Just pass it–we can change it later

October 13, 2018

Looking further into the issue of what they are now calling the “Mexican American Cultural Center” we had to go back to the August 14, 2012 city council meeting documents and video.

Attached to agenda item 13A (which proposed the ordinance ordering the bond election) we see this in the backup material:

The language that council voted to place on the ballot turned out to be:

They were talking about a “Hispanic Cultural Center” but told the voters that they would build a “Cultural Heritage Center”.

Now six years later we see:

Yes, it is now a “Mexican American Cultural Center”.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau web page  “OMB defines “Hispanic or Latino” as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.”

Back in 2012 city council was not honest with the voters.  City council is not being honest today either.

We deserve better

Brutus

5 Comments | City government, Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

How big should our schools be?

October 12, 2018

The question of closing some of  our underutilized schools has been discussed recently among the commentators.

That raises the question, how many students should the schools be built to accommodate?

We evidently currently have schools that are operating with far fewer students than the schools were designed to handle and as a result are being considered for closure.

Let’s limit the question to our elementary schools for purposes of discussion of this post.

Should the schools be designed to limit the need for buses to carry the children who live more than two miles away from the school to it?

Or should the elementary schools be large and thus potentially enjoy the economic advantages of scale?

Texas does not require our school districts to provide transportation to and from school.  They will however provide financial assistance to school districts that provide transportation as long as the students live two or more miles from the school.

We deserve better

Brutus

23 Comments | El Paso Independent School District, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

The election is in November, your property taxes are due in January

October 11, 2018

Our city council has decided to allow themselves to increase our property taxes to just under the level where they would have to take the issue to the voters for approval.

What are they afraid of?

We all know.

We already have the second highest property tax rates (for homesteaded homes) among the largest 50 cities in the United States.

We deserve better

Brutus

 

18 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Its over

October 10, 2018

We recently endured a contentious process that culminated in the confirmation of a new supreme court justice.

Will we see as a result a more energized electorate in the November election?

Will the tactics used by each side backfire and cause their opponents to galvanize?

I can point to one thing for certain–every vote counts.

We deserve better

Brutus

12 Comments | City government, County Government, Federal Government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Open forum

October 9, 2018

We recently published a piece sent to us by Max Grossman.

At the end of it he called out three city representatives for their involvement in the cost overruns.

If any or all of those city representatives would like to tell us their thoughts about the issue we welcome their contribution in the form of a post.

We deserve better

Brutus

12 Comments | City government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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