My comments on the downtown arena are infuriating a growing number of the Paso Del Norte group members who are hoping that you hand them $123,000,000 of your money with no expectation of paying it back. You are thought to be dumb by this group and they are pretty much correct in that assumption. It is not like any of you have spoken out on your own behalf and my posts on the subject draw only a few comments. However, they don't like people like me educating the masses and they decided to do something about it via the El Paso Times today.
You can read the editorial HERE.
First of all, the paper got one figure wrong. They claimed that downtown El Paso properties brought in $413 million in tax revenues... they meant $413,000. The point they were trying to make was lost because of that error.
The El Paso Times was hand fed the rest of the story because they quoted from the downtown revitalization plan that has been completely abandoned and ZERO has been done to stay on that plan's timeline. How can they expect people to take them seriously when they are using dated materials that have been found to be useless in accomplishing anything up to this point? It's because they were called by their advertisers, who are a part of the Paso Del Norte Group, and directed to say something nice about the arena before David K poisoned the pond. They forget that nobody reads this blog.
The El Paso Times did try to soften their co-opted image by asking nicely to see some more info on what the arena is slated to be. This is no big deal given the Paso Del Norte Group is working on an artists rendering of the building now.
You can tell the El Paso Times has been neutered here given they usually have a hard-line stance on stupid spending initiatives. This falls right into the category of "if it is such a smart idea, why aren't you using your own money to do it." And that's the point - El Paso has already have many real estate investors from around the world examine the potential of such projects and they have all passed. If there was money to be made downtown, by God there'd be someone making money downtown!
I expect other news outlets to follow suit this weekend, so beware of the public relations campaign being put on to keep you in the dark. Not that any of you care - you want to whine about the stupid recall instead of caring about being ripped off for $123,000,000.
I don't know why they chose to compare San Antonio's Riverwalk and think that a downtown arena could even remotely have the same impact. The riverwalk is a completely different type of "venue." If an arena is built, then UTEP should play all of their games there and the Don should be converted into some other type of space.
San Antonio built the Alamodome in hopes to lure an NFL team but that never happened. Luckily, the spurs moved there after Hemisphere but even they got tired of it after a while and they city had to fund another arena for them. Luckily, SA does have the riverwalk and other attractions downtown that help fill up the Alamodome throughout the year.
I still would rather have a baseball stadium with an affiliated team downtown.
Posted by: livingelpaso | August 25, 2011 at 03:12 PM
"river walk" and "the alamo" are in walking distance of each other. a new arena would be in walking distance of the flea markets, mercado mayapan, and wait for it, "our sister city". im sorry, but our "sister city" is a "ho". . why would they even look into this with the asarco land possibly becoming available in the future ? we cant even fill the sunbowl for events half the time. i guess if our city isnt spending money on useless things then they think they arent doing their jobs. i have news for these spenders. listen to dave ramsey every now and then.
Posted by: peesed off | August 25, 2011 at 04:49 PM
You know how people are upset over a half cent tax increase what do you think they will do if faced with a 3 cent or more tax increase.
Also don't understand Acosta's vote. She was pushing for a GO bond issue recently during the city's strategy session plus her wanting to spend more on streets and libraries in the budget session but not a half cent tax increase.
Posted by: Texaswoman | August 25, 2011 at 06:02 PM
It is always interesting how some like to spring these costly "boutique" projects on the community.
If this arena is such a good deal for the community, you would think there would be the widest possible community discussion, especially before any decision is reached. Why did we have to find out about this deal indirectly through the county's HOT tax discussion?
Posted by: Old Fart | August 26, 2011 at 01:13 PM