EL PASO WON'T REVISIT DRUG LEGALIZATION

Mayor's Veto Stands After Officials Weigh State, U. S.
Funding

EL PASO, Texas - El Paso City Council members declined Tuesday to
revive a controversial decision to ask the federal government to
consider legalizing drugs as a way to help curb the Mexico drug cartel
violence. The eight-member council split 4-4 on a vote upholding Mayor
John Cook's veto of the resolution unanimously passed last week asking
the federal government to consider an "open, honest, national dialogue
on ending the prohibition of narcotics." The proposal was part of a
broad resolution expressing the city's solidarity with Ciudad Juarez,
a violence-plagued Mexican border city just across the Rio Grande.

At issue for at least three council members who initially supported
the resolution was whether the city's stance would cost state and
federal funding. they sited letters received from five state
legislators from the region and U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, an El Paso
Democrat, expressing that fear.

Council members Beto O'Rourke, who intitially pushed the effort for a
federal debate, and Steve Ortega said the threats of withholding
funding served only "to chill the debate."

On Tuesday, Cook stood by his earlier assessment saying the resolution
was unrealistic.

O'Rourke said he accomplished at least part of his initial goal after
nearly three dozen people spoke to the council about the veto override
and countless others sent e-mails or called council members to talk
about the issue.

Reaction to last week's El Paso City Council resolution asking for
consideration of legalizing drugs:

STATE Democratic state Reps. Joe Pickett, Chante Quintanilla, Joseph Moody,
Norma Chavez and Marisa Marquez, all from the El Paso region sent a letter
saying funding for local law enforcement and other programs is "likely being
put in jeopardy" by the resolution.

FEDERAL U.S. Rep. Silvestree Reyes, an El Paso Democrat, also sent a
letter asking the council to uphold the mayor's veto of the resolution
saying it was "counterproductive to our efforts."