El Paso Media’s “Unique Situation” is with Steve Ortega not Oscar Leeser

El Paso Media’s “Unique Situation” is with Steve Ortega not Oscar Leeser

Are Bob Moore and the El Paso Times trying to swing the Mayoral election for Ortega and extort advertising dollars from Mr Leeser?

 

By Eddie Torreal
 

In the latest and most pathetic attempt to apparently swing the Mayoral election for Ortega and retaliate against Mr. Leeser the El Paso Times and Kevin Lovell of KVIA would like you to think there is a “problem”.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23253174/el-paso-media-face-unique-situation-oscar-leeser

 

Funny thing is neither Bob Moore or Kevin Lovell  have admitted this problem with Beto O’Rourke and his mother who spends big bucks advertising her furniture store in both the El Paso Times and on KVIA.
 

Many of Ortega’s big financial supporters such as Hoy-Fox Auto, Rick Francis of Westar Bank, Hunt, Paul Foster of Western Refinery, and Beto’s mom are also major advertisers who may also be “unhappy” if their financial investment and candidate, Ortega, is not promoted.

 

Then there is Del Sol Medical Center another major advertiser, who happens to employ Ortega’s spouse as their Chief Operating Officer, and recently received multiple city contracts, who may also be “unhappy” if their boy loses.

 

And let’s not forget the El Paso Times’ landlord has the biggest financial stake in Ortega. Can anyone say rent increase?

 

Furthermore many advocates of ethics in journalism have question the Times coverage of the stadium scandal, the demolition of City Hall, and the purchasing of the El Paso Times building by the city. National Public Radio (NPR) frequently reads disclosures on stories on individuals who may be underwriters to NPR. It’s been said the Times should have run a disclosure at the top of their stories regarding the stadium scandal that read: “Disclosure: El Paso Times is currently selling it building to the City of El Paso to replace city hall.”

 

It would seem Ortega presents the bigger problem because there are so many more advertisers financially invested in him who seem desperate to keep him in office.

Considering what has not been reported about Ortega and his conflicts of interest during his entire tenure on City Council it would seem neither Bob Moore nor his staff  know the meaning of  “thorough, accurate, and fair news reporting” much less journalistic integrity.

 

Before you listen to Bob Moore you should ask him why he has not required Steve Ortega to turn over all his personal emails in which he conducted City business before giving a blind endorsement.

 

If the advertising and journalism functions at the El Paso Times are really separate then why is this even a story and why would Bob Moore even know about Mr. Leeser’s advertising activity?

Kudos to Mr Leeser for his honesty, integrity, and finding better investments in El Paso than Bob Moore and the El Paso Slimes.

It's All Good: City of El Paso Chooses a 1993 Slogan to Promote City

Associated Pest

 

City of El Paso Chooses a 1993 Slogan to Promote El Paso

"Bring Back Memories of Me Jamm’n to MC Hammer," says City Manager

by Satria Sinvergüenza
Posted: 1:17 PM 05/15/13

Last month billboards appeared all over El Paso promoting the campaign, “El Paso, It’s All Good.”

 

“This is a campaign to promote how the El Paso City Council,” says City Manager Joyce Wilson, “is 20 years behind.”

 

The city manager refers to the “It’s All Good” slogan once popular in 1993.

 

“It’s all good to have this slogan back,” says mayoral candidate Steve Ortega, “like my silly socks and dress style before I started running for mayor, 1993 was the year, Boo Ya!!”

 

It was 20 years ago that most cities in the United States fully realized the folly of having a city manager form of government.

“El Paso is still catching up,” says city manager Joyce Wilson, “the El Paso elites pulled a fast one on El Pasoans in 2004 when they promoted changing the city over to a city manager form of government.”

 

“We also realize,” continued Wilson, “that many cities, 20 years ago, found out that baseball stadiums do not bring any economic incentive, so now it’s El Paso’s turn to find that out.”

