EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — El Paso City Council failed to approve a motion directing the city manager and city attorney to work with TSA and the FAA to review the lease agreement for the security checkpoint at the El Paso International Airport.
At today’s meeting, city council heard then discussed the item, which intended to align operations with applicable city guidelines, policies, procedures, and ordinances connected with political language. This matter came up for discussion and action after federal officials started playing a video of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in which she attributes the current government shutdown to Democrats. Several city representatives, in response, sent a letter to the TSA voicing their concerns with the video. Several representatives spoke out about their concern the video could violate the Hatch Act, and specified that the video was only being shown in the part of the airport leased and run by TSA.
Today’s item, if it had passed, would have directed the city manager and city attorney to review all relevant documentation connected with the security checkpoint’s existing contract and/or lease agreement. The item also called for a report to be presented to city council within 60 days.
The item did not pass, however, with Alejandra Chavez, Ivan Niño, Art Fierro, and Lily Limón all voting no. Four representatives, Josh Acevedo, Deanna Maldonado-Rocha, Cynthia Boyar Trejo, and Chris Canales voted in favor of the item. Mayor Renard Johnson broke the tie by voting no, stopping the motion.
