ALBQUERQUE JOURNAL 2-2-2016
http://www.abqjournal.com/716526/news/house-passes-bill-to-allow-youth-curfews.html
House OKs bill to allow youth curfew ordinances
SANTA FE – The New Mexico House voted 44-21 on Monday to approve a bill that would allow cities and counties to enact youth curfew ordinances, sending it on to the Senate.
While critics of the measure argued curfews would criminalize young people and possibly lead to an increase in racial profiling, backers countered by describing them as a necessary tool for some crime-fatigued communities.
“I do see things running out of control,” said the bill’s sponsor, House Republican floor leader Nate Gentry of Albuquerque, who cited a recent increase in Albuquerque’s murder rate. “And I do feel the need to do something.”
If the measure is approved by the Legislature, any curfews subsequently enacted by cities or counties could apply to children 15 and under between midnight and 5 a.m., and during the day on school days.
But Rep. Bill McCamley, D-Mesilla Park, said statistics show most crimes involving high schoolers occur after school gets out.
“The majority of the crimes being committed by teenagers are being committed at times that are not included in the curfew,” McCamley said.
He also lamented a perceived focus on tough-on-crime bills in the GOP-controlled House, saying, “All we’ve heard is, ‘Put people in prison, put people in prison, put people in prison.’ ”
Other House Democrats voiced similar concerns, although nine of them ultimately voted for the measure.
“I wish there was another way to address this with our youth without having to pass this bill,” said Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Albuquerque.
The curfew legislation, House Bill 29, would include various exemptions, including youths going to or returning from school or religious functions.
In addition, local curfew ordinances would allow police to take children into protective custody in some situations – such as when an officer is unable to contact the youth’s parent or guardian.
Albuquerque previously had a teen curfew ordinance, but it was struck down by the state Supreme Court in 1999 after a lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico.
Meanwhile, the House also voted 65-0 Monday to approve a separate proposal, House Bill 72, that would allow judges to consider an adult offender’s juvenile crime record when setting bail and conditions of release.
Nicole Chavez, the mother of Jaydon Chavez-Silver, a Manzano High School student who was shot and killed last summer when shots were fired into a house party he was attending, is one of several family members of victims that have urging lawmakers to approve the crime-related bills.
She was present for Monday’s votes and said she hopes the juvenile records bill, which is named after her son, is able to clear the Senate.
“It’s very important to me and I think it would make a difference in other cases,” Chavez told the Journal.
________________________________________
http://www.abqjournal.com/716167/abqnewsseeker/early-childhood-funding-proposals-meet-differing-fates.html
http://www.danielsfund.org/Grants/Goals-Early-Education.asp AND THIS BELOW:
http://www.abqjournal.com/716428/news/whistleblowers-ask-u-s-attorney-for-new-probe-of-lanl-fraud-former-lab-officials-death.html
....AND ' ASSOCIATES.' YET SPI-WARE IS EVERYWHERE. 11:OO MIGHT BE TO LATE. |
This was written on paper towel at the YMCA. It was done so after listening to some ' nut.' And children listening to that old man and that ' wicked smile ' of his. The next day or so I went to Santa Fe, The Round House. In my video I referred to President Obama as a ' chump,' because after his first election the Democrat Party rescinded all new legislation and law regarding ' child porn.' This might happen in New Mexico too, after this Governor , Susana Martinez leaves office. WHAT WAS WRITTEN ON THE PAPPER TOWEL WAS FOR A SPEACIAL SESSION TO EXPLAN WITH MY OWN EXPERIENCES AND THE PEOPLE WHO I HAVE MET IN THE LAST TWELVE YEARS, INCLUDING MASONIC. THE LAST OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO WRITE WAS REGARDING JUDGE LAVELLE'S FAMILY AND DR. DRAKE AND CHILDREN AND WHEN I NEEDED A USED COMPUTER AND THE WAY THAT THEY EACH TURNED ON THIER OLD COMPUTERS AND LOOKED AT THE SCREEN AS IF IN CLICHE, ADMIRRING A CENTER FOLD AS IF IN A PLAYBOY. AND THE NIGHTMARE OF THREE MEN DRESSED IN BLACK, ANGLO FACES WHEN I WAS IN A ' SESSION ' AND THE LAST OF WHICH WAS SAID " HE'S ONE OF OURS." MY HEAD TURNED, MY LEFT EAR, SHOWN WITH AN INTENSE LIGHT. AND ALL THE ' RAPE ' NIGHTMARES/PENISES. |
The Protection of Prudence by Conscience
©-Jesus Bartholomew Ochoa III-A National Law that protects both women and children against Rape and child abuse ( by adults ) together, as one National Law. To protect and ensure their freedom in the United States of America. TO WRITE-CALL-FAX OR E-MAIL: The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments:202-456-1111 Fax: 202-456-2461 E-Mail:Comments@whitehouse.gov-IF YOU THINK IT DOES ANY GOOD
THE IDEA HERE WAS TO PRESENT A PROBLEM AND TRY TO WORK AROUND THE ISSUE OF ' RESPONSIBILITY ( MURDER ).'
