The following is a letter I sent to the Mayor and Council Members
As they respond, I will post their answers.

TO:
The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members

RE:
The Gene Roddenberry Memorial Highway - House Bill 949

DATE:
April 22, 2003

CC:
El Paso State Legislators (Representatives and Senators)
http://www.grmhpetition.org
e-mail lists

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I would like to thank City Council for giving me the opportunity to speak today on the Gene Roddenberry Memorial Highway. I would also like to thank Representative Cobos for putting the item on the agenda and asking that I, and all other supporters of the Bill, come to speak.

For many years, I have worked on the sidelines of City and State government, drafting and revising legislation, reviewing resolutions and proposed bills, making sure the information was sent to the right people. It was part of my job. Until now, however, I have not had direct contact with the legislative process.

It was a very interesting day, and a great learning experience. One of the great things about our country is open government and the ability to participate. After participating today, and talking with all of you, and subsequently chatting with my friends, neighbors and supporters of this bill, as well as double-checking some dates, I have a few questions for each of you regarding this issue. The questions are preceded by some background that forms the basis for the questions (and to refresh everyone’s memories). No question is directed at any one person (it is not my goal to single anyone out); however, I would like individual responses for each of you so that I may post them on the Project Website, so that your constituents will be able to see your answers. (This letter is already posted on the site.)

Background

In October of 2002, the Mayor and Council Proclaimed October 4, 2002, and every October 4^th thereafter "Gene Roddenberry Day". That is when this movement began.
On December 11, 2002, I sent each one of you information regarding this Project.
On December 29, 2002, I sent Representative Pickett the draft legislation.
On January 6, 2003, I sent all the Texas Legislators a cover letter and a copy of the draft legislation.
On January 14, 2003, the first of many references to the Project appeared in the El Paso Times.
On January 16, 2003, the Project Website was up and running.
January 22-27, 2003, KTSM News Channel 9 ran their own independent poll.
On February 19, 2003, House Bill 949 was introduced.

Jump forward to today, April 22, 2003. In the City Council meeting I heard many comments from the Council table to the effect that no one wanted to move forward without hearing from the constituents. I also heard that one Council member had only 8 messages, and they were all negative. As I had already used my speaking time at that point, I could not respond that I have had approximately 1,000 written responses, all of which were posted on the Project Website, and that the State Legislators had received a like amount. I also noted that of the people that came to speak, that no one from the public had anything negative to say about the Project, and that even the one person who had had the most negative comments via e-mail, was not there at the meeting. Other comments included: no one wanted to "exploit" Gene in this way (even though the family supports the legislation) and there were other names that might be more fitting.

Given this background, I ask the following (remember, each question goes to each Council Member and the Mayor, so I should have 9 responses to post):

Have you, at any time since you first learned of the Project in December of 2002 (four months ago), and prior to today’s meeting, sought input from your constituents, either through a newsletter, breakfast meeting, your own website, or phone poll? If so, please tell the world when and how, and what the results were.

Have you at any time since the Project Website was first launched in January of 2003, and prior to today’s meeting, visited the site to see what the world (yes, world, not just El Paso and not just Texas) has to say about the Project?

Have you at any time prior to today’s meeting reviewed the numbers from the poll taken by KTSM? (They are posted on the Project Website.)

Have you at any time prior to today’s meeting reviewed the Legislative Poll to see all the other sites within El Paso and the surrounding area that visitors to our great city would be willing to visit while they are here?

What are alternate names that have been proposed, when were they proposed, and have you made them public so that there can be discussion? (As any visitor to the Project Website can tell you, I publish the negative as well as the positive. This is a democratic society, and everyone has a say. For example, there was a negative Letter to the Editor of the El Paso Times which I re-typed and posted for the world to see.)

I think everyone will be interested in your responses. As I am copying the State Legislators with this e-mail, if any of them would like to respond regarding themselves, I will be more than happy to post their responses as well.

Thank you for your time. It would be nice to have your responses no later than Sunday, April 27, 2003, in order for me to respond to our Senator’s concerns by his deadline of April 28, 2003.

Terri Donawell
http://www.grmhpetition.org
webmaster@grmhpetition.org

RESPONSES

April 23, 2003

I have said from the beginning it is a local City Council issue and I still believe so.

Representative Joe Pickett

April 24, 2003

Thank you for taking the time to appear before city council and presenting your suggestions. We do appreciate your passion for this issue. Sincerely, John

City Councilman John Cook, District 4

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