THE SELLING OF BOB KRUEGER Pg. 3

A JOURNAL OF FREE VOICES JUNE 18, 1993 • $1.75

KEVIN KRENECK MOLLY IVINS

OLY DEBACLE, what an electoral the session (thank you, Lord), so let's stop to massacre. Slaughter at the polls. A ver- salute a few heroes. Those who think state gov- H itable rout. Well, there it is. ernment is a hopelessly bad joke need to be I must admit to a sneaking admiration for reminded that people of brains, principle and Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the Breck Girl, as a integrity put in killer hours and take abuse female candidate. In the future, women who beyond all permission to serve in the A JOURNAL OF FREE VOICES would be candidates would do well to study Legislature, all for the magnificent sum of $7,200 We will serve no group or party but will hew hard to the truth as we find it and the right as we see it. We are her nigh-flawless combination of sacharine and a year. For public service above and beyond the dedicated to the whole truth, to human values above all steel. Hutchison has always dressed in a style call of duty, special recognition to: interests, to the rights of human-kind as the foundation that is close to a parody of I-am-a-nice-girl •Rep. Libby Linebarger, D-Manchaca, chair of democracy: we will take orders from none but our own conscience, and never will we overlook or misrepresent fashion: sweet little flowered dresses with a of the House Public Education Committee, the truth to serve the interests of the powerful or cater small ruff and a little bow around the neck, who three times got 100 votes out of the House to the ignoble in the human spirit. white Puritan collars, Peter Pan collars, that for constitutional school financing plans, when Writers are responsible for their own work, but not 1950's earlier leaders couldn't even get in done once. for anything they have not themselves written, and in pub- sort of sugar-and-spice, perfect lady, lishing them we do not necessarily imply that we agree schoolgirl look. Good trial lawyers defend- Patient, open to all sides, firm when she needed with them, because this is a journal of free voices. ing double murderesses make their clients to be. Onlookers were vastly amused one night when Rep. Mark "Bubba" Stiles was misbe- SINCE 1954 dress like that. At the same time, in debate after debate against Krueger, whenever she was having to catch one stem look from Linebarger Publisher: Ronnie Dugger pressed, out came the steel, the edge to the that caused Stiles to pull down a silly motion at Editor: Louis Dubose voice, the don' t-mess-with-me-you-despica- once. Not for nothing has that woman raised Associate Editor: James Cullen Layout and Design: Peter Szymczak, Diana Paciocco ble-worm-how-dare-you-suggest-that form. six children. Even the occasionally obstreper- Copy Editor: Roxanne Bogucka She was tough. Whew. ous Stiles stiffened at the look and all but said, Bad-Bills Girl: Mary O'Grady Her campaign was also beautifully executed "Yes, ma'am!" Editorial Intern: Carmen Garcia. Contributing Writers: Bill Adler, Betty Brink, Warren in that she was inoculated against negatives • Rep. Paul Sadler, D-Henderson, probably Burnett, Brett Campbell, Jo Clifton, Terry FitzPatrick, early by the Breck-girl ad campaign, so that the pick of last session's freshmen, now an Gregg Franzwa, James Harrington, Bill Helmer, Ellen when Krueger finally started bringing out the oustanding sophomore. Bright, quick on his Hosmer, Steven Kellman, Michael King, Deborah Lutterbeck, Tom McClellan, Bryce Milligan, Debbie dirt, she could dismiss it with the Krueger' s- feet, cool head, friend of the common folks. Nathan, Gary Pomerantz, Lawrence Walsh. out-of-control line. Of course, if she does get Proof that the great East Texas populist tradi- Editorial Advisory Board: David Anderson, Austin; indicted in the next few weeks, we will have a tion still lives. Frances Barton, Austin; Elroy Bode, El Paso; Chandler Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-, long Davidson, Houston; Dave Denison, Cambridge, Mass; different kind of senator. • Bob Eckhardt, Washington, D.C.; Sissy Farenthold, I pass in tactful silence over Bob Krueger' s considered something of a joke in the House, Houston; Ruperto Garcia, Austin; John Kenneth Galbraith, already sufficiently maligned campaign. I for just standing up and saying what she thinks Cambridge, Mass.; Lawrence Goodwyn, Durham, N.C.; and being right most of the time.There is a George Hendrick, Urbana, Ill.; Molly Ivins, Austin; find the referendum-on-Clinton interpretation Larry L. King, Washington, D.C.; Maury Maverick, of the race sill beyond permission. I think the steadfast quality about Thompson one comes Jr., ; Willie Morris, Oxford, Miss.; Kaye parallel is Bob Abram's New York Senate race to cherish. Northcott, Austin; James Presley, Texarkana; Susan Reid, last fall: If you have a lousy candidate who • Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, one of our Austin; Geoffrey Rips, Austin; A.R. (Babe) Schwartz, Galveston; Fred Schmidt, Fredericksburg. runs a lousy race, there's nothing you can do most thoughtful Republicans. Not sure he'll be about it. And when you get 20 percent turnout, Jack Vowell (R-El Paso, a longtime hero) when Poetry Consultant: Thomas B. Whitbread the people who turn out tend to be well-to- he grows up, but continually goes beyond knee- Contributing Photographers: Bill Albrecht, Vic Hin- do white folks. jerk partisan posturing. terlang, Alan Pogue. • Rep. Yvonne Davis, D-Dallas, smart, hard Contributing Artists: Michael Alexander, Eric Avery, The most depressing Larger Implication is Tom Ballenger, Richard Bartholomew, Jeff Danziger, that 20 percent will still buy into a campaign worker, plus did public service by getting on Beth Epstein, Dan Hubig, Pat Johnson, Kevin Kreneck, that consists of a pol endlessly parroting, "No the egregious Ashley Smith's case and stay- Michael Krone, Carlos Lowry, Ben Sargent, Dan new taxes, no new taxes." Read my lips: We ing on it. That'll teach him to patronize Davis. Thibodeau, Gail Woods, Matt Wuerker. don't get out of a $4 trillion debt without new • Rep. Barry Telford, D-DeKalb, one of the few people in either House who can actually Managing Publisher: Cliff Olofson taxes. The only question, after the free-the-rich Subscription Manager: Stefan Wanstrom '80's, is: Who pays them? change votes in debate. Not always right, but Executive Assistant: Gail Woods And, of course, it's hasta la vista, baby, to honest and a great story teller. Special Projects Director: Bill Simmons On the Senate side, absolutely everybody was Development Consultant: Frances Barton the super collider and the space station. No great tragedy by my lights — still think they're both impressed by John Whitmire, D-Houston, this

SUBSCRIPTIONS: One year 532, two years 559, three years $84. Full-time bad pork and bad science. But Texas, despite session, earlier cited for his work on penal students $18 per year. Back issues $3 prepaid. Airmail, foreign, group, and code revision. And, as always, Carl Parker, bulk rates on request. Microfilm editions available from University Microfilms the rhetoric of our politicians, has had its snout Intl., 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Any current subscriber deep in the federal trough for generations. Be D-Port Arthur. Few miles startin' to show on who finds the price a burden should say so at renewal time; no one need forgo reading the Observer simply because or the cost. interesting to see us live up to our platitudes for Parker; he was draggin' around more weight INDEXES: The Texas Observer is indexed in Access: The Suppkmentaty Index to Periodicals; Texas Index and, for the years 1954 through 198 I,The Texas a change. I did have to laugh at the reports that this session than usual this session, often tired, Observer Index. maybe cut too many deals behind closed doors. THE TEXAS OBSERVER (ISSN 0040-4519/USPS 5413(10), entire contents Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, chair of copyrighted, 1992, is published biweekly except for a three-week interval the Appropriations Committee, can't wait to But, by George, if you can have only one other between issues in January and July (25 issues per year) by the Texas Observer Publishing Co.. 307 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. Telephone: (512) slice Texas pork because he so dislikes Phil person on your side, Parker is the one you want. 477-0746. Second-class postage paid at Austin, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE TEXAS OBSERVER, Gramm. Byrd himself is the Pork Champion of When he rears back to go freedom-fightin', 307 West 7th Street, Austin, Texas 78701. the Universe; he's just not a hypocrite about it there is still nobody better — and I'm not sure the way Gramm is. there ever was. Also, still has the best supply Back at the Lege, here we are at the end of of dirty jokes in the Lege. ❑ EDITORIALS T HEserver TEXAS Bob Krueger, By George JUNE 18, 1993 VOLUME 85, No. 12 E DAYS AFTER BOB KRUEGER couldn't get any free media (press coverage FEATURES Tlost the first round of the U.S. Senate elec- of the campaign)," he said. And the paid tion, by claiming second place to make the media, according to Hartman, failed to define runoff with , the Krueger. Asked about the changing style Gliding into Adjournment Georges spoke to a Houston business group and content of the TV campaign, Hartman By James Cullen 5 meeting at a downtown Austin hotel. The said the electorate just seemed intractable. Zoning in Houston topic of the mid-day talk was the defeat of "You only do something for so long and if the proposed school funding amendments and it's not working you try something else," By Tim Fleck . 7 the difficult task that faced Krueger. Hartman said. "It's kind of like bass fish- West Dallas Diplomacy Both of the Georges, Austin-based politi- ing. You only troll for so long in one spot then By Carol Countryman cal consultants George Shipley and George you move." (In the week after the election, 10 Christian, were betting on Krueger to place, Hartman was one of very few people who Organizing Around Chavez but not to win, in the runoff against Kay Bailey would even admit to having worked on the By Denise Bezick 17 Hutchison. The predictions of both were ful- campaign. Many of those who directed the filled when Krueger on June 5 lost by a two- campaign, when asked, said they had very lit- to-one margin. Shipley, one of the most highly tle to do with it or were only marginally DEPARTMENTS regarded political consultants in the state, involved.) began his luncheon talk with a disclaimer, But the Democratic candidate to fill the Molly Ivins explaining that he could say very little because Senate seat vacated by was he had a client in the race. He did say the selected by the Richards brain trust, which Editorials runoff was "Kay Bailey Hutchison's to lose." includes her son-in-law Kirk Adams, Shipley Senate Election and the Legislature Christian — who, yes, we all know, served of Shipley & Associates and Jack Martin of as LBJ's press aide — had no client in the Public Strategies. Involved with them in run- Interview race and had a different agenda.. "If Krueger ning the campaign were Austin ad-agency Mexico Buys Free.Trade loses," Christian said, "there will be a executive Roy Spence, political consultant By Don Hazen 12 Democratic primary to select a candidate to Mark McKinnon and direct-mail specialist run against Kay Bailey Hutchison in 1994. If Dave Goldman. Treasury Secretary Bentsen, Las Americas the Democrats pick a liberal, the Republicans whose interests in Austin are often represented will have a target to clobber in the general by Jack Martin, also had a great deal to say Death, Drugs and Free Trade election." Such a choice, Christian predicted in the choice of his appointed successor. One By John Ross 15 — and it was obvious that Christian was refer- political consultant, who asked not to be Speaking Out ring to former attorney general Jim Mattox named, said that only two Democrats could — would be a liability for the entire have won the race. The Governor, who could All He Can Be Democratic ticket, including Governor Ann haVe named herself interim Senator, and then By Rick Brown 19 Richards. run in the election, or Secretary of Housing The whole affair was unseemly, like dis- and Urban Development Henry Cisneros. Books and the Culture cussing your uncle's probate before he's even "Once you got beyond those two, you were AIDS, Life and Art moved into intensive care. But the candidacy into the second string — the congressional Review by Steven G. Kellman 20 of Bob Krueger, who at that point had only delegation and Bob Krueger." Borderline Fiction failed two-and-a-half times to be elected to But surely those who do the political think- Review by Miguel Bedolla-Gonzalez 21 the U.S. Senate, was already moribund. A ing for Richards could have looked six months month later, at the post-runoff wake at the into the future and foreseen Kay Bailey Afterword Capitol Marriott in Austin, Democratic Hutchison looking into a camera and say- mourners were stunned — not by Krueger's ing "Bob Krueger has already run fOr the Edifice Complex loss, but by the margin by which he was Senate two times and lost ..." This was a By Char Miller 23 beaten. souffle that wouldn't rise the first or the sec- 24 Greg Hartman, who worked for Senator ond time. What sort of beating could make Political. Intelligence Carlos Truan of Corpus Christi and more it rise the third time? So even if this race recently for Comptroller John Sharp before was one that the Democrats were likely to done that they would probably have got 40 being drafted to run the Krueger campaign, lose, it was not a race for the Republicans percent (instead of 33)." Seemed relieved that it was all over. "Maybe to win by a 67-33 margin. A political con- What went wrong, then? "The message, the we'll get Clinton's numbers," Hartman said sultant interviewed for this story suggested candidate and organization," said yet another early in the evening, referring to the 38 per- that the lack of a real Democratic message Democratic political operative who insisted on cent showing up in Texas polls as supporting probably discouraged turnout. "The Texas speaking off the record. Political campaigns the President. (In the end Krueger didn't even Observer crowd and the libs would proba- are driven by either personality, issues or a com- do that well, winning only 33 percent of the bly say, 'Run a Jim Hightower campaign bination of both. Krueger, as former Observer vote.) ."Nothing we did could ever get the that will appeal to Democrats,'" he said: "And editor Chandler Davidson argued from Rice numbers to move," Hartman said. "We this time they're probably right. Had they University, "is an intelligent, hard-working and humane man." Yes. But no one ever said he

