T.J. Connolly responds to Commentary

T.J. Connolly (photo)


General Services Administration Practicing “Double-Speak” as it Works to Destroy Revitalizing Downtown Neighborhood

Regional Administrator Pens Guest Editorial in attempt to Mislead the Public

(San Antonio, TX) As the General Services Administration (GSA) continues its march towards selecting a new site for a San Antonio-based Federal Courthouse, the GSA’s Regional Administrator has revealed his opinion on the current process.In a guest editorial published in the Sunday, July, 1, 2007, edition of the San Antonio Express-News, Scott Armey, Regional Administrator for the Greater Southwest Region of the U. S. General Services Administration continued his agency’s efforts to mislead the public.

Mr. Armey stated in his column; “Some have suggested that courthouse security will necessitate closing water and pedestrian traffic on the River Walk and hurt tourism in San Antonio. We have no plans to cut off the river to tourism and pedestrian access. Also, a variety of security procedures can be utilized that would not have any negative impact on River Walk access,” Armey wrote.

Saveriver.com spokesman T. J. Connolly noted that Mr. Armey’s guest editorial only serves to confirm both the GSA and the Federal Judges desire to construct a new Federal Courthouse on San Antonio’s historic Riverwalk.

“Mr. Armey’s editorial Sunday speaks volumes as to how the bureaucrats at the GSA in Fort Worth, and for that matter, how Federal Judges Xavier Rodriguez, Fred Biery, Royal Ferguson and Orlando Garcia believe they can just come in and bulldoze a revitalizing downtown neighborhood. Their total disregard for what is best for San Antonio is reprehensible,” Connolly said.

Armey added that if the Dwyer Avenue site is chosen, any historic buildings would be relocated, “Whatever site is recommended, our policies also require us to give serious consideration to relocating any historic structures. However, no site has been selected, and no offers have been made for purchase of any property,” Armey added.

“What Mr. Armey doesn’t understand, nor seems to care about, is the historically designated building at 408 Dwyer Avenue can not be relocated. It is too fragile a facility to sustain relocation. But then, Mr. Armey and the GSA have made clear they don’t care about the neighborhood, residents, and historic buildings on Dwyer Avenue. All they care about are the scenic Riverwalk views the Federal Judges could enjoy from their private chambers,” Connolly added.

Regional Administrator Scott Armey went on to tout the General Services Administration’s lengthy, complicated but “open” process they are following in selecting a site for a new Courthouse.

“The process followed in constructing a new federal courthouse is lengthy and complicated. However, through open dialogue with the city of San Antonio and the community, we can realize a beautiful new courthouse that will outlast all of us,” Armey wrote.

Connolly countered that the GSA had secretly undertook the site selection process for the past seven years, and only admitted to it publicly when San Antonio attorney Carla Morrison, who owns a historic landmarked building at 408 Dwyer Avenue went public with the GSA’s plans.

“I guess Mr. Armey’s definition of an open process and public dialogue is when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, in this case, when you get caught trying to build a new Federal Courthouse on San Antonio’s historic Riverwalk, you issue a guest editorial noting all the things the GSA should have done, but haven’t. The last folks the GSA and the four Federal Judges care about are the citizens of San Antonio,” Connolly said.

“If Mr. Armey, the GSA and the four Federal Judges really cared about San Antonio, they would immediately remove the Dwyer Avenue site from the finalist list, and replace it with another location that won’t devastate a revitalizing downtown neighborhood,” Connolly added.

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