By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Hospital district board members have passed a resolution supporting efforts by the city of Uvalde to raise the age at which someone may purchase “a high capacity-style rifle.”
Members of The Border Organization, a local grassroots activist group, approached the San Felipe Del Rio CISD’s Board of Trustees, Val Verde County Commissioners Court and the Del Rio City Council to pass similar resolutions following the massacre of 19 students and two teachers in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde in May.
All three of those governing bodies passed the resolution, but the hospital district has for several months not followed suit, citing possible legal ramifications.
Irma Cardenas, a leader of The Border Organization, addressed the hospital board during the citizen comments portion of its Dec. 19 special meeting.
“You have before you a resolution calling on the governor and the State Legislature to raise the legal age limit at which anyone can purchase an assault rifle to 21 years of age. It is the proper place of the citizens of this community, in this instance the Border Organization, to demand that those who have been elected to serve as board members of the hospital district declare publicly by voting their intention,” Cardenas told the board.
“Is it to serve the interests of the community that elected them, or the interests of the weapons manufacturers and retailers who never elected you? You have to understand that this vote is about Uvalde, but it is also about our children, who attend our local schools, our neighbors with whom we pray on Sunday in our churches, our neighbors and their families who shop at the mall or the grocery store, because the next shooting could very well take place in this community; indeed, in this very hospital,” she said.
“The Border Organization claims as a victory that this item is before you. It is a victory because it is our tool so that you have to make clear and unequivocal whether you stand, not only with the people of Uvalde, but whether you stand with the people of the community, this community, the community that elected you as board members. It is a victory because now it is no longer possible to hide behind political subterfuge, claiming it is illegal for the board to take such a vote, when the city, the county and the school district have all voted unanimously on such resolutions. Board members, where do you stand? If you abstain, we will take that as a ‘no.’ Thank you,” Cardenas said.
Following Cardenas’ comments, the board discussed the issue, with board member Dr. Lee Keenen noting, “I do feel the hospital, as a non-profit, should probably not be in this. That’s why there’s only district board members here, so I think the district (board), as elected officials, can vote on this resolution. But I think as a non-profit I don’t think we should really be getting into the political arena of those types of comments. The (hospital) corporation and the (hospital) district are two separate entities. That’s why it’s just district members here today. I think we’re all on board with this one, hopefully.”
Board member Jane Morain made a motion to pass the resolution.
Keenen asked whether administrators had a copy of the resolution on hand.
Dr. Julio Otazo, board chairman, asked to move the meeting into executive session to speak with the board’s attorneys about the matter.
After the executive session, Otazo called for a vote on the resolution, and Morain again made a motion to approve it. Keenen gave the second and asked that the resolution be read aloud.
Keenen then read the proposed resolution into the record as follows:
“Resolution of Val Verde County Hospital District in support for the City of Uvalde:
Whereas, Val Verde County Hospital District is a Texas hospital district organized under Chapter 1110 of the Texas Special District Local Laws Code and is governed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven elected individuals; and
“Whereas, Uvalde County, Texas and the City of Uvalde, Texas, suffered a tragic loss of May 24, 2022, at Robb Elementary School when 19 children and two adults were murdered with a high-capacity style rifle; and whereas, one objective of Val Verde County Hospital District is to support and promote the general health of the community; and
“Whereas, Val Verde County Hospital District desires to support Uvalde County, Texas’ and the City of Uvalde, Texas’ resolution calling on the governor of Texas to raise the minimum age to purchase high-capacity rifles from 18 to 21 years of age;
“Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Val Verde County Hospital District: Val Verde County Hospital District supports the efforts of Uvalde County, Texas, and the City of Uvalde, Texas, and calls on the governor of Texas to raise the minimum age to purchase a high-capacity style rifle from 18 years to 21 years of age during the Texas Legislature’s 88th Regular Session.”
The board passed the resolution on a 4-1 vote, with Morain, Keenen, Robin Palmer and Cris A. Diaz voting in favor, and Otazo voting against the motion to approve.
After the meeting, Otazo, asked why he had voted against the motion, explained, “Well, I’m obviously in the minority of the board members. In spirit, I agree with the resolution, but deep inside, I felt that the hospital – and contrary to the opinions of the other board members – because of who we are, because of our tax exempt status, we should not be involved.”
Following the meeting, Sandra Fuentes, co-chair of The Border Organization, spoke to The 830 Times about the vote.
“It’s a great victory. Number one, because the resolution passed, although I’m very disappointed Dr. Otazo voted against it. But the bigger victory was placing this item on the agenda. It took us two-and-a-half months to get it on the agenda, and so we’re very, very pleased,” Fuentes said.
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