4, 2014, “Downtown Arena” https://elpasospeak.com/2014/10/04/downtown-arena/ |
2015
|
May 16, 2015
|
“Helen
Marshall beat me to the punch on this one. As usual Helen is spot
on. This from Helen Marshall: While closing these streets to railroad crossings may be a good idea, the only reason the city is doing it is a quid pro quo for the “air rights” needed to build the stadium over the UP line below. Total cost is said to be $1.67 million (let’s see if that holds). Add that to the cost of the stadium” Elpasospeak.com blog, May 16, 2015 |
|
May 28, 2015
|
“The city
manager’s 2015 Mid-year Operations Report highlights some of the
accomplishments of city staff. We would normally expect that the list of achievements for each section of city government would start with the most significant ones followed by the lesser but still important ones. In the case of the economic development group a $40 million dollar capital expansion by one of our local employers along with 1,100 new jobs did not make it to the top of the list. Neither did the investment of $21.5 million by a company from out of town. That deal will bring us 445 jobs. Instead, the list was topped with “Providing support for the partial relocation of El Paso Independent School District offices to the Downtown area.” Wow! Second on the list was “Coordinating the relocation of the Metropolitan Planning Organization offices to the Downtown area”.” Elpasospeak.com blog, May 28, 2015, “You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares So go downtown” |
|
July 2015
|
El Paso
County Historical Commission and the El Paso Historic Preservation Officer
secure a $56,000 grant from the Texas Historical Commission and Paso. The
survey is the first step in trying to obtain a National Historic District
designation in the Downtown area, which could help property owners secure
federal and state tax credits to restore historic commercial buildings. The
survey area will be from the César Chávez Border Highway north to Arizona
Avenue, and from Paisano Drive east to Cotton Street – including the Segundo
Barrio, Union Plaza and the Chihuahuita neighborhoods. The Borderplex
Alliance/Paso del Norte Group and District 8 Representative Courtney Niland
vigorously opposed the survey and the City voted against accepting the
$71,000 to conduct the historical survey by 6 to 2 |
|
October 28, 2015
|
“BondsLet me say again that I am personally in favor of building a baseball park. I disagree with how ours was done and where it will be.It turns out that selling our baseball park bonds to investors is not as easy as selling a bunch of baloney to our former city council. Investors are allowed to make choices, unlike the citizens of El Paso. They get to choose whether or not to buy the bonds while we did not get the right to choose whether to tear down city hall and build a ball park on the site. Investors rely on bond rating services to analyze the risks and returns of bonds. Relying on what the bond issuers say would be putting the fox in the hen house. Fitch Ratings is a bond rating agency that issues reports about bond offerings around the world. I read their analysis of the El Paso ball park bonds and point out the following from the report:
Why didn’t they sell the bonds in May? The bond prospectus was not even issued until June 27, 2013. Were they planning changes even back then? Lying to the bond market has federal repercussions. City staff was forced to approach the Downtown Development Corporation (that’s city council in different clothing) and ask to raise the interest rate they could pay. Investors did not want our bonds. The hope is that if we pay higher interest we will be less ugly and someone will invest in the bonds. I’m hard pressed to think of a single part of this whole city hall, ball park mess that has been handled properly. We deserve better Brutus” Elpasospeak.com blog, 10/8/15 |
|
November 19, 2015
|
On
November 19, 2015 KVIA wrote: Joyce Wilson on Wednesday said she and the former city council did not purposely delay the issuance of the ballpark debt until after the Summer 2013 Mayoral election between then City Rep. Steve Ortega and Oscar Leeser, a claim made this week by the City Attorney, Leeser and several city representatives.
KVIA
|
|
November 23, 2015
|
“Then on
November 23, 2015 KVIA aired a video that featured an email from her
confirming that the former city council directed her behind closed doors to
delay the sale of the bonds. From the video: An email from former City Manager Joyce Wilson confirms former City Representatives directed her behind closed doors to delay the sale of the ballpark bonds until after the mayoral election of a stadium supporter in order to avoid more bad publicity, a decision that cost the city $22 million.” KVIA Channel 7. Quoted in the elpasospeak.com blog, 12/28/16. |
|
September 2015
|
Former City Manager
Joyce Wilson is reappointed to the central appraisal district board.
Elpasopseak.com
blog, 12/28/15
|
|
Dec 15, 2015
|
“The truth
about the ballpark financing is finally coming out and the picture is not a
pretty one. Even though city council authorized incurring the debt, a decision was made to not do so until after the May 2013 city elections. The delay ended up costing the taxpayers about $22 million. Our former chief financial officer and city manager must have been right in the middle of the mess. The former city representative that was running for mayor in that election indicates that he did not try to delay the issuance of the bonds. It is possible that some of the city council members wanted the issuance delayed but none of them had the authority to delay them. As it worked out city council created the Downtown Development Corporation and gave them the authority to manage the bonds. Our former city manager, the city clerk and our infamous former chief financial officer were designated as pricing officers and were the ones that had the authority to sell the bonds. We should make an extra effort to tell each of these individuals how we feel about their failure. We deserve better Brutus” “The gift that keeps on stealing from us”Elpasospeak.com blog, 12/15/15 |
|
December 2015
|
“Yesterday’s
post did not include proof of our assertion that the trigger was pulled on
the baseball park bond sale May 28, 2013. That date was well before the difficulties in the bond markets caused interest rates to go up. Some members of city council tried to blame the bond advisors for the delay and that has led to a scandal concerning an effort to fire the bond advisors and bring in ones that have ties to at least one member of council. Reports were requested from city staff explaining how the delay was caused. An email from the former city manager confirms that the delay was deliberate and was intended to influence the outcome of the upcoming city election. The fact is that the bonds were authorized for sale on May 28, 2013 and that any one of three people were “hereby authorized to act on behalf of the Corporation in selling and delivering the Series 2013 Bonds …” The issue was out of city council’s hands. Who were the three people? Our former city manager, our former chief financial officer and the city clerk. The failure to issue the bonds until after the election and the consequent $22 million or so cost increase lies squarely on their shoulders.” “Who had the power to sell the ballpark bonds?”Elpasospeak.com blog, 12/16/15, https://elpasospeak.com/2015/12/16/who-had-the-power-to-sell-the-ballpark-bonds/ |
|
|
|
2016
|
February 8, 2016
|
County
Commissioners Court unanimously approve funding a historical and
architectural survey of Downtown, Union Plaza and South El Paso.
