Honesty is the best policy, but not always effective

My friend Mr. Grossman was none too pleased that I mentioned his contradictory existence as a libertarian that is against private property rights.  He accused me of not being against the arena... or at least not being enough against it to qualify as a legitimate opponent.  Grossman chastised me for antagonizing the leader of a group that shares my opposition to the arena.  I'm obviously I'm not a genuinely concerned citizen willing to do whatever it takes to get my way... and that's by design. 

You see, there are two ways of advocating for your position on an issue.

1. You can be honest about what you think needs to be done/not done.  You state clearly your position with a willingness to have your concerns satisfied. 
2. You do whatever it takes to get your way because the issue is more about your ego than it is about public policy or good government. You will switch to whatever tactic you need to defeat the other side no matter what that action will do to your credibility. You are not willing to see the other side or be swayed in any way. 

On the arena issue I stated very early on that nobody had proven there would be enough events to pay for the maintenance and operation of the facility.  I don't care where you put it or how big it is, there has been no guarantee that the place will pay for itself.  I understand the voters voted to construct the building and that's okay with me.  However, they (the voters) were not told that they would have to face continued expense because the building will not generate enough revenue.  

If someone was to prove to me the place would have enough bookings to pay for itself and that it wouldn't hamstring the other venues in town, I 'd change my mind.  I'd gladly champion the project the second someone convinces me that it could operate without taxpayers propping it up.  I'll clap loudly and dance a little jig at the groundbreaking if someone can come up with the right answer to my question.  

Obviously my approach has been absolutely fruitless. Nobody gives a shit about my concerns.  Maybe a few other people I know share my concern and even they understand that trying to reach people with this issue isn't working.  I stated my case... nobody cared.  Time to move on.  

I'm not willing to pretend that a formerly unimportant and currently severely neglected group of buildings are magically  significant just to get my way.  I'm not willing to support those who would create that excuse as a means to my end.  I'd have a hard time with my self-confidence moving forward.  I'd realize I was just making shit up to get my way.  I'd be living a lie.  I should be able to state my case and get results based on that case.  Grasping at straws is desperate and I'm not a desperate person. 

Mr. Grossman doesn't seem to care like I do. He'll sue over one issue or another until he gets his way.  He'll claim anything he can to make sure he wins.  I don't think that's right.  I don't think that puts you in a position where people value your input going forward.  I can't just tag along on his coattails because his end is the same as mine.  The means to that end are so much more meaningful.    

Comments

[Max]

David,

With all due respect, I am honestly beginning to think that you are not as smart as I thought. I already explained to you very clearly that in the course of my litigation there has been no violation of anyone's private property rights and that I have never sought to impose a single regulation upon anyone. What part of that do you not understand?

Here are so more stubborn facts:
-The City's own 1998 cultural resources survey identified numerous National Register eligible buildings in the project area and recommending establishing a historic district there.
-The County's 2017 survey specifically identified 14 National Register eligible buildings there and recommend establishing a NATIONAL REGISTER DISTRICT.
-The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Texas, the Texas Historical Foundation, and other national and state-level groups support preserving the neighborhood.
-The academic community supports preserving the neighborhood without a single contrarian voice.
I understand that you don't give a rat's ass about history or culture but you need to understand--you can do it--that these assessments were made by credentialed professionals and not by Max Grossman.

You keep implying that I have some kind of agenda, even though I have absolutely nothing to gain personally from any of this and would rather be sucking down tiki drinks in Hawaii. You and your family, on the other hand, have a direct fincial stake in the Ballpark and other publicly subsidized projects in El Paso and you should really come clean about that.

I have never met you and only know of you through this blog, but if you ever want to meet for a beer I would be glad to discuss these issues. You seem to have it out for me, but the offer stands. Or you can just keep lobbing potshots at people you don't know, like Tolbert and the ex-con in Horizon City.

Cheers,

Max

[JerryK]

David, I too pointed out early on that I agreed with you on the Arena's financial impossibility. I also stated on your blog and others that when it became obvious that the arena would not pay for itself, one of the Usual Suspects would come to the rescue with an offer to take on some level of support.

