The fact that El Paso was once again ranked the safest large city in the nation was significant enough that the El Paso Times wrote about it on page one of section B. I suppose the front page needs to be reserved for whatever issues the Times decides to promote.
We were also ranked as the best city in Texas in which to raise a family.
As for per animal lovers we were ranked number two.
In the “best cities for home buyers” we were ranked number four.
So if we are the safest major city in the nation and the best place in Texas to raise a family, what is our quality of life problem?
Is the quality of life drum being beaten to promote spending?
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
One of the reasons crime is so low in El Paso is because it is simply not a profitable market for criminals. Given the relatively low incomes, there are too few people to rob.
LikeLike
#2 for animal lovers? Because we kill 25, 000 pets a year? Because we Proclaimed in 1999 to be a No Kill City by 2005… and then in 2005 passed an Ordinance MANDATING microchipping of pets. Only priblem was the city FAILED to procure software to allow them to transfer electronic data fron Vets nor hire additional data processors to input the data resulting in an over 2 year backlog, which inevitably resulted in owned pets beung killed.
Subsequent changes in 2011 still failed to resolve this problem and the city kill numbers continue to rise… for proof of this just go out to Montana Vista, the undeveloped areas in the northeast, upper valley or really, just about any street in the city to see all tge abandoned animals…
But we’re Number 2 in animal lovers… makes me doubt ANY rating for the city!
LikeLike
Yep, this is the same city that found it necessary to kill rather than tranquilize and relocate a mountain lion that wandered into downtown and was cornered in a commercial parking garage. Additionally, wild animals that wander into neighborhoods and are trapped in cages are then euthanized by our local geniuses rather than relocated.To paraphrase Gandhi, you can judge the morality of a city by the way the society treats its animals.
LikeLike
Very good point. IF you believe the rankings, you have to admit the quality of life here is already ok.
But the previous city council wanted a “creative class” a la Richard Florida, not the family-friendly city that we already had without a ballpark, bars and coffee shops downtown and bicycle lanes on major streets. I’ve often wondered why El Paso doesn’t promote itself as the Family City. Isn’t that why people stay here — or return after going to school or working elsewhere? But, a family-friendly city doesn’t fit the Richard Florida template.
El Paso is a good place to raise a family. I don’t agree with the other rankings.
LikeLike
Have you forgotten it was revealed that the last administration hired a PR firm to arrange for the city to receive laudatory titles? The obvious thing is just when city council was taking heat, within a week or two, suddenly El Paso would receive a blue ribbon for something. Is this happening again?
El Paso Speaks is the first publication to state El Paso’s title correctly. “Safest Large City”. The spin meisters immediately post the title as the “safest city in the US”. Ignoring the fact that other cities won a safest city award in their category.
It’s ok to brag about the city, but let’s keep the bragging factual.
Low crime rate? I would say with the number of federal, state, county and city law enforcement, we should have a crime free city! Also, the IQ factor, most of the wannabe criminals belong on the tv show, “dumbest criminals”. Why isn’t the level of corruption convictions included in the crime survey? Is it because, the country would realize that maybe this is not an ideal city to raise families. I.e. the school system fiasco.
I do have admit that I have not (fingers crossed) been a victim of crime so far. Could it be the crooks know about my guard dog, shot gun near the door and 357 within reach of my bed?
LikeLike