WHAT THIS BRINGS TO MIND IS THE SOUNDS OF A WOMAN, " PLEASE DON'T HURT MY BABY." THEN A GUN SHOT, A SIGH; LEAVING OF BREATH. AND THE MAN IS STILL ON MY ROOF. THE FEMALE, I ASSUMED PULLED THE TRIGGER.
I TOLD JASON ROWDEN, A NEIGHBOR TO MY LEFT ON 5413 ALICE ST. ABOUT THIS AND HE STATED " WELL, I BET THEY ( JAMIE JORDON AND GIRLFRIEND ) REALLY HATE YOU." I WAS HOME THAT NIGHT ON THE HALL FLOOR WITH A THIRTY EIGHT....
BUT ' THE GANGSTERS, POLICE ( ALWAYS STATED " DON'T POINT THAT AT THE CEILING ! " ) WHERE ON TOP OF THE ROOF. THE NEXT DAY I LOOKED IN THE BACK YARD. THE LADDER WAS DOWN.?.?
JASON'S HOUSE WAS ILLEGALLY ENTERED NEXT, THE WHOLE KITCHEN DOOR OFF THE FRAME AND HINGES. BUT NO ONE WAS IN THE HOUSE. HOUSE WAS EMPTY. I CALLED POLICE, REPORT WAS MADE.
I PUT UP WITH YEARS OF SHIT, SO MANY CELL PHONES; DIFFERENT COMPANIES. ALWAYS TRYED TO MAKE THEM PRIVATE NUMBERS.
FROM ALL THAT I ' HEARD ' AT MY HOUSE 5417 ALICE NE. WAS THAT BOTH JAMIE WAS BEATEN AND RAPED, GIRLFRIEND THE SAME WITH EXCEPTION THAT HALF HER FACE WAS BLOWN OFF. JAMIES HOUSE WAS AND THE HOUSE STILL DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM JASONS. A CLAY SUN ON THE WALL.*
I WENT TO POLICE SUB-STATION AFTER THIS FIGHTING ALL THE ' NOISE ' AND ASKED FOR CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN NUMBER. I WAS GIVEN FBI WRITTEN DOWN AND A NUMBER. THE FEMALE DETECTIVE HAD ONE TEAR RUNNING DOWN HALFWAY DOWN HER FACE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I LOOKED LIKE.
* MONTE ROWDEN, RETIRED CLAIMS DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF ALQ, NM. AND WIFE APS SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, AT THE TIME OF MONTE'S DEATH, A MONTH OR SO, ALWAYS LOOKING AT SUNS, HIS IN KITCHEN AND THE ONE ON THE SOLD JORDON HOUSE; TEARS.
I NEVER FELL FOR THE CON, IT WAS A DRUG DEBT. I HEARD THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE WHITE ORB, THE SMALL STAR, CAME FROM THE ' DIRECTION OF THE SCULPTURE ' THE PROTECTION OF PRUDENCE BY CONSCIENCE.' THEN IT WENT BY ME ( MY LEFT SHOULDER ) AND ACROSS TO JAMIES HOUSE. I TOLD JASON THAT JAMIES GIRLFRIEND WAS PREGNANT. HE FOUND OUT LATER AND TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS.
ONE YEAR LATER, ONLY JAMIE AND CHILD, SHE WAS ONE YEAR OLD SAID " I REMEMBER YOU WHEN I WAS LITTLE."
I HAD NEVER SEEN HER AS A CHILD.
THE HEAD TO THE SCULPTURE IS IN MAUI, HI.
THE ARMS ARE AT THE HISPANIC CULTURAL CENTER.
I GUESS JOHN X. GONZALES SOLD THE BODY FOR SCRAP.
ANOTHER WOMAN IN EL PASO, TX. SHOWED ME A MASSIVE THUNDER CLOUD AND THE ' EYE ' I POINTED OUT TO HER. THE WHITE ORB, THE STAR WAS MOVING WHERE EVER IT WANTED TO GO; THAT'S WHAT SHE WANTED ME TO SEE.
HER CHILD ASKED HER TO STOP DOING DRUGS AND MIGHT OF HAD SOMETHING TO
DO WITH HER ARREST.
I NEVER TOLD HER THE EYE LOOKED TO BE ' MY MOTHER'S.'
_______________________________________________________________________________
WE GOT PART OF WHAT WE WANTED, BELOW.
http://sexetc.org/states/newmexico/ SEXTING IS IMPORTANT HERE; THINK
LIBRARIES AND ADULT MALES IN PARTICULAR.
