June 14, 2008
I recall vividly campaigning against then Mayor Suzie Azar, pointing out that she was on the verge of implementing a storm water tax on the citizenry of El Paso. It was a key element in the overwhelming victory that I achieved in 1991. I received more than 62 percent of the vote. The storm water tax turned off literally everybody since it was an impersonal mandate that came down from the “Gods”of EPA.
When I assumed the mantle of power in 1991, the city of El Paso was in a financial bind. We did not have the wherewithal to put in place a storm water tax. The EPA informed the city that nevertheless we were mandated to put in place the storm water tax. The City Council was adamantly opposed to the tax at that time largely because we did not believe the city of El Paso could get citizens to comply with the proposed federal government’s regulations and the prohibitive costs of implementing it. It was because of our dire circumstances that I came out and stated that I would not comply with the EPA’s demands.
While possibly “grandstanding,” I said that I was willing to go to jail to show my personal opposition to the pending tax. Fortunately for me and members of the City Council, we did not have to take any action. For a variety of reasons, it appears that the EPA did not purse the matter and we felt like General MacArthur when he stated: “old soldiers just fade away.” It literally faded away. That may have been a bad decision on the part of EPA and our City Council given what has unfolded here in El Paso over the course of the past 17 years.
As a side note, I do recall that EPA Director Carol Browner came down to El Paso to discuss the “colonias” and the water needs along the U.S.-Mexican border. From my vantage point she was very impressed by the city’s efforts to provide water services to the area. That visit pointed out the importance of the projected desalinisation plant that has assured the future of our beautiful city.
As I look at what is unfolding today in El Paso, I can only say bravo to Mayor Cook. He has shown great character and determination at a time when people are calling for his recall. What total nonsense. The mayor is doing what needs to be done for the general welfare of the El Paso community. What a mayor! While there may be differences among citizenry over the storm water fee, there is no doubt that the policy is correct. We must ensure that the horrendous flooding that El Paso was subjected to two years will never happen again. I realize that many businessman have a problem with the costs, but at the same time, I believe that some of those that “protest too much” (Shakespeare) are just ankle biters and “wanna be” politicians who like to have their faces before the TV camera and media.
In retrospect, maybe if we had put in place the storm water tax 17 years ago, the anger and frustration that Mayor Cook and the City Council have been subjected to would have been tempered and more civil. As the Romans once said, “mea culpa, mea culpa.”
***
William Tilney was mayor of El Paso from 1991-93.