Commissioners Court will use up to $140,000 from its hotel occupancy tax fund
to pay for the survey, which is expected to take more than a year to
complete.
|
|
February 9, 2016
|
The El Paso
Chihuahuas minor league baseball team and concessions operator Spectra are
holding a job fair Wednesday and Thursday inside the Downtown
baseball stadium to fill about 300 jobs, team officials reported,” El Paso Times, Feb. 8, 2016
http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/money/business/2016/02/09/elpaso-chihuahuas-minor-league-baseball-spectra-stadium-food-service/80086040/
|
|
April 15, 2016
|
“The city
is planning to issue $20 million of revenue refunding bonds relating to the
ball park. Step one was to meet as the Downtown Development Corporation:  Five minutes later they planned to meet as city council:  Then they considered:  You and I would probably think that they did this to save us some money because of lower interest rates. Unfortunately, according to the resolution the refinancing will end up costing us money. From the resolution: …notwithstanding the fact that the aggregate amount of payments to be made under the Series 2016 Bonds will exceed the aggregate amount of payments that would have been made under the terms of the Series 2013 Tax Exempt Bonds which are being refunded; the maximum amount of such excess shall not exceed the amount specified in Section 5 hereof; And then from section 5: (c) the aggregate amount of payments to be made on the Series 2016 Bonds shall not exceed the aggregate amount of payments that would have been made on the refunded Series 2013 Tax Exempt Bonds had the refunding not occurred by more than $13,285,000, net of any issuer contribution; You can read the resolution here. Don’t be surprised if the city takes this link down once people start looking at it. The mayor, the city manager, and the city’s chief financial officer are each individually empowered to sell the bonds. We deserve better Brutus“ Elpasospeak.com blog, April 15, 2016, “I bought it on sale, so I saved money?”: https://elpasospeak.com/2016/04/15/i-bought-it-on-sale-so-i-saved-money/ |
|
May 14, 2016
|
Do you
remember that ball park that we won’t have to pay for? This slide is part of the April 11, 2016 presentation made to the Downtown Development Corporation (city council in sheep’s clothing):  It’s only $782 thousand or $484 thousand or whatever it really turns out to be. The numbers don’t include our other costs like public safety and the fact that we pay half of the water bill at for the ball park. Nor are the costs of moving city hall even considered. Does it bother you that our former city chief financial officer is now on the board of our county hospital or that our former city manager is in charge of the organization that helps our unemployed? We deserve better Brutus” Elpasospeak.com blog, Oct. 14, 2016, “Still Paying,”: https://elpasospeak.com/2016/05/14/still-paying/ |
|
Aug. 19, 2016
|
El Paso
Development News, a webpage funded by El Paso developers published an article
by Armando Landin. |
|
Sept. 20, 2016
|
This came
in from Helen Marshall the other day: Perusing my El Paso Inc. today I am reminded that among the six nominees is Carmen Arrieta-Candelaria, described as the EPISD deputy superintendent for finance and operations. Her “most significant impact” came in her 2004-2014 tenure with the City, where she “headed financing work on different public projects, the new city hall and Southwest University Park among them. Matching projects with financing and utilizing different financing strategies made them happen.” Need they say more? Might be worth mentioning the Quality of Life bond that seriously underestimated the costs of major projects…nah, who cares about that? Or the fraudulent costs of the baseball stadium…nah, just a waste of ink. I feel sorry for the other nominees.
Elpasospeak.com
blog, 9/20/16
|
|
Oct. 8, 2016
|
“It’s all
good for some people. City council just approved a deal that will give the developer of an $18 million downtown hotel $5.24 million dollars in tax rebates. Business as usualThe cast of characters involved in the deal tells us a lot.The land was made available when the Texas Workforce Commission decided to close a call center downtown. Our former city manager is the head of the local Texas Workforce Commission. Our former mayor is a consultant on the project. When he was in office he had difficulty managing his financial people and thus we were a financial wreck when the new city manager took control. Now evidently he is a financial guru. In Let them eat cake Cato wrote about the ex-mayor trying to lobby the city even though doing so was illegal. The fix was inWhen the developer bought the land he told the Inc. that a hotel was not in the near future.According to a July 20, 2015 El Paso Inc. article the developer was going to wait before building the hotel: “Convention center hotel is way too premature,” he wrote. “Bond projects need to be finished or close to finished and bookings of conventions needed before a convention hotel can survive.” As far as I know they have not even started on the big downtown bond projects. It looks like the deal finally got good enough. Hard work pays off again. We deserve better Brutus” Elpasospeak.com blog, Oct. 8, 2016, “Hotel Insider,” “https://elpasospeak.com/2016/10/08/hotel-insider/” |
|
October 13, 2016
|
City
Announces that the Union Plaza neighborhood will be demolished to construct
an arena. The City has not spoken with the residents, property owners, or
small vendors who will be uprooted by the arena. City officials do not know
how many residents and small vendors in the area will be directly affected. El Paso Inc. “Arena Site Stirs Controversy,” October 17, 2016 by David Crowder City officials announced Thursday that the arena selected for the $180-million multi-purpose arena is a six-block area immediately south of the Abraham Chavez Theatre and bounded by Santa Fe, San Antonio, Leon, Paisano streets. City manager Tommy Gonzalez said by starting construction on the arena next year – years earlier than originally planned – the $180 million voters approved should be enough to complete the arena as envisioned. Max Grossman, vice chairman of the El Paso County Historical Commission, said the city consulted no one in advance and chose a historic area of the city that the county is interested in protecting. Grossman sent email messages in his official capacity to his fellow commission members and a long list of others criticizing the city administrators for the site selection and the way it was handled. “We all learned today that the City of El Paso plans to demolish a significant portion of our historic downtown in a single stroke, including a sizable chunk of the ‘Arts District,’ designated by the Texas Commission on the Arts only six years ago!” his letter began. City attorney Sylvia Firth, speaking at a press conference, said it should take the city about a year to acquire the estimated 35 pieces of private property in the designated area. Properties include the Greyhound Bus terminal, a fire station, tenement buildings, about 10 residences, 15 commercial properties and nine private parking lots, as well as the city’s Union Plaza parking garage. City Council will effectively decide on the site Tuesday by voting on a resolution authorizing the city and the company it has hired to begin negotiations with property owners. The resolution would also allow condemnations if necessary. Firth said the city doesn’t know yet how many people live in the six-block area, but that council members have said they want care taken in the relocations and accommodations for those who want to stay Downtown. “I really want to emphasize to everyone that we don’t expect having to use the power of eminent domain,” Firth said. “We feel very confident right now that we’re going to be able to negotiate with property owners in the area and reach settlement with regard to the properties.” Asked by El Paso Inc. if any of the buildings are historic, she said “There are no buildings with any historical designation.” “Obviously, there are some very old buildings in the area, but we’ve run the check with our historic landmark staff and there are none,” Firth added. Grossman said there are no designated historic buildings in the area because city government has never conducted a survey to find out which buildings are historic and might warrant protection. The city actually sought but then declined a $56,000 grant from the Texas Historical Commission last year to conduct a historical survey of Downtown properties. This year, the El Paso County Commissioners Court voted to fund such a survey on its own. “The plan of the county is to create a national historic district that will include all of that area,” Grossman said. “The city knows this, and the city knows a survey needs to be conducted.” El Paso County Judge Veronica Escobar, who has supported a new Downtown arena from the beginning but advocates preserving El Paso’s Downtown heritage, said she is troubled by the site selected. “Here’s what I’m concerned about, not speaking for the county but personally,” she said. “Part of Downtown revitalization includes creating a residential component. You need people to live there who will create a demand for services. This will wipe out an existing neighborhood. “The other thing that’s a little heart-breaking is that this neighborhood really was being brought back to life.” City manager Tommy Gonzalez said the city’s consultants have recommended an arena with 12,700 seats and a footprint that would allow later expansion to 15,000 seats. |
