Featured Article
Giving Thanks to Our Police and Law Enforcement
by U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez
As first responders, law enforcement personnel not only respond to the needs of our local communities but also to the needs of our country. I say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your bravery and for keeping us safe.
Posted on May 15, 2008
Top Stories
Checking Citizenship of Natural Disaster Evacuees? Lame-Brained
Posted on May 16, 2008
Imagine how much worse Hurricane Katrina would have been for the residents of New Orleans if ICE agents had set up immigration roadblocks. Or, in 1998, when Del Rio residents had to escape the sudden killer flood caused by Tropical Storm Charley. This new policy is more lame-brained than the Department of Homeland Security building a wall through people’s property along the border.
Bush and the Appeasement Comment
Posted on May 15, 2008
Mark Twain, the wonderful humorist and American icon once penned, “All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence and then success is sure.” Has Mr. Bush ever read Samuel Clemens' “Tom Sawyer" or "Huckleberry Finn"?
- Readers Respond: Dude, Where's My Housing Market?
- From the responses: "Just take the Southwest flight from San Diego back to El Paso on a Monday morning. You'll see where the developers actually prefer to live (e.g., La Jolla) because the plane is full of them. They're not trekking to work from Lee Trevino and, if they vote with their money, they prefer to live in places that place a high value on 'connectivity.' "
- The Progression of "Progressive"
- The word "progressive" is omnipresent, used variously to describe certain elected officials, an RMA, the Downtown Plan, and many other movements in our city. Being for "progress," however, is about as specific as being for "good things" — for children, for health, for education — and therefore is fairly meaningless. As in a progressive disease, talking points have the tendency to overtake precision in language.
- Progress, Risk, and the 3 Percent City Council District
- It could be a really good race, with important themes, if anyone was paying attention. But so few people cast ballots that it's hard to draw any real conclusions about what the race means, other than a vote on City Council.
- Dude, Where's my Housing Market?
- Developers develop land and sell the lots for a profit. Builders buy lots and build houses for a profit. Both developers and builders will cease doing what they do when they can no longer make a profit. Nobody works for the fun of it these days.
- No Country for Good Men: Drugs, Violence and Repression in Chihuahua
- The criminalization of social protest, persecution of social leaders, and simultaneously, the impossibility of combating drug cartels with an honest, professional, and effective police and having to resort to the army, shows in depth the great weakness of the Mexican state, epitomized by some as "too strong with the weak; too weak with the strong."
- Two Thoughts on Fort Bliss Growth
- On the one hand: "Fort Bliss and BRAC stand as the greatest success story of political and civic cooperation in El Paso's history." On the other: "EPWU has raised the price of water by 93 percent and is using the money to subsidize growth."
Archives
Readers Respond: Dude, Where's My Housing Market?
Posted on May 14, 2008
From the responses: "Just take the Southwest flight from San Diego back to El Paso on a Monday morning. You'll see where the developers actually prefer to live (e.g., La Jolla) because the plane is full of them. They're not trekking to work from Lee Trevino and, if they vote with their money, they prefer to live in places that place a high value on 'connectivity.' "
The Progression of "Progressive"
Posted on May 13, 2008
The word "progressive" is omnipresent, used variously to describe certain elected officials, an RMA, the Downtown Plan, and many other movements in our city. Being for "progress," however, is about as specific as being for "good things" — for children, for health, for education — and therefore is fairly meaningless. As in a progressive disease, talking points have the tendency to overtake precision in language.
Progress, Risk, and the 3 Percent City Council District
Posted on May 13, 2008
It could be a really good race, with important themes, if anyone was paying attention. But so few people cast ballots that it's hard to draw any real conclusions about what the race means, other than a vote on City Council.
Dude, Where's my Housing Market?
Posted on May 13, 2008
Developers develop land and sell the lots for a profit. Builders buy lots and build houses for a profit. Both developers and builders will cease doing what they do when they can no longer make a profit. Nobody works for the fun of it these days.
No Country for Good Men: Drugs, Violence and Repression in Chihuahua
Posted on May 12, 2008
The criminalization of social protest, persecution of social leaders, and simultaneously, the impossibility of combating drug cartels with an honest, professional, and effective police and having to resort to the army, shows in depth the great weakness of the Mexican state, epitomized by some as "too strong with the weak; too weak with the strong."
Two Thoughts on Fort Bliss Growth
Posted on May 12, 2008
On the one hand: "Fort Bliss and BRAC stand as the greatest success story of political and civic cooperation in El Paso's history." On the other: "EPWU has raised the price of water by 93 percent and is using the money to subsidize growth."
