Monday Round UP

Here's what's popping... and you're ignoring.

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Click HERE to read Mike Rooney's column on the questions of how we would fund a rail system in El Paso.   As you know, Rooney is one of those polite watchdogs in El Paso who can absolutely murder your argument with these little things called "facts." 

The week before last some guy named Ron Dawson made a half-assed attempt at a plea for light rail in El Paso.  Dawson went along with liberal mantra of "we have some facts, not many, but that doesn't matter because whatever we're telling you is good because we said so and that's enough for anyone to go on."  To be to the point - Dawson wants light rail even if he refuses to explain how it is to be paid for and how the whole thing would work logistically.  He leans heavily on the miracle money that the government money fairy brings.  What he doesn't realize is that the money fairy doesn't actually exist Rooney proves it in his latest piece.

I'm all for a light rail system serving UTEP to Downtown then to UMC.  You have the space, the users and you have funding partners.  That's about the only place it would work. 

Anywho, give the article a read because Rooney asks the right questions about who will be paying for it if it is proposed.

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I think the whole question of "who is paying for what?" in the recall effort has merit on its face.  However, knowing the people involved on the mayor's behalf, there's been a lot of thought given to their support and by "thought" I mean - lawyers have looked it over from top to bottom.  You're not going to find where the mayor has broken the law.

Pastor Tom Brown is probably in the clear as well, but not because he's been overly cautious.  It's just that there's no clear indication of whether or not this is a highly organized group of people, or a loose goosey group of folks trying to get a petition signed.  I think any investigation into their efforts is going to lead to the conclusion that there was no collusion.  And if the glove don't fit... well you get it. 

I am desperately trying to get someone to send me the petitions so I can comb through them all and see who signed them - what kind of people participated. 

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I think I would vote for Vince Perez over any other candidate for any office in El Paso.  El Paso has an extreme shortage of people with even average intelligence in elected office.  Vince brings superiorintellect to the table and it's sorely needed.  I jus wish he had conservative values. 

It's going to be fun to watch Gandara Jr. show his true colors in this race.  He's not quick on his feet and reacts with anger instead of thought.  Vince will lure him in, set the trap and then dispose of him.  Watch for this to get really really ethnic over the next few weeks.  The "I'm more valley Chicano/Latino/Brown/Hispanic than you are" race starts now, but I'm not sure there will be more than one car in that race.   Jaime Abeytia does a good job with it HERE.

Are Jaime and I "in the can" for Vince?  I am.  I can't speak for Jaime, but even he knows a good thing when sees it.

The big thing here - in my mind... given that I know nothing of the valley other than how to get around and where to get diesel for you construction equipment...  The big thing here is Representative Eddie Holguin.  I think he's held in high regard down that way and I've seen him out there frequently just doing his day to day business.  He's a solid rep and his opinion matters on this. 

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I have been sent some budget backup items from the City.  Looks like I was right about ambulance billing.  Your reps may have cost 35 locals their jobs so the fire chief could get a friend in place to do the billing and now they might not even be collecting as much as the old firm wsa collecting!  I told you so - you have 35 unemployed El Pasoans and a loss of $2 million in revenue.   I hope the fire chief at least got some golf in with his buddies. 

I know my friends at the city are going to have a shit fit over me mentioning this again, but I'm a firm believer that you should tell the truth or risk leaving your moves open for interpretation.  If people at the city hated Jim Currey of Currey Adkins, they should have come out and said it. They should have put out a notice saying "Jim Currey is an asshole and we don't want to work with him anymore."  They didn't need to do what was done with the subsequent RFP to get Currey out.  It was stupid to let the vendor write your RFP for you and then let them respond to it because you thought Jim Currey was an asshole.  The whole thing stinks all the way down to the council meetings where city staff's math was "engineered" to make Currey look worse than they really were and how apples and apples were never compared until I compared them here. 

Did I tell you that Currey is a conservative/Libertarian guy who hands out pocket constitutions to anyone and everyone who meets with him?  You think this might be why they hate him so much at the city?  Maybe if he was a huge democrat fundraiser he could get millions in loans from the city for a hotel and then try his hardest not to live up to agreements with no recourse.  Hell, that would never happen.

Look for more on this tomorrow.

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The gentrification of El Paso - Dog Parks!  These are usually popular in cities where most people don't have yards.  They are also a sign of "hipness" and El Paso is starting to get "hip."

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Need any more proof that an arena downtown would be $100 million exercise in futility after seeing the goings on with Hotel Baghdad?   Seriously - you didn't expect anything to change, did you?

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If the Transmountain zoning issue goes the way of the gay benefits issue, you're going to see a lot of people changing their tune.  Credibility will be scarce in the council chambers and among the ankle biters if Transmountain goes where I think it's going.   Some of Tom Brown's biggest opponents will be relying on Tom Brown's arguments when it comes to "the will of the people." 

Comments

[Ken]

Just how many different times will the City re-negotiate the "deal" with Jim Scherr? What's the old saying, "if you lay down with dogs don't be surprised when you get fleas". Why would anyone ever expect Jim Scherr to be anything different than what he has always been?

[Texaswoman]

Ken

The discussion surrounds the interpretation of the contract. That's it. Of course a Court will have to explain to all parties what is is.

[Annette]

What is it about Vince that you find so impressive? How is it that he has managed to escape uppity Latino status while Hector H. hasn't? Their education and backgrounds are very similar, yet Vince is intelligent but Hector is a product of affirmative action. It will be interesting especially if Hector decides to run for something as well...
Just wondering.

[David K]

annette,

Vince doesn't run around playing the part of "Super Chicano the Poor Hispanic from the Barrio!" He's a guy - never told me he was hispanic. Never played an ethnic card. Never formed an allegience with someone based on their skin color or ancestor's country of origin. He's just a smart guy who engaged my both publicly and privately with his best thoughts on issues.

Hector, on the hand - pulled the race card so often, we thought it was permanently attached to his hand.

They are two very different people.

Oh shit... you're talking about Hector H. Lopez!!!! I was talking about Hector the other host!!!!

Hector is an uppity jackass who runs his mouth like he knows something, and he doesn't. He's a name dropping loser who only uses his ethnicity to further his own personal goals in life. He does play the race card often.

Again, Vince would embarrass him in a conversation on issues... well unless the issue was how much the world should love Hector H. Lopez for being Hector H. Lopez the sweater wearing Chicano from the hood!

[Annette]

As per Jaime's blog it appears that Hector H. Is considering a run for Chente's seat! He would be an improvement because he is much too ambitious to be labelled furniture.

I think Vince has a great chance at winning. The people in the valley don't necessarily care about Spanish speaking status. A visit to their community events, lunch meetings, etc. can go just as far. Look at the strong loyalty and following Shapleigh had for years. You would see him standing at different places in Fabens talking to people all the time. Just my thoughts...

Btw, do you have sweater envy?