|
October 18, 2016
|
Council
Votes Unanimously to Demolish Barrio Union Plaza to Build the Arena The site for the $180 million Downtown arena south of the convention center was approved Tuesday by the City Council, giving the city the green light to purchase properties and use eminent domain if necessary. The plan was approved in a 7-0 vote after more than two hours of discussion. City Rep. Peter Svarzbein was not present for the vote. Mayor Oscar Leeser, who can only vote to break ties, said he does not support the use of eminent domain. The plan was met with disapproval by the absolute majority of those attending the meeting, who spoke out against the location and the possible use of eminent domain to force out residents and businesses. An emotional Soledad Muñiz urged the council to reconsider approving the site, saying her family owns a home on Chihuahua Street. “My mother has lived in her property for more than 40 years. This is my childhood home and we planned to keep this property in my family for decades to come,” Muñiz said. “The public voted for an arena but did not vote to evict people from their homes.” The arena will be built in the Union Plaza District and is bounded by West San Antonio Avenue, South Santa Fe Street, West Paisano Drive and Leon Street. The area contains 42 parcels and includes the Greyhound bus station, some apartment complexes and other buildings. However, 11 the city has identified a total of 22 properties for the arena footprint. Of those parcels, five are vacant or surface lots, seven are commercial, seven are residential and two are city owned, the city said. In a news release emailed Tuesday night, the city said the arena design will incorporate the area's existing fire stations and Firefighters Memorial Park. The new Fire Station No. 11 and the Police Area Representative station on Leon Street will remain open and operational. “Our site selection objective was to find the best location possible that supports the vibrancy of downtown, builds on our existing assets, has easy access to highways, and impacts the fewest number of properties possible,” City Manager Tommy Gonzalez said in the email. “Everyone impacted will be relocated in accordance with the law,” City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth said. “It is absolutely our goal to negotiate in good faith with property owners to reach agreement on purchase prices. We will work diligently to develop a relocation plan that works for each situation, keeping those who want to remain downtown in the area.” City officials have said the area does not have buildings with historical designation, although historic preservation advocates said several could qualify for the designation and should not be torn down. "Although the city attorney said this is not urban renewal, it has all the characteristics of urban renewal," University of Texas at El Paso history professor Yolanda Chavez Leyva said at the City Council meeting. “Your failure to ensure a historical survey has doomed possible architectural treasures to the wrecking ball, thus robbing us of our history,” Rodney Linkous told the council. The city opted out of conducting a historical and architectural survey of Downtown El Paso last year. The County Commissioners Court in February approved funding for a survey as a first step toward obtaining a National Historic District designation in the Downtown area that could help property owners secure federal and state tax credits to restore historic commercial buildings. Historic preservation representatives from the Texas Trost Society and the El Paso County Historical Commission also shared their concerns about the site selection and lack of prior notification or discussion with city officials. Malissa Arras, president of the Texas Trost Society, asked the council to postpone the vote so there could be a meeting with officials to discuss the buildings in the area. “It doesn’t have to be a one-way conversation,” Arras said. “It doesn’t have to be where you give us (just) five days.” Arras said she was able to gather 2,850 signatures from El Pasoans who were not in favor of the Downtown site that was selected. Others also urged the council to delay the vote. At the council meeting, Borunda Firth said the site was chosen because other proposed sites identified by HKS Urban Planning — the firm employed by the city to lead the process to acquire land for the arena and other projects — were problematic based on cost, opportunity for development around the site and the value for other projects in the area. A site in the Downtown shopping district was immediately dismissed, a site near San Jacinto Plaza also was not considered based on recent renovations and other complications, and the site behind City Hall referred to as the rail yards was not selected because of the potential cost and accessibility issues. Borunda Firth also said the rail yard site was not chosen because initial discussions with Union Pacific would have possibly required street closures as part of an arrangement for more quiet zones. Gilbert Guillen said he didn’t understand why the city chose to build the arena in Downtown. “The bond did not specify Downtown,” Guillen said. He added that the proposed site was not appropriate. Borunda Firth said now that the council has approved the item, the city can begin negotiating with property owners to acquire the land. |
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Oct. 19, 2016
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Radio
personality Buzz Adams from 95.5 KLAQ writes on the KLAQ webpage that he took
a tour of Union Plaza, specifically the area set for demolition. He writes, “The residences are modest, but for the most part, not what you would call ‘blighted.’ I definitely get a feeling that if these were 300 thousand dollar homes nobody would dare suggest kicking people out.” |
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October 28, 2016
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The
tenants and small vendors meet and organize to oppose the destruction of
Barrio Union Plaza Ten days after the City takes the residents and small vendors of Barrio Union Plaza by surprise with a unanimous vote to demolish their neighborhood, they gather for in an open air meeting at Fireman’s Park. They form two organizations with the support of Paso del Sur, a grass-roots organization that successfully defended the Segundo Barrio against the City’s plan to demolish it in 2006. The residents call themselves Familias de Barrio Union Plaza and the small vendors are Comerciantes del Mercado Tiradero. The arena plan will affect about 50 residents and about 55 small vendors of the Tiradero market within the “foot print” area where the arena will be located. It will also affect more than 100 residents within the “master planning area,” which will be “redeveloped” or demolished to create a walkway between the Civic Center and the arena. The City has designated “relocation assistance” for those living in the footprint area, but not for those who live within the “master planning zone.” Some of the owners apparently bought their properties in both the footprint and master planning area aware that the Paso del Norte Group plan of 2006 had placed the future site of the arena in Barrio Union Plaza. They apparently bought these properties with the intention of selling to the City or “redeveloping” them to fit into the arena plan. The residents and vendors vote unanimously to oppose the City’s plan to remove them from their tight-knit neighborhood. They want to continue living and working in their neighborhood. They want the City to move the arena, not the mostly elderly fronterizo community that lives in this historic barrio, the heart of the City’s First Ward. |
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Oct. 30, 2016
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“Later I
read in the Times that this festival has a claimed $1 million impact on the
downtown. Not sure how anyone measures this. Let’s see now – 4 hours on
Friday and Sunday, and 12 hours on Saturday, a total of 20 hours. Festival
goers were spending nearly $50,000 per hour downtown? Where??? Buying what???
