Eagle Pass City Council Approves Solar Eclipse Music Fest Venue Site Change in Split Vote, Music Fest Process Called “Illegal and Shady” by Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council in a split vote of 3-2 narrowly approved the transfer of the venue site for the fledgling South Music Fest, scheduled during April 5-7, 2024, from the city-owned public park, Shelby Park, to the Kickapoo Tribe of Texas Lucky Eagle Casino/Reservation at a special meeting held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at City Hall.
After a contentious closed-door Executive Session, the City Council returned into Open Session on February 27th and Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. called Agenda Item No. 8 regarding “contract negotiations for the Solar Eclipse events; and possible action in open session regarding same.”
After a brief silence from the City Council, Mayor Pro-Tem William “Billy” Davis motioned to authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute the contract according to the terms discussed in Executive Session. Councilman Elias Diaz seconded the motion, opening the agenda item for discussion.
City Councilwoman Monica J. Cruz stated that she wished to have her comments in open record, stating that “I want this to be in open record. I am against this event for two main reasons: the way the promoter for this event was chosen and the inflated cost of such event.” Cruz added “there were two other applicants omitted to the Council at the time of approval; however, we were told and were under the impression that there was only one option. To me, this makes moving forward with this event an ILLEGAL AND SHADY PROCESS, and I will not be a part of it.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Davis stated that “things have come maybe not in the best way possible and maybe certain processes might have been followed or not been followed and I will not allege anything on anyone, but we are at a standstill where we need to be and we have to always put the best interests of the citizens of Eagle Pass. We have already invested money of the citizens and the citizens expect this event. So that is my reason for my motion.”
Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. stated that “this event has the potential to and it will have a positive impact on the people of Eagle Pass. When I say people I say local vendors, people who have Airbnb people that have restaurants, the local economy will see a big boom because of this solar eclipse event, so this a great benefit to the community that we move forward and hold this solar eclipse fest.”
Mayor Salinas called Agenda Item No. 8 for a vote and narrowly passed with Salinas, Davis, and Councilman Elias Diaz voted in favor while Cruz and Councilman Mario E. Garcia voted against.
The solar eclipse music fest being promoted as South Music Fest by the City of Eagle Pass with city taxpayers monies site venue is having to be changed within 37 days of the scheduled April 5-7, 2024 dates as a result of Shelby Park being unilaterally seized and confiscated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott for the sole use and custody of his controversial $10.5 billion taxpayer-funded Operation Lone Star Program on January 10, 2024, excluding the U. S. Border Patrol and U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers from entering and patrolling the Rio Grande River on the premises of the public park and the municipal golf course to enforce federal immigration laws as well as the citizens of Eagle Pass from using their public park.
The City of Eagle Pass has already invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the event that is estimated to cost over $1 million when all is said and done. The City has already hired many recording bands and artists for the South Music Fest and paid advance monies to the artists and the event promoter.
Councilwoman Cruz’s comments in open session vividly reflect the conflict this solar eclipse music fest has become among City Council members as well as City of Eagle Pass employees and vendors. With her calling the solar eclipse music fest process as “ILLEGAL AND SHADY” requiring an investigation by federal law enforcement authorities as to whether any laws have been violated by the City of Eagle Pass and its representatives.
Eagle Pass taxpayers are extremely alarmed and concerned regarding the serious allegations made by Councilwoman Cruz concerning the illegality and shady process regarding the selection of the event promoter and the inflated costs of the event, raising potential violations of the City code of ethics, conflict of interest rules and procedures, and state and federal statutes.