 

Mayor candidate Steve Ortega at last Friday's "It's All Good" rally

Last Friday, hoping to garner votes for its lagging mayoral candidate and to promote “El Paso, It’s All Good,” a Gavachanga Rally was hosted Downtown with free T-shirts and music. Episodes of Beavis and Butt-Head and the films "The Firm," "The Fugitive," and "Jurassic Park" were screened. Rep. Steve Ortega even dress up as Mrs. Doubtfire.

 

“The rally was all that,” says Ortega, “we played music of by 4 Non Blonds, Soul Asylum, Blind Melon, and of course Whoomp! There it is!”

 

Is the EL Paso Times Deliberately Misleading Voters to Help Steve Ortega?

Is the EL Paso Times Deliberately Misleading Voters to Help Steve Ortega?

Texas Tech wonders where El Paso Times gets their numbers

 

In an effort to promote Steve Ortega apparently the El Paso Times has resorted to making up information.

 

Click to Enlarge

http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_23200977/downtown

 

Even Texas Tech School of Architecture is wondering where the El Paso Times got the number 500 people. The space involved is only 16,587 square feet.  

 

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=652776418082454&id=233033540056746

 

 

Texas Tech School of Architecture is hoping to reach 300 in about 5+ years.

 

Clerk to Enlarge. Facebook Wall says "...but where'd they get that number?"

 

Did Steve Ortega Fail to Report $7,000 in Campaign Contributions?

Did Steve Ortega Fail to Report $7,000 in Campaign Contributions?
Ortega Has No Final Campaign Finance Report for His 2009 City Council Run according to Mun. Clerk website

by Jerry

As noted on the City Council agenda from 4-30-2013, Steve Ortega received $5000 from EC “Ted” Houghton and $2000 from Marlene and JO Stewart Jr. on March 25, 2013.

Texas Election Code requires these contributions be reported in the 30 day before election campaign finance report.

The $7000 in campaign donations are not reported in any of Steve Ortega’s campaign finance reports to date.

 

http://www.elpasotexas.gov/muni_clerk/city_council.asp?agenda=04-30-13&addition=true

Item 4. Notation of Campaign Contributions

For notation pursuant to Section 2.92.110 of the City Code:  receipt of campaign contributions by Representative Steve Ortega on March 25, 2013, in the amount of $5,000 from E. C. Houghton, Jr.; in the amount of $2,000 from Marlene and J.O. Stewart, Jr. ; on March 28, 2013, in the amount of $500 from Joel Guzman; on March 29, 2013, in the amount of $750 from Ronald Wallace; in the amount of $1,000 from Robert Wingo; on April 1, 2013, in the amount of $500 from M. Nicole and Rafael A. Adame, Jr.; in the amount of $500 from Jorge Hernandez; in the amount of $500 from Thomas Mayr; in the amount of $2,500 from J W Rogers, Jr.;  in the amount of $500 from Phillip Rothstein; on April 2, 2013, in the amount of $700 from Scott Adkins; in the amount of $500 from Chris A. Cummings; in the amount of $1,000 from Dr. Manuel C. and Francoise Feliberti; and in the amount of $1,000 from Leonard Goodman, III. [Representative Steve Ortega, (915) 541-4124]

 

Also of interest is that Ortega’s final campaign finance report from the 2009 election when he ran for reelection for District 7 Representative is not posted. Did he file?

21% of Steve Ortega’s Campaign Donations came from 6 PDNG Special Interests

 

21% of Steve Ortega’s Campaign Donations came from 6 Paso del Norte Group/Borderplex Alliance Special Interests

Apparently Steve Ortega is the Sweetheart of the PDNG 6. Who says campaign donations don’t influence votes?

UPDATED: 3:34PM
by Jerry


21% or $51,759.88 of Steve Ortega’s total campaign donations came from the following 6 Paso del Norte Group (PDNG a.k.a. Borderplex Alliance) special interests.

We mention employees because aside from getting their spouses and children to “contribute,” the oligarchs often do the same with their employees to spread the money.

 

1.    6.4% or $15,659.88 of Steve Ortega’s total campaign donations came from the owners and relatives of 500 W Overland, who also happen to have a contract with the City. 

