Elida S. Perez of El Paso Matters has revealed in a new report how the City of El Paso has spent $3.3 million in legal fees so far on their “Arena” project, mostly to defend against me.
She documents how the City has relied upon expensive outside firms, which charge up to $1,000 per hour, to handle the City’s legal defense.
She indicates that $1.4 million of the $3.3 million was expended on attorneys who assisted with acquiring the real estate within the “Arena Footprint.”
She correctly points out that the City began the litigation in May 2017 when it filed its bond validation lawsuit in Travis County with the hope of preventing challenges to its use of QOL bond funds for the construction of a multipurpose basketball arena. I was one of three respondents to that lawsuit and am the only remaining plaintiff actively litigating against the City.
Perez goes on to explain that there are only $155 million left of the original $180 million earmarked for the project, which I have claimed would cost well over $500 million in its current form, significantly impacting our property tax rate and potentially sinking El Paso financially. (The City has never disputed my figure.)
Finally, she summarizes my current lawsuit, which is now in the hands of the Supreme Court of Texas.
Kudos to Perez for her persistence and determination. I am certain it was not easy for her to acquire the documentation for her report.
Enjoy your day.
Max