Say what you will about last City attorney, it at least appeared she kept things more or less under control.
This one that Mayor Dee Margo wanted - against better judgement - seems like she is way in over her head.
There are some people that I know that think attorneys are their bosses. I will not mention names.
An attorney is someone skilled in the legal world, and tells you how to navigate in it.
Just as I want a pilot to fly a plane, I want an attorney to counsel me on legal matters, but just as you are not asking your pilot to handle your finances, you do not outsource your policy-making and common sense to an attorney.
Not that all attorneys do not have common sense, but a lot of them look at everything through a straw.
Case in point...Karla Nieman.
"The Law", whatever that means, as interpreted by Karla, said the Council had to fire City Representative Cassandra Hernandez-Not Brown's ass.
But "The Law" as interpreted by Karla, also said Hernandez-Not Brown could run for her seat back despite being canned.
If Karla were a good lawyer, she would have said, "This is what the law says, we may need to seek outside legal counsel, however, common sense says that if she can legally run for a seat again, there is no point in firing her and incur a cost of a special election. That and Mr. Mayor you will have a pissed off two-ton frau back on council."
But Karla is not a good lawyer.
Yes, "legally" maybe everything was done by the book with Hernandez-Not Brown, but then it all looks a bit off when compared to the situation with City Representative Sam Morgan.
"But muh law!"
Then there is the whole EPE sale bullshit going on.
Again, if Karla had any sense she would have shut that thing down and let the sale go through.
Now anybody wanting to invest in El Paso is gonna get cold feet.
You think any large firm wants to kiss the ass of any of the felons - plural - you have on City Council?
Nope.
Things are a mess at City Council.
Some of that is on the voters on who they send to City Hall.
But a lot of it is also on Dee and hires he has made, and especially on his choice of City Attorney.