Ethics violation?

December 22, 2016

It would appear that members of our city council deliberately held what is called a “serial meeting” where meetings were held to discuss the arena but there was never a quorum of council present.

The Texas Local Government Code says this about “serial meetings” that are held to violate the Open Meetings Act:

Sec. 551.143. CONSPIRACY TO CIRCUMVENT CHAPTER; OFFENSE; PENALTY.

(a) A member or group of members of a governmental body commits an offense if the member or group of members knowingly conspires to circumvent this chapter by meeting in numbers less than a quorum for the purpose of secret deliberations in violation of this chapter.

(b) An offense under Subsection (a) is a misdemeanor punishable by:

(1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500;

(2) confinement in the county jail for not less than one month or more than six months; or

(3) both the fine and confinement.

We deserve better

Brutus

17 Comments | El Paso Times, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

What about the new hotels?

December 21, 2016

I’m at a loss to find a single word that describes the continuing saga related to the potential arena site.

Maybe our readers can help, but if they do we ask that they keep it clean.

It seems that some members of city council now want the city to tear down our convention center and make it the site of the new arena.

Many separate issues come to the fore now.

Let’s start with this one:

The city and developers have been working to construct or rebuild downtown hotels that are within 1,000 feet of the convention center.  The private developers have been promised access to tax credits that are applicable to such projects if they are within 1,000 feet of a convention center.

If the city tears down the existing convention center and replaces it with an arena, what will happen to those developments?  Will we end up with a downtown/convention/arena/cultural something-or-other facility?

We deserve better

Brutus

14 Comments | City government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Under performing schools

December 20, 2016

This came in anonymously:

Here’s some data that EPISD must be glad came out AFTER the bond election…

http://www.elpasoproud.com/news/local/el-paso-news/tea-releases-list-of-underperforming-schools/619655255

And, this list will just increaseas every dollar poured into everything in the world that has nothing to actually do with learning or teaching continues apace in EPISD. Fully suspect ANYTHING that carries the buzzwords: “21st Century Learning” or “Innovation”…

***************************

The list shows 16 EPISD schools that are under performing according to the state.

  • Bassett Middle
  • Bowie HS
  • Burnet Elementary
  • Canyon Hills Middle
  • Charles Middle
  • Guillen Middle
  • Henderson Middle
  • Irvin HS
  • Lee Elementary
  • Lincoln Middle
  • Magoffin Middle
  • Morehead Middle
  • Rusk Elementary
  • Schuster Elementary
  • Stanton Elementary
  • Terrace Hills Middle

Ysleta has two.

  • Riverside Middle
  • Ysleta Middle

Socorro has two.

  • Desert Wind Elementary
  • Ernesto Serna School

We deserve better

Brutus

21 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

The more we pay the less the state pays

December 15, 2016

This came in from Tim Holt:

5 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Who do they represent?

December 9, 2016

The recent attempt to hijack our local Metropolitan Planning Organization was led by local politicians that deserve some publicity.

State representative Joe Moody started the assault with his report from an “ad hoc” committee that was recommending that the Transportation Policy Board be reconstituted in order to strip the city of it’s dominance on the board.

The fact that the city represents over 80% of the population that the organization works for was evidently not of importance to the “ad hoc” committee.

State senator Jose Rodriquez climbed on board and spoke of the unfairness of majority rule.

County judge Veronica Escobar agreed that giving control to the minority was the right thing to do.

If they had succeeded the New Mexico members would hold one third of the voting seats.

Representing El Paso

State representative Joe Pickett spoke strongly against the effort.

Mayor Oscar Lesser agreed and spoke negatively about the cabal and the way it was sprung on the city.

The remainder of the city representatives on the board supported keeping the make up of the board as it was.

County commissioner Vincent Perez was the surprise in the group and expressed his opinion that the coup attempt was not legal.  He went further to suggest that the board’s attorney should be fired.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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