Consistently inconsistent - Ankle-biters

I have two kids and I enjoy watching their morality shift when the situation changes.  My daughter thinks everyone should have cake... until there's only a one piece left - she is then sure that only she should have cake.  I see a lot of El Paso ankle-biters in my daughter's reasoning.

I think the ballot language from the QOL bond issue that included the arena is important to examine.  I think it's also important to understand that the mayor and council are only doing what the public voted to do - build some kind of building that holds a lot of people.  You can't really beat them up for following the will of the of the people.  You need to beat your neighbor up... errr... don't hit your neighbor.   You might want to discuss the issue with them before the next QOL bond election. And if they continue to vote for expensive things that raise taxes, don't yell at the people tasked with carrying out their wishes.  If you believe in the semi-democratic process, you have to believe it in both in times of winning and losing.   It seems some local blowhards only like semi-democracy when it benefits them. 

For example...

So, the anti-arena crowd is really hanging onto to the hope that the ballot language of the QOL bond was either unclear or illegal enough to get construction stopped.  Other concerns, like the ones I have mentioned, have kind of been put off because they have no legal path to stopping the arena.  Those concerns are mainly about the building paying to operate and maintain itself and what events will happen in what frequency so that might happen.  Their bottom line is that ballot language is to be followed and no extras added.  

Which... brings me to Lost Dog.  The ankle biters have said that you get exactly what the ballot language says you get an nothing more.  Which means the very same ankle-biters who hate the arena are changing their tune when it comes to Lost Dog.  With Lost Dog the city council did exactly as instructed by the ballot language by passing an ordinance as stated in the ballot language.  However, the Lost Dog land thieves are now saying the election results require the city to take further action such as selling the land to Rick Bonart for a dollar or applying for some other kind of land protection.  The Lost Dog land thieves believe ballot language is up for interpretation as long as it is interpreted to their benefit. 

So, with the arena - exacting wording and exact wording only. With Lost Dog - eh... you know what we meant, right?

Bottom line, the city should not be doing any other work on the Lost Dog situation on behalf of the land thieves.  Council has completely complied with the ballot language and owes them nothing more.  I mean, if you want to be consistent... 

But we all know that the ankle-biters like to make the rules as they go - it's what makes them so fun to watch.  

Comments

[Max G]

David, this is the language that appeared on the November 6, 2012 ballot--yes, the language that you have never cited in a single post. Neither this language, nor the language of the ballot ordinance, includes any mention of "sports" or "Arena". That is why the City filed a bond validation lawsuit in Travis County in May 2017 in a bid to prevent litigation and that is why it has blown up in their face and is now before the Supreme Court of Texas.

"THE ISSUANCE OF $228,250,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR MUSEUM, CULTURAL, MULTI-PURPOSE PERFORMING ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT AND LIBRARY FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING NEW CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, CULTURAL HERITAGE CENTER FOR AND INTERACTIVE DIGITAL WALL."

Anyone who thinks this language authorizes the City of El Paso to spend $180,000,000 of bond money to build a sports arena, soon to be supplemented by $70,000,000 in certificates of obligation without voter approval, is on the side of TYRANNY and FRAUD. I can guess which side you're on.

[sports fan]

Sports is a culture. Its a "cultural" thing. So I think its allowed.

[JerryK]

Didn't Wilson's testimony say that the language was to obscure the intent to build a sports venue so as to avoid another AAA brawl?

[Max G]

JerryK,
That is exactly correct. Wilson actually testified under oath that the City avoided revealing what they planned to build as a matter of strategy so as not to piss people off. It's called fraud.

Sports fan,
Casinos are a cultural thing, too, and so are circuses. Are you suggesting that in 2012 we gave the City a blank check to build whatever they please? You do understand that we live in a Republic where the integrity of our system depends upon the written word?

[sports fan]

Yep - so can I take it that you support DavidK's comment that Lost Dog Trail is done. No need to make the city do anything else because the city has complied exactly with the language on the ballot.

MaxG you have a hard time understanding sarcasm - re my comment about sports.

[Max G]

Sports fan, lol. I never know because there are certain folks commenting on David's blog who think I'm the Antichrist and will oppose anything I write no matter what. Dr. Bonart, like me, promotes policies that are opposed by the Oligarchy and that pisses off David because it means less potential business for the Karlsruher family firm. Honestly, I don't have anything to say about Lost Dog because that is not my issue. My understanding is that the opponents of development there are very numerous and that they followed the democratic process, so they will get their way. It's fun watching David twist into contortions over this, as if someone yanked away his candy.

[Andre]

I voted against the measure because everything is lumped all together without a breakdown of how much for each project.

I have asked before and I will ask again to all readers, WHO decides on the final wording of any ballot measure? WHAT is the process?

[taxpayer]

Are all the people now against the area among those who voted against it on the ballot? That would mean they also voted against the Cultural Center and the Children's Museum. TOO LATE! The mayor and council are bound to respect the vote.

And, by the way, Max, sports events are definitely entertainment.

I do not particularly want the arena but I'm honest enough to admit I voted for it. And I definitely resent your on-going law suits. You may care about the history of the area, but I don't and I would wager the majority of the taxpayers don't care either. You are forcing the taxpayer to fund your hobby.

[Max G]

Taxpayer, I cited the text of the ballot measure above, and there is not the slightest hint of a sport arena in that language. Even the word "downtown" is absent. And we all heard Wilson's testimony. She stated under oath that the language was misleading by design. And now David's friend Dee wants to add $70+ million to the price tag without our approval. Who is forcing whom to do what, Sir?

In any case, what you or I think no longer matters. The Supreme Court of Texas will soon decide whether to review the case. If I lose, you will have your basketball and the $250+ million of debt that goes with it and someone else will profit, certainly not the taxpayers. David's family firm has won some very big City contracts lately. Maybe they will get a slice.

[Grossman $ucks]

taxpayer, I'm with you. Grossboy is wasting OUR tax dollars for his ego. Where was he all those years that "Durangito" (a made-up name) was falling down and people were living in apartments that were not habitable? Nowhere!