Refuse the Juice

Mayor to appoint man who insulted all of District 1 to major board

Mayor Cook isn't done embarrassing himself or burning what is left of his legacy.  Are you surprised?

Tomorrow Mayor Cook wants former Council Member Gene Finke appointed to the Charter Review Committee.  The Mayor plans on trying to get the committee to recommend term limits be lifted for city elected officials.  He apparently thinks he could still win an election - a laughable premise no matter how you try to sell it. 

Finke spent an evening last week at a special council meeting calling all of the residents of District 1 (a district he used to represent, by the way) "white supremacists." Check the video from the redistricting meeting and you'll see.  

Those who have had the displeasure of being around the old coot says when he's not sleeping through meetings he's making very bizarre statements and blocking any progress a committee might make. 

The Mayor is obviously trying to put a puppet on the committee so he can try and force his will on their findings.  Too bad City Council sets the final changes with Charter Review. 

Quick notes on Briones and sealed documents

I'm guessing everyone saw the ridiculous plea for Briones written by her buddy that appeared an El Paso Times article HERE.  The biggest thing I take from it is that these types of people really don't see what they did as wrong.  They don't want to take responsibility for it because they believe stealing from the public is their right.  It's amazing how nuts these people are.

The worst part is the plea to get Briones a job so that she game the unemployment system.  That part of the letter should be forwarded to the authorities so when she tries to make her claim they can deal with that properly.  I think all unemployment fraud is premeditated, but this is a little bit worse than your average thief.  Think of the people who really need the unemployment checks - the ones trying to get employed and stay employed.  If don't think our welfare system is corrupt - think again.  The letter proves that large portions of the population know how to cheat the system and don't think they aren't acting on that knowledge.

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I know everyone is upset about Judge Montalvo's super sealed documents relating to the ongoing corruption prosecution.  If you don't know the inside story, or understand what's a play here, you'd have every right to be mad.  I happen to know the game here and Briones' email plea is a great way of making the point.

People in a position to confirm or deny my words following this sentence will 100 percent always deny they are true - in public... right now.  People "in the know" have told me as much.  Give it a few years and people will be saying what I'm saying right now.

The FBI was so shocked at the amount of corruption they found once they started the investigation they made it clear to the federal prosecutors that nobody in El Paso could be trusted with the information because they'd start destroying evidence, alerting suspects and everything else that corrupt people do.  People doing the investigation were literally saying "better than 90 percent of the people either elected or appointed to office at the County of El Paso are involved."

If the judge were to make all the information available it would hinder the government's ability to bring those bad people to justice.  The federal prosecutors believe this, the judge believes this and the FBI investigators on the case believe this.  Even here in DC, federal law enforcement and prosecutors are astounded at the level of corruption that was taking place in El Paso and how so many people escaped prosecution on the sheer fact that everybody involved was so corrupt they couldn't use them as witnesses against each other because either they weren't credible or they wouldn't testify.  It was described to me as a situation where a person is murdered and 20 people witnessed it, but they were are breaking so many laws at the time of the murder that they wouldn't say how they saw the murder because it would incriminate them and the murderer walks free. 

The bottom line - the feds do not trust anyone in El Paso with the information because they fear the corruption is so deep it would kill their case.  References to the "tip of the iceberg" are common.  And as you know, what is sticking out of the water that you can see is likely much smaller than what is not in sight. 

If you think I'm full of it here, think about Briones and how she views her involvement in the whole thing.  Don't you think many others have no feeling of personally responsibility?  How do you think they would react if they had info that could help them cover their tracks or another corrupt colleague's tracks?

I know you all want all the information you can get, but I think you should be patient and let the government do its job.  They aren't done dealing with the rats in the those sewers downtown.

I have a question for all of you

What's the status of the rent over at Cohen Stadium?  Up to date?  Or, tens of thousands of dollars behind ?

Wouldn't you like to know. 

Maybe y'all ought not to be worried about 2015 and instead 200-now.

Muench is right - where did all the love for City Hall come from?

Read Muench's column HERE.

I like a lot of the points he makes in his column and as usual he has a knack for putting into words what many are thinking - and he does it in a way that makes you laugh.... maybe even at yourself sometimes.

He is right on with his question about where all the lovers of City Hall and the Insights Museum have been hiding.  Have most of the whiners ever been to either? 

City Hall has the constant stench of sewer gas on the main floor.  I've done a lot of work on sewers - big, small and gigantic - I've seen a lot of shit in my day.  More importantly - I've smelled it.  The first floor smells like a manhole atop a 24 inch sewer main - and that can kill a person.   My contractor buddies (who are at City Hall ten times a week) and I have often talked about  the problem and how dangerous it is and we all agree the fix is north of a million bucks at a minimum.   I've seen building owners tear entire shopping centers down over much more minor plumbing problems.