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 3 is a candidate for a personality-driven cam- filed with the Ethics Commission. Shipley voted for Hutchison — and he did not win paign. Krueger had to be defined by issues. dismissed the question about potential con- in a single metropolitan area. If this election Issues, in this campaign, Bob Krueger never flict of interest between legislative and cam- wasn't a wake-up call for Democrats in quite had. He began with a budget-scrubbing paign clients, responding that he does not Texas, then they're not asleep. They're dead. pitch, borrowing a page from John Sharp's do lobbying but strategic consulting. "Does —L.D. Against the Grain audit reports, then promised that mean that someone who does work for to cut his own salary 20 percent to do his the Trial Lawyers or for labor can't advise a part in cutting the budget; then he took a candidate?" Shipley asked. He added that No Sacred Cows few swipes at tobacco companies receiving Republican consultant consults tax subsidies for creating health problems; for the tobacco industry as well as Republican One thing is certain: Kay Bailey Hutchison then, in the end, he settled in on health care. candidates. And no one raises questions about was sent to Washington with a mandate to On health care, Paul Wellstone he was not. conflicts of interest. (The tobacco industry cut government spending. The only prob- Unlike the Minnesota Senator who is spon- was Krueger's first target.) Shipley also said lem for Texas is that the Democratic major- soring comprehensive health-care reforms, that it was the Texas Medical Association that ity in the Senate will be glad to accommodate Krueger talked about caps on prescription he worked for, not the American Medical her, starting with the two of the biggest pork- drug prices but never staked out a position Association, which is involved in lobbying barrel projects in the nation: the supercon- likely to engage the 59 percent of those whom, on a national health care issues. ducting supercollider near Waxahachie and in the week prior to his election, told New. Also advising the Krueger campaign was the space station project based at the Johnson York Times pollsters they would be willing Jack Martin of the Austin office of Public Space Center near Houston. to pay new taxes "even over and above new Strategies, at the same time that Joseph O'Neill Hutchison said her first priority is to fight taxes to reduce the deficit if those taxes could of Public Strategies Washington, D.C, office higher taxes as well as military base closings, be used to buy the country a health-care was one of the lobbying heavyweights on such as the Dallas Naval Air Station, Kelly reform package." There are more than five the North American Free Trade Agreement Air Force Base and the home port and naval million uninsured or underinsured Texans to (NAFTA). According to an article in the air station near Corpus Christi. "I am not whom real health care reform might have Nation, O'Neill's small firm earned $455,771 prepared to vote for tax increases," Hutchison appealed, but Krueger found the message too representing the government of Mexico's inter- said at a news conference in Dallas the day late and had too little to say about it. est before the Congress. Krueger never had after her victory. "I think Congress needs to Why did Krueger fail to address the hottest much to say about. NAFTA, either, although perform on cutting the budget before it looks kitchen-table issue in politics? Asked about in El Paso he told Mexican reporters he favored at any other options." health care while he was campaigning in El a side agreement on the environment to sup- Dave McNeely of the Austin American- Paso, Krueger told the Observer he could not plement the treaty negotiated by the Bush Statesman noted that Robert Byrd, chair of commit to any health care package until he and Salinas administrations. Yet NAFTA is the Senate Appropriations Committee, already knew what it included. Since he didti't know clearly an issue that has aroused the interest dislikes Texas' new senior Senator, Phil what President Clinton's health-care reform of the blue-collar voters who make up an Gramm, for his habitual demagoguery about package was, he couldn't endorse it. At the time important bloc of the Democrats' base vote. wasteful spending while he claims credit for the basics of the President's working plan had In the end, in an issue-driven campaign every government program with an invest- been laid out in both the New York Times and that couldn't define its issues, Krueger ment in Texas. "If Byrd had his way, Texas the Wall Street Journal. Could he vote for that couldn't get voters to the polls. His 567,000 wouldn't get a penny," Blaine Bull, who health-care reform package? Kreuger answered votes represented less than 50 percent of the served as legislative director in Lloyd that he felt like he would support "some health- core Democratic vote. Conventional wis- Bentsen's Senate office, was quoted. care plan." In other words, he wasn't exactly dom is that Republicans turn out for special Texas still has considerable clout in its staking it out as his issue. elections while Democrats require a turnout House delegation, including several com- The Krueger campaign did, however, of at least 30 percent to have an impact. mittee chairs and key members of the House employ Shipley, whose political consulting On June 5, the turnout was 20.5 percent of Appropriations Committee. It also has Bentsen business last year earned more than $150,000 the state's 8.5 million registered voters. as Treasury Secretary, a key economic adviser representing the Texas Medical Association, Krueger carried only 14 of the state's 254 to the President, and former San Antonio Humana Health Care Plans and the Texas counties — even Democratic bulwarks such mayor Henry Cisneros as Secretary of Housing Health Care Association, according to reports as El Paso, Jefferson and Travis counties and Urban Development. Governor also has a few markers she can call in on Capitol Hill. But with only a year until Kay Hutchison has to stand for re-election and with Gramm gearing for a run for President in 1996, Democrats in Washington have to ask themselves why they should break their backs to preserve pork-barrel spending in Texas so Gramm and Hutchison can claim credit for the local jobs and then come home PEOPLE to blast and the Democrats in Make a world of difference ! Congress for ordering the tax to pay for it. And We're proud of our employees and their contributions to your Congress may well ask why we should spend success and ours. Call us for quality printing, binding, mailing billions for exotic science projects when we and data processing services. Get to know the people at Futura. cannot afford to provide basic health care for our citizens. P.O. Box 17427 Austin, TX 78760-7427 Texas voters — the one-fifth who turned out to vote on June 5 as well as those who FUTUM 389-1500 apparently did not think it was worth their COMMUNICATIONS, INC time — should be careful what they ask for. They may yet get it. — J.C.

4 • JUNE 18, 1993 Gliding into Adjournment

ENATOR CARL PARKER delivered Because of the new rules, which required nity to have Texas completely wired with S his customary rant against his opponents amendments to be laid out at least 24 hours an infrastructure of fiber optics ready to accept du four as the Texas House of Representatives before they could be acted upon, much of the those kinds of industries, investments and balked at a last-day rewrite of the Public Utility action had taken place on the penultimate jobs [for the 21st century]," Parker said. Commission bill, but otherwise the biennial day. That's when lawmakers finally passed Senator Rosson, who was a PUC member regular session of the 73rd Legislature glided a bill calling for a non-binding referendum on during the administration of Governor Mark into adjournment sine die on May 31. The final whether to allow concealed weapons, which White, agreed with Parker that some reforms day traditionally is filled with last-minute deals Governor Ann Richards subsequently vetoed, in utility regulation, such as taking the gen- on long-suffering bills that are cobbled together and passed bills reauthorizing the Board of eral counsel out of rate hearings, moving and presented to both chambers on a take-it- Medical Examiners, the Texas Alcoholic the hearings examiners into a separate agency or-leave-it basis, but new House rules were Beverage Commission and the Texas Optom- and more long-term planning of generating designed to prevent such 11th-hour lawmak- etry Board, although the House voted to kill plants, will be delayed at least for the next ing, so the 140th day ended up as a study in the Board of Dental Examiners. The Legis- years by preserving the status quo, but she anticlimax. With little to do, the House lature, under pressure from the federal gov- said the reforms had been weakened in the adjourned at 5:39 p.m. and the Senate closed ernment, also approved a measure regulating negotiations and the best option was to study up shop at 8:15 p.m. instead of the traditional the Edwards Aquifer and another that prohibits them for another two years. run 'til midnight. But the early-evening good- disclosure of to insurance companies of speed- "It has been a clash of the giants, each try- byes this year were a boon for reporters, who ing violations less than 5 mph over the 65-mph ing to carve out a special deal or advantage were able to easily meet their early-edition limit on rural interstate highways. with tactics rivalling a political campaign. deadlines, and bartenders, who got to pour We had 30-second political soundbites and more drinks (although the daiquiri machines n the PUC bill, the utilities hoped to get per- we've had all sorts of sound and fury," she of sessions past were banished from the hall- . mission from the Legislature to keep $1 bil- said. "We can live with [the current law] ways of the newly decorum-minded House). lion in federal "phantom taxes," which the better than we can live with all the little deals The biggest excitement in the House was a utility holding companies charged to ratepay- for GTE and deals for TU and deals for Centel. brief commotion by "Lesbian Avengers," gay ers but never paid, usually because of tax We did not have a good piece of public pol- rights activists who honked air horns, tossed breaks for affiliated companies (See "Tax and icy reduced to writing." paper airplanes and unfurled banners from the Bend for Utilities," TO 6/4/93). The utili- gallery over the House floor to protest the con- ties got the support from local officials and arker disparaged the consumer advocates, tinuation of the state's sodomy law. The ban- labor unions, who saw the favorable terms PP whom he said act "like they are the ners read: "Homophobia stinks" and "Legalize for the utilities as a way to ensure union jobs. appointed of God" and he called newspaper Lesbian Sex," while the paper airplanes said, But Senator Peggy Rosson, an El Paso publishers, who cut their own deal to keep the "Homophobia Stinks." Eleven people were Democrat, and Senator Jim Turner, a Crockett telephone companies out of the electronic arrested and charged with disrupting a public Democrat, threatened to filibuster the PUC information service, "probably the most pious, meeting, a Class B misdemeanor. bill over the phantom-tax issue. Rosson said sanctimonious and hypocritical of the bunch," Over in the Senate, J.E. "Buster" Brown, a the current law was preferable to accepting but John Hildreth of Consumers Union said Lake Jackson Republican, was filibustering a the deal forced upon them in the last week- the blame for scuttling the reforms lies else- bill that would have allowed graduates of the end of the session. where. "We were not loading this bill up with unaccredited Reynaldo G. Garza School of Law Senator Parker, the Economic Development gifts for ourselves. That responsibility lies in South Texas to take the bar exam, but Brown Committee chair, is known as a business-bash- with the regulated utilities ... and they should graciously agreed to sit down long enough to ing labor-oriented liberal, but he started the accept the responsibility for going through allow mercurial Port Arthur Democrat Parker session in January blaming consumer advo- this process for another two years," he said. to vent his spleen before he reluctantly advanced cates for not educating the populace about Hildreth also questioned the claim by union the stopgap reauthorization of the Public Utility the pitfalls of product liability reform, which representatives that the deal would have com- Commission for two years. he then duly endorsed. His contempt for con- mitted phone companies to upgrade their Lobbyists for telephone and electricity gen- sumer advocates, who have little money, lots equipment and guaranteed jobs, particularly erating companies had appeared poised to of information and plenty of righteous indig- for the Communications Workers of America. force passage of a bill granting a billion- nation, increased during the session. In past Southwestern Bell promised in their last rate dollar "phantom tax" break to the regulated sessions Capitol observers have watched for case two years ago that they would begin utilities, but they apparently overplayed their his biennial end-of-session migration across installing high-tech equipment in return for hand when the compromise on the bill was the rotunda to the House chambers, where he frozen rates, he said. "They've gotten those delayed until the final day. It appeared to be traditionally browbeat some adversary on the frozen rates and they need to make those a typical case of end-of-session brinksman- House floor. But with the Senate removed to investments and start putting their deeds where ship but final passage of the bill was blocked temporary chambers six blocks away, Parker their mouth is," he said. by two senators who threatened to filibuster confined himself to a verbal blast against House "We support moving ahead in that direction and House Speaker Pete Laney, who enforced Speaker Pete Laney, who enforced the House but we believe the telephone company should the new House rule against complex bills rules, fellow senators and the consumer advo- prove that that investment is prudent through being presented on the last day. So instead of cates who interfered in the imposition of the a review at the Public Utility Commission. considering the revamped bill, the House deal, as he accused them of demagoguery. They would rather short-circuit the regula- and Senate continued the PUC under cur- "We are flushing down the toilet in the tory process and come to the Legislature for rent laws for another two years. name of consumerism today the opportu- direct relief." —J. C.

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 5 Game Called

OVERNOR ANN RICHARDS called law violates the constitutional right to privacy sion. Voters overwhelmingly repudiated the Gthe recently concluded legislative ses- and equal protection under the law. school finance plan she endorsed as well as her sion "a sure-fire, three-run homer for the The pro-business tone of the 73rd Legislature appointee to the U.S. Senate, but polls show people of Texas" and "one of the most pro- was ordained in December 1991 when three her personal popularity remains high, with a ductive we've had." Its main accomplishment, Republican federal judges set aside the redis- 63-percent approval rating in a Dallas Morning going into 1994 election year, was the tricting plan adopted by the Democrat-domi- News poll conducted May 20-25. Her other approval of a $70.1 billion budget without nated Senate and ordered a new plan that max- legislative efforts were mixed: She objected new taxes, but the 73rd Legislature also imized Republican votes in the 1992 election. to efforts by the insurance industry to hijack passed a patchwork school finance reform bill The GOP gained four Senate seats, giving the State Board of Insurance sunset bill. After that promises to satisfy state judges, at least them 13, which allowed them to block bills negotiations in the Senate, a compromise bill for the short term; she also promoted a bill under Senate rules. With business-oriented was approved that allowed the industry to that sets up health insurance pools for small Democrats they formed a conservative work- continue providing the data on which rates are businesses, which proposes to make insur- ing majority in the 31-member Senate to match based, but with regulatory oversight by the ance coverage more affordable. the usually conservative House. state insurance commissioner. The experi- For consumers, environmentalists, liber- Lieut. Gov . Bob Bullock, who was criti- ence reinforced Richards' belief in the need tarians, labor and other progressive advocates cized for his partisan Democratic activity in for a reform of the sunset process. But she sup- who are routinely outgunned by lobbyists for the 1991 session, headed off a potential coup ported successful bills to make health insur- business and industry, there was little to cel- as he gained the support of moderate ance more affordable for small businesses, ebrate in the session. Republicans and worked to control damage as well as a bill to immunize children. The budget increased spending by 11.4 during the session. Business interests scored House Speaker Pete Laney generally got percent over the last biennium, with addi- a major victory early in the session with lim- good marks for his rookie session at the helm. tional revenues from the federal government its on product liability lawsuits. There was The Hale Center conservative Democrat sup- and lottery ticket sales saving the state from resentment among consumer and organized ported rules reforms that encouraged a more a tax increase that certainly would have caused labor advocates that trial lawyers cut the deal open process and prevented the usual end-of- mischief with all the legislators and the top in closed-door sessions supervised by Bullock, session crush of bills passed with little chance state leaders up for election next year. The but some felt the damage could have been that ordinary lawmakers knew what they were new budget provides $1.1 billion more for worse without Bullock's intervention. If any- enacting. They still might not have known, education, but it does not keep pace with thing, Bullock was more powerful in his sec- but at least the paperwork was available for projected enrollment increases and it left ond session; few were the bills that got to the their review. Laney's committee assignments teachers without a pay raise. The budget was Senate floor without his approval. generally were good, although environmen- $400 million short of maintaining the current Going into an election year, Bullock also talists complained that they faced panels level of health and human services, so Texas not only reversed his support for an income stacked against them, and he gave his com- will still rank at or near the bottom among tax, but he undermined what figured to be the mittees a loose rein and allowed the House states in those areas. best Republican campaign issue next year by the work its will on amendments to bills. There was an increase of $830 million in pushing a constitutional amendment onto For the first time in recent history, the appropriations for prisons and public safety, the November ballot that would require a Legislature adjourned with no special session as the Legislature approved 22,000 new "state statewide referendum before implementation looming. But opponents of the school finance jail" beds for non-violent felony offenders, of any income tax. It's bad public policy but plan have until mid-July to file their objections. 10,000 additional prison beds and 7,000 beds good politics, and gave us the spectacle of There is still hope that a court will find the for substance abuse treatment. Voters in conservative Republicans, such as Senator multiple-choice plan objectionable and strike November will be asked to approve a $1 bil- John Leedom of Dallas, opposing the mea- it down, giving lawmakers a window of oppor- lion bond issue to build the state jails. Crime- sure — because it didn't go far enough. tunity to piggyback their pet bills onto yet fighting bills, always a staple of a legisla- On the environmental front, the Legislature another school finance reform session. —J.C. tive session, were thick this spring as the passed bills to regulate pumping from the Legislature outlawed stalking, adopted a new Edwards Aquifer, accept low-level radioac- Editor's Note: A more comprehensive look penal code that provides tougher penalties for tive waste from Vermont and Maine and have at the 73rd Legislature will appear in the next hate crimes and more prison time for vio- the Railroad Commission regulate storage of issue. lent offenders and expanded the death penalty hazardous materials in salt domes. At the for killers of small children. behest of developers who feared environ- The Legislature also maintained the mis- mental regulations in Austin, Senator Ken Erratum demeanor penalty for homosexual sodomy Armbrister, Democrat from Victoria, gained In "Finding Ray," TO 6/4/93, it was which, even if it is virtually never enforced, passage of a bill to stop cities from impos- incorrectly stated that there were no indict- gives a pretext for discrimination against ing tougher regulations on a development ments as a result of private jail construction gays and lesbians. House members had voted after it is filed with city officials. Governor in six Texas counties. Michael and Patrick to outlaw heterosexual sodomy until they dis- Richards, faced with the choice of develop- Graham, both defendants in the civil suit covered what that meant and decided it would ers who helped finance her 1990 race and that is the subject of the story, were indicted amount to an invasion of privacy of straight Travis County voters who provided two-thirds in state district court in Pecos County in couples. In doing so, lawmakers upheld of her margin of victory, vetoed the bill. October 1991 on charges alleging anti-trust another tradition, leaving it to the Texas Governor Richards was preoccupied with violations. Indictments are still pending. Supreme Court to decide whether the sodomy school finance reform during much of the ses-

6 • JUNE 18, 1993

, 7,1144., • - A Zone of Their Own Will An Adolescent City Come of Age?