The food trucks were not “downtown businesses.” In any case, the event caused
a downtown restaurant to lose our business… Maybe future Chalks will be held in the Arena – although given the stated intent to provide no parking for the Arena, downtown is likely to be a mess when there is an event there, especially if there is a baseball game, and perhaps a show at the Plaza. Or do they intend to coordinate to insure that there is never more than one event on the same night? Meantime, the impetus to go downtown is fading and even the end of the Trolley work might not revive it.” Elpasospeak.com blog, Oct 30, 2016 |
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November 2016
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As of November
2016, few project of the Quality of Life Bond have been started. The Chamizal
has no new community center.
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November 1, 2016
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The residents and
small vendors of Barrio Union Plaza appear before City Council and read the
following statement:
Mayor and City
Council, We the families, mothers,
grandmothers, and workers of Union Plaza ask you, the representatives of this
city, the following questions. The majority of our neighbors could not be here
today because they have the obligation to care for and support their families
but they have asked us to pose the following questions:
1. Why did you vote
to destroy our Union Plaza neighborhood without consulting those of us who
live there-even one time? You have spoken with the wealthy business people
who are behind the arena for years, but you have not taken the time—even one
day—to stop by the Union Plaza neighborhood to give us information, to ask
for our opinions, to include us in your decisions. 2. Why are we not part of your idea of
“progress”? Why do you think that our voice does not count? 3. Who is really benefitting from this
project and other downtown projects? Who do you really represent, if not
us? 4. You say you are our
representatives but not one of you has spoken on behalf of our interests. Why
have not one of you tried to defend us? Why haven’t you asked us what we
think before making your decision? The barrio belongs to those who live in
it. We the mothers, the grandmothers, are the ones who should decide what
happens in our community. Yet, you have not taken us into account at
all. 5. The majority of us who live in
the Union Plaza barrio are women, widows, disabled people, and people with
low incomes. There are also workers and small business people in the Tiradero
who were previously displaced in South El Paso. The workers in this
marketplace will lose their stalls and their ability to provide for their
families so that the owners of Downtown who are behind this plan can continue
enriching themselves. Why haven’t you investigated how the 55 families
represented by the Tiradero will be harmed?
We repeat, we the
grandmothers, the mothers, the workers and families of Union Plaza are NOT in
agreement with your displacement plan. We do NOT want to leave our homes.
Your hurried and unjust vote will affect many families. You will not just
destroy our homes and historic buildings, but you will also destroy family
ties, friendships, and support networks.
We have worked very hard for many years to beautify our community and
to make it better. We are proud of what we have accomplished. As mothers and
grandmothers, we will fight with everything we have, to defend our community.
We ask the people of El Paso to support us and to help us save our homes and
our families. Thank you.
Familias de Barrio
Union Plaza and Comerciantes del Mercado Tiradero
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November 5, 2016
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More than a hundred
residents, property owners, small vendors and supporters meet at the Rock
House Gallery to speak against the City’s unjust eminent domain demolition
plan that will forcibly displace more than 150 residents and 55 small vendors
from a tight-knight community where many have lived and worked for decades.
Father Bill Morton, deported from Mexico in 2006 for defending the residents
of Lomas del Poleo, opens the meeting with prayer. Despite a severe hale
thunderstorm people from all walks of life come from different parts of the
city to support this community under siege.
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November 7, 2016
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Historic Landmark
Commission recommends City reconsider downtown arena
City officials,
including City Manager Tommy Gonzalez, spent part of Monday trying to
persuade the Historical Landmark Commission (HLC) to support the proposed
location for the downtown arena. Instead, in a 6-0 vote with three
abstentions, the HLC voted to recommend to City Council that it reconsider
the downtown arena project. In a letter sent to the HLC Monday, County
Commissioner David Stout who represents the area of the proposed location
said the process of selecting the location concerned him. Stout said the
window for public comment was too short. He added that residents, including
historic preservation experts, were left out of a decision-making process.
He added that he
along with the public have not been given sufficient information as to why
alternative sites were not considered. Although no buildings in the
designated area are listed on any historical register, Stout said previous
surveys have recommended certain properties be designated as such. The County
has been working to start a historical survey of El Paso since the beginning
of the year, and the arena has added additional incentive to begin the
project.
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November 14, 2016
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More than 100
residents, vendors and supporters protest the City’s relocation information
meeting at the Trost Fire Station in Union Plaza neighborhood. The residents
demand accountability from Niland on why she voted to destroy their community
without first consulting with them. They ask that the City deal with them
collectively, which gives them greater bargaining power and knowledge of
their rights, which the City refuses. The residents and small vendors are not
interested in “relocation assistance,” but want the arena to be placed
somewhere where low-income people will not be forcefully uprooted and
historic sites will not be demolished.
