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| Property Sales Approved, But Not Without Controversy |
The properties the group led by Saint Mary's Square Living Center wants will become theirs, but not after some residents and aldermen didn't get their way on the matter.
Aldermen Monday night voted four-to-three, with Mayor Sal Garza casting a tie-breaking vote, to sell about 18 different parcels of land the city owns to the winning bidders, with two properties getting rejected.
Two other parcels which make up 593 West First Street were called into question. Instead of going to the Saint Mary's Square group, alderman Corine Andersen wanted them to go to the neighbors, who had been taking care of the land for years.
One of those caretakers is Oletha Wallace.
"Since this isn't a big deal that they don't get this property, I think we deserve the consideration that we receive this property," Wallace said.
Alderman Jeremy Karlin says it's great that Saint Mary's Square wants to use the parcels and almost a dozen others so that they can become homes for the developmentally disabled, but that's not the only consideration here.
"The other interest of course I think is fundamental fairness, treating our business with fairness," Karlin said. "And that's the horns of the dilemma isn't it? We have citizens who took it upon themselves, maybe self interestedly, but also autruistically, to take care of this property and they've shown that they have been good stewards."
Garza did not say why he cast his vote in favor of the land going to Saint Mary's Square. Alderman Wayne Dennis recused himself but also didn't say why.
Aldermen Monday night also held a moment of silence for longtime city employee Don Crose, who was found unresponsive inside City Hall Monday, and later pronounced dead at a local hospital. |
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| 02 07 12 by Newsroom |
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