Fort Bliss Will Change El Paso
Posted on May 10, 2008
There's a hearing about Fort Bliss Tuesday. Now is the time to prepare, Shapleigh says. Yeah, now is as good a time as any.
EPISO Walks for Water and Sewers
Posted on May 9, 2008
EPISO members and representatives from churches in the area are now going door-to-door in the community to ensure that residents are aware of the election and the board's role. Voters will be encouraged to go to the ballot box on Saturday, May 10.
Voter IDs: a Modern Poll Tax?
Posted on May 8, 2008
Despite innuendo, there actually is no proof of any widespread fraud in Texas, at least not the kind that government ID would take care of. In fact, there are far greater possibilities of fraud or malfunction with Texas’ paperless electronic voting machines.
Shopping the Downtown Plan, Phase Two
Posted on May 7, 2008
City Economic Development Director Kathy Dodson wrote pointedly in the El Paso Times that "Any concerns that retail development is not supported are unwarranted, and we recognize that it is integral to Downtown revitalization." But what if it isn't?
Rush Puts Racial Foot in Mouth With "Shoeshine Guy" Comment, And He's Not Alone
Posted on May 7, 2008
As a member of the largest minority ethnic group and a member of the media, I am continually puzzled and outraged by the idea that anyone can say anything about Latinos without fearing any consequence. Rush, Lou Dobbs, and a host of shock jocks are well aware of this different set of rules.
A Written Exchange Regarding HACEP, and Public Information
Posted on May 5, 2008
What I thought was a routine request for documents has turned into a back-and-forth e-mail debate that has gone on for weeks. In addition, the exchange revealed a discrepancy in some information I was given.
Social Engineering and Unintended Consequences
Posted on May 5, 2008
A request from developers for a 30-day delay on subdivision rules, which City Council will consider today. From the letter: "What began as an effort to improve on a system that has had failings in the past appears to have blossomed into an effort at social engineering."
Readers Respond: Rebirth of Cool
Posted on May 4, 2008
Some of you think there's no cool left, and no redemption. Others keep the faith. Your responses to "El Paso Needs the Rebirth of Cool."
There's No Sparing the Change
Posted on May 4, 2008
If we’re in a genteel neighborhood we want to protect it from the barbarians. If we’re in a funky neighborhood we want to protect it from gentrification. All this over a house? But it really does make sense.
El Paso Needs the Rebirth of Cool
Posted on May 2, 2008
The problem, I think, is that El Paso has never marketed itself as a young person's town. We've never developed the assets. We've never cultivated an appeal to the prized 18 to 35 year old demographic. We've never cultivated cool.
District 3 Race a Milestone in a Long City Election Cycle
Posted on May 1, 2008
Is the anger real, or ginned up? What direction are we as a city headed, where do we want to head, and what are the alternatives? The District 3 special election is a window to view some of these questions in action.
To the Editor, Re: Obama, Clinton and McCain
Posted on May 1, 2008
The Neanderthals and talking vacuum heads in the media have also done this great nation a great disservice by focusing on irrelevant issues.
Readers Respond: "It's Real Simple"
Posted on May 1, 2008
Responses to "A Historic Mistake" and "Moody, Margo, Money."
Readers Respond: Henry is Missed, but Not Forgotten
Posted on April 29, 2008
Readers respond to "A Death in Sunset Heights." Also, details on funeral arrangements.
El Paso, It Is What It Is, and That's Just Fine
Posted on April 23, 2008
Eventually they'll give up trying to make the rest of us wear khakis and drive "beamers" and retire to their area of town. They'll be happy in their little niche and you'll be happy in yours. And together we'll make up what will always be home, El Paso.
El Paso Times Editorial Board was Half-Right
Posted on April 23, 2008
I realize it’s an editorial piece, but their disappointment should be in the fact that the process wasn’t followed properly, not in a cast of characters that had peripheral influence over the matter at hand.
Readers Respond: El Dorado
Posted on April 23, 2008
Plenty of responses on both sides to the piece on the children of El Dorado.
Byrd on Developing New Communities
Posted on April 22, 2008
The schedule and the goals of the subdivision ordinance rewrite, explained in a letter to constituents.
Readers Respond: "The Future Belongs to Those Who Embrace Change"
Posted on April 21, 2008
Responses concerning economic development, the creative class, and the importance of words.
