Border Highway closed for papal visit

The Border Highway will remain closed to pedestrians during Pope Francis’s visit to Juarez.

El Paso Asst. Police Chief Frank Malone Monday morning described for the city council the manpower and cost needed to secure the area.

He said it would cost the city more than $188,000 to provide security, barricades and water for potentially thousands of people who would gather there.

Police said they simply don’t have another 350 officers to add to the south El Paso highway, so at this point it is not a viable option anymore.

Pope Francis will visit Juarez on February 17 and will hold mass for 220,000 people right across the border from El Paso.

El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser admitted he wanted El Pasoans to be as close as possible to the pope’s celebration when he first heard about it.

“It was my idea because I think it would the the coolest thing in the world,” said Leeser.

His dream quickly ended.

El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen turned down Mayor Oscar Leeser’s suggestion citing safety concerns.

City Representative Emma Acosta agreed with Chief Allen’s decision saying that not enough time, resources or funds would be available to support the mayor’s suggestion.

The Union Pacific police chief echoed the concerns, saying the area is industrial in nature, with a high overpass that has a 3-foot railing. He said UPPD are “greately concerned” about the lack of parking in the area, saying spectators may want to park north of the closed area in railyard properties, then walk along the tracks, “creating a huge public issue.”

In the end, council agreed to issue a statement explaining City officials considered allowing pedestrians along the Border Highway but decided against it due to safety issues, and mindful of the separation of Church and State.

The vote was 4-2, with representatives Peter Svarzbein and Claudia Ordaz voting against it.

The topic led to a discussion of whether the mayor had the authority to decide on the city’s course of action without getting the city manager or other members of council involved.

Svarzbein said it’s not okay that the police and the mayor were talking about pope plans weeks before they notified the city manager and council.
“Why didn’t we have an opportunity to review this plan or to vet it out or to ask questions about it two month ago or a month ago and not two weeks ago,” said Svarzbein.

Leeser said he acted within his purview and the police presented the plan to council as soon as was practically possible. He said he first learned about the Pope’s visit on December 10th from the Juarez mayor and then called the FBI.
Leeser said he and the police didn’t notify City Manager Tommy Gonzalez about logistical plans until January because there was nothing concrete before that as federal and local agencies were still trying to figure out who’d be the lead on the event – depending on if the Pontiff crossed the border.

“When I became involved is because I’m the governing affairs (representative) for the city of El Paso and working with the City of Juarez, that is my job,” said Leeser in an interview after the meeting.

“The issues of police, the issues of fire, the issues of security are operational issues. These are issues that should be handled through the city manager’s office. We have a council manager form of government, it’s not a strong mayor form of government,” Svarzbein countered during an interview.

Allen and the Mayor at one point agitated with Svarzbein’s questioning. Leeser said this was the fifth time the Chief had to explain the closure after having meetings with individual city representatives. “To question their integrity or maybe their decision making at one point we have to stop questioning and start supporting.”

Svarzbein said he respected the Police Chief and his questions weren’t directed at his integrity. “We’re in a democracy. We have a government that is based upon checks and balances. Questioning authority and questioning what we’re being told is part and parcel of being a city representative.”