A couple of our readers pointed this out already. For those of you who missed their comments, this is hard to believe:
One of our city representatives wants to put our former city manager on the Ad Hoc Charter Advisory Committee.
Have they no shame?
Please don’t tell me that she is just like any other citizen. We would object if anyone of similar former rank with the city was put on the committee.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
There is no limit. They have no shame. They are the Borg. Resistance is futile.
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Dear concerned citizens:
In your face.
Sincerely,
Courtney Niland
PS Joyce Wilson, the gift that keeps on giving.
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No surprise. Just more stacking of the deck by one of the usual suspects.
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This is supposed to fit in the goal about sound financial management – Ms Wilson presided over the construction of a quality of life bond issue that seriously underestimated the cost of just about every project, and it appears that in fact the estimates were just guesses, not based on any research about costs of similar projects elsewhere. Staff and maintenance not included. What a triumph her appointment will be!
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I like Tommy Gonzalez’ charactization of the legacy of the Joyce Wilson and Cook administrations of Ortega, Byrd, Niland, Noe, and Acosta when presenting the $23 to $35 million budget shortfall projected for 2016 and the economic over projections in years past as
“That was very dysfunctional… ”
http://www.kvia.com/news/city-of-el-paso-revenue-not-keeping-with-expenses/32118162
For all of Niland’s pontificating about her economic prowess you would think she would be able to differentiate between the spending growth she touts versus the lack of revenue growth Gonzalez is pointing out.
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The chickens hatched from all the reckless spending are coming home to roost. The city is going to be in deep #$@%.
Yesterday’s presentation was the first time there has been a public acknowledgment of the fact that we not only paid to build the ballpark, but are also subsidizing Mountainstar’s operations to the tune of a million dollars a year, while Hunt and Foster pocket the profits.
Gonzalez doesn’t walk the talk when it comes to fiscal responsibility. Just a week or two ago, he asked for millions of dollars in wellness incentives to put more money in the pockets of city employees. One of the first things he did when he was hired was to create a high-paying job for a friend.
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I agree.
I appreciated the public acknowledgement of dysfunction as well as the counter to Niland’s extremely misleading BS.
True Gonzalez does not walk the talk.
Taxpayers should not pay for city employee health incentives since most insurance policies offer all those health incentives under preventative care.
If the current city insurance plan does not then renegotiate a new plan or get another plan that does.
I’m sick of subsidizing stupid.
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The Times today informs us of the pending appointment and also notes that Mr.Luis Cortinas is proposed for the Hispanic Cultural Center. “Cortinas, a former policeman, was at the heart of a major police scandal in El Paso in 1999.”
You can’t make this stuff up!
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Carl Robinson just lost all credibility.
The following is how the 1999 scandal was reported by the El Paso News Org website. Just another cover-up by one or more high-ranking El Paso public officials:
Carlos Leon, a 26-year police veteran is appointed El Paso Police Chief. On August 27: George DeAngelis met with a confidential informant and received information concerning illegal activity by El Paso Police Officer Luis Cortinas, who served as the personal administrative assistant to Leon. The allegation was that Luis Cortinas had allegedly provided vehicle descriptions and license plate numbers of narcotics officers to individuals associated with the drug trade.
On August 31: George DeAngelis delivered a memorandum to Carlos Leon requesting the removal of Luis Cortinas as administrative assistant and the opening of an investigation.
On September 1: Luis Cortinas was reassigned, although no investigation was started.
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Is Carl Robinson expressing his opinion of the Hispanic Cultural Center?
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Short answer to the question: No. Let’s face it. Our city is no longer run by its everyday citizens, but by the few chosen by the monied elite. We can discuss until we’re blue in the face. We can try going to Council meetings to be stifled by not having jumped through the required hoops for getting on their precious agenda. We can, at the end of the day, only change things by getting people to the polls.
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Getting people to the polls, with a basic understanding of the issues and the candidates…or else nothing changes.
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