ACCESSORY TO FACT - 2002-2003
WHAT I WAS CHARGED WITH IN A ‘ SESSION,’ ATTACK, LUCID DREAMING OR WHAT EVER
YOU WANT TO CALL IT; FOR OBSERVATIONS THAT EVEN POLICE THEMSELVES KNEW; THEY
RENTED.
“ YOU COME FROM A GOOD FAMILY BART.” HENRY STREET, ON THE
PHONE. I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT AT THE OPPORTUNITY CENTER, A HOMELESS SHELTER.
EL PASO, TEXAS.
" THIS IS BARTHOLOMEW OCHOA, A FEDERAL NARC ( NARCOTICS OFFICER )." DANIAL FINEMARK TO A WHITE HAIRED OLD WHITE SUPREMACIST, A VETERAN. 2005-'06.
DID THE WOMEN HAVE " AIDS ? " THE WOMAN WHO DIED IN JAIL WAS SAID TO HAVE HAD ' AIDS.'
THE MOTORCYLES FOLLOWING ME WERE NON-DISCRIPT. CAPS HAD SHAMROCKS. IN AUSTIN SOME MEN JOKED " MAYBE WE SHOULD HIRE BANDITOS TO FIGHT TERRORISM, SMART GROUP ! THEY'ED PROBALY WIN ! " THIS AT DISCOUNT TIRES. 2010. WHEN I WAS ASKED WHERE I WAS FROM. HE WAS BLOND, BLUE EYED AND HIGH AND TIGHT HAIR, GEE GO FIGURE.
" NEW GAME IN TOWN." THE ANGLO SAID AT DAN'S PLACE. FINEMARK DIDN'T HEAR IT. THEN THE GUY LEFT. I ALWAYS HEARD " SHARE THE WEALTH ! " DAY AND NIGHT.2002-2009.
" THIS IS BARTHOLOMEW OCHOA, A FEDERAL NARC ( NARCOTICS OFFICER )." DANIAL FINEMARK TO A WHITE HAIRED OLD WHITE SUPREMACIST, A VETERAN. 2005-'06.
DID THE WOMEN HAVE " AIDS ? " THE WOMAN WHO DIED IN JAIL WAS SAID TO HAVE HAD ' AIDS.'
THE MOTORCYLES FOLLOWING ME WERE NON-DISCRIPT. CAPS HAD SHAMROCKS. IN AUSTIN SOME MEN JOKED " MAYBE WE SHOULD HIRE BANDITOS TO FIGHT TERRORISM, SMART GROUP ! THEY'ED PROBALY WIN ! " THIS AT DISCOUNT TIRES. 2010. WHEN I WAS ASKED WHERE I WAS FROM. HE WAS BLOND, BLUE EYED AND HIGH AND TIGHT HAIR, GEE GO FIGURE.
" NEW GAME IN TOWN." THE ANGLO SAID AT DAN'S PLACE. FINEMARK DIDN'T HEAR IT. THEN THE GUY LEFT. I ALWAYS HEARD " SHARE THE WEALTH ! " DAY AND NIGHT.2002-2009.
- By Devon
Armijo
Only 1 detective tracking West Mesa murder mystery
Published 11:07
AM MST Feb 01, 2016
Photos
ALBUQUERQUE,
N.M. —It's been seven years since the victims of the West Mesa murders were
discovered.
The
bodies of 11 women and a fetus were found buried in Albuquerque's West Mesa in
February 2009.
According
to the Albuquerque Journal, only one detective is left on the case task force,
which once had 40 members.
Police
confirmed last year that two men were still on their list of possible suspects.
They are keeping quiet about who might be under the microscope.
JUST NUMBERS
DET.MARK MANARY
AMBITIONS TO RESOLVE THIS CASE IS PURSUANT TO MANY FACTORS THAT ARE IN DIRECT
RELATIONSHIP TO NOT ONLY ‘ FEAR ‘ BUT THE PUBLIC’S ‘ PRIDE ‘ IN THE CRIMINALS OF
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO.
ONE OF THE FACES THAT
I SAW SO LONG AGO IN THE PAPERS BELONGED TO A WOMAN WHO I RECOGNIZED AT A
SUPERMARKET NEAR THE MOUNTAINS ON LOMAS NEXT TO A BAR WHEN I WAS LOOKING FOR
CARTS FOR SMITHS. SHE WAS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD OFTEN, WITH A MAN FROM THE OLD
DAVE BERRY HOUSE.
THE PAPER SAID SHE WAS
ONE OF THE WEST MESA GIRLS. SHE IS DEAD, THE PAPER WAS ABOUT 2009 OR SO.
TODAY I RECOGNIZED TWO
MORE FOR SURE AND ANOTHER, GONZALES WHO LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE A WOMAN WHO I WAS
INTRODUCED TO AND TOLD LATER HAD AIDS AND WAS KILLED IN JAIL.