BY TIM FLECK Houston shame. LD HABITS DIE The contentious dialogue HARD in Houston, par- between these factions is reshap- ticularly if the habit is to ing the politics and the urban build anything you wish any- parlor talk of Houston, as each where you want with minimal side raises its voice higher, hop- government interference. As the ing to dominate at City Council city moves closer to surrendering sessions, neighborhood associ- its status as the largest unzoned ation gatherings and even din- American metropolis, nostalgia ner-table discussions. for a storied past and fears of an Those who argue for sensible unregulated future are combining long-range transit planning and to create a homemade political land-use controls cite opinion polls explosive that could rock next showing majority support. fall's municipal elections. Nevertheless they face a huge dis- Houstonians traditionally pre- advantage in this debate. They sent their city to outsiders as a must make the case that Houston's giant adolescent of a community, wild and crazy days are over for- one which has prospered while ever and that closing time on the flouting all the rules of urban century-long party is just about development and having a damn here. It's not a popular message, good time of it. The town has cre- and its bearers lost half the fight ated a myth out of its rejection when Mayor Bob Lather defeated of government-administered zon- incumbent Kathy Whitmire two ing. In truth, Houston is residen- years ago. Lather promptly began tially zoned by income. Those dismantling the monorail plan who can, buy in deed-restricted Whitmire had championed. enclaves with neighborhood asso- Houston's reluctance to let go of ciations that hire lawyers to its eternal adolescence now threat- enforce the restrictions. These ens zoning as well. people enjoy the benefits of zon- Until a weekday morning ing and none of the city-wide breakfast at the River Oaks responsibility. Likewise, in an Country Club in early spring, era when increased dependency Houston's shotgun wedding with on foreign oil rings alarm bells the concept of zoning seemed a elsewhere, Houston continues to done deal. Three years pre- make the freeway and the auto- PATRICIA MOORE viously a potent coalition of mobile the key to mass transit Urban Planning Houston-style mostly middle-income neigh- planning. Those who need to get borhood associations champi- around town quickly had better be able to rail system to replace the family hot rod and oned by at-large Councilman Jim Greenwood afford the vehicle and the gasoline. Those clamping on the brakes of zoning to reshape had muscled the Whitmire Administration and who can't, wait for the bus. inner city residential neighborhoods blighted city council into approval of the concept of After the crushing oil price collapse of the by haphazardly scattered businesses. The "Houston-style" zoning. Advocates sold the early 1980s sent home values in unprotected movement might be called "Citizens for a concept as land controls designed to protect neighborhoods tumbling, a new urban coali- Sober Houston," the equivalent of an urban residential neighborhoods from commercial tion began preaching a different Houston 12-step program. incursions while giving business interests the doctrine. This creed espouses long-range plan- An equally passionate chorus from an leeway to develop freely in so-called open ning and zoning to protect residential neigh- unlikely alliance of big-business interests and zones, which include more than 40 percent borhoods from business incursions. It low-income residents replies that freeways of the city's 586 square miles of turf. demands that the free-wheeling kid grow up and automobiles will symbolize Houston's The town's premier developer-power bro- and take on the responsibilities of a munici- freewheeling nature long after the last drop ker, Mayor Bob Lather, backed the measure, pal adult. These duties include building a of petroleum is burned and natural gas pow- calling it "as mild a zoning ordinance as you ers our vehicles. This "forever young" school can have." Ominously, his support seemed of thought argues that unbounded growth is half-hearted. Houston Planning and Zoning Tim Fleck is a freelance writer and oper- Houston's unique destiny, and its land-use Director Donna Kristaponis, formerly of Austin ates Houston Insider newsletter. promiscuity is a badge of pride rather than by way of Florida, thought two years of gru-

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 7 eling personal sales pitches to skeptics in the bor, Bland McReynolds, a former city civil like other Houstonians of means, to live in Houston establishment and hundreds- of hours defense official, then exhorted the breakfast master-planned communities such as First of public zoning hearings had finally settled group to raise cash to fuel a referendum cam- Colony, George Mitchell's The Woodlands, the issue. The "I do" to zoning seemed only paign to overturn the nearly completed zon- or municipalities such as West University, a sure-shot city council vote away. ing ordinance. Insiders estimate nearly a mil- which provide the neighborhood restrictions, But that was before another Planning and lion dollars will be needed for the campaign. if not the formal title, of zoning. Developer Zoning Commissioner, Julio Laguarta, and The fundraising vehicle would be a new polit- Robert Silvers, one of the attendees at the other influential players in municipal politics ical action committee, Citizens for a Better breakfast, even boasts that his project just east joined the fight. At the River Oaks break- Houston, with Laguarta as the treasurer. A of the Galleria "is the only zoned community fast meeting the native Houstonian and real Houston Republican political consultant, in Houston." estate developer passed around color pho- Dennis Calabrese, has been retained to coor- The first real sign that the anti-zoning coali- tos of a blighted Southeast Houston neigh- dinate the effort. tion was acquiring clout came in a letter to borhood. He explained that the strictures of No one at the charter meeting of the anti- Lanier in late January signed by former zoning would prohibit a real estate investor zoning group commented on the irony of its Governor , lawyer James Elkins from remodeling a ramshackle apartment River Oaks location in the heart of Houston's Jr., investor and downtown power Charles complex there. The property had been zoned most regulated and privately zoned inner-city Miller, McReynolds and others. Connally's single-family residential, despite the fact few community. Along these streets lined with involvement is intriguing, since he's closely houses existed near the site. In this case, an manicured lawns and ante-bellum style man- associated with a boon buddy and big money ordinance intended to save dying inner city sions, black and brown faces can be assumed supporter of Lanier, Charles Hurwitz of neighborhoods seemingly would only guar- to be domestic workers and a private police Maxxam Corporation, the unsuccessful bid- antee decay. force guards the security of homeowners. der for Continental Airlines and an environ- Laguarta and Lanier's River Oaks neigh- Most of the wealthy anti-zoners have chosen, mental ogre for his clear-cutting of ancient Shaking Off Housing Shibboleths

BY JOHN I. GILDERBLOOM

I ACK KEMP USED TO ARGUE that government interven- The private market alone cannot provide affordable housing for tion was the cause of the nation's housing crisis. According to all citizens — especially for minorities, disabled, elderly, and the former Housing and Urban Development Secretary, govern- poor. The conservative free enterprise approach has worked against ment regulation has caused a 30 percent increase in housing costs. the economically disadvantaged, while reliance on the traditional What is needed to provide affordable housing, conservatives argue, liberal strategy of massive tax breaks and subsidies for builders and is an unconstrained free market, where government does not reg- landlords has been proven too costly and inefficient for solving ulate zoning, planning, environmental factors, historic preservation the housing crunch. or building code inspections. It is obviously a time for new and bold measures. More, not If Kemp is correct and government regulation and interference less government, is needed to solve the nation's housing crisis. It are the chief culprits in the housing crisis, unregulated Houston should be remembered that President did as much should be a conservatives' textbook example of a city without a as Ronald Reagan to fuel the nation's housing crisis. By allowing homeless or housing-affordability problem. Yet Houston's hous- interest rates to go sky high and supporting accelerated deprecia- ing crisis is not unlike what exists in other cities. tion allowances, Carter guaranteed a rapid turnover of apartment Even with a 20-percent rental housing vacancy rate, no zoning, ownership tied to higher interest rates. Moreover, Carter's sup- and little planning, Houston, at the end of the George Bush presi- port of the traditional Democratic supply-side approach was as inef- dency, is left with a major housing problem, with 10,000 to 15,000 fective as the Reagan/Bush demand-side programs of increasing homeless persons, 18,000 persons waiting for public housing, housing vouchers. (And calling for more government also means 500,000 low- and moderate-income persons paying unaffordable honest government, one that is watched over and participated in by housing payments, one fourth of the low-income persons living ordinary citizens. At the end of an age of S&L and HUD scan- in overcrowded housing and a zero vacancy rate for housing acces- dals, it is clear that the economically disadvantaged are harmed sible to the disabled. This is obviously not the city celebrated by most by the misuses of funds.) conservatives for "having resolved its housing crisis." Housing policy in the has been shaped by land- Yet despite the crisis, as many as 24,000 rental units will be demol- lords, builders, and bankers. Activists have been invisible in the ished in the next five to seven years in Houston, in part because process until the 1990s, when housing activists — including ten- there are no trained community organizations to convert these units ants — began to establish themselves as key players in shaping into coops. Demolition of the units began at a time when housing housing legislation and challenging of the government's accom- costs in the city were increasing, according to most analysts, and modation of real estate special interest groups. Progressive lead- while more than half of Houston's renters, most of whom are low- ership combined with grass-roots initiatives can turn the American and moderate-income families, were paying excessive rent. nightmare of homelessness into the American dream of good and decent homes for everyone. When George Bush talked of the John Gilderbloom, who worked on housing issues with the admin- "thousand points of light," he was referring, in part, to the non-profit istration of former Mayor Kathy Whitmire in Houston, is a pro- housing developers working in our nation's cities. To continue fessor at the Center for Urban and Economic Research at the the work of rebuilding our cities these organizations need federal University of Louisville. His comments are derived from Community financial support — and political leadership with the vision and Versus Commodity: Tenants and the American City, by Gilderbloom courage to shake off the old shibboleths and take decisive steps in and Stella M. Capek (State University of New York Press). support of progressive housing legislation.

8 • JUNE 18, 1993 California redwood stands who has emerged support for zoning among Houstonians. expected to be scheduled November 2. with Connally as a developer of a horse race- Anglos give zoning a 67-percent approval rat- Aside from the prospect of a vote, equally track in northwest Houston. The missive ing and Hispanics 61 percent, while the eth- alarming to zoning proponents is the oppo- blasted zoning as "a very bad decision" that nic group that opposes zoning is black sition to zoning coming from two members would create new layers of bureaucracy with Houstonians, by a 51-percent margin. The of Mayor Lather's inner circle, Metro Chair high administrative costs and possibly force charges of racism that helped sink zoning in Billy Burge and Metro board member higher taxes. Consultant Calabrese says the the '60s apparently still find receptive ears in Holcombe Crosswell. Their involvement indi- signatories intended the letter as a test of the the city's African-American community. cates that Mayor Lather is not attempting to mayor's resolve on the zoning issue. Zoning finds its greatest support among the curtail the zoning opposition. "That's true," Laguarta says the late-blooming opponents college-educated (74 percent) and heads of says the mayor when asked whether he's told of zoning had waited until the process was households earning more than $50,000 (72 friends they can oppose him on zoning with- nearly finished to see the final form of the percent.) Zoning opponent McReynolds out fear. "I don't plan to take reprisals," he ordinance. He claims the finished product is claims Klineberg's surveys are not keyed to chuckles, "mostly due to my benign nature." not what was promised when the Planning voter turnout, and cites the historical prece- That position hasn't alleviated suspicions and Zoning Commission went to work draft- dents as a better indicator of a future vote. by zoning supporters that while the Mayor ing a zoning plan customized for Houston. "I think it's a slam dunk," he says of the oppo- cannot afford to oppose zoning with his re- "What happened was they changed what sition's prospects at the polls. election campaign coming up next fall, his was supposed to be Houston-style zoning, Opponents are crafting their tactics using heart really isn't in the issue. very simple, to Euclidean-style zoning, very a road map that led to the defeat of mono- Asked whether he would campaign enthu- complex," claims Laguarta. "They are reg- rail, that other tradition-breaking initiative siastically for zoning in an election or just go ulating down to a level where I doubt their that would have shattered local reliance on through the motions, Lather replies breezily, people have decision-making abilities bet- freeways and automobiles for Houston's tran- "Oh, somewhere in between." ter than the free market." Zoning advocate Greenwood says that Previously the anti-zoning forces had little if Lanier chose to go against the popular money and few big names, relying on com- sentiment favoring zoning, he could be munity-issue gunslingers to organize a grass- defeated in his re-election bid. The coun- roots campaign. Their strategy has been to cilman is confident that zoning itself Will collect 20,000 signatures to force the City survive an electoral test but worries that Council to schedule a referendum. the fight won't be fair. The prospect of a With the commitment, however belated, of politically charged election bothers big bucks into the zoning fight, the issue seems Kristaponis, who admits having a thin skin to be moving into some well-rutted Houston and battle weariness from the seemingly historical paths. Twice in the past 45 years, endless zoning hearings. coalitions of moneyed real estate interests and At least for public consumption, lower income renters have buried Houston Kristaponis puts on a brave face when asked zoning initiatives. They inflamed voters with about the newly energized opposition that claims that zoning was Nazi and/or includes some of Lanier's pals. Communistic in 1946, and in the most recent "We ought to be glad that the mayor battle in 1962, the initiative was depicted as doesn't have a lot of 'yes' folks around him," discriminatory to minority residents. This time says Kristaponis. "But I'm still convinced a brochure by the contemporary Houston that the man I work for supports this, and Property Rights Association plows new ground, that's good enough for me." Students of adding to the zoning list of sins these purported recent Houston history recall how Lanier evils: Zoning boosts family stress, guarantees chaired the Metro Transit authority board government corruption, increases the cost of charged with implementing rail, and wound living, stifles the freedom to practice religious up killing it. As close associates of the mayor services at home, sets neighbor against neigh- stream into the opposition camp, the suspi- bor, and undermines law enforcement by cre- cion intensifies that the mayor's kindness ating business-free residential areas "vacant CITY OF HOUSTON may be as lethal to the prospects of zoning during working hours, thus attracting crimi- Bob Lanier as it was to the monorail. nals." (If taken seriously, the litany should be Factions aside, the zoning fight is really enough to make Ward and June Cleaver long sit future. Mayor Lanier ripped the tracks out a schizophrenic struggle inside a city that must for a shade-tree mechanic or a thriving cantina from under the Metropolitan Transit Authority decide whether it can grow into the future to move in next door to secure their white- in 1989 by demanding .a referendum, and using the methods of the past, or whether bread neighborhood from urban perdition.) castigated rail proponents as undemocratic fundamental change is required. Will indi- Mayor Lanier says his polls show an ero- after they refused to support a vote. vidual initiative and wealth dictate whose sion of public support as zoning nears imple- "The biggest mistake they [zoning sup- urban neighborhoods remain livable, or will mentation, but he considers the ordinance a porters] could make is to use technicalities to a yet-unshaped government bureaucracy lay favorite to win any vote. University of block an election," says the Mayor, who down the rules that everyone must follow for Houston political scientist Richard Murray believes Mayor Whitmire's attempts to push the betterment of the whole? It's a political calls zoning a shoo-in because middle class monorail through without a plebiscite set argument as ancient as the Greek city-states, homeowners make up the core of zoning sup- her up for defeat. "My major ally was her and as young as the spirit of this Texas Gulf port and also the bulk of those who show up complete resistance to an election," he said. Coast giant. The attitudes of Houstonians con- at the polls. sociologist Both Planning and Zoning Director cerning zoning and their votes in the upcom- Stephen Klineberg's surveys for the Planning Kristaponis and City Councilman Jim ing referendum hinge on whether they have and Zoning Commission, and his own Greenwood have come around to support profited from this tradition, or been bull- Houston Survey, found a rock-solid core of what seems the inevitable referendum, dozed by it. ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 9 West Dallas Diplomacy

