Tomorrow Today the City of El Paso goes to court in Austin to affirm their conviction that the arena they want to build in downtown El Paso conforms to the description of a Multipurpose Performing Arts and Entertainment Center that voters approved as part of the 2012 Quality of Life bond elections.
The City is asking for a declaratory judgment. Declaratory judgments are meant to nip disputes in the bud.
I’d say we’re a little past that now. Our dispute has already gone to seed.
I can’t imagine a judge in a declaratory judgment case taking it upon himself (herself in this instance) to decide an issue that is clearly in dispute. One would think that the judge will kick it back to another court to decide based on the merits of the arguments. But this is Texas, and anything can happen.
Of course the City is trying to avoid a prolonged legal battle that will likely delineate unsavory behavior undertaken by our city “leaders.” In lawsuits, lawyers can evoke depositions, and depositions can unearth a multitude of sins. Even if the depositions are sealed, the information they reveal can lead to public investigations.
Personally, I hope the lawsuit goes far enough that the city “leaders” have to talk. Even if they invoke poor memories, or the fifth amendment, the pall would be enough to make our future public officials behave better.
So let’s see what happens. Could be fun.
Political officials behave better ? One thing about criminals is they always believe they are smarter than the last one that was caught therefore continue committing criminal behavior. When caught, they are innocent and railroaded.
Builders in this area hold a lot of influence over local politicians. Doesn’t matter if the structure is empty. So long as they are building they are making money. That’s the motivation.
La Juez “le puso rienda”al burro, por decir. Let’s see how the info is disseminated in El Paso County by our local media.
Cortney Niland should be deposed. Leeser, too. He bought her house and she resigned and moved, supposedly due to an “onslaught” of media. What media? KVIA and El Paso Times are city council’s/2012 bonds best friends. Show me a single critical question asked of anyone on city council about their deliberate “non-quorum” meeting about the arena that is now being investigated by the Texas Rangers.