Photo - Brax, Valley Publishing |
Photo - Brax, Valley Publishing |
Interview: Ann Morgan Lilly, EP District # 1.
Ann Morgan Lilly, Candidate for City Representative District #1 met with UVB on March 18th on the Westside. She is the most senior of the four running for the office, just missing being a "Baby-Boomer" like the other three. She is a soft spoken woman who is very respectful and concerned about what city government has become. We began talking about her involvement with a neighborhood group, the Rim Area Neighborhood Association (RNA).
AML: I have been involved with the group since 1980, shortly after our return to El Paso in 1978. We found that commercialism had gotten too close to our area with homes being turned into medical clinics. So we formed an association and became very active. We fought re-zoning and we were down at city hall every time there was a re-zoning case.
The then Mayor Carlos Ramirez said "I' m tired of seeing you down here every time. We need to get with city planners and develop a plan that will tell every commercial entity, thinking of coming into the area, what you want and what you don't want".
So we developed the first neighborhood conservancy overlay (NCO) and that is where we are going from here. We thought we were in good shape but now some of the ordinances that were in the NCO are not thought by this administration and planning department, sufficient to stand the test of lawsuits. The legal department of the Ramirez administration thought that they were very substantial. We thought we were very safe. Now we feel threatened again.
UVB: It sounds like the same old bait and switch that has been used in the Upper Valley when one administration won't honor what the previous administration promises.
AML: That is what we are running into. We also have the plight of the green mat. (Plastic green mat to alleviate the errosion and susequent drainage problem. It is laid upon the hill between Schuster and Rim Road). This is an eye sore for the entire city. What happened was that the lawyers and dentists were getting flooded (when it rained) and so they sued the city and the city lost. Actually those tenants offered to let the city buy them out. And depending on who you talk to it was set but the city refused and they went on with their lawsuit and (had) to spend between $2-$3 million on that green mat which is inadequate for what it is supposed to do.
UVB: Given that you have had some difficulty with the city legal department. Do you feel that there is politcal influence being applied?
AML: Well, I don’t know what the problem is with the City Attorney’s office. I do know that they are not under the authority of the City Manager. I have had very good luck talking with her but every time there is a legal problem she has to defer to them. That is where the problems get bogged down. They still answer to the Mayor and I think it would be better if they answered to the City Manager.
UVB: It sounds like you have had some success with the your orgainzation (RNA) in obtaining some limitations on zoning. What are you doing now with the present administration of Mayor Joe Wardy?
AML: We are just trying to get them to listen to us and to understand that the NCO is important to us and that we need it intact. We are having a hard time.
UVB: Have you spoken to your City Representative Susan Austin about your concerns?
AML: Over the last two years... several times. She doesn’t do much. And that is why we are so upset. She will listen to us but then that is the last we hear of it.
UVB: Now as a candidate for City Representative District #1, what do you think you can bring to the office from your experience?
AML: I would like to listen to the constituents and neighborhoods and take that back to the city. I have been a grant writer obtaining funds for elderly and disabled people and also I have a para-legal degree. And mostly I would have an open-door policy and let people talk with me anytime and hash out the problems before they become a crisis.
UVB: It has been suggested that during the last election, Susan Austin had a huge financial war chest, filled by developers. How will you combat that in this election?
AML: I am walking door to door and talking to people and I let them know what I have to offer. Many people in Kern Place near where I live are upset because of the number of bars in the area. They feel that their neighborhood has been adversely affected. The present administration has lifted the parking restrictions. Another issue is that the arroyos are being developed and I think that they are El Paso’s heritage. Another thing people are concerned about are taxes.
I have been thinking that we could freeze the taxes for senior citizens because people’s homes are their most prized possesion and everytime the taxes go up it is a burden. And when you reach 65 and medical expenses begin to mount it is a problem paying taxes sometimes. Now I realize that this would affect the tax base. But it would be ofset by “Snow Birds” (Senior Citizens) who would move to the area and also using our tax revenue more wisely.
They (Wardy administration) gave Las Palmas a $1 million tax-abatement and they are already here and that building was almost built and they were going to employ 400 people anyway. I don’t see how that abatement helped our city.
I think that a steady tax rate would benefit everyone. It would be an incentive for business and Snow Birds to come here.
UVB: Do you favor tax-abatement to bring in new business?
AML: Yes. If they are used prudently. But not for businesses that are already here. I am not sure, but I believe that tax-abatements are number eight (8) for the Chamber of Commerce.
UVB: So, you feel giving a tax-abatement to Las Palmas was unfair.
AML: Absolutely unfair, and that puts more tax burden on the local citizens.
UVB: And you would favor the city getting rid of wasted dollars, such as lawsuits and settlements and unnecessary tax-abatements in order to cap the appriasals for senior citizens?
