What’s in store in 2017?

January 12, 2017

What should we look forward to locally in 2017?

Will we see a newspaper that allows their reporters to ask the obvious questions of our local politicians and then write articles that serve the interest of the citizens instead of the newspaper?

Will we see a district attorney that handles cases based upon alleged crimes instead of who the parties are?

Will our county judge be held responsible for the messes she has presided over?

Will our city manager make time to answer phone calls from citizens?

Will our government employees realize that they work for the citizens, not the other way around?

Will EPISD handle our bond money well?

Will we end up having the second highest tax rate among the top 50 cities in the U. S. ?

We deserve better

Brutus

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

Who do they represent?

December 9, 2016

The recent attempt to hijack our local Metropolitan Planning Organization was led by local politicians that deserve some publicity.

State representative Joe Moody started the assault with his report from an “ad hoc” committee that was recommending that the Transportation Policy Board be reconstituted in order to strip the city of it’s dominance on the board.

The fact that the city represents over 80% of the population that the organization works for was evidently not of importance to the “ad hoc” committee.

State senator Jose Rodriquez climbed on board and spoke of the unfairness of majority rule.

County judge Veronica Escobar agreed that giving control to the minority was the right thing to do.

If they had succeeded the New Mexico members would hold one third of the voting seats.

Representing El Paso

State representative Joe Pickett spoke strongly against the effort.

Mayor Oscar Lesser agreed and spoke negatively about the cabal and the way it was sprung on the city.

The remainder of the city representatives on the board supported keeping the make up of the board as it was.

County commissioner Vincent Perez was the surprise in the group and expressed his opinion that the coup attempt was not legal.  He went further to suggest that the board’s attorney should be fired.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | City government, County Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Not their kind of sports

December 7, 2016

Once again our city has found a way to run off a good thing.

The El Paso Border Youth Athletic Association (EPBYA) is an established non-profit organization that has been creating educational and developmental opportunities for children through athletics for a number of years.

They have been trying to negotiate with the city to locate some of their programs at Cohen stadium for years–back to the time of our former city manager.

The group is not asking for handouts.  They are willing to pay the bills.

The Cohen stadium plan included setting up a national youth world series baseball facility that would have brought talent from all over the country to play at Cohen stadium.

After years of trying to work with the city EPBYA has decided to move on.  They are now working with our county government to use improve Gallegos park in Canutillo.

Take a few moments to examine the association’s web page.  Their program called “The Base” is a 14,000 square foot indoor facility of batting cages and pitching tunnels right here in El Paso.  The facility does not cost the taxpayers a dime.

I guess the city thinks that they only have room for tax payer supported, for profit, sports.

We deserve better

Brutus

7 Comments | Ball park, City government, County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Another thing to be thankful for

November 24, 2016

We have many things to be thankful for.

Will Rogers said this:

“Be thankful we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.”

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I hope that your holiday is a pleasant one.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District, Federal Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Money down the drain

November 5, 2016

Most of us remember the children’s hospital that was supposed to be financially self sustaining.  We only needed to give them permission to sell $120 of bonds and from then on the operation would pay for itself.  That did not turn out to be true and the children’s hospital ended up being part of the county hospital.

Back in 2008 the voters approved the sale of the bonds.  In June of 2015 we wrote in Paying on the never never that at that point we had paid almost $42 million in interest on the bonds while only reducing the principal amount about $6 million.

We have learned from a notice in the Times that the county was to hold  a public hearing on November 2, 2016.

The purpose of the hearing was to discuss the issuance of bonds used to refinance the original bonds.  According to the notice “The maximum aggregate face amount of the Bonds to be issued with respect to the refinancing of the Project is $120,000,000.”

We deserve better

Brutus

11 Comments | County Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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