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Nov. 15, 2016
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An El Paso Times
article reveals that The City of El Paso never engaged in direct official
talks with the Union Pacific railroad yard, the site most consider the most
appropriate for an arena. Union
Pacific spokesman Jeff Degraff said the Railroad has had no informal or
formal discussions with the city concerning the arena, despite the City
insisting that they did have conversations. It is about a mile east of Union
Plaza behind the El Paso Times building and would not require uprooting
residents and demolishing historic buildings.
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December 1, 2016
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RESIDENTS OF BARRIO
UNION PLAZA GIVEN EVICTION NOTICES FOR BEING “TOO OUTSPOKEN”
The Tenement
Manager States in Court that the Residents Will be “Cleared Out” Before New
Year’s Day.
The City of El Paso
recently announced that the residents of Union Plaza will be completely
cleared from the arena “footprint” area by August 2017, but the unofficial
evictions have already begun. Three residents of a tenement building located
on 219 W. Overland, all members of the Familias de Barrio Union Plaza
organization opposed to demolition of their neighborhood, received their
eviction notices on December 1, informing them they had thirty days to leave
their apartments. The owner of the apartment, Don Luciano, wants them to
leave before New Year ’s Day. Their contracts will not be renewed. All of
them are low-income senior citizens and two of them who have lived at the
same tenement for more than a decade and are on a monthly contract basis.
None have received an eviction prior to this. They have all paid their rent
on time, including for the month of December. Failure to pay rent has never
been an issue.
The Texas Rio
Grande Legal Aid attorneys representing the residents of the tenement
building on 219 W. Overland Street say the eviction notices were handed only
to those who had been vocal in their opposition to the City’s plan to
demolish their neighborhood and in requesting repairs. The three residents
given the eviction notices are also the only three in this building who sued
their landlord to address issues with their units that affect their health
and safety. It is illegal for a landlord to retaliate against a tenant for
requesting repairs or participating in a tenant organization.
These residents do
not live in the “footprint” area where the City has promised “relocation
assistance,” but in “master planning area,” where the City has not designed
any such assistance.
The landlord, Don
Luciano, is a member of the City’s Historical Landmark Commission and is the
owner of Trade In Cars, a wholesaler of luxury vehicles. He also owns C &
M Properties. Mr. Luciano’s property manager, Lupe Federico, had told one
tenant in November that the owner did not want her as a tenant anymore
because she was “one of the most escandalosas (outspoken)” of the residents.
Federico told that tenant that it was useless to try to oppose the City’s
plan. The manager said location of the arena had been decided more than ten
years and that there was “no point in making so much noise about it.” She
stated that the owner no longer planned to fix anything in the apartments and
offered to relocate her to another apartment owned by Luciano, where the rent
was twice as high. One of the residents who received an eviction notice after
appearing in an article by a UTEP student newspaper is Salvador “Chavita”
Ortiz, 85 years old. He has lived in the same apartment for more than a
decade and has resided in South El Paso since 1958, where he worked as a
painter in the City’s restaurant industry.
The City stated publicly that it has nothing to do with these evictions. It is supposedly the responsibility of the
property owners such as Don Luciano, who wish to profit from the proposed
arena plan, have begun their own eviction process before the City employs its
powers of eminent domain. But opponents of the City’s demolition plan
maintain that it is City of El Paso who are ultimately responsible for
triggering these evictions. Their plan, and the irresponsible way in which
they are carrying it out, has set the wheels in motion for this.
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December 5, 2016
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Information Forum
& Barrio Tour of Union Plaza organized by Senator José Rodríguez,
Attorney Carmen Rodríguez and the Heritage Tourism Advisory committee. Is
attended by about 120 people at the Rock House. Both José Rodríguez and
County Commissioner David Stout express strong opposition to a plan that did
not first consult with the neighborhood, for its lack of transparency and for
the major historical destruction that this proposed demolition will create.
Resident Antonia Morales, 88 years old, told those in the audience that she
will continue fighting to save her barrio until the day she dies. She has
lived in this community for more than 50 years and is proud of the work she
and her neighbors have done to clean it up and make it a good place to live.
She does not think it fair that a group of rich developers are trying to kick
her out and tell her where to live.
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December 16, 2016
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Stephanie
Guadian of KVIA writes that the Union Plaza residents celebrate a posada. She
quotes resident Michael Patino as “You can’t stop the customs of people and
destroy this by a swipe of a pen.” Leticia Herrera says she has lived in the
neighborhood for 25 years and does not want to leave. Rep. Cortney Niland is
quoted, “We can look to other communities like Omaha, Nebraska, who said,
“Why not combine the two? Why not have an arena and a convention center in
the same facility?” Father Rafael Garcia, will lead a posada procession on behalf of the residents of Union Plaza who are under the threat of eviction from the City’s demolition plan, beginning at 4 pm at the Rock House. The procession will pass through Plaza San Jacinto, the Tiradero Market and several of the apartments and homes targeted by the City’s arena plan. |
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December 19, 2016
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David
Crowder of the El Paso Inc. reports
the member of the City Council had changed their mind about the location of
the arena in Union Plaza. These included Cortney Niland. “Informal meeting”
had taken place with Reps. Niland Jim Tolbert, and Lily Limon, and Peter
Svarzbein with Dr. Max Grossman, County Historical Commission Chair Bernie
Sargent, Union Plaza resident Gilbert Guillen, Dr. David Romo, and Dr.