We now know that this is exactly what was planned and that it was for a sports team. So we can guess who that is. We were stealth Wilson'd a 2nd time :)

[So tired of the word arena]

Okay Max so all those historical organizations pointed out how significant the area was/is. So what did anybody do about it over the years? Obviously state, county and city government didn’t give a rat’s ass to use your term. So it sat there and rotted with dilapidated buildings and apartments that weren’t even fit for cockroaches.

Where was the outrage 20 years ago when nothing was done about the study? I know, you didn’t live here. I personally don’t believe the arena will pay for itself regardless of what venues are booked there or sports events. But I do respect the voting process. It was approved. One can argue all day that because other more desirable projects were lumped in with the arena it won by default because voters wanted the other items more than arena. Hats off the the city and their ability to confuse the voter with wordy ballot language. I’m over it. People voted. It was passed. Move on. Your life will be better. Move away to a city that cherishes it’s old buildings.

[Max]

So tired the word arena,
Just keep in mind that if no laws had been broken I never would have sued. The plan to build an "Arena" in Union Plaza was hatched by Woody and his friends in 1999 but not made public until a partnership was signed between PDNG and the City in March 2006. By then the properties in question had been scooped up by PDNG investors and mostly allowed to languish for a dozen years, in anticipation of selling them to the City (ultimately for 3 to 5 times CAD value), which would demo everything. So the decline of the neighborhood was a matter of strategy, and attempts to landmark buildings and provide historic tax credits were resisted by the City. Don't forget that 20 years ago the City applied for and won a huge federal grant to provide the neighborhood with new streets, sidewalks, lighting and benches, and then the PDNG got involved... All of that relatively new infrastructure would be sacrificed. Even if you don't necessarily care for the history of El Paso, and you try to think away the deceptive bond language, there are other aspects of this process that should annoy you.

[Jim Tolbert]

Max, I knew you well enough at one time to write a letter to UTEP supporting your tenure. I regret that I did. David is right. You will do anything to get your way, satisfy or prop up your ego and cost us taxpayers millions of dollars. You sob that people crap on you. In truth, it is and has been the other way around.

[Max]

Jim! What a surprise finding you on your friend's blog. Always the consummate, refined gentleman. For my part, I do not regret supporting your candidacy for D2 and celebrating your victory with all the County Historical Preservation folks who used to be your friends. At the time I did not truly know you, but now we all do. Blessings.

[Good for max]

Max whats it like marrying your former student?

[Max]

Malissa Arras has never been my student. She graduated from UTEP before I even arrived in El Paso. What's it like being a cowardly anonymous troll?

[Mary]

The City had to certify the bond project grouping and language with the Texas AG to warranty that the projects were in compliance with State statutes.

The emails between the City's bond attorney and the Texas AG stated more than once that:

1 . The facility is a replacement for the existing performance center and in fact would be built on the site of the existing performance center.

2. The multipurpose center is not an arena, but primarily for performing arts and entertainment which might include an occasional sporting event.

3. There will not be an anchor sports team and the facility will not be designed for a specific sport.

The deferred maintenance on both the Chavez and Civic Center is a fiduciary disgrace.

The City needs to either remodel/rebuild the Abraham Chavez as represented to the TX AG or put the item back on the ballot and represent the project, site, and cost truthfully to the taxpayer.

I appreciate and respect Dr. Grossman's tenacity in the face of the City's egregious casuistry.

[JerryK]

"There will not be an anchor sports team and the facility will not be designed for a specific sport."
-----------------------------------
That is, it's not a venue requiring a venue vote. But it clearly is intended to be such. If not, why did the city fight the Austin judge's prohibition of it being used for sport?

Nothing to see here. Move on.

[common cents]

For a person to tell Max he will do anything to get his way when that same person moaned and bitched about not getting invited to a fancy steak restaurant is calling the kettle black imho.

[Tom Busch]

Common cents. In Tolbert’s defense, the dude really loves steak.

[common cents]

LOL Tom, we all love steak, but why tell someone they are acting like a bitch when you acted like one too !