Editorial earthquake

September 2, 2013

The El Paso Times editorial of September 1, 2013  “Property tax path not sustainable” is remarkable.

The editorial points out “That increasing tax burden on homeowners is simply not sustainable.  That $600 increase over the past decade was money that homeowners couldn’t spend on major purchases or for their children’s education.  The tax increases have increased hardships on tens of thousands of families.”

Has something changed?

Does the Times suddenly really care about education?

I’m trying to figure out what the Times’ position is.  They  have supported the public spending spree we are witnessing, yet now they are saying that we cannot afford it.  These explanations come to mind:

  • They think that we need to stop the capital spending for a while.  After all we have already bailed them out of the building they could not afford as part of the city hall destruction, ball park construction, temporary city facilities binge that has cost us well over 120 million dollars so far.  Yes we tore down our children’s science museum and have no plans on the drawing board to replace it in the next three years, but all in all it is time to curtail the spending.
  • Somehow they did not know that the public works spending would increase taxes.  The editors recently learned that in order for governments to spend money they must collect taxes and fees.  Now they have learned and realize that their rent is going to increase.
  • They have decided to take their own advice.  They wrote “First, the public should not stand for grandstanding on tax and spending issues…If an elected official is going to oppose tax increases, he or she also must identify specific spending reductions.  El Paso cannot afford politicians who pander to various constituencies by supporting spending increases on the one hand while opposing taxes on the other.”  The same goes for newspapers.
  • September 1 in the newspaper world is like April 1 for the rest of us.

The editorial goes on to advise “Additionally, the governments should join together for taxpayer town halls, where the community can help identify spending priorities — and identify areas where local governments might cut back.”

Town halls?

Really?  In a community where city council denied the citizens the right to have an election that they called for by petition?  In a community where both city council and the El Paso Independent School District board of managers rearranged their agendas to make it more difficult for members of the public to be heard?  In a community where city council has been spending tax payer money to deny public information requests that the attorney general of Texas wrote must be released?  When we have a city manager who praises a city representative for being thoughtful and deliberate even though she considers her constituents?

Crazy ideas

In the spirit of the Times’ suggestion let me offer just a few ideas  that the average “crazy” in town might offer:

  • Don’t finish the Luther building.  The city IT department is located somewhere else and we have not heard that it is not capable of functioning.  There is already talk of building a new “municipal complex” in the next few years, thus wasting the money we are spending moving into temporary quarters.
  • Build one new health clinic.  The CEO of our county hospital told us that we would save 17 million dollars each year in emergency room costs if we built 150 million dollars worth of clinics.  Why not build one clinic, see if the apportionate savings materialize and then use the savings to build the next clinic?
  • Don’t let the city make the school district move their administration building, thus costing us at least 40 million dollars.
  • Stop supporting athletics programs at the community college
  • Stop the financing.  Start using the savings from one project to fund the next one.
  • Stop transferring the administration of public spending to non-elected groups like the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority.
  • Get administrators in our local governments that care about the taxpayers.

Feel free to contribute your ideas through the comments mechanism of this blog.  We may not be a town hall but at least your ideas will be shared with the public.

I read the post that Brutus will publish tomorrow.  Don’t miss it.  Our situation is not improving.

Eternal vigilance is the cost of liberty.

Cato

1 Comment | City government, County Government, El Paso Independent School District, El Paso Times, Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Cato

Showing appreciation

August 30, 2013

This came in from Max Higgs:

You know, we in El Paso have a lot of good things going for us. Great weather, clean air most of the time, wonderful cultural events, great food, and on and on. However, we come up real short on at least four things. One is rain. If we could get a reliable supply of more rain, it would be nice.

The second thing we lack is being smart politically. There is usually a lot of whining or other noise when a politico is discovered doing something really bad. But we as a community do not do a good job of selecting good candidates and electing those candidates. To do so requires an investment of time and energy that we choose to spend on after the fact castigation. None of these comments are directed to any candidate or office holder. I am merely relating history as I see it. I am also neglecting some other families who have been very generous to our community. I am only trying to illustrate my points.

