The El Paso Times reported recently that 75 city employees will be moving into the Pat O’Rourke Recreation Center (formerly the YMCA on Montana avenue) next month. The city will be occupying the space for nine to twelve months.
They will occupy a computer lab, a game room, an activity room, and a multipurpose space. The kids and citizens that use these facilities will be “inconvenienced” according to the article.
The city is thinking about leasing parking space for the employees it moves from a Baptist Church across the street, “leaving nearby street parking available for the public”.
We will have to wait to see how much the required remodeling, parking (which was free at the old city hall) electronic equipment, and moving expenses will add to the $63.9 million (out of $33 million — go figure) already committed to facilitate the move out of the city hall that will be torn down. About a year from now we ought to be able to see how much it costs to move these people again.
Some of us think that recreation centers contribute to a community’s quality of life. Evidently some people don’t care about that.
We deserve better.
Our children deserve better!
elpasospeak 