Yolanda Leyva. Crowder states that Grossman informed him that they found that several building in the footprint may qualify in the National Register of Historic Places. Niland said regarding the current convention center location, that “El Paso wouldn’t be the only major city to combine its convention center with an arena.” She cited Omaha, Nebraska, where in 2003 the city built a convention center and arena. Stephanie Gaudian of KTSM news reports that the foot print of the arena would be bounded west by San Antonio Avenue, South Santa Fe Street, West Paisano Street, and Leon Street. She reports that community members and opponents had come together to have a Christmas posada. She mentions Rep. Cortney Niland put the topic on next Tuesday’s agenda. El Paso Bishop Mark Seitz helped serve food at the posada. |
2017
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Jan. 10, 2017
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Elida
Perez writes in the El PasoTimes
that City Council votes to put Duranguito “back on table as a potential arena
site.” She states that on Jan. 10 the city reversed itself. She writes that
the city would continue to study whether the arena can be built within 1000
feet of the Judson F. Williams Convention Center. Member of the community are
disappointed. Perez notes, “The Union Plaza site has drawn immediate
criticism from preservationists, state and county leaders and area residents
who argue it will displace residents and destroy buildings of historic
significance.” Perez reports voting in favor were Dr. Michael Noe, Claudia
Ordaz, Carl Robinson, and Emma Acosta. Reps. Peter Svarzbein, Lilly Limon,
and Jim Tolbert vote against it. Rep. Cortney Niland was not present. |
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January 12, 2017
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KVIA news
reporter Stephanie Gaudian states the City Counsel, Tuesday (Jan. 10) the
City approved a “feasibility study that will look at areas within a 1,000
foot radius around the Downtown Convention center….” KVIA states “In a
stunning reversal, the feasibility study will once again include the historic
Duranguito Neighborhood, which was taken off the list of potential sites in
the wake of an uproar from the community.” KVIA reports, “The study will not
take Abraham Chavez Theatre into consideration.” Representative Lily Limon
told KVIA she did not understand why the city would reconsider an option that
is not feasible. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and
expecting a different result. What kind of leadership is that.” KVIA reports,
“The vote to approve the feasibility study Tuesday was 4-3, with City Reps.
Lily Limon, Jim Tolbert, and Peter Svarzbein voting against it. City Rep.
Michael Noe Tuesday asked Council to consider looking at all potential arena
locations with a thousand feet of the convention center, including the
original site: the Duranguito Neighborhood.” |
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Jan. 20, 2017
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KRWG News
reports on Paso del Sur and their efforts to defend Duranguito with a
“citywide citizen’s initiative to exclude Barrio Duranquito from the City’s
eminent domain demolition plan. |
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Jan. 24, 2017
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KTSM news
reported that “city officials said at a special council meeting …that the
arena doesn’t need to be built within 1,000 feet from the convention center.”
“It doesn’t have to be within the 1,000 foot, necessarily,” said City Attorney Sylvia Borunda Firth. The City argues that if it is build within that distance, the City can apply in $25 million worth of incentives for a state tax rebate. Firth stated that the location of the arena “wasn’t specified on the ballot… it was written in an ordinance…” City Rep Lily Limon asked how much it would take to build the arena elsewhere. Firth admits that “if the arena location ends up being downtown, but a little outside the 1,000 fee radius from convention center, the city could still qualify for the $25 million in state incentives.” |
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Feb. 17, 2017
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El Paso Times reporter Elida S.
Perez reports that the City of El Paso is moving forward “leaving the
controversial Duranguito neighborhoods the preferred site.” Perez states that “City Representatives…were not willing to spend taxpayer dollars on addition site study when at least four have been conducted over the past several years.” However, none of these included the Union Pacific vacant land, or the vacant ASARCO land, or the land behind Union Station. Rep. Carl Robinson is quoted, “Not another $200,000 or another dollar on another study for the same subject.” Rep. Jim Tolbert says, “I think we have to look at the fact that our best choice has already been before us.” Union Plaza resident, Romelia Mendoza states she would not sell her house for any reasons. The Times reports that Mayor Oscar Leeser, and city representatives Emma Acosta and Lily Limon would not support the use of eminent domain. |
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Feb. 28, 2017
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Stephanie
Guadian of KVIA New reports that the City hired a legal export “to weight the
legal ramification of moving the Multipurpose Performing Arts and
Entertainment Facility outside of Downtown El Paso.” KVIA reported that his “expert” was attorney Paul Branden “head of public finance for Norton Rose Fulbight who specialized in bond financing.” KVIA reports that “the city’s proposition language is clear, in his opinion, and the contract with voters calls for the location of the arena to be Downtown El Paso.” However, a reading of the language of the actual ballot, makes no reference to Downtown, and City Attorney Silvia Borunda Firth, declared at city meeting that “Downtown” was not in the ballot language. KVIA reports that if the issue was sent back to the voters, it would cost $180,000, according to the city clerk. Furthermore, another $60,000 for “publication of the election.” KVIA reports that Deputy City Manager Khalil Zaiad told City Council a delay in construction of the area could cost $10 to $20 million in additional costs.” |
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March 1, 2017
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KTSM News
reports that the area for the arena project could “possibly be put back on
the ballot in November.” City Attorney Silvia Borunda Firth says that likely
will not happen. KTSM reported that the City Council had until August 2017
“to decide if the voters should be given the chance to vote again on the
arena project. Firth is quoted as saying, “We’ve already spent considerable
amount of money preparing for this project and somebody could sue to say
You’ve spent the money. Our job is to protect the city from liability and
from wasting money so our advice would be not something like that.” |
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Spring 2017
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Preservation Magazine published an
article by Katheryn Flynn regarding development threatening Union Plaza and
Duranguito. She states that, “The longest-occupied area in El Paso, Texas, is
facing potential threat from an arena development….An estimated 150 people
could face displacement…” |
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March 2017
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What’s Up, an El Paso Inc. publication, publishes quotes from local El Pasoans.