Coincidentally the 500 W Overland tenants include Steve Ortega’s Campaign Headquarters, Steve Ortega’s PR group The El Paso Times, and Beto O’Rourke’s Stanton Street Technology Group.

2. The William “Bill” Sanders and O’Rourke Clan plus employees donated $8,500 or 3.5%.

 

 

 

3.  Woody and Josh Hunt and Hunt employees donated $7,600 or 3.1 %

 

4.  Paul Foster and a Western Refinery employee donated $7,500 or 3%

 

5.  Harold Hahn of Rocky Mountain Mortgage donated $6,500 or 2.6%

 

6.  Ted Houghton of the TxDOT Commission and Toll Road fame donated $6,000 or 2.4%*

 

The pie chart below shows the break down of total campaign donations by interest group

CLICK TO ENLARGE
Steve Ortega Donor Breakdown

 

50% or $120,454.90 PDNG and their Associates which includes those named above

7 % or $18,250 PACs and Companies

1% or $3,125 Family and Friends

8% or $19,600 Builders and City Contractors excluding PDNG donors

7% or $18,300 Out of Towners

Only 27% or $67,384.50 was donated from the “Average Citizen”, less than received by other Mayoral candidates.

* Note that $5,000 of Ted Houghton's donation is not listed in Ortega's 8-day before election report or prior reports. This information is listed on the City Council agenda for April 30, 2013.

Comadres at the Wall: Drama at the Carolina Recreation Center

Comadres at the Wall: Drama at the Carolina Recreation Center
Tania Chozet throws hissy fits at recreation center

 

 

The most amusing whisper this week was the incident regarding Tania Chozet and the Carolina Recreation Center.

 

As some of you may know, the center is one of the most busy early voting sites in the county.

 

We saw some posting on Facebook stating that Chozet had went into the lobby of the recreation center and sat down for about 30 minutes. Now this is contrary to state law folks and we hear some of her rival candidates were trying to get each other to go in and talk to the election judge and finally someone volunteered.

 

A person went in and complained and the election judge made Chozet leave the rec center.

 She immediately confronted the person who reported her and chastised that person for tattle-tailing, and she said that she was inside “training her aunts to vote.” It’s rumor that this person after being confronted by Chozet responded, “how would you know, you’ve never voted,” referring to Chozets lack of a voting record since she returned to El Paso.

 

The second incident regarding Chozet and the Carolina Center was that one of the candidates hosted a tardeada. Chozet showed up and talked to the person in charge asking why they allowed the rival candidate to host a election party in a public facility.

 

The rec center employees responded that the rooms could be rented by anyone for any purpose and that the candidate had rented it. Chozet then said that she wanted to rent it. The rec center employees then responded that the candidate had rented it far in advance and that Chozet would not be able to get a date close in time.

 

Rumor is that the city got the Southside Neighborhood Association to organize a meeting of three neighborhood associations last night so that Omar Villa, candidate for El Paso Independent School District trustee could campaign. This was foiled when the incumbent Rosa Benedicto showed up and local activist countered the candidate and incumbent’s speeches.

Not really a rumor, but does Chozet have volunteers. Her 8-day before election campaign finance report shows her campaign is paying people to canvass. If you need a job, you can get about $200-$240 for canvassing for two days. We don't have her campaigns phone number, but you can probably Google her.

Also, we hear Vivian Rojas and Chozet are crashing events that other candidates are sponsoring, like showing up to Ysleta Teacher Association candidates events to pass our their own literature. Que gacho!

Are Steve Ortega & El Paso Times “Collaborating” to Influence the Mayoral election?

Are Steve Ortega & El Paso Times “Collaborating” on Stories In An Attempt to Improperly Influence the Mayoral election for Ortega’s Benefit?
Is a part-time divorce lawyer qualified to be Mayor?

Updated: 10:46pm MST, 5/06/13

Guest Post by Eddie Torreal

The El Paso Times and Steve Ortega’s campaign share the same office building and sources are reporting they are collaborating on news stories in an effort to help a few special interests protect their financial investment in their funded mouthpiece -- Steve Ortega.
 

