El Pasoans Should Vote “AGAINST” ALL 9 Propositions to Amend City Charter: Proposition Summary

Vote "Against" the Joyce Wilson Empowerment Acts

El Pasoans Should Vote “AGAINST” ALL 9 Propositions to Amend City Charter: Proposition Summary

Propositions a.k.a. Joyce Wilson Empowerment Act Hurt City Employees; Gives More Power to Joyce Wilson, City Manager

 

Vote “AGAINST” ALL 9 Propositions

 

§  The Charter Ballot language is vague and does not reflect the actual Charter Changes

 

§  Voters should have been given the opportunity to approve or disapprove amendments individually without having to approve or disapprove a group of amendments.

 

 

Proposition 1 Vote AGAINST:  Protect your representation on City Council  and the integrity of the election process from influence of wealthy special interests

 

Allows a few wealthy interests to influence elections by making running for office more expensive, requires greater numbers of signatures on petitions, result in national elections overshadowing local ones, and make an already complicated petition process even more complicated.

 

 

Propositions 2 Vote AGAINST: Protect your right as a taxpayer for financial accountability over conveyance of City property you paid for. Protect your right to participate and preserve Representation for all.

 

Significantly reduces public notice and participation by allowing the city to lease property by resolution rather than ordinance. Dilutes the Representative form of Government by requiring all board and commission appointments to be approved by the entire council.

 

 

Proposition 3 Vote AGAINST: Protect your investment in your home and the quality of life in your neighborhood

 

Negatively affects residential areas throughout the city by allowing bars in residential mixed-use zones, limiting the rights of residents to oppose bars, and allowing bar patrons to park in residential neighborhoods.

 

Proposition 4 Vote AGAINST:   Unjustified excessive salary increases.

 

Pays Mayor and City Representatives a salary equivalent of 2 people. The salary increases are based on a family of four and not individual income. Raises the salary of the mayor by $28,500 and council members by $20,050. The mayor & council will receive automatic annual pay raises with no public discussion.

 

Proposition 5 Vote AGAINST: Protect your right as a taxpayer for financial accountability of City Council and the City Manager. Protect your right to participate and hold elected officials accountable to a high ethical standard without fear of punitive retaliation.

 

Discourages public oversight by creating a “kangaroo court” with the power to impose fines and sanctions. Will discourage the filing of ethics complaints against public officials. Shifts auditor control to City Manager by the hiring and firing of the city’s auditor.

 

Proposition 6 Vote AGAINST: Protect the integrity of the Civil Service Commission and all city employee rights.

 

Guts the authority of the Civil Service Commission and the civil service protections provided to city employees. It will give power to the City Manager over all personnel decisions and disciplinary processes. It does not address the conflicts of interest of any current or future commissioners who may do millions of dollars in business with the city.

 

Proposition 7 Vote AGAINST:  Protect the rights of all City employees and against non-competitive discriminatory hiring practices of the City Manager.

 

Diminishes the rights of all city employees. Greatly increases the power of the City Manager to hire whoever she wants without a competitive hiring process. Allows the city manager to privatize city jobs by replacing certain civil service positions with outside contractors. Does not provide GLBT or any other employees with any protections or rights that are not already in place.

 

 

Proposition 8 Vote AGAINST: Protect the integrity of the City Charter, Civil Service Commission, and protections of city employees from arbitrary management.

 

Reduces public control over City Charter by enabling city staff to modify the City Charter to make some matters that are currently handled by the Civil Service Commission into administrative matters that will be handled by the City Manager.

 

Proposition 9 Vote AGAINST:  Protect your right as a taxpayer for financial accountability over debt issued in your name and your right to vote on Quality of Life projects for your neighborhood.

 

More debt without voter approval. Removes the restriction in the debt management policy that Quality of Life Bonds must go before voters for approval of debt.

Guilty of Fiduciary Malfeasance? Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Cortney Niland Cause $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall

$9 MILLION Dollar impact in Financial Damage to City

Fiduciary - A fiduciary duty is a legal duty to act solely in another party's interests. Parties owing this duty are called fiduciaries. The individuals to whom they owe a duty are called principals. Fiduciaries may not profit from their relationship with their principals unless they have the principals' express informed consent. They also have a duty to avoid any conflicts of interest between themselves and their principals or between their principals and the fiduciaries' other clients. A fiduciary duty is the strictest duty of care recognized by the US legal system. (Legal Information Institute).