Carlos Andrade says, “I think we need the ability to have concerts in the
venue and events, but…(sic) I don’t know if an arena Downtown is the
solution. I think it should be somewhere else, because an arena Downtown is
too close to the Don Haskens (Center).” (sic.) Martin Ardovino states, “I’m torn between the controversy of having to tear down historical parts of the city to have it. I’m also torn with the idea that it absolutely has to be located Downtown El Paso. It’s already so challenging with parking and driving. I’m always a community person. We always want the betterment of El Paso. I guess I want to know that that’s what it’s going to do.” Michael Digenaro states,” I’m not totally sure. It’s causing consternation in the El Paso community. We become at odds about, ‘Should we have an arena? “Should we have an arena? Should we not have an arena? Where should it be? Where should it not be?” I realize that the original arena was designated Downtown. But is it worth being Downtown? There’s some other places for it. I think we need to back off, spend six month or so…then take another look at where we want to do it.” |
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March 6, 2017
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David
Crowder reports in the El Paso Inc. that
opponents of the Downtown arena have “taken the initiative and referendum
petition route that’s been used successfully only twice in El Paso to put a
controversial issue before the voters.” He reports that 40 people gathered at
Café Mayapan to organize the petition drive and included elderly residents of
the area, Paso del Sur leaders, current and former members of the El Paso
Historical Commission, and attorney Carmen Rodriguez. |
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March 13, 2017
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El Paso
Speak posts:Bond projects continue to cost more
March
13, 2017
Thankfully
our mayor vetoed city council’s resolution that set the date for public
meetings necessary for the city to issue $40 million in certificates of
obligation.Voter approval is not required before they can issue the certificates. What do they want the money for? Take a look at this chart that was part of a presentation that council saw before they approved the resolution:  Much of what they want money for relates to the lack of adequate funding from the quality of life bonds. From what we can see the San Jacinto restrooms, westside pool, aquatic centers, eastside pools, spray parks and the project true up are all projects that they are now telling us that require more money. The voters were told by the former city manager, chief financial officer, and mayor that the almost half a billion dollars that eventually got approved would be sufficient to build the facilities. The mayor wants the money requirements to be included as part of the annual budget process. Thank you Mr. Lesser. We deserve better Brutus El Paso Speak Blog, www.elpasospeak.com, accessed April 5, 2017. |
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March 24, 2017
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Cindy
Ramirez of the El Paso Times writes
that “William ‘Billy” Abraham wants the city’s new arena to be built in the
Union Plaza District and has ended a bid to have a century-old Chinese
laundry building he owns in the area declared historic.” Ramirez writes, “Abraham, who owns several dilapidated building Downtown, owes nearly $11,000 in property taxes on the building on Overland Avenue….The city filed a tax lawsuit against Abraham in August 2015, and a status hearing is slated for August.” |
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March 25, 2017
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El Paso
Speak Blog posts:“City candidates respond re: the arena
March
25, 2017
Some of
the candidates for city council responded to the question that we posted on
their FaceBook pages:Cassandra Hernandez-Brown (district 3): Brutus, I voted for a Downtown arena in 2012 and I support a DT arena. I will help to ensure that everyone is treated respectfully and fairly. If I can answer a specific question, I am happy to respond. Jose Plasencia (district 4):
I currently oppose the location of the Arena, I do not
believe we should be displacing a community. Also the cost on land
acquisition will.cosy over $7 million, and as 3 homeowners have stated they
will mot sell which The City would have to use eminent domain which could
take years to settle and be a costly court battle. I would like to see the
arena placed at Cohen for one it is city owned property in a very
underutilized facility, it has easy access to roads, a beautiful view, and
has a large amount of space. Knowing that is very unlikely I would support
the Arena downtown in a more feasible location that doesn’t require the
demolition of a community, there are many locations downtown that the arena
can be built.
Apologies
for my spelling I am using my phone.
Jud
Burgess (district 2):
Hello Brutus. First thing I would try to do is find out
if there is a way to revote on the arena altogether. I feel it is a colossal
waste of taxpayer $, it will most assuredly not make any money, it will
almost guaranteed end up costing us more to build (the baseball stadium went
up 50%, from 50 mil to 75 mil), upkeep will cost, it is mainly a tool to fill
hotel beds and enrich the power broker in DWNTWN. (see my proposed
alternative plan that I’ve been spreading around. link below) I think most El
Pasoans are getting wise now that the arena has been in suspended animation.
Taxpayer remorse. If we were to find a legal way to put it up for a revote,
either presenting a better alternative, like my world-class Latino Cultural
Center and taxpayer savings idea, or simply to use the entirety or a portion
of the 180 mil for EP infrastructure improvements which is what El Pasoans
are all begging for, we can do away with it altogether. Everyone appears to
be sticking their collective heads in the sand, not willing to admit this
would be a fiscal failure of epic proportions if it gets built, whether it
gets done in DWNTWN of Cohen Stadium. https://www.judburgessforelpaso.net/kill-arena-build-latino-cultural-center/
My
$120 million idea that saves El Paso $60 million
The
unpopular $180,000,000 arena that is quickly becoming a liability for most of
El Paso needs to be reconsidered. I propose we consider challenging the arena
concept with a much better option favoring the Latino Cultural Center and
putting it up for a revote to all El Pasoans this May.
judburgessforelpaso.net
Chat
Conversation End
We
deserve better
Brutus”
El Paso
Speak Blog, www.elpasospeak.com,
accessed April 5, 2017. |
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March 27, 2017
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Several media
entities report that Billy Abraham owner of several properties that had been
vying for historical designation on his building in Union Plaza, including
the Chinese Laundry at 212 W. Overland, changes his mind. According to the El
Paso Inc., this building was the last surviving building that housed a
Chinese laundry in El Paso. Abraham failed to tell Union Plaza supporters
directly, nor tell the El Paso County Historical Commission. The new was
received by the commission directly from the Texas Historical Commission via
phone call. In a public statement to the Inc., Abraham said that he now
supported the arena.
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March 28, 2016
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The El Paso Speak
blog reports:
“Stuck with the quality of life vote?