BY CAROL COUNTRYMAN

Dallas suits were filed on behalf of 440 West IVE YEARS AGO, Luis Sepul- Dallas children who claimed to be suf- veda's family was chronically ill fering from lead poisoning. RSR settled F and doctors could not pinpoint the the suit for $20 million and was ordered cause. His father suffered from asbesto- by the state to clean up the area. But crit- sis, his mother had high blood pressure ics say the cleanup was bungled from and chronic fatigue, and his nephews the outset and that EPA officials simply experienced nosebleeds an4 bone and turned their heads and declared the joint pain whenever they visited the cleanup complete when RSR told them Sepulvedas at their West Dallas home. it was complete. Former EPA Region Sepulveda himself suffered from 6 Administrator Buck Wynne acknowl- chronic nosebleeds as a child, as well edges the EPA did not oversee the as other diseases, and he had high blood cleanup, saying that it wasn't the EPA's pressure by the time he entered his early project. 20s. The disabled railroad worker In 1983, it was revealed during court strongly suspected his family was suf- hearings that the federal government had fering environmental illnesses, and was been aware of lead contamination in convinced the cause was the defunct West Dallas since the early 1970s. RSR smelter nearby. But he had no During the Carter Administration tests proof. had been conducted that indicated He approached city leaders, asking widespread lead contamination in West for a human-health assessment in West Dallas and a thourough cleanup of the Dallas, but he said they consistently area was ordered. But before the cleanup dismissed his concerns and told him could begin, the Reagan Administration that residents of West Dallas simply scrapped the plan and then-acting EPA needed to keep their homes cleaner. He Administrator John Hernandez ordered tried to contact the Environmental additional studies, which continued to Protection Agency, but he said they stall the cleanup. "We've been studied wouldn't talk to him, either. He tried the to death down here," said Sepulveda. state regulatory agencies, but they said "They used us as guinea pigs. We've there was no problem in West Dallas. been guinea pigs for 60 years, but now "Then one day, I saw this guy on the ALAN POGUE we're saying 'no more.' news who was out fighting for some RSR Smelter "I simply wanted a human health people in Crowley, so I called him," assessment," said Sepulveda. "The kids said Sepulveda. Coalition for Environmental Justice, a citi- were sick. They couldn't even finish a base- That man was Jim Schermbeck of Texans zen-action group with approximately 3,500 ball game because they ached so badly. If the United, a grassroots environmental organi- members and whose tactics are considered city would have implemented the blood lead zation, who helped Sepulveda gather dust by some to be out of the mainstream of tra- screening that the CDC recommended in the samples from his mother's West Dallas home. ditional environmental groups. early '80s, I wouldn't have rode them like I An EPA-approved lab found 2,351 parts per "This has been a nasty, dirty, low-down did. But instead of helping us, the city was million of lead, along with abnormally high battle that we've had to fight against every trying to defuse the situation." levels of cadmium, arsenic, zinc, selenium agency in this community = the EPA, Texas So Sepulveda, with the coalition behind and other toxins. "The report said my parents Water Commission, and the City of Dallas," him, decided to share with city officials some should evacuate the house immediately," said Sepulveda. of the lead the city considered 'no problem'. said Sepulveda. "It said my mother's house "You would never confuse Luis with the "We went to the slag sites and took shovels was too contaminated to live in." State Department," said Schermbeck. "He full and distributed them around Dallas," That report, after with what he perceived is bull-headed, confrontational, stubborn, def- said Sepulveda. "We took slag to City Hall, as malicious neglect and a "massive coverup" initely a bridge burner, but it has been exactly we wanted to 'share' it with council mem- on the part of city, state, and federal officials, those qualities that prompted the EPA to bers, but the city was right behind us clean- spurred Sepulveda into action. He canvassed declare West Dallas as a national priority." ing up." his neighborhood and discovered that the In May, the Clinton Administration slated Sepulveda and members of his organiza- same symptoms his family was suffering were the RSR smelter site, which operated for tion began sending out press packets, writing prevalent throughout West Dallas. The com- nearly 60 years in West Dallas, for Superfund to representatives, storming City Council munity coalesced to form the West Dallas cleanup. But this isn't the first time West meetings and picketing of EPA offices. Once, Dallas has been slated for cleanup. In the during a protest at EPA regional headquar- early 1980s, the RSR smelter, One of three ters in Dallas, Sepulveda and Schermbeck Carol Countryman, a native of West Dallas, smelters that operated in the area, was shut tried to enter the offices of Regional is a freelance writer in Kemp. down by court order'after personal injury Administrator Buck Wynne, but upon enter-

10 • JUNE 18, 1993 ing the building found that the elevators were moved the whites out." Daniel says there between activist groups and traditional civil shut down and the police were called. has been a history of deliberate, overt racism rights groups." The battle for Superfund rank- "Squad cars came roaring in, I looked by the city of Dallas, and points to the zon- ing has divided much of West Dallas, espe- around thinking there had been a bank rob- ing uproar that ensues anytime minorities cially the activists who say Sepulveda does bery or something, but they were coming attempt to move into white neighborhoods. not know how to compromise and is a "polit- for us," said Sepulveda. "I don't know what "The city equates poverty with pollution and ical child." But Sepulveda says it's all part of they thought we were going to do. Most of sees poor people as pollution." the EPA strategy to "divide and conquer": our coalition are women, and many of us But Dallas Housing Authority Director "The minority community has been pit- are crippled. We just wanted the EPA to lis- Alphonso Jackson says no such segregation ted against each other down here over this ten to our concerns." took place and, despite records that indicate issue. We need housing desperately. We need But Schermbeck was more strident, "I portions of the housing projects and nearby jobs desperately. But if they build on this site, thought redressing our government was a Fish Trap Lake are contaminated, Jackson they may as well build us a cemetery because right, but they cocoon themselves in private maintains that the West Dallas housing pro- that's what it will be." office buildings where the public can't get to jects have no lead problems and blames Even the agreement by which West Dallas them." Sepulveda for creating an environment of hys- was been scheduled for Superfund cleanup, Meanwhile, the Texas Water Commission, teria. according to Sepulveda and Texans United, finally acting on citizen complaints, began to Jackson, along with Mattie Nash, who rep- was an 1 1 th-hour back-room deal struck test West Dallas neighborhoods for contam- resented West Dallas on the City Council until between the Republican administration and ination. In 1991, the state agency contacted her defeat in the May 1 election, played down their local allies — while the Republicans still the EPA, informing them that there was, the health threats and viewed the coalition as had time to influence public policy. Sepulveda indeed, extensive lead contamination in West a threat to a proposed $67 million Housing has taken issue with the Superfund plan out- Dallas neighborhoods and sections of the and Urban Development renovation plan for lined under Republican Buck Wynne, con- housing projects. The Water Commission dis- 2,000 units in the West Dallas projects. tending that it does not go far enough. The covered slag (the rocky residue from lead Jackson and Nash, and well as members of state identified 16 square miles of contami- smelting) in yards and driveways throughout the black Ministerial Alliance, have been nation, but the Wynne plan only asks for the the area. outspoken critics of Sepulveda' s attempts five-square-mile smelter site to be cleaned up Apparently, for years RSR had sold the slag to have West Dallas ranked for Superfund under Superfund. to local residents to use as fill dirt. According status. Apparently the EPA also saw It also only requires a cleanup to lead lev- to EPA documents, RSR also dumped the slag Sepulveda as a threat. Recently, an internal els of 500 ppm, while other Superfund sites in gravel pits throughout the area. The state EPA memo surfaced that outlined the West are being cleaned to lower levels. The plan Water Commission identified 11 slag sites Dallas lead strategy, focusing on how to deal doesn't address two slag sites outside the with lead levels ranging from 12,700 ppm with Luis Sepulveda. The unsigned memo, boundaries of the smelter, both in close prox- to 64,000 ppm. "It's what we were telling written in November 1991, stated that the imity to schools and parks. And the EPA them all along," said Sepulveda. agency did not "expect to overcome has refused to test dust samples inside homes, Reverend R.T. Conley, a member of the Sepulveda, but we can focus on the 'silent stating that it has no jurisdiction there, coalition, says he took city officials down majority' ... at some point they will turn although other regional offices of the EPA to those slag sites in the early '80s. "The against him and want him out of their way." reportedly do test indoors. city acted so shocked when they (Water That memo also lists as "friends of the "Region 6 has had a long-standing tradi- Commission officials) found the slag, but they EPA" many of the community activists in the tion of not going inside black folks homes," knew it was there. I had taken them down area. Daniel said. "It's pure racist." there and showed them the sites," Conley said. The regional EPA memo was similar to a Sepulveda has no plans to let down his "They've known for a long time that West confidential memo between national EPA fig- guard. "Now that we're a Superfund, our Dallas was contaminated, but they just didn't ures that detailed the agency's strategy on battle has only begun," he said. "We're going care." According to Conley, when the smelter environmental equity, which was made pub- to be their shadow, we're going to make sure was in operation in the area, a fine rain-like lic in February 1992 by U.S. Representative we're not left out in the cold, we're going fallout spewed from the smoke stacks and Henry Waxman, a California Democrat. The to force them to conduct a human-health dense clouds routinely settled over the com- memo from EPA Associate Administrator assessment, and this time we're going to make

munity. "I didn't know about lead or acid," Lewis Crampton to Gordon Binder, EPA sure we get justice." ❑ he said, "but I knew they cooked batteries Chief of Staff, identifies the NAACP, National over there and I knew that the rain that came Urban League and AFL-CIO as the main- out of the stacks ate the paint off our cars and stream groups to target — in what might be homes. I knew it was bad." described as an attempt to drown out the According to Mike Daniel, the attorney rep- voices of minorities trying to influence minor- resenting the West Dallas Coalition in a law- ity groups. Binder's handwritten notes on the suit charging the city of Dallas, the state of memo acknowledge the United Church of Texas and the federal EPA with "environ- Christ as a mainstream group and leader in ANDERSON & COMPANY mental racism," the city was also aware that the environmental justice movement, but COFFEE it was bad to live near a smelter. According TEA SPICES repeatedly stated Binder's unwillingness to TWO JEFFERSON SQUARE to Daniel, in 1968 the city deliberately seg- enter into a debate with Reverend Ben Chavis, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78731 regated West Dallas and moved whites out the author of the original UCC report. Binder 512 453-1533 of the housing projects into other, nicer, fed- writes that the EPA "could not give him Send me your list. erally subsidized projects in other areas of the [Chavis] a platform we create. I do not see city. him as responsible." Since then, Chavis has Name "West Dallas is a creature of segregation," become director of the NAACP. Street said Daniel. "At the time they didn't know Waxman charged the EPA's environmen- City Zip all the effects from the smelter, but they knew tal equity plan was a goal "to diffuse politi- it wasn't good to live next to one so they cal pressure for action by driving a wedge

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 11 INTERVIEW Mexico Buys Free Trade

BY DON HAZEN

HE EMERGENCE OF international trade policy as a key political issue T in the United States has been one of the most surprising turns of 1993. In the past, trade issues were far removed from the political process. Decisions were made behind closed doors by obscure officials and multinational corporations, while the public remained uninformed and supposedly unconcerned. But not so anymore. Growing numbers of citizens now under- stand that trade agreements have a direct impact on their lives. Indeed the public has become so concerned with trade decisions that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) — which was once considered inevitable — now faces serious political trouble. Meanwhile, the overarch- ing General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is likely to fail at the end of the cur- rent seven-year Uruguayan Round, or at the very least retreat from its earlier ambitious goals. These developments represent a new era in trade politics. What is going on? According to Lori Wallach, a primary strategist for the grassroots Citizen's Trade Campaign, the answer is simple: "People Bus to the GM Plant in Saltillo now know what these agreements are about. Will we be dining with DDT in our food? Will experience of Canada, where as many as The agreement will be voted on this fall, and wages continue to go down, will workers be 450,000 jobs were lost as a result of free if passed will take effect on January 1, 1994. threatened at the bargaining table, or worse trade with the United States, has also cast a However, moving NAFTA through Congress — will their jobs go to Mexico where work- dark shadow over NAFTA. And the well-pub- will be a major obstacle for President Clinton, ers are often paid considerably less than $1 licized Mexican-initiated GATT decision due in part to the surprisingly sophisticated per hour? These things are being discussed at challenging the U.S. Marine Mammal Act — and powerful citizens movement which has Sierra Club meetings and in union halls across U.S. legislation that protected dolphins from stepped up to do battle over NAHA. the country." being killed in tuna nets — has enraged the At the center of this movement is the Free trade cheerleaders have argued that environmental movement and many U.S. cit- Citizens Trade Campaign, a broad-based the passage of NAFTA will bring hundreds izens, who resent the imposition of interna- coalition of environmental, trade union, of thousands of new jobs, lower consumer tional tribunals over environmental respon- church, farm and citizen organizations headed prices, allow for more exports to Mexico sibilities and local conservation efforts. by former Indiana Congressman Jim Jontz and ensure the defense against Japan. But Together, these concerns suggest one thing and spearheaded by Wallach, who has been many Americans aren't listening. Con- for certain: Trade debate will never be the described by The National Journal as the ventional wisdom seems to suggest that job same. The closed-door decision process has "Trade Debate's Guerrilla Warrior." Another losses — not gains — will be the end result been irreversibly yanked open, and Congress, important citizen network is the Alliance for of the agreement in the United States. particularly members of the House, are feel- Responsible Trade (ARC), which brings Opponents to the agreement have further ing the heat. Food contamination, environ- together many of the same organizations and argued that in Mexico —with its high unem- mental protection and workplace safety are has helped coordinate sector-by-sector cri- ployment level and government-imposed low- concerns on the minds of many citizens — as tiques of the proposed NAFTA agreement. wage structure — increased buying power are high unemployment and declining wages, Political trouble from the grassroots usu- is unlikely, now or in the near future. The and the possibility that economic globaliza- ally means heavy political firepower by the tion could make both permanent. Washington establishment, and certainly that NAFTA is expected to be introduced in has been the case with NAFTA. According Don Hazen is the director of the Institute Congress this summer after side agreements to John Cavanaugh of the Institute for Policy for Alternative Journalism. to the Bush-signed compact are negotiated. Studies, American corporations are currently