Once you get past the smell the other problems just start piling up and the cost to fix them all follows the height of the pile - up, up and up.   Taxpayers could spend $15 million polishing a turd, or $5 million renovating the Blue Flame and paying $1 a year in rent from here to eternity.  You don't have to be a real estate genius to understand how good of a deal taxpayers are actually getting.  Most of you have your fingers in your ears and are screaming "I'm not listening" over and over again, so you wouldn't know a good deal if it snuck up and bit you on the ass. 

Paying the stadium money back with HOT revenue isn't as bad as you think.  I thought about it and was reminded of asinine events the HOT pays for now.   I don't want to get into specifics because I have friends that would be very hurt over my critique of their event, but the city often votes to spend that money ignorantly on events that don't draw in-town crowds much less out-of-town crowds.  At least the HOT revenues will be tied up in a clearly succesful project from here on out instead of being thrown at every sparsely attended events held downtown.   You may remember a few years back when Wannabe Mayor Acosta demanded HOT funds for a car show in Segundo because somebody's cousin was flying in from LA for the event... she got laughed out of the room (thank God).

In all the years I lived in El Paso I couldn't figure out what the Insights Museum was - or did.  I don't think anyone is going to miss it.   I'm sure they can move whatever is in that building to one of the many other facilities the city owns.  It can't be that big of a deal if the reality is that nobody goes to see what's inside the museum right now.  It's not like we're talking about tearing down a Chico's Tacos, folks - just a stupid museum that El Pasoans have no interest in.

(By the way - if you think my last sentence was mean - ask yourself what your politicians and local leaders tell out-of-towners about El Paso when they ask.  Do you think they lead with the Insights Museum?  Or, do they tell people they have to go to Chico's?  Exactly my point and your biggest problem to overcome.)

I guess the good news is that the people in El Paso are at least consistent - they're against everything and for nothing.  Your motto should "we hate everything about our city, please don't make us change it." 

Jaime A. has the story you need to be reading

Go HERE.  Jaime Abeytia has the story on Vince Perez catching Chente Portly Gente misusing campaign funds for personal expenses... in this case it's a birthday party. 

I knew social media would be a tough thing for some folks out there given that you leave a trail of your activities for everyone to observe.  I didn't figure it would be such a handy tool in exposing morons in El Paso politics - and there are many. 

If you weren't already planning on voting for Vince - go ahead and do so now.  You'd be an idiot not to.

When you get to Jaime's blog there's something you need to understand - the pictures of the kittens are there for a reason.  Go read his post on losing a blog award to a vegetarian - priceless. 

If anyone in El Paso deserved an award for anything in media this year - it's Jaime.  He exhaustively covered every single race - even the judicial races.  I'd rather be attached at the hip to Norma Chavez than write about judicial races.  That didn't matter to Jaime - he went to everything and told all of you about it all.  It was the best work anyone has done on El Paso politics I have ever seen.  Nobody has ever put that much effort into it in the years I've been watching politics in El Paso.  He might not get a trophy he can take home and put above the fireplace, but he has his dignity - he doesn't blog about cats or plants. 

Proof Money Doesn't Buy Elections

I've argued with just about everyone in the world over whether or not elections come down to money.  I'm vindicated yet again HERE.

Reyes out-raised and out-spent O'Rourke and still lost.  Now show me where money always wins elections - please. 

You can't.  Because candidates are much more important than the money.  Reyes spent 16 years having the people closest to him piss off voters while keeping him in a bubble.  No amount of money could undo what his handlers did to his reputation. 

I know some of you are going to say "but but but but the guy with the most money usually wins!"  And you're right, but you're confusing correlation with causation.  Popular candidates with the voters tend to be popular with the donors as well.  You don't see unpopular candidates raking in the dough because nobody likes them.  Being well liked = votes + donations.  They go hand in hand. 

How many times have you seen a very popular candidate have no money for a race?  Doesn't happen.   If you're well liked you're going to get money and you'll likely get elected.  If nobody likes you, there will be no money and likely no votes - I'm living proof of that. 

but...

Money doesn't make people pull the lever - no matter how much you spend, if they don't like you anymore they're not going to vote for you. 

A great piece on what you can expect at your future AAA baseball games

Just click the link

 

http://www.sportspickle.com/opinion/6307/the-8-people-youll-see-at-every-minor-league-baseball-game

 

 

Need baseball answers? They have them!

The difference between the PDNG deal and the baseball deal?  The baseball deal already has a website!

http://home.elpasotexas.gov/downtown-ballpark.php

One group is asking you for a billion dollars and won't even show you a picture.  The other is getting $50 million and can't wait give you all the details - that's the difference. 