March
28, 2017
It would
appear that we will not be allowed to have an election to revoke permission
for issuing the bonds for the arena.There may be more recent case law, but the most recent case we can find dealing with the issue is the 1932 appeals court case Orr v. Marrs. In that case the voters approved a bond issue for a school district. Subsequently three-fourths of the registered voters signed a petition asking that the bonds not be issued. The school board agreed and issued an order rescinding the vote of the taxpayers. From the court’s decision: It is fundamental that voters of a district can only exercise such powers as are conferred by statute, either expressly or by implication. All powers not expressly or by implication conferred are excluded. The power to rescind the former vote for the bond issue not being expressly given by the statute, it may not be, it is believed, reasonably implied. The power to vote on a bond issue implies the power to vote against it, but not to vote to rescind it after it has been regularly authorized. If the Legislature had intended to grant the right of withdrawal of the vote, it could easily have been expressed. New laws may have been passed that would allow a vote to rescind a bond vote but we have not been able to find any. Just don’t issue a contractAt this point it would appear that our only hope of not building the arena is for city council to fail to authorize construction.If they do nothing the arena will not be built. That would open up the possibility of a mandamus action that would seek to compel each city representative to vote to approve construction. A problem there would be that each city representative could vote no on a proposed construction contract if they thought the contract was not in the public’s better interest. We deserve better Brutus” El Paso Speak, www.elpasospeak.com, March 27. 2017, accessed April 5, 2017. |
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April 2, 2017
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Paso del Sur put
out the following release:
It is absolutely not true that 20 years of City-funded studies unanimously concluded that the sports arena must go in Union Plaza/Barrio Duranguito, as City staff and politicos have repeatedly told the press and the public. Of all the falsehoods they've told thus far, this is one of the biggest ones! (See poster below used at the City's "public outreach meetings."). In fact, only 1 of 5 Studies, the Paso del Norte Group Study of 2006, singled out Duranguito/Union Plaza as the supposed "best" location for an arena. One City-funded study recommended that Union Plaza/Duranguito be declared an historic district and be protected from the kind of massive demolition the arena project envisions. The City has cited four reports as evidence that Duranguito is "the overall best location" for the sports arena (let's start calling it what it actually is). Here are the relevant facts from each of the four studies: C.H. Johnson Consulting (2001): After considering several options, the firm concludes that "the best location for a new sports complex and soccer stadium in El Paso is at the [County] Fairgrounds." (p. 69) Another “compelling site,” the 2001 study concluded, was “Cohen Stadium, owned by the City of El Paso.” The study found this to be a good location because of “the required amount of land adjacent to Cohen Stadium for an arena and shared parking” as well as easy access to the Patriot freeway. To read the 2001 study: https://www.elpasotexas.gov/…/aren…/2001%20mpc%20study.ashx… City of El Paso and the Paso del Norte Group Foundation, "Downtown 2015 Plan" (2006): This study analyzes only two potential sites, the Airport and Union Plaza. It recommends building the arena in the Union Plaza (Duranguito) neighborhood. (pp. 58, 112). The PDNG group was a semi-secretive organization led by several highly-influential binational developers, contractors and real estate speculators including Paul Foster, William Sanders, Woody Hunt, Dee Margo and Alejandra de la Vega that later morphed into the Borderplex Alliance. It received about a quarter million dollars from the City of El Paso to create a plan that envisioned the demolition of 127.5 acres of downtown, South El Paso, and Union Plaza with the threat of eminent domain. (https://www.elpasotexas.gov/…/aren…/2006%20mpc%20study.ashx…) City of El Paso, Texas Comprehensive Plan (2012): This study considers four possible arena sites (p. 181). The Union Plaza site is among the options cited but there are reservations because the project "would remove blocks of existing infrastructure and building fabric." There is no specific recommendation for the arena location. (https://www.elpasotexas.gov/…/aren…/2012%20mpc%20study.ashx…) Master Planning Report (2015): This study recommends proceeding with the construction of a "Multi-Purpose Cultural and Performing Arts Center" (note the new nomenclature) but does not cite a specific location within downtown. In summary, three of the four studies more or less recommend locating the sports arena in downtown; but only one, the 2006 Paso del Norte Group study, specifically recommends placing the arena in the Union Plaza neighborhood. Of course, that study considered only two possible locations, and several of its authors stood to benefit financially from the project--not exactly an objective and impartial analysis. Note: The majority of the land speculator owners of Barrio Duranguito properties who are eager to sell to the city are members of the PDNG/Borderplex Alliance, including Alejo Restrepo, Dr. Roberto Nassim Assael, Woody Hunt (as well as Hunt's son-in-law, bank executive Peter Spier). The PDNG members who own the majority of the buildings in the "footprint area," began buying their properties at the time PDNG targeted Duranguito for the arena. Woody Hunt and Peter Spier closed the deal on their property three weeks before the City voted unanimously in October 2016 to build the arena in Duranguito. (https://www.elpasotexas.gov/…/hks%20presentation%20-%20publ…) The Union Plaza Downtown El Paso Development Archeological Project (1998): The one study within the previous two decades that the City Manager’s report conveniently ignores is the 1998 City-funded survey "The Union Plaza Downtown El Paso Development Archeological Project." This study recommended that Union Plaza/Barrio Duranguito be designated an historic district and thus protected from mass demolition. It was commissioned by the City of El Paso for the Sun Metro Transit Authority and it was carried out by a team of experts led by John A. Peterson, Stephen Mbutu, and Mark D. Willis. The survey found a great number of historic buildings within the demolition zone. Their findings directly contradict City Attorney Silvia Firth's initial public declarations that there is nothing historic there at all. To read the 1998 City-funded survey: http://www.elpasohistory.com/…/uploads/2016/10/079-2000-001… All of this information definitively contradicts the City’s false assertion that every single study in the last 20 years found that Barrio Duranguito is the best place to build an arena. Perhaps the City Manager and City Attorney were just hoping we never bothered to read those studies. Of course, the City has failed to carry out any studies that take into consideration other issues beyond financial ones. Most importantly, those related to building an arena in a place that violates the civil and human rights of more than a hundred mostly elderly, lower-income residents who will be displaced by the arena. It has done no medical study of the impact of displacement on the residents' health, for example. Previous studies have consistently shown that forced removal significantly increases mortality rates, especially among the elderly who are forcibly kicked out of their homes. But that's another issue we'll deal with in other posts. EL PASOANS DESERVE THE TRUTH, NOT MISINFORMATION AND PROPAGANDA! |
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April 4, 2016
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Rep. Cortney Niland
resigns from office.
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April 15, 2016
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El Paso Chinese
community leaders write letter to the El
Paso Times:
City should
preserve historic Chinese laundry siteMeanwhile, they are rebuilding a historic trolley system, which will help bring tourism to El Paso and foster an appreciation for its history and culture. But how will tourists actually experience our history if our leaders destroy our irreplaceable historic sites? Our city has the opportunity to save the Chinese laundry at 212 W. Overland, built 117 years ago by Chinese immigrants. It is only one block away from the streetcar route and is tangible evidence of the Chinese contribution to the history of both El Paso and the United States. Apparently, our City Council is more satisfied with bronze historical plaques and museum displays than with preserving actual buildings that are precious to the people of our community. This is in contrast to other cities, which treasure their architectural landmarks and work to restore them. We have the opportunity to do the same for El Paso, but instead our City Council representatives seem willing to sell our historical soul for the benefit of a handful of investors and developers. We urge our leaders to change their minds and save the Chinese laundry, the last building of its kind, and Duranguito, the oldest residential neighborhood in El Paso. Maureen Lam President, Chinese Benevolent Society, El Paso Shinping “Champagne” Chyi and Heley Sias El Paso Chinese School Alex Liao and Alan Chen El Paso and Juarez Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Albert Wong and Pamela Herron Asian Studies, UTEP Monica Wong Head librarian, El Paso Community College |
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April 17, 2017
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Attorney Frank
Ainsa sends email to the City of El Paso announcing lawsuit regarding
Duraguito.
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