An El Paso attorney maintained Friday that plans to have a historic district downtown that includes the Duranguito neighborhood are now effectively dead since a majority of property owners in the area have come out in opposition to it.
Mark Osborn of the Kemp Smith law firm represents (on an unpaid, pro bono basis) numerous downtown property owners who say they weren’t consulted about the proposed district, and he claims that state historical officials were misled into believing there was no one opposed.
You know, lawyers get paid to be jerks, but here we have Mark Osborn of the Kemp Smith law firm being a jerk for free.
Mr. Osborn’s biggest client is the City of El Paso. The City has paid Mr. Osborn hundreds of thousands of dollars representing the City in litigation over the past few years. Do you think Mr. Osborn would take on this pro bono case without the support of the City of El Paso?
Do you think Mr. Osborn consulted with our elected officials, or just with the City’s professional staff?
Who do you think is running City Government? Our elected officials, or the City’s professional staff?
The Downtown Historic District is a no-brainer boon for El Paso.
The Downtown Historic District would allow downtown property owners to get easy access to potentially millions of dollars in the federal tax incentives that the government makes available for historic renovation. Local history buffs hope that historic renovation will spur heritage tourism.
That’s what Mr. Osborn and his pro bono clients are fighting.
Yeah. Mr. Osborn and his pro bono clients, some of whom own historic hotels that received City tax incentives, are against heritage tourism.
Why do you suppose that is?
Duranguito?
While Osborn has personally litigated alongside the City of El Paso in the controversial fight to build a multi-purpose arena in Duranguito, he insisted he does not represent the city in this effort involving the historic district.
“Everybody has their own opinion about Duranguito, but collectively, that’s not the issue the property owners care about,” Osborn said.
This may be the first test of Mayor Leeser’s campaign promise to represent all the citizens of El Paso, and not just the moneyed few. If I were Mayor Leeser, I would disengage Mark Osborn of the Kemp Smith law firm from all active lawsuits and hire a lawyer who doesn’t go off on his own to solicit pro bono clients who oppose heritage tourism.
So do you suppose that the people who own those corporations that have joined Mr. Osborn in the lawsuit to prevent the Downtown Historic District are just jerks? That they’re fighting heritage tourism because they don’t want anyone else to get ahead?
Welcome to Rancho El Paso, where if the fat cats don’t get a cut, they want to stop anyone else from making any money.
I at least will pledge to NEVER shop in or dine in any of the businesses owned by the guys who are promoting this attack on the Historic District. And should they manage to get the Arena that was never approved by voters built with our tax dollars, I will NEVER attend any event there.
As I have been telling everyone for awhile now, elected officials (Mayor, City Council) have not run City Government for some time now. The last two City Councils managed Tommy Gonzalez closely, keeping him on a short leash to minimize the damage he could do. But when Mayor Margo was elected that all went to hell and the only sitting City Council member who has consistently had the guts to stand up to Tommy Gonzalez and his wealthy backers is Alexsandra Annello. The current Deputy City Managers, City Attorney, Chief Financial Officer, and Public Information Officer are all hand-picked clones of Tommy Gonzalez and reflect both his inflated ego and selfish, distorted values. With Mayor Leesor back in charge, the remaining City Council members have a chance now to listen to the majority of residents of the City who despise what the City Manager’s Office has done to our beloved City. Tommy G. must go, and take Cary Westin, Tracey Jerome, Dionne Mack, Laura Cruz Acosta, Karla Nieman, and Robert Cortinas with him. Sam Rodriguez can stay—for now. He’s too new to have been corrupted yet by Big Dog’s touch, unless he is a very fast learner. Or, we could do away with the City Manager form of government altogether. That would send them all flying back to their caves. Our rallying cry should be “Alexsandra! Alexsandra!,” as she is a symbol of justice in the battle to save our City from utter ruin at the hands of the moneychangers.
Which one of the Castro brothers ( Fidel or Raul ) is Alexsandra Annello’s father?
While you were out on the golf course with your fat cat cronies, Alexandra Annello was likely being mentored (if by anyone named Castro) by a couple of real government leaders, Julian and Joaquin Castro of San Antonio. Now there is a progressive city whose leaders understand the value of historic preservation and heritage tourism!
These Castro clown brothers are card carrying communists. The only “leadership” these clowns promote is on the fast track to socialism. FYI, all of my golf buddies are not fat cat cronies.
I’m not all up on the Durangito inside battles. I am against gentrification. However, I know Mark Osborn and will attest to his personal character. He is a great attorney and is honest.