12 • JUNE 18, 1993 organizing influential lobbying campaigns in I spoke with Chuck Lewis in his In addition, there are several United States favor of free trade. As he explains: "More Washington office just prior to the report's corporate campaigns that the Mexican lobby than 1,000 U.S. corporations and lobby release. is involved in, which are designed to promote groups, united behind the name USA- NAFTA to the American public, especially NAFTA, have organized a 'grassroots' effort Don Hazen: Is true that Washington has expe- the giant USA-NAFTA campaign. This is a — with corporate captains — designated for rienced a major turn around in Mexican influ- very sophisticated and comprehensive effort, all 50 states, designed to reassure Americans ence — that they are starting to rival Japan and Mexico is leaving no stone unturned. that NAFTA will be beneficial." as the most influential foreign force inside Among the USA-NAFTA members are the Beltway? Sounds like there's a lot of revolving door General Motors and United Technologies, activity going on here! says Cavanaugh, each of which has a total Chuck Lewis: Absolutely. Up until 1990, the of 29 plants south of the border. He also notes Mexican diplomatic presence in Washington Absolutely. Mexico has hired over 30 former that USA-NAFTA is dominated by dirty was very low-key and basically limited to pro- U.S. officials, many of whom worked specif- industries, which stand to benefit from moting tourism. But in mid- to late-1990, ically on U.S.-Mexico trade. Both Republicans Mexico's lax enforcement of environmen- Mexico realized that the Bush administration and Democrats are covered. Bill Brock, of tal regulations. Of the 26 manufacturing firms was interested in forming a trade pact, prob- course, was trade representative under Reagan on the list, 10 are among the top 30 polluters ably in response to European and Asian trade and Bush. Bentsen's former top aide, Joseph (as ranked by the EPA Toxic Release pacts being fleshed out at the time. It had a O'Neill, head of Public Strategies Washington Inventory). USA-NAFTA captain Du Pont is certain logic to it. It could be a lever against Inc. is focusing on congressional lobbying. number one in toxic releases, while Monsanto Europe and Japan — an entity that stretched Another example is that you have Ruth Kurtz, is number three. from the Yukon to the Yucatan:with 360 mil- who was Senator Roth's (R-Del.) top trade Yet the big money in the campaign for free lion people. And Mexico realizeti that the first analyst, now working for COESCE, the trade is being supplied by Mexico. Having step towards obtaining a North American Mexican chamber of commerce, recruiting placed its future and the political legacy of free trade agreement was to recast its image; Hill staffers for trips to Mexico. President Carlos Salinas de Gortari on an away from stereotypes of the dirty Mexican agreement with the United States, Mexico has on a burro, of a downtrodden, somewhat cor- What are they spending? a great deal at stake in the trade debate. In an rupt country, to one of a modern, industrial- effort to change the image of Mexico in the izing nation. What we are heading to now is My organization's report, "The Trading Game minds of Americans and promote NAFTA, the the end game of that campaign, the arm twist- — Inside-Lobbying for the North American Mexican government, an increasingly power- ing phase. What we've witnessed was really Free Trade Agreement," released on May 27, ful force in Washington, has spent tens of mil- a textbook case of hiring the right people to documents with very conservative figures the lions of dollars to hire powerful and well-con- wage an aggressive campaign on the United amount of money that the Mexican govern- nected former American officials to lobby on States capital. ment is spending on promoting NAFTA in behalf of Mexico for passage of NAFTA. the United States. I say conservative figures Despite growing citizen concern regarding Who is working for Mexico, and what steps because disclosure laws for corporate lob- the consequences of free trade, big-money are they taking to further Mexico's interests? bying are very lax. Often there are no records, lobbying efforts by both the Mexican gov- and many don't have to register the amount ernment and American corporations distort Mexico has assembled a crack team of inter- of money they're spending. It's a nightmare the political process, says Chuck Lewis, exec- national trade lawyers, lobbyists and public to track the myriad ways that these entities utive director of the Center for Public Integrity. relations specialists to lobby for NAFTA in can lobby without having to register with In its revealing report "Trading Game," the United States. the government. But even with these low released on May 27, CPI presents what is The first firms hired back in 1990 were the estimates, since 1989, the Mexican govern- probably the most detailed examination of law firm of Shearman & Sterling and the ment and the various Mexican corporate foreign lobbying influence in the United States giant p.r. firm Burson Marsteller. They have groups tied to the government such as to date. According to the report, Mexico has Robert Herzstein, who was the lead lawyer COESCE have spent from $25 to $30 million already spent $25-30 million dollars to help for Canada against the United States and is for trade lobbying. Just to give you some pave the way for the approval of NAFTA, and now Mexico's lead lawyer. He is their main perspective on the dimension of this figure, will likely spend much more before the debate strategist. And then they have former sena- ... if you look at the three largest and most is completed. This amount is more than the tor Bill Brock, who refers to himself as "the controversial instances of foreign lobbying three previous major foreign lobbying cam- father of NAFTA" because he first mentioned in Washington, D.C., you have Koreagate, in paigns combined, including Ktiwait's intense the idea to Mexico in 1982 when he as a which $1 million or less was spent. Second, efforts to help shape public opinion about the Reagan official, working as an overall strate- you have Toshiba spending frifiin $4-7 mil- Gulf War with Iraq. gist for the NAFTA campaign. Burson lion in 1987. And finally, the Kuwaiti gov- Described as the "scourge of the lobbying Marsteller has had a $321,000 per month ernment spending $10-12 million during the world" by the National Journal, Lewis, who contract with the Mexican government. By conflict with Iraq, with Hill & Knowlton is a former "60 Minutes" producer, has become now, Mexico has at least 75 firms engaged in alone getting $10 million. Mexico is spend- well-known in Washington circles over the a strategic chess game of lobbying in the ing more than all three of these scandals com- past three years of the Center's operation, par- United States. If you go to Mexico's NAFTA bined! It is probably the largest single cam- ticularly for numerous studies exposing revolv- headquarters at 1776 I St., there is no listing paign waged by a non-U.S. entity in history. ing door employment opportunities in the in the office directory and the door is always This shows you the scope, with very con- capital's corridors of power. One such study, locked. But it is clearly the center of their servative estimates, of Mexico's transfor- "The Torturer's Lobby," took a hard look at operation, and from there they coordinate the mation from promoting tourism to its slick lobbyists working on behalf of governments tracking and lobbying of Congress. They promoting of NAFTA. with atrocious human rights records. Another, have an environmental outreach person, an "The Buying of the American Mind," exposed Hispanic outreach coordinator, as well as What was the impact of the U.S. elections the way Japanese money influences U.S. edu- elaborate corporate campaigns involved in and the new Clinton administration on cation and lab research. arranging delegations to Mexico. the NAFTA effort?

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 13 Well, put yourself in Mexico's shoes. All Perot. He could be the great equalizer. They of a sudden Bush is defeated, and all your had everything in place, and now they have This is Texas today. A state full of efforts, money and time could possibly go to deal with Perot, who is definitely com- Sunbelt boosters, strident anti-union- down the drain! And so, the election of Bill mitted to the NAFTA debate. He has testi- ists, oil and as companies, nuclear Clinton definitely sparked an intense war for fied to Congress and is mobilizing his weapons and power plants, political Clinton's brain by all sides of the NAFTA resources against NAFTA. Just as an exam- hucksters, underpaid workers and toxic debate. And I would have to say that Mexico ple, there was a meeting with Perot where wastes, to mention a few. was quite successful in this endeavor. Clinton Ralph Nader and other leaders were com- is a free-trader by nature, and at least two- menting on the huge amount of money that thirds of his campaign advisors were regis- the NAFTA lobby is expected to dump into tered lobbyists, many with overseas interests. television advertising. Perot asked the lawyers I The transition team itself had lobbyists on if there were any laws prohibiting him from Mexico's payroll! In fact, Warren advertising. They told him no. Then he asked Christopher's firm, O'Melveny & Myers, had how much money was involved, and they been retained by Mexico in September before answered "about $20-30 million." Perot says, iiil it469 s 4 , the elections. Sure enough, the only head of "I can do that." And he has bought a half- state that Clinton met with before his inau- hour on NBC for an infomercial on NAFTA guration was President Salinas of Mexico on for May 30. 4\1, January 9. I believe there is a desire of the U.S. and Mexican interests to codify NAFTA, How have you seen the media affected by the so that successive administrations in Mexico pro-NAFTA lobby? ". ‘. .% a• ' ,,--,, t■ and the United States cannot undo it. Q.Q. 1r ,..1 sfo - I think the sorriest example of media com- 4K-4 4- Vep. What about lobbying reforms, and Clinton's plicity happened at the New York Times, pledge of a new era of ethics? which published an entire supplement—a Sth itriw, separate fold-out section—devoted to rea- WI' The situation as it exists today is absolutely sons for supporting NAFTA. The paper sent BUT rm. atrocious. If ever there was a moment for lob- letters out on the paper's letterhead to cor- DO NOT bying reform, it's now. In Congress, the Levin porations saying they were doing a supple- DESPAIR! -I bill offers some uniformity in disclosure by ment that would carry letters from cabinet requiring companies to register money being officials supporting NAFTA, as well as adver- spent for lobbying. The Levin bill did not tisements from corporations. When labor r ,,,,„, THE TEXAS require the detailed, nitty-gritty disclosure unions found out about it they were furious, that would allow for meaningful oversight, and I can see why! They were completely 11 OP server but the Wellstone amendment, passed by shut out by the paper and not allowed to buy the Senate, would require that all gifts, trips, ads, which pushes it into a First Amendment TO SUBSCRIBE*• dinners, etc., be reported. If this becomes law, issue. For the New York Times to choose it would make a big difference. Clinton peo- such an explosive issue—which they're sup- ple are said to support reform, but support for posed to be covering both sides objectively— the Levin Bill does not translate into a stam- to do an advertising supplement on is outra- pede for disclosure reform by the Clinton geous! And frankly, if I were a working Name Administration. Supposedly, all of Clinton's reporter for the paper I'd be embarrassed. cabinet will be banned for life from partici- pating in the revolving door. But this is only What is the consequence of all this? by executive order, and I don't know how Address binding this is legally, should another pres- What it means is that money can distort the ident choose to revoke the order. process, and that NAFTA is the latest cash cow for wealthy lawyers and lobbyists. Which How do you see the grassroots, anti-NAFTA is no surprise, because trade has always been City forces shaping up against the well-financed a game controlled by the elites. In the United - , pro-NAFTA lobby? States, diplomatic and political interests coin- cide with U.S. commercial interests, and Obviously, there is a great disparity in the there's always been this attitude that the State amount of money being spent. But the case "unwashed masses" should stay away from can be made that what grassroots groups lack trade. That is partially a legacy from the Great in money, they make up for in terms of solid Depression. The interesting thing about Zip connections and citizen organization net- NAFTA is that for the first time in this cen- works. They have an organizational advan- tury, American citizens are thinking about tage in the heartland. Fast-track galvanized what trade means, in terms of jobs, income ❑ $32 enclosed for a one-year subscription. all these groups to coalesce, and then a 2,000- and the future of the economy. NAFTA has ton gorilla in Texas entered the fray and truly grabbed the country by the lapels and ❑ Bill me for $32. brought a certain financial backing to the anti- shaken it, and for that reason it is been a NAF1'A movement! political and cultural watershed. Trade is 307 West 7th, suddenly relevant to average Americans, What is Perot's role in the NAFTA debate? and it will not be as easy in the future to Austin, TX 78701 manipulate trade issues without a public NAFTA lobbyists are clearly rattled by debate.

14 • JUNE 18, 1993 LAS AMERICAS Guadalajara to New York: Death, Drugs, Free Trade

