Tired of Sex Offenders Escaping Horizon Facility?

Well you should be.

And its terrible that our area is the dumping ground for the state's sex offenders. A lot of people don't really know that, but its the truth. The state sends their sex offenders here to El Paso to transition from prison back into society. Its a facility commonly known as a "halfway house".

If someone is a sex offender and soon to be released, guess where they are going? That should anger you. It says a lot about what Texas thinks about our community.

Well you know who you should call to hold accountable?

State Representative Mary Gonzalez.

She represents the area and the Multi-Use Facility is a facility her purview because the corrections system in Texas is run by the state.

Its not run by cities.

Its not run by counties.

Its run by the State of Texas.

Counties have basically no zoning authority, so they are powerless to stop facilities like the MUF in the Horizon area. That is exactly why they end up being located in those communities. Its also why facilities like the immigration camp in Tornillo and the new one in Montana Vista locate into those communities - precisely because there is no one to stop them.

But State Rep Gonzalez opposes additional zoning authority for counties.

And that is an important fact for people to understand. Every time the news reports another inmate leaving one of those facilities - and there's been several lately - there's a mini uprising on social media with residents rightfully expressing their frustration. The problem is, they almost always misdirect their frustration and angst at the wrong office.

So let Tio Jaime drop some info on you. Several times a week, a white school bus is loaded up at the MUF and the inmates are taking in to El Paso and dropped off so that they can conduct job search activities. Yep, they are walking around unsupervised in El Paso all day long.

Now look, these are people that are close to paying off their debt to society for whatever manner of awfulness they did, whether you agree with our justice system or not, these people are close to being square with the house. And this post isn't about making anyone pay for a crime indefinitely. That is completely not the point.

Nor can I tell you why people that are so close to being square with the house would screw up and go on the run when they are almost done completing their sentences.

But what I can tell you is who's office has the power to do something about it every time one of those sex offenders gets out and threatens our local community. Pick up the phone and call State Rep Gonzalez's office and ask her to take some action.

Here is the number for her office in Austin (512) 463-0613 and here is the number for her local office (915) 851-6632.

Its doubtful you get anywhere there because Gonzalez routinely opposes any effort to give the counties in Texas any zoning authority. White farmers in the valley don't want the county to have additional zoning authority. But additional zoning authority for the County would give the County the power to prevent facilities like the MUF from locating in El Paso County.

Truth be told, State Rep Mary Gonzalez could push to have that facility shut down if she wanted to. A simple local bill would do the trick.

Oh, and all you fellow immigration advocates that are insulted at the idea of yet another kiddie concentration camp opening here in the Montana Vista area...remember that Mary Gonzalez opposes the ability for counties to have an additional zoning authority.

I saw an ad on social media highlighting an upcoming community meeting about a quarry. Its in a remote area of Montana Vista.

That isn't a criticism and I think its entirely appropriate that she keep her constituents in the area abreast of the latest information on an issue affecting their community. That is what an elected official is supposed to do.

But so far, no community meeting in the same area about the new immigrant facility in the same area and no community meeting in the Horizon area for the rash of escapees from the Multi-Use Facility.

However I think it is right for people to question why there hasn't been a community meeting from her office addressing those other two issues that impact a much larger portion of her constituency.

More importantly, I think its completely fair for people to ask after so many terms in office, two important questions. One, why does she oppose giving counties the tools necessary to prevent these facilities from locating here and two, why hasn't she taken any legislative or administrative action to get the facility that is here, out?