City To Mowad Residents: Buyout Program Is All Or Nothing
EL PASO, Tx. – City officials issued a warning Wednesday to residents of Mowad Street: Get with the buyout program or risk jeopardizing the entire process for themselves and their neighbors.
Officials sent a news release directed at the seven people who live on Mowad and whodecided to file a lawsuit against the City of El Paso.
On August 1st, the Upper Valleyneighborhood was completely devastated by the mud and water that flowed into homes in the area as a result of Storm 2006. Some residents lost everything they had during the storms.
After inspections after the storm, many lost their homes as well. The city has since instituted a voluntary buyout program, which is funded by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.According to city officials, theprogram has about $1 million available.
However, with several residents from the area having fileda lawsuit against the city,officials say their action is “seriously jeopardizing the federal funds the city is actively pursuing through the buyout program.”
Larry Nichols, the man in charge of the buyout process for the city, explained to ABC-7 why it’s important for everyone to be on board with the buyout.
Mr.Nichols said, “This is a voluntary program and the folks not taking the voluntary option, that’s where it puts the program in jeopardy because it’s not just if one or two agree to that… the entire collective neighborhood has to be single-minded on this issue.”
City officialsadd thatthe seven who are suing the city are a small representation of the Mowad community. They say more than a hundred others from the area are in favor of the buyout process.
