Criselda Salazar appointed Eagle Pass Housing Authority Interim Executive Director by Board of Commissioners

By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2016

The Housing Authority of the City of Eagle Pass, Texas Board of Commissioners appointed Criselda Salazar as Interim Executive Director at a special meeting held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016, following the sudden and unexpected resignation of former Executive Director Maria D. “Mary” Velasquez after less than three years in the post.

Velasquez previously served as City Secretary of the City of Eagle Pass for many years before being appointed Eagle Pass Housing Authority Executive Director, replacing former Executive Director Carla Y. Mancha whom was terminated after serving eight years in a controversial split decision of the Board orchestrated by Board Chairperson Ana B. Gonzalez.  Mancha went on to be hired by the Housing Authority of the City of Brownsville, Texas as its Executive Director and has led that public housing authority agency to national grants, honors, and awards.

The Eagle Pass Housing Authority has been under scrutiny for lack of security issues as two deaths have occurred either at at a public housing unit or involved residents or visitors during the past year.

The Eagle Pass Housing Authority Board of Commissioners include Chairperson Ana B. Gonzalez and Commissioners Rolando Salinas, Rudy Valdez, Delfina M. Garza, and Sandra Cruz (resigned).

The local public housing authority Board of Commissioners has several Commissioners whose appointments have expired but are continuing to serve because Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu has not appointed new Commissioners or reappointed the current Commissioners whose terms have expired.

According to public records obtained by the Eagle Pass Business Journal from the City of Eagle Pass, Eagle Pass Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Chairperson Ana B. Gonzalez’s appointment expired on March 31, 2016, Board Vice-Chairperson Rolando Salinas term expired on March 31, 2016, and Commissioner Rudy Valdez’s appointment expired on March 31, 2016, but all three continue holding office until Mayor Ramsey English Cantu appoints their successors or reappoints them to a new two year term.  Board Chairperson Ana B. Gonzalez has served for over six years.

In addition, Commissioner Sandra Cruz recently submitted her letter of resignation as a Board member as she no longer lives in Eagle Pass.  Cruz was appointed on July 30, 2015 and her term would have expired on March 31, 2017.

Commissioner Delfina M. Garza is the Tenant Commissioner on the Board and has served over six years and was last reappointed on July 30, 2017 by Mayor Cantu for a new two year term with an expiration date of March 31, 2017.

Local public housing authority tenants, clients, providers, real property owners, and taxpayers strongly believe that a change of leadership in the composition of the Eagle Pass Public Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is desperately needed to provide and build new outstanding public housing for the growing community of Eagle Pass in light of the many problems and issues faced by the agency in the past few years.

It is unknown when Mayor Ramsey English Cantu will appoint new Commissioners or reappoint one or more of the current Board of Commissioners whose terms have expired or resigned.