ALBUQUERQUE IS FILLED
WITH SO MANY WOMEN WHO LOOK LIKE OTHERS, MOST ESPECIALLY NOW WITH THE
PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT; CATTLE.
AND YET, THAT WOMAN’S
EYES AT THAT BAR, DISTANT, FEARFUL, ‘ GET ME OUT OF HERE.’ HER EYES WERE BLUE,
I THINK, ALMOST ‘ LIFELESS.’ THIS ABOUT 2001-2002, DEXTER, A STORE MANAGER
WOULD HAVE TO BE ASKED FOR DATE; FAIRHEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD. TWO DATES WILL
COMBINE, SOMETIMES I WENT THAT FAR WHEN LOOKING FOR CARTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY
NEIGHBORHOOD’S SMITHS, THE POOR WALKED THAT FAR. CARTS WERE EVEN AROUND THE
DESERTS AROUND THE AIRPORT.
WHEN I STOPED AT
FINEMARK’S SHOP, DAN’S PLACE, HE WASN’T THERE, AND I RODE ON AND A SHOT RANG
OUT STRUCK THE LIGHT POST. ANOTHER BIKE HAS BEEN THERE SIMILAR TO MY BROTHER’S,
BUT DAN DOESN’T RIDE A HONDA.BOTH BLACK. THIS BEFORE MY OPERATION, I GUESS I
WAS WEARING THE WRONG COLOR, A RED, BROWN ELBOW PATCHED HUNTING SHIRT.
FINEMARK IS NOT A MAN
WHO WOULD MIX WORDS WITH ANYONE, MYSELF INCLUDED. IF HE WANTED ME DEAD, I WOULD
BE DEAD. HE IS NAVY SEAL.
GANGSTERS ON THE OTHER
HAND, SALIVATING, BICKERING, WHINING AND MOANING, SCRATCHING TO GET AHEAD IN THEIR
LITTLE DRUG INDUCED WORLDS AND THE POLICE THEY ‘ INCUR ‘ BITING AT ANKLES FOR
ADVANCEMENTS AND GLORY IN THE BARS AND PAGES OF NEWSPAPERS; MORE MONEY TO
INVEST AND ‘ LITE.’
I MADE A ‘ DEAL ‘ WITH
A VOICE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COMPUTER SCREEN, I GUESS, “ KEEP IT ABOUT KIDS
( CHILDREN ).” AND I HAVE. FOR A LONG TIME I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST IN MY ‘ HEAD.’
BUT NOW I KNOW OF SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGIES USED AND A VERY CORRUPT ACTIVE
MILITARY. WE DON’T MATTER, THUS OUR CHILDREN.
EVERYBODY ‘ ON THE
STREETS KNOWS THIS.’ EVERYBODY. EVERYONE SAYS " THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT ! "
A WOMAN ASKED ME FOR
SOME MONEY ONCE FOR GAS AND SHE HAD GANGLAND TATTOOS ALL OVER HER BODY, EVEN
EYELIDS.
THEN A RED TRUCK RAMS
A WALLED YARD AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS ( 2006 - ABOUT FEB ), THEN LATER ON THE NEWS ‘ BODY PARTS WITH TATTOOS ‘
ARE AIRED TO HELP IDENTIFY ‘ HER.’ THE POLICE FIGURED THAT MUCH OUT.
SO MANY ‘ POLICE,’ “
PUT YOUR HANDS UP ! “ “ WALK AWAY ! “ “ DON’T POINT THAT WEAPON AT THE CEILING
! “ AND SO MUCH MORE A FEW YEARS BEFORE 2006. ‘ SO MANY POLICE.’ THEN, A REAL
BUST WITH REAL WHITE POLICE CARS EVERYWHERE, WITH REALLY REAL POLICE.
I ASKED A NEIGHBOR,
HAVE YOU NOTICED ALL THE YOUNG WOMEN AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ALL GONE. DAVE
BARRY WAS “ RENTING FROM COPS.” AND I
THOUGHT OF THAT CLOUD POINTING IN DIRECTION. THIS WAS ABOUT 2004-05. IN 2003-'04, THE CAPT OF APD " YOU KNOW THE FAIRHEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD COULD EASILY BECOME THE SAME AS THE TRUMBLE NEIGHBORHOOD;" AN HOUR OF HOW HE COULD HAVE WORKED FOR THE FBI BEFORE THAT REMARK.I ASKED A NEIGHBOR GEORGE AT 1111 MARBLE OR LA VETA, " WAS THAT A VEILED THREAT ? " HE SMILED, " I THINK IT WAS."
WHY SUCH A BIG DEAL ?
DAN FINEMARK RENTED FROM CAPT. BACCHUS IN THE EARLY YEARS; MOTORCYCLES ? BIG
DEAL." THERE JUST A MOTORCYCLE CLUB." " ALOT OF PARTIES." DAN SAID.