Malfeasance - wrongful and unlawful conduct, especially conduct by public officials which interferes with their public duties (Black's Law Dictionary).
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by Jerry

An email obtained via the Texas Open Records Act and posted at Chucoleaks.org shows that City Representatives Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland knew on August 24, 2012 that the Western Refinery Property Tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars. Even though they knew this  -- they kept it quiet.  

CLICK TO ENLARGE

 

As a result, this caused a $3 MILLION Dollar Budget Shortfall with a $9 MILLION Dollar impact in financial damage to the City, damage harming all El Pasoans.

 

Who Knew What and When?

Dinah Kilgore stated that she met with ALL the taxing entities in July 2012 and informed them not to count on the Western Refinery property tax money from the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 

Rep. Suzie Byrd

On August 24, 2012, Susie Byrd forwarded an email to Steve Ortega and Courtney Niland stating that the Central Appraisal District (CAD) board will not allocate funds to go to court and instead will negotiate a settlement with Western Refinery and the expected property tax appraisal would be between $216 to $280 million dollars.

 

Byrd attributed these statements to a conversation with Dinah Kilgore, Director Central Appraisal District proving that Dinah Kilgore is telling the truth about giving the City notice.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland KEPT THE SHORTFALL QUIET!

 

Gary Hanson spokesman from Western Refinery stated his company notified all the taxing entities not to count on the $780 million dollar appraisal.

 

Furthermore, are we really expected to believe that the City Manager Joyce Wilson and Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrieta Candelaria were not informed by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refinery, but Susie Byrd was????

 

Could the Budget Shortfall Have Been Prevented?

 

Absolutely!

 

Photo obtained via Occupy City Hall

City Manager Joyce Wilson and the Chief Financial Officer Carmen Arrietta Candelaria had a responsibility to amend the budget and submit a truthful accounting of expected property taxes in July 2012 when notified by both Dinah Kilgore and Western Refining.

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd and Courtney Niland could have prevented this from happening in August 2012 at the beginning of the budget year. Ortega, Byrd, and Niland had a responsibility to post an agenda item to review the impact on the budget rather than “keeping it quiet” until May 2013, the last quarter of the budget cycle when the budget shortfall would have triple the impact.

 

Who gets Harmed?

As a result of “their secret,” Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland have harmed every person in the City.

 

Yes taxpayers, you will have to make up the shortfall in higher taxes or lose services.

 

What are the Financial Damages?

 

The expected financial impact is between $11.3 to 17.3 MILLION Dollars in budget shortfalls countywide.

 

KVIA reported Western Refinery CAD settlement leaves budgets short

You can read the KVIA story here

http://www.kvia.com/news/western-refinery-cad-settlement-leaves-budgets-short/-/391068/19981276/-/ep9bc0z/-/index.html

 

The Western Refinery Property Tax Settlement is expected to cost in budget shortfalls:

§  The City $3 million dollars and an actual impact of $9 million dollars

According to Mayor Cook with only a quarter of the year left that $3 million triples to a $9 million dollar impact on the city budget.

To put it in perspective, the City only keeps a $16 million dollar reserve fund and they want you to lower that in the Charter Amendment Propositions!

§  The County $1.7 million dollars

§  The El Paso Independent School District $5.3 million dollars

§  The El Paso Community College $500,000

§  The University Medical Center $800,000

 

The Convenient Scapegoats: Central Appraisal District Board (CAD) and Dinah Kilgore

 

Steve Ortega had no response which is no surprise since he thinks he answers to no one.

 

Amazingly, Susie Byrd’s response to the KVIA story regarding CAD was "It's almost

like they make this stuff up," City Rep. Susie Byrd said.

 

 Geez “It’s actually like Susie Byrd is completely lacking in both honesty and integrity.”

 

Courtney Niland has “volunteered” to sit on the Central Appraisal District (CAD) Board and “vowed to do what she can to prevent something like this from ever happening again.”  

 

Newsbreak to Niland! Your oath of office is a “vow”!

 

You had a responsibility to take steps to prevent this in August 2012. Do you really expect us to believe your “vow”?

 

Vote INFORMED EL PASO  - It’s time to Clean Out a Corrupt City Government!

Do you really think Steve Ortega is fit for public office much less Mayor?

 

Do you really think Susie Byrd is fit for public office much less an EPISD school board trustee?

 

Do you really trust Carmen Arrieta Candelaria to “fix” the problems at EPISD by serving on the EPISD Board of Managers?

 

Are you tired of being scammed for millions of dollars by City Manager Joyce Wilson?