BY JOHN ROSS Guadalajara, Mexico Vega took office in that northwest Pacific of the killing has focused on members of SHOCKING KILLING of Guada- coast state in January, including 12 victims the family of Miguel Felix Gallardo, an lajara Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas caught up in murderous crossfire January imprisoned drug kingpin who is the cousin Ocampo during what is officially 18 in Culiacan, the conflictive state capital of Caro Quintero, himself serving 40 years described as a shoot-out between rival drug and the Quinteros' hometown — popularly in a maximum security institution. Guada- trafficking gangs at that city's busy airport known as "Little Medellin." Recent drug lajara has been the financial base for the Felix on May 24 is the latest and most notorious violence; has also taken some 40 lives in the Gallardo-Caro Quintero family's Medellin incident of bloodshed in a resurgence of drug- southern state of Guerrero and Chihuahua on Cartel-connected operation. It was here that related violence throughout Mexico. Since the Texas border, one of them a reporter for Caro Quintero allegedly had U.S. DEA agent the first of the year, more than 100 people a sensationalist Juarez -weekly newspaper. Enrique Camarena tortured to death in 1985 have died in suspected drug-connected gun- Cardinal Posadas, a leading conservative in a case that continues to inflame emotions fire reminiscent of Colombia's lethally and one of only five Mexican prelates to north of the border. Following the May 3 charged narco-politics. Indeed, the "Colom- achieve the status of prince of the church, was alleged police execution of Caro's uncle, bianization" of Mexico's drug wars is not just killed along with six bystanders in a park- Robert Bonner, chief DEA administrator told a journalistic metaphor; for the past decade, ing lot at the Guadalajara airport where he the New York Times that Mexico's War on both the Cali and the Medellin cartels have had arrived to -meet Papal Nuncio Giralamo Drugs was "on-the rebound." been active players in Mexico, where 70 per- Prigione in order to plan for Pope John Paul The murder of Cardinal Posadas sent shock- cent of the Colombian cocaine entering the. II's upcoming visit to Mexico. Although gun- waves throughout Mexico, from the very United States is transhipped, according to fights between rival drug gangs are a staple top of society to street vendors, as hundreds U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration esti- of Guadalajara street violence, many doubt of thousands of citizens descended on the mates. that the Cardinal was an accidental victim prelate's wake and funeral. A shaken President In addition to the slaying of Cardinal of a shootout between rival drug gangs. News Carlos Salinas de Gortari hastily flew to Posadas, other headlined drug killings this reports indicate that the Cardinal, who was Guadalajara, vowing that justice would be spring include the April 12 assassination of dressed in full regalia, was killed by 14 bul- swiftly dealt. The President's words in the Rafael Guajardo, a leader of the Ciudad Juarez lets, 11 of them in the chest area and fired hushed Guadalajara Cathedral marked the syndicate reported to have strong links to Cali- from as close as three feet during an intense first time in modern Mexican political his- based organizations. Guajardo was killed in fusillade. More than 40 bullets penetrated his tory that a sitting president has spoken from a street corner attack in the Caribbean resort white Gran Marquis. Whoever was respon- a Catholic thurch pulpit. of Cancun during which an American tourist sible "meant to kill this man," a state foren- But this latest outbreak of drug violence also lost her life. On May 3, federal police sic expert told reporters after an inquest. is not the only aspect of the Colombianization killed suspected drug boss Emilio Quintero of Mexico suddenly worrying Salinas. A mil- Payan at a shopping mall just outside Mexico INCE POSADAS' death, Mexico City itary intelligence document, prepared by the City. Unidentified witnesses quoted by the newspapers have been filled with spec- U.S. embassy in Mexico City and released national daily La Jornada told reporters the Sulation that the churchman was delib- May 23 by the Washington-based National killing was "an execution." Quintero, the erately targeted by Guadalajara drug traf- Security Archives, reveals that Colombian uncle of the notorious narco-lord Rafael Caro fickers in a successful attempt to assert their cartel operatives are buying Mexican man- Quintero, whose drug-dealing family pio- continuing power — despite a crackdown by ufacturing facilities and trucking fleets "with neered ties to the Medellin Cartel in the early newly-appointed Attorney General Jorge the intention of maximizing their legitimate 1980s, was apparently murdered in retalia- Carpizo, who has replaced many corruption- business interests under the aegis of the North tion for the killing of a hard-nosed former tainted police officials since taking office two American Free Trade Agreement." Among Sinaloa state attorney general in a Mexico months ago. Another hypothesis is that drug the production facilities under scrutiny are City park one day earlier. On May 17, gun- gangs hit Cardinal Posadas because he refused the 2,100' "maquiladoras" (foreign-owned men struck once again, murdering a Mexico to accept money from the narcotics traffick- assembly plants) lining the near 2,000-mile City judge who had officiated at prominent ers after his elevation to Cardinal in 1991. U.S.-Mexico border, many of them recently drug trials. Insiders say that while he served as arch- established in preparation for the anticipated Over 80 people have been killed in Sinaloa bishop Posadas never seemed concerned about January 1, 1994 startup of NAFTA. One drug violence since new Governor Renato the source of large donations to diocesan senior Mexican law enforcement official told coffers and occasionally said Mass at a church reporters that an unidentified electronics in San Javier Hills, a wealthy and notori- assembler is currently being investigated for John Ross is a freelance journalist working ously narco-infested suburb of Guadalajara. smuggling Colombian cocaine into the U.S. in Mexico. The Mexican government's investigation under cover of its finished product.

TiE TEXAS OBSERVER • 15 The 1989 deregulation of the Mexican equipped with state-of-the-art radar detectors where 800 trucks, hauling winter vegetables trucking industry allows manufacturers and and launches dozens of P-13 tracking planes to U.S. markets from the fertile but drug- assemblers to own their own trucking lines ($30 million each) to monitor loads coming infested Culican Valley of Sinaloa, arrive each in preparation for the trade surge expected in from the south, Rafael Mufioz Talavaera, day. "We do what we can do," one harried under NAFTA. The agreement will permit the now-jailed "godfather" of the Juarez ring, U.S. customs officer who asked not identi- Mexican truck drivers to freely enter was able to smuggle 21 tons of Cali-distributed fied told this reporter, "but we know we're California, Texas, and the U.S. Southwest by cocaine into Texas and subsequently move it only stopping a fraction of what comes 1997. Currently, all cargo must be left on to a Los Angeles warehouse. Much of this through here. NA1-TA is going to complicate the U.S. side of the border, for shipment by cocaine, witnesses say, came across in com- this job. ..." U.S. carriers. By 2001, Mexican drivers will mercial vehicles hauling piñatas and other be able to deliver products all the way to Mexican handicrafts past El Paso customs Meanwhile, the Colombian-style drug vio- Canada under NAFTA provisions. officers so overwhelmed by the 1,500 trucks lence so graphically illustrated by Cardinal Although the Washington-fueled "War on that cross each day at his busy point of entry Posadas' assassination, has not only spilled Drugs" has invested heavily in preventing that inspection for contraband hidden in ship- into Mexico, but, like the drug itself, has drug carriers from flying their loads into the ments is rarely carried out. reached into key U.S. cities. Since the killing United States, most Colombian cocaine cur- Similarly, several thousand Mexico-regis- of crusading journalist Manuel de Dios rently reaching the United States comes in tered trucks each day cross international Unanue in New York City in February 1992 overland, reports the Drug Enforcement bridges at Laredo, Texas, and Nogales, by a 16-year-old gunman, suspected to have Administration, much of it thought to be con- Arizona, to deposit goods in border ware- taken his orders from Cali druglords, a dozen tained in commercial cargo being driven house complexes for distribution throughout other hits ordered by Colombian cocaine car- across the border. One example cited recently the U.S. More than a half-ton of cocaine was tels have taken place in that city, say DEA by the P.B.S. investigative news journal discovered in two separate inspections dur- officials. "It happens all the time now," DEA "Frontline": while the United States defends ing a 48-hour period this January at the administrator Bonner recently told the New its airspace with $18 million aerostat balloons Sonora-Arizona crossing at Nogales, Arizona, York Times .

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16 • JUNE 18, 1993 MARK HUME Organizing Around Cesar Chavez:

BY DENISE BEZICK

El Paso foyer below dropped holy water on dried she had come to know from radio, televi- ORENZA PRIMERO, her dark brown red chile peppers and sweet-smelling onions sion and by word of mouth. "I first heard of wrinkled face framed by a red bandana, in baskets in front of an altar dedicated to Cesar Chavez many many years ago. I don't Lwiped away the tears that streamed down Cesar Chavez. remember exactly when. I've read about him her cheeks. She leaned on the banister of a Primero, an aging El Paso chile picker, in the papers, seen him on television," Primero stairwell of an old home converted into a had never met Chavez or been to the grape said as she sat on the patio before the service. law office and cried as a young priest in the fields where he led his struggle for better "He was a very formidable man. Though our pay and working conditions for more than struggle in the chile fields is different from 200,000 field hands, many of them Mexican his struggle, he has made all of our lives a lit- Freelance writer Denise Bezick lives in El immigrants like herself. But in her heart she tle easier. Still, we have a lot to do." Paso. loved the man, whom as a younger woman The memorial vigil and offering — by El

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 17 Paso field hands in the office of El Paso attor- has been close to the El Paso farm labor leaders, it failed to spark the interests of El ney Margarito Rodriguez — was a small, movement, but his cause was adopted by Paso's vast middle class or draw large num- private tribute to Chavez during a week-long Hispanic youth in El Paso, as it was else- bers of new supporters. public celebration of a man, who as a sym- where. "I have mixed feelings about the whole bol of Hispanic struggle for equality, had Locally, the memory of the campaign event," Anthony Trujillo, superintendent of touched the Mexican-American community Chavez began more than 20 years ago was the Ysleta Independent School District and a in El Paso. Though the purpose of the memo- renewed when he visited El Paso a few weeks friend of Chavez who organized the march rial — culminating in a solidarity march and before his death. While in El Paso, Chavez and memorial service, said a few days after rally May 23 — was to draw attention to the met with local farm labor leader Carlos it was over. "Overall, it achieved the major United Farm Workers' renewed call for a boy- Marentes, who runs the upstart Border Agri- objective I had in mind, which was to provide cott of California table grapes, it also seemed cultural Workers' Union for workers in West support for the nationwide grape boycott." to achieve some of the other smaller goals Texas and Southern New Mexico chile and But he added: "I was hoping for a turnout that community leaders discussed when they onion fields. Marentes says Chavez's pres- of about 5,000 people." The big success of agreed to help organize the event. ence galvanized community support for local the day — the announcement that El Paso's It brought El Paso's Hispanic political and farm workers and for the public-awareness small chain of Big 8 Food Stores won't sell civic leaders together around a common goal campaign launched by Marentes' chile pick- California table grapes this year — got little and provided an opportunity for veterans of ers union, known by the Spanish acronym attention from the local media. the Chicano movement of the 1960s and UTAF. And the threat by United Farm Workers 1970s to teach their children about the strug- The campaign of the El Paso region's 5,000 secretary general David Martinez of a pos- gles of the past and to awaken in them and in chile pickers against unsanitary working con- sible boycott of the giant Furr's grocery chain the rest of the community a hope for social ditions, unsafe transportation to and from the was met with dismay by leaders of the United justice. fields and labor contractors who refuse to pay Food and Commercial Workers Union, whose It also won important attention for the minimum wage is a different front in the same members work at Fun's. "I agree fully with struggle of the El Paso farm workers — a few. war the UFW is fighting with its grape boy- the grape boycott," Ramon Corral, president weeks before the region's chile picking sea- cott. Marentes says UTAF can learn from the of the union's local office, said a few days son begins in earnest. Chavez's UFW never way the UFW gathers people to its cause. after the memorial. "They can handbill the Already, he foresees the benefit of the stores and boycott the grapes ... but Fun's Chavez rally. UTAF isn't strong enough today is the only union store in the city. Their wages Send a Friend the to launch a chile boycott, but Marentes hopes are higher than other stores and the benefits that the threat of a UTAF-supported grape are good. Why don't they boycott the non- Texas Observer boycott will be enough to worry Texas and union stores first?" Despite such political set- Contact New Mexico farmers into treating UTAF backs, the Chavez rally was the largest polit- chile pickers better during this summer's ical march to be held in El Paso in recent Stefan Wanstrom harvest. memory and one of the largest public gath- at 477-0746, "They are afraid that a grape boycott will erings of farm workers in the history of UTAF. or write: set a precedent," Marentes said. "Who says It recalled — at least for a day — the social that in five years from now we won't call activism of the late 1960s and early 1970s. 701 West 7th St., for a boycott of their chile?" In UFW style, the marchers followed a huge Austin, TX 78701 In the past 12 months, Marentes has been hand-painted canvas bearing the face of widening his organization's circle of friends Chavez. Other marchers carried a pastel and spending some of the union's meager banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe and funds in a national effort to spread the word American and Mexican flags on the two- that the nation's most profitable condiment mile trek through the shadow of downtown .40"" %leg Sea industry depends on a labor pool forced by El Paso's business and government offices. # Horse low wages and harsh conditions to live in As they pounded the pavement, partici- • poverty. For UTAF, the Chavez rally was the pants waved the red UTAF flags, the ban- • Inn beginning of the year's activities. • ners of other local labor unions and hand- • As the media-touted "chile war" between lettered signs calling for renewed support Kitchenettes-Cable TV I, Texas and New Mexico heats up this sum- for the grape boycott. Pool 1 "El pueblo unido jamas sera vencido" (A Er I. mer, look for UTAF's yellow buses at West 1 beside the Gulf of Mexico 0 Texas and New Mexico chile festivals, where united community never will be defeated), on Mustang Island farmworkers can count on large crowds to and "Cesar, escucha, to gente esta en la lucha" $ hear their message. (Cesar, listen, your people are in the strug- me Available for private parties The El Paso memorial for Cesar Chavez gle) were among the rally cries that brought .411‘ Unique European Charm 0I drew together about 700 UTAF members residents of the city's poorest neighborhood & Atmosphere 1 with another 1,000 or so mostly middle-aged to balconies and screen doors of their one- )' Special Low Spring & Summer Rates '0, (and middle-class) Hispanic activists, stu- and two-room apartments in brick tenements Pets Welcome tret dents and members of labor unions and social that lined the parade route. Maria Rosio organizations for a march through the streets Belman, a young mother who watched from 1423 11th Street 11 of South El Paso's Segundo Barrio to the a doorway across from Roosevelt Elementary 01 Port Aransas, TX 78373 '$ Chamizal National Memorial. There an addi- School, commented on the march. "Here in tional few hundred people gathered to wel- this neighborhood, we are people of Mexican call (512) 749-5221 $• come the marchers to political rally and prayer decent, and we are still fighting to protect our- for Rescrvations 1 service in honor of Chavez. selves from abuses, to educate our children 024' But, despite a week of constant media cov- and to give them a better life," she said. "This

„lblowd, A ail% erage spurred by a handful of news confer- march honors that struggle. We stand with 160 Ir 3. L-■1115 1111■ ences and a week-long fast by community them." ❑ 18 • JUNE 18, 1993 SPEAKING OUT All That He Can Be

