The following is an email from Lisa McNiel in response to the Site Trustee’s rationale for delaying the demolition of the stacks.
Thank you so much for your reply. I do feel better and appreciate the difficult positon that you are in. El Paso can be such a surreal place at times, and I am from here. It is difficult for me as well because Robert is a neighbor, and I run into Karla at various social functions. Nonetheless, for me public safety and future cost to the taxpayer are the issues. Plus, I have to admit that, although beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I would prefer the mountain landscape to the smokestacks and believe that would be a better “tourist” attraction (if there are any given the situation in Juarez).
Once again, thank you for your service to the community, and taking the time to respond to my concerns.
Lisa McNiel
Comment by Karen C. — January 26, 2012 @ 1:01 pm
Ms. McNeil,
Thank you for voicing your concerns to the site trustee. I couldn’t agree with you more about the likelihood that taxpayers are ultimately going to be left holding the bill for the stacks long after the trust is gone. I was just about to write to the trustee myself when I saw your letter. I, too, am disappointed that after the waiting period was long over we have to take such a step in the wrong direction. Public safety, funding, and the beauty of our landscape are more important than pleasing a small group of individuals. If there is anything the “anti-stackers” can do to mobilize around this issue, I’d love to know so that I can be a part of it.
karenandnate@hotmail.com