[This article was edited on December 3, 2015 at 08:37ET to correct typographical error in the amount of the loss] Thanks to KVIA’s reporting we now know that the city taxpayers have been saddled with a $22 million loss on the sales of the bonds to pay for the ballpark. Yes, I am aware that… Read More The $28 Million Question
On Monday, KVIA posted an eleven-minute interview with Larry Romero. I believe that this interview is the first time Romero has answered news media questions about the latest controversy surrounding him. The latest controversy is where he failed to disclose his previous business relationship with Estrada Hinojosa while pushing city officials to replace First Southwest… Read More The Larry Romero Affair
Many of you know that yesterday, KVIA’s Maria Garcia reported on an email she uncovered via an open records request about the delay of the sale of the ballpark bonds. KVIA has also reported that the delay in the sales of the ballpark bonds has cost you, the taxpayer, about $22 million in additional fees… Read More Taxpayers Paying $22 million for Political Favors
As you likely know, an intent to recall Larry Romero was filed on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at city hall. It really should not come as a surprise to anyone because of the questionable actions taken by Romero in recent days. Recalls are the final action that voters have to make their representatives pay attention… Read More The Case of the Two Larry’s
Tomorrow’s city council agenda has an interesting agenda item up for discussion. In item 18.1, Emma Acosta is asking to have a “discussion and action to initiate policy/ordinance that any Open Records Request (ORR) by a City Representative, all such request(s) must be paid for and that the use of staff time spent in hours… Read More Emma Acosta Wants City Representatives to Pay More for Open Records Requests
A reader sent me an interesting comment this weekend about El Paso’s Domestic Partner’s issue. The reader, which asked to remain anonymous, pointed out that now that the US Supreme Court has ruled on the gay issue, the protected group that the El Paso domestic partners initiative catered to is no longer necessary. If you… Read More Revisiting El Paso’s Domestic Partners Issue
Note: This concludes the four-part series. If you like, you can download the entire essay as an Ebook by scrolling to the bottom of this page. It started out as a case of two men kissing at the Chico’s Tacos restaurant on June 29, 2009 that mushroomed into a citywide debate about gay rights. By… Read More Ostracizing Michael Rodriguez Part 4
Guess who is getting the Conquistador Award tomorrow? If you guessed Ann Morgan Lilly, you are absolutely correct. The dubious award will be given to her during the city council’s “recognitions” portion of the agenda. Normally receiving an award is a time of celebration, especially for a long-serving outgoing politician. An award is usually an… Read More Guess Who is Getting the Conquistador Award
Anyone that has any basic understanding of dealing with the personal issues of drug addiction, alcohol abuse or dealing with weight or health problems because of over eating, understands that the first step in the recovery process is acknowledging that there is a problem. Acknowledging that a problem exists requires verbalizing the problem in order… Read More The El Paso Culture of Hiding Dirty Laundry
As you probably already know, the recent questions about Sylvia Firth-Borunda’s employee evaluation is nothing more than a power struggle between Oscar Leeser and some members of city council. However, it is important to note that this is speculation at this point. We are forced to speculate because the city is notorious for keeping relevant… Read More City Attorney Caught in Power Struggle
For years we have always heard how corruption in El Paso is rampant and the corruptors always seem to get away with it. Some celebrated when the much touted public corruption cases were launched in El Paso in 2004. Many celebrated as politicians and businessmen were handcuffed and led off to jail. And when the… Read More The Anatomy of the Corruption Con Job
As much as El Paso’s city government tries to create the illusion that it’s all good, the fact is that; “El Paso.It’s Not all good”. On one hand we are led to believe that the city is transparent and releasing all of the emails as requested by citizen activists, and then just as quick we… Read More Email Scandal: It’s Not All Good
After an approximate one and a half hour executive session, city council voted unanimously to release the previously unreleased emails that were collected pursuant to Stephanie Townsend Allala’s open records request. They also voted to have the Public Information Officer formally request that those current, and immediate past city representatives that have not already given… Read More City Council Releases Emails and Asks Ortega For His Emails
Today, city council is once again expected to revisit the continued saga of their refusal to release the emails requested by Stephanie Townsend Allala. As is normal for the city, who continues to ignore the will of the voters, the session will both be behind closed doors, in Executive Session, and it will cost the… Read More City Council Revisits the Emails and Here’s What Standard & Poor’s Thinks of the El Paso Ballpark Bonds
According to the city council agenda for Tuesday August 6, 2013, the city representatives are expected to discuss the city’s lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott. Discussion item EX-5, under the Executive Session portion was put on by the city attorney’s office. Although there is no back up material or more information on this… Read More Email Disclosure Back on Agenda
Mona, a member of the Quality of Life Voters for Democracy group, forwarded me the following three email exchanges between herself and John Cook. She contacted me via the El Paso News Facebook page after reading the John Cook open records requests that I posted last week. As you read these three email exchanges you… Read More New Batch of John Cook Emails Show More Uncertainty Over Ballpark Deal
As most of you already know, on Tuesday, July 23, 2012, city council voted unanimously to deny John Cook’s claim for his legal fees. As is the process when filing a claim against the municipality, John Cook now has the option to file a lawsuit against the city. As part of my questions with John… Read More John Cook’s Request for Legal Expenses Reimbursement and El Paso Times Incompetence
Yesterday, July 23, 2013 I asked John Cook via email to answer twelve questions about his benefits’ referendum lawsuit and the demolition of city hall. He answered all of my questions. I am reproducing the original questions and his answers without editing or corrections, except for the following four edits I made for readability purposes.… Read More John Cook Answers Questions on Benefits Lawsuit and Ballpark
Reviewing the recently released emails from the private email boxes of Emma Acosta, Susie Byrd, John Cook, Ann Lilly and Joyce Wilson provides more evidence that the ballpark negotiations were designed to keep public commentary out of the process. Although there are no “smoking guns” and this does not surprise me because the horde is… Read More John Cook and Joyce Wilson Questioned the Rush to Vote for the Ballpark
In a corrupt-ridden city like El Paso the ability to attain the highest levels of shamefulness is extremely difficult, yet the following outgoing elected officials were able to attain the highest levels of infamy reserved for very few. The Shameful Trio held their last meeting yesterday but their actions and inaction will hurt the city… Read More The Legacy of Shame
During Larry Medina’s sentencing some Information was revealed that should be of interest to those who follow the political shenanigans of El Paso politicians, especially today’s debacle concerning the downtown arena. According to the El Paso Times report on February 19, during Medina’s sentencing his attorney tried to minimize Larry’s criminal participation. To which Judge… Read More Et tu, Susie Byrd and Veronica Escobar? What “s—“ did Medina do under your watch?