BY RICK BROWN OE ZUNIGA, FORMERLY SGT. JOE Operation Desert Storm. two other "out and ousted" gay servicemen, Zuniga of the U.S. Army, underwent one The product of a military family, Zuniga have lovers and acknowledge participating ill of the more public self-outings of recent was on the fast track for promotion from the in homosexual activity. In Zuniga's case, years when he informed his superior offi- very beginning of his career, even appear- the Army was confronted with "someone cers and the world of his sexual orientation ing in a group recruiting photo taken during who had just come to terms with his sexual- on April 24. That was the day Zuniga, the basic training.Yet during three and a half ity and not even experimented with it," he Sixth Army Soldier of the Year and Military years of service, the realization grew in his says. Print Journalist of the Year, appeared on stage mind that his sexuality was incompatible That still didn't stop the anti-gay jugger- at the March on Washington for gay rights. with Army regulations. naut. Allegations that he wore one of his com- His life hasn't been the same since. The Zuniga said his earlier thinking on sexu- mendations at the march before he was enti- Army discharged Zuniga by the end of May, ality had been influenced by his conservative tled gave his commanding officers added and now the 24-year-old San Antonio religious upbringing. "I associated deviancy ammunition. Zuniga says he verified the native, who once viewed military service and perversity with homosexuality, much like award by telephone before donning it, but the as a life-long career, is publicly making the society had pictured it," he says. "I had to Army has gathered statements from other ser- case for equal rights for homosexuals.He come to grips with my sexuality — that was vicemen saying otherwise. plans to spend this summer speaking to the hardest part, accepting that I was in fact Many of the statements came from friends gay and lesbian groups across the country gay." Zuniga described his recent award cer- who knew the truth, he says, lending cre- to help focus dissent against the ban on gays emony as a moment of decision for him. "Here dence to accusations that commanding offi- in the service. was this general pinning this Army com- cers intimidated the men into providing After his decision to go public with his mendation on my chest and extolling my faulty evidence. The entire affair "was sexual orientation, he has little use for the accomplishments, and deep inside, I won- clearly a retaliating move by the Army to "don't ask, don't tell" compromise proposed dered what he'd be doing if he knew I was bloody my nose before I actually left the ser- • by U.S. Representative Barney Frank, the gay. Well, it was a stupid question, because vice," Zuniga says. openly homosexual Democrat from Massa- I knew exactly what he'd be doing — sign- The former serviceman speaks tongue-in- chusetts. Zuniga called it "impossible" and ing my discharge papers." Coming out to cheek when calling his discharge "bitter- "unfeasible," since military personnel would the nation at large "was a very secure deci- sweet." Proceedings that included cutting up still have to remain in the closet while on duty. sion after that," he says. "I thought I could his military ID in his presence and dropping "You can't be asexual," Zuniga said in an make a difference." it in the trash "were about all the bitter I could interview in Austin. "From your wedding ring A casualty of his coming out was his mar- take," he says. "It was actually very sweet to the picture on your desk to the questions riage. He and his wife separated six months to leave." about what you did over the weekend, your ago and now are seeking divorce. The pain The American Civil Liberties Union has sexuality comes up in everything you do or his wife has had to endure "is very difficult taken up Zuniga's cause, offering legal rep- say." The policy would require military per- for me," Zuniga says. Relations with his father, resentation and scheduling many of his sonnel "to compromise the principles of hon- a retired colonel who lives in San Antonio appearances. This interview was conducted esty and integrity the military is based on," and supports the ban, remain problematic. in Austin prior to a benefit for the Texas he says. "It should be, 'Don't ask, don't care When Zuniga recently returned to Texas, Human Rights Foundation, the organization — If I find out, it's okay. It doesn't mean any- his father left a message by voice mail: sponsoring a Texas constitutional challenge thing.' 'Don't give the media my number, because to state sodomy law. Zuniga is also planning a speaking tour I don't want to say anything against you,' " Zuniga says he would consider re-entering of college campuses this fall and said he hopes said the older man. " 'But I love you.' " the military, but only under conditions in to provide a positive gay role model. His "That's the first time I could remember him which he could speak truthfully about his achievements may hold some appeal to clos- saying those three words to me, so it was homosexuality. He says gay men who are eted gay men and women otherwise turned very important," says Zuniga, whose mother attracted to the military lifestyle are conser- off by the more flamboyant aspects of the died of cancer in 1991. vative, as he is. "The fundamentalists are lifestyle. In the month before his announce- Acknowledging a deeply conservative screaming about holding hands and dancing ment, the Army named Zuniga Sixth Army nature, Zuniga says his commitment to his in the officers club, but we're not like that," Soldier of the Year and Military Print marriage vows is a big reason he has com- he says. "I'm not out to flaunt my sexuality." Journalist of the Year. Previously, he had pletely avoided gay sex, though his profes- And he, is saddened by the example upper received five Army Commendation Medals, sional ambition and respect for the military echelons set by resisting President Clinton's numerous awards for his military writing code also played a role. "I never wanted to leadership. Men in lower ranks "are hearing and a combat badge for medical service in place myself in a position where I would from (General) Colin Powell that it's okay to compromise my career like that." His absti- discriminate against gays, that gays are evil nence is one of the defining characteristics of and don't belong, and that it's okay to bad- Rick Brown is a freelance writer in Austin. his case. Keith Meinhold and Tracy Thorn, mouth the president, even." ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 19

,111^^..." • BOOKS & THE. CULTUE AIDS, Life and Art

BY STEVEN O. KELLMAN SILVERLAKE LIFE: prologue and an epilogue to Joslin' s THE VIEW FROM HERE footage. By the time our eyes arrive, it Directed by Tom Joslin and is a love that is largely purged of passion, Peter Friedman and mendacity. "I don't want to lie any- more," explains Tom about his decision UCH OF BROADCASTING, to admit his homosexuality, documented like much of publishing, con- in an earlier film, Blackstar: Auto- Mfuses worthiness with objec- biography of a Close Friend, a clip of tivity, and objectivity with avoiding the which is incorporated into Silverlake Life. appearance of any point of view. P.O.V., Men who love men, even those who are a weekly series of independent non-fic- open about their proclivities, are proba- tion films, flaunts the cubistic truth that bly no more free of deceit than are het- every take has an angle, that every image erosexual couples. "Love," wrote E. M. is glimpsed from a particular vantage Cioran, "is an agreement on the part of point. It rejects the tendency of broadcasts two people to overestimate each other." and articles to stand nowhere and probe The sex of the people seems irrelevant nothing. Aired each summer by PBS, to the Romanian cynic. But a recognition P.O.V. is potent counterprogramming of personal impermanence is a stringent to the costly froth that saturates theaters solvent of frippery and fraud. Silverlake this time of year. Though PBS opens the Life cleanses its frames in final candor. sixth season of P.O.V. on June 15, Texas In the parting agony of two gay men, any- viewers should consult the schedules of one can recognize the straight truth. local affiliates; San Antonio's KLRN, for Much of what we witness — the pro- example, will begin the series on June 22, liferation of lesions on Mark's dwindling Austin's KLRU on June 29. MATT WUERKER torso, futile sessions with the doctor, an Six years is the tenure of a senatorial term, AIDS. Tom Joslin and Mark Massi shared arduous walk through the park — is excru- but P.O. V. has already accomplished more almost 22 years, and Silverlake Life is the ciatingly banal. Mark and Tom become and spent less than has Jesse Helms in more video diary of the final months, after first increasingly weary and frequently depressed. than 20 years on Capitol Hill. One of the Mark and then Tom were diagnosed with But, without sensationalizing or sentimen- North Carolina Republican's more ostenta- the devastating disease. It provides striking talizing what happens to these men, the film tious actions was an attempt to pull the plug evidence of how AIDS both wastes the body offers up the miracle of tedium transformed on P.O. V. Helms affected such high dud- and concentrates the mind. by clarity — not least during the dreaded geon over Marlon Riggs' Tongues Untied, a Before involuntary retirement, Tom was moment when, training the camera on Tom's graphic study of gay black life that opened a professor of film, at Hampshire College and frail, spent corpse, Mark bids it adieu by the 1991 edition, that he used it to try to blud- later the University of Southern California, singing "You Are My Sunshine." geon his colleagues into starving P.O. V. and whose most prominent student was Ken The authentic measure of a mortal life might public broadcasting in general into extinc- Burns. Peter Friedman was another, and, five well be how it ends, but Silverlake Life reduces tion. Both survive, sailing most smoothly months after his mentor's death, Friedman two lives to their departures, as though when safe from prigs at their helms. flew back from France to accept a macabre Abraham Lincoln could be summed up by a Though not nearly as brazen as Tongues legacy: responsibility for completing the film night at Ford's Theater. A troubled visit to Untied, Silverlake Life, the film that inau- record that Joslin had been compiling. "Life Tom's family in New Hampshire' hints at a gurates the current season, is also about gay wasn't like the movies," Tom tells us, but the life before HIV, before even Mark. It is life ... and death. Yet it is hard to imagine professional cineaste lived and died on cam- endearing how much Tom and Mark define anyone, even a tendentious Senator, taking era. He made abundant use of a super VHS themselves through each other, but the film offense or anything but a melancholy illus- camcorder to document the stages of his com- does not do enough to find an identity inde- tration of the human condition from this coura- panion Mark's fatal illness, as well as of his pendent of the virus that was destroying what geous film. Subtitled The View From Here, own more accelerated failure. When Friedman they were. Silverlake Life ignores most of it is indeed cinema with a point of view, that arrived at the Joslin/Massi house in the Silver four-and-a-half decades to offer a micro- of a devoted couple who are both dying of Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tom scopic view of two embattled organisms. (b. 1946) was already gone and Mark was "If art has any message," wrote the late fading. He inherited 40 hours of footage and Lawrence Durrell, "it must be this: to remind Steven G. Kellman teaches comparative lit- a compulsion to complete and edit the report. us that we are dying without having properly erature at the University of Texas in San "Silverlake Life is a love story," declares lived." Silverlake Life is a fearsome slice of

Antonio. Friedman, who addresses the camera in a art. ❑

20 • JUNE 18, 1993 No Moveable Feast: More Water and Chocolate

BY MIGUEL BEDOLLA-GONZALEZ COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE and Tita are in love andcannot many, Pedro Revolution. And a historical fact essential By Laura Esquivel marries Tita's older sister, Rosaura. The char- to that Revolution, Northern Coahuila's loy- 244 pages. Mexico City: acters in the story, with the exception of the alty to Porfirio Diaz, whose reelection started Planeta: Coleccion Fibula revolutionary officer Juan, the American physi- the Revolution, is never even suggested. cian John Brown, and the Indian servant Piedras Negras? Before it was called by the N 1957 I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL Chencha, would be my relatives — if, that is, name we now know it, it was Ciudad Porfirio and spent the summer at our family ranch, these fictive creations of Laura Esquivel had Diaz. It was Pancho Villa who was consid- I near the town of Muzquiz, not far from any roots at all in the alkaline soil of Northern ered a bandit. Coahuila had its revolution- Piedras Negras. After weeks of constant rid- Coahuila. They do not. aries, men like Lucio Blanco, and many from ing, what had been saddle blisters became The story is imaginative. Gertrudis, the around Mtizquiz became generals in the painful sores and I started riding bareback. other de la Garza sister, is taken much as Revolutionary Army. But their women did One afternoon I saw my Tio Carlos sitting Zeus took Europa, but here the couple makes not follow them into battle. under a tree. I led my horse toward him and love, face to face, on a galloping horse. And I have never known anyone who is part before I had dismounted he said, angrily, for generations the place where Gertrudis Kikapti, although we have lived next to them "Why are you mounted like an Indian if you bathed on the day of her seduction smells of for generations. And blacks arrived in are a Spaniard?" perfume. The story is deliciously blended with Coahuila via the Underground Railroad and My ancestors arrived in what is now a multitude of recipes and served up with became citizens of Mexico, but until only very Northern Coahuila and South Texas in the humor. Rosaura might be the first character recently spoke an English dialect unintelli- 18th century, as soldiers of Spain, to defend in the history of literature to fart to death. gible to outsiders. They also kept very much and colonize the Borderlands. They brought Finally, the story is painfully and beauti- to themselves. Only today is an occasional their wives with them. They did not come fully poetic and has a surprising ending. "mulatto," like the father of Gertrudis, to be to conquer. Their descendants still consider Yet I hate it. found in the region. themselves Spaniards, although citizens of I recognize an artist's right to creative free- There is in Northern Coahuila no tradi- Mexico or the United States. Initially, most dom, and that the genre of magical realism tion that the youngest daughter must care belonged to certain families: Mtizquiz, de requires the reader to suspend certain judge- for her mother. Nor are other traditions of the la Garza, Sanchez-Navarro, Elizondo, Lobo, ments. And I am able to suspend them when characters in the novel part of the culture of Blanco, Vidaurri, Treviiio. Some were Tita's tears, which have fallen into the wed- Coahuila, either. They are traditions of some Basque, others Jews converted to Christianity. ding cake, overwhelm the wedding guests other place, a place that is home to different Their descendants married among themselves with nostalgia, or when all of the guests walk people with different traditions and history. and become a single family of very compli- from the table to vomit, or when all, unable This is obvious by the way the characters cated bloodlines. No one named Esquivel was to control their impulse to make love, leave address one another, with the polite and more among them. hurriedly, in pairs. Yet magical realism does formal "listed," even though they are of the What does this have to do with Laura not require the reader to suspend all judge- same age and make love to one another; by Esquivel's Como agua para chocolate — ment about the place in which a story is set. the fact that Juan and Rosaura consummate reviewed in the June 4 Observer in transla- I hate this story because it makes no historic their marriage through a hole in a nuptial tion as Like Water For Chocolate? After read- or ethnic sense, and because it is, ultimately, sheet; and that they eat Rosca de Reyes. Rosca ing the review, I read the noel, in Spanish, a political statement about the ethnic and de Reyes? I never knew such a thing was the language in which it was written — which regional conflicts of Mexico. eaten until I went to Mexico (City) in 1972. with this work is particularly important. (The Let me explain. Chiles en Nogada? The same thing. Jumiles? book was released in Spanish by Doubleday The history of families like the de la Garza What are they anyway? What the de la Garza for $17.95) . and the Lobo of Northern Coahuila is of Northern Coahuila eat until this day is The story develops in and around Piedras informed by a number of events: The wars of meat: Chorizo or machacado, steak and ribs. Negras, Coahuila, and Eagle Pass, Texas the Spanish Borderlands; the War of Armadillo? Never. It must have been for- (eeglehpass, as they say in Mdzquiz). It involves Independence from Spain; the War with Texas bidden by the Law of Moses. the unassertiveness of a young protagonist, Tita and the loss of the territory to the United Instead of speaking in the idioms and de la Garza, and the young man who loves her, States, which divided the family between two accents of Northern Coahuila, most of Pedro Muzquiz. By family tradition, Tita is nations; the war against the American Army Esquivel' s characters speak a Spanish close forced to forgo all but the kitchen in order to that passed through in 1847; the attempt to to the standard middle-class language of care for her widowed mother. Because Pedro form a separate republic; the war against the today's Mexico City. When children play Apaches and the Comanches, in which the hookey, "se van de pinta," instead of the fun- Miguel Bedolla-Gonzalez is on the faculty at Kikapti were collaborators; the war against nier "hacen de perra," by which children still the Center for Ethics and Humanities and the the French during the "empire" of Maximilian. skip school ill. the north. And the Spanish spo- Hispanic Center of Excellence of the University Yet, the characters of this story never con- ken in Northern Coahuila is blunt and straight- of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. nect their lives with their history, until the forward, absent the labyrinthine courtesies of

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 21 the Spanish of Southern Mexico. It is a lan- more at home in San Antonio or Philadelphia Como aguapara Chocolate, in any language, guage of a people who irritate the rest of the than in San Luis Potosi or Queretaro. Their does. It is a wasted opportunity. Instead of Mexicans, people whose writers would have men have never dressed as charros and their telling a story through the lives of the peo- called Rosaura's farts "pedos" — instead of women have never worn rebozos. They are ple whose geography she expropriates, the the more esoteric "flatos" of Esquivel's novel. independent from and suspicious of what author hired a theatrical troupe from the south Described by one of their own, Mauricio goes on in Mexico City and the rest of the and led them to the border. And there is not Gonzalez, in his El Rio de la Misericordia, Mexicans have always felt a need to ignore enough magic in all of Mexico to make these these Nortenos do not paint murals, but they them. One way of doing that is by exclud- actors what they are not. We are entertained. show the world that there are Mexicans who ing them from the great national celebra- But in the end, we are deceived. wear shoes, eat three times a day, know what tions, like the ritual parade of the 20th of Oh, yes. My father let me spend the sum- they mean when they say "yes" or "no" and November in Mexico City, where the folk- mer of 1957 at our ranch because in the fall I have never addressed anyone with the word lore of the north is never seen nor celebrated. would enroll at Texas A&M. It was not until "Patroncito." They have never accepted the Another is by saying that they and their cul- I was marching across the Aggie campus, official myth that Mexico is an Indian nation. ture are like the culture and people of counting cadence as a cadet of Bravo Battery They admire Benito Juarez because he was a Cuahutitlan — the rest of Mexico outside of the Field Artillery, that I would slowly Mason. They speak English fluently and feel of Mexico City. Which is precisely what begin to realize that I was a "Meskin." ❑