Finally (for the day), we appear to be lacking in civility and gratitude. When people give us nice things, we just don’t do a very good job of letting them know we appreciate them and/or their gifts. Cases in point, and there are many more, include the following examples. Jack and Yvonne Cardwell family have given us millions of dollars over the years and now they are giving us millions more for the Medical Center of the Americas. All of us will benefit from this gift, but I have heard no expressions of gratitude. The Rubin family is Jewish, but they have given huge sums to Jewish and Christian organizations along with millions to our University. I have heard no thanksgiving from a city which claims a high rate of Christian affiliation. The Jonathan Rogers family has been extremely generous to our community, but no one spoke up when a demented former state legislator claimed his cancer was the result of greed. Where are the thankful hearts? The Francis family likewise has given great wealth for the benefit of people living here and I see no rush to name a school or public building after them even thought they would never ask for such a thing. The recent anger over the AAA baseball park is even more interesting. We have the Paul Foster family who has made it possible for us to have our own medical school years sooner than it would have ever happened otherwise working with the Woody Hunt family which has given us a nursing school. Were they working on an evil plot of some kind? No, they have been working on giving us the opportunity to have another place to take our kids and grandkids.

I am not a baseball fan. I don’t understand the game, but I am trying to learn because I will go to the games. I have good friends telling me that even if the ballpark is a good idea, they don’t like the way it was done. I remember the same kind of thinking expressed about the Astrodome in Houston, but that was extremely successful and added greatly to the quality of life in Houston, a place rife with lousy weather. The problem is that we are at a station in our evolution as a community that too many of us act as tin gods and too many of us want to put our mark on every new initiative, and all too often all the interference results in nothing getting done. The number of people who want their names on the bronze plates on buildings is in inverse ratio to the number of people who want to sign the checks to make it happen. Most people have no idea how difficult it is get things done in El Paso. Whatever else anyone says about Luther Jones, I thank God every time I walk into the courthouse for him because he was able to get the courthouse built. What ever anyone else says about Orland Fonseca, I remember him every time I go out of town to a swim meet for my granddaughter and I see magnificent aquatic centers which pull hundreds of people in from across several states for swimming events.

Two last points. Many are asking what is going to happen if the ball park is not a success? Several thoughts are in order. First, I don’t think anyone has made any money betting against Mr. Foster and/or Mr. Hunt. Each man has prevailed over national competition. That alone gives me some comfort about the odds for success. We will be able to measure the effect of failure of the ball park, but were we calculating the costs of continuing the status quo? Much has been said about property taxes. First, I pay property taxes, so this is an issue I care about. Second, I don’t pay as much property tax in a century as Mr. Foster and Mr. Hunt pay before lunch every day. I am grateful for people who bet on El Paso and when they are winners and givers, I am willing to bet on their bets.

Some of my very good friends totally disagree with my view of things, and that changes not one bit my appreciation of them. It is just that now, I think our new mayor, Oscar Leeser, is correct. It is time to move on. Hopefully, it is also time to move up.

Max Higgs

7 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

El Diario

August 28, 2013

I had this exchange with someone over at Mock El Paso Times.

Brutus Ep What are our chances of El Diario publishing an English edition — even if only once a week? 

Reynaldo Rivera Talked with Ivan, the editor. He states there aren’t enough English subscribers. So until then?
Reynaldo Rivera … there aren’t enough English subscribers. I don’t know the number required to start an English version. He is or was looking for reporter with excellent English. As he wants accuracy in the articles. So lets get off our duffs and start contacting el Diario.
I respect the reporting I read in El Diario.  It seems to me that we need to call them and express our interest.
We deserve better
Brutus

6 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Airport wrong, not Wright

August 27, 2013

Brownfield sent this post:

I have to question the money being spent at the El Paso Airport.
The following is a press release after city council approved the spending request.

