EPISD bonds–no cosmic view

July 25, 2016

There has been a good deal of talk locally and nationally about the need to emphasize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in our local schools.

The new EPISD administration has suggested that the effort be expanded to include arts, making the acronym STEAM.

The changes being considered by the district’s facilities advisory committee don’t do much for STEM.  They do include a possible $30 million for various fine arts, theater, and music production studios.

Noticeably absent is any potential bond money for the sciences.

Particularly troubling is the lack of any mention of replacing the district’s planetarium.  The current one is housed in the district’s current central office complex and will be lost if the district is forced to move out by the landlord, our city government.

They don’t seem to be putting our money where their mouth is.

We deserve better

Brutus

9 Comments | City government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Sitting on their hands while we endure

July 24, 2016

Why is it that no one down at the city is trying to help us with the multiple traffic messes we are enduring?

People are dying.

People are facing unbelievable daily delays in their commute.

Some will say that our city officials have no authority over state projects.  That may be true, but our city officials do have a giant soapbox that they should use.

It appears that they did recently authorize the mayor to ask the state to lower the speed limit on I-10.

That is at least something.

Why don’t they ask the state to perform the construction in a less disruptive manner?

If you have an idea, bring it forward please.

We deserve better

Brutus

7 Comments | City government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Sad times

July 17, 2016

This came in from one of our astute readers:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/videos/news/local/el-paso/2016/07/15/87158468/

It’s amazing. The Times keeps posting propaganda on its website. I have not seen a single video supporting Allen.
This is “breaking news,” one woman verbally disagreed with the Chief.
Escobar gets 10 minute video to explain herself. They even produce the video to help her address specific complaints against her position.
http://www.elpasotimes.com/media/cinematic/gallery/87115194/photos-el-pasoans-gather-for-police-prayer-vigil/
Only coverage that could be considered to be pro=Allen. Despite tons of social media support the chief got.
Hard to take this paper seriously.
***************************************
Brutus

14 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Times | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

He gets it

July 16, 2016

DavidK over at refusethejuice recently wrote Shapleigh Camper’s second shot at city fails miserably.

Please take the time to read it carefully.  The article was about the recent flap over a comment that our chief of police made.

To us the important part was at the end of the article where he gave some much needed advice to some of our local politicians:

 You represent people, not lead them.  You’re not a leader, you’re a representative.  When you stop representing, you get fired via the ballot box.  Stop telling people what to do and start doing what you are told.  It’s called “public service” for a reason.   It’s really that simple.

He also observed:

 El Pasoans are Democrats, not liberals.  Those are two totally different things.  El Paso’s Democrats aren’t Democrats because of the social issues.  I’ll just leave it that.

David does not live in El Paso anymore.  If he did we would be tempted to try to get him to run for public office.

Brutus

12 Comments | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Slow down, save a life

July 13, 2016

Well.

It seems that the city is finally going to try to do something about the death trap known as I-10 here in El Paso.

Item 28.1 on the Tuesday, July 14, 2016 city council agenda reads:

Discussion and action to authorize the Mayor to request from the Texas Transportation Commission a reduction of the speed limit on Interstate 10 due to increased collisions during the recent construction period.

According to the backup material the police department reports that during the period April 1, 2015 to June 20, 2016 there were 359 accidents, 76 reported injuries, and 4 deaths on the stretch between Redd Road and Porfirio Diaz.

Maybe slowing traffic down will help mitigate the problem.  We have all noticed the increase in aggressive driving recently.

Thank you mayor.

Brutus

3 Comments | City government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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