Once again the El Paso Times attempts to derail the mayoral campaigns of Oscar Leeser and Robert Cormell.

 

In the most-recent effort, the El Paso Times attempts to chill voter enthusiasm for superior mayoral candidates with a proven track record of success in creating jobs, revenue streams for El Paso, and community investment in El Paso’s future – the children.

Long before stepping up to run for mayor, both Cormell and Leeser have made tremendous personal and financial investments in moving the community forward for many years. Both have attained significant levels of advanced education, are innovative, and have a proven track record of success.

 

Steve Ortega has blamed all the past mayors for not moving El Paso forward.

 

Unfortunately for Ortega and the El Paso Times, all the past Mayors in the last 35 years have had college degrees so clearly by Ortega’s public statements, level of educational attainment is not a factor.

 

In addition, the Mayor is no longer CEO of the City. The City Manager is, and that office in unfortunately in the hands of Joyce Wilson.

 

If Ortega and the El Paso Times really believed education and experience matter, then they both would have endorsed candidate Hector H. Lopez.

 

So how useful is Steve Ortega’s Law Degree?

It is natural for the public to presume that lawyers know and therefore follow the law. Unfortunately -- as we have seen in the public corruption cases -- this is not true (see "Disbarment of Former County Judge Luther Jones Final" and "Raymond Telles guilty of fraud").

Is Steve Ortega a wannabe career politician?

 

Following in the tradition of lawyers, like Luther Jones, who became career politicians, Steve Ortega has used his legal education to circumvent the public interest and laws in place to protect the public interest.

Here are a few recent reminders:

 

1. Steve Ortega conducted City business using his personal email account to circumvent the Texas Open Records Act and has refused to release those emails in spite of specific direction from the Texas Attorney General;
2. Ortega voted to use taxpayer money to hire outside attorneys to sue the Texas Attorney General in order to delay and avoid releasing his emails regarding City business. Even the El Paso Times has called for a release of these emails which is why voters should strongly question the integrity of the El Paso Times endorsement and apparent pass on accountability they have given Ortega;

   

   Click to Enlarge. Email from www.chucoleaks.com

3. Steve Ortega relies on City Manager Joyce Wilson’s emails during City Council meetings to tell him what motions to make (see caption above). At a minimum, shouldn’t we require our elected officials to at least have critical thinking skills?
4. Steve Ortega disregarded his fiduciary responsibility to his constituents as well as El Paso at large by failing to disclose the expected Western Refinery valuation and negative budget impact in August 2012. You can read the details here;
5. Steve Ortega lacks the legal prowess to understand the City Charter. He allowed a referendum to go to a public vote in 2010 and then we were told in 2012 that the City Charter does not allow a referendum vote;
6. Steve Ortega supported discrimination against a poor ethnic group to benefit his special interest funding sources. You can read the details here.
7. Steve Ortega disregarded public sector employment prohibitions for elected officials in the City Charter and State law by teaching at EPCC during his first term in office.

Steve Ortega is a part-time divorce lawyer. 

Ortega states he has experience working with children as an attorney. Seriously???

 

Click to Enlarge
El Paso County records show Ortega has only filed in nine years.

El Paso County Court records show (see caption above) Ortega has only filed 10 cases since he was licensed in 2004 (that 10 cases in a 9-year period).  Of these 10 cases, the majority were divorces with no children and only 2 involved children which appear to be child custody.

 
Refusal to Represent the Best Interests of Children in District 7
 

In fact, Ortega has refused to represent the best interests and safety of the children and residents in District 7.

 

Recently he voted to approve placing all the railroad crossings in his district on a potential closure list jeopardizing public safety by limiting emergency routes and hospital access to just Yarbrough Drive.

Additionally, these closures would cost all Ysleta Independent School District taxpayers an additional $300,000 per year – money which should be used in the classroom for the education of children.

In May 2012, Ortega voted against helping YISD improving crosswalks in front of and near Bel Air High School.

 

Voter’s at the Cathedral forum got it right – Strong Moral Character and Public Trust matter and Steve Ortega is not qualified.

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.