$139M in Projects Includes Rental Garage, Runway Work

City Council approved the Department of Aviation’s five-year capital improvement plan this week which includes $139 million worth of projects planned for the El Paso International Airport. The projects listed in the plan should begin between fiscal years 2014 and 2018.
The largest single project will be the $45 million expansion of the rental car lot into a parking structure. The three level garage will be used by rental car companies for pick up and return of automobiles used by travelers. The Consolidated Rental Car Facility will be located immediately to the west of El Paso International Airport’s main terminal, steps away from the baggage claim area.
Concept design of the rental parking structure in the Southern Industrial Park Master Plan.
Included in the structure will be Ready and Return areas, customer kiosks, fueling and car wash areas, a light maintenance facility, and vehicle storage for use by the rental companies. It will include 650-700 parking stalls and be designed using Smart Growth and Congress for New Urbanism principles, including a focus on pedestrian accessibility.
Runway and taxiway work will use approximately $55 million over the next five years. Smaller projects include improvements to Airway Boulevard ($1 million), replacement of baggage claim units ($2.8 million), airfield perimeter roads ($3.35 million), and an upgrade to the central plant ($5.6 million).
Federal Aviation Administration grants will provide $55.97 million in funding with another $20.2 million coming from the Airport Enterprise Fund. Another $45 million will come from Customer Facility Charge fees and $18.3 million from Passenger Facility Charge fees.
END OF PRESS RELEASE

Comment

I can see the runway and taxiway improvements. The airfield perimeter roads are a disgrace and need urgent updating. I have no idea what the “central plant” is and therefore cannot comment intelligently about it. As for a parking garage are they kidding?  What for?  Damaging hail?  Increasing demand?  No and no. See the below article on El Paso airport passenger counts.

From another press release

Down 5.5 percent year over year for the first 7 months.
Passenger traffic at El Paso International Airport increased slightly in July from June, but decreased almost 9 percent from a year ago, new data show.
Passenger traffic for the first seven months of the year was down 5.5 percent from the same time in 2012, the airport reported.
The airport was used by 254,150 passengers in July – up 2,475 passengers from June, but down 24,198 passengers from July 2012. For the year through July, the airport was used by 1.59 million passengers – 92,364 fewer passengers than for the same seven months in 2012.
Freight traffic declined 3.1 percent in July compared to July 2012. For the first seven months of the year, freight traffic declined 6.8 percent compared to the same time last year to 51,431 tons.
END OF PRESS RELEASE

What about the Wright amendment dying in October of 2014? For those of you who do not know….the wright amendment affects El Paso and Albuquerque by making mainline commercial flights into and out of Dallas Love Field flights stop in places like ABQ, ELP, AMA, LBB, MAF before going to PHX LAX SAN LAS SFO etc and vice versa. Once this agreement dies in 2014 SWA will be able to overfly ABQ ELP etc and go non stop from Dallas Love to LAX SAN SFO PHX LAS. No question this will reduce the number of flights offered by SWA in and out of ELP.

Brownfield

3 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Bicyclists, Do You Obey the Law?

August 24, 2013

This was sent to me today.  The author asked that I post it.

Tragically, a 9 year-old boy lost his life this week when he collided with a vehicle. A car hit and killed another bicyclist last week. Such accidents sadden all El Pasoans and when a child is involved it is even more tragic.

The investigation of both accidents is on-going. In the meantime, the El Paso Bicycle Club member quoted in the El Paso Times today seems to be blaming motorists and the law. “We have seen an increase of accidents because cycling is growing and people are not aware of the laws in place to protect cyclists and the laws aren’t strong enough.”

http://elpasotimes.tx.newsmemory.com/?token=a23HXgzJsfxavxesb9KiFCYtx0XjaMzl

Well, according to the BikeTexas website

http://www.biketexas.org/es/infrastructure/texas-bicycle-laws

Bicyclists have the rights and duties of other vehicle operators: (551.101) Yes, this means you have to stop at stop signs and red lights, but cars are required to yield right-of-way to a bicycle when appropriate, just as to any other vehicle.

According to my personal observations and those of friends, it seems very rare for a bicyclist in El Paso to obey the motor vehicle laws. (It’s even more rare for the police to issue a ticket to a bicyclist, but that’s another issue). Only once have I seen a bicyclist stop at a stoplight and wait until it turned green to proceed. That particular stoplight happened to be at a busy intersection and the bicyclist would have been crazy not to wait for a green light. Most of the time, bicyclists will run a red light after merely slowing down and glancing both ways.

I’m a careful driver. I always give bicyclists the required 3 feet or change lanes if I can. I yield even when the bicyclist is disobeying the law. But recently I almost hit a bicyclist in broad daylight when he turned left in front of me illegally. Luckily, we both stopped before colliding. Otherwise, there might have been another headline about a bicyclist’s death and a member of the El Paso Bicycle Club saying motorists need to know the law.

The law states that bicyclists must obey the motor vehicle laws. If not now, when?

Balmorhea

3 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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