On the eve of the 184th anniversary of the final day of the battle at the Alamo, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is taking up rhetorical arms, firing shots at Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the General Land Office for the direction of the Alamo Restoration Project.
“I have asked people from all across this great state about their vision for this effort,” said Patrick. “The job of oversight for this project is the responsibility of the General Land Office headed by Commissioner George P. Bush. It is evident to me that both the design, planning, and execution of the project is badly off track.”
“Nothing defines the independent and the courageous spirit of Texas more than our iconic Alamo and, like most Texans, I treasure it. The history of the Alamo is a personal passion of mine. I do not intend to sit quietly and see this project fail,” Patrick continued.
Bush has long received criticism, largely from conservative Texans, over the General Land Office and the City of San Antonio’s plan to “reimagine” the site of the Alamo—specifically, over plans to relocate the Alamo Cenotaph, a monument commissioned on the centennial anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo that serves as a tombstone for the men who gave their lives in the fight for Texas independence at the storied site.
A proposition on the Republican primary ballot which stated that “Texans should protect and preserve all historical monuments, artifacts, and buildings, such as the Alamo Cenotaph and our beloved Alamo, and should oppose any reimagining of the Alamo site” was overwhelmingly approved by Republican voters on Tuesday.
Patrick argued that after the proposition’s approval by nearly 98 percent of Republican voters, the issue appears to be settled.
In addition to criticizing the proposed Cenotaph relocation, Patrick blasted the look and design of recent renderings, saying they won’t meet Texans’ expectations.
“The latest [design] looks like a massive urban park with hundreds of trees—more like Central Park in New York City than Alamo Plaza. We have wasted significant public dollars on designs which most Texans would immediately reject,” said Patrick.
Patrick called on Bush and the GLO to release all proposed architectural designs and threatened to move the project to another entity if significant change does not occur.
“If the General Land Office cannot handle this important job, and to date it does not appear it can, I will recommend we identify another entity to provide oversight,” Patrick said.
Bush’s office offered comment to another media outlet in which he said he appreciated Patrick’s “guidance and counsel” and directed Texans to see the latest renderings at SaveTheAlamo.com.