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS.......
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS.......
EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS;
THIS IS THE FOUNDATIONS OF RAPE, SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT TO WOMEN
AND MOTHERS HUMAN TRAFFICKERS AND JUST SELLINGS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN OUT TO
CITY HALL, WHEN YOU REALLY GET DOWN TO IT.
AND I THINK OF THE
PAINTING WITH THE SEVEN ON MY FOREHEAD GIVEN TO TEXAS STATE REPRESENTATIVE PAUL
MORENO, RETIRED, AT A TIME WHEN PAMULA SAID THAT FBI WAS ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT
ME. WE ‘ LEAP,’ BUT WE ARE RIGHT. THIS, PRIOR TO 1999.
THE PILL
A PILL IS THE PRECURSOR TO ' THE AFFECT,' OR RADIANCE OF A ' CELL.'
RECENTLY ISIS MADE
ANOTHER THREAT IN VIDEO ( http://phaethonstar-soberover.blogspot.com/2016/01/wolf-no-dog-but-keep-trying.html,) AND ANOTHER ‘ MEMORY ‘ TRIGGERED. I POSTED THE
COORDINATES ( ; A STRUCTURED ABSTRACTION BASED ON ‘ FAITH ‘ WITHIN ONE GENDER,
ABSOLUTE WITHOUT THE ‘ OTHER.’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-releases-new-execution-video-as-it-warns-of-doomsday-attacks-on-uk-a6844751.html
A MACHINED ‘ BIO-MASS.’ SO, NOW YOU KNOW THE ALLAINCE AGAINST AMERICA AND IT STARTED WITH HOMOSEXUALITY; PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT. WIGGS, TORRIES. ANGLOS IN SUPPORT OF ISIS: CAPITAL; MONEY.
BELOW IS A PLAN REPRESENTED IN ‘ STEALTH ‘ AS TO WHAT CAN
HAPPEN IN ANY CITY, DESPITE ALL LAW AND SOME ‘ CIVIL RIGHTS,’ INCORPORATED
WITHIN ‘ POLITICS.’ NEIGHBORHOODS WERE AND STILL ARE INCLUDED ( UNDERSTOOD TO BE UNDESIRABLE BY PRETEND AND WHITE SOCIETY ).
MY NAME BARTHOLOMEW OCHOA WAS CORRECTED A DAY OR TWO LATER
IN THE EL PASO TIMES. JESUS OCHOA WAS USED, THOUGH WITH THE CONGRESSMAN ON THE
BUS, ALL WAS RECORDED. THE NAME OF ‘ MY FATHER,’ WAS THE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENT
TO IDEALS HE DOES NOT REPRESENT AS TO THE REDESIGN OF DOWNTOWN EL PASO AND NEW
STADIUM; I WAS, AT THE TIME, UNAWARE.
hPaso Del Norte Group
The Paso Del Norte Group (PDNG)
is a private organization of approximately 360 business and civic leaders of El Paso, Texas, United States. The group, meant to be
representative of the El Paso region, also includes members from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, and Southern New Mexico.
Patterned after similar leadership
groups in cities across the country, and specifically the Commercial Club of Chicago, Illinois,
a venerable institution that stepped out of the background and into the middle
of public policy issues several years ago, the Paso Del Norte Group is involved
in promoting—quietly—such major policy initiatives as the Regional Mobility
Authority and the Medical School of the Americas.
Contents
- History
- Leadership
- Group Practices
- The El Paso Downtown Plan
- Members
- Past members
- References
- External links
HistoryEdit
Much of the group's history and past
actions have not been made public. Most of what has been made public about the
group was acquired via the Freedom of
Information Act.
The Paso Del Norte Group was in part an
evolution of the El Paso Leadership Research Council, a group formed in 1999 by
businessman Woody Hunt, whose company is one of the leading corporations in the
region. Hunt is a member of the PDNG Executive Committee today.
The Council was made up of 40 CEOs, and
focused on research-based public policy. After several years, The group failed
to move forward and serve its potential, so it changed its name in 2003 to “El
Paso Business Leadership Council”. Hunt served as the initial chairman; into
2004, with Bob Hoy as chairman, Myrna Deckert was brought in as COO. She, in
turn, with Jack Cardwell, who founded the Petro chain of truck stops and gas stations, and William Sanders,
a real estate developer who brought his Verde Realty Group to El Paso,
developed the current structure. In March 2004 the group changed its name to
“Paso Del Norte Group.”
Sanders, in particular, has been
described as a driving force in developing the Paso Del Norte Group. Sanders,
who originally is from El Paso but made his fortune in Chicago, brought a model
from that city—the Commercial Club, a storied organization of great influence
in that city. He is the co-founder of the Paso del Norte Group.