Also - I know some of you are upset with my support of the baseball deal, that's to be expected.  There's no need to change your commenter name because you want to ding me for this one issue and not have me get mad at you otherwise.  You need to know that I don't care if you disagree with me, it won't change my mind about you.  Feel free to disagree under your usual name without the fear of retribution. 

And for the love of God - stop even hinting that any blogger at any time could be "credible."  It doesn't matter how often I'm right or wrong - I operate under no rules, which means I have no credibility.  If there were constraints I operated within, then there'd be a case for credibility.  For you own good you need to understand that.   I am not near your best source for information and I shouldn't be.  Neither should any other blog.  Assume we're all wrong until proven with actual evidence that we are not.  Protect yourself. 

More thoughts on baseball deal

First of all - don't think you can come and leave comments claiming that I'm "losing my credibility" and think it's going to sting.  I'm a blogger - I HAVE ZERO CREDIBILITY.  I claim no credibility - I have no credibility.  I'm not governed by any rules therefore have no chance at achieving any level of credibility.  If you think I, or any other blogger, has a shred of credibility - please stop using the internet because you aren't smart enough to understand its limitations.

The Foster/Hunt stadium deal is vastly different than what the PDNG originally proposed.  The PDNG came with no paper - nothing, nada, zip, zilch - and wanted the County and City to issue certificates of obligation (CO) in the amount of $100,000,000 to cover their arena.   They tried to hi-jack the HOT funds as  a "pay for" on the CO and they'd be they would control every aspect of the property until they saw fit to "give it back to the city and county."

Foster/Hunt came with a tremendous amount of materials and even had a drawing of what would be built.  The entire thing has been through the process of estimating and it made available to City Council and the public at the meeting.  All of the documents needed to back their claims were provided. 

City Hall's relocation is on the City in this deal.  Foster/Hunt didn't need to - and aren't expected to - solve that problem.  That's why it was not in their packet.  That's the city's task to perform.  You have input in that process just like you'd have in a year when it came down to figuring whether to spend $15 million to rehab the building or tear it down. 

Want to know what a building that houses 1,00o people costs?  Go see what they pay for new schools.   Realize it can be done for a lot less than what is being thrown around out there if people keep an eye for utility instead of luxury.

Again - the deals are so totally different that they can't be mentioned in the same breath.  At least we know who is involved and to what degree with the Foster/Hunt deal.  We also know exactly what the building will be used for and by whom. 

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ASARCO... Listen up idiots - you can't have it both ways on ASARCO.  It was long ago that you were all trying to convince the world that ASARCO was ten times worse than Chernobyl.  Now you're calling it prime real estate suited for families to live and play on.  Which is it?  Is it a polluted mess that needs to be on the Super Fund list?  Or is it a naturally pristine environment where kids can play and eat all the dirt they want with no concern? 

The bottom line for ASARCO is that it's going to require a billion dollars in highway construction to make it accessible for large crowds.  I could get into the specifics, but I don't feel like wasting my day explaining facts to you morons who read this blog.  Next time you drive by just look at how much lower the ASARCO land is than the freeway and where the railroad tracks run.  Figure out those problems and put them on paper and I'll get you into to see my dad who might hire you.  Chances are you'd come up with a time machine before you figured all that out. 

ASARCO is not where you want anything but a refinery.  Get over it. 

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If you don't like Hunt and Foster because you have some kind of class envy problem you can't shake - don't take it out on the rest of us.  If they didn't give you money for your campaign (Norma) or supported "the other guy" - just admit that to the world and move on.  It's better than inventing ignorant arguments to fight your personal battle against the two tycoons.  People see right through you.

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When quoting what I've written in the past - remember that context is everything.  Apples and oranges aren't the same even if they're both round.

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Take a deep breath - it's all but a done deal and it's going to be awesome.  When it's finished and it's succesful and you love it - we'll politely forget how violently against the whole deal you were and take solace in your change of heart. 

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Give me a break with the PTA thing.  And you people need to get over the Coronado student thing - even people inside the paper had to admit they put those kids in a bad position.  

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Get your ball glove out and oil it up - real baseball is headed to El Paso.

I will say it since no one else will...

The stadium has to be downtown otherwise westsiders won't go and you need westsiders to make this thing successful.  Period - end of story.   For all of the eastside's buying power, they simply don't spend per person more than the westsiders and they don't do it as often.  There's just much more disposable income on the westside.

The Diablos never lived so well as when they first moved to the Northeast and westsiders excitedly made the trip over the mountain for the games.  Dudley field was just a little to rough and out of the way for the folks on the sunset side of the mountain. 

About nine seconds after westsiders decided that Cohen was too far and Transmountain too slow to traverse, the team died.  People "in the know" will tell you this fact if they trust you.  They no longer trust me after this post.

