The El Paso Times reported on June 29, 2013 that city council will be asked to rob $4.5 million from the Montana Avenue bus project and use it to remodel two more floors on the old Luther Building. The issue is not on the city council agenda yet. I suspect that this is a trial balloon designed to see if the voting public is paying attention.
The report told us that other parts of the building were currently being remodeled for $8.9 million with a city spokesman saying that the total cost of the renovations would be $13.4 million.
The same Times reporter wrote on January 23, 2013 that city council had voted to issue a contract for $11.5 million to remodel the same building.
Please explain
I would think that the reporter would feel obligated to set the record straight. My guess is that what is really happening is that city staff wants to spend another $2.4 million above the $11.5 million that they have already received approval for. The $4.5 million just happens to be sitting over in a corner because the sequestration situation at the national government is going to delay or cut the federal portion of the bus project.
It seems that city staff thinks that feathering their own nests is more important than the transportation system.
Another problem
In another example where Times employees seem to spend more time writing then they do researching facts, the Sunday June 30, 2013 Times has a column written by their editorial page writer. He suggests that the new mayor may put the question of city manager vs. strong mayor on the ballot in November.
The city charter can only be amended once every two years. We did that in May of 2013 and cannot do it again until May of 2015.
Muckraker
elpasospeak 
Another thing to consider, and you’ll have to excuse my ignorance as I am neither amathematician nor a constitutionalist, but if I recall we currently have a $3M or so deficit… why not redirect the funds that are on hold awaiting Federal monies to cover this oversight failure by the city manager and council instead of the oversight failure by the council in regards to the city hall move…
Oh wait, I forgot… we’re not concerned about covering our debts… just running them up!
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