San Eli Mayor Isela Reyes & Fiestas Patrias

Eddie Holguin's hand-picked candidate for Mayor of San Elizario has been involved in a situation in which she has allegedly not paid workers for the work they did for her restaurant / bar. The workers are undocumented immigrants and Holguin's wife is the County Commissioner representing the area, a former chair of the El Paso County Democratic Party and she is also an immigration attorney. 

If she's not taking action on this issue, its a problem. She's supposed to be the advocate for the area, she's an immigration attorney and shouldn't have to be told what the right thing to do here is. And don't get me started on the fact that she was the former chair of the Party. 

So if you figured there was anyone that would not stand for a business owner to allegedly screw-over the undocumented immigrants from Mexico, you'd think it would be the Holguins. 

Also, and probably from a policy stand point, the County should be looking at the fact that it is apparently the wild, wild, west out in San Eli when it comes to restaurant bars. The bar next to the Old County Jail in San Eli - a property run by the County of El Paso, apparently allegedly uses County Property for their business. 

Here's a pic to demonstrate what I'm talking about:

Photo taken from Shooter's FB Page

These folks probably have no idea that the proprietor of the bar in the background set up tables on county property and is profiting from alcohol sales there. 

Tax payers get no piece of that action. This particular establishment, Shooters, is owned by ...

....wait for it...

....Mayor Isela Reyes' suegro...

And don't get me wrong, I want all the businesses in that area to thrive. I helped found San Eli, so I love the place. And before that bar was Shooters, I've closed the place many a time. 

But there has to be some set of rules, especially when you're talking about an historical site belonging to the County of El Paso. 

I've written about this pay issue a couple of times now, but I'm writing about it again because incredibly - and ironically - Reyes' business was open again this weekend and they kicked off the weekend with a celebration for....

...wait for it...

....Mexican Independence Day...

I bullshit you not - they actually advertised about the fact that they were celebrating Mexico. Here's a screenshot:

Yep, the lady allegedly not paying undocumented Mexican immigrants is fine profiting off a Mexican holiday while simultaneously not paying workers from Mexico. 

Someone make it make sense. 

Word on the street is that the workers are going to organize and take some more public action. 

I have now heard from other vendors that report that they also have allegedly not been paid by Mayor Reyes for services they have performed or products they have delivered to Pistoleros in San Elizario.