AML: That is exactly what I am saying. And it could be done without too much trouble.
UVB: You mentioned that you lived in Kentucky. Were you originally in El Paso?
AML: I am a third generation El Pasoan, I married and we moved to Kentucky. We moved back 25 years ago. My grandfather was an alderman (City Rep.) in the 1930’s when El Paso was considered one of the 6 best cities to live. My uncle was an alderman in the 1950’s when it started to level out... and I would like to be in the government now that it is hopefully starting to move forward.
UVB: Your experience in Kentucky was saturated with greenery. How do you view the Upper Valley in this desert region?
AML: The Upper Valley is one of the biggest treasures that El Paso has and must be used prudently without over development. I believe in “New Urbanism” (where land is developed in accordance with the surrounding) and the Upper Valley is the perfect place to use it. Too often companies decide to put in a store every so many miles and they look for a space and put in that store regardless if it fits the area. The neighborhoods are left fight that and that is unfortunate.
UVB: Have you been involved with helping any of the Upper Valley groups?
AML: Yes, through the grass-roots groups, I have met some of the Save the Valley group people and when they went to City Council, my husband and I went on their behalf.
UVB: How should City Council respond to the developers and land owners desire to maximize profit at the expense of the neighborhoods?
AML: City Council should stand up for the constituents... the neighbors and not use high-density in areas like the Upper Valley.
UVB: Do you favor the developer losing that land?
AML: No, I don’t favor the developer losing that land or their money but they should work with the neighborhoods so that we can stop this constant bickering.
UVB: If elected as City Representative, do you favor compromises instead of giving the developers everything they ask for?
AML: Absolutely. I am not for giving the developers everything they want.
UVB: The arroyos are another area of dissention. How do you see yourself as addressing this issue?
AML: There is something called the Frontier Land Trust unfortunately, it is new and it doesn’t have much of money. They do have criteria in place and can accept money from individuals and businesses. This could be used to pay developers for their land at an appraised value. The arroyos could then be kept for the neighborhoods and indeed all of El Paso because they are so unique.
UVB: We have a very diverse population on the westside and Upper Valley. How would you be able to represent all of them?
AML: Well, I would like to go back to having breakfast meetings (a long held tradition on the westside ended by Ms. Austin). Perhaps, twice a month with one meeting in the Upper Valley and another closer to the central part of town. People could come and talk to me and learn what they want.
UVB: One of the problems inherent with the breakfast meetings is that people have to work. How would you address this?
AML: Hopefully, if we have a meeting at 7:00 in the morning they could come on the way to work. Otherwise they would have to contact me.
UVB: Do you speak Spanish?
AML: Very poorly and I am ashamed of it.
UVB: One of the aspects that is crucial in your district and indeed the whole city, is health care. What would you do, if elected, to address this need?
AML: Health care is surely very badly needed. The City should look at this matter very closely. We should be hunting for grants. We are on the border and there are numerous grants for this that we should be persuing.
UVB: Would you be able to dedicate full time to this position:
AML: Absolutely, our children are grown and my grand-children live in Dallas. Yes, I would devote myself full-time to this position if elected.
UVB: People in the Upper Valley are looking for someone that will insure that neighborhoods are respected. How would you be able to insure that this occurs?
AML: I believe that I could serve as a liasion and discuss with the developer what the neighborhoods need. I would look for a win-win situation.
UVB: There seems to be some controvery over the influence of the developers since they can sue the City Planning Commission and also the City itself. The perception is that the developers are thus able to get anything they want. How would you address this?
AML: I would insure that there is a very strong legal department. The city attorneys that used to be here have left and I would insure that the new attorneys hired by the city would have a strong background in land and contract law.
UVB: You are running against Ms. Austin. You have mentioned you don’t agree with how she handles things. How would you describe her style or policy?
AML: I have heard her on two separate occasions state that she considers herself as a trustee. People vote for her and she will make the decision for them as to what she feels is best for them.
I would be a delegate where people would tell me what they want and I would go to City Council and try to help them and then get back in touch with them to see if we could all work together.
UVB: What is your vision for the Westside and Upper Valley in the next ten years?
AML: I want to see stable neighborhoods and the development not be so high-density.
UVB: Do you have a closing statement?
AML: I am strongly in favor of three things: The environement, and that includes the arroyos, stable neighborhoods and the arts. I would like the Arts Resource Department to work with the opera, symphony, Pro-Musica and the smaller groups so that El Paso could be a real art center.
AML: (Ms. Lilly asked that I include her current stand on taxes. "I realize that taxes should be stabilized, as much as possible, for everyone and not just seniors. I think this can be done with prudent spending and being very careful in giving tax abatement only to companies that are considering moving to El Paso and bringing good jobs.")
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Editor, Upper Valley Beacon
Copyright 2004 Valley Publishing Company
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