Controversy in Selection of San Eli City Hall
The City of San Elizario will face one of its first controversies as Texas' newest incorporated town this evening when city council takes up the issue of the selection of a city hall location.
The controversy is over the fact that the City of San Elizario seems prepared to lease property that is owned by Mayor Maya Sanchez's father, Ben Sanchez, for use as a city hall.
The location, called Maya's Garden, is on Socorro Road just as you enter the heart of the community. The location has been a natural meeting place for the community during the incorporation effort back when a previous city council in the neighboring community of Socorro was trying to annex San Elizario.
That effort was spearheaded by then-City Councilman Jesse Gandara. Gandara will be going to trial on several different charges next month, one of which is relating to an alleged attempt to bribe prominent members of the San Elizario community in exchange for their support of the annexation effort.
The Sanchez family was among many people involved in the effort to fight the annexation by Socorro and incorporate as their own community. Maya Sanchez emerged as the primary leader in the efforts and Ben Sanchez held all the community meetings related to the effort at the aforementioned property. To my knowledge he always donated the use of the facility for those events so that the community would have a please to meet and strategize.
The reality is the location is naturally going to be considered a logical choice. Its well known in the community. It was the primary meeting location for the incorporation effort as well as the effort to prevent the annexation of San Elizario by the City of Socorro. Maya's Garden is easily accessible from the main road into the community and its a large building. Currently the City of San Elizario has no structures were their government is housed or business is conducted. The San Elizario School District currently allows the City use of their board room to hold the town council meetings.
The City needs a structure to conduct city business. It doesn't have to be very large. Clint has a very small municipal building. But they nonetheless need a place for people to request permits, pay tickets, etc. The City of San Elizario has been running pretty much by cell phone so far.
At one point there was an offer from SEISD to lease portable buildings to San Elizario for use as city hall.
San Elizario is a small place. Many people are related to one another so the issue of someone being related to a member of council isn't all that remarkable.
However, a close relative of any mayor in the county potentially profiting off of leasing property to the city would be controversial in any community.
The San Elizario City Council meeting is this evening at 6:00pm at the SEISD School Board Chambers. I'll attend the meeting tonight and get as many details and ask as many questions as possible.
I'll attend the meeting and get more information and lay out both sides of the conversation. I will live tweet the meeting so follow me on twitter @TheLionStarBlog
The controversy is over the fact that the City of San Elizario seems prepared to lease property that is owned by Mayor Maya Sanchez's father, Ben Sanchez, for use as a city hall.
The location, called Maya's Garden, is on Socorro Road just as you enter the heart of the community. The location has been a natural meeting place for the community during the incorporation effort back when a previous city council in the neighboring community of Socorro was trying to annex San Elizario.
That effort was spearheaded by then-City Councilman Jesse Gandara. Gandara will be going to trial on several different charges next month, one of which is relating to an alleged attempt to bribe prominent members of the San Elizario community in exchange for their support of the annexation effort.
The Sanchez family was among many people involved in the effort to fight the annexation by Socorro and incorporate as their own community. Maya Sanchez emerged as the primary leader in the efforts and Ben Sanchez held all the community meetings related to the effort at the aforementioned property. To my knowledge he always donated the use of the facility for those events so that the community would have a please to meet and strategize.
The reality is the location is naturally going to be considered a logical choice. Its well known in the community. It was the primary meeting location for the incorporation effort as well as the effort to prevent the annexation of San Elizario by the City of Socorro. Maya's Garden is easily accessible from the main road into the community and its a large building. Currently the City of San Elizario has no structures were their government is housed or business is conducted. The San Elizario School District currently allows the City use of their board room to hold the town council meetings.
The City needs a structure to conduct city business. It doesn't have to be very large. Clint has a very small municipal building. But they nonetheless need a place for people to request permits, pay tickets, etc. The City of San Elizario has been running pretty much by cell phone so far.
At one point there was an offer from SEISD to lease portable buildings to San Elizario for use as city hall.
San Elizario is a small place. Many people are related to one another so the issue of someone being related to a member of council isn't all that remarkable.
However, a close relative of any mayor in the county potentially profiting off of leasing property to the city would be controversial in any community.
The San Elizario City Council meeting is this evening at 6:00pm at the SEISD School Board Chambers. I'll attend the meeting tonight and get as many details and ask as many questions as possible.
I'll attend the meeting and get more information and lay out both sides of the conversation. I will live tweet the meeting so follow me on twitter @TheLionStarBlog
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