The next time you go to a UTEP basketball game take a poll of where the people in attendance live.  Especially pay attention to the people in the expensive seats.  I bet you a bunch they're mostly westsiders.  Do the same for the luxury suites and great seats at football games - including the Sun Bowl - and you'll find the same answer.

So that's why the stadium, arena, soccer field and square dance pavilion have to be downtown. 

Commence you losing your mind in the comments section below.

Your Mayor's Stupid Grudge

I saw the article in the El Paso Inc. by David Crowder that details Mayor Cook's next moronic move.  You can read it HERE.  A guy who was once called "a man of the people" is now simply a dirty politician trying to leverage his way into some cash. 

Cook says he will veto the vote on the baseball team stuff if the voters don't approve a  ballot measure in November doesn't pass.  Former Diablos owner Jim Paul correctly assessed this threat by suggesting that the Mayor's stupid comment may have done the deal in already - vote or not vote. 

Anybody who knows anything knows that there won't be enough votes to over-ride the veto.  Holguin, Acosta and Robinson will be bought off by the Tiguas for a grand total of $3,000 in campaign contributions spread evenly among them.  Don't think for a second that the Pacific Coast League doesn't know that already.  And don't think that they aren't about to pull the plug on this whole thing.

So why is the Mayor pulling this stunt?

Well, Cook still has his panties in a wad over the fact that Paul Foster and Woody Hunt didn't just write him a check for the legal fees he accrued when fighting with Pastor Tom Brown.  It's funny that the Mayor made his campaign against Joe Wardy about big political donors and campaign dollars and now he's acting like a child because he can't get exactly what he campaigned against.  He's the worst kind of politician - a true to the core hypocrite without a hint of awareness of it. 

(quick note  - Wardy is still the best mayor we've ever had)

Cook now hopes to get a meeting with Foster and Hunt where he will explain to them how his position on the baseball deal will change as his debt to the lawyers changes.  It's a simple matter of mathematics a politician will tell you - you subtract from this column over here and you can add over here in this other column.  Nobody is buying anything - they're balancing the books!

You might remember that the idiot Mayor spent a quarter of a million dollars fighting to keep a job that pays nowhere near that.  In the end he won nothing but a gigantic legal bill.  He can't be mayor anymore and nobody is going to ever elect him to office again, so he basically gave away his reitrement fund to play king for a day.  Again, what an idiot.  

And if you think the mayor was valiant in his fight against Brown; I'd like to know why you haven't paid off his legal debt.  Why does it always have to be Woody and Paul paying for everyone else's problems?  God bless them, they stick around for the punishment and still hand over millions of their hard-earned dollars to an ungrateful El Paso.  You only need to call me an "asshole" once after I give you $50 million for me to decide never to do it again.  I guess Foster and Hunt are cut from a better, more generous cloth than I. 

 Political extortion isn't something confined to the Beltway - it's alive and well in El Paso, Texas. 

Some thoughts on the healthcare debate

It's a hot topic again so I thought I'd throw some things out there.  As many of you know, I work in the industry so these are only my personal thoughts and do no reflect the views of opinions of my employer, wife or pets.

Democrats have long been the ones who have said that health insurance companies are evil.  They've said they are the worst thing to happen to America since slavery.  So why did they write and pass a bill that requires all Americans to do business with an insurance company? 

Prior to this bill poor people with no means to acquire insurance could enter an emergency room and receive care with relatively few questions asked.  Under the new law, those seeking care at a hospital emergency room that do not have insurance will be reported to the IRS.  The IRS will have to inquire as to whether or not the person properly paid their no-insurance tax with their last tax return.  That means the IRS will audit that person.  All of sudden Americans seeking emergency care guaranteed by law will face inquiries into their tax status.  I'm glad they made that change - it surely helps the poor, right? Oh, and let's not forget that those who are in the country illegally will by default be rooted out by the IRS in the process.  No more anchor babies, I guess.  Forget Sherrif Arpaio checking your status during a traffic stop, Nurse Betty will become La Migra in the future.

A good sized portion of the uninsured in American before Obamacare paid zero for their care.  It was completely subsidized by the government.  Now, millions of people who had no out-of-pocket costs have to come up with co-pays and possibly partial premium payments.  How is that better for them? 

That's just some surface stuff that I've been thinking about.  There's a lot of stuff that none of you will understand until you are faced with the rules actually being applied.  The pre-existing condition part of the bill sounds great until you understand that the insurance company can't tell you "no," but they can charge you an arm and a leg (if you still have them) for your policy.  It's not like someone who couldn't get a policy before because of an illness is now all of a sudden going to get a policy for $300 a month.  It's going to be more like $7,000 a month.  Not a lot of help, now is that?

And don't worry - there are thousands of tiny little provisions in the bill that are going to ensure your premiums increase... dramatically.  You don't have to guess who the real winners are going to be, do you?