City Manager Joyce Wilson publically rebuked by Rep. Carl Robinson
An El Paso City Hall meeting turned tense Tuesday as City Rep. Carl Robinson publicly berated City Manager Joyce Wilson for sending emails he called offensive and unprofessional.
An open records request by attorney Stephanie Townsend Allala uncovered thousands of emails between council and staff, some of them mean-spirited. In some emails, Wilson referred to Robinson and Ann Morgan Lilly as having the beginnings of dementia. Robinson made sure to make his feelings public.
“I have lost trust in Ms. Wilson and I think it’s in the best interest if she step down,” Robinson said.
Robinson may have a personal vendetta against City Manager Joyce Wilson.
“You said I’m in advanced stages of dementia” Robinson said. “I have forgotten a lot of things but I don’t have dementia at this point in time.”
But Robinson inferred her actions weakened the city’s credibility. Some of Wilson’s emails reveal her calling opponents of the ballpark stadium “crazies,” and giving tips to the Mountain Star Sport Group on how to win support for bringing a Triple-A baseball team to El Paso, all during council meetings.
“I apologized to all of you formally and indicated that I was perfectly willing to be accountable for my actions,” Wilson said.
“You’re only sorry because you got caught,” Robinson said.
Wilson was exposed, and with the exception of Rep. Eddie Holguin.
“I think Rep. Robinson has a right to put an item on the agenda,” Holguin said.
Council members say this matter should be handled internally.
“It’s unprofessional to do this in public,” Rep. Ann Morgan Lilly said. “We don’t treat any employee that way.”
The fog of the baseball stadium still hangs heavy overhead, and this agenda item brought all the hurt feelings and bruised egos, back to the surface.
“This has been a hard time for all of us and sometimes mistakes were made,” said Rep. Courtney Niland.
“I can see why some of you want to move on, because you don’t want stuff to be revealed to come out,” Holguin said.