LeadershipEdit
In a July 21, 2006 article in the El Paso Times, Myrna Deckert is indicated to be
the "president and CEO of the Paso Del Norte Group".[1]
In a May 19, 2006 email newsletter,
Lisa Colquitt Muñoz was indicated to have accepted a staff position of Deputy
Chief Operating Officer.[2]
Group PracticesEdit
New members of the Paso Del Norte Group
must be nominated by two current members, and approved by leadership.
Most members are required to sign confidentiality
agreements upon gaining membership. Some members deny having signed any such
agreement.
Members are charged an annual fee of
$750 to $1,800 generally.
The group meets as a body two or three
times a year. While members meet as a body only a few times a year, the group
as a whole is divided into task forces that meet regularly, covering, among
other areas: downtown; military; health care; education; water; and
transportation.
The PDNG has been described by members
as a group of civic and business leaders that employs members within.
The group sponsors speakers for
breakfast or dinner meetings; as was the case on Thursday, May 18, 2006. U.S.
Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman was
scheduled to be a speaker at the El Paso Country Club.
The El Paso
Downtown PlanEdit
It is the Downtown Plan, that recently
pushed the PDNG into public view.
Although the vast majority of the
group's actions have been cloaked in secrecy, a select few details have been
developed. Before making the plan public, the PDNG undertook several important
steps to ensure the plan's success.
The Paso Del Norte Group, under the
auspices of its foundation, in cooperation with former city Mayor Joe Wardy, and El Paso City Council, initiated a process in 2004
to create a Master Plan for the redevelopment of approximately 127.5 acres
(516,000 m2) in Downtown El Paso. On Feb. 15, 2006, the City
Council and Mayor John Cook
renewed the process by approving the ongoing development of the Master Plan.
The Paso Del Norte Group's Foundation
raised funds from the following sources:
The City of El Paso
|
$250,000
|
The Economic Development
Administration
|
$259,873
|
The Private Sector of the El Paso
community
|
$250,000
|
A Downtown Redevelopment Task Force, a
local volunteer group of PDNG members, was established under the criteria that
no member of the Task Force was allowed to own any property in downtown El
Paso.
The Task Force solicited bids from
three of the world's leading urban planning firms and hired SMWM (at a
reported cost of $284,000.00 to the group) which has extensive experience in
planning for redevelopment of urban areas. The Task Force spent thousands of
hours on this project with the primary objective to develop a comprehensive
Master Plan for Downtown El Paso that would be economically viable and feasible
to implement.
Once a plan was formulated, a contract
with the City of El Paso was forged to establish a loose partnership between
the city and the Paso Del Norte Group.
The contract with the city for the
Downtown Plan actually was with the PDNG Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that operates as a
supporting agency to the Paso Del Norte Group, a 501(c)(6) business leadership organization.
The Task Force leadership is said to
meet consistently with the Mayor and City Council members to brief them on the
progress of the plan. In addition, reports have supposedly been sent regularly
to the City Manager and to
the Economic
Development Administration.
The El Paso Downtown redevelopment Plan
Does not go without controversy however. Opponents say they are for
revitalization of downtown but criticize the Paso Del Norte Group plan for
several reasons:
- The plan includes the use of eminent domain
to transfer land to private developers. The opponents believe this
violates Texas laws prohibiting the use of eminent domain for commercial
development.
- The plan includes about 30 acres
(120,000 m2) of the historic heart of the Segundo Barrio,
the oldest neighborhood in El Paso, to build a "big-box retail
store." The predominantly working-class Mexican American neighborhood
played a crucial role in the history of immigration, the Mexican
Revolution, the Cristero War and the renaissance of the Chicano movement
in the 60s and 70s. The opponents argue that none of the residents,
business owners, or community groups within the "redevelopment
zone" in the Segundo Barrio were consulted before the area was
charted as a place for the proposed strip malls and parking garages. The
plan will forcibly relocate about 1,800 residents.
- The plan was carried out in a
secretive and non-inclusive manner for two years by the Paso Del Norte
Group members who kept their membership list secret until May 2006.
Opponents do not believe the PDNG group is truly representative of the El
Paso population that is overwhelmingly Mexican American.
- Opponents question the decision of
El Paso City Council representative Robert "Beto" O'Rourke to
not recuse himself from voting on the Paso Del Norte Group downtown plan.
O'Rourke is the son-in-law of the billionaire developer William Sanders
and the driving force behind this plan. They argued that this was a
conflict of interest and filed a complaint to the City's ethics commission.
On October 11, 2006 the Ethics Commission voted not to see or hear formal
evidence of the conflict-of-interest charges.
Supporters argue that downtown
properties are not paying their fair share in property taxes, and that El
Paso's downtown is generally under-performing. Opponents argue that the PDNG
has been exaggerating these claims since many business district outside of
downtown pay even less in taxes than the downtown businesses do.
