Dr. David Dorado Romo and I submitted a 200-word letter to the El Paso Inc in response to a letter by Octavio Gomez that had been published the previous week. Our letter appeared in print on Saturday and should appear digitally on the opinion page by the end of today. I have appended the text at bottom.
The El Paso Inc also published a letter that was co-signed by “Claudia Rodriguez, former Eastside representative.” She argues in support of the arena feasibility study. Someone should tell her that the study was voted out of existence on January 3. Of course, the reason why she signed with the adjective “former” is because she lost her bid for reelection this past December 17 by a double-digit margin. Her opinion on the matter represents a minority of El Pasoans.
Enjoy your afternoon.
THE MAJORITY OF EL PASOANS OPPOSE BUILDING AN ARENA IN DURANGUITO
“We are writing in response to the recent letter by Octavio Gomez, who singles out Dr. Max Grossman and J. P. Bryan as responsible for preventing the construction of an arena in Duranguito. Gomez is in denial that the majority of El Pasoans oppose demolishing Duranguito for an entertainment venue and reject the City narrative that seeks to disappear its history and erase the role the fronterizo community has played in its defense.
The project is opposed by the residents of the barrio, who have been living under siege since 2006, when Duranguito was first targeted for demolition by the City and the PDNG. It is opposed by Paso del Sur, a grassroots organization that created an alternative community-generated plan for the rebirth of the neighborhood. It is opposed by the Community First Coalition, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Texas, and the City’s Historic Landmark Commission. It is opposed by El Paso County, which nominated Duranguito to the National Register of Historic Places. It is opposed by more than 4,000 El Pasoans who signed two petitions organized by Paso del Sur to save the barrio. This election has clearly shown it is opposed by the voters at large. “
Dr. Max Grossman, architectural historian
Dr. David Dorado Romo, historian