Corruption Runs Wild in El Paso

Yet again we are let down by our leadership in this town...allegedly of course.

But aside from talking about the specific allegations against Dr. Garcia, which I will get to in due time, lets talk about the culture we have created.

I say we because we are also at fault. Again, for the billionth time I am talking about the fact that we don't pay enough attention to the people we elect. Relax Republicans, don't get a hard on and blame Democrats. These aren't bad Democrats or bad Republicans, they are bad people.

And many of them are in non-partisan races, like school board elections.

Something has to be done about the culture of corruption we have allowed to happen. There are levels of corruption. There is the illegal shit you can go to jail for and there is the shit that we all know is wrong or unfair, but we look the other way for because we think its no big deal.

Let me be blunt about this. If there are only a few people that are in charge of money or making purchasing decisions at agencies or organizations that are publicly funded, no one should be taking them out to eat or on trips. That's how this shit starts.

No one should be ABLE to wine and dine them. That "soft corruption" is the first step on the path towards pulling the tax-payers pants down and doing stuff Pastor Brown considers an abomination.

I can guarantee that there will be more developments. More people will be arrested. I have hoped, in vain I might add, that the previous scandals would shine light on other government agencies to expose, stop, or prevent other acts of corruption.

Maybe I'm an idealist, but I still hope that happens. A former school district official in Ysleta Independent School District says that they've had conversations with the FBI about contract rigging in the district. That's an example of a school district official who did the right thing when they saw something wrong. We need more people who are willing to do that. The sources says FBI agents were even present for at least one YISD school board meeting. Now that doesn't mean anything really, but its noteworthy in my opinion.

If there are any investigations going on at YISD, SISD, Clint ISD, or Canutillo ISD, I don't know. But it wouldn't surprise me if they were looking at every development in town.

We have to put pressure on school board members. They are supposed to be the van guard, keeping a skeptical and watchful eye on the district and the money, not be their buddy.

I know a few members of the EPISD Board and I like them. But today's special meeting was total bullshit and a joke. They got caught with their pants down. They didn't know what to do so they called a special meeting so that they could collectively not know what to do.

Here's what they should do. They should not drag this out and subject the district to a messy PR nightmare. EPISD should have some balls to do whats best of the kids and if they don't do whats best for the kids, we should throw their asses out. What is best for the kids?

Simple, the district should exercise the clause in Garcia's contract that will let them terminate him. He will have his day in court and should be assumed innocent until proven otherwise. That's what is so beautiful about our justice system. Be we don't have an obligation to pay someone while they are on some sort of leave to fight the charges. Its in the children's best interest to be focused on learning, not a public relations mess.

Don't drag this out. Have the courage to do whats best for the children. If he's cleared of the charges, then you can hire him back. If he's convicted, well who would feel sorry for someone who's convicted of stealing from kids?