 

Steve Ortega, Susie Byrd, and Courtney Niland should resign or be removed from office immediately by recall or fiduciary malfeasance. They should NEVER be allowed to run for elected office again.

 

Joyce Wilson and Carmen Arrieta Candelaria need to shown to the door.

Kids First Reform EPISD Now PAC: What’s Wrong and What’s White

 

Kids First Reform EPISD Now PAC: What’s Wrong and What’s White

Where Are All the Brown People: PAC has trouble even attracting Steve Ortega types

by Ben

The recent low-attendance of forums hosted by Kids First Reform EPISD PAC may be a clue how out of touch they are with people of color. Of course you remember, this is Susie Byrd and Elliot Shapleight's PAC trying to put Byrd on the EPISD school board among others.

 

However, a much better clue is their financial report filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

 

Out of the 52 people listed as donors, only 6 appear to be Latino. Now we are basing this on the number of Hispanic surnames found in their financial report: five (5) which we counted (we counted 47 White surnames), and one surname whom we know the person is Latino despite the last name. So let’s do the math, that’s only 11.32 % of Kids First donors are Latino (out of the more than 80% Latino make up of El Paso).

 

Wow!

 

Kids First huh?

 

Who’s kids?

 

Definitely not 87% of the population of El Paso who are Latino -- not their kids.

 

What is 11.32% closer to? Who? We get it, the 14.2% make up. Which group is that: yes, Whites.

 

What Side of Town do Kid’s First Donors Come from

 

Certainly, Kids First has walked the barrios to make sure their organization is diverse.

 

70.5 % of Kids first donors live on the Westside

 

·         One donor lives south of I-10

·         One donor lives in Memorial Park

·         Eleven donors live in the North East (21.5%)

·         Four live in the Burges area

 

So much for diversity!

 

Gandalf the White

Paso del Norte Group/Borderblex Alliance Membership Cross-References

 

However, if you are trying to get a bigger percentage, look no further than whom the PAC donors are and how many of them are members of the PDNG.

 

Now, we may be using an old membership list. Some we could not find on the roles. But for people like former Assistant City Manager Debbie Hamlyn (known to be a terrific friend of people of color), we know she worked for PDNG or one of its affiliated entities during the stadium debacle (just a few day after her retirement we’ll add). There is also Tracy Yellen of MyrnaDeckert & Associates,* but not found the PDNG lists. We did not find her on the membership list, but she might as well be.

 

Edward Escudero

Perry Fienbert (Stephen)

Carol Glicrease (Paul)

Leanard "Tripper" Goodman (yep, the stadium guy)

Frank Gorman (Patrick)

Jimmy Janack

Frank Gormans

Robert O’Rourke (Beto O'Roarke)

Melissa O’Rourke (daughter of Bill Sanders)

Eric Peirson if he’s the same guy in Peirson and Peirson

Deberah Kastrin

Pearson and Pearson (Eric)

Tracy Yellen

JoAnn Casey

Michael Wenolt

 

That’s 29.4% of Kids First donors are PDNG members.

 

 

* Deckart is a co-founder of the PDNG and former executive director

Vote “Against” Proposition 5 - City Manager Controls Auditor and Kangaroo Court Justice

Vote “Against” Proposition 5  - City Manager Controls Auditor and Kangaroo Court Justice
Even Captain Kangaroo Embarrassed by City Manager's Idea of Ethics Review Commission

What does it do?

• Establishment of Financial Oversight and Audit Committee in the Charter
• Grants the Ethics Review Commission the power to assess monetary fines in addition to sanctions
• Establishment of an independent internal audit function in the Charter
• Creates dual reporting for internal auditor
• Internal auditor shall be appointed and removed by the City Manager with the approval of City Council.           

Creates “kangaroo court”

This amendment would create a new ethics commission which is essentially a “kangaroo court” with the power to impose fines and sanctions. The effect is to discourage the filing of ethics complaints against public officials.

Dangerous Power Shift for Financial Oversight

It gives the City Manager control of the hiring and firing of the city’s auditor. You heard it -- Joyce Wilson will be able to fire the guy who audits her -- and to choose someone of her like mind to replace him or her.

As seen in the email below, obtained via www.chucoleaks.org, City Manager wants Lorenzo Garcia-like power over the Internal Auditor. Basically, if she does not like what she sees, out the door.

Click to Enlarge

Click to Enlarge

Is Tania Chozet Just Steve Ortega in a Skirt?

 

Is Tania Chozet Just Steve Ortega in a Skirt?

