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Saturday, May 18, 2013 | 3:29 p.m.

Updated: 8:20 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 | Posted: 4:36 a.m. Monday, Feb. 18, 2013

State Judge may decide lawsuit to save city hall

By Ruben Veloz

El Paso Times

EL PASO, Texas —

A state judge may finally settle a lawsuit filed by opponents of the $50 million triple-A baseball project.

Attorneys will be in Austin Tuesday to defend the city's use of bond money.

A group that wants to stop city hall from being demolished is behind the lawsuit, but supporters of the stadium are confident the judge will rule in the city's favor.

"I love downtown El Paso, that's definitely my favorite part of the city," said Michelle Campo.

Campo and her friend Victoria Sinclair both grew up in El Paso; and they believe the city's new ballpark will bring more life to the downtown area.

"I know El Paso is a very family oriented city, so why not? It would be a great opportunity for us to grow," said Sinclair, but not everyone agrees.

On Tuesday, a state judge in Austin will again try to decide if the city of El Paso misused bonds to help pay for the stadium.

According to our media partner, The El Paso Times, the initial bond hearing was held back earlier this month, after a group wanted the case moved to federal court, a federal judge denied the request.

"Obviously there is going to be people that don't agree with it, I think that we should embrace this change," said Sinclair.

Attorneys for the city argue El Paso should be allowed to use voter-approved bonds to help pay for the construction of the $50 million ballpark.

The city hopes to pay the money back using a 2 percent hotel occupancy tax voters approved during last November's election.

"We've been through this before and you know, it was already approved once, so I don't see why the judge wouldn't want to approve the ballpark," said Sinclair.

Last September the city locked a deal with Mountain Star Sports Group and purchased the Tucson Padres to play at the new ballpark, but critics haven't given up.

Those behind the lawsuit hope the judge will file an injunction to stop the ballpark from being built, and keep city hall from being demolished, a ruling El Pasoans like Campo and Sinclair hope will not happen.

"It's a positive thing for the city, so we just need to keep on moving forward," said Campo.

According to El Paso Times, city council may decide Tuesday if an ordinance to spare city hall will be put to a vote in May’s elections.

This could happen, even if city hall is demolished later this April.

 

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