First things first
Most of us would probably prefer that we sustain what we have before we add new comforts. Our roads are a disgrace. The emphasis in this goal should be to take care of what we have. Then if money is left we might try to build something new.
Magicians
How can they nurture and promote a healthy sustainable community when they continue to take more and more money out of our pockets?
Not only do our taxes make El Paso the fourth most expensive of the top 50 in the United States, we now see our city government increasing their intake through fees imposed on our utilities. This year we have seen increases in storm water fees, so called water charges assessed against businesses, and massive increases in franchise fees that our utilities are charged. These are fees that the consumers pay. City council is doing this in an effort to deny that our taxes are going up.
If council believe that being economically skinny is the way to promote health then they are on the right path.
We deserve better
Brutus
The smart, intelligent people that we want to attract to El Paso are smart enough and intelligent enough to do the math and quickly see that the cost of living in El Paso is too high relative to the quality of life and the services provided.
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Apparently they don’t buy the, “It’s All Good” line.
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Oh, but we enhanced our roads with the whirly-gigs at Airway and I-10, not to mention the reinforced Brio stops on Mesa (get ready for this on Montana and Alameda). Meantime I’m sure the auto repair shops appreciate the economic stimulus they get from the unenhanced infrastructure.
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Like Molly Ivins used to say about high-stakes testing in public schools and inequitable state funding for them: “You don’t fatten the hog by weighing it.” With respect to our community, we might say that you can’t keep taking the oats from the horses to spend on 24-karot carriages for he few and then expect the horses to pull those vehicles into the 21st Century. AbuelitaElPaso
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