Political Intelligence continued from page 24 JOURNAL prison in Louisiana on June 14 to start serv- were ignored in policy discussions. ing his sentence. Civil rights leaders have complained that the case smacks of racism ✓ BANK SNOTS. Officials of the state's Texans Unfunded and urged President Clinton to consider a par- two largest bank holding companies are resist- don for Canty, who with his wife was return- ing efforts by the Texas House Agriculture As Donors Dry Up ing to Houston from a vacation in Jamaica in Committee to subpoena top executives and 1991 when two black college students began lending records as part of an examination Caution: The election of neoliberal politicians arguing with flight attendants over the oper- of community lending practices. State Rep. may be hazardous to progressive organiza- ation of a radio-cassette player. Canty, a com- Pete Patterson, D-Brookston, the commit- tions. Texans United, a grassroots environ- munications specialist for Reuters news ser- tee chair, has had a running battle with national mental organization with offices in Dallas vice, awoke from a nap to tell the flight banks over their lending practices in the com- and Houston, reportedly is facing financial attendant and a co-pilot the boom box would munities they are chartered to serve, but the difficulties, with employees working with- not interfere with navigation equipment. The statewide banks are not required to break out pay. Continental Airlines flight later made an down lending information by communities. Rick Abrahams, the group's executive unscheduled stop in Cancun, Mexico, to The subpoenas sought information from Bank director, said Texans United is funded through remove Canty and the two students, who One, Texas, and Nationsbank, Texas, for a June, but its chances of surviving the sum- subsequently were convicted in Houston fed- June 17 hearing, but Bank One officials filed mer are more speculative. Part of the prob- eral court on charges of threatening a flight a lawsuit in federal district court in Dallas lem, he said, is that the group, which con- crew. A videotape of the argument showed to quash the subpoena. Kevin McCommon, centrates on organizing communities (mainly no disruptive behavior by Canty and he had an aide to Patterson, said committee staff was low-income) near polluting industrial plants, no prior criminal record, but Canty was sen- still negotiating with Nationsbank but he -has no national organization to support it tenced to four months in prison, while the stu- was pessimistic about getting the informa- and it has been unable to raise money from dents got 14 months and eight months, respec- tion voluntarily. Robert Harris, Texas Banking Texas foundations, most of which are tied tively. Canty told the Austin American- Association president, told the Austin Business to the petrochemical industry. Statesman he has quit his job and he was Journal the state House committee has no In addition, he said, there is a perception prepared to go to prison if the his bid for jurisdiction over the national banking system among many potential donors that "with the executive clemency fails. and his staff was instructed to fight the election of so-called progressives, such as required release of such information. Patterson Ann Richards and Bill Clinton and Al Gore, ✓ TOM CRADDICK for Governor? The sponsored a bill in the past session to require that there is no longer a need for grassroots Midland state representative and chair of "call reports" that detail local activity at activism." He added, "It was much easier the House Republican Caucus claims high branches of all banks with $300 million or under Republican administrations because name recognition among Republicans around more in deposits; it passed the House but everybody understood what the problem was." the state and says he has been encouraged died in the Senate. Texans United is unimpressed with to seek the nomination to challenge Ann Richards and her environmental record, as Richards in 1994, the Austin American- ✓ FAST RELIEF. Diane Wilson ended her it organized a recent Capitol action to protest Statesman reports, but the Beaumont 30-day hunger strike on May 14 after Goy. the decision of her Water Commission to Enterprise retorts that Craddick may not even Ann Richards' staff and a Houston lawyer permit a waste incinerator near Channelview. hold onto his position atop the GOP caucus. go Formosa Plastics Corp. to review ways to Texans United's habit of criticizing Representative Jerry Yost, R-Longview, said recycle and limit discharge from its $1.3 Democrats as well as Republicans has likely it was "almost a foregone conclusion" that billion plant expansion at Point Comfort. driven off potential funding sources, he Craddick, who has held the chair since the Wilson, a shrimper, started the hunger strike acknowledges. caucus was formed six years ago, will be on April 14 after the Texas Water commis- To help, contact Texans United, 12655 replaced next year after some Republican sion granted a permit to Formosa, manufac- Woodforest Blvd., Suite 200, Houston, Texas House members complained that the lead- turers of polyvinyl chloride, to discharge 9.7 77015. ❑ ership was concentrated in too few hands and million gallons of waste daily into upper the views of moderate and rural Republicans Lavaca Bay. ❑

22 • JUNE 18, 1993

`*, AFTERWORD Edifice Complex

BY CHAR MILLER

N HEAVEN, THE TALK was Fiesta Plaza closed its doors shortly about Henry Cisneros. (That's after they opened, a victim of bad sit- I Heaven, the hair salon, where, if ing, mismanagement and unrealistic you call and the receptionist is busy, expectations. For years, this "pink she'll deadpan: "Heaven, will you elephant," with its boarded up win- hold?" Happily.) The talk, in any dows, stood as an unsettling reminder event, focused on the phoenix-like of Cisneros' failed urban vision. resurgence of San Antonio's fallen How appropriate the I-10 eyesore angel, the city's first (and, to date, has since fallen to the bulldozer's only) Hispanic Mayor, whose fast- blade. Here's hoping the dome track career was derailed by confes- doesn't suffer a similar fate, ending sions of adultery. That he is back in up as the Alamodoom. Things may the limelight, and has been garner- never get that bad but it is doubtful ing considerable notice as President that this latest gift of the Cisneros Clinton's Secretary of the Department mayoralty will be any more suc- of Housing and Urban Development, cessful in fulfilling its planners' didn't surprise the stylists at Heaven: euphoric dreams. Its supporters insist, What else would you expect from what for example, that because the one of them called the "Aztec God"? Alamodome is opening almost debt- Part of this resurrection can also free, something no other dome can be attributed to the very large house claim, its chances of success are that this god built — at the taxpayers' good. Fair enough. But success in expense. A dome, actually, The what sense? Jobs, they say. However, Alamodome as it is called, which with the construction work nearing opened in May to much fanfare. The completion, some of the most highly local media, which for years sup- skilled — and thus highly paid — pressed information about Cisneros' labor associated with the building sexual peccadillos, devoted front-page is drifting away. In its place, will coverage and special pull-out sections flow a series of equally temporary, to the grand event; in print large and if low skilled, low wage jobs typi- small they detailed Cisneros' political chronic poverty, low tax base and undered- cally associated with sports arenas and con- efforts to secure voter approval for the build- ucated populace. In the run, up to the 1989 vention centers. San Antonio's economy can- ing, and praised the social vision that had led vote, for instance, he predicted its potential not be resuscitated, its citizens' poverty will to the vast complex's development. The Wall to lure convention business, draw sporting not be diminished, by selling beer, parking Street Journal and other national and regional events, if not a major league franchise, and cars or flipping burgers. organs have swelled the chorus, pumping serve as a magnet for tourism, all of which That's what local activist Father Rosendo up the building and the man to grand heights. would expand the city's work force and gen- Urrabazo had in mind when he told a Wall To judge from the media cheers, "Mr. erate sustained economic growth. In the midst Street Journal reporter that "public money Alamodome" was right when, during the cam- of a deep recession, brought on by the col- should be used for public good," a critique of paign in late 1988 and early 1989 to secure lapse of the real estate market and the self- the Alamodome' s social impact that was the citizens' approval, he vowed that when destruction of the banking industry, the dome buried in the last paragraph of the newspa- the building opened, it would mark the River project was a tantalizing quick fix. per's lengthy, celebratory article. More to Walk City's "Year of Emergence." That one building could transform the its boosters' liking are the thoughts of Henry But emergence into what, exactly? The regional economy is an absurd presumption, Cisneros that have been inscribed on a mas- dome has been long heralded as the means to of course, but it was one that Cisneros had sive, silver-colored panel, now bolted above financial security for this most impoverished developed throughout his tenure as mayor. an aisleway leading to the dome's interior: community. Then-Mayor Cisneros promised Earlier, he had secured federal, state and local "Over its life may this building help many that the facility would correct San Antonio's monies to construct what was billed as Fiesta million of us share the joys of coming together Plaza, a bright pink stucco retail mall just west in faith, in prosperity, and in the celebration Char Miller, co-editor of Urban Texas: of the downtown core and one of its feeder of our common purposes." Like so many of Politics and Development (Texas A&M highways, Interstate 10. The large mall was his utterances, this one scans well, until, that University Press), teaches history at Trinity to provide a renaissance for the financially- is, you recognize just how glib are the words, University. strapped, largely Hispanic West Side. Instead, how facile the message. ❑

THE TEXAS OBSERVER • 23 Postmaster: If undeliverable, send Form 3579 to The Texas Observer, 307 W. 7th St., Austin, Texas 78701

POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE

✓ HELP WANTED. Robert Novak, in a Regina Montoya of Dallas, director of inter- nuclear power plant near Bay City is ham- syndicated column datelined from Austin governmental affairs for President Clinton; pered by inadequate budgets and overworked before the election, wrote that Democratic former Houston mayor Kathy Whitmire; El staff, poor training, a huge maintenance back- power brokers had given up on Bob Krueger Paso County Judge Alicia Chacon; and Sen. log and inexperienced managers who are and were ready to plead for Gov. Ann Richards Judith Zaffirini of Laredo. (Extra points for reluctant to bring problems forward and slow to be their saviour after Krueger's defeat. We being Hispanic and/or female in this race.) to learn from past mistakes, the Nuclear presume these "power brokers" were the same Regulatory Commission reported in a critique ones who steered Richards to appoint Krueger V POLARIZED VOTING. Senator-elect of the controversial project. The South Texas to succeed Lloyd Bentsen in the first place, Kay Bailey Hutchison may have stomped Project, which has not generated electricity but Novak wrote, "the structure of money appointed Democratic Senator Bob Krueger since early February because of repeated and power that always has ruled Texas is on statewide, with a strong showing in South equipment failures, is the 10th nuclear plant the brink of disintegration. Only Ann, say Texas, but Krueger still received an over- to undergo the special "diagnostic evalua- worried Democrats, can save it." In their night- whelming majority of Hispanic and African tion." Officials of Houston Lighting & Power mare, liberal populist Jim Mattox, who was Texans who turned out to vote on June 5, Co., the operator of the plant on behalf of co- forced out of the special election by the according to an analysis by the Southwest Voter owners Central Power & Light and the cities Democratic establishment, would challenge Research Institute. Hutchison got 67.3 percent of Austin and San Antonio, said the problems Kay Hutchison in 1994. They fear that he of the overall vote, compared with 32.7 per- were being corrected. Commission officials would carry the whole Democratic slate, cent for Krueger, but a sample of key precincts have proposed $500,000 in fines for alleged including Richards, to defeat, Novak said, so showed Krueger got 79 percent of Latino vot- safety problems and have referred to the their play is to persuade Ann to run for the ers and 95 percent of black voters, but he got Justice Department complaints by former Senate and Comptroller John Sharp to run only 21 percent of white voters. But the polar- plant workers who contend they were dis- for Governor. On election night, while ized vote and low turnout of minorities doomed missed for pointing out problems. HL&P Democrats conducted the grim vigil waiting Krueger, according to Bob Brischetto, exec- denies those allegations. for election returns and Krueger's concession utive director of the institute. Overall turnout speech at the Capitol Marriott in Austin, Mattox dropped from 24 percent on May 1 to 20.5 per- V RANK RANKING. Texas ranks sec- strolled in, literally popped a balloon, and cent for the runoff, but while Anglo turnout ond to Louisiana in the amount of toxic chem- while trying very hard not to smirk offered was 24 percent, blacks dropped to 13 percent icals spilled into the air, waterways and land reporters his post-mortem on the failed Krueger and Hispanic turnout was 12 percent. during 1991, the U.S. Environmental candidacy. When Krueger arrived at the ball- Protection Agency reported. The state's indus- room to concede his defeat shortly after 9 V GRAPES OF REPS. Explaining that tries released 410 million pounds of toxic p.m., Mattox already was working the room. the "policies of the Democrat[ic] Party were chemicals in 1991, 7.2 percent less than in He did not declare his candidacy, but in effect detrimental to my district and constituency," 1990 and 15 percent less since reporting began said he would be available for a draft if Rep. Pedro Nieto switched allegiances to in 1988, according to the Texas Water Democratic leaders, including Richards, would the Republican Party at a June 3 press con- Commission. Monsanto Co. in Alvin is still support him. And they owe him. ference in San Antonio. Nieto, who was the top polluter in Texas, with 54.2 million elected from Uvalde, became the first Hispanic pounds of toxic chemicals released in 1991. ✓ UP FOR GRABS. With a vacancy at Republican member of the Texas House of Other top polluters included Sterling the top of the state Treasury, Comptroller John Representatives. He justified his move, say- Chemicals Inc. of Texas City with 36.7 mil- Sharp has a thought about what to do with the ing that he has always supported Republican lion pounds; DuPont of Beaumont with 35.8 office: Abolish it. Sharp said the Treasury, and conservative values, although Democrats, million pounds; BP Chemicals of Port Lavaca, which has 243 employees and a $7 million who pronounced Nieto a lame duck, sug- 29 million pounds; DuPont of Victoria, 27.2 annual budget, could be run with 30 employ- gested that the freshman legislator was full million; and American Chrome & Chemical ees in the Comptroller's office. Such a move of sour grapes after U.S. Sen. Bob Krueger of Corpus Christi, 10.17 million. would require a state constitutional amend- passed over his name in making recommen- ment. In the meantime, among the names dations for federal appointments. State Rep. V BOOM BOX BUST. Jerry Canty, a mentioned as potential replacements for Richard Raymond, D-Benavides, told the black man who was sentenced to four months Hutchison are Mary Beth Rogers of Austin, San Antonio Express-News Nieto stewed for in a federal prison for arguing with an all- Richards' former chief of staff and a former days because Krueger recommended Travis white flight crew over the operation of a deputy treasurer; Cathy Bonner of Austin, County Attorney Ken Oden for U.S. Attorney "boom box," [see "Free the Boom Box 3," executive director of the Texas Department instead of Nieto. TO 3/12/93] has been ordered to report to of Commerce; Ygnacio Garza of Brownsville, chair of the Parks and Wildlife Commission; V PICKY, PICKY. The South Texas Continued on pg. 22

24 • JUNE 18, 1993