District 7 Candidate Strangely Resembles Steve Ortega; Comparisons Frightening

 

by Ben and Jerry

 

Chozet claims as the Precinct 3 County Commissioner, she devoted herself self full-time to her constituents and served with honesty and integrity. 

 

In the entire 9 months that Tania Chozet occupied Precinct 3 she never once initiated a community meeting with “her constituents.”  According to constituents who addressed her at Commissioners Court, she was rude, denigrating, and refused to listen. Sound familiar?

 

No honesty there

In true Ortega style Chozet appears to have struck a quid pro quo deal in exchange for support from the former Yucca Neighborhood Association President who is also supporting Ortega?

 

On her website, she states she will work hard to ensure the new recreation center near Yucca Park is delivered on-time and within budget.

 

Chozet is ignoring residents before she’s even elected.

 

Many more residents want the recreation center on North Loop around Lomaland Park because it serves more people who do not have a center.

 

Carolina Recreation Center is within walking distance of Yucca Park, actually on the same street. Why build something so close?

 

Furthermore, Yucca Park already has another bond project.

 

No integrity or community inclusion there

 

Chozet claimed as Precinct 3 County Commissioner she was the driving force behind a collaboration with the City of El Paso for Mission Trail planning.

 

Truth is there are multiple Mission Trail Plans – none of them generated by Chozet.

 

Apparently “The Plan” was to decide on one of multiple existing Mission Trail Plans. 

 

She circumvented Representative Eddie Holguin who actually represents part of the area and made a joint announcement with Steve Ortega who represents no one.

 

Nothing happened beyond that announcement.

 

Chucoleaks email shows no one else seemed to be aware of a “collaboration.”

 

 

No honesty, integrity or community inclusion there

 

More than half of Chozet’s campaign contributors are the same special interests that fund Ortega. For an attorney that worked for the ACLU, this is a 180. Her funders are heavily Republican and heavily Paso del Norte Group(PDNG)/Borderplex Alliance members (see financial report on file with Municipal Clerk, City of El Paso). What a disappointment!

 

The Sheriff claims she was better than the previous commissioner.

 

How high is that standard? The previous commissioner was convicted of drug dealing!

 

The County Judge claims she has the heart of a public servant. No surprise there, since Chozet rubber stamped the County Judge’s raise.

 

Like Ortega, apparently Chozet is an unemployed lawyer still living with her parents (see address listed on financial report and Central Appraisal District)(Ortega lived with his parents when he first ran). Now like Ortega, she has decided to become a career politician. Now, it's no sin to live with your parents, but at this stage no incumbent city council member lives with their parents -- even Ortega. She has no financial investment in District 7: does not own a home and does not rent a home or apartment.

 

Chozet with Rep. Suzie Byrd (right) at Steve Ortega for Mayor Rally. County Judge Veronica Escobar on stage.

 

 

Can District 7 really afford 4 more years of arrogance with no representation, no honesty, and no integrity from someone with no financial investment in District 7?

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The majority of Tania Chozet's campaign donations came from15 PDNG members:*

PDNG $13,700

PSB Board Members $800

Ortegas family $400

 

PDNG

Bill Sanders $2,000 – co-founder

JA Cardwell $2,000

J Robert Brown $2,000

Kirk Robison $2,000

Bob Hoy $1,000

Steve Fox $1,000

Ginger Francis $1,000

Rick Francis $1,000

Steve Hoy  $500

J.O. Stewart $500

Gary Hedrick $250  -

Myrna Deckert $250 – co-founder and former executive director

Jody Casey Feinberg $100

Deborah Kastrin E100  (Sister is one of primary people pushing for lower valley port of entry)

 

PDNG $13,700

 

PSB Board Members

Maria Teran $500

Ed Escudero $300

PSB Board Members $800

 

Ortegas Family

Marc Cioc Ortega $100

Lina Ortega $150

Roberto & Sylvia Ortega $150

 

Ortegas family $400

  

Anna Aleman $100 – executive director of FEMAP the Guadalupe de La Vega

Jessica Anna Cabot $300

Anna Cabot $100

Tracey Yellen $250 – associate of Myrna Deckert in MJD & Associates and Veronica Escobar and Suzie Byrd

Rosemary Neill $100

Eddie Sosa $100

Gloria and Charles Ambler $100

Katherine Brennand $100

Sofia Appleby $100  - executive director of Community Scholars

Veronica Escobar $100 (Ortega Friend)

Michael Wyatt $100 (Ortega friend)

Selena Solis $100 (married to Joel Guzman who is employee of Hunt and Ortega friend)

 

*Tania Chozet Financial Report