Adame Credibility Goes Down With Coliseum Vote

Mayor gets percentage of downtown Whataburger profits, no Bray opinion issued. Texas Historic Commission certifies Coliseum as elgible for National Historic Register, Council and Staff keep secret since Jan 7.

There was little surprise as the City Council voted 7-2 to tear down the Coliseum on Tuesday given the powers at work behind the scene. Council members sought to compare the cost of a finished open air pavilion for $3.2 million proposed by architect George Clower, with an empty lot for $1.2 million, saying the later was cheaper. They voted to borrow up to $2 million in certificates of obligation to tear down the facility and create a grassy field. Their budget includes no future capital improvements or maintenance costs.

Meanwhile, Destination Bayfront supporters sat in the audience pumping their arms in agreement when the Council voted to tear down the community icon despite their former declarations of neutrality on the issue. Many are connected with American Bank who is represented by Trey McCambell. Council Members Mark Scott and Nelda Martinez are bank advisory board members. Destination Bayfront has offered to design, operate and maintain a Discovery Green type destination park on the property under a private not-for-profit conservancy, removing it from public control. They offered to hire the design consultant for Discovery Green, after the Coliseum has been torn down.

We the People has learned in the meantime that Mayor Joe Adame does have an economic interest in sales at the downtown Whataburger which again brings into question his role in voting on any aspect of the property because of obvious conflict of interest questions. That interest is defined in a document by Interim City Attorney Lisa Aquilar as being for Jimmy Bray as being a percentage of the gross sales in excess of a specified sum. In other words any increase in business at the downtown Whataburger over an unknown amount would increase Adame’s income as well. That certainly is an economic benefit that is distinguishable from the general public, the definition in both the City ethics code as well as that of the state statute as a conflict of interest.

A letter to Angel Escobar from the Texas Historical Commission dated January 7th from the Texas Historical Commission states that the Coliseum is elgible for the National Historic Register and offers assistance to the City in gaining grants for restoration. The fact that this was not revealed in any public meeting has further infuriated Coliseum supporters who are now threatening law suits and recall petitions, leaving the matter still to play out its full consequences.

More on this story on Friday about how the city may have violated the open meetings act to hide information about Bray's opinion in possible collusion with the Caller Times.