CASTRO IS SOLO "NAY' VOTE ON RELIGIOUS DISCOUNT FOR SAM'S STADIUM

Erasmo Castro, BISD Board

Board member Erasmo Castro was the lone "nay" vote on an agenda item allowing the use of Sam's Stadium for a the reduced rate of $1,500 for a religious non-profit organization with the acronym H.O.P.E. to hold a prayer vigil May 2, 2018.

The normal rate for stadium rental is approximately 3 times that amount, $4,500.

H.O.P.E., that is "House of Prayer & Evangelism" intends to observe the National Day of Prayer along with other churches nationwide.

"I'm a minister and pro-prayer," Castro stated, "but this discount sets a bad precedent."

Castro worries that the school district is opening up the floodgates for other non-profits to seek a similar stadium discount.

BISD Attorney Baltazar Salazar

BISD Attorney Baltazar Salazar missed the whole issue, saying that as long as the non-profits were "religious" in nature, they could be extended a similar discount.

"That's even worse," added Castro.

BISD Board member Philip Cowen said that as long as a group was "part of hour community," he's fine with "all of them" getting the reduced rate.

Attorney Miguel Salinas offered his belief that approving such an item was "setting us up for giving any non-profit group that price."

Board member Dr. Prisci Roca Tipton wanted assurance that $1,500 was a "break-even price," that the district is not "losing anything."

She was told that is the case.

So, in terms of religious groups, the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Mormons, the Nation of Islam, Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte or even the Westboro Baptist Church should take note of BISD's discounted rate for religious non-profits.

The BISD Board ignored Attorney Miguel Salinas' opinion and approved the measure 5-1 with Castro voting "nay" and Minerva Pena abstaining.