Various protest groups have formed to
combat the implementation of the plan including most prominently the Land Grab
Opponents of El Paso which has announced that it will fight the city
in court over the proposed plan unless the City Council takes the possible use
of eminent domain off the table. The group has hired Dallas attorney Stuart
Blaugrund, a former El Pasoan, for representation. As well, a handful of
support groups have also formed, many branching off from the PDNG, like Move El
Paso Forward and Somos El Paso.
Other key opposition groups include Downtown
Revitalization Coalition, El Paso del Sur, Centro Chicano, Inc, Union Plaza
Property Owners Association, We the People of El Paso, Centro De Los
Trabajadores Agricolas Freonterizos, and The El Paso Korean Chamber
of Commerce.
Prominent individuals within the city
have mobilized to oppose the plan as well. David Dorado Romo, historian and
author of Ringside Seat to a Revolution: An Underground Cultural History of El
Paso and Juárez, has criticized the plan for the proposed demolition of several
historical buildings including the site where the first novel of the Mexican
Revolution, Los de Abajo, was printed in 1915 and the home of the first African
American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy Henry Flipper. In addition,
Father Rafael Garcia of Sacred Heart Church, El Paso Bishop Armando Ochoa,
Yolanda Leyva, a UTEP history professor, County Attorney José
Rodriguez, former Judge Alicia Chacon and community activist Pete Duarte have
all spoken out against the plan individually.
At the El Paso City Council meeting
held on July 9, 2006, it was decided to prohibit the use of eminent domain
during the first year that the Downtown Revitalization Plan is implemented. The
resolution was adopted just before 11 p.m. during a special meeting that lasted
more than four hours and was attended by about 400 people.
Amidst pressure, the City of El Paso
has suggested the plan be re-engineered to better suit the community. Yet,
opposition groups say recent revisions made to the plan have not corrected its
flaws. The roots of the controversy such as the proposed use of eminent domain
to transfer land to private developers, has been postponed but will be used if
after a year the local owners do not wish to sell their property. At a July 17,
2006 Better Business Bureau
luncheon hosted by the PDNG and the City of El Paso
- It will improve Downtown's tax
base and help out overtaxed homeowners. Opponents argue that the City has
refused to state how much this plan will actually cost the taxpayers.
- Planners think the arts and
culture walk will become to Latino art what Santa Fe is to Indian art,
especially if the walk is extended into Juárez.
- The "lifestyle" district
will include mixed shopping, entertainment, restaurants and housing,
bringing life to Downtown at night.
- A multipurpose arena that will
complement the convention center will help attract new hotels and give El
Paso a shot at much larger conventions.
- A modern mercado that could rival
the popular Mercado La Paloma in Los Angeles.
Opponents remain unsatisfied as worries
over the proposed use of eminent domain has not been remedied. Furthermore,
opponents remain uneasy over the groups intention to include 8.5 acres
(34,000 m2) additional into the "demolition zone"
bringing the affected area to 135 acres (550,000 m2) of
Downtown El Paso.
On June 21, 2006 Morgan Stanley Real Estate announced they had entered into a
three-year, $150 million-public-private equity partnership to develop
properties and assets National Capital Revitalization Corp. owns throughout the
Downtown El Paso area, only leading to more controversy and upset by those
within the proposed redevelopment zone.
On September 14, 2006 the El Paso
Central Business Association (CBA) voted to endorse a resolution
opposing the plan.[3] The resolution “calls upon the City
Council to immediately vacate its March 31[4] and July 10 resolutions, and table all
further discussion of the Downtown Plan until the use of eminent domain that is
not for public use or that is intended for private entity to private entity
transfer is removed from the Downtown Plan.” Edie Zuvanich, who plays a key
role in one of the opposition group, the Unified
Downtown Revitalization Coalition, said that the CBA called the
meeting to discuss a resolution to endorse the Downtown Plan. City Manager Joyce
Wilson wrote a letter in opposition to the CBA meeting.[5] The letter was read at the beginning of
the meeting. Zuvanich Also publicly commented on the Downtown Management District, which is a tax district that
shares administrative staff with the CBA, and ironically put $100,000 toward
the plan. “$100,000 of our businesses taxes went to fund the PDNG plan, not to
clean the streets or what it's supposed to be used for,” Zuvanich said.
Plan supporters have begun an
advertising campaign, which includes contracting with a Green Bay call-taking
company to sign up supporters to write letters to the editor and attend public
meetings.
The new plan, with a more comprehensive
narrative, is to be presented at the next meeting of the City Plan Commission,
Thursday September 21, 2006. At which time, the process of incorporating the
Downtown Plan into the city's master plan will commence. Meetings are scheduled
for September 28 at the Civic Center and October 5 in City Hall, where the City
Plan Commission will vote, and culminating in a vote by City Council to approve
the plan on October 10, according to a schedule given to members of the Paso
Del Norte Group. A draft of the material is floating around City Hall, but city
officials said that since it is still in draft form it is not public
information. “Until we have a draft in final format to go public with there is
nothing available,” City Manager Wilson said.
