Unfortunate situation

December 11, 2016

It appears that conflict is brewing at the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.

The foundation’s spending strategy has traditionally been  focused toward spending money that promotes programs that just need a start.  After the money injection the health benefits were expected to continue without additional funding from the foundation.

Now we are hearing that some want the foundation to spend money on programs that require continuing spending to support ongoing operating expenses.

The difference is like that of teaching someone how to fish instead of giving them a fish.

We deserve better

 

Brutus

 

3 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

City representative helps the public

December 10, 2016

Our thanks to city representative Jim Tolbert who evidently read our recent posts about the broken link on the Sun Metro web site.

He sent an inquiry to a city official and now both the original link and another one work.

Another city employee reached out to confirm that the link was working.

The result is that we now have access to the mass transit board agendas.

This was better

Brutus

 

6 Comments | City government | 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
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Bathroom hypocrites

December 8, 2016

Our city is considering ordinances to control mobile food purveyors.

One grouping that they are defining they have named “food courts”.  These are areas where multiple food trucks congregate.

This chart shows some of the rules that they are considering:

mobilefoodcourts

Note the area in yellow.  They want restrooms.

I guess that requiring small business people to build restrooms in a transient area somehow makes more sense than requiring the city to build them in a permanent public park like San Jacinto.

We deserve better

Brutus

12 Comments | City 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

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