EL PASO, Texas – The call for a new strategy to stop drug violence comes as El Paso watches the carnage across the border.  In Ciudad Juarez, drug violence has claimed more than 1,600 lives in 2008. 

“We've reached a level of crisis, especially here along the border, so now all solutions now have to be on the table. This includes ending the prohibition of narcotics,” said Beto O’Rourke, El Paso City Representative.

El Paso’s city council put the issue on the table by unanimously voting for a resolution containing several recommendations for coping with drug violence. One of the recommendations was that the Federal Government should start a serious debate on legalizing drugs.

“It's counterproductive and would make it extremely difficult for me to bring our federal legislative agenda to Washington with any credibility,” said El Paso Mayor John Cook.

The mayor quickly vetoed the resolution, but it is still certain whether El Paso city council members will stick to their unanimous vote and override the Mayor's veto.

In either case, the resolution has already accomplished one of its goals: focus national attention on this border region devastated by drug violence.