Before the Plan Commission meets, city
lawyers are reviewing whether two of the members have a conflict of interest
that would keep them from voting.
Veronica Rosales, a former planner with
the city and a member of the City Plan Commission, also is a member of the Paso
Del Norte Group's Downtown Plan committee, and helped develop the plan before
leaving the city more than a year ago. “I'm not sure if I'm going to vote on this.
I think we're going to end up getting a legal opinion. Personally I would feel
more comfortable if I abstained, but I know there are no conflicts since I
worked on it so long ago as staff, and haven't been involved since March,”
Rosales said.
The other member who might have a
conflict is Charlie Gallinar, a planner for La Fe who also helped develop and
promote the Downtown Plan. He could not be reached for comment. Gus Haddad, the
Plan Commission Chairman, said “I've requested our attorney to look into those
two matters.
On November 20, 2006, Two County
Commissioners were outraged as the city asks the county not to participate in a
key part of the city's downtown revitalization plan. The mayor's Chief of Staff
Sylvia Borunda Firth, Deputy City Manager Pat Adauto and the Paso Del Norte
Group's Myrna Deckert were dismissed by the Commissioners court after deleting
the city's requests from the day's agenda.[6]
City officials gave a presentation at
the meeting, voicing their intent to create a tax increment refinancing zone (TIRZ).
They also asked the county to waive its right to have any part in it. Neither
of the two agenda items sought county participation but Larry Medina expressed
his disgust with the city for approaching the county now, months after adopting
the plan from the Paso del Norte Group.
He said Firth's belated presentation
"is a perfect example of the disrespect that this plan and the proponents
of this plan and the people who started this plan in secret ... have shown to
this community." "I am against this plan, not because I am against a
plan," Medina said. "I am for a plan to revitalize our Downtown area
and the Segundo Barrio. This plan I am totally against it because of the way it
was started in secret."
Cook said the city, never counting on
support from other taxing jurisdictions, can go ahead with the establishment of
the tax increment finance zone next month as planned.
Asking the county, El Paso Independent
School District and El Paso Community College district if they want to invest
any of their Downtown tax revenues in the Downtown plan is only a formality
required by state law.[7]
Medina and Commissioner Betti Flores
were also upset that city officials were asking them to waive their rights for
advance notice of the creation of the tax district and for an appointment of a
director to the TIRZ board.
The court unanimously voted to delete
the two items from the agenda, meaning the county will have a voice in the
taxing district.
Medina offered a grim prediction of
what may happen: "If you go forward with this plan, you will hit obstacle
after obstacle, you'll hit lawsuit after lawsuit, picket after picket, and you
know what's going to happen at the end?" he said. "Ten, 12, 15 years
from now, we're going to have three or four scattered buildings, three or four
blocks that were actually done and redone."
MembersEdit
Membership is a private organization.
Past membersEdit
- Antonio Aguirre
- Jennifer Barr Ardovino
- W.T. "Bill" Barnhouse,
III
- Richard Black
- Sherman Bodner
- Sergio Borunda Flores
- Chana Burton
- Tom Casaday
- Chuck Dodson
- John Ferrell
- John Geske
- Don Hairston
- Wallace (Ben) Hobson
- Amy Hussmann
- Vanessa Johnson
- W. Park Kerr
- Enoch Kimmelman
- Lance Levine
- Cookie Mapula
- Bea Martinez
- Col. Roger Mathews
- William J. 'Bill' McCamley
- Mace Miller
- Christopher Multhauf
- Cindy Nance
- Beto O'Rourke
- Raymond Palacios
- Margaret Perez
- Laura Pople
- Raul Prieto
- Gwen Pulido
- Gerardo Rodriguez
- Veronica Rosales
- Thad Steele
- Bill Struck
- A.F. (Tom) Thomas
- Pat Thomson
- Terrie Todd
- Linda Volk
- Emma Wollschlager Schwartz
- Joe Wardy
- Blanca Enriquez
ReferencesEdit
6. ^ KVIA.com El Paso, Las Cruces - Weather, News, Sports - TIRZ
'snub' sets city against county commissioners
External linksEdit
- Official
website
- The El Paso
Times
- News Paper Tree
- Official El Paso Downtown Revitalization Plan
- Sito Negron - Author, and expert on the Downtown Plan
- City Council Orientation May 2005
- Paso del Sur Website
- Jesus B.
Ochoa Website
- Land
Grab Opponents of El Paso
- Unified
Downtown Revitalization Coalition
- We the
People of El Paso
- Centro De Los
Trabajadores Agricolas Freonterizos
- ®
- Mobile
- Desktop
- Content is available under CC BY-SA 3.0 unless otherwise noted.
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