FeatherFest Saturday!

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Earth Day Forum for All City Council Candidates Tomorrow

Forum for All City Council Candidates Tomorrow

Does Lilly Campaign Finance Report Reveal Vote Bias?

Ann Morgan Lilly's campaign finance report may reveal more than what the El Paso Times reported. Their Saturday front page headline story, PAC aids candidates: Group backs Lilly, Niland for council, states that $24,782 has gone to Lilly (District 1) and Niland (District 2). Lilly got the lion's share of it: $17,682. Here's what the Times didn't mention.

Remember that 7-1 vote to approve TxDOT's Transmountain plan. That was held on Tuesday, March 29. When did the PAC led by Woody Hunt, Robert Brown, Richard Castro, Steve DeGroat, Rick Francis, Paul Foster and Beto O'Rourke's father-in-law, Bill Sanders give money to Rep. Lilly's campaign? January 15 ($2,000/Consulting); February 15 ($2,000/Consulting and $5943.78/Signs; March 15 (3,000/Consulting and $4738.70/Mail)

$17,682.48 before March 15. Vote for TxDOT on March 29. BTW, at that same meeting, Rep. Byrd's amendments to remove Paseo del Norte or its overpass failed and Plexxar was added to the Master Thoroughfare Plan. (March 29th Agenda)

This stinks.

Here's Lilly's finance report:

Lilly Campaign Finance Report

Letter Outlines Deficiencies in TxDOT EA

A letter to TxDOT outlines the serious problems with their Environmental Assessment of the Transmountain Road project between I-10 and the State Park. It is written by the law firm of Lawerre, Frederick, Perales, Allman & Rockwell, the attorneys for the local chapter of the Sierra Club. It utilizes a key study by David Simon, the principal of Eco-Think Consulting.

It makes the following chief points:

TxDOT's EA is underfunded and deficient.

The report used outdated data.

There is no true evaluation of the noise impact.

There is no true evaluation of the visual impact and, in fact, the video that TxDOT provides online does not include commercial, industrial or residential development.

It underestimates damage to biodiversity, wildlife and vegetation.

What is needed is study for an Environmental Impact Study.

Here's the letter and attachment of the consultant's findings:

Sierra Club Public Hrg Comments-TxDOT Loop 375 Transmtn West

Taste of Frontera April 28th

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Native Plant Sale April 16 and 17

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PSB Can't Answer Simple Question about New PR Position

Have you ever noticed that the PSB just can't answer a simple question directly or easily? They dodge. They weave. They refer things to legal counsel.

I asked Christina $84,820/year Montoya the following easy question based on a story in the El Paso Times:

Christina,

In yesterday’s El Paso Times was a story that PSB/EPWU was hiring a new public information specialist and that “the PSB voted to create the new position long before the shortage [February freeze] occurred.

Will you please email me the minutes of the PSB meeting at which there was a vote to create the new position?

Thank you.

Jim H. Tolbert

Publisher, El Paso Naturally

You would think that I would get back a simple email that would say "See Attached" with an attached PDF of the minutes of the PSB meeting at which the new position was voted upon. Pretty easy for most people accountable to the public whose organizations have nothing to hide. Instead, here was Christina $84,820/year Montoya's reply:

Jim,

Our legal department is in receipt of your request and will respond.

Thank you,

Christina

The Times went on to report that the new staff person will make between $39,500 and $58,500/year. I know someone at City Hall who does the same kind of job as Christina $84,820/year Montoya but who makes $36,000 less than she does. He is more creative and more responsive to the public. I won't mention his name because he would probably be embarrassed.

When asked whether the new person at PSB would mean having a 3-person PR staff at PSB, Christina $84,820/year Montoya responded that right now there is one person doing public relations and that she herself is "executive staff". Personal message to Ed $275,000*/year Archuleta: Sell more land, buddy. You've got to pay for all these needless positions at PSB to cover your ass.

*The Times got it wrong. They reported that Archuleta makes $250,000. The Texas Tribune keeps up on current salaries of public officials. Read here for Ed's. Joyce Wilson who is far more valuable to the City of El Paso makes $47,419/year less than PSB's CEO! That difference would just about pay for a Marketing/Communications position at City Hall for a guy who does better work than is done over at the PSB. At least he quickly and easily answers questions from the public.