Shame.
Absolute shame is what a very large part of El Paso is feeling at this moment towards you, our elected city representatives.
It is no secret that virtually every one of you is for the demolition of our oldest historical neighborhood and the heritage and collective culture that runs through its veins. With one courageous exception, there is a twisted solidarity in City Hall that stubbornly continues to thwart the will of the people.
All in favor of a building a disastrous arena that has legally been determined by an Austin judge to be our City’s attempt at a bait-and-switch on the ballot. That essentially makes the vote NULL and VOID.
This explains the weak and pathetic response by our mayor and city attorney pleading ignorance and trying to absolve the City and it’s leaders of the muck of their own making.
While the situation was dire in Duranguito with supporters and history under assault, where were our elected officials?
Where was the direct condemnation of yesterday’s tragic and violent attempted demolition perpetrated on Barrio Duranguito? This was a crime against everyone who supports it.
Mayor Margo and city attorney Borunda-Firth were hiding behind the safety of a microphone at City Hall while El Paso citizens were calling their names. Afraid of facing an angry and oppressed group of El Paso citizens fighting for our legacy.
Whether Duranguito is your district or not, whether you agree with a position or not, you have a responsibility to everyone in El Paso and your absence and mute voices spoke volumes about your cowardice.
District 8’s Rep showed up and promptly left with the excuse she had another meeting to attend…what kind of leadership is this? What meeting could be more important than your very own district and it’s people?
I want you to take 14 minutes of your time and view a documentary I produced chronicling the last 2 days in the life and death and hopefully life again of one of our most important neighborhoods that is under direct threat by YOU and your network of special interests and wealthy downtown investors.
You are the fractional minority in El Paso when it comes to your position on the arena and your disdain for Barrio Duranguito and its thousands of supporters across El Paso, many of which are now taking up the cause to protect our legacy, history, heritage and culture represented within.
El Pasoans may be apathetic (soon to change) but we’re not stupid and your legal and political stunts will not go by unnoticed.
Just ask 3 council representatives I filed ethics complaints on right around Christmas who are no longer in office.
It’s time for you to take a good, long look at yourselves and ask, “Who’s interests and well-being am I representing? Is it my own, or maybe those of the individuals and interests that stuff my wallet, or those of the common, over-taxed and burdened fellow El Pasoan?”
Think about it.
Here is a link to my video “Save El Paso’s Barrio Duranguito, Kill the Arena.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wqj7XAMyhk
I am sending a copy of this email to our local news media also in the hopes that they will resist the urge to paint Duranguito supporters as protestors.
We support the preservation of El Paso’s legacy to our families, our history, heritage and culture that is under threat by those who would turn a blind eye to it’s protection.
Jud Burgess