Was anyone inspired by our mayor’s recent column in the Times where he told us “El Paso has turned the corner when it comes to economic prosperity”.
We have to ask which corner and in what direction?
From his column [with some of our comments in blue] :
The City of El Paso has been an active participant in the majority of the restoration projects (downtown) by providing tax incentives that east the burden of private development [at the expense of the taxpayers and for the financial benefit of the developers].
City leaders, in collaboration with private development partners have been aggressive in attracting new companies to El Paso and the results are compelling: Top Golf, Cabelas, Alamo Drafthouse, Sprouts and Dick’s Sporting Goods have all opened in El Paso providing the community with more options to work, shop, eat and play. [These are all retail stores. Each of them requires local El Pasoans to spend money with the profits going out of town. Not one of them creates jobs where goods or services are exported to other places and the profits stay in El Paso].
First steps have been taken to develop a comprehensive master plan for the reimagining of Cohen Stadium. [Good grief! They finally got around to thinking about doing part of their job and we should be happy with them? One can only wonder what they will give away to a developer at our expense.]
Near completion is the $15.5 million Westside Pool Natatorium. [The voters approved an $8 million pool five years ago. The latest word from the city is that the pool was to be finished this month, but he just told us that it is somewhere near completion].
Wouldn’t it be nice if the mayor could write about how taxes are being lowered through increased efficiency and how the city has attracted great new businesses to the area?
We deserve better
Brutus
Posted by Brutus 
elpasospeak 
You must be logged in to post a comment.