I'm confused about the complaints

I think it was Rich Wright who wrote a piece on El Chuqueno claiming, or at least suggesting, that the city is headed toward insolvency.  Of course, I had a bunch emails saying this from different people, so it could have originated somewhere else. 

Anywho... 

What gets me is that the same people crying about taxes being raised are also saying the city is going to be "insolvent." If you spend money without increasing tax revenue, you're going to be "insolvent."  The city raised taxes, so either they are mistaken or don't know what the word "insolvent" means.  You can't bitch about your taxes going up if you're worried the city is going to be "insolvent."

The main focus of this crowd seems to be QOL bond issues.  I've tried to tell them, and you, that the voters voted - end of story.  Yes, it was bunch of crap you don't need, but a vote was held and they are to respect the "will of the people."  And far more people voted for QOL crap than ever voted for the tax and budget nightmare Lost Dog has become.  If you wanted to scrape back a minimum of $20 MILLION, I'd start selling that land off to developers ASAP.   However, some people don't want brown people on their side of town, so that's not going to happen easily.  Although - in roughly 18 months it is happening from what I hear.  The conservation easement to try and save the place has been deemed impossible given various utility interests on the land... oh and it would be completely stupid of Bonart and friends to get themselves banned from their own park.  A conservation easement would likely heavily restrict usage of the area.

Anywho... 

Max wrote the other day that he and his conservative buddies support a few candidates... who happen not to be conservative and huge spenders of tax dollars and huge fans of huge tax increases.  I wonder what Max was talking about???  It's like saying his favorite Second Amendment advocate is Beto. 

The real situation is that past mayors and councils really failed to address infrastructure needs and it's all falling apart now and needs fixing.  The writing was on the wall and you could see it back in the day when a certain district rep had to resign because he fought tooth and nail to get neglected neighborhoods repaved and updated so they'd be fit for use.  The El Paso Times and its editor were so incensed that a city council rep actually spent tax dollars helping tax payers that they declared war on the guy.  "HOW DARE YOU INVEST TAX PAYERS' MONEY BACK INTO THE TAXPAYERS' NEIGHBORHOOD!"  These folks weren't getting a trolley to nowhere to show off to their millennial friends... so somebody stepped up to get them something that actually improved their "quality of life."  That guy got what was coming to him for being so good to his constituents. 

The same thing is happening with the current mayor who is trying to keep the city from crumbling.  Past elected officials were spineless and spent money on a trolley to nowhere instead of the work that really needed to be done. The one guy trying to fix it all is getting beat up and I have to ask if these people with public opinions on the subject have any idea what they are talking about.  Council members wanted more slush fund money for trolley to nowhere type projects and the mayor vetoed the budget.  Then... all of you bitched about his fiscal restraint while bitching that nobody has enough fiscal restraint.  What gives?

And where does Max Grossman get off saying he's a budget hawk when he's trying to get the county to buy 900+ properties in downtown because they are "historic?"  He wants to spend a billion bucks on his vanity project... YOUR MONEY he wants to use by the way. 

Anywho... 

Tomorrow we examine how Max Grossman plans to take your home because a native American once wandered on the property your house sits on.  Grossman doesn't live in California because there are no more straws to grasp there. However, plenty exist in El Paso.

Comments

[Rich Wright]

https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Reading-Comprehension

Hope this helps.

[Max G]

"The National Register does not restrict in any way a private property owner’s ability to alter, manage or dispose of a property."
--Texas Historical Commission

https://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/national-register-historic-places/about-national-register-historic

Try educating yourself before you bloviate any further, Mr. K. You are becoming an embarrassment.

[David K]

Max,

Did you just post the Texas Historical Commission’s opinion on a separate entity’s policies? Ha! You really think everyone is too stupid to understand what you’re trying to do. The laugh is on you because the Texas Legislature addressed your land stealing last session.

Love

David K

[Downtowner]

I love it when Max posts stuff. His lack of logic on calling the mayor responsible for any tax increase makes you wonder how he is qualified to teach at the University level. I guess logic isn't required to teach at UTEP.

[JerryK]

The people who were against the vanity projects because they have no means of repayment other than taxes are still vilified, too. Streets and parks are not vanity projects but are basic urban services, neglected due to vanity spending that continues. The main beneficiaries are the pimp brigade of architects, lawyers, engineers, builders et al, the same ones who benefit from school bonds that, like the vanity projects, have little to do with education or so the test scores show.

El Paso is a microcosm of what ails the country that is public spending captive to vested interests in a trickle-up economy.

[professional]

JerryK: so architects, lawyers, engineers, builders et al should just shut it down and move out of town since we are somehow corrupt if we participate in the vanity projects that were part of the 2012 bond program. You do need engineers, architects and contractors for park projects and street projects. As far as the vanity projects go - with the exception of the arena involved in a lawsuit - the design teams were all from out of town. Witness the absolute boondoggle of the Children's Museum. Obscene. EP Community Foundation will never raise their portion - ever. (Think Plaza Theater re-do). Kind of like the Hispanic community can't seem to raise money for their Hispanic Cultural center.

Cities and school districts are loathe to set aside money every year for capital improvement and maintenance projects. They would just soon pass certificates of obligation or go out for half-billion dollar bond program. This accounting malpractice has gone on for hundreds of years in government. So blame the voters - they continue to elect people that promise one thing and do the other.

[JerryK]

Professional, I was thinking of the PAC that was a lobbying brigade for the bonds, i.e., a windfall for the Usual Suspects. Agree with you on the voters and Children's that is just another ploy to privatize a large public expenditure and facility. More trickle-up.

[professional]

Ethical engineers, architects and contractors will usually avoid giving money to the PACs for these bond issues. It's too easy to follow the money when the design projects are awarded and then the construction contracts. The problem with El Paso is we have lots and lots of A&E firms and not enough work for everyone. So guess what happens - lots of "positioning" to get a seat at the table and eventually the work.

[JerryK]

"The problem with El Paso is we have lots and lots of A&E firms and not enough work for everyone."
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Pro, you said it best. There is an oversupply of talent here but it's not the duty of the taxpayer to make work for them with public works projects that have dubious business viability. So the Usual Suspects use their political leverage (plus voter apathy and just plain ignorance as you noted) to make these projects happen.

Too bad there isn't a more vibrant business base to drive private sector work for you guys, but there isn't. Why don't you go where there is real business demand for professional design services instead of looking for what amounts to corporate welfare, like Paul & Woody? What do we have in his DTEP building now - $20MM? He ought to put Margo's name on the front door.

There is a whole world out there just waiting to be designed and built by people like you, only not here.